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We may earn a commission from links on this page.When my cheap Amazon spin bike broke, I wanted to upgrade to something better. But even though I was already following along with Peloton videos on the company's app, I thought getting an actual Peloton was out of reach. Yet as I shopped, I began to change my mind: Even a good off-brand spin bike will start in the high triple digits, and it turns out Pelotons can be rented, or even purchased used. Thus began my quest for a cheaper Peloton, and in the end, I bought a used model Im very happy with.Mine cost $950 through a Facebook Marketplace sale in 2022. If I had taken the time to shop around and negotiate more, I likely could have found one for less. (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. Peloton Indoor Exercise Bike $1,195.00 at Amazon $1,445.00 Save $250.00 Shop Now Shop Now $1,195.00 at Amazon $1,445.00 Save $250.00 The difference between the Peloton Bike and the Bike+Before you start shopping, youll need to know if you want a Peloton Bike, or a Peloton Bike+. The Bike is what you probably think of as a normal Peloton; the Bike+ has some additional features and costs about $1,000 more (new). I knew at the start that I wanted a regular Bike, so that narrowed down my shopping. I put together a full guide to the differences between the Peloton Bike and the Bike+, but the biggest differences between the two models are:The Bike+ has its touchscreen on a swivel, so you can do strength or yoga classes next to the bike, instead of having to stand behind it and crane your neck to see over the seat. That said, an All-Access Peloton membership also allows you to watch strength and yoga classes from your phone or another device, so this is a nice-to-have, but not a necessity.The Bike+ can automatically adjust the resistance as you follow along with a class. With a regular Bike, you have to listen to the instructor tell you what resistance to use, and turn the knob yourself.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. Peloton Bike+ $2,145.00 at Amazon $2,495.00 Save $350.00 Shop Now Shop Now $2,145.00 at Amazon $2,495.00 Save $350.00 Do you have to pay a subscription fee to use a Peloton?Pelotons Bikes are intended to be used with an All-Access subscription. It costs $44 per month and gives you access to spin classes of all types, scenic rides, and Lanebreak rides (Lanebreak is essentially a video game you play by riding the bike). As noted, the All-Access subscription also comes with the ability to take classes from the Peloton app using your phone or other devices.If you dont have a subscription, you can still use the Bike in Just Ride mode, which shows you a plain black screen and some basic metrics: your cadence, resistance, output, and time. You can even use a device called the DFC to broadcast data to watches or third-party apps. So if you just want to get a workout in, but you dont care about consuming Peloton-branded content, you can still do that without paying a monthly fee. (In that case, though, you'd probably be better off buying a non-Peloton spin bike.) How much you'll pay for a used, new, or refurbished Peloton, or just rentingAll of the prices I discuss in this section are current as of April 2025, and are subject to change. Used Peloton bikes vary wildly in price and quality. Some are gently used and come with accessories; others may be cheaper but have significant wear and tear. Im currently seeing asking prices from $400 to $850 for the standard model Bike, and $900 to $1,200 for the Bike+ (subscription not included, of course).New Peloton bikes run $1,445 for just the Bike, or $1,650 for a Starter package that comes with shoes, hand weights, a water bottle, and a mat. (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. Peloton bikes have also been on steep discounts lately during major sales events, going as low as $1,095 last Black Friday.Peloton Bike rentals run $119/month for the Bike+ (original Bike rentals are not currently available), plus a one-time $150 delivery and setup fee. The rental includes a pair of cycling shoes and the subscription fee for video content. There is also a warranty for the life of the subscription period.Peloton certified refurbished bikes are 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. Otherwise, the terms are the same as new bikes: The warranty and delivery fee are included; your All-Access subscription is not. 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. If you dont know whether you want a Peloton at all, or if youre planning on a move soon, the rental might be worth it. Peloton will send someone to come pick up the Bike, for free, if you decide you dont want it anymore. Rentals may be new or refurbishedPeloton sends you whatever it has, although it promises the machine will be in good condition, even if it has a few dings or scratches. There are options to rent both the Bike and Bike+. Below, Ill discuss pricing for the regular Bike.What you need to know about renting a PelotonYou have the option to buy your rental at any time, and the price varies based on how long youve been renting. If you decide to buy the Bike+ the moment it arrives, it will cost you $2,345. At that point youll have already paid the $150 delivery fee and probably your first months $119 rental fee, meaning the Bike will effectively cost $2,614a little more than the full price of a brand-new Bike. (Remember that your rental Bike might be a new Bike, but it might also be a refurbished model, which sells for less.) As time goes on, the deal stays about the same: After a year, the buyout