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If you’re familiar with what we do here at Garage Gym Reviews, you may know that GGR founder Coop Mitchell is a huge fan of fan bikes. Coop even goes as far to say that there are very few tools he considers a staple of garage gyms, but the air bike is absolutely one of them.
And because owning one of the best air bikes is essential to owning a home gym, we think it’s important to keep you updated when we see new features or improvements added to classic models.
In this Assault Bike ProX review, we’ll cover what’s new about this model (versus the previous generation it’s replacing) and what to expect if you decide to make the purchase—everything from footprint specs to customer service.
More Than 30 Exercise Bikes Tested
Your friends here at GGR are fitness professionals ranging from Olympic athletes to certified personal trainers. We’ve had our hands on everything from the best adjustable dumbbells to the best treadmills on the market. Plus, we’ve tested over 30 different exercise bikes from some of the most popular names in the industry including Schwinn, Rogue, and NordicTrack.
AssaultBike ProX
AssaultBike ProX
Product Highlights
- Heavy-duty fan bike
- 330-lb user weight capacity
- Belt-drive system
- 11 adjustable height settings
- 6 front-to-back settings
- Padded seat
- LCD display
- Work/rest LED lights
- Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Durable, heavy-duty steel frame
- Belt-drive system
- Sealed bearings in each pivot point for smooth ride
- Adjustable seat options
- Financing available
- Low-impact workout
- Scalable to various fitness levels
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Reportedly poor customer service
- Relatively large footprint
Bottom Line
The AssaultBike ProX offers a heavy-duty steel frame, belt-drive system, and seat adjustability to fit most home gym owners. The fan design also makes it scalable to every fitness level.
A Quick Look at the AssaultBike ProX
Assault Fitness is a company that focuses on manufacturing athlete-powered (not motorized) cardio equipment, including manual treadmills and rowers.
As for bikes, the brand offers three models: the AssaultBike Classic, Assault Bike ProX, and AssaultBike Elite. Recently, the AssaultBike Pro was phased out and replaced by the ProX model.
In our collective AssaultBike review, we take a look at all three Assault Fitness air bikes side by side, which feature chain-drive systems. However, the release of the ProX marks the brand’s first belt-drive air bike.
The benefit to owning a belt-drive system is the fact it requires less maintenance than chain-drive bikes. Think of your traditional outdoor pedal bike and how your chain needs to be lubricated and sometimes even falls off. Chain-drive systems on indoor bikes are no different than the chains on outdoor bikes.
Before You Buy
- While belt-drive air bikes are not silent, they are overall less noisy than chain-drive fan bikes.
- Assault Fitness offers free shipping on the ProX and financing options are available at checkout.
- Check out our Assault Fitness discount code for information on sales and coupons.
Assault Bike Pro X Video Review
Is the AssaultBike ProX Worth It?
While we think the AssaultBike ProX can add a ton of value to your garage gym, we know that it’s not a budget piece of equipment. With a price tag just shy of $900, you’ll want to be sure a fan bike is what you’re looking for.
Fan bikes are uniquely different from studio cycle bikes, recumbent bikes, or upright exercise bikes. For those who are not familiar, air bikes are self-powered, meaning you determine how hard your cardio workout is by how fast you pedal your feet and move the handlebars. The faster you go, the more the air the fan intakes and essentially provides drag (aka resistance) on the blades.
RELATED: Recumbent vs Upright Bike
Great for:
- Anyone looking for a solid air resistance bike that offers low maintenance
- Folks who find the Rogue Echo bike too big or too difficult
- People interested in full-body HIIT cardio workouts
- Gym owners who want to supplement their current training program with low-impact cardio
Not recommended for:
- Folks who want high-tech equipment and built-in programming
- Home gym owners on a tight budget
- Anyone who wants to train indoors for outdoor cycling
AssaultBike ProX Specs
| Price | $899 |
| Footprint | 51.73” L x 24.52” W x 52.51” H |
| Weight | 125 lbs |
| Max user weight | 330 lbs |
| Resistance type | Air |
| Drive type | Belt |
| Fan diameter | 27” |
| Height adjustments | 11 height settings |
| Seat adjustments | 6 front-to-back settings |
| Display | LCD screen |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and ANT+ to Assault Fitness app |
| Warranty | 7-year frame, 3-year non-wear parts |
Workout Experience on the AssaultBike ProX
Firstly, it’s important to state that the frame is essentially the same on the ProX as the previous Pro model. You’re going to get the same front-to-back seat adjustments as well as the height adjustments.
