Deciding whether the Peloton Bike vs Bike+ upgrade is worth the extra cash is a dilemma our readers have asked about regularly since the latter’s release in 2020.
The Peloton Bike has made waves in the home cycling workouts market since its debut in 2014 with overwhelmingly positive customer reviews.
However, the biggest complaint users have had is mostly just about the high price point and the ongoing subscription fees.
For that reason, it might seem strange that Peloton subsequently released the premium Peloton Bike+.
After all, if the Peloton Bike is so beloved, feature-packed, and high-performing, why would an upgrade be necessary? How is the Peloton Bike+ different from the Peloton Bike?
To help you get to grips with the Peloton Bike vs Bike+ debate, we’ll be covering:
- Do The Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+ Work the Same?
- How Are The Peloton Bike Vs Peloton Bike+ Different?
- Is The Peloton Bike+ Worth The Upgrade?
Let’s get started!
Do the Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+ Work the Same?
Both the Peloton Bike and the Peloton Bike+ have many of the same performance features and specs, and both models give users full access to the vast library of live and on-demand Peloton workouts.
In addition to all sorts of indoor cycle workout, from beginner rides and HIIT workouts to themed rides and endurance climbs, the Peloton Fitness app offers different types of exercise classes.
These include strength training, outdoor running, yoga, bootcamp classes, recovery, and even boxing. Users are able to take any type of classes.
One thing to bear in mind when considering whether to purchase a Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus is that no matter which model you select, you have to purchase the ongoing Peloton All-Access Membership in order to use the bike.
Both bikes require this subscription, so you will need to factor in the membership fees when you are thinking about the total budget and the affordability of the Peloton Bike vs Bike+ for your home gym.
How Are the Peloton Bike Vs Peloton Bike+ Different?
Peloton Bike
The basic Peloton Bike features a heavy-duty frame made from welded steel, supporting a maximum user weight of 297 pounds.
The frame is powder coated to protect against rust and to give a sleek appearance. There are 100 levels of digital magnetic resistance and a smooth power transmission belt drive.
The back of the bike has dumbbell holders that come with a pair of 3-pound dumbbells to incorporate light upper-body strength training into your cycling workouts.
One of the Peloton Bike features that first distinguished this popular home indoor cycling bike from other competitors is the gorgeous, integrated touchscreen display.
The Peloton Bike features a vivid, 10-point multitouch, 21.5-inch smart HD touchscreen display. The large display makes for a great, immersive workout experience when streaming a live or on-demand Peloton workout class.
The display also shows your workout metrics such as your cadence, resistance level, power, and heart rate.
The screen tilts to make it more comfortable and viewable for riders of different heights.
To enhance the immersiveness of the workout experience, the Peloton Bike has a high-quality, rear-facing stereo speaker system, which user reviews note projects clear and crisp audio.
If you prefer, you can take advantage of Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and use your own audio headphones.
The tablet console also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a built-in microphone.
Peloton Bike+
The Peloton Bike+ was released in 2020, six years after the initial release of the Peloton Bike.
It features many of the same design and performance features as the original Peloton Bike. The same heavy-duty welded steel frame, weight capacity, resistance levels, and belt drive mechanism are used.
One of the primary differences between the Peloton Bike and the upgraded Peloton Bike plus is the touchscreen.
The higher-end Peloton Bike+ has a 23.8-inch HD touchscreen with reduced-reflective and an anti-smudge coating.
In addition to the size of the touchscreen being larger on the Peloton Bike Plus vs Peloton Bike, instead of just tilting up and down to accommodate riders of different heights, the massive touchscreen on the Peloton Bike Plus can rotate and swivel.
This allows you to more easily view the workout class when you are doing an off-bike workout, such as strength training or cardio.
There are a few additional upgrades to the monitor on the Peloton Bike+ vs Peloton Bike.
The front-facing camera is 8 pixels and has a privacy slider, which the Peloton Bike lacks. The console features also improved audio with surround sound incorporating front-facing stereo speakers and rear-facing woofers.
The other major difference with the upgraded Peloton Bike+ vs Peloton Bike is that the resistance on the Bike+ automatically adjusts to match the instructor’s workout directions.
You don’t have to reach down and adjust the resistance or touch anything on your screen; the auto-adjustment takes care of everything for you so that you can just focus on the workout.
This functions similarly to the trainer-control feature with iFit on select NordicTrack cardio equipment.
It’s especially convenient to have this sort of hands-free control when doing hard intervals and climbs out of the saddle when you really can’t easily take your hands off the handlebars without interrupting your flow or decreasing your power.
Another technology perk of the Peloton Bike Plus vs Peloton Bike is that you can easily pair the Bike+ with the Apple Watch to capture your workout metrics.
Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus Price
There is a significant difference in base price between the Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+.
Both models offer various upgrades, with different strength training equipment or accessories included, but the basic Peloton Bike costs $1445, and the Peloton Bike+ costs $2495, a difference of a little more than $1000.
Both bikes offer free delivery and set up, and a 30-day home trial period.
The warranty period is the same on both models: a 5-year frame warranty, and a 12-month warranty on parts, electronics, and labor. It should be noted that this is not a particularly impressive warranty for the price point compared to other competitors.
Is the Peloton Bike+ Worth the Upgrade Over the Peloton Bike?
Deciding whether it is worth it to get the Peloton Bike+ vs Peloton Bike is really a matter of personal opinion, budget, and how important the technology upgrades are to you.
For casual users or those on a budget, the $1,000+ price hike is difficult to justify given the limited differences between the Peloton Bike vs Bike+.
Having 4-channel surround sound, a larger touchscreen display, and a console that rotates are definitely nice perks but not necessarily worth the significant jump in price.
The only feature that really changes the functionality between the Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus is the auto-adjustability of the Bike+ according to the instructor’s callouts.
This is definitely a convenient function, but whether or not the upgrades with the Peloton Bike+ warrant the price increase between the Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus will be an individual decision.
If you do not plan to connect your headphones via Bluetooth and want to use the built-in speakers, the Peloton Bike+ definitely has a better sound system. If you are hard of hearing – or simply an audiophile – this may make the upgrade more appealing.
Additionally, if you don’t have another device that can stream Peloton workouts off the bike in a way that you would be able to easily see them, the Peloton Bike+ may be worth the upgrade.
This is because you can swivel the screen on the Peloton Bike+ to easily follow along with other workouts off the bike can be extremely helpful for those who plan to take advantage of other types of exercise classes through the Peloton app.
Lastly, if you really like using your Apple Watch and easily having all of your workout and health data in one place, getting the Peloton Bike+ can be a better option. Only the Bike+ offers Apple GymKit™ integration.
On the other hand, if you are on a tighter budget, it may be better to go with the basic Peloton Bike vs Bike+.
Additionally, if you prefer to adjust the resistance to yourself – perhaps you sometimes need to drop it lower for extra recovery or want to crank it up higher than the instructor may indicate if you are an advanced athlete – you may actually prefer to use the Peloton Bike.
This model does not auto-adjust, giving you full control of adjustments yourself.
You can choose to use manual resistance control on the Peloton Bike+. However, since much of the difference in price between the Peloton Bike vs Bike+ is due to the auto-adjust feature, it’s only worth upgrading if you’re sure you’ll make use of it.
