Pro-Form 290 SPX Friction Pad Problem

The Pro-Form 290 SPX is an excellent exercise bike. It is well-built and affordable. However, the friction pads are wearing unevenly and are wearing out quickly. I contacted the manufacturer but they refused to replace them for free. I cannot find an aftermarket place to buy replacement pads and/or felt. The manufacturer charges approximately $27 for each pad, which is ridiculous in my opinion. Has anyone else encountered this problem and what did you do to fix it?

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Howto & Style

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• Pro-Form 290 SPX
• Proform 290 SPX
• Proform 290 SPX Review
• Lumix TS3
• Proform friction pad
• spin bike
• exercise bike
• gym
• exercise bike repair
• spin bike repair
• spin bike review
• spin bicycle review
• Khan Academy
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[grinder77788]

I decided to go with Horizon Fitness M4 Indoor Cycle. Just $399 and includes free shipping as well. Just $100 more than proform 290spx and seems to have good reviews and durable

good luck guys

[IrixGuy]

@grinder77788 Let me know how that one works out for you. I'll be in the market for a new bike or pads in a few months.

[IrixGuy]

@proteanview It's all solid and a smooth ride IMO except for the pads. If they just fix that then they'd have the perfect home exercise bike IMO. I've even got my clipless road bike pedals mounted to it.

[grinder77788]

Thanks for all the inputs. I really want a indoor cycle badly and I'm prolly gonna end up picking up one of these sooner or later heh. WIll update ya guys if I grab one.

[IrixGuy]

@IrixGuy the friction pad life. This bike is so solid...it actually feels as durable as my Cannondale and Scattante road bikes!!!! Too bad they can't improve such a key component of the equipment. I might do a deep dive and research materials to make my own pads. If I find a solution, I'll post it here. Surely the pad materials can't be too expensive. I wonder why they can't just lower the price? I could stomach $20 every 6 months or so for such a good exercise bike.

[IrixGuy]

@grinder77788 Wish I could help you but I haven't seen any other models in person. I know mine was only like $299 with free shipping when I got it from Proform. You might want to call Proform and ask if the replacement pads for the 590 model fit the 290. If they do, I'd prolly just get the 290. Mine is still trucking along BTW just barely. I guess if I factor in how much a gym membership would cost, it has already more than paid for itself. I'm still irritated about.....

[grinder77788]

@proteanview Yeah. Just realized the 590 spx listed $999 on proform.com is selling for $499 on amazon.com now. $500 off the original price from the proform.com I'm thinking this is pretty good price for this bike. Apparently the 590 spx needs less maintenance than all the spx series it looks like. Any thoughts on this?

[proteanview]

@grinder77788 Same here. I went on Amazon and looked at Velocity Fitness Spin bike ($350), Horizon Fitness M4 ($400). ProForm hit the sweet spot of low cost ($267) & good ratings... now this.

From what I can tell, any bike under $500 will have some issues (squeaky, pedal threading, pads). Pick your poison, I guess. Not sure I can stomach spending $60 every year for pads. Not much complaint about this issue on the Amazon reviews, though.

[grinder77788]

@IrixGuy Also, will I get several months out of each pad? Then, I think it might still be worth buying for me.

[grinder77788]

@IrixGuy Thank you for the reply.

Hmm, I see. This cycle seemed very affordable and looked good. I guess I'll contact proform about this friction pad issue as well and see what they say heh.