NordicTrack X24 Exercise Bike Review | Get Ready to Climb
Reviewed by TreadmillReviews.com
Cycling online and offroad with iFIT's trainer-led outdoor classes
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
Cycling online and offroad with iFIT's trainer-led outdoor classes
Updated: February 14, 2025
If a treadmill can incline, why not an exercise bike? NordicTrack and its training platform, iFIT, are known for their outdoor classes. The X24's -10% to 20% incline range makes the experience more realistic than ever. I'm sold on it just because it is pure fun.
Speaking of fun, iFIT is now more fun than ever. The X24 exercise bike has tons of features beyond trainer-led classes. I can listen to my music, watch entertainment, and create custom workouts. It’s hard to think of what might be missing from the X24 with iFIT 2.0.
Some of you might be wondering if you have to have iFIT or not. Keep reading this review to discover what the X24 offers and what content is available on the screen with and without iFIT.
The X24 proves NordicTrack is dialed in on what it takes to make a good exercise bike. It’s a studio bike with innovative features and effective resistance.
The warranty meets the industry standard: ten years on the frame, two years on parts, and one year on labor. The bike is designed for residential use only and should be kept in a climate-controlled environment.
The frame is a sturdy welded steel frame with supportive front and back stabilizers. The black powder coat is corrosion-resistant to keep your sweat from damaging the bike. It has a 350-lb weight capacity—50 lbs over the industry standard. While the incline takes some getting used to, it should feel very stable at all incline grades.
NordicTrack successfully improved one of my least favorite features on the X24’s predecessor: the seat. No longer must we suffer with the firm saddle found on the S22i or S27i (or buy a new saddle or saddle cover). The X24’s saddle is sufficiently soft out of the box, though you can still upgrade it if desired.
The seat post adjusts horizontally and vertically and can fit a wide range of user heights. Cyclists from about 5’ to well over 6’ will be comfortable on the X24 exercise bike.
The handlebars are bullhorn-shaped with a semi-circle middle grip. They are covered in a rubbery material and comfortable during training. The handlebars also have incline and resistance buttons on the ends. These buttons are super convenient for making adjustments during your ride.
You can adjust the handlebars vertically but not horizontally. The touchscreen may weigh the handlebars down, causing them to get stuck sometimes when you are making adjustments. I suggest wiggling the handlebar post slightly as you lift it to unstick it. This stickiness is not unique to NordicTrack. Most exercise bike handlebars with attached touchscreens have a similar issue.
The NordicTrack X24's pedals are hybrid SPD clips on one side and flat pedals with toe cages on the other. These pedals are handy because they work with SPD cycling shoes and regular athletic shoes. You can replace the pedals if you want to for any standard road bike pedal.
The X24 has 24 magnetic resistance levels. While this may not sound like a lot, the resistance varies with every incline adjustment, too. For example, the bike feels harder at level 15 resistance with a 10% incline than at level 15 resistance with a -5% incline. The incline range is from -10% to 20%.
The incline doesn't just adjust the resistance. The bike also physically moves up and down to match the incline grade. It feels a bit like an arcade game but also makes the virtual outdoor ride experience feel more realistic.
The NordicTrack X24 is a heavier bike than most, weighing 205 lbs as it comes shipped. Its dimensions are 56.4" x 21.8" x 62.7". When moving it around, you need to be cautious of the screen. It can be challenging to maneuver because of the screen's weight and projection. There are transport wheels to help you roll it around.
The NordicTrack X24 has a nice array of features and accessories. I don't feel like I'm missing anything while training on the bike. The X24's layout keeps everything right within reach.
The X24's console has a very clean and streamlined look. NordicTrack has greatly reduced the physical buttons on its console with its newest line of cardio machines. While I missed the buttons somewhat on the 2450 treadmill, I didn't miss them as much on the X24, thanks to the convenient controls on the ends of the handlebars.
The touchscreen is 24 inches in size and of very nice quality. It loads quickly and lags significantly less than some users experienced with older NordicTrack machines. The only complaint I had was the amount of glare. It is really easy to see your own reflection on the screen while you are training.
The screen tilts and pivots to help you get a better view while on the bike and off the bike. iFIT has bike workouts with off-bike segments and non-bike workouts, like strength and yoga. If you take any of these classes, it is easy to pivot the screen to view off to the side of your bike.
I found the screen very easy to interact with. In fact, sometimes it feels a little too close, like when you are riding out of the saddle. I spent most of my time in the saddle, so it didn’t bother me much.
