Rogue Echo Bike vs The Competition

Sweating profusely, screaming self-motivation at myself, legs in absolute agony. In fact, all my body parts are in agony. Such is the one-on-one battle that my whole body is engaged in. My opponent: The Rogue Echo Air Bike.

Designed to deliver an unforgiving, exhilarating, and intense cardio workout, air bikes are increasing in popularity as more and more home gym owners recognize their benefits. The huge fan and fearsome moving handlebars complement a (mostly) metal frame and give top-quality air bikes an unmistakable and formidable look.

With unlimited levels of resistance thanks to their use of air resistance, fan bikes can test even the fittest of athletes, pushing them to their absolute limit.

Epitomizing all of these traits is the Rogue Echo Bike. Sturdy, overbuilt, and durable, the Rogue Echo is capable of being both your best friend and worst enemy.

To find out just how good it is, we’ve pitted the Rogue Echo against its main competitors with an in-depth, complete comparison. Competitors include some of the best air bikes on the market right now as well as other exercise bikes that you might want to consider

Let’s get into it.

Rogue Echo Bike Overview

Appearing on the air bike market with a bang, Rogue’s sturdily built machine is making some serious waves. It’s capable of delivering a brutal workout, burning fat, crushing calories, and toning muscles.

I’ve had it in my modest home gym for over 6 months now. I use it every day and consider it the best purchase I’ve made. I love it and hate it.

Rogue describes the Echo as overbuilt, and they couldn’t be more accurate. The Echo is the most stable, durable, and sizeable air bike on the market right now. It can stand up to even the toughest of sprints and with its full-metal frame will last a heck of a long time.

At around $795 (at the time of writing) the Echo Bike is one of the most fairly-priced bikes on the market. For what it offers, $795 feels like a bargain, especially when you consider the cost of its competition.

With a smooth, durable and quiet belt-driven system, the Rogue will take you through any workout with ease. Whether it’s a HIIT blast or a long endurance run the Echo will purr its way through the workout, wrecking your legs and arms in the process.

Its only faults are the basic and somewhat disappointing console, the handle grips are slightly too fat, and the fact that it takes up a fair bit of space.

It’s also a heavy machine so it can be tough to move around, though the decent transport wheels make this a little easier. If you want to move it onto turf or over any rough or soft surface, you’ll need the aftermarket turf tire and handle kit.

None of these faults are deal-breakers though and the Rogue is a definite best-buy within the air bike market. It’s a well-built, durable machine capable of giving even the fittest users a tough workout.

Pros of the Rogue Echo Air Bike

Cons of the Rogue Echo Air Bike

Rogue Echo Bike vs The Competition: A Quick Comparison

	Cost	Dimensions	Weight
Rogue Echo Air Bike	$745	29.875″ W x 58.875″ L x 52.75″ H	127 lbs
Assault Air Bike	$999	23.3″ W x 50.39″ L x 48.4″ H	98 lbs
Xebex Air Bike	$695	26″ W x 48″ L x 52″ H	109 lbs
AirDyne Air Bike	$1,299	20″ W x 42″ L x 52″ H	113 lbs
Concept2 BikeErg	$990	24″ W x 48″ L x 44.5″ H	68 lbs
Peloton Bike	$1,895	22.8” W x 58.6” L x 53.1” H	134 lbs

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Rogue Echo Bike vs Assault Bike: Head-to-Head Comparison

The Assault Air Bike is so popular that it’s common to refer to air bikes as “assault bikes”. Produced by California-based company Assault Fitness, it has taken the air bike market by storm providing riders with durability, demanding workouts, and ride comfort.

It’s the most direct competitor to the Rogue Echo and a good place for us to begin our comparison.

Build Quality

The solid steel frame provides sturdiness and stability on the Assault Air Bike. The build quality is one of the big plus-points on the Assault. It’s capable of standing firm on those all-out sprints and with 2mm steel tubed handlebars, it provides a robust upper body workout too.

It’s difficult to see how the Assault could be better built. That is until you come across the Rogue Echo. Deliberately overbuilt for stability and sturdiness, the Echo’s build quality is unmatched by most fitness equipment.

No matter what you throw at it, the Rogue will stand up to the challenge. Its steel frame is wider and sturdier than the Assault, and the slightly stiff handlebars provide a serious challenge for your upper body muscles.

Despite being built primarily of steel and weighing a ton, the Rogue Echo Bike is surprisingly easy to set up too. A quick scan of customer reviews on the Assault should have you prepared for lots of sweating and swearing during set-up.

Price

At $999 the Assault isn’t stupidly overpriced, but when you compare it to the cheaper Rogue Echo you do wonder what you’re paying extra for.

Assault has a bigger reputation in the air bike market but if I’m parting with that sum of cash, I want quality, not the brand name. Rogue wins hands down here.

