Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike Review
As its name suggests, the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is designed to give exercise not only to leg muscles like other recumbent bikes but to arm and core muscles too. Thus by using this bike, users can expect to get a full-body workout at home without having to get their joints impacted.
Published: January 20, 2022.
Stamina Elite Total Body Specifications
- Dimensions when assembled: 52 x 24 x 49 inches (132 x 61 x 124.5 cm) (L x W x H)
- Weight when assembled: 121 lbs. (55 kg)
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Maximum user weight capacity: 250 lbs. (113.3 kg)
- Warranty: 5 years on frame, 1 year on parts
Stamina Elite Total Body Features
Assembly
Fortunately, the most hard-to-assemble parts of the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike, viz. pulley, the magnetic resistance system, console and handlebar posts, come already assembled.
Thus users have to only connect the pulse sensor cable, then attach the back side of the frame to the main frame, then join the base stabilizer bars, then assemble the seat frame, seat and backrest, the moving handlebars and lastly the pedals. All this shouldn’t take more than an hour. The included manual has all detailed instructions. The required tools are included too.
Frame
Frame of the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is made of steel tubing just like most other exercise bikes. All the steel components have a double coating of corrosion-resistant silver paint which is the only available color. But the flywheel, crank guards, console casing and base caps are made of plastic.
The main frame is divided into two parts. The back part which holds the seat assembly slides into the front part and gets secured with two bolts. This joint is very strong and there is no wobbling.
Footprint
Although the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is not foldable, it doesn’t have a very large footprint. It only occupies a floor space of 52″L x 24″W, and thus a user with a small space should face no problem with this bike. Even it doesn’t need a big clearance on its sides for pedal safety.
Portability
The bike is quite heavy as it weighs 121 lbs. However, it has small wheels on its front base, so, it can be relocated by lifting its rear base.
Stability
The rear base of the bike has two adjustable stabilizers with rubber caps. It even has another stabilizer on the rear part, just near the point where it connects to the front part. These stabilizers offer optimum stability to the bike.
Seat and Backrest
Both the seat and backrest of the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike have contoured padding of 2” to 3” thickness that offers maximum comfort and lumbar support. The upholstery on both these is made of strong vinyl material.
The seat is 4-way adjustable i.e. it not only moves near and farther from the pedals but also up and down. The vertical adjustment can be done in 4 positions with total adjustment span of around 6”. Thus this bike can comfortably accommodate users between 4’8″ and 6’5″ (142 – 196 cm).
The backrest of the bike however is not adjustable on its own, but it moves along with the seat. Also its angle or height is not adjustable.
Console
The console of the Stamina Elite is not very advanced, but it certainly offers a little more than a basic bike console. It doesn’t offer preset workouts; however, it offers the ability to select targets for workout distance, time, calories and pulse. It can track time, distance, speed, pulse and calories. Distance is calculated in the increments of 0.1 miles, whereas speed is measured in MPH.
The console doesn’t feature an odometer function. It has a SCAN function which automatically keeps scanning all these values while displaying each for 6 seconds. But users can also choose to view any one of them all the time. However the console cannot store the workout data; this has to be done manually if users want it.
The digits are quite large and easily readable. However, the display is not backlit and so, difficult to read in poor light conditions or even in direct sunlight.
The console has 5 buttons: MODE, UP, DOWN, ENTER and RESET, MODE for scanning through the values, UP and DOWN for setting up time, distance, calories and pulse targets, ENTER for final selection of values and RESET for resetting all the values to zero.
The console is thus very easy to operate and runs on 2 AA batteries.
Handlebars
The Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike features two sets of handlebars: one is stationary and the other is mobile, also called upper hand pedals. The stationary handlebars are connected to the seat assembly. They integrate stainless steel pulse sensors and have rubber foam padding for a firm grip.
The front handlebars on the other hand are mobile and provide an additional workout to users’ arms, shoulders and back. They spin both ways but are not independent of each other. The spinning movement of these handlebars provides some resistance but only if users don’t spin the pedals. This means that once users start moving the pedals, the resistance in the handlebars will be gone. Also, the resistance in these handlebars works only when they are rotated forward and not backward.
These handlebars can be connected to their axle in the opposite directions from each other or in the same direction, based on the workout users want to perform. Actually these handlebars are designed to provide a workout to users’ forearms, deltoid and triceps muscles.
The length of the hand pedals is adjustable to suit the user’s arms. They also have padding on them for a good grip and to prevent blisters on users’ hands.
Resistance
The Stamina Elite has 8 levels of magnetic resistance. The magnetic flywheel weighs around 18 lbs. (8 kg) and offers a steady and smooth pedaling motion. A steel cable connects the flywheel to the resistance knob above the plastic enclosure. When the knob is turned, the magnet will move towards or away from the metallic part in the flywheel, producing more or less drag.
1 to 6 levels of resistance offer light workouts while 7 and 8 provide a little more intense workout. However, in general, the bike is not designed to offer intense workouts. It’s made for recovery training and light aerobic workouts.
Drive System
The drive system of the Stamina Elite features two V-ribbed, strong belts, of which the longer one connects the mobile handlebars’ pulley to the flywheel while the other shorter one is for the pedals’ pulley connection.
This system makes the operation of the bike extremely quiet and thus, is ideal for apartment dwellers because neighbors or other members in the household are not disturbed during the exercise. Users can even watch TV while exercising without having to raise its volume.
The pulley on the crankset is quite large of around 10” (25 cm) diameter. It has plastic covers on its outside. The crank arms are made of solid steel.
Pedals
Pedals, also called lower foot pedals, are of standard size and are made of strong nylon material and have adjustable straps.
No Need of Electric Connection
As the Stamina Elite has a mechanical resistance system, it doesn’t need to be connected to an electric outlet. The console is battery powered too and needs 2 AA batteries.
The console has an auto on/off function. When users start pedaling or push a button it gets started and gets off after 4 minutes of inactivity.
Users can even use the bike without the console if the batteries are drained by adjusting the resistance. But they just cannot see their workout stats.
Maintenance
The Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike doesn’t require much maintenance. Users just have to check all the connections regularly and tighten them if required. Besides this, they should make sure the bike is free from any dust, dirt, moisture, or sweat, in particular the console.
Pros of Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike
- Strong, durable construction
- Innovative design that offers workout for multiple muscles rather than only leg muscles
- Small footprint
- Padded, contoured seat and backrest
- Seat is 4-way adjustable accommodating users between 4’8″ and 6’5″
- Mobile handlebars along with stationary ones
- Stationary handlebars with integrated pulse sensors
- 8 levels of mechanical magnetic resistance
- Console with the ability to set up goals for workout time, distance, pulse, and calories
- Easy assembly
- Quiet operation
- Very little maintenance
Cons of Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike
- Console not backlit
- No preset workouts
- No challenging workouts
- Can’t exercise with leg pedals and hand pedals simultaneously with resistance; while one has resistance, the other cannot have it – it just turns without any tension
- No sound system, accessory tray, bottle holder, or fan
- Maximum user weight capacity is low
- Warranty could have been better
Bottom Line
The Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is an innovative exercise machine that helps users work on multiple muscle groups and not only leg muscles, though it’s a recumbent bike. It comes with rotating handlebars that provide diversity to users’ exercise possibilities.
This bike is designed for recovery training and light cardio workouts, and even for physical therapy patients. But it can be ideal also for those who want to tone muscles, build stamina, gain or maintain cardiovascular health or lose weight. It’s strong and durable and comes with a not-so-bad warranty. Thus, although it cannot be called an exactly economical bike, it does offer an appropriate value for its price.
For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike Amazon link (link opens in the new window).