“The biggest update is the internals and using a belt drive instead of a chain drive,” says Coop. “Plus, there is some badging and a water bottle holder.”
The ProX also features the same fan design as the Pro, which is a little different than some of the other fan bike manufacturers on the market. Instead of a traditional fan with metal blades welded from the center, the ProX features a large tireless spoke (essentially a wheel well) with steel fan blades attached to the outside of the circle.
Although it sounds like a minor feature, it’s quite different from the bulky fan featured in the Rogue Echo Bike (which is also priced around $900). What we find interesting about these fans is the fact that the bigger, wider, and bulkier the blade, the harder it is to pedal at top speeds and keep your rhythm.
RELATED: Rogue Echo Bike Review
The tireless spoke fan design on the AssaultBike makes the pedaling start up easier in addition to maintaining your desired pace and duration.
If you’ve used the Rogue Echo Bike, you may know it delivers an intense workout. It’s the official air bike of the CrossFit Games and even the most elite athletes have a love-hate relationship with it.
That said, not all home gym owners are going to enjoy the Echo for daily workouts (myself included). Not only does the large fan create too much drag for my liking, the seat adjustments don’t really work for me, and the handlebar placement makes me feel like I’m overreaching.
On the flip side, Coop mentions that the size, adjustability, and fan design make the AssaultBike ProX a solid choice for tall and short folks alike.
One thing Coop thinks is missing on the ProX is a wind guard so you don’t have to worry about air blowing constantly in your face during workouts.
“Many people are training in their garage gyms in the winter and using an air bike that is blowing cold air on you while you’re already freezing sucks,” writes Coop. “Assault Fitness makes a wind cover for their classic model, so I’d like to see it for the ProX.”
Footprint and Portability
The Assault Bike ProX is just over four feet in length (and height) and about two feet wide. It’s also 125 pounds, which is not a lightweight exercise bike (especially compared to a studio cycle bike or our top picks for the best Peloton alternatives). However, the ProX features transport wheels, which will make moving the 125-pound bike a whole lot easier when it comes time.
Additionally, the ProX has four adjustable stabilizing feet so you can customize according to your floors or adapt if there is a slight grade in your garage.
Durability and Construction
Overall, the AssaultBike ProX exceeds our durability standards (and industry standards). The user weight capacity we look for is a minimum of 275 pounds. This not only ensures a wide range of folks can use the bike, but it also prevents unnecessary shaking or thrashing.
The higher the weight capacity, we find the bike to be more stable. This ProX is no exception—it has a 330-pound user weight capacity, heavy-duty steel frame, and weighs 125 pounds to keep it locked to the ground.
“It’s heavy enough to feel very solid while riding, but not so much that it’s a bear to move around,” says Coop.
Coop also notes that the high-touch components like pedals and cranks that typically receive a lot of wear and tear are constructed from metal, which is what we prefer to see over plastic parts.
We also like the fact the frame has a corrosion-resistant industrial powder coating and a sealed bottom bracket that is designed to hold up to sweat, dirt, and dust.
The Ergonomics
The ProX offers 11 height adjustments and six front-to-back seat adjustments. Having multiple vertical and horizontal adjustments is important for a bike like the ProX, which provides a full-body workout from both the foot pedals and moving handlebars.
You can utilize the well-placed foot pegs at the base of the handlebars for upper-body only cardio training sessions (or if you’re just plain feeling tired). Plus, the ProX now comes with a water bottle holder, which is a new, but much appreciated, feature and easy to reach without getting out of the saddle.
