Crane Foldable Exercise Bike
EDITOR’S NOTES:
- This post deals with Aldi’s foldable exercise bike. If you’re looking for the Crane Pedal Exerciser, you can find it here.
- Aldi sold an exercise bike similar to this folding bike in April of 2021 for the same price of $89.99, with some slight changes including a backrest and handles on the seat. Aldi sold that version of the bike again in December of 2022 for $99.99 and in December of 2023 for the bargain price of $69.99.
- Aldi sold a more expensive exercise bike, the ProForm 505 SPX Indoor Cycle, in late December of 2021 for $269.99. You can read more about that bike here.
- Updated below with a one-year progress report and a two year-progress report.
Ask any fitness buff what the worst time is to go to the gym, and they’ll tell you: January. Like clockwork, seemingly the entire United States (if not the first world) rushes out to local gym to follow through on those New Year’s resolutions. The crowds can continue through March (and some gyms actually have a March bump that’s bigger than January), which can make finding a treadmill or weight machine about as easy as changing lanes during rush hour.
Alternatively, people looking to add some activity to their post-holiday life can invest in the components of a home gym, although the cost of equipment (to say nothing of finding a spot for it in your house) can really start to add up … especially if you’re not totally sure you’ve got the persistence to keep using the stuff.
In moments like these, you might wonder if a certain German grocer — one who seems to know exactly what to rotate into its limited inventory section at just the right time — might have some solutions.
The answer is: yes, in fact, it does.
The Crane Foldable Exercise Bike is an ALDI Find (Special Buy), which means it will be in stores for a limited time and then it will be gone. In the year we purchased it, the bike cost $89.99. In our experience, this is significantly cheaper than most other foldable exercise bikes on the market. Here’s what comes in the box:
- The foldable exercise bike (unassembled)
- A hex key and wrench set for assembly
- 2 AAA batteries
- A manual
- A warranty card
We’re not sure who manufactures the bike, but the warranty is serviced through an email with the domain name 801service.net, which we’ve seen with other Aldi products in the past. The warranty on the product is good for two years.
Features for the bike include:
- An LCD screen that displays time, speed, distance, calories, odometer (total distance), and pulse
- A heart rate monitor
- A device shelf above the LCD screen that can be used to hold a tablet, smartphone, or magazine
- An adjustable “extra-wide” padded seat
- A tension knob to adjust the bike’s resistance level (the documentation does not say so, but we think it is a magnetic tension system)
- Adjustable straps on the pedals for holding feet
- The ability to fold away for storage
- Wheels on the base that allow the bike to be moved easily
- A 285-pound (129-kg) weight limit
Assembling the Bike
Putting the bike together isn’t too hard, although there are a couple of small things you can do to make the process a little easier, which I’ll talk about in a moment. It took us about 40-45 minutes to put the whole thing together, from the time we started sorting parts to the time we had to unscrew one part at the end and move it (more on this in a moment). The instructions include both step-by-step procedures as well as a schematic later on that shows all the parts; we found it helpful to sort all the parts out before starting.
The box comes with a wrench and hex key (Allen wrench), which are the only tools you need to assemble the bike, although you can use your own tools if you want (and a ratchet and ratcheting screwdriver are helpful if you have them). The step-by-step instructions are pretty clear, but it does pay to make sure you have the right bolts, screws, or washers for each step, since there are a couple of variations of each in the packaging. For example, there are a few types of washers that need to go in a specific order.
A couple of other tips. One, there are a couple of steps that benefit from having two people, including attaching the feet and plugging the LCD display to the wire that goes down to the wheel. Two, be especially careful of where you place the two feet; one of them has wheels that won’t do their job properly if they’re not at the right location and angle. (We put them on wrong and had to unscrew and reposition them after we’d finished assembling the rest of the bike.)
Using the Bike
The bike is pretty easy to use. To unfold the bike, you simply remove a pin, unfold the bike, then put the pin back in. The seat can be raised or lowered with a club knob, the foot straps can be adjusted, and the bike’s resistance can be changed with an easy-to-reach tension knob below the LCD display.
