Give me my Elliptical back!
Needed an exercise machine to keep me in shape for soccer, snowboarding - hate running (treadmill), biking too boring and too limited of motion - opted for an Elliptical -- but... wanted variety. The "variable stride" feature sold me - and glad it did! This one has a large variety of strides I use to reduce boredom (can do steps, short & long strides). Also able to set your own training pattern (e.g. I have one that simulates running on a straight level stretch (long strides used), climbing stairs, and going down hill (backpedaling).

Only issue - family took to it as well - now have to share time on it...

(Over a year of use - in a basement - still going strong)

Good up to a certain speed
Although the arm workout is definitely diminished since the arms are not attached to the drive, I was generally happy with the machine for the first three weeks. However, when I started to push myself harder (above 50 RPMs) the ride got a bit rough and the machine noisier. Rubber wheels are attached to the bottom of the pedals and they roll back and forth inside a groove, so there's quite a bit of friction going on (unlike a rear-drive eliptical wheel that just spins). Due to the rougher ride at higher speeds, I felt I couldn't really push myself as hard as I wanted to.

What a horrible machine!
The machine arrived with a broken knob on the top of the right handle. It wasn't a mission critical piece of the machine, so we kept it as is, but within 90 days of usage the pedals began making a horrible banging noise. Upon inspection, there is what appears to be little rubber shavings dropping down from the heavy center console where something is now grinding horribly.

(a piece that comes pre-assembled & bolted closed -- meaning it's not something I failed to properly assemble)

Schwinn/Nautilus customer service while certainly polite, are utterly useless. There is no service plan other than to let them listen to the noise it makes over the phone, and then try to guess what they need to send you -- so that you can try to fix!

For 1000.00 dollars I now have a clothes hanger that weighs several hundred pounds. Avoid this company at all costs.

Great machine
The Schwinn 460 is a great machine.
It came boxed up nicely in one big and heavy box. Make sure the delivery firm drops it off in the room you want to use it, the box is heavy. Well packaged and all hardware with clear instructions included. I assembled it myself in two hours, taking my time and using my own tools. The computer unit came with a cracked cover, I have reported this to Schwinn Customer Service but have yet to hear from them. The computer is fully functional, and the machine runs smooth and quiet. There is even an adjustable variable speed fan you can direct to your face. Love the equipment. I did not go to the store and test the machine, I bought it based on what I read. I looked at the Bowflex Treadclimber at first, but the steep price and reported failures and poor reliability made me look further. I have no regrets I ended up buying this Schinn 460.
4 Stars instead of five because:
The highest resistance level could have been somewhat higher for me.
The power plug is in the front of the machine, while I rather had seen this being in the back (that's where my pwr supply is).
The customer Service has yet to follow up on me
Made in China :(

Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical
I had been considering the Schwinn 460 Variable Stride elliptical for a long time, but was nervous purchasing it without trying it first. So far I'm very happy with it. There were some cosmetic problems (some deep scratches on the handle bars). I contacted customer service and immediately reached a human being, who offered to send replacement parts. I received them within 10 days. The unit is solid and looks well built. The packaging was impressive. All the little nuts and bolts were shrink wrapped on a sheet so you can't miss anything.
As far as the variable stride, it only took a few minutes to adjust to it. There's a stride that I'm comfortable with, and I automatically use that stride without having to think about it. But it's nice to go longer or shorter once in a while to break things up. Years ago I purchased an inexpensive ellipse from a department store, and I found the stride too short for me (I'm 5'3") and it was uncomfortable to use. I love the ellipticals at the gym (which are way too expensive for me) and the Schwinn is a good compromise. I'm glad I got the variable stride.

Schwinn Recumbent Bike
I love my Schwinn recumbent bike. It is easy to use while giving a good workout.

Very nice
I've been using the bike for 4 months now. I use it almost daily. This bike is very well-built and easy to put together. It is also very comfortable. As someone who can easily jog 10+ miles and is very active, this bike should have enough power for anyone. There are plenty of nice features. The price is great. I can burn 500+ calories in a workout and be totally comfortable. The seat is great.

