Is Buying a Used Peloton Worth the Savings?

When my low-cost Amazon spin bike broke, I needed to improve to one thing higher. However though I used to be already following together with Peloton movies on the corporate’s app, I believed getting an precise Peloton was out of attain. But as I shopped, I started to vary my thoughts: Even a superb off-brand spin bike will begin within the excessive triple digits, and it seems Pelotons might be rented, and even bought used. Thus started my quest for a less expensive Peloton, and in the long run, I purchased a used mannequin I’m very pleased with.

Mine price $950 by way of a Fb Market sale in 2022. If I had taken the time to buy round and negotiate extra, I possible may have discovered one for much less. (Used Pelotons are additionally lots cheaper now than they had been then.) However earlier than I may discover a bike to purchase, there have been a number of questions that wanted answering. Let me take you on a tour by way of my procuring course of.

The distinction between the Peloton Bike and the Bike+

Earlier than you begin procuring, you’ll have to know in order for you a Peloton Bike, or a Peloton Bike+. The Bike is what you most likely consider as a traditional Peloton; the Bike+ has some further options and prices about $1,000 extra (new). I knew at the beginning that I needed a daily Bike, in order that narrowed down my procuring.

I put collectively a full guide to the differences between the Peloton Bike and the Bike+, however the largest variations between the 2 fashions are:

• The Bike+ has its touchscreen on a swivel, so you are able to do power or yoga courses subsequent to the bike, as a substitute of getting to face behind it and crane your neck to see over the seat. That mentioned, an All-Entry Peloton membership additionally permits you to watch power and yoga courses out of your cellphone or one other gadget, so this can be a nice-to-have, however not a necessity.

• The Bike+ can robotically alter the resistance as you comply with together with a category. With a daily Bike, it’s a must to hearken to the teacher let you know what resistance to make use of, and switch the knob your self.

• The Bike+ has a barely bigger touchscreen (24 inches versus 22 inches) and a nicer sound system. It additionally has nicer parts all through, together with a sooner processor and extra RAM.

Do it’s a must to pay a subscription price to make use of a Peloton?

Peloton’s Bikes are meant for use with an All-Entry subscription. It prices $44 per 30 days and provides you entry to spin courses of all sorts, scenic rides, and Lanebreak rides (Lanebreak is basically a online game you play by using the bike). As famous, the All-Entry subscription additionally comes with the flexibility to take courses from the Peloton app utilizing your cellphone or different units.

In case you don’t have a subscription, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the Bike in “Simply Trip” mode, which reveals you a plain black display screen and a few primary metrics: your cadence, resistance, output, and time. You may even use a device called the DFC to broadcast data to watches or third-party apps. So in the event you simply need to get a exercise in, however you don’t care about consuming Peloton-branded content material, you’ll be able to nonetheless try this with out paying a month-to-month price. (In that case, although, you’d most likely be higher off shopping for a non-Peloton spin bike.)

How a lot you may pay for a used, new, or refurbished Peloton, or simply renting

The entire costs I focus on on this part are present as of April 2025, and are topic to vary.

• Used Peloton bikes fluctuate wildly in worth and high quality. Some are gently used and include equipment; others could also be cheaper however have vital put on and tear. I’m presently seeing asking costs from $400 to $850 for the usual mannequin Bike, and $900 to $1,200 for the Bike+ (subscription not included, after all).

• New Peloton bikes run $1,445 for simply the Bike, or $1,650 for a “Starter” package deal that comes with sneakers, hand weights, a water bottle, and a mat. (The Bike+ is $2,495, or $2,700 with the Starter package deal.) Each choices embrace supply and setup, and a 12-month guarantee. They don’t embrace the $44/month All-Entry subscription that you simply’ll have to take the platform’s well-known video courses. Peloton bikes have additionally been on steep reductions these days throughout main gross sales occasions, going as little as $1,095 final Black Friday.

• Peloton Bike rentals run $119/month for the Bike+ (authentic Bike leases should not presently accessible), plus a one-time $150 supply and setup price. The rental features a pair of biking sneakers and the subscription price for video content material. There’s additionally a guaranty for the lifetime of the subscription interval.

• Peloton certified refurbished bikes are presently going for $1,145 for the Bike, and $1,995 for the Bike+. Each are a major financial savings in comparison with paying full worth, however greater than a used Bike. In any other case, the phrases are the identical as new bikes: The guarantee and supply price are included; your All-Entry subscription shouldn’t be.

