Table of Contents
Rogue Echo Bike Review – Pros, Cons, Pricing, and Alternatives
Best for: Conditioning and Body Recomposition
Overall rating
The Rogue Echo Bike is an air-resistance exercise bike designed for serious individuals that love intense workouts.
It is overbuilt, thus, super sturdy. It can easily take on everyday high power output training sessions.
In comparison to other big names on the fitness market, it runs smoother and quieter.
It has a heavy-duty frame, a fully adjustable saddle, and a belt-driven resistance fan for brutal conditioning sessions while still giving you a comfortable and pleasant workout experience
We’ll get into the specifics later. For now, here’s the Rogue Echo Bike at a glance:
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Quality | Functionality | Accessories | Pricing |
| 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| PROS + | CONS – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Overbuilt, stable | ❌ Small upgrades could have been included in the base package |
| ✅ Requires little maintenance | |
| ✅ Great conditioning and recomp tool | |
| ✅ LCD console measures multiple variables |
Quick Overview
In this article, I will be reviewing a rising star in an already popular fitness company’s lineup of gym equipment.
I will be going as deep as I can in looking at this rather simple exercise machine, Rogue’s only attack/conditioning/assault bike.
I’ll be talking about these key factors:
- Build quality
- Functionality
- Features
- Effectiveness
- Accessories
- Pricing
Thus, be sure to read to the very end to find out if the Rogue Echo is the best fitness bike for you.
About the Author
Having been able to go from fat to fit, I understand the purpose behind assault bikes and how they vastly differ from conventional spin bikes.
Assault bikes like the Rogue Echo are meant for burning calories and increasing your cardiorespiratory threshold by training at maximum intensities over multiple short intervals.
Plus, it trains the whole body with handles for the upper arms and pedals for the lower body.
This type of stationary bike and mode of training, also known as high-intensity interval training, was an integral part of my body recomposition. I was able to go from flabs to abs in no time.
Fresh out of the market back then, the Rogue Echo Bike was the only piece of cardio equipment I used to help me shed fat by burning a high amount of calories over a short period of time.
Thus, my cardio sessions with the Echo Bike were brutal. I used it at different times; sometimes to warm up, at the end of a workout, or on my rest days.
Product Overview
The Echo Bike is Rogue Fitness’ first and only aerobic conditioning machine. The company has had the biggest success in the world of strength training equipment.
However, given their products’ success in the Crossfit world, it was inevitable that they’d eventually come out with an air-resistance bike.
The Rogue Echo Bike was not created to rival other popular assault bikes. They even have other companies’ bikes for sale on their website. The Echo Bike was created to fill in the need for heavy-duty, tough-built air bikes for true gym beasts.
This bike was built for torture of the good kind. Cranking the pedals and pushing and pulling on the handles were purposefully made to be very hard. Thus, this is not meant for low-intensity, steady-state cardio.
Most users eventually form a love-hate relationship with this machine. They hate how hard and tiring it makes their workout sessions. But, they love how they progress in cardiovascular and muscular endurance and body composition.
Again, this stationary bike is made for powerful, effortful, and draining training. You’ve been warned!
Rogue has never released a sister machine to the Echo Bike. That’s because they know they have built an almost perfect product from the get-go.
The Rogue Echo Bike is one of the best air-resistance bikes out there. Not just because of the build quality (which Rogue is known for), but also because of its very fair price tag.
Who is the Rogue Echo Bike best for?
If you are:
- An athlete looking to increase your cardio and muscular endurance as well as train for power
- A gym buff looking for a way to effectively and efficiently burn calories
- Someone who loves strength and conditioning-type training such as Crossfit and HIIT
Then keep on reading.
However, if you prefer low-intensity and long cardio sessions or are at a beginner fitness level, then you can take a look at an air-bike with lighter resistance like the Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike or a spin bike like the Peloton Exercise Bike.
The Rogue Echo is for individuals that love high-intensity workouts. This is a durable exercise machine that will surely last a lifetime.