Console

This is one area where we’ve criticized air bikes in the past. The monitors are fairly basic, and it feels like they could offer more.

On the Rogue, there is a reasonable range of workout data to track your stats and it can connect to your Polar heart-rate monitor. But it remains as basic as they come, not even bothering with a backlight making it a pain to see in certain lighting.

Assaults isn’t exactly hi-tech but does offer personalized customization to the preset workout programs and more data than can be found on the Rogue. With info on overall time, segment time, distance, speed, rpm, and heart rate the Assault has the edge here.

Noise

With a chain-driven system, the Assault is about as noisy as modern air bikes come. You won’t need earmuffs as with the old Schwinn models but your neighbors won’t be impressed if your garage or walls aren’t that soundproof.

The Rogue on the other hand is about as quiet as air bikes come. With a belt-driven system, most of the noise comes from the air rushing over the fan. This means you can hear your music as you work out and not annoy the rest of your household.

Space

Air bikes are notorious for having a large footprint. They have to so they can survive those big sprint finishes without toppling over or falling apart.

Despite being slightly smaller, the Assault still provides a satisfactory amount of stability and durability.

Drive System

Rogues’ use of the belt-driven system puts it streets ahead of the Assault in this category. The belt-drive is smoother, quieter, and requires less maintenance than the chain-drive found on most air bikes including the Assault.

Adjustment Options

The Assault Air Bike has a 6-way (6!) adjustable seat so that it fits a wide range of sizes and body types. It’s also shaped for comfort on those long slogs.

Despite its versatility, the seat can be wobbly, in some cases coming loose. Not ideal if you’re mid-sprint.

The pedals on both bikes are grippy and can be easily swapped out for more advanced pedals if you prefer cleats or straps.

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Rogue Echo Bike vs Xebex Air Bike

Xebex air bikes have been around for a while now. One of the first modern air resistance bikes to challenge the dominance of Schwinn, Xebex has come out with possibly the best-looking air bike around with slick, curved arms and a glossy overcoat.

Xebex is far from a household name in the fitness world, hence they have struggled to make the impression Rogue and Assault have on the air bike market.

Those who have taken the plunge with the Xebex though haven’t regretted it. Behind the Rogue, I think this is the next best air bike you can buy. It’s not stupidly overpriced, it looks awesome, and it runs like a dream.

Build Quality

I’ve mentioned how much I love the look of the curved handlebars (probably several times). They have practical benefits too. The straight handlebars tend to come worryingly close to your knees as you pedal and push/pull. Curving the handlebars removes this worry and is a thoughtful and slick addition from Xebex.

In general, the build quality of the Xebex is excellent. Like most air bikes it’s made from high-quality steel. It doesn’t move much with hard pedaling, in no small part thanks to the reinforced pieces of steel all around the bike.

The overbuilt nature of the Rogue still takes this category for me though. The Echo feels as heavy-duty as one of Rogues’ power racks, comfortably absorbing sprints from the heaviest of users. The Xebex isn’t bad by any means, but the Rogue is brilliant.

Price

Both bikes are fairly priced. The Echo is about $100 more but I think you get more bang for your buck so this is justified.

If the Echo is just out of your price range though, Xebex offers a good option here.

Console

The old Xebex models were somewhat notorious for having a clunky, rudimentary console. Thankfully the latest model has an upgraded console that matches the Rogue Echo Bike’s features.

Still very basic, it does have the option to use metric measurements (meters, kilometers vs miles) giving it an advantage over the Rogue. Its larger size makes it easier to read and the display is laid out slightly better too.

Noise

Like all chain-driven air bikes, the Xebex’s challenge to Rogue begins to fall apart here.

As we discussed in our separate rogue echo vs assault bike detailed review, the noise from the chain drive combined with the repeated whoosh of the air over the fan means chain-driven bikes make a ton of noise.

Space Needed

Unfortunately for the Rogue, the cost of added stability is a large footprint. At 26” x 48” x 52” the Xebex will take up less space in your home gym than the Rogue.

It’s lighter too and, with big transport wheels, is fairly easy to move around. The Rogue’s weight and size make it less portable. There’s also no obvious place to lift it from other than an ambiguous triangular section at the back.

Drive System

As mentioned, the Xebex uses a chain-drive thus needs regular maintenance, oiling, and is more likely to break. The quieter belt-driven system on the Rogue is much more durable and requires almost no upkeep.

Adjustment Options

The seat adjusts four ways, is reasonably comfortable, and easy to adjust. It’s nice and wide, though the comfort doesn’t take away from the pain this bike will deliver to your legs.

The pedals are grippy but, with a plastic base, fail to match the quality of the Rogue’s metal pedals. Like on the Rogue these are easy to change if you do want more durable or advanced pedals.

