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Anyone who’s watched Jurassic Park knows that the velociraptors were one of the quickest and deadliest dinosaurs that ever roamed the Earth. They may not have been as large as other dinos, but their killer speed allowed them to take down prey much larger than them.
Our Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike review begins with dinosaurs because we find that “raptor” is a perfect name for this piece of cardio equipment. Just like the Cretaceous predator that shares its name, this air bike has the potential to take down some big names, including the T-Rex of air bikes, the Rogue Echo Bike. Life finds a way to surprise you like that sometimes.
Why You Should Trust Us
I have a simple philosophy: I see an air bike hit the market, I get it, and I try it. I love air bikes because they’re a great cardio and conditioning tool, and they’re pretty fun to use (there’s nothing like feeling that whoosh of air hit you in the face during an intense workout). In fact, I’ve used so many I’ve created the best air bikes roundup to give people different options. After all, what works for one person doesn’t always work for everyone else.
And as always, my reviews are based on long-term testing done at my own personal home gym or at the GGR headquarters (where my team members also get to test out some cool stuff). We check for things like durability, customization, and aesthetics to give you the most well-rounded review possible.
A Quick Look at the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
Product Highlights
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has many standard features that cost extra on other bikes
- Most of the frame and drivetrain comes pre-assembled
- Easy seat adjustment
- 3-year warranty is the best I’ve seen for an air bike
Cons
- At 130 pounds, this thing is heavy and not quite as portable as other air bikes, but is very stable
- No special tech features
Bottom Line
The Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike may be an early entry into the cardio world for the company, but it’s a strong one.
The Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike is one the few pieces of cardio/conditioning gym equipment put out by the company, which historically has focused on strength training equipment like barbells, squat racks, dumbbells, kettlebells, and weight plates. It’s actually quite fitting that we’ll compare it to the Rogue Echo Bike later in this review, since the Echo was also Rogue Fitness’ first foray into conditioning gear (it’s now the official air bike of the CrossFit Games).
The first thing you’ll notice about this bike is that it’s solid–it’s overbuilt by 20 pounds, which is great if you’re looking for extra stability. It’s also 130 pounds, making it the heaviest air bike that I’m aware of (the Echo is only 3 pounds lighter).
Almost every part of the bike is made of metal, and it utilizes a belt-drive system. Both of those factors make me think it’ll last for many years in my home gym, something I’ll be sure to keep you updated on.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Raptor comes with a lot of features that you typically have to pay more for, including turf tires, wind guard, phone holder, back handle, and water bottle holder.
RELATED: Best Exercise Bike
Coop’s Tips:
- The LCD console can connect via Bluetooth to some heart tracking devices
- Because it’s so heavy, I’d recommend making sure you can dedicate a good bit of floor space for this bike (There are exercise bikes for you if you have limited room, including foldable bikes that are compact and lightweight for small spaces.)
My Favorite Things:
- Has many standard features that cost extra on other bikes
- Most of the frame and drivetrain comes pre-assembled
- Easy seat adjustment
- 3-year warranty is the best I’ve seen for an air bike
My Callouts:
- At 130 pounds, this thing is heavy and not quite as portable as other air bikes, but is very stable
- No special tech features
Video Review
Is the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike Worth It?
At one time the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike cost just under $800, which is already a great price for an air bike. But the price has since been jacked up to nearly $1,000, which is more than the Rogue Echo Bike (minus shipping).
If you could get it on sell we’d recommend this bike over the Echo, but in terms of value, the Echo is the way to go.
But is this bike perfect for your home gym? Here’s who I think may also enjoy it, and who may do better with a different air bike.
Great for:
- CrossFit athletes, bodybuilders, or general trainees looking for a great cardio workout
- Anyone who needs a heavy-duty piece of equipment
- Families or couples who need something with a highly adjustable seat
Not recommended for:
- Trainees who need dynamic programming options
- Anyone who can’t pick up and move a heavy air bike on their own
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike Specs
| Footprint | 51”H x 24”W x 54”L |
| Weight | 130 lbs |
| Weight Limit | 350 lbs |
| Seat Length | 10.4” |
| Fan Diameter | 25” |
| Display | LCD console |
| Stats | Time, distance, calories, watts, intervals, heart rate |
| Drivetrain system | Belt |
| Color | Black |
| Pedals | Metal |
| Height adjustments | 10 |
Working Out with the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
I’ll just come out and say this is the air bike I’ll be keeping in my garage gym from now on. Yup, I liked the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike that much.
In terms of functionality, this air bike works just as any other belt-driven air bike would. But I’d say there are fewer bikes out there that I’ve felt more secure on. Fringe Sport packed 20 extra pounds of steel to reinforce the base on this thing, meaning you can pedal and push as hard as you can on this thing and it won’t wobble at all.
Almost every part of the bike is made of metal (the seat, thankfully, is not included in that). This not only adds more stability, but should make it so the Raptor has a lifespan longer than that of its namesake.
And despite the fact that it’s made of mostly metal, the bike offers a smooth and quiet ride. I’ve tried some metal air bikes in the past that have made a lot of noise, possibly due to their construction, but that wasn’t the case here.
Speaking of noise, the windguard does an excellent job at reducing blowback but it is removable if you actually like the airflow that comes from the blades.
The pedals are your standard bike pedals, and as of right now you can’t change them for Shimano pedals like you can on the Echo or the Assault Bike. This isn’t a necessary thing, but I think it’d be great if Fringe Sport looked into doing this in the future. It does have pegs with knurling to grip onto your shoes, however.
