Health & Fitness
Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X Review (2023)
Dec
The Assault Bike ProX is one of the best cardio machines currently offered, as it provides a full-body, low-impact workout that can still be high-intensity. Popular in the CrossFit community, this fan bike consists of a belt-driven system and a heavy-duty steel frame, making it a great tool to build both endurance and strength.
Here at Breaking Muscle, our experts include athletes, strength and conditioning coaches, and certified personal trainers who are intimately familiar with this fan bike. We put it through hours of strenuous cardio workouts to see if it could take on the challenge. In this Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X review, we’ll highlight our results, how well the bike ranked in testing, and how it compares to other fan bikes.
Key Takeaways
- The Assault Bike ProX is a great choice of cardio equipment for those who want a total-body workout. This fan bike, also termed an air bike, requires you to engage in full-body exercise using both the handlebars and bike pedals to generate movement through a belt-driven system.
- The LCD monitor tracks stats such as calories, distance, speed, watts, and RPM, all of which can help you understand energy output.
- The Assault Fitness App, which you can access through your phone and connect to the bike’s Bluetooth-enabled console, allows you to take part in virtual and instructor-led programming.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Pros
- The AssaultBike Pro X features a smooth belt-driven system to keep the workout efficient and quieter than chain-driven fan bikes. This makes it a great piece of equipment for a home gym, where limiting noise can ensure your workouts aren’t a nuisance to your roommates or family members.
- With 11 height settings and six front-to-back settings for adjustments, the seat can move upward, downward, forward, and backward to help accommodate your body proportions.
- Made of a heavy-duty steel frame that makes it pretty stable for exercise, the AssaultBike ProX has a weight capacity of 330 pounds, so even heavier athletes can safely use it.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Cons
- Running at $899 at the time of this writing, it’s relatively expensive and may be out of reach for those with tight budgets. In comparison, the AssaultBike Classic and the Titan Fan Bike are both around $699.
- The Assault Fitness App, although interactive and a step up from other brands, has been termed “glitchy” through the many reviews at the Apple store. As such, it only has a a 2.1 out of 5 star rating.
- The ProX has a large footprint, especially compared to the AssaultBike Elite. The ProX is 51.73 inches long, 24.52 inches wide, and 52.51 inches high, while the Elite is 50.95 inches long, 23.34 inches wide, and 50 inches high. Depending on your home gym setup, the Pro X may take up too much room and prevent you from doing workouts off the bike safely.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Rating
At Breaking Muscle, we know exercise equipment. We have a product testing team that has put hundreds of machines through the wringer, using them for everything from gentle warm-ups to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Many of our staff members are home gym owners themselves and use these products nearly every day.
With the knowledge we’ve gained over the years, we created a proprietary scoring system that we used to rank the AssaultBike ProX in various categories. Not only did we evaluate how the bike performed on its own, but we also compared it with nearly 30 other exercise bikes to see how it stacked up against the competition.
| Factor | Rating (out of 5) |
| Price | 4 |
| Materials, build, and construction | 5 |
| Delivery and asssembly | 5 |
| Performance | 4 |
| Included workouts | 3 |
| Heart rate monitor | 4 |
| Display and stats tracking | 5 |
| Conveniences | 4 |
| Workout app and subscriptions | 4 |
| Bluetooth connectivity | 5 |
| Noise level | 4 |
| Portability | 4 |
| Warranty | 5 |
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Overview
From the founders of the AssaultRunner (one of the best treadmills to train with), the Assault Bike ProX is made with a heavy-duty steel frame finished in a black powder coat that helps keep it corrosion-resistant and capable of standing the test of time. It is a top-tier fan bike that can provide a brutal workout for any athlete.
In addition to its tough and durable frame, it incorporates a belt-driven system for a quiet, smooth training experience. It also requires less upkeep than chain-driven systems, which should come as a relief to busy individuals who can’t be bothered with complicated maintenance protocols.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX In-Depth Review
Price
At the time of writing, the Assault Bike ProX costs $899. Fortunately, there is also an option to finance it at around $82 a month through Affirm. For comparison, the Assault Bike ProX is more expensive than the AssaultBike Classic at $699 but cheaper than the Concept2 BikeErg, which costs around $1,100.
