Even though the Assault Bike Classic gained its fame as a popular fitness machine for Cross Fitters, it rapidly became one of the most popular air bikes around.
These days you’ll find ’em in garage gyms, home gyms, and commercial gyms alike and it’s not just the super elite using them anymore.
With a compact frame and the ability to provide unlimited amounts of resistance, it’s not surprising the Assault Bike has become as popular as it has.
But with so many competitors now, does it still make sense to go with the Classic?
Can the Assault Bike still cut it?
Spoiler alert: yes.
If you ask me, the Assault Bike Classic is still easily one of the best buys when it comes to air bikes, but there’s no reason to simply take my word for it – you gotta do your own homework after all.
But I can still help.
In this review, I’ll go over all the specs and features the Assault Bike Classic has to offer.
I’ll also compare it to a few of its biggest competitors so you can judge how it stacks up.
After reading, you’ll know everything you need to in order to decide for yourself whether or not this air bike is worth investing in.
Off we go.
The Assault Bike Classic
Even though Assault Fitness didn’t give us the first mass produced air bike (we have Schwinn to thank for that), we certainly have them and their original AssaultBike to thank for making them hip again.
The Assault Bike Classic gained fame with the the Cross Fit crowd and could be seen on tv torturing the fittest athletes on the planet during the Cross Fit Games.
Speaking of which, if you’ve never seen any of these before, you should really check ’em out – it’s crazy how fit these men and women are.
It’s basically like watching super heroes competing in a bunch of strength and conditioning feats the rest of us could only dream of being able to do.
It really is awe inspiring.
Anyway, I’m not sure if Cross Fit is still using Assault Bikes in their competitions, but they used to.
And as the popularity of Cross Fit exploded across the world, so did the popularity of the AssaultBike (and air bikes in general).
At first, there was only the one Assault Bike (the one we’re here to talk about now).
Now, they’ve actually got 3 different models to choose from- the Classic, the Pro, and the Elite.
The Classic is the original Assault Bike, with the other 2 models being upgraded versions.
The Assault Bike Classic usually goes for around $750 (even though sometimes you’ll see it on Amazon for a whole lot more than that).
Pros
- 27″ steel fan
- Unlimited resistance
- 300 lb weight capacity
- 7 built-in workouts
- Easy to use console
- Chest strap heart rate monitor compatible
- Fully adjustable seat
- Easy assembly
- Decent warranty
- Good price
- Great reputation
Cons
- Not as heavy-duty as some competitors
- Chain drive
Resistance
As I’ve already mentioned a few times, the Assault Bike is an air bike, meaning it uses air to provide the resistance.
This means there aren’t any felt pads that need to be replaced and there aren’t any resistance levels to toggle between during workouts.
As a pure air bike, the harder you pedal, the more resistance you’re going to feel.
As you pedal with your feet and crank with the handles, a flywheel with fan blades attached to it spins – it’s these fan blades cutting through the air that provides the resistance for every workout.
Not only does an air bike like the Assault Bike provide a great full body workout, but it also technically doesn’t have a max resistance setting.
The only limiting factor is how hard you can pedal.
There are videos of elite athletes competing to see how many calories they can burn in 1 minute on an Assault Bike… the results are pretty amazing.
Some of these folks can burn 50, 60, or even like 70 calories in a single minute…
This is why air bikes are so potent for HIIT style workouts.
All real air bikes use this same type of resistance, where the resistance you feel is based on how hard you pedal, but it’s still a good idea to compare fan sizes.
Even with the principles of air resistance, having a larger fan is going to mean even more total resistance.
Bigger fan = more air = more overall resistance.
The Assault Bike comes with a 27″ diameter fan, which at the moment is as big as fans get.
You’ll notice that more affordable air bikes, like Schwinn’s AD2, come with significantly smaller fans.
Smaller fans can still provide great workouts, but the higher-end bikes will always come with larger, 27″ fans like the one found on the AssaultBike.
The last thing I want to mention here is that the Assault Bike uses a chain drive as opposed to a belt drive.
