How to choose between the Peloton bike and the + bike

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With some products, like phones, you have endless options to sort through. But if you want to buy one of Peloton’s spin bikes, you only have one two options: the Bici or the Bici+ (pronounced “bike plus”). That little “+” costs extra thousand dollars, then is it really worth it? Let’s dive in.

Overview of important features

I’ll go over the details below, but here’s the short answer: If you just want “a Peloton,” the regular bike is the original. It’s what most people have, it’s cheaper and it does the job well. I have a regular bike and never feel like I miss it. The regular price of a bike is $1,445, but with a good sale you can find it closer to $1,000. If you’re willing to look at used models, they can often be had in the mid to high three digits.

The Bike+ costs a lot more, why are you paying? The the tech components are nicer, so the experience on the screen will be a little faster and smoother. Other than that, the great features are self-resistance (the bike will continue with the classes without you having to turn the knob) ya rotating screen so you can turn it on its side for things like strength training and guided yoga sessions. List price for the Bike+ is $2,495, with deals sometimes as low as $1,995. Refurbished and used models will of course cost a little less.

What happens between the Bike and the Bike+

Most of the differences between the two bikes are related to technology, and we’ll get into those in a minute. But first, you should know what happens between the two bikes.

First, they are the same size. Both have the same footprint, 4 feet by 2 feet; Peloton recommends that you allow 24 inches on each side of the bike and that you place it in an area with ceilings that are at least 8 feet high. This allows even tall riders to stand up and pedal. (If you don’t mind standing, or if you’re shorter, you may be able to squeeze into a smaller space. I’m 5’6″ and have never had a problem with 7 foot ceilings in attics).

The controls and frame are the same, with the exception that the original bike had one removal of the seat post, and the Bike+ does not. (If buying used, make sure the seatpost has been replaced.) Both have a hard-wired 3.5mm headphone jack, although it’s probably more common to use the built-in speakers or a bluetooth headset instead of plugging in a pair of headphones. .

Both flavors of bikes can fit a rider who is between 4’11” and 6’4″ and weighs up to 297 lbs. The bike itself weighs 135 pounds and the Bike+ weighs 140, mainly due to the large flywheel (with spin bikes, the heavier the flywheel, the better).

Both Bike and Bike+ have access to the same subscription options. For the $44/month All Access subscription, you get:

• Bike classes: These are the classic offering, with a charismatic instructor leading you through a structured workout (and often peppering it with motivational speeches).

• Scenic bike rides, with “Radio Peloton” for the music (I usually mute it and just play my own music from my phone).

• Lanebreak (a kind of walking video game) on the bike.

• Access classes via the Peloton app on your phone.

• The ability to create multiple profiles for family members, so you can all share the bike without additional subscriptions.

In addition to cycling classes, the bikes and app can also offer strength tracking classes, stretching, yoga and more. You can also take cycling lessons on the phone app, a useful feature when you have access to a spin bike but it’s not a Peloton (for example, at a gym).

Now that we know what is the same, let’s analyze the differences.

The Bike+ has a rotating display, but don’t buy it just for that

The first thing you’ll notice about the Bike+ (and possibly its only visually distinguishing feature) is the fact that its screen is flipped. This allows you to set up a space next to the bike, perhaps with a mat and dumbbells, to do other types of workouts. Get off the Bike+, point the screen at your mat, and you can do a yoga class without having to crane your neck to see the seat.

The normal bike screen doesn’t rotate, but it does tilt. This allows you to adjust it for the most comfortable angle or to avoid glare while driving. However, if you want that spinning feature, you don’t have to shell out a big extra for a whole new bike, one aftermarket rotary assembly it’s only about 50 smackers.

The Bike+ has automatic resistance and a real power meter

If the Bike+ has a killer feature, it’s this one. When an instructor tells you to set your resistance to 30, you don’t need to tap the button; the Bike+ adjust the resistance for you.

You can turn this feature on or off during a ride by tapping the lock icon next to the endurance numbers. On regular rides, the Bike+ will adjust the resistance whenever the instructor announces that the resistance is changing; on power zone trips, it will adjust as needed to stay in your power zone.

The problem is that auto endurance only works for rides where “target metrics” are programmed. This includes most rides from Peloton’s back catalogue, but it does no Includes rides where you follow along with an instructor in real time. After these rides go live, Peloton will add the target metrics, but they say it can take up to 24 hours for this feature to be available for a given ride.

The Bike+ also has a built-in power meter, so it can tell you exactly how many watts your output is. (Normal bike will show you one beloved power, but bikes can be miscalibrated and the power can be off.) While you can calibrate a regular bike, the Bike+ always knows how hard you’re pedaling, and you might appreciate that extra precision.

The Bike+ has better quality technology in its tablet

The screen on the front of your Bike or Bike+ isn’t just a screen; it is an entire tablet with its own processor, RAM and other electronic components. An underappreciated part of the Bike+ update is that everything on the tablet is nicer, better, and faster. The screen itself is larger: a diagonal of 23.8 “instead of 21.5”. The Bike+ also has:

• 4 gigabytes of RAM instead of just two

• A 2.5 GHz Qualcomm processor instead of a 2.0 GHz Mediatek one

• A 26-watt sound system with front and rear speakers instead of a 16-watt system with only rear speakers

• Bluetooth 5.0 instead of 4.0

• A USB-C port so you can charge your devices on the go (the regular bike has a charging port, but it’s micro-USB, so most of us would need to get an adapter).

• A smudge-proof coating and reduced glare on this large screen.

There are also two features that are better on paper, but most of us won’t care about. First, the Bike+ supports GymKit, a protocol for connecting your Apple Watch to the Bike+ to get heart rate data. (They stopped supporting GymKit briefly, as there’s a Peloton Apple Watch app that does most of what GymKit does, but they got enough complaints that returned it.)

Second, the Bike+ has a nicer selfie camera, 8MP vs. 5MP (and a privacy cover for that camera). Wait, does the Peloton have a camera?? I hear you say Yes, and according to Peloton its only use is to take a selfie to use as a profile picture. (You can also take a photo on your phone and add it to your profile using the app.) That said, Peloton users they said they used the camera for video chat— But no one seems to do it I like this feature.

Ultimately, these features mean your experience will be a little faster and smoother. Some Peloton riders say that the nicer technology means that Lanebreak is less likely to have that occasional lag when you switch “lanes” during the ride, and that the interface is generally a bit more responsive.

Conclusion: Peloton Bike vs. Bike+

The bike is a solid choice that will fulfill pretty much all of your Peloton dreams. The Bike+ has some features that are nice to have.

Buy the bike if:

• You just want a Dang Peloton.

• You don’t want to pay an extra $1,050 for minor upgrades.

Buy the Bike+ if:

• You want the fastest, smoothest technology experience.

• You would like the bike to fit during (most) of the classes.

• You’re a numbers nerd and want to know your exact horsepower and know that the bike is perfectly calibrated.

All in all, both are good options. The exact price differential between the two models will depend on whether you can find your chosen bike for sale, used or for rent (Pick the numbers for these scenarios here).