York Perform 210 Exercise Bike Review

York have been manufacturing fitness equipment for over 70 years and no company can survive that long unless they develop and maintain a good reputation. We’ve tested even cheaper cycles from York in the past, and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and value, so we knew not to underestimate the Perform 210 model merely based upon its price point!

First impressions were good. The bike has a modern look combining contemporary curves with a black tubular frame, hints of orange and ice white bodywork. What is surprising, considering the price, is the build quality and sturdiness of this model. We really shouldn’t be, but the fact that York have deemed it capable of coping with nearly 23 and a half stone says it all. That’s around 20-30 kilos more than most of the similarly-priced competitors. So for heavier users who are on a budget, the 210 Perform is well worth a look.

Taller users should also be impressed too as the seat vertically adjusts right up to over 40”, meaning that there’s loads of room for long legs. Unfortunately, it’s not the comfiest saddle in the world and it may have you reaching for a cushion during long sessions! However, the saddle does have 3” of travel back and forth, and there’s tilting handlebars, so at least you’ll be able to obtain a very comfortable riding position.

There’s 32 levels of resistance meaning that there’s plenty of increments to gradually increase the intensity over time. The top levels provide ample resistance for the beginner/intermediate cyclist that this bike is aimed at. Hardened bikers may not find it quite tough enough for short intervals but they’ll probably require an all-around more advanced model anyway.

The pedal motion is nice and smooth, although the flywheel weighs only 7kg. This would have been more of a surprise had we not experienced a similar result with other York models with the similar spec, and we can only assume that it’s the combination of quality parts used in the drive systems that enhances the feel.

On the console is a good sized LCD display which makes for clear reading of all the usual training feedback such as speed, time, distance, calories, watts and pulse. To get your pulse readings you just grasp the sensors that are mounted on the handlebars. There are also 4 heart rate controlled programs that can be used via these pulse-grip sensors too. 3 of them are based around keeping you within a percentage of your maximum heart rate (either 55%, 75% or 90%) or there’s a Target HR session where you select the heart rate you wish to stay within and the bike will automatically adjust the resistance to keep you there.  Although the number of heart rate programs impressed us, we have to wonder how effective (and indeed safe) they really are, being as the readings taken from pulse sensors are universally recognized as being rather inaccurate. Given that we’ve seen some substantially cheaper bikes that do feature a wireless receiver the Perform 210 falls short in this respect and the conclusion here is that it’s probably best to steer clear of using the heart rate programmes altogether.

The console is intuitive and setting up the various programs is quick and easy thanks to the consoles neat, finger-controlled dial.  There are 12 pre-set course profiles to choose and they are all displayed in a small menu at the top of the screen for easy selection. You can turn up the resistance anywhere up to level 24 on any program. Select the time from 1 minute up to 99 and then away you go.

During the workouts, it’s easy to keep an eye on progress. The feedback is set out along the bottom of the screen. (speed-time-distance-calories-watts-pulse) and every 6 seconds, each set of data gets its turn to be highlighted in a bigger window above the bottom row.

There is also a watts program whereby a user can input a specific RPM figure and the bike will automatically adjust to keep the pedals going at the desired rate. Or if you wish to create your own, there is a User program too!

The console can also save the personal data for up to 4 users (ideal for the whole family!) You can set and store gender, age, height and weight into these 4 user-defined profiles so the machine can take these factors into account to give more accurate calorie feedback. These personal details are also taken into account if you use the Body Fat program. By selecting this option and holding onto the pulse grip sensors, the computer attempts to calculate your body fat percentage as well as your Body Mass Index (a measure for human body shape based on an individual’s weight and height). Weight loss is a huge motivation for many people wishing to get cycling so we like anything that aids that goal…just remember that pulse sensors are notoriously inaccurate so use the results as a ‘loose’ guide!

The same applies when using the pulse sensors to measure your fitness levels in ‘Recovery’ mode! We are seeing this feature appear more and more on bikes recently. The idea is that immediately after you finish your workout you select the recovery option, grasp the pulse sensors and the computer will monitor how quickly your pulse drops down during a sixty-second period, giving you a score between one (outstanding!) and six(poor!)

The Perform 210 certainly has a reasonable, if a little limited, selection of programs and there are some other welcome features too. There’s a water bottle holder on the console mast, transport wheels at the front for easy manoeuvring and levelling feet at the rear to keep the bike stable on uneven floors.

The York Perform 210 is covered by York’s 2-year on-site parts and labour warranty.

 

Best Price

The York Perform 210 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

So what’s the verdict? Well, the Perform 210 certainly is a decent enough bike that can cope with heavy users, is adjustable for all different shapes and sizes, and has enough resistance levels to give most average users a challenge. However, at this level there are bikes which comfortably beat the Perform 210 on specs, features and value. A great example would be the Viavito Satori which has a heavier flywheel, wireless heart rate receiver and a lot more workout options to keep you motivated and is available for a good deal less right now.

York Perform 210 Specifications

    • 7kg (15.4lbs) flywheel weight
    • 32 levels of magnetic resistance
    • Console with LCD display
    • Feedback: time, speed, RPM, distance, calories, pulse, watts
    • 18 workout programmes
    • Heart rate measurement via pulse grips
    • Conveniences: transportation wheels, bottle holder, adjustable seat and handlebars, self levelling pedals,
    • Size (L x W x H): 106cm (41.7”), 51cm (20”), 143cm (56.3”)
    • Weight of the product: 27kg (59.5lbs)
    • 150kg (330lbs) maxiumum user weight
    • Guarantee: 2 years

York Perform 210 - Console / Display Unit

York Perform 210 - User Reviews

The Pros

  • Very adjustable to ensure a comfy riding position
  • Sturdy build and able to cope with over 23 stone!
  • Smooth pedal motion

The Cons

  • The accuracy/effectiveness of some pulse controlled sessions is questionable
  • The saddle may benefit from an added cushion during long sessions!
  • The competition at this price point
  • No wireless HR receiver
  • Limited number of training options
York Perform 210 Reviewer Ratings

 

Appearance - 6
Smoothness - 7
Comfort - 6
Programmes - 5
Ease Of Use - 7
Warranty - 8
Value for Money - 2
Best Price

The York Perform 210 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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