We found that we needed to move the foot straps to their loosest setting to accommodate our shoes. (Shoes are “required” for using the machine, according to the manual.) The straps mostly slide into the front quarter of the shoe, so longer feet won’t necessarily be an issue, but people with especially wide feet might have trouble getting their feet in these.
The LCD screen deserves special attention, since it’s a significant part of the bike. The screen is operated by two AAA batteries, which we found taped to some of the Styrofoam packaging. The LCD screen turns on when you start pedaling, and it will stay on until the bike is idle for four minutes.
The screen tracks several data points, including:
- Time. The display counts up in one-second intervals from 0:00 to 99:59, and resets to 0:00 after that.
- Speed: The display shows your workout speed in miles per hour or kilometers per hour, from 0.0 to 999.9.
- Distance: The display shows the total distance of your workout, up to 999.9 miles.
- Calories: The display estimates your calories burned at any time during the workout.
- Odometer: The display shows the bike’s total accumulated distance, across all workouts.
- Pulse: The display shows your pulse rate in beats per minute during the workout. If there is no pulse reading (if your hands are not on the handles), the letter “P” will appear on the screen instead of a number. There are pulse readers on each of the handles.
There are three buttons on the display: mode, set, and reset. Using the mode button, you can cycle between the data points above, or use a mode called scan, which automatically cycles through the data points once every six seconds.
According to the manual, the set button lets you set the value of time, distance, calories, and pulse. As best as we can tell, these let you set benchmarks for each. For example, you can use the set button to set a countdown timer rather than a stopwatch-type count-up timer. We didn’t hear any beeping or anything when benchmarks were reached, so we’re not totally sure how valuable those are. Also, we were hopeful that the set button might let users toggle between miles and kilometers, but that does not appear to be the case, and as far as we can tell whatever comes preset on the bike — miles in our case — is what you get. (If anyone has any insights on this, let us know in the comments.)
The third button, the reset button, can be used to reset the data for your given workout if you want to start over right away. (Alternatively, the values all seem to reset on their own after a minute or two.)
In testing out the LCD screen, we noticed a couple of hiccups. One, it’s a non-backlit screen, which can make it difficult to see in low light. Two, the software can be occasionally buggy. For example, we found that if we accelerated really hard or decelerated really hard (i.e. interval training) while holding the pulse handles, the time on the display would sometimes reset. We also found that, once we started pedaling, we couldn’t display just the time by itself — we had to display the time as part of the rotating scan feature. Display issues can happen with budget exercise bikes, but, just the same, be aware that there may be some here.
As for the rest of the bike? In our tests, we found it generally comfortable to ride, with a solid base on the ground to keep things stable and a smooth pedaling experience. The different tension settings provide a variety of options for making the workout more or less difficult, and they can be adjusted with little difficulty mid-workout. Thanks to the adjustable positioning of the seat, it feels relatively comfortable while using.
Oh, and when you’re done, the bike easily folds back up and wheels to wherever you need to put it.
One unknown at this point: durability. We don’t know how long this bike will last. We’ll update this review over time to reflect what we learn, although the two-year warranty does add some peace of mind.
UPDATE (February 2020): After one year, our bike has held up well. It sees moderate use in our house and works well for us. We’ve put nearly 900 miles on it (according to the odometer), and it pedals as smoothly as the day we got it, and the seat remains pretty comfortable.
We did experience a slight hiccup, though. In January of 2020, a family member was riding the bike and got off of it for a minute or two mid-workout, and when they returned to pick their workout back up, the display screen had reset, losing the stats for that individual workout (minutes, miles pedaled, and calories burned). More disappointing was the fact that the odometer for the total life of the bike also was reset to zero miles. We had been nearing 1,000 miles and were bummed to see the evidence of all our labor deleted. We thought low batteries might be the cause, so we swapped them out. We never did regain the original odometer readings but instead have restarted from scratch, which is something we’ll just have to live with and accept as part of the package with a cheaper bike.
