Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsLOVE THIS BIKE! Info about fit, too.
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2018
Update: I've had this bike for a little over a month, and I still LOVE it. Pretty much ride it every day. I've started using it with the Peloton App, and added the Wahoo HR monitor and cadence meter. I'm completely in love with this set up! Someday I might upgrade to a bike with a resistance meter, but I fully intend to ride the heck out of this Sunny as long as I can!
***
I seriously LOVE this bike - great purchase, and amazing quality. I didn't expect it to be nearly as nice.
A couple of months ago, I went to my spin class at the gym, only to find that it had been cancelled at the last minute. I have a hard time making my schedule work to get to class, so I was pretty disappointed. But I don't like to ride outside in the cold (I'm seriously a wuss), so, rather than leave, I pulled up a spin class on YouTube. I got lucky and randomly landed on Paul Ryman's 40 minute class on Global Cycling Network - this class is actually 45 minutes long, and is the best video I've found so far, so if you're looking for a good video, that's a great one. Anyway, I hopped on the bike at the gym and did the YouTube class, which then got me thinking. If I had a spin bike, I wouldn't have to constantly try to work my schedule around the gym schedule, and I wouldn't be stuck riding my road bike outside in the winter cold. So I started researching.
I wanted a belt driven bike, and something that would not be a source of constant disappointment. I liked the idea of the Peloton bike, but I already have a TV on the wall where I work out, and thought maybe the screen might be annoying. I also didn't want to pay that much for a bike.
I read tons of reviews on as many belt driven bikes I could find, and liked the idea of the 49 pound fly wheel. After making my purchase, I can say that the weight of the flywheel is a major point in favor of this bike. The weight makes a fantastic ride - I can really control the resistance well, and there's just something about it that makes the ride super smooth. The construction of the bike itself is also fantastic. I don't even want to say "for the price," because I feel that is a completely unnecessary qualifier here. The frame is steel, and I don't have any wobbling or loose bolts. It's easy to put together and move around once it's ready. It's a great size - my workout room is a small den, and the bike doesn't take up much room at all.
Long story short, I really, really love this bike! I could swear it's better quality than the ones at my gym - maybe they're just worn out, and I know they don't do maintenance on them like they should. BUT - the Sunny bike is SO smooth, and being belt driven, it's quiet. My husband tells me he can't tell when I'm spinning in the next room over. There's a little bit of a woosh noise from the resistance pad (which is leather, btw), but short of buying a magnetic resistance bike and shelling out A LOT more money, this is the very best choice I could have made.
I haven't had any of the banging issues that other people have noted.
I've had the bike now for a week, and I've used it every day. It has already made my life better! I spin in the morning before work, and have tons of energy all day. I can't wait to go on my next actual road ride, because I can tell my fitness has already improved.
A couple of things to note about fitting this bike. I'm a 5'2" 134 pound woman. My inseam is borderline for this bike as is listed in the product description - barely 29 inches. After I clicked the Buy button, I really worried about what I would do if my legs weren't long enough. But after getting it all set up, I probably have about an inch to spare. The seat moves forward and back as well as up and down, which is, of course, integral to avoiding knee injury. The handlebars adjust in height, but don't adjust forward and back, which I knew from reading other reviews prior to purchase. It is a slight bit longer of a reach than I would prefer, but it's completely dealable and not really an issue. The seat is not as uncomfortable as I expected, but one of the reasons I chose this bike over some of the others is because I was able to swap out the stock seat for my favorite seat. Some other spin bikes don't give you that ability. I also changed out the pedals for SPD's. The pedals that come with the bike are fine, though, if you're used to using cages (straps) or want to ride flat foot. The cranks do seem a slight bit wider than I'm used to, but so far I'm not experiencing any pain or issues.
All in all - this bike is a great buy. Sturdy, smooth, easy to assemble - and the price is unreal. Super stoked that I made this purchase!