Quick Overview
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is an affordable home gym option with solid specs. It has a low-maintenance belt drive for quiet operation and a compact frame for small spaces. Despite being lightweight, it still has a ~300 lb weight capacity and provides a smooth, stable ride.
Who It’s Right For
Things to Consider
The Bells of Steel Blitz bike is one of my top-rated air bikes for home gym owners. I use it often and recommend it for its strong blend of performance and value.
So, when Bells of Steel launched the Residential Air Bike in late 2023, I was a bit confused.
Why fix what isn’t broken?
But after using the Residential Bike, I’ve realized there are some compelling reasons to consider buying one.
It still uses a proven belt drive system, a quality monitor, and articulating arms. In fact, it’s just a scaled-down version of the Blitz Bike.
While that does mean it’s not as heavy-duty, it’s more affordable and takes up less space.
In this review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about this bike. I’ll share the pros and cons and compare it to the popular Blitz Bike.
Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike
I’ve owned and tested numerous air bikes, including the Rogue Echo Bike, Titan Fan Bike, Vulcan Thrasher, and more.
I think the Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike fills a gap in the market by being smaller, more affordable, and even less “intense.”
Don’t get me wrong, this bike is still challenging, but not everyone needs a 25″ fan with huge blades.
I love the footprint of this bike, and I appreciate several of its features, including the monitor, belt drive, etc.
However, there are some downsides to it that I’ll discuss below.
Let’s take a look at the specs and get into the review.
Specs
- Footprint: 50.7″ H x 24″ W x 49.7″ L
- Weight: 108 lbs
- Seat Dimensions: 10.5″ L w/ 9 Height Adjustments
- Drivetrain: Belt Drive
- Pedals: Metal w/ Grip Nodules
- Fan Diameter: 20″
- Display: LCD
- Stats: RPM, Speed, Intervals, Distance, Calories, Watts, & Heart Rate
- Extras: Water Bottle Holder & Cell Phone Holder
- Weight Limit: 297.6 lbs
- Warranty: 1 Year
Overall Build Quality
Bells of Steel’s goal with the Residential Air Bike was to create a smaller-profile, more economical option for home gym owners. I’d say they accomplished that pretty well with a more compact footprint and lighter weight.
Compared to the bigger Blitz Bike, for example, the Residential is several inches shorter both vertically and horizontally. At 108 lbs, it’s lighter than some of the “beefier” options, but that’s still plenty of heft for a stable ride.
The rear support base is 24″ wide, which is comparable to most. This gives it plenty of lateral stability for when you’re riding at maximum effort. I was impressed with its overall rigidity when trying to rock it side-to-side, but heavier bikes feel a little more secure.
The bike’s frame is built with thick gauge steel, giving it an overall weight capacity of just under 300 lbs.
However, it does include more plastic than I care for, especially around the crank surround. While not uncommon, there’s always the possibility of plastic breaking or cracking over time.
One feature I appreciate is the four adjustable feet on each side of the supports. If you have an unlevel floor, say in a garage, you can ensure the bike is perfectly level with a few quick turns.
Overall, I’m happy with the build quality. It’s not the most impressively built air bike I’ve tested, but that’s by design.
Operations & Mechanics
One of my favorite features of the Residential Air Bike is that it uses a belt drive. Many budget-friendly bikes use louder chain drives that require more maintenance. For example, the slightly more expensive Titan Fan Bike uses a chain drive.
Another benefit is belt drives feel smoother because they maintain constant contact with the crank.
The Blitz Bike and several other pricier bikes use belt drives, so I consider it a nice benefit at this price point.
I’m pleased with the general performance of the drive system, and I like that the narrower width allows for a neutral and comfortable stride.
The Fan & Blades
I have mixed feelings about the fan on the Residential Bike. At 20″ in diameter, it’s noticeably smaller than the 25″ fans on higher-end models. Additionally, the individual blades are shorter, reducing the max resistance you can generate.
On one hand, beginners and recreational riders can benefit from the smaller profile. You can control the mild-to-moderate intensities better, and your top-end is “capped.”
Alternatively, more advanced riders may find its resistance is lacking too much. You can still get a great workout on it, and it’s still difficult, but it’s not as challenging as bikes with larger fans and blades.
This bike also doesn’t come with a fan guard, which I think is a beneficial attachment. Sometimes the breeze can feel nice, especially in the summer or when you’re hot. However, getting blasted with frigid air can be brutal if you’re training in the cold.
The Seat
The seat on this bike has a minimum height of 34.5″ and a maximum height of 42″ from the ground. The nine vertical adjustments aren’t as many as most higher-end bikes, but most users won’t have a problem finding a comfortable height.
Additionally, you can move the seat forward and back with a set pin underneath. This adjustment is similar to others and offers a full range.