As you’d anticipate, used Bikes are cheaper than refurbished, and refurbished is cheaper than new. The place do leases fall? We have to crunch some extra numbers to see.

Is renting Peloton a greater deal than shopping for new or used?

I thought-about a rental earlier than I began purchasing for used Bikes. In case you don’t know whether or not you desire a Peloton in any respect, or in the event you’re planning on a transfer quickly, the rental is perhaps value it. Peloton will ship somebody to come back decide up the Bike, without cost, in the event you determine you don’t need it anymore. Leases could also be new or refurbished—Peloton sends you no matter it has, though it guarantees the machine can be in good situation, even when it has a number of dings or scratches. There are alternatives to lease each the Bike and Bike+. Beneath, I’ll focus on pricing for the common Bike.

What it’s good to learn about renting a Peloton

You could have the choice to purchase your rental at any time, and the value varies based mostly on how lengthy you’ve been renting. In case you determine to purchase the Bike+ the second it arrives, it’ll price you $2,345. At that time you’ll have already paid the $150 supply price and doubtless your first month’s $119 rental price, which means the Bike will successfully price $2,614—somewhat greater than the total worth of a brand-new Bike. (Keep in mind that your rental Bike may be a brand new Bike, however it may additionally be a refurbished mannequin, which sells for much less.)

As time goes on, the deal stays about the identical: After a yr, the buyout worth is simply $1,995, however you’ll have already paid $1,578 in rental charges (together with the supply price). That’s $3,573, however you’ve saved $44/month on the All-Entry subscription all alongside. Once you take that into consideration, you’ve paid the identical quantity, in whole, as if the Bike had price $3,045 within the first place. Not a superb deal.

Meaning shopping for a brand-new Bike+ at full worth is a greater deal than renting, regardless of when or whether or not you determine to purchase out your Bike+. After I’d executed these calculations in earlier years (when the Bike was supplied within the rental program), the prices had been a lot nearer. Now, the rental program is clearly the more serious deal. I would not suggest renting now except you know you will not be utilizing the Bike+ long run. In case you’re planning to maneuver quickly, or just anticipate to lose curiosity, the free pickup on the finish of the rental time period could also be value the additional price.

Are used Peloton Bikes a superb deal?

I ended up shopping for mine used, so I’d say they positively are. But it surely is determined by a number of elements.

The very first thing to think about is resale worth. After I was purchasing for mine, $950 was a wonderful deal in comparison with the brand new, rental, and refurbished costs. Since then, costs have dropped on the used market and gross sales on new Bikes have been occurring extra typically.

For the second, not less than, costs on used Pelotons are nonetheless excessive sufficient that you’ll get a major quantity of your a reimbursement in the event you had been to determine to promote your Bike or Bike+. That was an enormous a part of my calculus: A used Peloton doesn’t depreciate immediately like a brand new automobile. That mentioned, costs have been slowly falling. If I needed to promote my $950 Bike now, I might possible get $600 again at greatest.

In addition to the value, although, you may need to think about two different elements that can have an effect on how good a deal you’re getting in the event you purchase used.

Used Bikes require a $95 activation price

Yep, Peloton now charges you to purchase a used Bike (or Bike+) from another person. Used Pelotons are nonetheless a greater deal than shopping for new, however be sure you’re budgeting for that activation price. To melt the blow, Peloton offers you a $25 credit score towards substitute components, and a 50% off coupon for cycling shoes. (That mentioned, Peloton model biking sneakers aren’t the best; chances are you’ll need to purchase your individual elsewhere.)

Used Bikes don’t include a guaranty

New and refurbished Pelotons include a 12-month guarantee that covers the touchscreen, components (together with pedals), and the labor to exchange them. If one thing breaks, you simply contact buyer assist they usually’ll ship someone out to repair your Bike.

The guarantee doesn’t switch to new homeowners. So even when the unique proprietor has had the Bike for lower than a yr, you don’t get the advantages of the remaining time on the guarantee. Nonetheless, if the unique proprietor bought an prolonged safety plan—which may last as long as 4 years in whole—these are transferable. Solely the unique proprietor should purchase this plan, and solely throughout the first yr they personal the Bike; you’ll be able to’t purchase one your self in the event you’re shopping for a used Bike. In case you’re shopping for used and the proprietor is transferring a safety plan, be sure to get their order affirmation quantity, and don’t be shocked if the asking worth is a bit increased than different used Bikes to account for the proprietor’s additional expense.