Schwinn 240
I had two different experiences with the Schwinn 240, the initial and later. The initial experience involved a lot of frustration with the poor assembly manual (pictures with little explanation). What should have taken about 1 1/2 hours took more than twice that amount of time to put the bike together. Then it didn't work properly. The resistance wouldn't change no matter what I did. Two separate shipments of parts and one tech visit later, it was working. The console apparently had a bad connector and once that was changed out, everything worked fine. One note: the wiring harness for this bike seems cheap and flimsy. I hope I don't encounter additional problems in the future. Now the bike works as it should and it is everything I hoped it would be. The ride is quiet and smooth and the available resistance adjustments are more than enough to challenge most riders. There is one other thing that might help you in putting the bike together. They assume you will know that to install the seat frame assembly that you will have to take the seat rail off (7 bolts) but no where is that made clear until you figure it out realizing there is no way to do it any other way.

Great Bike - Schwinn 240 - Wonderful
Review by wife:

We decided we wanted a recumbent bike to start getting in better shape. After reading about and searching for reviews, we decided on this one. A few minor things people discussed in previous reviews were the shipping (box comes banged up, pieces broken or missing parts) and the computer. I did read throughout many reviews that the manuals available on the website were better than the ones printed out. I figured I could work around those and decided to give it a go. Ordered the bike on Wednesday morning 449.99 - 50.00 (instant savings) = 399.99. No shipping and no sales tax. I have seen it around for up to 200.00 more. We were offered 2 day shipping with amazon prime for 0.00 or 1 day delivery for an extra 3.99.

We received the bike on Friday afternoon (this was considered one day delivery - with one day for processing). If you already have Amazon Prime, like we do, might as well take adavantage of it. Box was in PERFECT shape. We put it together later in the day (I had the manuals up on my laptop during the process, just in case they were needed-NOT REALLY). The manual that was provided in the box was plenty (even though it was missing the last couple of pages - (how to install foot pedals, straps and overall check to make sure things were tight). IF it took 45 minutes, I would really be surprised (including unpacking the box and going through everything), I think that hardest part about it was getting rid of all the styrofoam and cutting up the cardboard. We have put a few things together in our time..

Minor issues of other reviewers: We pulled the cords through and held them in place while putting the handle on the bike. Had to take part of the bike apart to attach the seat and then put back together, the numbers/letters of the bolts/nuts do not correspond properly. These issues we worked through very easily. If you know about them ahead of time, it makes things a little easier. I am sure the tools provided would have been sufficient but we used our own tools.

The computer, hubby programmed it (might have taken me a bit longer to figure things out), YES-THEY COULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER-but, its not that hard to operate...Have used it for the first 2 courses and it is very QUIET and very STABLE. It fits everyone in our family hubby-(5'11"), wife-(5'5") and 13 year old daughter-(5'9").

Would purchase again in a heartbeat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some strengths, some weaknesses
If you're not handy, don't buy it. The instructions for putting together are terrible. They are printed on regular sized paper folded in half and the images are too small to understand. In addition, to identify the screws shown in the diagram, you must turn back and forth to a conversion table in front of the manual. It's extremely amateur. In fact, on mine, some of the pages were printed upside down. I doubt if they spent more than a quarter printing it.

The console instructions are equally bad. They are unclear. For instance, you can set up a personal program, but the instructions don't tell you how to access it except to view it, edit it, or delete it. I still can't figure out how to make the personal program record my workouts, and I'm a highly technical person. Those instructions are a disgrace.

I bought the bike because my other one was getting too noisy. This one is very quiet and works well except at the easiest levels. If you plan to use the easiest levels, the seat rocks and the bike makes quite a bit of noise.

On the bright side, it's quite comfortable and sturdy.

I think Schwinn should be embarrassed by their documentation.

An Excellent Value for the Price
This review is based on having ordered the machine, taken delivery, put it together, and used it about half a dozen times.

I had the advantage of having browsed through the hundreds of reviews on this site of the predecessor 430 machine, as well as the fewer number there for this product. Because of that, I was aware of some of the assembly problems that others had encountered, especially on the 430, and some other things to be alert for, which probably helped.

