I finally got my hands on the joroto x1s after weeks of debating whether I really needed another piece of gym equipment taking up space in my living room. Let's be real for a second—buying fitness gear online is a total gamble. You see the glossy photos, read the specs, and hope it doesn't arrive sounding like a lawnmower or wobbling the second you try to stand up and pedal.
I've spent a good chunk of time putting this bike through its paces, and I've got some thoughts. If you're looking for a fancy, high-tech screen that talks to you and tracks your soul, this might not be it. But if you want something that's built like a tank and won't wake up the neighbors, you're in the right place.
The First Impression and Build Quality
Right out of the box, the first thing I noticed about the joroto x1s is that it's heavy. That might sound like a complaint, but in the world of indoor cycling, heavy is a good thing. It means the frame is solid. I've been on some cheaper bikes that felt like they were made of recycled soda cans, and there's nothing scarier than feeling a bike tilt when you're in the middle of a high-intensity interval.
The frame is made of thick steel, and the welding looks surprisingly clean for a bike at this price point. It doesn't have that "budget" look that some entry-level spin bikes have. The matte finish is a nice touch, too—it doesn't show fingerprints as much as I expected, though you'll still want to wipe it down after a sweaty session.
One thing I really appreciate is the stability. It has these adjustable levelers on the bottom, so if your floor is a little uneven (like mine is in the basement), you can dial it in so it's perfectly flat. No rocking, no clicking, just a solid base that stays put even when I'm really hammering the pedals.
Let's Talk About the Magnetic Resistance
This is probably the biggest selling point of the joroto x1s. If you've ever used a bike with felt pad resistance, you know the struggle. Those pads eventually wear out, they smell weird when they get hot, and they make this annoying "shhhh" sound the whole time you're riding.
The X1S uses magnetic resistance, which is a total game-changer. Since nothing is actually touching the flywheel, there's no friction. That means it's incredibly quiet. I can ride this thing at 6:00 AM while my wife is sleeping in the next room, and she doesn't hear a thing. The only sound you really hear is your own breathing and maybe a tiny bit of whirring from the belt drive.
The resistance knob is "infinite," meaning there aren't set levels like 1, 2, or 10. You just turn it until it feels hard enough. It's smooth, too. Some bikes feel "jerky" when you crank up the resistance, but this one stays consistent all the way through the rotation. The only downside? It's hard to track exactly where you are from one day to the next since there's no digital readout for the resistance level. You kind of have to go by feel.
Is It Actually Comfortable?
We need to talk about the seat. Look, I'll be honest: most stock bike seats are terrible. They're usually too hard or too wide, and they leave you feeling pretty sore after twenty minutes. The seat on the joroto x1s is actually okay? It's better than most. It's got a decent amount of padding and a cutout in the middle for airflow (and to save your sensitive bits).
That said, if you're planning on doing 45-minute rides every day, you might still want to grab a gel seat cover or just swap it out for a different saddle. The good news is that it uses a standard mount, so you can put pretty much any bike seat on it.
The adjustability is where this bike shines for different body types. It has 4-way adjustment for both the seat and the handlebars. You can move them up, down, forward, and back. I'm about 5'10" and I found my "sweet spot" pretty quickly, but I've seen reviews from people who are 5'2" and 6'2" who say they can fit comfortably as well. The knobs are easy to turn and they lock in tight, so nothing slides around while you're riding.
The Tech (Or Lack Thereof)
If you're expecting a massive 22-inch HD touchscreen with a subscription service, you're looking at the wrong bike. The joroto x1s comes with a very basic LCD monitor. It tells you the basics: time, speed, distance, and calories burned. It's fine, but it's definitely not the highlight of the bike. It feels a bit plasticky and the display isn't backlit, so it can be hard to read if the lighting in your room isn't great.
However, it does have a really sturdy tablet holder. This is how I use it. I just prop my iPad up there, open the Peloton app or YouTube, and I'm good to go. It's positioned well so it doesn't block the basic stats on the monitor, and it's deep enough that I don't worry about my tablet falling off when things get intense.
There's no Bluetooth connectivity built-in to the bike itself, which might be a dealbreaker for some of the data nerds out there. But honestly, for the price you're paying, you can easily buy a pair of Wahoo cadence sensors, strap them to the pedals, and sync that to your phone. Problem solved.
Assembly: Will It Ruin Your Afternoon?
I dread putting furniture together. I usually end up with extra screws and a headache. But the assembly for the joroto x1s wasn't bad at all. Most of the main body comes pre-assembled. You basically just have to attach the base stabilizers, the pedals, the seat post, and the handlebars.
It took me about 35 minutes from the time I cut the tape on the box to the time I was taking my first spin. They include all the tools you need, though using your own real wrench and screwdriver will make it go a bit faster. One tip: pay attention to the pedals. One is reverse-threaded (which is normal for bikes), so don't try to force it the wrong way or you'll strip the threads.
The Pedals and Flywheel
Speaking of pedals, the ones that come with the bike are standard caged pedals. They work fine with regular sneakers. If you're a "serious" cyclist and you have dedicated clip-in shoes (SPD), you'll probably want to swap these out. Again, it's a standard thread, so any 9/16" pedals will fit.
The flywheel is about 35 pounds, which provides a really nice momentum. It doesn't feel like you're pedaling through mud, but it also doesn't feel "ghostly" or too light. It's that perfect middle ground that makes the ride feel like an actual outdoor road bike.
Final Thoughts: Who Is This For?
So, after living with the joroto x1s for a while, who do I think should buy it?
If you're someone who wants a solid, quiet, and reliable bike for home workouts without spending $1,500+, this is a fantastic option. It's perfect for people who live in apartments or have roommates because it's so quiet. It's also great if you prefer using your own apps or entertainment rather than being locked into a specific ecosystem like Peloton or iFit.
On the flip side, if you need a digital screen to keep you motivated, or if you absolutely need to see your exact resistance level on a screen, you might find this bike a little too "manual."
But for me? It's exactly what I needed. It's a no-nonsense piece of equipment that does exactly what it says it will. It's tough, it's smooth, and it doesn't take up half the room. Plus, I don't have to pay a monthly fee just to make the pedals move. At the end of the day, that's a win in my book.