Technology Benefits and Conveniences
While the AssaultBike ProX is not a tech-heavy exercise bike, you will have the option to utilize the Bluetooth or ANT+ connectivity to sync your to your smartphone and track your workout metrics via the Assault Fitness app.
Whether you decide to use the connectivity for the app or not, you will have full functionality of the bike. The easy-to-read LCD console displays your time, distance, watts, RPM, speed, and calories.
Coop also notes that the ProX is one his personal favorite air bikes available on the market, saying, “It’s easy to use and I like that it features buttons that you know you’ve pressed after you do so,” says Coop. “Plus, the high-contrast LCD screen and the colors on the buttons stand out making everything easy to read. It also has a built-in phone holder.”
You can also track your heart rate with a wearable Bluetooth-enabled (or ANT+) heart rate monitor. Additionally, the console has rest and work LED light to provide a visual aid during high-intensity interval training workouts. The ProX also has seven built-in programs plus a competition mode setting, if you’re feeling up to it.
AssaultBike Classic vs ProX vs Rogue Echo
Rogue Echo
Rogue Echo Bike
Product Highlights
- Heavy duty steel
- Overbuilt for smooth ride
- 350 lb weight limit
- Solid foundation for max outs
- Easily portable
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely durable, beefy construction
- Very little rocking or side-to-side movement
- Black powder-coated metal on almost everything
- Belt-driven fan for much less maintenance.
- Easy-to-read LCD console screen
- Legs feature adjustable leveling feet
- Somewhat compact
- Oversized, heavy-duty front wheels
- Sleek, attractive look
Cons
- Larger than other stationary bikes
- Belt drive is overall harder to push than a chain drive
- Not the cheapest air bike on the market
Bottom Line
We’ve tested just about every air bike on the market, and the Echo combines many of our favorite features into one. The belt drive is much more durable and requires less maintenance than a chain drive. The size and weight make it extremely stable, and the price is much less than we’d expect for such a quality piece of equipment.
AirBike Classic
Assault AirBike
Product Highlights
- Heavy-duty exercise bike
- Monitor is easy to use
- Affordably priced
- Uses a chain drive, not a belt drive
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A staple in many CrossFit gyms
- Great, easy-to-use monitor
- Made of mostly metal for great durability
- Matte black finish
- Comfortable seat
- Rubber grips on handles are very durable
- Affordable for an air bike
Cons
- Chain-driven system that requires additional upkeep
- Some rocking side to side
- Screws may come loose often
Bottom Line
The Assault AirBike was once the standard air bike for CrossFit athletes. In our testing and reviews of the bike, we’ve found it to be durable and enjoyable (not in the traditional sense) to use.
While the Assault Classic and the Assault Pro used to be pretty similar in specs with the exception of the Bluetooth capabilities, now with the ProX having a belt drive system the $200 price difference gets you a whole lot more.
While the Classic and the ProX are still comparable, we had to include the Rogue Echo Bike in this comparison. We mentioned some differences in the usability and workout experience above, but now we want to lay down some of the specs side by side.
The Echo Bike and the ProX are priced nearly the same, both have belt drive systems, and both brands offer free shipping. Coop thinks it’s worth noting that the ProX has a water bottle holder and a place to put your tablet or smartphone, while you’ll have to pay extra for those features with Rogue.
“At this price point, I think the new belt-drive ProX is the winner,” Coop says. “I just don’t see much with the Echo Bike that this doesn’t have.”