With no guarantee or safety plan, you’re on the hook for any restore prices, together with labor. I needed to change the bearings on my Bike shortly after I acquired it, and I imagine I paid Peloton round $45 to ship me the half I wanted. Thankfully, it was simple to put in. On the opposite excessive, if one thing went mistaken with the touchscreen, it could cost $375 to exchange, labor not included.

Used Bikes could have put on and tear

A motorcycle is a set of transferring components, and in the event you love your Peloton, you’ll put a number of miles on it. Meaning a number of put on.

Peloton Bikes are typically fairly sturdy, and indoor bikes don’t accumulate as a lot harm as one thing you’d trip exterior. But it surely’s nonetheless value contemplating if you might need to exchange components. In case you’re shopping for a used bike, you’ll need to test these components for put on:

• The pedals ought to be changed yearly, not less than in keeping with Peloton, although most Peloton homeowners don’t appear to trouble. (They definitely appear to final lots longer than that, however the firm might be retaining in thoughts its 2020 recall in response to pedals that broke, injuring some riders.)

• Talking of recollects, the seat submit on all Peloton bikes was recalled in 2023 as a result of it may break. In case you’re shopping for used, be sure the proprietor has put in the brand new submit.

• The bearings within the heart of the flywheel gained’t final perpetually. You may anticipate them to endure roughly a yr of normal use, though this may fluctuate enormously. If a used Bike is a number of years outdated and hasn’t had them changed, that’s a restore that’s most likely due. When the bearings begin to go, the Bike will nonetheless be practical, however it’ll make a rattling noise as you trip.

• Beauty harm might also be a difficulty. There might be dents or scratches on a used bike, worn areas on the handlebars, and so forth. Refurbished Bikes could have minor beauty points; all bets are off with regards to a used Bike.

When is a Peloton Bike too outdated to trouble with?

Peloton solely has two fashions of bikes, which makes procuring simple. Each the unique Bike and the Bike+ have a big touchscreen that performs movies of the exercises and reveals you statistics about your trip.

The fashions haven’t modified a lot through the years, with one exception. The Era 1 Bikes are now not supported; the software program of their touchscreens will now not be up to date. These Bikes have an orange energy button on the high of the touchscreen and had been manufactured earlier than September 2016.

So long as the used Bike doesn’t have that older touchscreen, any mannequin you purchase used goes to be mainly equal to what’s on the market now. Word that among the Bikes in used listings could say “gen 1”, however so long as their touchscreen has the grey button on the again as a substitute of the orange button on high, they’re effective.

The place to seek out used Peloton Bikes

There are loads on the market on locations like Fb Market and Craigslist, and there are additionally Peloton-related Fb teams that permit members to submit Bikes on the market. Verify wherever you’d search for used objects, like OfferUp and the native search choices on Ebay.

As with every sale on these platforms, be careful for scams. After I was shopping listings to replace this submit, I discovered loads of Bikes listed with a worth of $129 and an outline that glowingly praised the location the place the vendor had initially purchased it. Yeah, that was simply an advert for that web site—which turned out to not promote Pelotons in any respect, however haha! Made you look! In any case, be sure you’re coping with an actual individual, and don’t pay something till you’ve seen the Bike in individual and are positive you need to purchase it.

What to ask the vendor of a used Bike

Once you’re taking a look at a particular used Bike, Peloton’s historical past software (nonetheless in beta) may be able to tell you about the history of a Bike or Bike+ if you know the serial number. You will must ask the vendor for the quantity, after which cross your fingers and hope that it is one of many Bikes included within the beta program. In addition to that, listed below are some issues to ask to be sure you’re getting a superb deal.

Are you the unique proprietor?

There’s nothing mistaken with shopping for a Bike that has been by way of a number of homeowners, besides that it’s more durable to doc the place it truly got here from. Peloton affords a history summary tool where you can look up a specific Bike or Bike+, however it nonetheless would not assist all serial numbers on it. (My very own used Peloton retains turning up a “not a part of our beta program” message, practically a yr after it launched this characteristic.)

