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The Rogue Echo means business with its heavy-duty steel construction, fan blade, and additional perks to keep it stable during even the most intense workouts. It’s built to be tough and appeal to hardcore fitness enthusiasts (and beyond).
There are some features that really make it stand out in the ever-more-crowded sea of exercise bikes. This Rogue Echo bike review is meant to help you determine if this is the best option for you, or if another bike would be a better fit.
The Rogue Echo Bike combines heavy-duty steel, precision engineering, and convenient customization to forge a stronger, sturdier fan bike.
Again, the HIIT vs. LISS argument comes into play, here. Which type of workout do you want? That’s not to say you can’t get a HIIT-style workout from an elliptical, but that’s not generally the purpose of those machines.
Contents
How to Choose a Stationary Bike
Any stationary bike will get you results if you use it and keep your nutrition in check, but there are some differences to consider in order to get the most enjoyment out of your purchase.
What Kind of Workout Do You Want?
Do you want to be in the saddle the whole time, pushing hard, getting your arms and upper body involved, or do you want stability for the upper body and the option to safely get out of the saddle and let your lower body do most of the work? When and how do you prefer to control the resistance?
Do you need the versatility of a traditional stationary bike, or will the air bike that works best with HIIT-style workouts be exactly what you’re looking for? You can do lighter, easier workouts with an air bike, but it’s not where they truly shine.
Air bikes like the Rogue Echo Bike are wonderful for HIFT (high-intensity functional training) workouts. This study concludes that air bikes “provide[s] additional muscle mass and subsequent cardiovascular stress than leg-pedaling alone,” and deems HIFT workouts effective at “improving health and fitness outcomes.”
How Stable Is It?
Nobody wants a wobbly bike. Make sure the one you choose is reported to be stable. The Rogue Echo Bike has rubber leveling feet and strong steel construction so it feels rock-solid while in use.
What Do You Want It to Do?
Which metrics are important to you? Do you want a bike that comes with workouts you follow along with (like Peloton), one that changes speed and/or incline automatically (like the NordicTrack S22i), one with a big screen (there are a few of those), or something simpler in design that will just get the job done? Does it need to connect to third-party apps?
Don’t forget to consider the possible issues that could be involved with more high-tech designs and decide if the potential for related headaches is worth it. The Echo is pretty low-tech.
What Are You Measuring?
Look at what you’re measuring and also decide if you need/want it to communicate with a smartwatch or apps on your phone. The Rogue Echo Bike does monitor heart rate with the help of a Polar monitor, but everything else will be limited to the LCD console.
The Rogue Echo Bike tracks:
- Distance
- Intervals
- How many calories you’ve burned
- Heart rate
- Targets
- Time
- RPM
- Watts (how hard you’re working)
Convenience of Water Bottle and/or Weights
This is pretty low on the list of things to consider, but where is the water bottle located? Is it going to be within reach while you work out? Will you have to stop and start again in order to grab it? Is there a chance you’ll hit your knee on it?
What about dumbbells—will you need them during any of the workouts you plan to do? Where are they going to be stored on the bike? Are they included?
What’s Included vs. What’s Extra
This probably won’t be a make-or-break portion of the decision-making process, but it’s something to consider. What will be included with your bike? A water bottle holder? Cell phone holder? Weights? Shoes? Mat? The Rogue Echo bike doesn’t come with extras, but the base price is lower than many others on the market that do come with accessories, so it’s not a huge loss.
Will You Clip In?
Do you want to be able to clip in on the bike you buy? It’s helpful when you want to push hard in your workouts, but not always necessary. If you want to spend time standing, out of the saddle, you’ll need to clip in or use cages for safety.
Straps or the option to clip into different pedals can also help with the pulling motion while you pedal for a more thorough lower body workout.
The Rogue Echo pedals aren’t the kind you clip into and they don’t have cages. However, because of the design of the bike and the intensity of workout you’ll get, you probably won’t need to get out of the saddle. If you do want to clip in with the Rogue, you can get Shimano pedals and swap them out.
Which Type of Resistance Is Right for You?
Here are some of the main types of resistance you may see in exercise bike options:
- Magnetic: There are magnets on each side of the flywheel (which is weighted for resistance and is covered) that repel each other. Bikes with magnetic resistance are quiet, allows you to change the resistance with a knob or digitally, generally maintenance-free.
