SOLE R98 Recumbent Bike review

A distinct recumbent configuration, not an R92 screen upgrade alone

The current SOLE US bike collection and R98 product page identify the R98 Exercise Bike, SKU R98-2026, as a recumbent model introduced for 2026. I assessed this specific page edition; I did not use a generic R92 manual to fill its setup instructions. The visible differences between the two 2026 recumbents include the R98’s 10.1-inch tilting touchscreen, its explicitly named Zwift and Peloton app routes, its 22 listed program choices and a 53-inch overall height. Both list a 20-pound flywheel, 20 ECB magnetic resistance levels, a 15-position sliding mesh seat, a 300-pound maximum and 56-by-29-inch body dimensions. This is document-based analysis rather than a personal riding test.

Position, access and measurements

The R98’s recumbent seat has a mesh back and 15 listed adjustment positions on a sliding carriage. A step-through frame is intended to make access more direct than a high-over-frame design, and SOLE places the resistance adjustment controls on the handlebar. These are useful design facts to compare, but the page does not publish an adult-height range, a seat-to-pedal measurement range or an assurance about transfer comfort. Count the actual step-over path and seat travel in the configuration you plan to buy if a particular access route matters.

SOLE lists a 56-inch length, 29-inch width and 53-inch height for the R98. The page does not list an assembled unit weight in the specification text reviewed here. Do not fill that gap with a shipping-box weight or by copying the R92’s 128-pound number; the bikes are distinct packages. Likewise, the lower listed height than the R92 does not prove the bike fits below a shelf or through a doorway—the touchscreen angle, mounting route, floor slope and final assembly position all matter. Add working room for entry, exit, seat adjustment and movement. Body dimensions are not required clearance.

Touchscreen and app workflow

The R98 centers the console experience around a 10.1-inch tilting color touchscreen. SOLE says it has preloaded streaming apps and names SOLE+, Zwift and Peloton on the current product page. That is a more specific named-app basis than the R92 page, which names SOLE+ but not Zwift or Peloton. For someone who already has a preferred screen or device, the R98 page also lists Bluetooth, a USB Type-C charging port and built-in audio, but it does not list a separate tablet holder. Check the interface, current app support and your preferred device before treating the screen as a substitute for a phone or tablet.

The product page says SOLE+ carries no monthly subscription; it does not establish that separate Peloton or Zwift services are free, that their memberships are included, or that every device works with every feature. Verify current app terms, account needs, device compatibility and the exact software experience. “Zwift listed” is not a blanket compatibility guarantee and does not mean a subscription is bundled. The R98 page describes no pulse grips, while it lists chest-strap or wrist-device support and two heart-rate programs. Confirm a wearable’s sensor protocol and package inclusion separately.

Resistance and programmed workouts

SOLE specifies ECB magnetic resistance with 20 levels and a 20-pound flywheel. It lists eight standard programs, twelve user-defined choices and two heart-rate programs. Those are settings and program counts, not an independent measure of how demanding or smooth a session feels. The R92 also has twenty listed ECB levels and a 20-pound flywheel, so the R98 should not be selected on the assumption that its screen adds a stronger resistance system. Its case is the higher-information console and named app workflow. The R92’s white-LED console may be a more appropriate comparison when a touchscreen is not a priority.

Power, documentation and delivery

The specifications list a DC 12V / 3.3A adapter and the current offer page describes freight delivery, with room-of-choice and assembly options. Check the package contents, the exact power adapter, delivery route, doorway clearances and who will complete assembly. The manufacturer’s bike-manual index listed an R92 2026 manual at the time of this review, but did not list an R98-specific manual. That is a real setup-document gap: obtain the correct R98 assembly, operation and maintenance instructions from SOLE or the seller before relying on similar-model instructions.

SOLE advertises a lifetime frame warranty and separate coverage for electronics, parts and labor on the product page. Read the current written warranty and seller terms for the exact SKU; an online summary may not describe every condition. The machine’s 300-pound rating is a manufacturer maximum, not individualized fit, medical advice or a reason to disregard the manual. If any feature or limit is essential, confirm it with the manufacturer before purchase.

Who should shortlist the R98?

Consider the R98 if you want a back-supported recumbent format plus the specifically documented touchscreen and Zwift route, and its 56-by-29-inch listed footprint has room in your layout. The product page’s app list gives it a materially different buying case from the R92, although both have similar listed resistance, body footprint and capacity. A 56-inch maximum body-length screen should not be mistaken for sufficient room to use the bike; the seat slides, people need to approach the pedals, and freight placement and assembly need separate planning.

Several practical facts remain unconfirmed in the reviewed material: there is no published rider-height range or unit weight in the page’s specification text, no verified R98 manual link in SOLE’s bike-support index, and no universal account, subscription or device guarantee for third-party apps. The listed model page also does not supply a measured resistance curve, acoustic test, assembly-time result or proof of personal comfort. This assessment therefore points to what can be checked—exact SKU, seat position, device route, documents and room—rather than claiming that the touchscreen or reclined posture will suit every buyer.