The Assault Bike ProX also provides free shipping, which is a big deal for equipment this size. Buying an air bike from another brand could set you back another $100 in shipping costs.
All of the above considered, we’ve rated this bike 4 out of 5 stars for its shipping rate, finance options, and value.
Materials, Build, and Construction Quality
The Assault Bike ProX weighs 125 pounds, has a max user weight of 330 pounds, and boasts a heavy-duty steel frame with a corrosion-resistant black powder coating finish. We love this type of frame and finish because it means less maintenance over time.
It’s also similar to what you would see with the Rogue Echo Bike, which has a black powder coating and almost looks like it was built from scraps of a heavy-duty squat rack! But the Assault Bike ProX isn’t as bulky as the Rogue Echo Bike, making it more compatible with small spaces, which our product testers enjoyed. For comparison, the ProX is 51.73 inches long, 24.52 inches wide, and 52.51 inches high, while the Echo Bike is 55 inches long, 29.5 inches wide, and 52.25 inches high.
The Assault Bike ProX provides a wide padded seat that can adjust to 11 different heights and six different directions either forward or backward. These adjustments were the same on the Assault Bike Pro, which the ProX replaces. The rubber handles on the ProX help you maintain your grip and keep your hands comfortable throughout the workout as well.
This fan bike also comes with footpegs at the base of the handlebars for you to place your feet. This gives you the option to do an upper body-only workout, which is great for injury recovery or arm day.
Based on the quality and construction of the Assault Bike ProX, we rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
Delivery and Assembly
We gave the AssaultBike Pro X 5 out of 5 stars for delivery and assembly because of how straightforward it was to build. The bikes arrived at our testing facility 75 percent built, so all we had to do was attach the LCD console, pedals, handlebars, seat post, and saddle. Assault Fitness provides all the tools needed to build your air bike, and it should take roughly 35 to 45 minutes.
Performance
When testing the Assault Bike ProX, we noticed a smoother and quieter ride than what we’ve experienced with other air bikes, like the Titan Fan Bike or the AssaultBike Classic. This is predominantly thanks to the belt-driven system. A belt-driven system requires less maintenance than a chain-driven system, but it is also harder to use. When you pedal, the steel fan wheel generates resistance based on your effort. The harder you pedal, the more resistance is applied.
However, once you stop pedaling, the fan wheel will stop moving, requiring more effort to get it started again. This might be tough if you’re not prepared for a high-intensity workout. Due to this, we gave the Assault Bike ProX a 4 out of 5-star rating for performance.
Included Workouts
The Assault Bike ProX’s LCD monitor provides seven built-in training programs and a competition mode for those ready to take on the challenge. Through the Assault Fitness App, which we’ll review below, there is also an option to follow instructor-led programs or create customized workouts.
All in all, we give it a 3 out of 5 star rating in this category. The included workouts aren’t as robust as what you’d see in a more interactive bike like the Peloton. However, we do appreciate having them and think they can be valuable for people who may not know where to start.
Heart Rate Monitoring
While the AssaultBike Classic was only compatible with the Polar T34 heart rate chest strap, the Assault Bike ProX is compatible with other brands, like Garmin. You can link a heart rate monitor through the bike’s Bluetooth features. However, you need to purchase a compatible one separately, which is why we only rated it 4 out of 5 stars here (though to be fair, this is common for most exercise bikes).
Display and Stat Tracking
The Assault Bike ProX comes with a five-inch by eight-inch monitor, which is a common size amongst other fan bikes. This high-quality LCD monitor is powered by four AA batteries, which Assault includes with your purchase. The console is great for tracking stats such as calories, distance, heart rate, speed, watts, and RPM. It also connects to the Assault Fitness App.
Our product testers loved that it could track power output in addition to distance and speed, which is a great measure of energy expenditure to quantify workout intensity. The Rogue Echo Bike monitor doesn’t provide feedback such as watts and RPM on its monitor, which gives the Assault Bike ProX the edge.