price is just $1,995, but youll have already paid $1,578 in rental fees (including the delivery fee). Thats $3,573, but youve saved $44/month on the All-Access subscription all along. When you take that into account, youve paid the same amount, in total, as if the Bike had cost $3,045 in the first place. Not a good deal.That means buying a brand-new Bike+ at full price is a better deal than renting, no matter when or whether you decide to buy out your Bike+. When I'd done these calculations in previous years (when the Bike was offered in the rental program), the costs were much closer. Now, the rental program is clearly the worse deal. I wouldn't recommend renting now unless you know you won't be using the Bike+ long term. If you're planning to move soon, or simply expect to lose interest, the free pickup at the end of the rental term may be worth the extra cost.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. When I was shopping for mine, $950 was an excellent deal compared to the new, rental, and refurbished prices. Since then, prices have dropped on the used market and sales on new Bikes have been occurring more often.For the moment, at least, prices on used Pelotons are still high enough that you'll be able to get a significant amount of your money back if you were to decide to sell your Bike or Bike+. 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 I wanted to sell my $950 Bike now, I'd likely get $600 back at best. Besides the price, though, you might want to consider two other factors that will affect how good a deal youre getting if you buy used.Used Bikes require a $95 activation feeYep, Peloton now charges you to buy a used Bike (or Bike+) from someone else. Used Pelotons are still a better deal than buying new, but make sure you're budgeting for that activation fee. To soften the blow, Peloton will give you a $25 credit toward replacement parts, and a 50% off coupon for cycling shoes. (That said, Peloton brand cycling shoes aren't the greatest; you may want to buy your own elsewhere.) Used Bikes dont come with a warrantyNew and refurbished Pelotons come with a 12-month warranty that covers the touchscreen, parts (including pedals), and the labor to replace them. 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. So even if the original owner has had the Bike for less than a year, you dont get the benefits of the remaining time on the warranty. However, if the original owner purchased an extended protection planwhich can last up to four years in totalthose are transferable. Only the original owner can buy this plan, and only within the first year they own the Bike; you cant buy one yourself if youre buying a used Bike. If youre buying used and the owner is transferring a protection plan, make sure to get their order confirmation number, and dont be surprised if the asking price is a bit higher than other used Bikes to account for the owners extra expense.Without a warranty or protection plan, youre on the hook for any repair costs, including labor. I had to replace the bearings on my Bike shortly after I got it, and I believe I paid Peloton around $45 to send me the part I needed. Fortunately, it was easy to install. On the other extreme, if something went wrong with the touchscreen, it would cost $375 to replace, labor not included.Used Bikes may have wear and tearA bike is a collection of moving parts, and if you love your Peloton, youll put a lot of miles on it. That means a lot of wear. Peloton Bikes tend to be pretty sturdy, and indoor bikes dont accumulate as much damage as something youd ride outside. But its still worth considering when you might have to replace parts. If youre buying a used bike, youll want to check these parts for wear:The pedals should be replaced every year, at least according to Peloton, though most Peloton owners dont seem to bother. (They certainly seem to last a lot longer than that, but the company is probably keeping in mind its 2020 recall in response to pedals that broke, injuring some riders.)Speaking of recalls, the seat post on all Peloton bikes was recalled in 2023 because it could break. If youre buying used, make sure the owner has installed the new post. The bearings in the center of the flywheel wont last forever. You can expect them to endure roughly a year of regular use, although this will vary greatly. If a used Bike is a few years old and hasnt had them replaced, thats a repair that is probably due. When the bearings start to go, the Bike will still be functional, but it will make a rattling noise as you ride.Cosmetic damage may also be an issue. There could be dents or scratches on a used bike, worn areas on the handlebars, and so on. 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. Both the original Bike and the Bike+ have a large touchscreen that plays videos of the workouts and shows you statistics about your ride. The models havent changed much over the years, with one exception. The Generation 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.As long as the used Bike doesnt have that older touchscreen, any model you buy used is going to be basically equivalent to whats for sale now. Note that some of the Bikes in used listings may say "gen 1", but as long as their touchscreen has the gray button on the back instead of the orange button on top, they're fine.Where to find used Peloton BikesThere are plenty for sale on places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, and there are also Peloton-related Facebook groups that allow members to post Bikes for sale. 