RELATED: Rogue Echo Bike vs Assault Air Bike review
Best of all, the Raptor bike features a low-maintenance belt drive system that is sure to stay functional for as long as you wish to use it.
Bike Seat
The bike seat itself is very comfortable to sit on, and has a number of adjustment options for you to choose from. It comes with 10 different height adjustments (two more than the Echo, and only one less than the Assault Air Bike), and can be moved forward and back to adjust people of all different leg sizes.
RELATED: How to Choose an Exercise Bike
This might seem small, but as someone who preaches about the benefits of working out from home I love it when I see adjustable equipment. This allows it to be used by an entire family, or friends who come over and makes it easy for beginners to get their footing (quite literally).
Monitor
The monitor is your typical LCD display that features all the usual stats: time, distance, calories, watts, intervals, and heart rate. So whether you’re doing a CrossFit WOD, HIIT, Tabata, any other form of interval training, or just want an intense full-body workout, you can track your progress and goal time easily.
One cool feature is the monitor has Bluetooth capabilities to sync it with most fitness and heart rate trackers. That’s not something I’d personally use much, but I can see how someone preparing for an intense competition could find it useful.
Footprint, Construction and Portability
While the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike is heavier than most air bikes, the footprint is about the same, if not smaller than most air bikes. Here are the dimensions:
- 51 inches in height (to the top of the handlebars)
- 24 inches in width
- 54 inches in length
The bike weighs in at 130 pounds, which is by far the heaviest air bike I’ve tested so far. For me it’s not that much of a problem to move from point A to point B, but I could see how it might present a problem to some people. It does have some heavy-duty tires that can go on all types of terrain (they even say it can work on sand).
In addition to the mostly-metal construction, the bike also features a black powdercoat to help protect against corrosion.
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike vs. Rogue Echo
Rogue Echo Bike
Rogue Echo Bike
Product Highlights
- Heavy duty steel
- Overbuilt for smooth ride
- 350 lb weight limit
- Solid foundation for max outs
- Easily portable
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely durable, beefy construction
- Very little rocking or side-to-side movement
- Black powder-coated metal on almost everything
- Belt-driven fan for much less maintenance.
- Easy-to-read LCD console screen
- Legs feature adjustable leveling feet
- Somewhat compact
- Oversized, heavy-duty front wheels
- Sleek, attractive look
Cons
- Larger than other stationary bikes
- Belt drive is overall harder to push than a chain drive
- Not the cheapest air bike on the market
Bottom Line
We’ve tested just about every air bike on the market, and the Echo combines many of our favorite features into one. The belt drive is much more durable and requires less maintenance than a chain drive. The size and weight make it extremely stable, and the price is much less than we’d expect for such a quality piece of equipment.
The Rogue Echo Bike has been my favorite air bike for five years, and it has a lot of similarities to the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike. Both are heavy, overbuilt air bikes made of mostly metal but are still very quiet.
Fringe adds multiple features, such as the bottle cage, phone holder, and wind guard standard rather than charging extra for them, but it’s a bit more expensive than the Echo.
Both are great options for an intense workout, but I think for the value and price the Echo is the better option between the two.
Ordering and Assembling the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
The Fringe Sport Air Bike arrived on a cardboard box with the frame and drivetrain already mostly pre-assembled. The assembly was pretty straightforward and there was nothing overly complicated about it.
Customer Experience
Fringe Sport can be reached via email, social media, and phone (their number is 512-201-4404). And, if you’re in the Austin, Texas, area you can pick-up your order and get 10% off your order. Their warehouse is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Returns, Financing, Warranty
Fringe Sport has a one-year return policy, but with some caveats. You have up to 30 days after your purchase to return lightly used items and can return unused items up to a year after the purchase date.
The Fringe Sport Air Bike has one of the best warranties I’ve seen on an air bike: three years. The warranty covers everything, from the frame to parts and labor.
Fringe Sport also offers 3-, 6-, or 12-month financing options for those who wish to split up their payments into monthly installments.
Customer Reviews
The Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike only has seven reviews on the Fringe Sport Air Bike as of this writing, and all of them are 5 stars (it’s not available on Amazon or any other third-party sites). It seems everyone who’s tried it has nothing but good things to say.
Final Verdict of Our Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike Review
The Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike may be an early entry into the cardio world for the company, but it’s a strong one. They’ve managed to find a way to manufacture a heavy-duty, and high-value air bike that’s capable of competing with some of the best out there.
What really sold me on this bike, besides its heavy-duty construction, were the features that usually cost extra on other bikes. Aside from cycling pedals, which I’d love to see at some point, it seems Fringe Sport thought of everything that could be added to an air bike and made it standard. And yet they’re still selling it for less than most competitors out there. It’s hard to argue against that kind of value.
The Raptor Air Bike is perfect for anyone who’s looking to do WODs, sprints, interval training, or any other kind of cardio workout in the comfort of their own home gym at a good price.
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike
The Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike is a high-value air bike that's overbuilt by 20 pounds, making it one of the most stable cardio machines on the market. It also comes with many features that usually cost extra on other air bikes.
Product Brand: Fringe Sport
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 795
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.3
Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike FAQs
Is an air bike a good workout?
Pedaling on an air bike is a great full-body workout because it targets your legs, arms, and cardiovascular system. Cycling, along with a proper diet, has also been shown to help you lower blood pressure.
Does an air bike burn belly fat?
An air bike workout on its own doesn’t burn belly fat, but working out on one can help you achieve a caloric deficit-which is the key to reducing belly fat.
Are air bikes worth it?
Air bikes can help tone muscles and get your heart rate up in a compact piece of exercise equipment, making them worth it for anyone looking to add an effective cardio machine to their home gym.
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