- Direct contact: This uses friction on the flywheel to increase resistance. You’ll change resistance manually with this type. This type of resistance can be noisier than magnetic resistance options, requires maintenance, and the pads will wear out eventually, but these bikes usually cost less.
- Fan-based blade: This is what the Rogue Echo has. It’s a low-maintenance setup that uses a belt to propel the fan as you pedal. The faster you pedal, the more resistance you get. While somewhat quiet, fan blades may make more noise than the other options.
How’s the Warranty?
Warranties vary by company, of course, but don’t forget to check that before making a commitment. The Rogue Echo Bike is under warranty for two years. You can see the full warranty information here.
Key Features of the Rogue Echo Bike
The Rogue Echo Bike has quite a few things going for it that make it an excellent choice for people who are serious about getting, or staying, fit:
- Strong steel frame
- The dimensions are 52.75” H x 58.875” L x 29.875 W.
- The footprint is 44.5” x 23.75”.
- LCD console that tracks intervals, heart rate, distance, calories burned, and more
- Smooth ride
- Belt-driven fan
- Metal pedals
- 350-pound weight limit
- Weighs 127 pounds
- Rubber feet
- Rubber handles
- Works with Shimano accessories
- Works with Polar heart rate monitors
- Wheels to make it easier to use
- Moving handlebars for upper body engagement
The Rogue Echo Bike combines heavy-duty steel, precision engineering, and convenient customization to forge a stronger, sturdier fan bike.
Pros
No piece of exercise equipment is perfect, but this one has more pros than cons:
- It’s strong, sturdy, and stable.
- The wheels make it easy to move around even though it’s so sturdy and heavy.
- It’s reasonably priced.
- It’s low maintenance.
- Steel blades are built to last.
- It gives you a full-body workout with resistance that builds as you work harder.
- It’s somewhat quiet, though air-bikes do make some noise, just like a fan.
- It tracks everything you could want it to track.
- You’ll get an accurate report of calories burned because the bike stops when you do, rather than continuing to spin to a stop.
Cons
There are a few negatives here:
- You have to buy accessories separately (wind guard, phone holder, bottle cage). They don’t cost that much to begin with, but I think they should be included. Even though it’s not the most expensive option, it’s still expensive.
- If you want your feet to be more secure on the pedals, you’ll either need to replace them with a different model or purchase separate straps.
- It’s bulky compared with other models, though it’s still not excessively so.
- Data doesn’t feed into an app for easy tracking.
Alternatives We’d Recommend
If you’re not sure if the Rogue Echo is right for you, comparing it with other models might help:
Rogue Assault Bike
The Rogue Assault Bike is similar to the Rogue Echo, but not quite as bulky.
Pros
- Takes up less space
- Costs less than the Echo
- Sturdy
Cons
- Not as stable as the Echo
- Uses a chain, not a belt
Finally, a heavy-duty exercise bike designed directly from the feedback of athletes and coaches. The Assault AirBike reinvents and retools nearly every component of the traditional fan bike, from the frame construction to the crank, pedals, monitor and more.
Peloton
This is a totally different machine, not an air bike, but you might still be wondering about how it compares.
Pros
- You’ll be using an app to get access to all kinds of trainer-led classes, from tabata to endurance.
- Music is built into the workouts so you won’t have to find your own playlist.
- Community is a big part of the Peloton experience.
- You’ll adjust the resistance with a knob, and pedaling faster doesn’t mean more resistance.
Cons
- You’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access the app.
- It’s more expensive
- While the extra technology is nice, there’s more to potentially go wrong.
Concept2 BikeErg
This is an interesting, lightweight design, with a flywheel (with fan blades) and damper combination. You control the resistance in a similar way to changing gears on an outdoor bike, but by manipulating the airflow to the flywheel.
Pros
- Has a smartphone holder and connects to apps like Zwift
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Quiet
- You can set up a workout before you start
- Easy to move around since it’s so lightweight and has wheels
Cons
- More expensive
- Could be harder to get than other options (as of this writing, there’s a waitlist)
- Handles don’t move, so you won’t get the same upper body involvement you get from the Rogue Echo
The Concept2 BikeErg gives you an affordable high-quality training option. Suitable for both home and commercial use, Concept2’s indoor exercise bike adds workout variety for general conditioning, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), rehab, warm-up, recovery and more.