All things considered, we’ve given this bike 5 out of 5 stars for its display and tracking capabilities.
Conveniences
When testing the Assault Bike ProX, we noticed a ton of conveniences. First, the air bike requires no electric outlet, and we loved being able to use it anywhere. This feature is also a welcome benefit for commercial CrossFit gym owners, as you don’t have to worry about your members tripping over power cords.
Other conveniences include a device holder and a water bottle holder. Some fan bikes like the Titan Fan Bike also include these conveniences. Others, like the Rogue Echo Bike, don’t (though they are available to purchase separately). We always appreciate it when a brand throws in little extras like this. They allow you to have all your workout essentials within reach. Plus, you don’t have to worry about potentially placing multiple orders or paying extra shipping fees to get them.
Overall, our product testers rated the conveniences 4 out of 5 stars. The only reason we docked a point is that we wish the bike came with a wind guard to prevent cold air from blowing in our faces when training in a cold garage. There is one available on the Assault Fitness website, but you have to buy it separately for an additional $39.
Workout Apps and Subscription Options
The Assault Bike ProX is a part of the Assault Fitness line of exercise machines that operate using the Assault Fitness app. The app was one of our product testers’ favorite features.
Free to download from the App Store and Google Play, the Assault Fitness App provides you with a multitude of instructor-driven workouts. You can do these workouts on your own or compete against other athletes virtually. Many of the workouts also integrate other types of equipment, such as dumbbells and kettlebells, to help you get more well-rounded programming.
While we enjoyed the app, we only gave it 4 out of 5 stars. As of this writing, it’s not available on the most recent version of Android. Athletes with newer Android phones may not be able to use it.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The Assault Bike ProX is Bluetooth-enabled. We don’t necessarily consider Bluetooth connectivity a standout feature, as dozens of cardio machines we’ve tested now come with it. But we’ve also tried inexpensive cardio equipment that doesn’t have this feature, and even Assault Fitness’s classic AssaultBike lacks Bluetooth capabilities. As such, we rated the ProX 5 out of 5 stars here.
Noise Level
When comparing other fan bikes we tested, the Assault Bike ProX generated less noise due to its belt-driven system. The belt-driven system operates more smoothly than chain-drive systems such as those on the Schwinn Airdyne. A noisier system can make it tough to perform workouts at home, especially if you train early in the morning or late at night when others are sleeping.
That said, no fan bike will be completely silent, so you should still expect some noise as air travels through the flywheel. Due to this, we give the noise level of the Assault Bike ProX 4 out of 5 stars.
Portability
The Assault Bike ProX offers some portability, thanks to two small transport wheels at the front. To move it, all you need to do is tilt it onto its wheels to help glide it across the floor. However, although it might be easy for some athletes to move this fan bike, others might struggle to relocate it because it weighs 125 pounds. Based on these findings, we give the portability of the Assault Bike ProX 4 out of 5 stars.
Warranty
The Assault Bike ProX has a three-year non-wear parts warranty and a seven-year frame warranty. The three-year non-wear parts warranty doesn’t cover normal wear and tear on parts like the seat, pedals, and handle grips. This may seem like a drawback, but in our experience, this is common in warranties on other brands’ fan bikes. But the length of Assault’s warranty is longer compared to Rogue, who only offers a two-year warranty on their Echo Bike, and Titan, who only offers a one-year warranty on their fan bike. We gave the warranty of the Assault Bike ProX 5 out of 5 stars for this reason.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Specs
Overall Dimensions
The Assault Bike ProX is 51.73 inches long, 24.52 inches wide, and 52.51 inches high. Compared to the classic AssaultBike, these dimensions are one to two inches bigger in each category. If you’re between the two, we definitely recommend measuring carefully to ensure you choose the one that will best fit your space.
Resistance
The Assault Bike ProX is a fan bike, meaning it builds resistance based on how much air you recruit in the fan wheel as you work. The harder you pedal, the more air resistance is applied, making your workout more challenging.