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. When I was browsing listings to update this post, I found plenty of Bikes listed with a price of $129 and a description that glowingly praised the site where the seller had originally bought it. Yeah, that was just an ad for that sitewhich turned out not to sell Pelotons at all, but haha! Made you look! In any case, make sure you're dealing with a real person, and dont pay anything until youve seen the Bike in person and are sure you want to buy it.What to ask the seller of a used BikeWhen youre looking at a specific used Bike, Peloton's history tool (still in beta) may be able to tell you about the history of a Bike or Bike+ if you know the serial number. You'll have to ask the seller for the number, and then cross your fingers and hope that it's one of the Bikes included in the beta program. Besides that, here are some things to ask to make sure youre getting a good deal. Are you the original owner?Theres nothing wrong with buying a Bike that has been through multiple owners, except that its harder to document where it actually came from. Peloton offers a history summary tool where you can look up a specific Bike or Bike+, but it still doesn't support all serial numbers on it. (My own used Peloton keeps turning up a "not part of our beta program" message, nearly a year after it launched this feature.) Peloton recommends you ask the owner to show you proof of the original purchase. It warns that rental Bikes arent supposed to be sold, and if you buy one, you wont be able to activate a subscription on it. Make sure that the Bike is not a rental; there have been scams where a seller shows a buyer a purchase receipt, and then swaps in a rental when it's time to pick your Bike up. Check that the serial numbers match.This question can also kick off a conversation about why they are selling the bike, and how well it has worked for them over the years. Which brings us to...How many rides has this Bike had?Theres going to be a difference in wear-and-tear between a Bike that was ridden a few times versus a Bike that gets hours of use every day. You dont need to know the exact number, but it can be good to get a sense of how much use the bike has seen.The bike doesnt come with an odometer, but you can ask when it was purchased and how many rides the owner has done on it. (Their Peloton profile will tell them how many rides theyve done, but remember that they may also have family members who ride as well.) If the Bike you're looking at show up on Peloton's history tool, it should be able to give you this information as well.Have any recalled parts been replaced?Peloton Bikes seat posts (but not the Bike+) were recalled in 2023. Although the rollout was slow, everyone should have gotten their new ones by now. You can check whether the seat post is the newest type by looking at the bottom-most measuring line on the post. While youre at it, check whether the pedals have an orange Peloton logo. If so, they were part of the 2020 pedal recall and 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? Peloton also recommends checking that the adjustment levers and screws move smoothly, and that there arent any signs of over-tightening, like cracks. Check that the power cable is in good shape, and that the bike is clean and appears well-cared for.How to move a PelotonIf you decide to take the Bike home with you, proceed carefully. These suckers are heavy, weighing about 140 pounds. Most of that weight is in the flywheel at the front, so be aware of that when carrying it with a partner. Peloton has a guide to moving Bikes here. Importantly, youll want to remove the touchscreen first. I wrapped mine in towels and put it in the front seat of my car; the rest of the Bike went in the back. Peloton also recommends taking off the water bottle holders and the cage on the back that holds the dumbbells. Lower the handlebars and seat to their lowest position, and tighten all the adjustment levers so nothing moves in transit. I didnt remove the pedals, but Peloton says you should. How to transfer a Peloton to a new ownerPeloton recommends doing a factory reset on a Bike before it changes hands. Go to Settings > System > Factory Reset. When you set your Bike up at home, follow the prompts on the screen to register the Bike and set up your new subscription. If you already have a subscription to the Peloton app, make sure to cancel it; that doesnt always happen automatically. What else you'll need to buy to enjoy your PelotonYoull want cycling shoes. They dont have to be Peloton brand (the standard Peloton shoes kind of suck, if I'm being honest), but they do need Delta LOOK cleats to fit the pedals. That said, you can replace the pedals with another type if you prefer. If you plan to ride a lot, padded cycling shorts are 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. Peloton makes its own branded dumbbells with square ends, but the workouts work just as well with any dumbbells you care to buy from the store. You may want a mat to put under your Bike to protect your floor from dripping sweat. Youll likely also want a towel, a water bottle, and maybe a heart rate chest strap to sync with the Bike (even my cheapo strap syncs just fine). Spin instructor (and Lifehacker features editor, we're so lucky) Lindsey Ellefson has a more complete guide here to the things you may want to pick up to make the most of your new Peloton. Unisex Road Bike Cycling Shoes Compatible with Peloton Shimano SPD Bike Riding Shoes for Men Women, 3 Straps, Pre-Installed Delta Cleats for Indoor Outdoor Cycling Biking $79.94 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $79.94 at Amazon
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