The bike arrived 5 days after my order was placed, well packed and with good instructions. A large scary label fell out of the instructions that said "This product contains chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. This Product is not a toy and it's not designed/intended to be used by children 12 years of age or younger." This prompts me to want to call the manufacturer to find out which part(s) they are talking about. I took off a star because of this and the noise coming from under the shroud covering the main mechanism. Not the best way to find this information out after the product has been delivered and unpacked. I hope I don't have to return it. (UPDATE: I called IMPEX and they said the seat material is the culprit if it is eaten. They are required to make the statement by law). I expect many modern devices have similar cautionary notes, most in very small print. IMPEX sent me a copy of the Prop 65 explanation. It would probably be better if they included this notice with the instructions, it takes away any concerns that people might have.
INSTALLATION
After unpacking the parts I assembled the bike myself in 35 minutes. Everything was obvious and well labeled. I got on the bike and was surprised to hear a metallic noise (sounded like a chain and cog although it uses a belt) coming from the main chassis. I thought all I would hear would be fan noise. I think it must be coming from the mechanism inside the cowl. (Update: IMPEX told me to unscrew the cowls or shrouds as they call them, so I did. I found a chain connecting the pedals to the Crank Wheel sprocket which is where the noise is coming from. The sprocket seems to be mis-aligned and the chain is very tight). There's no way for a consumer to get the shrouds completely off and even then the fix is not an easy one and there are belt adjustments that need to be done (rubber belt and chain). I may have to send this back unfortunately. I'm not having much luck with these machines. I've waited two months to get something. (The IMPEX person was willing to help for sure and I am not unwilling to do minor repair work but this is not minor). BTW, there are 7 screws attaching the left shroud to the bike and 3 screws attaching the right shroud to the bike. The Crank Wheel has a warp in it, as does the fan. The fan is not touching the wire cage however, which is good. The warp in the Crank Wheel causes the belt to move from side to side although it has ribs which prevent lateral movement on the Crank Wheel which is also ribbed). The ribs should prevent the belt from ever slipping off the crank wheel. Since the cog is on the same shaft as the ribbed wheel, adjusting the chain tension affects the belt alignment. Out of interest, the sensor for the electronics is attached to the frame and a magnet is attached to the large cogged wheel holding the chain. I'll update this review after hearing from the suppliers/manufacturers.
UPDATE: IMPEX were very responsive as were Plumstruck. They both offered to help. The next day IMPEX called me to say that they had shipped a new base unit to my house. I got it today (Thursday night). I set it up and everything is much better, no warped wheels and the noise is lower and sounds more normal. I am very satisfied and can't wait to get going again.
THINGS I LIKE
The seat is reasonably comfortable (I will not be taking a bite out of it) and has a nice soft feel. The display came with batteries although the description said it didn't. I like the large display very much and I don't mind the lack of a heart monitor because I have the Timex heart monitor that includes a strap that goes around my chest and a watch that shows my pulse. Built in monitors are included in more expensive machines and I'd rather use my own. I also like being able to park my feet on the footrests while I use the handles instead of the pedals. I wanted to choose between feet and hands or both. The foot straps were hard to get installed but that may mean they are hard to dislocate (They stay on very well). The transport wheels are very nice to have and they are configured close together so it should make moving very easy when necessary. It's too bad that the sprocket is giving me problems but I would rather not deal with a broken chain sometime in the not-too-distant future, I'm sure the bike would be out of commission for quite a while if the chain broke. UPDATE: IMPEX shipped a new unit so I don't have this problem anymore, full marks to them.
I've seen comments about seats but I think that any discomfort goes away after the derriere gets accustomed to the machine, much like riding a horse or a regular bike. Consider the pressure that you feel on your butt was on your knees before and be happy. UPDATE: When you sit back on the seat there's plenty of give and no discomfort.
THINGS I'VE NOTICED
The speed readout displays TWO parameters, speed and RPM. The text is difficult to read but of course once you know what the readings are it's no big deal.
SUMMARY
A good product for a good price, sturdy and comes with excellent customer service if needed. Assembly is very easy and even pleasurable. No flimsy components. I recommend it. After a few months I can say that I am really enjoying this machine. I am doing Tabata training on it and it's perfect. I wouldn't change a thing about it. After using the bike for a number of months now I updated my star rating to 5, I am very satisfied with the bike and very satisfied with the price.
UPDATE: January 2018
My wife and I still use this product every day and it performs flawlessly. I've changed the display batteries once since I bought it. Great value. I know it's easy to get out of the habit of exercising but even 6 minutes of Tabata training a day will make a difference given the intensity. I plan to buy a reliable heartbeat monitor to make sure I'm not overdoing things. Still very happy with the product after five years or so of use.
UPDATE: March 28, 2019
My wife and I have been putting 11 combined miles a day on the bike since January 7th, 2019 and the chain gave way yesterday. I am ordering a replacement chain today. Otherwise everything is good. IMPEX had the chain in stock and are sending the replacement. Very reasonable price and shipping. About 7-10 days. I still have not replaced the batteries for the display.
| Brand | MARCY |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Foam-covered handlebars, Fan exercise bike with pair of dual-action exercise arms, Transport wheels for easy mobility, Adjustable, high-density foam seat |
| Color | Black |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Indoor |
| Item Weight | 79 Pounds |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Resistance Mechanism | Air |
| Product Dimensions | 46"D x 24"W x 48.5"H |
| Maximum Weight Recommendation | 300 Pounds |
| Model Name | AIR-1 |
| Maximum Height | 48.5 Inches |
| Minimum Height | 47 Inches |
| Number of Resistance Levels | 1 |
| Drive System | Belt |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 45 x 27 x 14 inches |
| Package Weight | 36.74 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 46 x 24 x 48.5 inches |
| Brand Name | MARCY |
| Warranty Description | 2 Years |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Marcy |
| Part Number | AIR-1 |
| Model Year | 2007 |
| Style | Dual Action Black | AIR-1 |
| Included Components | Warranty card, one fan bike, User manual |
| Size | 48.0' L x 25.0' W x 48.0' H |
| Sport Type | exercise_&_fitness |
