XTERRA Fitness Air Bikes Provide the Ultimate Full Body Workout

I’ve always wondered why air bikes aren’t as popular these days as they once were. I remember growing up we had one in the basement. It was big, heavy and gold colored, which I guess was the style in the early to mid 70s. But in spite of the way it looked, it was something my entire family really enjoyed using, and it gave us all a great workout. After a half an hour on that thing, I was sweating bullets and had a good burn in my arms and legs.

These days you can still find some air bikes around, but they’re not as ubiquitous as traditional uprights, recumbents and indoor cycles. Sure, they don’t quite mimic an outdoor ride due to the way they are constructed and the type of workout they provide, but as far as a great full body workout, they really can’t be beat in my opinion.

Air bikes have distinct advantages over other types, including the fact that they offer an upper body workout and unlimited resistance levels. In essence, they are like two machines in one: you get the pedaling of a bike combined with the alternating arm workout of an elliptical. As such you are targeting every muscle group, something you just can’t do on any other type of exercise bike. Of course, you could curl a couple of light dumbbells while you ride on a traditional upright...but it’s just not the same as the continual back and forth resistance of the left and right handlebars.

Speaking of resistance, the second major advantage of the air bike is the fact that it offers unlimited resistance levels. Most exercise bikes have a finite number of levels that you can adjust with a knob or lever. On an air bike, you choose your own resistance level...the harder you pedal, the harder the resistance, and vice versa. So, you decide how hard you want to train. This makes it ideal for any user level, from the beginner all the way up to the advanced rider.

There are plenty of other benefits to the air bike as well...it’s very low impact, it’s relatively compact, it burns a lot of calories, the fan keeps you cool, it’s easy to use….simply put it’s an incredibly effective cardio machine that is a great addition to any home gym.

That’s why you would think they’d be more popular than they are. But the fact is very few companies make air bikes. But for big fans like me (no pun intended), I’m glad I was able to find one for my home gym. It reminds me of my childhood...only difference is I tire out a bit quicker than I did when I was a kid.



The XTERRA Fitness Bikes (AIR350 & AIR650 Pro)


When I moved into my new house, one of the first things I looked into buying after the obligatory appliances was an air bike. I started my search with the brand that I had growing up, but unfortunately, they were no longer making air bikes. I did find a couple that I liked, but then I remembered XTERRA Fitness. I was familiar with their treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bikes but I didn’t know if they carried air bikes as well. As it turns out, they did.

XTERRA Fitness is known for four things: high quality, wide selection, great customer service and competitive pricing. There’s a model for everyone, no matter what your budget or fitness level is. Another USP is that there is no tax on any of their cardio equipment, which saves you a lot of money. Add to that free shipping and a 30-day money back guarantee, and you can see why XTERRA Fitness has become so popular over the last few years.



They have two air bike options: the AIR350 and the AIR650 Pro. The AIR350 is more of an entry level model and the AIR650 Pro is a bit more advanced. What I liked immediately about both of them is that they are very well constructed and well designed. They both come with large bright consoles, padded handlebars and seats, large foot pedals and plenty of adjustability to get the perfect fit. I don’t think my old air bike had any of that!

The AIR350 has a 6-blade flywheel providing the resistance, a heavy-duty belt drive, LCD console with device holder and a 250 lb. maximum weight capacity.

The AIR650 Pro has more of a minimalist design, with a 9-blade flywheel, heavy-duty chain drive, curved hand grips, more advanced console with built in workouts and heart rate monitoring and a 350 lb. maximum weight capacity.

Both bikes have up/down as well as fore/aft seat adjustability, transport wheels, large foot pegs for upper body only workouts and contoured seats.

Ultimately, I opted for the AIR650 Pro because the entire family will be using it and it’s a bit heavier duty. I also like the fact that there are built in programs to add some variety to our workout routines. It’s a bit more expensive than the AIR350, but for us it was worth the additional expense. For individual users the AIR350 is a great option as well if you don’t need the more advanced model.

If you’re in the market for an exercise machine for your home, definitely consider an air bike. It’s a great choice that the whole family will enjoy. You can ramp up your cardio and hit all of the upper and lower muscle groups in one workout. XTERRA Fitness has two great options for you, so take a look at both and decide which one works best for you.


Author: David Bloom
David Bloom is an avid runner and fitness enthusiast who has been reviewing treadmills and other cardio equipment since 2006. He is a regular contributor to many well-regarded health and exercise websites.