The Harison Stationary Upright Exercise Bike is also known as the B7 because it’s part of the “B Series” product line. The B7 has some similarities to the popular B8 recumbent bike model but it’s an upright alternative. This exercise bike uses a magnetic resistance system that offers 14 different levels of resistance. The bike is fully adjustable for riders of different heights and sizes with a weight capacity of 300-350 lbs.
We will now delve into this product in more detail, compiling user reviews and the stand out features of this Upright exercise bike. Our aim is to help you make an informed purchase decision.
The B7 upright exercise bike has a steel tube durable frame with ABS covers to protect the drive and magnetic resistance systems. The frame is protected with a layer of rust-resistant black paint and this is the only color option at the time of writing this article. When this bike is fully assembled, the dimensions are 35.4” (90 cm) long and 20.4” (52 cm) wide with a weight of 61 lbs (27.66 kg).
As you can see, this is not a huge exercise bike, it has a pretty small footprint and it’s easy to transport with the built-in wheels. This bike has a low center of gravity and adjustable stabilizers which make the bike very stable on virtually any surface.
3 Stand Out Features of the Harison Stationary Upright Exercise Bike
1/ Seat and Handlebars
The Harison B7 has a larger saddle to improve the comfort levels for longer workouts. The top of the saddle is made with high-density foam with a centrally located groove to improve the breath-ability characteristics. The seat can be adjusted in four directions, they are up, down, front, and back. The horizontal slider and upright seat post can be adjusted in several positions to create the perfect riding position for a wide variety of sizes.
Harison has stated that this exercise bike can accommodate people from 5’1” (155 cm) up to 6′ 5” (196 cm) tall with a full range of movement. The seat, post, and horizontal positions are changed with simple knob turns and it takes less than a minute to adjust them. The handlebars have a 2-grip design with integrated pulse sensors and a rubber material coating to improve the grip when riding.
The handlebars are not adjustable, but the front upright tube that supports them can be adjusted with a pair of bolts as needed. The height of the front mast is non adjustable, the user must adjust the seat and riding position to match the height of the handlebars.
2/ Resistance and Drive
The B7 has a manual adjustable magnetic resistance system to simulate which requires no external power source. The front mounted flywheel is attached to an internally mounted magnetic brake that can be adjusted with a tension knob mounted on the front mast. As this knob is turned, the magnetic brake is moved via a steel cable, and the resistance of the exercise bike is changed. The interaction between the flywheel and magnetic brake increases or decreases the resistance as needed. These two elements never touch, no friction is created and this creates a very smooth and steady riding experience.
This exercise bike has 14 resistance levels to select, which is more than most models on the market with a similar price tag. These extra resistance settings allow the rider to make very fine adjustments to create a more precise workout. The initial 3 levels are light pedaling for warm ups and recovery.
The next 3 levels are designed for burning calories with aerobic exercise. The next 4 levels are designed to improve strength and stain and to tone leg muscles. The final 4 levels are for high-intensity training for an efficient workout.
The B7 has a flywheel that weighs 22 lbs (10 kg) with a perimeter-weighted design that adds some extra inertia over other flywheels with the same weight. This is a bi-directional flywheel, it can be pedaled in reverse if needed and the workout data is still collected. The pedals spin whenever the flywheel moves, it is not possible to coast, and standing on the pedals is not recommended. The heavy-duty drive system uses a “poly-v belt” which delivers a smooth and quiet pedaling action. Unlike a chain drive exercise bike, there is no need to lubricate the transmission system.
3/ Console and Accessories
The Harison B7 has the same console, tablet holder, and bottle carrier as the more expensive B8 variant. The console has a clean and simple layout with an LCD readout that displays useful workout data.
Including speed, time, distance, RPM, pulse rate, and calories burned, in large digits. But, this is not a telemetric console, the pulse is only read via the handlebar mounted built-in sensors.
There is no way to integrate these sensors with HR transmitters such as Polar and there is no online connectivity.
But, it’s easy to set your own goals for-
1/ Number of calories you want to burn
2/ Distance of your next ride
3/ How long you want the ride to be
This is a simple system, but it gets the job done and there are only 3 buttons to operate. The “Enter” button sets goals, the “Reset” button clears values to zero and the “Mode” button sets the workout metrics.
This console is powered with a pair of AA batteries and Harison includes these to get you up and running quickly. If the bike is not used for several minutes, it will enter “Sleep” mode automatically to preserve the battery life.
The B7 has a tablet support cradle for tablets, a smaller smartphone shelf, and an integrated bottle holder.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of the HARISON Stationary Upright Exercise Bike.
Pros:
- The steel frame can support riders up to 350 lbs.
- The front mounted transport wheels make this light exercise bike easy to move.
- The rear stabilizers and low center of gravity make this bike very stable.
- Access to 14 levels of magnetic resistance is a rarity at this price point.
- The two-grip handlebars have built-in pulse sensors.
- The magnetic drive system is smooth and quiet.
- The LCD console tracks all the basic data you need for a good workout.
- This exercise bike is easy to assemble.
Cons:
- The LCD console is not backlit.
- There is no way to integrate the B7 with external workout technology.
- There are no built-in workout programs.
Conclusion
The Harison B7 is a basic, sturdy, compact, and durable exercise bike. It may lack some of the bells and whistles of more expensive models, but it offers a lot for a very modest investment. If you want an effective workout at home without disturbing other people, it’s a solid choice that will not disappoint.