UPDATE (February 2021): Two years after purchase, the bike continues to hold up under near-daily use, operating about the same as it did when we first bought it.
The Verdict:
For $90, Aldi serves up a pretty nifty little weapon in the exercise arsenal. It’s relatively easy to assemble, easy to use, and feels both smooth and stable when in motion. It’s a lot less than comparably priced foldable stationary bikes, which is a real plus, and it comes with a two-year warranty.
There are, though, some limitations. The LCD screen, while filled with useful data, has some drawbacks, including the fact that it’s hard to read in low light and the fact that, in some instances, it can be glitchy. In addition, the foot straps may not be ideal with people for especially large feet.
Still, the price alone makes this worth a look, especially if you’re not sure you’ll use it enough to justify paying more. We’ll be keeping a close eye on it as we put more mileage on ours; in the meantime, we’re always interested to hear about other users’ experience in the comments.
Hi do you find the stationary bike to be supportive of different positions while using it besides just sitting? Like standing or halfway between standing and sitting? I am interested in purchasing the bike but not sure if the bike could handle weight moving in that way while riding it as if I was in a spinning class. Thanks!
I just tried it both half standing and fully standing. A position halfway between standing and sitting should be okay because this seems to keep your weight mostly toward the back of the bike/over the seat. Fully standing appears to work, too, but it puts a lot of weight at the front of the bike and I’m a bit concerned about it tipping in this position; it did not tip for me and felt mostly stable, but I’m not sure how safe it is.
Is there a manual online anywhere for setting up the display?
yes!! Aldi official too, I was digging so deep for my original. Thank god for the internet lol
https://www.aldi.us/en/about-aldi/warranties-manuals/warranties-detail/sis/si/crane-foldable-exercise-bike-2/
Is it quiet? How much resistance does it offer?
It’s pretty quiet. The resistance is adjustable, so you can go pretty low or high depending on what you want.
Yes, I’d say it’s silent, or about as close to silent as it gets.
Surprisingly its Whisper quiet!!!
Is there a way to reset the odometer back to zero?
Maybe try taking the batteries out to reset the odometer?
Removing the batteries will reset the odometer. I found that out this evening.
I am just under 5’1″ and I am wondering what the lowest height the seat can be positioned to? The Aldi in my town still has a few of these left and I am thinking about purchasing one but want to make sure it won’t be too tall for me. Thanks!
For what it’s worth, our daughter (who is about 4’10”) has ridden the bike and has been able to reach the pedals.
I’m 5’2″ and at the lowest setting I’m able to reach the pedals easily.
I can ride it but I can’t get on it without a step stool. I’m 62 and 5’2″.It’s down as low as I can get it.
I’m 5’4″ and late 60’s and I use a stepstool, too. Carefully. It’s weighty enough to stay put, but I am very cautious about balancing when getting on and off. It’s the height of the “crossbar” that’s challenging for us “shorties” to lift our legs up and over.
Enjoy my bike purchased at an Aldi in Floridq. Can it be purchased in Southern New England or on-line?
The bike was a limited-time product in Aldi stores, and once it’s gone, it can’t be purchased again in stores or online at least for the foreseeable future. Aldi does sometimes bring things back to its stores on a cyclical or yearly basis, but we don’t know if or when that will happen regarding the exercise bike.
They brought it back for 2020 though it’ll be the same situation, once their gone, their gone.
I own aldi stationary bike. My weight has come down along with walking 1 hr 40 min 5 days a week. I ride my bike fri and sat. 1 hr or 2. I watch my diet is number one. This bike work. Love it.
The pulse rate isn’t showing up, only a P, and I have both hands on the silver parts of the handles. Help!
I’m having the same problem. I’m going to contact the phone number on the booklet to see if they can assist but they’re only available 9am-5pm when most people are working.