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Rogue Echo Bike vs AirDyne Pro (AD Pro)

The AirDyne Pro is Schwinns’ response to Assault Fitness and Xebex challenging their dominance of the air bike market. Before the others came along if you wanted an air bike you often ended up with a Schwinn. Unfortunately, these models were fraught with problems making it an easy market for Assault and Xebex to attack.

Schwinn’s response was to up their game and come out with the AD Pro. With a moisture-repellent steel frame, impressive belt-drive, and 26 blade fan the AD Pro is a smooth, durable, and remarkably quiet air bike.

Build Quality

With a moisture-repellent steel frame, built-in levelers, and enhanced structural support you will struggle to rock this machine however hard you sprint. The multi-grip function on the handlebars is a nifty addition helping add extra comfort to your workout.

The steel is double-coated on the AD Pro to protect against corrosion and is tough and heavy increasing durability. The thick nuts and bolts construction, along with a few tough welds, demonstrate that this machine is built to last.

The sheer size of the Rogue though means it keeps its title as the most well-built bike on the market. Rogue has a reputation for its commitment to build quality and the Echo air bike is no different.

Price

The AD Pro is priced at nearly twice the cost of the Echo, and I’m still trying to work out how. It’s by no means a bad bike, but its features and quality don’t justify the price tag.

Console

Credit to Schwinn here. Their console is miles ahead of their competitors. I’m not sure it justifies the extra $400, but it’s definitely a big plus point.

It’s clear and easy to read thanks to its size. It showcases plenty of metrics to help you track your workout. The computer also gives you the option of designing your own custom routine or you can just use one of the built-in routines.

The built-in tachometer can keep track of different HIIT routines to help you reach your targets and keep track of your progress throughout the workout.

As with most air bikes, the design is limited but it does offer more information and possibilities than most others. The Rogue’s for example doesn’t track your metrics during the workout, only telling you the results of your workout once finished.

Noise

With a specially designed fan and belt-driven system, the AD Pro runs smoothly and quietly. It’s a huge upgrade over the older Schwinn models.

Both the Echo and AD Pro are quiet relative to their competitors thanks to their belt-driven systems. There’s not much difference.

Space Needed

The AD Pro is one of the smaller air bikes around coming in at just 20” x 42” x 50”. At 113lbs it’s slightly lighter than the Echo as well.

Despite its smaller size, it’s rather stable thanks to the levelers and structural support.

Drive System

Both bikes use a belt-driven system which puts them far ahead of any other air bike on the market at the minute.

Adjustment Options

The AD Pro is equipped with a seat cushion to provide perfect knee placement, ensuring a comfortable workout. If this isn’t suitable for you, then you can easily switch it out for an alternative thanks to the universal seat rail.

Customer reviews suggest that anyone over 6ft might struggle to find a comfortable stride length. This seems rather low to me and is disappointing especially when you consider the price.

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Rogue Echo Air Bike vs Concept2 BikeErg

Existing as something in between an air bike and a spin bike, the auspicious-looking Concept2 BikeErg popped up on the market with a bang.

BikeErgs are much like air bikes in that they operate using air resistance and thus deliver unlimited levels of resistance. If you’re feeling fit you can even up the intensity by flicking the damper up a notch.

Much like a spin bike, they only work your legs so if you’re looking for an upper-body challenge, an air bike is the superior machine.

That said, the workout this machine can deliver is nasty. Your legs will be in bits, particularly if you’re feeling over-confident and ramp up the damper settings. It can replicate real-world cycling quite nicely, simulating uphill and downhill routes whilst tracking your metrics and workout stats superbly well.

Build Quality

Like with a lot of Concept2 models, the BikeErg appears to defy logic. With its elegant and lightweight frame, you’d expect the BikeErg to feel unstable once you up the tempo. As it is, the BikeErg is actually deceptively solid and there’s almost no movement, even as you unleash a hard sprint.

Built with a simple aluminum frame it’s hard-wearing and durable too, so it will last a long time without the need for maintenance or new parts.

Even so, the BikeErg struggles to match the size and sturdiness of the Rogue when it comes to build quality. By being overbuilt, the Echo Bike ensures stability and solidity as you ride.

Price

Both leave a hole in your wallet. The Rogue slightly less so coming in at $795 compared to the Concept2 $990.

Console

Concept2 has a reputation for developing top-quality monitors. The PM5 on the BikeErg is no different.

Choosing your workout is a breeze using this console, with your metrics tracked throughout your workout so you can judge how you’re performing. The PM5 measures your calories, cadence, pace, and watts. It also has first-rate connectivity beyond just connecting to a Polar HRM.