Peloton recommends you ask the proprietor to point out you proof of the unique buy. It warns that rental Bikes aren’t speculated to be bought, and in the event you purchase one, you gained’t be capable to activate a subscription on it. Guarantee that the Bike shouldn’t be a rental; there have been scams the place a vendor reveals a purchaser a purchase order receipt, after which swaps in a rental when it is time to decide your Bike up. Verify that the serial numbers match.

This query may also kick off a dialog about why they’re promoting the bike, and the way effectively it has labored for them through the years. Which brings us to…

What number of rides has this Bike had?

There’s going to be a distinction in wear-and-tear between a Bike that was ridden a number of instances versus a Bike that will get hours of use day by day. You don’t have to know the precise quantity, however it may be good to get a way of how a lot use the bike has seen.

The bike doesn’t include an odometer, however you’ll be able to ask when it was bought and what number of rides the proprietor has executed on it. (Their Peloton profile will inform them what number of rides they’ve executed, however do not forget that they might even have relations who trip as effectively.) If the Bike you are taking a look at present up on Peloton’s historical past software, it ought to be capable to offer you this info as effectively.

Have any recalled components been changed?

Peloton Bikes’ seat posts (however not the Bike+) had been recalled in 2023. Though the rollout was sluggish, everybody ought to have gotten their new ones by now. You may test whether or not the seat submit is the latest sort by wanting on the bottom-most measuring line on the post.

Whilst you’re at it, test whether or not the pedals have an orange Peloton brand. In that case, they had been a part of the 2020 pedal recall and may have been changed.

That is additionally a superb time to ask about repairs, generally. Has something damaged, and if that’s the case, was it fastened and when? Does the Bike have any ongoing issues?

Can I trip it?

Hop on the bike (don’t fear in regards to the sneakers for now) and switch the pedals. Do they transfer easily, with out clanking noises that may point out unhealthy bearings? Does the massive purple resistance knob flip easily backward and forward? Does the display screen have any chips or cracks?

Peloton additionally recommends checking that the adjustment levers and screws transfer easily, and that there aren’t any indicators of over-tightening, like cracks. Verify that the facility cable is in good condition, and that the bike is clear and seems well-cared for.

The way to transfer a Peloton

In case you determine to take the Bike house with you, proceed rigorously. These suckers are heavy, weighing about 140 kilos. Most of that weight is within the flywheel on the entrance, so pay attention to that when carrying it with a companion.

Peloton has a guide to moving Bikes here. Importantly, you’ll need to take away the touchscreen first. I wrapped mine in towels and put it within the entrance seat of my automobile; the remainder of the Bike went within the again. Peloton additionally recommends taking off the water bottle holders and the cage on the again that holds the dumbbells. Decrease the handlebars and seat to their lowest place, and tighten all of the adjustment levers so nothing strikes in transit. I didn’t take away the pedals, however Peloton says it is best to.

The way to switch a Peloton to a brand new proprietor

Peloton recommends doing a manufacturing unit reset on a Bike earlier than it modifications fingers. Go to Settings > System > Manufacturing facility Reset. Once you set your Bike up at house, comply with the prompts on the display screen to register the Bike and arrange your new subscription.

If you have already got a subscription to the Peloton app, be sure to cancel it; that doesn’t all the time occur robotically.

What else you may want to purchase to get pleasure from your Peloton

You’ll need cycling shoes. They don’t must be Peloton model (the usual Peloton sneakers form of suck, if I am being sincere), however they do want Delta LOOK cleats to suit the pedals. That mentioned, you’ll be able to change the pedals with one other sort in the event you choose. In case you plan to trip lots, padded cycling shorts are additionally a good suggestion.

Peloton’s biking courses typically contain small handheld dumbbells; these ought to come along with your bike. If you wish to do the power courses, although, you’ll need greater dumbbells. Peloton makes its personal branded dumbbells with sq. ends, however the exercises work simply as effectively with any dumbbells you care to purchase from the shop.

It’s your decision a mat to place beneath your Bike to guard your flooring from dripping sweat. You’ll possible additionally desire a towel, a water bottle, and possibly a coronary heart fee chest strap to sync with the Bike (even my cheapo strap syncs simply effective).

Spin teacher (and Lifehacker options editor, we’re so fortunate) Lindsey Ellefson has a extra full information right here to the things you may want to pick up to make the most of your new Peloton.