Ordering was smooth (usual Amazon routine) and the delivery was timely and efficient. Delivery was to my home, whereas the machine was intended for my cabin, so the delivery guy slid it into the back of my SUV for me.

The box is very heavy (nearly 170 lbs), and the intended location was in an upstairs room. I didn't have anyone available at my cabin to assist, but was able to slide it out of my SUV so that it was standing on end on the front deck and then "walk" it through the door by rotating it back and forth on the two short edges of the end. Once inside, I laid it flat, opened and unpacked it. (It was very well packaged, with everything sealed in plastic and packed in styrofoam.) I then carried the pieces upstairs individually or in small groupings. The heaviest piece was the flywheel assembly (about 45 pounds), which was manageable.

I assembled it by myself in a little over two hours, using my own tools. In a pinch, you could probably make do with the tools that come with it, although it would likely take somewhat longer. The assembly instructions are OK. I prefer written ones, which tend to be more specific, whereas these ones are primarily illustrations. But, that's probably the most efficient and economical way for manufacturers to deal with today's multi-lingual requirements. The parts list is very comprehensive and complete. I ended up with a few parts left over which didn't appear to be covered in the instructions or parts list, which made me think the machine might be produced on some sort of common assembly line with another type for which parts were inadvertently included. But, everything that I actually needed seemed to be there.

As far as actual use, I've used it about half a dozen times and am quite satisfied with it so far.

Compared to commercial grade machines or more expensive home machines, it lacks a few "nice touches", but nothing essential for me. For example, as others have noted, the screen isn't backlit and it doesn't have a built-in fan, but I can get by without either of those.

It's pretty compact (although you do stand pretty high on it), so the stride length and arm "throw" length are a little shorter than on some machines. I'm 6'0" and they're pretty much at the limit for me, so it might be a problem for a taller guy. I also have to hold the handles by the tops of the knobs, rather than a little further down as on machines with longer handles, which I find to be somewhat less comfortable and "natural", but I can live with it.

Lack of a bottle holder would have been somewhat annoying, as some have noted, but there's a place for one, and I had one from an old machine which I was able to install.

Some have found the heart rate monitor to be somewhat slow and sluggish, but I find it to be about on a par with other home machines I've had. I've found the calories generated at the maximum resistance setting over a given time interval to be noticably less than on commercial machines (about one-quarter as many) or more expensive home machines (about one-third as many), but comparable to those of similar home machines that fall short overall in other respects compared to this one.

It's also very smooth and quiet and "solid" feeling for a machine in this price range. It has just recently (the last time or two) started to exhibit a slight but noticeable "click" on each rotation that I think might be coming from the left wheel track (although not sure yet), which I will investigate further, but nothing unusual for this type of machine. I usually watch DVDs when I use it, and, at least so far, it's barely audible over those.

All in all, a very good value for the price, hence the five stars notwithstanding a few minor irritants. I'm quite satisfied with it, and definitely glad I bought it.

Excellent Value
Despite having a gym membership, I was looking for equipment that I could use from home. I wanted something I could use on my schedule, and that would not require building an addition to house it. This is perfect. The product footprint is smaller than a tredmill. The movements are smooth and extremely quiet- so I can use it very late or very early,without disturbing anyone. I am impressed with the sturdiness and stability of the unit. You can personalize programs for several people, without losing any data. It has multiple levels of intensity, so you can make the workout as easy or as hard as you prefer. Even when cylcing backwards (for alternate muscle groups) the equipment movement is very smooth and remains quiet. It was assembled by my teenage son, within 3 hours of arrival.Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer The only negative comment would be that I needed to use an extension cord to enable the unit to be plugged into the wall (to use the programming component). But, even the cord is unobtrusive after everything was set up. The unit is tall, but the stability provided is more than adequate. I love this elliptical. I'm so glad I chose it rather than a tredmill. The price was fantastic, and the shipping was free. It doesn't get any better than this.

Great machine
Elliptical works great, although we did hire someone to put it together despite reviews that it was easy to assemble! I am very happy with it as are my 2 teen daughters who have used it more than me as of now.