It also easily accommodates larger individuals up to 350 pounds with little to no shaking or wobbling.
But if you are on the petite or small side, this bike may not be the best option given its large and beefy frame. Thus, it may also not be suitable for small home spaces.
If you think the Rogue Echo is the stationary bike for you, give the 3 workouts linked below a try:
Rogue Echo Bike Specifications
| Dimensions | 58.8 x 29.8 x 52.75” (LWH) |
| Weight Capacity | Up to 350 pounds |
| Product Weight | 127 pounds |
| Stats Tracked | time, distance, calories, intervals, and heart rate |
| Seat/Saddle | 8 height positions plus 5 front and back settings |
| Handles | 1.5 inches in diameter |
| Pedals | Metal, conventional bike pedal |
| Drivetrain | Belt-driven |
| Color | Black Powdercoat |
The Rogue Echo Bike in Detail
Build Quality
The Rogue Echo is unquestionably solid and beefy. It is made with thick steel tubings from the frame, handles, and stabilizers. And, its resistance fan is basically a steel wheel.
Essentially, as Cooper from GarageGymReviews on Youtube said, it is a Rogue squat rack disassembled to make an assault bike. Thus, durability is not an issue with the Echo Bike.
It can take the weight of a 350-pound individual with no problem. Having a solid build and weighing 127 pounds, this bike won’t shake, move, or wobble even at the highest speeds and intensities.
You’ll be the only thing rocking and rolling while exercising, this bike will remain stable. Even its fan is overbuilt — the blades are longer, thicker, and there are more of them compared to similar bikes you can buy.
If you plan on moving it around the garage or living room constantly, the wheels on the front won’t make that a problem.
Moving it around may cause you to hit a wall or post, or you might even forget to bring it inside after an outdoor HIIT session. But no worries, this bike is powder-coated for maximum protection against scratches, chipping, and rust.
The Rogue Echo Bike appears tough — and it is! All this overbuilt construction was made to ensure a smooth ride.
A big factor to that smoothness, too, is because it uses a belt instead of a chain to transfer the force from the pedal to the wheel, aka fan.
This belt-driven drivetrain also makes for a quieter training session. No need to worry about making too much noise if you have a small gym or if you train out of the garage or any place in your home, especially in the morning.
Belts are easier to maintain and last longer than chains. Not to mention chains can break, stretch over time and cause a rattling sound, and have to be periodically oiled or greased up.
Verdict
| The Rogue Echo Bike is superior to a lot of top-notch air bikes out there. Its build makes for quiet, smooth yet tough training sessions, and requires little to no maintenance. |
Functionality
Fan bikes are for brutal workout sessions. They are meant for pushing yourself close to, if not at, your max effort from start to finish. This is why they are best for interval training.
And, the Rogue Echo is a beast for high-intensity interval sessions. It takes a lot of effort to get going, and still a lot of effort to keep accelerating.
Thus, if you are looking for a machine that will have your muscles burning, lungs screaming, and heart pounding, the Rogue Echo Bike will fit the bill.
This bike will make you understand what going “all-out” entails. Other users even say that the resistance it offers is significantly higher than other famous assault bikes.
The belt, pedal, and handles all offer a smooth motion while you go through a continuous high resistance.
Since the overbuilt fan has more blades, it creates more wind resistance. Thus, it makes for a truly harder conditioning workout.
With the slightly stiff motion of the handles, you are sure to get an effective upper body workout as well.
Remember, you do not hop on something called an assault or attack bike and expect to have an easy time riding it. It’s called an assault or attack bike for a reason! And, the Rogue Echo Bike will ensure that you really blitz your way from the beginning up to the end of an interval.
Verdict
| Functionality means how well-suited something is for the purpose it was built for. And, I would say that the Echo Bike fulfills its purpose as an intense, all-out, whole-body conditioning machine. |
Accessories
There are not that many accessories you can fit into an air bike. And, given the machine’s purpose, you’re not supposed to clutter it up anyway with tablet holders and the like.