Schwinn Airdyne
There are three versions of the Schwinn Airdyne bike—the AD7, AD6, and AD2–but they have a lot in common, so I’ll combine them here. All of them have “infinite levels of air resistance,” as you can see here. All track at least distance, calories, time, and RPM on an LCD screen.
Pros
- Two of the models cost less than the Rogue Echo.
- Two of the models come with a water bottle holder.
- Multiple hand positions are available on the Airdyne AD7, like what you’d find on a spin bike.
- The warranty is outstanding—up to 10 years on the frame, 2 years mechanical and electrical, and six months on labor.
Cons
- Not quite as stable as the Rogue Echo, which has a very special build that makes it hard to beat in this category.
- The AD7 costs more.
The Schwinn Airydne AD7 Bike combines the latest in air resistance technology with unmatched durability and performance, allowing you to reach your full potential in the comfort of your home.
Rower
Is the Rogue Echo better or worse than a rower? Both work upper and lower body simultaneously, but they’re pretty different workouts.
Pros
- You can get a full-body workout without being rough on your joints.
- Some people find rowing workouts more engaging, though this could also be a downside if you just want to zone out.
- The workouts can get pretty intense if you want them to.
Cons
- Some people find that rowers require more flexibility and mobility than they have; bikes require less.
- There’s no upper body pushing motion with the rower.
- Takes up more space (though you may be able to fold it up).
FAQ’s
Answer: Yes and no. You’ll get an amazing workout with it. It’s sturdy. It’s easy on the joints and a full-body cardio workout, which means you’ll be burning more calories by working upper and lower body at the same time.
However, air bikes are especially challenging and not ideal for longer, steady-state workouts. If it’s in the budget, you’re already into fitness (or really want to challenge yourself right out of the gate), and you’re a fan—no pun intended–of HIIT and tabata-style workouts, there’s a good chance the Rogue Echo is exactly what you need.
That said, there are less expensive options, especially if you’re open to standard exercise bikes. If you primarily want to do LISS (low-intensity steady state) workouts, you’ll likely be disappointed.
Answer: The Rogue Echo bike works your quads, for sure. You’ll also be working your glutes, calves, shin muscles, hamstrings, core, and even upper body muscles. This bike will give you a full-body workout.
Answer: The bike itself is just under $800.00. You can then add accessories, like a bottle cage, phone holder, and wind guard, for additional fees.
Answer: Yes. It’s harder to get going on it. You can also put more effort into your workouts on it because it feels sturdier.
Answer: Absolutely! You’ll burn more calories and fat by using your upper and lower body at the same time. Workouts can be quick and effective.
Answer: A couple of reasons. It’s a full-body workout, not just a lower body one. The harder you work, the harder it gets because the resistance automatically increases. Unlike traditional stationary bikes, there’s no knob to control the resistance or make a workout harder or easier as you pedal.
Answer: When you’re dropping hundreds of dollars or more on a bike, you want it to last. Are some parts likely to wear out and break over time? How solid is it? Extra bells and whistles are nice but sometimes simple is best when you want a low-maintenance experience and the confidence that you’re getting your money’s worth without a lot of hassle.
The Rogue Echo is solid, low-maintenance, and doesn’t have a lot of extras that are likely to cause you grief in the years to come.
Answer: You can get an effective, intense workout in a short amount of time with a fan bike. If you prefer high-intensity cardio workouts over longer endurance rides and steady-state rides, you’ll probably find it worth it.
If you prefer longer workouts, steady-state rides, or taking it easy some days, you may be better served with a more traditional stationary bike.
Answer: Overall, the one that’s “better” is the one you’ll enjoy using the most (because that means you’ll actually use it!), but if you have a lower-body injury, you may do better with a bike. You’ll get a full-body workout from either one, assuming you’re using your arms on the elliptical too.
Rogue Exercise Bike Review: Conclusion
I recommend it. It’s sturdy, likely to last a long time so you’ll get your money’s worth, and it will give you a fantastic workout.
If shorter, intense workouts are a major component of your routine, this bike is probably perfect for you. If you know you want an air bike, this is the one I recommend.
If you never or rarely intend to use high-intensity workouts as part of your fitness plan, you would be better served by another bike (not an air bike). If you want to follow along with classes on apps or love steady-state endurance rides, I don’t recommend the Rogue Echo.
The Rogue Echo Bike combines heavy-duty steel, precision engineering, and convenient customization to forge a stronger, sturdier fan bike.