Also, keep in mind our thoughts above about the wide fan blades featured in the Rogue Echo Bike that make for a really tough workout (even for elite CrossFit athletes). The Assault ProX has slimmer fan blades attached to the outer rim of a tireless spoke. Plus, the ProX has more seat adjustability, which will suit more user heights.
| Assault Classic | Assault ProX | Rogue Echo | |
| Price | $699 | $899 | $895 |
| Assembled Dimensions | 50.95” L x 23.34” W x 50” H | 51.73” L x 24.52” W x 52.51” H | 55” L x 29.5” W x 52.25” H |
| Product Weight | 95.64 lbs | 125 lbs | 123 lbs |
| Max User Weight | 300 lbs | 330 lbs | 330 lbs |
| Console | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water bottle holder | No | Yes | No |
| Interactive Programming | No | Yes | No |
| Seat Height Adjustments | 11 | 11 | 8 |
| Seat Length Adjustments | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Frame Warranty | 5 years | 7 years | 2 years |
| Parts Warranty | 2 years | 3 years | None |
| Labor Warranty | None | None | None |
Customer Experience
If questions or concerns arise during or after your AssaultBike purchase, you will have the opportunity to contact customer service via phone, email, or filling out an online contact form.
At the time of writing this review, the website explicitly states that the customer service department is experiencing delayed response times due to the high volume of inquiries. The website notes to expect 48 to 72 hours for a reply.
When it comes to the warranty, the website states that there’s a 7-year frame warranty and a 3-year non-wear parts warranty, which basically means the warranty does not cover normal wear and tear on parts like the seat, pedals, or rubber grips. The warranty also does not cover overall wear and tear, misuse, or lack of preventative maintenance on the frame.
Latesly, if you decide to return your bike because you are not satisfied, you’ll have a 30-day window to initiate the process and get the brand approval for the return.
It’s also worth noting that you could be subject to a 20% restocking fee if you do not return the bike in original packaging, on a pallet, and in new condition. You’ll also be on the hook for all shipping and handling fees.
Ordering and Assembling the Assault Bike ProX
The Assault ProX will require some assembly, but because it’s not a motorized piece of cardio equipment (like some of the best treadmills for a home gym), you don’t have to fuss with any wiring.
From experience with the ProX and other Assault Fitness bikes we’ve tested, we know the frame itself is fully assembled (and the flywheel), but you will need to attach the pedals, LCD console, handlebars, seat post, and saddle.
Coop also notes that Assault Fitness “sells many of the individual parts for their bikes on their website for easy assembly,” he says. “I appreciate that they do this to make the bikes last longer. I can’t think of another air bike that offers individual replacement parts other than the Concept2 BikeErg,” he adds.
RELATED: Concept2 BikeErg Review
Customer Reviews
While there are 146 customer reviews on the Assault Fitness website, they all speak to the previous generation, the AssaultBike Pro. That said, the previous generation has a 4.6-out-of-5 star rating.
Plus, after reading the one-star reviews on the website (of which, there are less than 10) most customer complaints are related to poor customer service, rattling noises, or the console not working properly.
Final Verdict of Our Assault Bike ProX Review
When it comes to a high-quality and durable air bike, the Assault Bike ProX is comparable to the fan-favorite Rogue Echo Bike. However with slimmer fan blades and more seat adjustability, the ProX might work for more folks and a wider range of user heights.
To review, the ProX replaced the Pro model on the Assault Fitness website. The new generation now features a quiet, smooth belt-drive system in addition to a water bottle holder. We also like the fact the console is easy-to-use and read with the high-contrast screen. We also appreciate the built-in workouts and interval training rest and work LED lights.
Assault Bike ProX Rating
Overall score: 4.25
Assault Bike ProX FAQs
Is the Assault AirBike worth it?
The fitness equipment that you invest in and value is highly subjective to your goals, style of training, and budget. All that said, the AssaultBike ProX will likely add value to many home gym owners training routine because it’s low-maintenance, doesn’t require a power outlet, and has multiple seat adjustments for an ergonomic fit.
Is the AssaultBike Pro belt-driven?
The new Assault Bike ProX features a belt-drive system. The previous generation (Assault BIke Pro) had a chain-drive system.
Why is an Assault Bike so difficult?
The Assault self-powered fan bikes feel difficult because the harder and faster you move your arms and legs, the fan intakes more air, which instantly creates more resistance.
Further reading
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