When my cheap Amazon spin bike broke, I wanted to upgrade to something better.
Mine cost $950 through a Facebook Marketplace sale in 2022.
(Used Pelotons are also a lot cheaper now than they were then.)
But before I could find a bike to buy, there were a lot of questions that needed answering.
Let me take you on a tour through my shopping process.
I knew at the start that I wanted a regular Bike, so that narrowed down my shopping.
The Bike+ can automatically adjust the resistance as you follow along with a class.
The Bike+ has a slightly larger touchscreen (24 inches versus 22 inches) and a nicer sound system.
It also has nicer components throughout, including a faster processor and more RAM.
Do you have to pay a subscription fee to use a Peloton?
Pelotons Bikes are intended to be used with an All-Access subscription.
you’re free to evenuse a gear called the DFC to broadcast data to watches or third-party apps.
(In that case, though, you’d probably be better off buying a non-Peloton spin bike.)
Used Peloton bikesvary wildly in price and quality.
Some are gently used and come with accessories; others may be cheaper but have significant wear and tear.
(The Bike+ is $2,495, or $2,700 with the Starter package.)
Both options include delivery and setup, and a 12-month warranty.
They do not include the $44/month All-Access subscription that youll need to take the platforms famous video classes.
The rental includes a pair of cycling shoesandthe subscription fee for video content.
There is also a warranty for the life of the subscription period.
Pelotoncertified refurbishedbikesare currently going for $1,145 for the Bike, and $1,995 for the Bike+.
Both are a significant savings compared to paying full price, but more than a used Bike.
As youd expect, used Bikes are cheaper than refurbished, and refurbished is cheaper than new.
Where do rentals fall?
We need to crunch some more numbers to see.
Is renting Peloton a better deal than buying new or used?
I considered a rental before I started shopping for used Bikes.
There are options to rent both the Bike and Bike+.
Below, Ill discuss pricing for the regular Bike.
If you decide to buy the Bike+ the moment it arrives, it will cost you $2,345.
Thats $3,573, but youve saved $44/month on the All-Access subscription all along.
Not a good deal.
Now, the rental program is clearly the worse deal.
I wouldn’t recommend renting now unless youknowyou won’t be using the Bike+ long term.
Are used Peloton Bikes a good deal?
I ended up buying mine used, so I would say they definitely are.
But it depends on a few factors.
The first thing to consider is resale price.
Since then, prices have dropped on the used marketandsales on new Bikes have been occurring more often.
That was a big part of my calculus: A used Peloton doesnt depreciate instantly like a new car.
That said, prices have been slowly falling.
If something breaks, you just contact customer support and theyll send somebody out to fix your Bike.
The warranty does not transfer to new owners.
However, if the original owner purchased an extended protection planwhich can last up to four years in totalthosearetransferable.
Without a warranty or protection plan, youre on the hook for any repair costs, including labor.
Fortunately, it was easy to install.
That means a lot of wear.
But its still worth considering when you might have to replace parts.
Speaking of recalls, theseat poston all Peloton bikes wasrecalled in 2023because it could break.
If youre buying used, verify the owner has installed the new post.
Thebearingsin the center of the flywheel wont last forever.
Cosmetic damagemay also be an issue.
Refurbished Bikes may have minor cosmetic issues; all bets are off when it comes to a used Bike.
When is a Peloton Bike too old to bother with?
Peloton only has two models of bikes, which makes shopping easy.
The models havent changed much over the years, with one exception.
TheGeneration 1 Bikes are no longer supported; the software in their touchscreens will no longer be updated.
These Bikes have an orange power button at the top of the touchscreen and were manufactured before September 2016.
Check anywhere you would look for used items, like OfferUp and the local search options on Ebay.
As with any sale on these platforms, watch out for scams.
Besides that, here are some things to ask to confirm youre getting a good deal.
Are you the original owner?
Peloton recommends you ask the owner to show you proof of the original purchase.
Check that the serial numbers match.
Which brings us to…
How many rides has this Bike had?
Have any recalled parts been replaced?
Peloton Bikes seat posts (but not the Bike+) wererecalled in 2023.
Although the rollout was slow, everyone should have gotten their new ones by now.
While youre at it, check whether the pedals have an orange Peloton logo.
If so, they were part of the2020 pedal recalland should have been replaced.
This is also a good time to ask about repairs, in general.
Has anything broken, and if so, was it fixed and when?
Does the Bike have any ongoing problems?
Can I ride it?
Hop on the bike (dont worry about the shoes for now) and turn the pedals.
Do they move smoothly, without clanking noises that might indicate bad bearings?
Does the big red resistance knob turn smoothly from side to side?
Does the screen have any chips or cracks?
These suckers areheavy, weighing about 140 pounds.
Peloton hasa guide to moving Bikes here.
Importantly, youll want to remove the touchscreen first.
Peloton also recommends taking off the water bottle holders and the cage on the back that holds the dumbbells.
I didnt remove the pedals, but Peloton says you should.
Go to tweaks > System > Factory Reset.
What else you’ll need to buy to enjoy your Peloton
Youll wantcycling shoes.
That said, you’re free to replace the pedals with another pop in if you prefer.
If you plan to ride a lot,padded cycling shortsare also a good idea.
Pelotons cycling classes sometimes involve small handheld dumbbells; these should come with your bike.
If you want to do the strength classes, though, youll want bigger dumbbells.
You may want a mat to put under your Bike to protect your floor from dripping sweat.