In addition to air resistance, the ProX uses a belt-driven system, meaning it only operates when you begin to pedal. If you stop pedaling, the machine stops moving. This makes it harder to operate compared to a chair-driven system, like what you’d see with the AssaultBike Classic.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of the Assault Bike ProX is 330 pounds. This is more than the Classic bike, which holds 300 pounds, but less than the Elite, which holds up to 350 pounds.
Seat and Handlebar Adjustments
The Assault Bike ProX can accommodate most body sizes with 11 different height settings and six front-to-back settings. These adjustment levels are relatively standard based on what we’ve seen on other fan bikes. However, some competitors like the Rogue Echo Bike only have five front-to-back seat settings.
Electrical Requirements
Because the Assault Bike ProX does not require an electrical outlet, you can transport it wherever you want to go —outdoors or indoors. The monitor, however, does require AA batteries to operate.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX vs. Echo Bike
At first glance, it seems the Assault Bike ProX and Rogue Echo Bike have many similarities. When you analyze them more closely, you’ll find that there are several key differences between the two.
Below are the dimensions of both fan bikes:
| Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X | Rogue Echo Bike | |
| Length | 51.73 inches | 55 inches |
| Width | 24.52 inches | 29.5 inches |
| Height | 52.52 inches | 52.25 inches |
| Weight | 125 pounds | 123 pounds |
| Materials | Black powder-coated, heavy-duty steel | Textured black powder coat, 2×3″, 1.2 x 3″, and 1.625 x 3.125″ steel |
Even though the Rogue Echo Bike is bulkier in material and dimensions, it has the same 330-pound weight capacity as the AssaultBike ProX. Both of these fan bikes are also powered by movement, so no electrical outlet is needed. Further, weighing in at 123 and 125 pounds, respectively, the Rogue Echo Bike and the Assault Bike ProX are equally portable, especially given they both have wheels.
Finally, both products use belt-driven mechanics, providing a smooth and quiet riding experience. But the Assault Bike ProX gives more metrics on the monitor, such as watts and RPM. This feature alone could make or break your decision, depending on how important tracking is to your training.
Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Customer Reviews
The Assault Bike ProX comes in with a strong 4.6 out of 5-star rating on the Assault Fitness website. Many users claim that it is super easy to set up, requires low maintenance, and is a favorite piece of equipment in their home gyms. Customers also praise its sturdiness and its ability to handle a tough workout.
One user mentioned that the left peg became loose during their workout. Another buyer mentioned that the Assault Bike ProX was very noisy and didn’t think it was as stable as other reviews might suggest — note, however, that complaints like this are in the minority.
Final Verdict: Is the Assault Fitness AssaultBike ProX Worth It?
After extensive research and testing of the Assault Bike ProX, we can say that this air bike is worth it. Made with a heavy-duty steel frame finished in a black powder coat, it can take on the toughest workouts. It’s ideal for anyone looking for a full-body, high-intensity interval training machine for improving both endurance and strength.
The smoother and quieter experience you get with the Assault Bike ProX is thanks to the belt-driven system integrated into the design. Although this system might require more effort to operate, this bike can still be a great purchase for everyone from CrossFitters to health and fitness enthusiasts.
FAQs
The Assault Bike provides a great workout, combining air resistance and a belt-driven system for a tough cardio and muscular endurance workout. You can use both the foot pedals and the arm handles to get a full-body workout. Or you can just use the arm handles to work out your upper body exclusively.
The Assault Bike Pro X is a belt-driven system. The fan bike only works when you operate the pedals and/or handlebars. The belt-driven system also offers a smoother and quieter workout.
The AssaultBike alone may not aid fat loss if you’re eating too many calories. However, it can provide a strong enough stimulus for an intense enough workout to help you burn more calories and hit multiple health and fitness goals.
Because the AssaultBike Pro X requires a full-body effort and utilizes a belt-driven system, you could potentially build a small amount of muscle by using it consistently. However, resistance training with implements like dumbbells or barbells (and following a diet that supports muscle growth) will be your best bet if you want to pack on as much muscle as possible.
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