Good elliptical. Not so good shipping company
The product is very good. I had it assembled in few hours. The elliptical is stable and built solid. The user manual is not very good. Seems to be missing lot of information. I figured out how their menu systems work.
However I was not very happy with shipping company. First the package arrived with damage. The shipping company chose to return the item themselves instead of giving the damaged item. When the replacement arrived, the delivery person wanted to leave the box outside the house. He would not bring the box in the house - just a matter of few steps. He said that he will loose job if he brings the box in the house. I do not understand the policy of shipping company that would not allow the delivery person to bring the heavy box into the home.

Excellent Elliptical!!
This elliptical is nothing short of excellent. My wife and I have been using it for a few months now and it is really great. I have nothing bad to say. Assembly might be a little intimidating for some but was easy enough. Once setup this thing is solid as a rock and noise free!! The stride is great and overall construction is close to gym quality. The only (minor) gripe I have is the computer only allows one user, other users just have to use the guest mode. Two users would be a nice addition to the computer. Anyone looking for a really good, affordable elliptical will be really happy with this.

What a ride!
I purchased this bike because it is getting more and more difficult to get my exercise outside. It's a great bike. Seemed like I hardly ordered it and it was here already! I do agree with some of the other reviews that the display screen should be larger and not in green letters. Took me longer than an hour to put together because of the weight, etc. and the only other thing I'm not sure of is the handle to adjust the seat. I try not to use it much because when I do, it sounds like it's going to break and is very loud. I don't know if I did something wrong, or this is the way it's supposed to be. I definitely would recommend it to anyone. Just remember the screen is very small and difficult to read, however it is extremely quiet!

Pretty good bike
My boyfriend gave this to me for my birthday after listening to me complain for almost a year about how much I wanted to buy an exercise bike but couldn't afford to do it. I was really depressed and wanted to lose weight but wanted to do it in my home so as not to be seen by anyone else. Yes, I realize that sounds totally mopey but it's the truth. A recumbent bike seemed the best way to go since a ruptured disk keeps me from being able to jump around the house without really paying for it later.

Anyway, there was a loose wire issue when we first put the bike together. It didn't prevent me from using the bike or upping the resistance but I couldn't use any of the bike's other features. Schwinn sent us a repair kit and then talked us through the repair and the customer service agent was nice enough to stay on the phone long enough for me to verify that I could now use the programs and have my heart rate measured.

I began counting calories and using this bike 4-5 days a week starting on May 1, 2010. It's now August 11,2010 and I've lost a solid 40lbs. I plan on using the bike to lose another 50lbs before cutting the intensity of my workouts. I'm overall very happy with the bike but there are a few things that I find annoying about it. I'm 5'5 and my boyfriend is 6'2. If he uses the bike it takes me several minutes to adjust the bike back to my height. The bike adjusts on a slide which on one hand gives you the ability to highly customize the length of the bike but on the other hand causes you to whack the daylights out of your elbow with the amount of force needed to release and set the slide. This may not be an issue for some people but it is for me. Perhaps I should lift heavier weights.

I also wish the seat could be reclined back to avoid the dreaded "butt bike". If you haven't experienced this yet you haven't been riding long enough. A reclining seat would mean I wouldn't have to "stand" up on the bike to restore feeling to my butt during a workout.

My other issues are that after being monogamous to one bike and one set of programmed workouts for so long I now feel the need to wander over to another bike and see what kind of programs it offers. I'm not saying I'm going to replace my bike, I'm just saying there's only so many times you can change the intensity of a program before it just gets boring. My bike tries to compensate for this by telling me I've burned some extreme amount of calories but I'm pretty sure this is just flattery. :D
I know there's no such thing as a truly accurate calorie counter but I wish this bike's was just a little bit better. It's overall a great buy for the money.

good bike with a few details
I bought this bike to exercise a bit while playing videogames or watching TV. Similar cheaper options had important details for me, like not being able to move the seat, or programs too simple to exercise. And the recumbent seat was a "must" especially for my husband. The only detail I've found is that the screen has no light so during the night is kind of uncomfortable, but other than that is a very good bike that serves its purpose and does not use a lot of space in my living room, another "must" since I live in an apartment. Definitely recommended.