Thus, the Rogue Echo Bike is minimalist and practical in this sense. The only upgrades available on the bike are a wind guard, a phone holder, and a bottle cage. It also comes with an LCD display.
And, those are really all that you would need for a bike that you would be using for 30-45 minutes max at high intensities, pushing and pulling like your life depended on it.
However, I do think that the “upgrades” should already be included in the initial, base package since they cost so little instead of being add-ons. They would not be bumping the total price up that much anyway.
While I don’t see any big problems with the accessories of the Rogue Echo Bike, allow me to be a bit finicky here.
The LCD display is not backlit. While it is a high-contrast screen, making it luminous will be beneficial for home gym trainers that work out of a dim garage, or a poorly lit room.
But, the LCD monitor does measure the things that you’d want to keep track of during your HIIT sesh, such as time, distance, calories, heart rate, and especially intervals.
Next, the handles could have a more ergonomic design and have multiple grip options. They could also shave some millimeters off the size of the handle for easier gripping.
Other than those two, everything seems good. The pedals are steel bike pedals, which for me are the best. Nobody likes those plastic ones with the straps.
The footpeg is sturdy and long enough to rest your feet on when you solely want to work the upper body.
The saddle is wide and comfortable. Even better, its angle, height, and depth are all adjustable.
Verdict
| Overall, the Rogue Echo Bike only has the accessories you need for an intense workout session — no fluffs. Instead of calling it bare, I’d call it practical and sufficient in this factor. |
Pricing
Is the Rogue Echo Bike worth the $795 price tag? The short answer is yes.
In answering that question, we, of course, have to consider the cost-to-value ratio.
The Echo Bike is durable, sturdy, mobile, and heavy-duty. Plus, it more than fulfills its role as a whole body, high-resistance, max-intensity calorie burner and cardiovascular and muscle conditioner.
Thus, I think the value it can provide to you justifies the air bike’s cost.
Although the additional small expenses for the accessories can be annoying, they are not overpriced.
For example, the wind guard costs 27 bucks. While the phone holder and bottle holder would cost an additional $14. Be smart and purchase all these three with the bike.
Verdict
| The total price tag of the Rogue Echo Bike would put you over $800. And, that is nowhere near a bad deal considering the quality of Rogue’s only cardio equipment. |
What we like:
Overbuilt. This is a great thing. It can take all the power and effort you pour into using it. Plus, it makes for a stable and wobble-less workout.
High-intensity training from start to finish. The fan-driven resistance takes a lot of effort to move but stops only a few seconds after you stop exerting pressure. Thus, momentum is taken out of the equation, thereby requiring you to go all out throughout an interval.
Free shipping. The Rogue Echo Bike has free standard shipping in the continental U.S.. Given how heavy and bulky it is (which can increase shipping costs), it’s an awesome deal because shipping can cost up to a third of the total money you pay for a product.
Band-driven. Because the drivetrain is operated using a belt instead of the conventional chain, this means it requires less or no maintenance — no greasing or oiling up periodically, and no grease/oil splatters.
It is also quieter — no loud chain whining and grinding sound on the sprocket.
What we don’t like:
Accessories. The minor upgrades such as the wind guard, phone holder, and bottle cage, in my opinion, should already be included in the base package since they do not cost that much.
Monitor. The LCD display, while offering high contrast, is not backlit. Thus, it can be hard to track your workouts if you train in a dim area like a garage or use it at night.
Handlebars. First, the size of the handles can be an issue. Some users complain that the 1.5-inch diameter is too thick to comfortably grip. Also, I would like to see a multi-grip handle if ever Rogue updates the Echo bike.
Not LISS-friendly. This bike is not meant for low-intensity, steady-state cardio for the reasons mentioned above. Then again, air bikes were not really made for such, thus, they have no means for adjusting their resistance.