Hi ,
I am tall about 5’11” / 6 ft tall… do you know if it fits someone my height? the bikes on amazon only go up to 5’10
I’ve had some relatives who are around 5’9″ or possibly taller use it with no problems.
I’m enjoying my Crane stationary bike, except for the seat. Is it possible to get a narrower seat for that foldable bike?
Aldi does not sell other seats for the bike, so you’d have to DIY it if you want a different seat.
my son and i are 6.3 – will this bike fits us both?
I am 6′-03″ and my son is 6′-04″ – we are both over 210lbs – 215lbs – will this machine be fitting for me and/or my son?
I don’t know about the height but, the weight won’t be a problem. I weigh 227 and, the bike handles it fine. I believe the limit for the bike is 285.
Did you get a reply? I’m 6’3 and want to get this, but I don’t see an answer to your question.
How do you change it from km to mph?
The pulse rate isn’t showing up in the window, only a P, even with both hands on the monitors. Help!
I’ve had the bike for only 2 months and the right pedal has been stripped. Is there any way to replace it??
We have the same problem. I just sent an email to the warranty email address with pictures of the stripped pedal arm. I’ll let you know what kind of response we get (hopefully they can just replace the pedal arm). Since it threads the pedal into the arm directly, I’ve thought about getting a pedal that can just pass through and bolt on, since there’s no point to trying to preserve the remaining threads (the thread hole is actually deformed) just to get it usable until/unless I can get the replacement part.
Well, I got an answer right away. Unfortunately, the answer is “we can’t get parts for that item, all we can do is refund your purchase.”
Did you end up getting the refund. I am planning to buy the bike this year, do you know which week it can be found in Aldi.
Is there a different seat available?
On the box it says #99481 on manual says FLX-XB-01(model#)
Thank you,
Can you adjust the handles to bring it up closer to your chest? i don’t want to by leaning way forward while peddling.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the handles are movable on this particular model. I rarely use the handles, though, and instead I swing my arms like I’m power walking so I’m exercising more than just my legs.
Any notes on packaging on if it is magnetic resistance? Thanks.
the seat doesn’t seem to go down and further and its still way to high so weird and the allen wrench was stripped couldnt undo screws
Anyone know the folded and unfolded dimensions?
Does this bike come with back support and side handles?
The 2023 model does. This review is of an older bike.
How does the bike calculate calories? Does it ask for weight or age or height? Is it accurate at all?
I like most everything about the bike but after 12 minutes of riding it started to make a noise coming from the gear box and it has not stopped. Its rather loud and annoying, can you tell me how to check it out or maybe fix it? Suggestions?
Did you resolve the problem? After about 3 weeks of use mine started making clunking noises in the gear box. I’m guessing it will soon develop additional problems.
DO NOT BUY
I bought this foldable bike as a special buy
I have always used exercise bikes for fitness and something to do when I’m bored thinking about biscuits.
After 2 months of using it everyday for 20 minutes…it’s done (resistance went )had it ..absolutely the worst exercise bike I’ve ever owned .
Aldi is different but it’s quality is terrible
In the December 2023 offering, the photo on the Aldi website shows a very narrow seat, unlike what was pictured in this review post. I’m uncertain as to the comfort, and the quality of the current iteration, since Bike & Biscuits above was unhappy with their experience. Taking that into consideration, I’m still trying to decide if I want to take advantage of the low price point.
Update to my comment after looking at the box in the store – the angle at which the photo was taken made the seat look narrow. It isn’t.
My biggest issue after seeing at the store yesterday is I have no idea how to get something this heavy to my car and then into my place.
I didn’t expect something foldable to not be portable.
I bought this bike for my father. At the time of purchase, I was pre-op neurosurgery & ordered not to lift more than 10lbs. Aldi staff is great. They loaded it into my car for me.
Aldi workers are fantastic!
I have one! Bought it when they first appeared at my Aldi store. I have used most of the high class bikes in the gym, I think this is best. I had a serious knee injury, this bike is smooth as silk. I just finished a 20 min. ride. All is well