Like most air bikes, the Echo Bike’s console can’t match the quality and high specs on the BikeErg. There’s a joy in simplicity too though. Simply jump on and ride till your legs (or arms) give in.

Noise

Both machines use air resistance so naturally, make a lot of noise. The air rushing over the fan blades can make one heck of a racket and to be fair both are quieter than I expected.

Space Needed

It’s a landslide victory for the BikeErg here. The tiny, lightweight bike can fit nicely in a small corner of your gym or garage. The Echo’s huge footprint and tall handlebars limit where it can fit.

The BikeErg is just 24” x 48” x 44”. It’s light, so easily transported if one day you need to move it to make room for a hefty fan bike.

Drive System

Both use a belt-drive to move the flywheel. On the BikeErg the flywheel has a damper that acts as the bike’s gearing to simulate real-world cycling. High setting if you want to cycle uphill, low setting to cycle on a flat surface.

The belt-drives on both are super-smooth, durable, and hard-wearing. It’s a big plus point for each machine.

Adjustment Options

The BikeErg seat is comfortable enough but only adjusts up and down which can make the riding position a little uncomfortable for some people. Reviews also suggest that shorter users find the seat too high, even at its lowest setting.

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Rogue Echo Bike vs Peloton Bike

Peloton is not just a bike. It’s a lifestyle. And it’s one you can’t help but get sucked into.

With a devoted community, a selection of beautiful and charming instructors, 24-7 live and on-demand exercise classes, and giant HD touchscreens the Peloton Bike is taking exercising at home to new levels.

The social networking and live classes are undoubtedly a key selling point for this machine. But even beyond these, the Peloton continues to impress. Speakers pump out Cody’s tunes in surround sound (for those not “in the know”, Cody is most people’s favorite Peloton instructor), real-time data can track your stats in thousands of ways, and the magnetic resistance allows the bike to ride like a dream. This is one area where air bikes and spin bikes differ markedly.

It’s difficult to find faults with this bike, right up until you see the price…

Build Quality

It’s smooth and sturdy despite its slight build and sleek design. Even on the fastest sprints that 22” touchscreen doesn’t rock and you feel stable and secure the whole time.

The frame is made from welded steel, with a powder coat that just looks fantastic and protects the frame from scratches and impurities. It’s a durable frame that offers plenty of security for the user and can withstand a barrage of flat-out sprints.

Yet, we find ourselves comparing it to that monster frame the Rogue brings with it. The two are incomparable and the sheer strength and size of the Rogue mean it will outlast most exercise bikes with its build quality.

Price

With everything the Peloton brings with it, you almost want to say it’s worth the money. Yet on top of the $1,895 you pay for the bike, you need to pay an extra $50(ish) per month just to access the standout features of the bike.

In fairness, you can now finance the Peloton if you don’t fancy paying the $1,895 outright.

Console

It isn’t really a contest. 22” HD touchscreen vs 6” LCD screen.

Using the Peloton’s touchscreen you can immerse yourself in a world of diverse workouts led by a range of personal trainers. If that’s not your thing, then jump into the virtual realm provided by Google Maps and cycle anywhere in the world.

The touchscreen can offer so much more than just tracking your stats and is the central control hub for this impressive machine.

Noise

Unfortunately for the Rogue, being an air bike it inherently makes a lot of noise. The Peloton works on Magnetic resistance and a super-quiet belt-drive. For this reason, it’s significantly quieter. There are no touching parts either so you won’t any grating or metal clinking as you cycle.

Space Needed

Despite the enormous screen on the front, the Peloton can squeeze into tight spaces and tiny corners of your home-gym. The Rogue’s massive footprint means it needs a bit more room to fit in.

The Peloton has the big 22” touchscreen which makes it slightly heavier than the Rogue.

Drive System

Difficult to compare as both utilize a belt-drive system, yet the feel of each machine is entirely different.

The belt-drive is smooth and durable on both, but with magnetic resistance on the Peloton and air resistance on the Rogue, the ride on the Peloton is much smoother. That’s not necessarily a shot at the Rogue, the training outcomes are just entirely different on each machine.

Adjustment Options

Like so many premium spin bikes, the sports seat fitted onto the Peloton is rather uncomfortable as you go deep into those long, endurance slogs. It does adjust easily though and in numerous directions so you can perfect your cycling form.

The pedals also require cleats and aren’t easily changed which is a bit of a pain and costs extra for those of us who aren’t cycling fanatics.

Compared to the Rogue, the Peloton does come across as rather “high-maintenance” when it comes to comfort and adjustment options.

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Final Thoughts

For those keeping count in the Rogue Echo vs Competition battle, the Echo comes out on top 19-13.

The king of air bikes, the Rogue Echo has very few faults. If you buy one you will almost certainly both love and hate it (in almost equal measures).