Reebok B5.7e IWM Exercise Bike Review

The Reebok performance series of exercise bikes have been around for a few years and have proven to be a popular choice among home fitness enthusiasts. The B5.7e IWM is the newest model in the series and is the top of the range (with the exception of a black limited edition of which only 500 units have been made).

So, is this bike any good and what’s the IWM all about? Let’s start with the bike itself. The look & the design of the bike follows the same mold as the entry level performance bikes, but with higher quality components. The seat is well padded and comfortable and can be adjusted for both laterally and for height. The racing style handlebars are also adjustable and given the combination of the seat and handlebar adjustments possible, finding the perfect position should be possible for users of all heights.

The B5.7e IWM is very smooth to use, thanks to a decent 10kg flywheel and heavy duty components used in the construction. The resistance mechanism is Reebok’s M-Force EMS system. This is an electromagnetic system with no moving parts – the strength of the resistance is controlled by varying the amount of current being passed through some coils. This provides several advantages over the traditional servo assisted magnetic brakes: Changing the resistance level from the console is almost instant and completely silent and as there are no moving parts, the calibration won’t drift over an extended period of time.

As the top of the range Reebok bike, the B5.7e IWM is an ergometer with a resistance range of 25-400W. The top level of resistance is actually really high at 400w, but we can confirm that the pedalling action is still very smooth (though this was only tested for a few minutes as your reviewer was really struggling! :s )

The console is very clear with a big, blue LCD screen displaying all the key feedback metrics. One thing that we really like on the Reebok performance series of fitness equipment is the ability to setup multiple user profiles. For each profile, you can enter your age, gender, weight and height and this data is used by appropriate programmes (like IWM ones) as well as to provide more accurate estimates of calorie consumption.

In terms of programmes, there is a very good selection of 12 programmes that cover pretty much all the different methods of exercise that you’d do on an exercise bike. We’re pleased to see that this includes a heart rate control programme. In addition to the standard hand grip pulse sensors on the handlebars, accurate heart rate measurement is possible with the B5.7e IWM as the console has a Polar wireless heart rate receiver. You just need a standard uncoded polar chest strap (not included, but available for under £25 in most places) to take advantage.

IWM stands for Interactive Weight Management and it’s a rather unique feature of this exercise bike. The bike is supplied with a set of wireless scales and once you’ve setup a user profile on there, you press the IWM button on the console, stand on the scales and your weight (measured to the nearest 10 grammes) is transmitted wireless to the console. The measured weight data, along with your profile information is used by IWM to create a custom exercise programme.

We’ve worked out that the IWM technology is based on user’s body mass index and whilst the science being utilised here isn’t exactly good enough to match a human personal trainer monitoring progress and advising of changes to exercise routine, it does provide workout variety and we think it helps with the all important motivation!

In terms of warranty, it’s the standard Reebok 2 years onsite parts & labour, so should anything go wrong, there’s nothing to worry about.

Best Price

The Reebok B5.7e IWM is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Review Summary - In Brief

The Reebok B5.7e IWM is certainly a great bike with high specs that typically retails for £600. Whilst in absolute terms, it's an excellent exercise bike, it doesn't justify the price. However, with the promotional discount being offered direct from Reebok Fitness resulting in a sub £450 price, it's a bargain that we highly recommend!

Reebok B5.7e IWM Specifications

    Flywheel Weight: 10KG
    Console: LCD Computer
    Dimensions: 100 x 55 x 148 cm
    Heart Rate Measurement: Hand pulse measurement and Polar receiver
    Maximum user weight: 150 kgs
    Programmes: 12 with 5 individual
    Resistance: 25-400 watts
    User profiles: 9
    Warranty: 2 years on site parts & labour

Reebok B5.7e IWM Exercise Bike - Console / Display Unit

Reebok B5.7e IWM Exercise Bike Console

Reebok B5.7e IWM Exercise Bike - User Reviews

The Pros

  • Solid feel
  • Fast resistance changes
  • Silent operation
  • Very smooth
  • IWM feature good run

The Cons

  • IWM doesn't track weight loss progress
Reebok B5.7e IWM Exercise Bike Reviewer Ratings

 

Appearance - 8.5
Smoothness - 7
Comfort - 9
Programmes - 9.5
Ease Of Use - 9
Warranty - 8.5
Value for Money - 7
Best Price

The Reebok B5.7e IWM is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Also see our Exercise Bike Comparison Table

Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the above review. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer

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