BowFlex VeloCore 22 Review: Does the Lean Mode Earn $2,199?

The VeloCore 22 tips side to side like a road bike, which adds real core work. But JRNY costs $149 a year, the warranty is short, and the list price only makes sense on sale.

Most exercise bikes ask you to sit still and pedal. The VeloCore asks you to sit still, or to throw the bike sideways under you. That second option is the entire pitch, and it is why a 22 inch screen model carries a $2,199 list price. We spent our time on one question: does the lean earn that money? The short answer is "sometimes, and mostly when the price drops". The longer answer needs a look at the frame, the screen and the subscription behind it.

A word on price first, because it changes every verdict below. BowFlex lists the 22 inch model at $2,199, yet its own page showed $999 on the day we checked, and a deal site tracked the same number. A bike that swings between those two prices deserves a rating that assumes you wait for the low one.

What leaning actually does

Release the lock and the frame pivots on its base, so the bike tips left and right as you push into the bars. Lock it and you have a normal indoor bike. BowFlex does not publish a tilt angle, so we cannot give you one from the spec sheet.

The effect is easy to describe. Your hips and obliques start working to keep you balanced, the way they do on a road bike when you stand up on a climb. Reviewers at Garage Gym Reviews said it felt unsteady at first and then settled into something that "made the ride feel a lot more like a game". We agree with the framing. It adds engagement and a little core work, not a second workout.

The honest limit is that a bike still holds your seat in place. Real core training means planks and carries. If you already do those, lean mode is a pleasant extra. If you hoped it would replace them, it will not.

The part that stays level

Underneath the party trick is a conventional magnetic bike. It has 100 resistance levels, a 33 lb flywheel and a 325 lb user limit, which beats the Peloton's published 297 lb. Magnetic resistance means no friction pad and almost no sound, and testers report almost no frame wobble even when standing.

The footprint is 59.8 inches long and 24.1 inches wide, and the bike weighs 158.3 lb with the 22 inch monitor on. Plan on two people to move it. In use, leaning needs about 60 inches of width, so leave clearance on both sides.

Fit is less generous. The handlebars adjust in height but not forward and back, and testers split on the seat: one called it rock hard, another liked it. Pedals take either SPD cleats or toe cages, and both come in the box, which saves you a $40 trip.

The screen and the JRNY bill

The 22 inch touchscreen is sharp and bright, and it runs BowFlex's JRNY platform. JRNY costs $19.99 a month or $149 a year after a two month trial. Without it, testers found only around four classes to play, plus manual riding.

That makes JRNY a real part of the price. Over three years the annual plan adds $447. You can ignore the screen and ride to a phone or tablet app over Bluetooth, but then you paid for a monitor you do not use. The bike also ships with a heart rate armband, speakers and a pair of 3 lb dumbbells for upper-body segments.

Price, warranty and what we would buy

The list price is $2,199, but BowFlex's page showed a sale price of $999 when we checked, and the bike has been discounted heavily. At $999 the VeloCore is a good deal. At $2,199 it is not, because a Schwinn IC4 costs far less and rides well if you bring your own screen. You just give up the lean.

The warranty is the weak spot. The frame and mechanical parts are covered for two years, electronics and the touchscreen for one year, and labor for one year. Testers also report roughly three hours of assembly with muddled instructions, and return shipping falls on you.

Buy it if you find it at or near $1,000, want a connected bike that is a little more fun than usual, and will ride the lean mode on purpose. Skip it at full price, or if you plan to run an outside app and never touch JRNY.