My Wife Uses it Daily and Loves It!
We bought the bike in Feb '09 after my wife's knee surgery to help strengthen her legs. Assembly was easy with no glitches. She has used it daily with no problems and no complaints. For the price, I don't think we could have done better than the Schwinn Active 20.

a lot of value for a modest cost
Amazon's current average rating of this bike is 4.5 stars. That is exactly what I think it deserves...although I have rounded my rating up (by 0.5) to five stars to fit Amazon's questionnaire format.

I am 66 years old 5'11" and 219 lbs, while my wife (in her 50s) is 4'9" and 103 lbs. I was looking for a recumbent bike to cross-train during the days that I take a break from running. My wife needed something aerobic to supplement her daily yoga routine. Despite the differences in our ages, sizes, and exercise needs, this sturdy piece of equipment satisfies both of us almost perfectly. If it were to hold up over time, I can imagine us both using it well into old age.

On the positive side it is simply and solidly constructed, and its components easily fit together out-of-the-box; It took me about 30 minutes to assemble it (using the included tools). Although my wife is small, she has no difficulty moving it (i.e. dragging it) to different locations. The large lever used to position the seat on its frame is very easy for both of us to use. While being peddled it is silent, even at its highest level of exertion, making it a pleasure to burn calories while reading, listening to music, or watching TV. So far it has provided both of us with healthy workouts and its sensors allow us to continuously measure our heart beats per minute while peddling.

On the negative side the buttons on its control consul are non-intuitive, and its accompanying manual is not clearly written. (However, After some minor fiddling we got it to do what we wanted.) Further, its LCD screen is impossible to read under under dim light. Ergo my 0.5 deduction.

In the balance though, this item delivers a lot of value for its relatively modest cost.

Great product for the money
After a second back surgery this past summer, I needed to find some low-impact exercise. This exercise bike fit the bill perfectly. The price is great, the packaging was incredible. This thing could have survived a nuclear holocaust in its box! Took me about an hour and a half to put together with my 15-year-old; the directions were pretty good (most of the time was spent wrestling the pieces from the box!). I have it parked in my livingroom, right in front of the television. It is quiet, as other reviewers have reported; I can easily watch TV without having to turn the volume up. I have yet to figure out how to make the different biking programs work, but i just hop on and pedal away, and it tracks my time, miles and calories. Money well spent.

good for the money
Purchase this bike over a month ago and it has worked great. The ONLY problem is working the computer its not really user friendly and the manual doesn't tell you how to switch to other programs, I have to play around w/ it and just starting to get the hang of it. It is still a good buy. I am 5'6, 170lbs and I am trying to lsoe about 20lbs so this bike hods me up well. I wish it had an on/off button. Once you turn it on you must wait for it to auto-shut off. You will need a screwdriver to put together but other than that all other tools come w/ bike. It was very easy to put together and instructions were user friendly. easy to transport from one room to another if you wanted to watch tv and then put back up when done. For the money a good buy...also, the resistance could stand to be higher...but I guess had I bought a more expensive one I would of been able to ge tthat feature. Its still a good buy...

I recommend this bike.
I recommend this bike highly. It is easy to assemble. All the tools needed are included.
It took me under an hour from when the box was delivered until I started using the bike.
I'm recommending this bike as someone who is of normal weight. I'm male, 5'5'' and weigh 135 lbs. I'm aware that this is way less than most Americans, but based on the sturdiness of this device ,I think that anyone under 200 lbs would have no problems.
If you weigh more than that, it's reasonable to think that a custom made device would not be out of the question. A bike that costs 0 can't be expected to endure such high stress levels needed to support huge bodies. But for normal to slightly large people, this bike is well worth your consideration. And it's available at a very competitive cost compared to other bikes.
Now on to some specifics. The pedals are very comfortable with adjustable straps to fit all size feet. The handlebars are easily adjustable and comfortable, as is the seat.
The tension control covers a large range of tension which should meet all requirements.
The digital readout is hard to see and a light would have been nice.
I found only the timer to be useful but I imagine the distance and speed reading would be useful to people who want to monitor such things for personal comparisons.
I really don't know why they include calorie readouts on these home exercise devices.
I'm sure most everyone knows they are useless but for the few who don't, I think the fact that they always over calculate by a mile does some people a huge disservice.
If someone considers the readout to be accurate, they will find themselves gaining a lot of weight if they gauge their calorie intake based on their calorie expenditure.
For instance , I did some light to moderate pedaling for 10 minutes and it told me I burned 250 calories. This is not possible.
In summing up, A great product at a great price.
This bike feels ,looks ,and performs like it should cost at least twice as much.