The Rogue Echo Bike is an attack/assault bike. Thus, it connotes that it is to be used with max effort and done at a high pain threshold. Thus, it gets a pass from me for being “not LISS-friendly”.
Customer Reviews
On the Rogue website, the Echo Bike has a 4.9-star rating. That’s out of 3,614 reviews!
So, it is safe to say that the people who bought the bike were more than satisfied with the exercise equipment they purchased.
Let’s take a look at what some of them had to say:
“This bike is exactly what I thought it would be. Torture, but in a good way. Quality of a proper box but at a reasonable price for a home box.”
“Received the Echo last week, less than 7 working days from ordering. Very solid unit, and gives me the kick in the backside I was after and more. Very happy.”
“I set up my new Echo Bike a couple of weeks ago. I love it but I wish I could give it 4 3/4 stars. It’s an awesome workout and it works perfectly. But, I would change 2 things.
First, I would make the hand grips a little narrower and put a little more soft padding on them. Second, I would make the seat narrower.
I am glad I purchased this bike and love the workout it offers”
Is the Rogue Echo Bike right for you?
Now that we’ve gone as deep as we can into the details of the Rogue Echo Bike — the good, and the bad — it’s time to focus on you.
As with any exercise equipment and the training type it is used for, an air/assault/attack bike may not be the right choice. Thus, let me repeat who the Rogue Echo Bike is for:
Athletes looking to increase their cardiovascular and muscular endurance
It is for athletes that want to drastically improve how they perform on the court, field, cage, ring, or box.
Fitness enthusiasts looking for a way to effectively and efficiently burn calories
It is for people that want to change their body composition and look good naked, whether it’s to show off at the beach or get peeled for a physique competition.
Anyone who loves strength and conditioning-type training
It is for individuals that love interval-style workouts such as Crossfit, HIIT, and Tabata.
Alternatives
If the Rogue Echo Bike is too big for your workout area or you really need to squeeze your budget, you can opt for the more compact and cheaper Titan Fitness Fan Bike.
Or, perhaps the Echo is too simple and unsophisticated for you. Then you can go for the Schwinn Airdyne AD8, which packs more tech innovations for a gentrified exercise experience.
Final Thoughts
The Rogue Echo Bike is one of the best metabolic conditioning equipment out there. It is stable, sturdy, and smooth.
Use it for quick warm-ups, an entire workout itself, or as a calorie burner at the end of a lifting session. Any way you choose to use it, this machine will make sure your heart is pounding, lungs are gasping for air, muscles are screaming in pain — all in the name of better fitness levels.
You can never go wrong with buying something for your health. And, with this review, it is not hard to see why you cannot go wrong with going Rogue. So, do you think the Rogue Echo Bike is for you?
FAQs:
1 – Is the Rogue Echo Bike worth it?
Given how it is well-built, durable, and how it pushes you to always work out at your max, the Rogue Echo Bike is well worth it.
2 – Why is the Rogue Echo Bike so hard?
The Rogue Echo Bike is an air bike. This means that it uses wind resistance to create the resistance you have to push and pull against. Thus, working the machine requires constant effort with no rest.
Also, the fan of the Rogue contains more and heavier blades which contribute to the overall resistance you have to fight against.
3 – What muscles does the Rogue Echo Bike work?
It works a lot of muscles to varying degrees. For the legs, it’s the quads, glutes, and hamstrings, in that order. For the upper body, it works the chest, anterior delts, upper back, also in that order.
4 – Is the Rogue Echo Bike already built when shipped?
The Rogue Echo Bike comes semi-built. The bottom half containing the drivetrain is already assembled. You would install the handles, LCD monitor, pedals, moving wheel, and supports by yourself.
5 – How do you use the Rogue Echo Bike console?
The Echo Bike has a simple interface. The left-hand side buttons are used to adjust the values and to start and stop the time or intervals. The right-hand side buttons are used to pick which of those values you want to adjust or count like time, time of intervals, calories, and distance.