Belt drives are generally preferred because they’re known for being quieter and a little more responsive, as well as requiring a little less maintenance.
The quietness aspect won’t be an issue, because this is an air bike and air bikes are really noisy anyway.
And personally, I can’t really tell much difference between a chain drive and a belt drive, but that might just be me.
For the sake of comparison, Rogue’s Echo Bike and Schwinn’s Airdyne AD7 (2 of the AssaultBike’s biggest competitors) do use belt drives.
So, definitely something to consider.
Overall though, the Assault Bike scores highly with its 27″ fan that’s capable of completely destroying you with its unlimited resistance.
Frame
I think it’s important to consider an air bike’s frame too though.
When looking at the frame, I’m really looking for how stable or heavy-duty it’s going to feel during workouts.
The easiest way to get a sense of this without getting your hands on it first, is to look at the assembled weight – heavier bikes are going to feel more stable.
I like to look at weight capacities too, although they can surprise ya sometimes – there are some lightweight bikes out there with really high weight limits.
The Assault Bike comes with an assembled weight of about 96 lb, which isn’t bad, but it is the lightest of the elite air bikes.
The Echo Bike comes with an assembled weight of roughly 127 lb and the AD7 comes in at around 113 lb.
The lighter weightness (I’m pretty sure that’s not a word) of the Assault Bike Classic does make it a little easier to transport, so this could be a plus if you’ll be moving your bike often.
And in the case of the Assault Bike, I’m not worried about it feeling flimsy because it’s been tried and tested by so many elite athletes over the years.
But still, these other bikes are certainly heavier-duty.
Assault Fitness makes up for this with their other 2 models though – the Assault Bike Pro weighs 118 lb and the Elite weighs an astonishing 139 lb.
The Classic comes with a 300 lb weight limit, which is high enough to support most users safely.
The Echo and AD7 both come with 350 lb weight limits, so a bit higher.
Overall, the Assault Bike Classic isn’t the heaviest-duty air bike out there, but it has proven itself with Cross Fitters around the globe.
It’s also worth noting that the Classic is a bit cheaper than both the Echo and AD7…
Features
Air bikes are pretty simple by design, but let’s take a look at the features included with the Assault Bike Classic:
LCD console- the console on this bike is pretty simple, but it displays all the key metrics you’d expect from a bike like this, including watt output. It isn’t backlit, but it’s bright and easy to use. It’s also compatible with Polar chest straps for accurate heart rate measurements (but one isn’t included unfortunately).
7 workout programs- there are 7 workout options to choose from, including 2 pre-set interval programs, 1 custom interval program, and 4 goal oriented workouts.
Fully adjustable seat- you can easily adjust both the height and fore/aft position of the seat, ensuring a comfortable fit during workouts.
Standard pedals- the pedals don’t have a cage, but they’re designed for use with sneakers, so don’t worry about cleat compatibility or any of that.
Assembly
A nice thing about the Classic is that it’s pretty easy to assemble.
Most of it comes pre-assembled, so you won’t have to mess with the fan or drive train or anything like that.
If you do purchase, you’ll be responsible for attaching the front and rear stabilizers, connecting the console mast and console, the handles, pedals, and seat.
Assault’s assembly manual is pretty easy to follow and all the necessary tools and hardware are included.
Overall, putting the Assault Bike together shouldn’t be an issue. And since it’s fairly lightweight, it’s very doable for a single person.
I’d expect most folks can get this bike assembled in 30 min or so.
Warranty
Assault Fitness backs their Assault Bike Classic with the following residential warranty:
- 5 year frame
- 2 year parts
Ok, let’s break this down.
Five years on the frame is ok I guess, if we consider a lot of the luxury spin bikes (like the Peloton) only offer 5 years on their frames (and they cost a whole lot more).
It’s also better than the 2 year frame warranty Rogue offers on their Echo Bike (why that warranty is so short is beyond me, that thing looks like a freakin’ tank).
The best frame warranty I’ve seen on an air bike is offered by XTERRA, who offers a lifetime frame guarantee on their AIR650 Air Bike Pro, although that bike costs significantly more.
