Bowflex Velocore vs. Bowflex C6 / Schwinn IC4 (Comparison)

By Robbie Ferri, Cyclist, Personal Trainer, and Group Exercise Instructor.

Spinning bikes are an amazing fitness tool you can have at home. They get you, fitter, improve your confidence, and even widen your social circle. Two bikes we get asked a lot about are the Schwinn IC4 / Bowflex C6 and the Bowflex Velocore. 

Note: Before we get into the nitty-gritty of comparing these bikes, we first have to mention that we are comparing two bikes in this article as the Bowflex C6 and Schwinn IC4 are the same bikes, just branded differently. 

In a hurry?

If you’re in a rush and just want the straight hitting stats, this is what you can expect from these bikes. The Velocore is more expensive but does come with a lot more features, such as the lean function and the huge 22” monitor. The Bowflex C6 is much cheaper but is more of a traditional spin bike that can still link up to applications if you require it.

As far as size goes, the Bowflex C6 is much smaller, lighter, and much easier to move around the house. The Velocore is much larger, heavier, and will require more space. With that lean function, you also want to ensure you have gaps on either side of the bike too. They share a similar resistance system, both have 100 resistance levels, and both are compatible with other applications.

The Bowflex Velocore 

Bowflex VeloCore

4.5

Provides the rider with an incredibly realistic riding experience, closely simulating riding outside on roads or up and down your favorite mountain climb.

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The Bowflex Velocore is an excellent bike, it’s not small by all means, but it’s full of amazing features that make it an incredible entertainment machine to ride. The first thing to mention is it looks fantastic with a rear facing flywheel and a sleek black design. It fits a wide variety of users all the way from 4ft 6” to 6ft 6” and has a max weight of 325lbs. The Bowflex Velocore has a magnetic frictionless resistance system that requires no maintenance and feels silky smooth to ride even under the heaviest of sprints. One thing I love about this bike is the fact it is very quiet to use too.

The bike has a huge screen on the front of either 16” or 22” depending on what model you pick. It has Bluetooth technology which means you can connect heart rate monitors and headphones if required. The latest update on the screen means you can use multiple applications such as Peloton and Zwift but you require a separate tablet. The application they recommend is JRNY, which does cycling and plenty of off-the-bike classes. It comes in at $20 a month, and it is excellent. It has auto resistance so the bike can control workout profiles for you which I loved. The bike can lean side to side, giving an excellent core workout while training. This isn’t just a spin bike. It’s a fitness entertainment machine.

Bowflex C6 / Schwinn IC4

Bowflex C6 Bike

4.5

An excellent alternative option to Peloton or other streaming bikes. A quiet magnetic resistance bike, proficient enough to link with the many available streaming devices such as Peloton® and Zwift®.

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Schwinn IC4 Bike

4.5

Comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to link to several apps such as Peloton® and Zwift®. The Schwinn really does offer excellent quality at a very affordable price.

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The Bowflex C6 is one of my favorite bikes and has so much adaptability to offer the user. The first thing to mention is the traditional spinning bike style look with a front facing flywheel. It’s classic, and it works. It can fit users from 4ft 6” to 6ft 6” and has a max user weight of 330lbs. Like the Velocore, it also has a magnetic resistance system with a belt drive and works perfectly and is very quiet also.

This bike only has a small LCD monitor with basic data metrics. For some, this is exactly what people want, and they are not looking for an entertainment machine. They prefer classic spinning. If you do decide to buy this bike and want to go down the entertainment route, the Bluetooth system makes it easy to link up to all your favorite applications on a tablet, smartphone, or even Apple TV. 

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Bowflex C7 Indoor Cycling Bike

4.8

Almost identical to the Bowflex C6 except for one significant difference. While the C6 includes only a digital console, the C7 offers a 7” Wi-Fi-connected touchscreen that helps connect to your favorite streaming services and cycling apps. 

Read Our Detailed C7 Review

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How do the Bikes Compare?

These bikes are two very different machines, and the best way to understand them is to break it down, so you know what to expect from each of them. We will look at the resistance system, screen and connectivity, sizes and user capability, and special features.

Resistance System

The resistance systems on these bikes are very similar. They both use a magnetic resistance system that uses magnetics to help slow down the flywheel. You also both have a belt drive. The advantage of a belt drive is that it requires no oil or maintenance. Each system on both the bikes supplies you with 100 levels of resistance which 1 is very light and no challenge, and 100 is super heavy and enough to slow down a professional cyclist fast. As far as comparing them goes, they are both pretty much the same apart from the automatic resistance the Velocore has which is a lovely touch.

Screen and Connectivity

The screens on these bikes are entirely different, and the Velocore does offer something very different from the C6. With the Velocore, you’re getting a 22” HD touch screen. This isn’t just amazing for classes on the bike, but it also swivels round to the side for those off the bike classes. It does offer everything you would ever need and, with the latest updates, also uses other applications. The C6 is much more basic and more of a traditional small monitor. This would be suited to someone who either prefers no screen or wants to save money and use a tablet instead.

Size and User Capability

The bikes are very different in size, and the Velocore is much larger than the C6, so if you are limited on space, you will have to take this into consideration. You also have to think about the side lean with the Velocore, so not only do you need space back and forward but also on each side. As far as capability, they both offer users from 4ft 6” to 6ft 6,” and the weight capacity is only 5lbs indifference. 

Special Features

Sometimes special features make a bike, and it can completely change your experience. In this case, the C6 is fairly simple and is more traditional with not offering much for than a spinning or indoor cycling experience. Then you have the Velocore, and this provides a lean feature which I personally really like. It can be turned off if required, but it does give an incredible core workout and just adds something different. The Velcore also has the ability to auto control it’s resistance which does hugely improve the experience.

Which one is for me?

Which one is for you? I feel it comes down to two things, are you looking for all the bells and whistles experience or just a bike for some simple spinning? Then also, budget comes into this too, as the C6 is half the price of the Velocore.

Read Also:
1. Bowflex C6 Hands-on Review & Video
2. Schwinn IC4 Detailed Review
3. Bowflex Velocore Detailed Review
4. Bowflex Velocore vs NordicTrack S22i New

Conclusion

Whatever bike takes your fancy, it is going to give you an amazing experience, and you are going to get all the benefits of some incredible workouts. It comes down to which bike you feel suits you, in my opinion.