The speakers are front-facing and located just below the screen. The speakers are two 2" speakers with premium audio quality. The speaker's volume is loud, with a decent range. You can control the iFIT and entertainment volume separately. You can also turn on closed captioning for the iFIT classes.
If you don't want to listen to iFIT or entertainment audio out loud, you can pair Bluetooth headphones with the X24. Bluetooth also allows you to pair a compatible heart rate monitor to view the metrics on the screen.
The fan has three speeds and an automatic setting. Depending on your training intensity, the auto feature will speed up or slow down the fan. For instance, if you train hard, the fan blows more air. The fan is sufficiently strong. Since the screen adjusts, it’s not hard to angle the fan appropriately.
The X24 has two water bottle holders, one on either side of the base of the handlebar post. A dumbbell holder is located on either side of an accessory tray right in front of the handlebars. The accessory tray is just large enough to hold a phone and other small items.
There is a red brake on the frame below the handlebars. It is where most bikes would have an adjustment knob for resistance. It is only a brake you push down to slow the flywheel. You can use the brake if you ever pedal too fast and need to slow down quickly, preventing your legs from being jerked around.
The NordicTrack X24 felt like an old friend to me because I have used its predecessors, the S22i and the S27i. The one issue I had with those older bikes was the firm seat, but the X24 has a much more comfortable saddle. It’s a bike I can use for short, intense interval training or long, slower endurance rides.
One thing that regularly astounds me about the X24 is how quiet it is. The magnetic resistance and flywheel spinning are some of the quietest I’ve ever tested. If you put your headphones on to listen to iFIT, you won’t disturb anyone!
iFIT is an essential part of training on the X24. It provides thousands of trainer-led classes for all your fitness needs on and off the bike. The bike classes take place mostly outdoors, as you follow a coach as they cycle down the road or along beautiful trails. There are also studio classes.
The classes have preset training levels. The incline follows the terrain shown on screen. For instance, if your coach climbs uphill, you will, too. The resistance will adjust according to your trainer's cues. If you enable SmartAdjust, the iFIT class will learn your fitness level. When you override the presets, iFIT remembers and adjusts the current and future classes accordingly.
At this time, NordicTrack bikes do not have ActivePulse, a heart rate zone training option available on the NordicTrack and ProForm treadmills. It should be added to the X24 and other NordicTrack bikes in the future, and I will update this review when I test it. ActivePulse should adjust the resistance automatically to keep you in a targeted heart rate zone.
The “Create” tab on the X24 allows you to create custom workouts. There are also template workouts you can follow while viewing the manual training screen. Google Maps is also available through the Create tab. On it, you can draw a route anywhere in the world for automatic incline adjustments based on the route while retaining manual control of the resistance.
If you prefer entertainment to a coached video, Netflix, Prime Video, and more apps are accessible on the X24 Bike. You can train in manual mode or with an iFIT class while streaming your favorite shows and movies. You will need your own subscription to either of these services and to iFIT to access the content.
As for music options, you can use the built-in Feed.FM radio with iFIT. It has multiple genre stations with new music added regularly and allows up to six skips per hour. If you want to listen to other music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio are also available. You can log into your account and listen to anything you would like.
If iFIT isn't for you, your options will be more limited with the X24 Bike. With a free iFIT account, you can train in manual mode, take a featured iFIT class, and follow a template workout. If you do not have an iFIT account at all, you can train in the manual mode without connecting to Wi-Fi. Consider that iFIT and NordicTrack can alter what is offered for free at any time.
I strongly recommend users who want the X24 Exercise Bike subscribe to iFIT. NordicTrack designed the X24 to work with iFIT, so you won't have all the features without it and might be happier with a different bike.
I'm really enjoying the newest iFIT features, particularly the entertainment apps, and they greatly improved my experience on the X24 Bike.
The NordicTrack X24 Exercise Bike combines iFIT's immersive trainer-led workouts with smart incline and resistance adjustments. I loved using the Netflix, Prime Video, and Spotify apps. You can watch TV or follow a coached video, allowing indoor cyclists more options than ever before.
The 24" touchscreen on the X24 is high quality and rotates for off-bike viewing. The X24 is more than a studio bike. It also unlocks strength and yoga workouts to keep you pedaling strong. NordicTrack succeeded in building a stable bike with features that improve your training experience.
With the NordicTrack X24 Exercise Bike, the trails and hills are never as far as they seem.