Uncomfortable-
You get what you pay for is the old addage which definitely applies here. For 0, it's not a bad exercise bike, but the reason i give it 2 stars is because it is so uncomfortable, it is just another reason not to use it often, and when it comes to exercise, people usually don't need the added discouragement.
I am 6'-3", which i think only adds to my discomfort on this very small bike, but my wife is 5'-2" and she's not terribly comfortable on it either.
Don't get me wrong, the bike is ride-able, but it is no 5 star machine as other reviewers would lead you to believe, and this is the main reason why- the bike's configuration forces you to slump forward which is more uncomfortable than biking upright (at least on this model). That combined with a very minimal diameter of a pedal stroke (really bad for long legs like mine), makes this bike not worth even the cheap price of 0.
If you really plan on using an exercise bike frequently, i would suggest you pony up 0 to 0 for one that is comfortable and has a larger diameter pedal stroke motion.

Works great..
I have been loving this stationary bike in every way but two. First, I did not care for the seat it came with - but since it was compatible with any bicycle seat I easily replaced it. Second, the foot straps didn't fit my feet with and without shoes and so I stopped using them. Despite those two complaints the bike has been fantastic and I can't imagine why anyone would buy a more expensive version.

Fantastic Value
I am a frequent user of elliptical machines and find this machine to be a great value. The machine has good resistance levels, many options, can go in reverse and all-in-all provides an excellent workout. This machine is also (relatively) inexpensive for its type (elliptical) and is well worth the price. The machine is quiet (I exercise when my children are sleeping) and is not overly bulky. Also, the machine is not difficult to assemble (the instructions are very clear) and machine upkeep has been easy. I am very happy with this purchase!

Great machine @ great price!
My boyfriend and I purchased this machine based on the strength of the positive reviews on Amazon...and we weren't disappointed in the least...the assembly was pretty straightforward (except for the addendum to step 7 that I discovered while half way through step 9...$%#!?&!) and, for the most part, (except for step 2) I was able to put the whole thing together by myself (I'm no engineer!) in about 2 & 1/2 hours. As soon as the machine was assembled and plugged in, I tried it out and was amazed...not only does the Schwinn 430 look great but it's also fairly compact, very sturdy, smooth, and quiet...and it came at the great price of 9! It's a great deal! I'm in love! :D

Nice machine for the price...but a bit noisey
This machine is a great value for the price. The machine is relatively compact compared to other similar models. Construction seems solid although it is a little noisey at low speeds.

smooth and quiet
This is a great workout machine. Very smooth and quiet in operation and can give a light or strenuous workout, depending on what one chooses. In a ten minute workout, I have been able to work up pretty heavy breathing and (sweating). As a mechanic, I consider it well designed and well constructed. The moving parts etc. do not appear likely to break with normal use. I applied lots of white lithium grease to all the joints (axles) during the "put together". Wipe the excess grease off after tightening the nut. One should pay close attention to the instructions and finish one section before going to the other. It may be difficult and time consuming for some but with diligence, can be done. Tighten all screws tightly but the axle nuts should be slightly looser. I have been using mine, now, for about a month and it is working just fine, very smooth and quiet. I did add an external fan ,though, to keep me cool.........................................

Great trainer
This is a great trainer!!, had a bit of a problem with the delivery but once that was staightened out the machine was relativly easy to put together, about 2 hours. Works great is stable and very strong. The best part was after it was delivered in damaged condition amazon.com stood behind it and made it right!!!!!