Echelon
Echelon Connect EX-5
$899.99Cheaper
Released 2020
Best Exercise Bikes · head-to-head
Echelon Connect EX-5 vs Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Echelon Connect EX-5 is cheaper at $899.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Sole
Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle
$1,199.99
Which is better: the Echelon Connect EX-5 or Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle?
The Echelon Connect EX-5 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Echelon Connect EX-5 is the cheaper at $899.99. The Echelon Connect EX-5 both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec |  Echelon Connect EX-5 |  Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $899.99 | $1,199.99 |
| Brand | Echelon | Sole |
| Released | 2020 | — |
| Bike type | indoor | indoor |
| Resistance type | magnetic | magnetic (eddy current) |
| Resistance levels | 32 | 100 |
| Touchscreen (in) | — | — |
| Flywheel (lb) | 28 | 35.27 |
| Max user weight (lb) | 300 | 300 |
| Subscription required | No | No |
| Release | 2020 | — |
Sources — Echelon Connect EX-5: echelonfit.com (verified 2026-09-28). Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle: soletreadmills.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Echelon Connect EX-5 and Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Resistance type: Echelon Connect EX-5 magnetic vs Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle magnetic (eddy current)
- Resistance levels: Echelon Connect EX-5 32 vs Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle 100
- Flywheel (lb): Echelon Connect EX-5 28 vs Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle 35.27
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Echelon Connect EX-5
Two whitelisted testers cover the base EX-5 (no built-in screen); BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both frame it as a strong-value bike with 32 magnetic-resistance levels and a 180-degree flip device holder, dinged for no touchscreen and a short 12-month warranty. Neither page published hands-on measured figures — BarBend explicitly hadn't ridden the EX-5 and extrapolated from the EX-8s, and touchscreen EX-5s variants were excluded. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Strong value — skips paying for a built-in screen while keeping the Echelon Fit app and a quality build; 32 levels of magnetic resistance give a wide range; Device holder flips 180 degrees for off-bike workouts.
Flagged: No built-in touchscreen/monitor — you must supply your own tablet or phone; Short 12-month warranty (5 years only with a paid Echelon Premier membership); Relatively light 28-pound flywheel.
Sole SB900 Indoor Cycle
Two whitelisted outlets review the exact SB900, but neither lab-measured it: Garage Gym Reviews openly states it has not tested the bike, and BarBend reports no measured numbers. Both praise the durable build, lifetime frame warranty, heavy 48-pound flywheel, and near-silent magnetic resistance, while flagging the small, bare LCD console and absent preset programs. They diverge on the resistance system's labeling and on Bluetooth support. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Durable, high-quality build backed by a lifetime frame warranty; Smooth, near-silent magnetic (eddy current) resistance with heavy 48-lb flywheel; Seat and handlebars adjust vertically and horizontally to fit most riders.
Flagged: No preset or pre-programmed workouts and no built-in touchscreen; Small, basic LCD console with minimal tech; Resistance knob has no labeled levels; hard to return to a set level.