The seat measures 10.5″x10.5″ and is generally comfortable. The foam is dense, like on other bikes, and it offers good coverage. I personally prefer a skinny, tapered design like on the Blitz Bike, but this one is arguably better for longer rides.
The Pedals
The pedals are made of metal and measure 4″x3″ for good coverage underfoot. They also include a raised textured pattern around the edges for foot traction.
One downside to this design, which is also true on several others, is the L-bracket that connects the pedal can sometimes interfere with your heel. It doesn’t happen often, but when going at maximum effort, you may clip the back end, causing a temporary slowdown.
You’ll also find two knurled pegs extended from the fan to rest your feet between intervals or when you’re only using the handles for upper-body training.
The Handles
Like most air bikes, the Residential Bike has articulating arms with a familiar design. The benefit of having arms that move is that it turns the bike into a true full-body workout.
You can use the pedals and handles together or independently to bias upper or lower body muscles.
The horizontal handle is a standard design, providing a bike-like feel, though I’d love to see a vertical turn at the ends for a neutral grip option.
The Monitor
The monitor on this bike is exactly the same as the more expensive Blitz Bike. It has a legible, easy-to-use interface and displays the most important stats.
Like most, this monitor turns on when you start spinning the fan. Once you stop pedaling for 30 seconds, it will automatically shut off, preserving batteries. The display is powered by two AA batteries, which Bells of Steel provides.
The monitor tracks the following metrics:
- RPM (rotations per minute)
- Speed
- Time (monitor with either count up to 2 hours max or down from 2 hours)
- Distance (monitor will either count up or count down from a user-selected distance)
- Calories
- Watts
- Heart Rate (requires heart rate straps – not included)
In addition to standard rides, you can set target rides for time, distance, calories, heart rate, etc. The bike has a detailed manual of how to use the monitor, but it’s straightforward and user-friendly.
There’s also a built-in cell phone holder, but keep in mind it will cover up much of the display. You’ll additionally find a water bottle holder beneath the monitor.
Portability & Aesthetics
Similar to others, the Residential Air Bike includes front wheels, allowing you to move the bike around the gym. However, it doesn’t have a rear handle, which makes it a little awkward. You either have to grab it very low near the base or on the seat extender.
I called this out on the Blitz Bike too, but the Residential is easier to move around for two reasons:
- It’s 10 lbs lighter
- The smaller fan provides more clearance to leverage the bike onto the wheels.
Aesthetically, the neutral colors are much more friendly compared to the bright yellow Blitz Bike accents and are less likely to clash with your gym colors.
That said, there is some branding missing from this Bike. I don’t really care for the name ‘Residential Air Bike,’ so I’m not upset they didn’t add the name to the bike, but it does look very basic.
Delivery & Assembly
Assembling the Residential Air Bike is easy and similar to other bikes. Bells of Steel provides all the hardware you need, and the instructions are easy to follow. It took me around 30 minutes to assemble by myself, including unboxing.
Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike vs. Bells of Steel Blitz Bike
The Blitz Bike is Bells of Steel’s original air bike and is one of the most popular choices among home gym owners. I’ve owned it since it was launched in 2021, and I still use it regularly in my gym.
The biggest difference between the two is that the Blitz Bike is heavier-duty. It weighs 10 lbs more than the Residential Bike and has a larger weight capacity of 350 lbs vs. 300.
While the extra heft creates a more solid ride, especially at high intensities, it’s more difficult to move around the gym.
The Blitz Bike also has a larger 25″ fan (vs. 20″), creating more resistance. Advanced athletes will resonate more with the Blitz’s resistance profile – it’s very challenging.
Comfort-wise, these are similar bikes, but the Blitz offers three more seat height adjustments, which is useful for some users. It also includes a fan guard to eliminate wind in your face – helpful in cold garage gyms!
Both bikes use a belt drive system, resulting in low noise and maintenance. However, the Blitz Bike has a two-year warranty compared to only one on the Residential Bike.
As of this review, the Blitz Bike costs $150 more than the Residential Air Bike. I do think it’s the better of the two, but it’s not for everyone. Beginners and budget/value shoppers will benefit more from the Residential Bike.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable home gym option
- Belt drive reduces noise and requires less maintenance
- Comfortable seat with ample adjustments
- Good overall monitor with key metrics
- Easy to assemble
- Free shipping in USA and Canada
Cons
- Smaller fan/blades results in slightly less resistance
- No wind guard
- Not as heavy-duty as some
Final Thoughts
The Bells of Steel Residential Air Bike is a nice option for home gym owners looking for a budget-friendly bike without sacrificing much performance.
I love the belt drive system and the compact design. It rides smoothly and doesn’t take up much space in the gym.
The monitor is easy to use and includes the most important metrics.
However, the bike doesn’t produce as much resistance as others and doesn’t feel as heavy-duty as more expensive options.
I recommend this bike to someone who needs a compact, economical air bike without the bells and whistles of more expensive options.