Two years on parts is pretty standard when compared to all the other elite bikes (and even better than XTERRA’s parts warranty) in this class.
The only thing missing is a labor guarantee, which Assault only offers on their Elite model.
All things considered, the frame warranty could be longer, but overall not a bad warranty for a bike in this price range.
Final Thoughts
Ok, that’s about all I got.
I think the Assault Bike deserves mad props for its role in breathing life back into air bikes, but it’s still just as relevant today as ever.
Given its price and reputation, I still think the Assault Bike Classic is easily one of the best air bikes on the market.
It’s true, there are plenty of heavier-duty bikes out there, but let’s be real- the Assault Bike Classic is more than tough enough to handle the stress most of us home gymers are going to put it through.
Must I remind you that this bike cut its teeth with Cross Fitters?
And yes, Schwinn and a few other brands do offer better warranties, but those bikes cost more too.
Given its price to quality ratio, I think the AssaultBike makes a great fit for home use.
All things considered, I still think the Assault Bike Classic is a great buy. It really is a classic. Highly recommended.
I am a practicing lawyer and not affiliated in any way with either of the brands mentioned in this review.
I purchased an Assault Bike Pro for $799. It arrived on schedule and was straightforward to assemble. Unfortunately, when I began riding it, it was clear that something was wrong. It was extremely loud and grating, almost like a wood chipper. I have ridden several different brands of wind bikes, and this was DRAMATICALLY louder. Loud enough to cause hearing damage if ridden for an extended period of time. It was clear that it was delivered defective. I immediately called customer support but was told customer support was too busy and not taking calls. I checked the website regarding the return policy and the only instructions given were to contact the company for returns. Since an email address was not specifically provided for returns, I sent several emails to several different email addresses requesting instructions, though I did not receive any reply after 3 days. I called customer service and the info number daily in the interim and was not able to get through to anyone. After 4 days of calling, I was able to get someone on the phone. He explained that in order to return the defective product, I would have to pay shipping as well as a 20% restocking fee if it was not returned in new condition. I explained that it would be returned in new condition and I have no problem paying a reasonable shipping fee. He said he would follow up with instructions.
2 days later, I got instructions for initiating the return. The email explained that they would be charging over $400 for shipping ($200+ each way) in addition to a 20% restocking fee. All told, I would be paying $536 to return the product. That is nearly 70% of the original $799 price tag. I explained that the product would be returned in new condition, as it was barely used, but he claimed that if it was unboxed, the 20% restocking fee would apply, even though it is a defective product. That is not consistent with the return policy announced on their website, which I explained. The representative was unable to respond to that point and simply reiterated what they would be charging.
Altogether, I will be paying the $536 and spending several hours between unboxing, assembling, disassembling, and reboxing (they require returns to be returned in the same box, which is a bit of a puzzle). All for a product that was simply unusable. Honestly, I would’ve been completely fine paying the shipping one way, even though it was a defective product. I appreciate that shipping a heavy product is expensive, but these charges are absurd. Instead of letting me pay $200+ to to ship it back, and just taking the product back in new condition, Assault Fitness chose to take the extra $300. That speaks volumes to how they feel about their customers.
It is clear that Assault Fitness is unloading substandard and defective products and enforcing hidden and draconian fee schedules for returns in order to convince people to keep them. Take the money and run, I suppose. Businesses are free to conduct themselves as they wish, but I think most people would find such practices to be deceptive, at least.
It is frankly not a financially beneficial use of my time to write negative reviews online, though I do find personal value in writing positive ones. It is the holiday season, however, and I will be happy if one person who is focused on improving their exercise routine sees this review and decides not to light their money on fire by buying an Assault Bike.
I have ordered a Rogue Echo bike to replace the Assault Bike Pro, and it is due to arrive soon. I do hope to return to this space to write a positive review, if it is warranted!
That’s ridiculous, I can’t believe the way Assault’s customer service treated you and your situation. I’m sorry you had to go through such a tedious and expensive ordeal for a malfunctioning product, but I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. I wish you good luck with your new air bike and I’d love to hear back regarding your experience with Rogue and their Echo Bike.