Rogue Echo Bike vs Rogue Assault Bike
Barbell Pursuits tests and reviews fitness equipment and products to ensure quality for you. If you purchase something using one of our links, we may earn commission. Read our disclosures.
A stationary bike is a staple of a good gym, commercial or home, so it's necessary to do your homework on what options are out there.
The Rogue Echo and Rogue Assault bikes are two of the best bikes out on the market currently that I have taken the liberty of comparing for you.
I’m going to spend some time talking about both bikes so you can really get an understanding of what you are going to be getting in the Rogue Echo bike and the Rogue Assault bike.
From there, I’m going to do a head-to-head style comparison of the Rogue Echo vs. Assault to see which one comes out on top.
While one bike might be better than the other after all is said and done, you'll see that there is still an argument for either or.
If you are looking for a new way to challenge yourself and bring your workouts to the next level, you shouldn’t have to look much further when it comes to exercise bikes.
Rogue Assault Bike
First, let’s take a look at the Rogue Assault bike and see what it has to offer.
A few years ago it was viewed as one of the most dominant bikes in the market and it could be found in many gyms, even appearing in the CrossFit games.
This bike really helped to put Rogue on the map for cardio equipment where Schwinn was dominating the market with their stationary bikes for at-home use.
Unfortunately for Schwinn, they got too comfortable and Rogue stepped up to the plate with their Assault bike and never looked back.
The Rogue Assault bike works by using a fan (making it an air bike) to create resistance with both the pedals and the arm handles. I love air bikes for this reason as it helps to give you a much more complete workout.
Despite being several years old now, the Rogue Assault bike is still one of the best bikes on the market and still is a great buy if you are looking for a bike in your home gym.
Rogue Echo Bike
Unlike Schwinn, Rogue was not going to get complacent and let the competition overtake them.
With a lot of hard work, they created one of my favorite bikes out there currently - the Rogue Echo bike. This bike is the Rogue Assault on steroids.
They took the design of it and beefed it up to the extreme to make it that much better for your workouts.
Unfortunately, this does mean the bike will take up a little more room in your home gym now.
The biggest change that they made with the Rogue Echo is that they replaced the chains with belts on the drivetrain.
Why does this matter? Chains require a decent bit of maintenance in the form of oiling and aligning. While I will suck it up and do this to take care of my bike, I’d rather not have to worry about it.
Luckily for me, Rogue listened and replaced the chains on the Rogue Echo. These self-tensioning belts require no maintenance and are always ready to go.
After using the bike for some time now, I have never had an issue with the Rogue Echo and I don’t think I ever will.
When it comes to bikes, I have no problem saying that this is a bike that others in the market should be compared to. In fact, it’s time to do just that and look at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault to see which will emerge victorious.
Quick Verdict
I’m going to go further in depth in regards to two bikes, but when looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, I have to hand it to the Echo. There are just so many things that this bike has done right compared to the Assault.
I once again want to make it completely clear that the Rogue Assault is a fantastic bike and I have owned it and used it quite a bit, however the Rogue Echo is just something else. I have found myself loving my workouts and pushing myself even harder.
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me compliment the Echo and definitely want to see why it wins in the Rogue Echo vs. Assault competition, so let’s dive right into it and see what it has to offer over its peer product.
Why the Rogue Echo Wins
Remember when I mentioned that the Rogue Echo was a beefy bike? Yeah, there’s a reason for it being bigger and better in every way.
The Rogue Assault was a great bike for training, but I noticed that when I started to push myself harder, the bike itself started to wobble a little.
Let me tell you, it’s not the best feeling in the world when you are pushing yourself to the limit and you feel a little bit of shake in the bike.
Now I am a strong guy with a decent frame, so my power output is extremely high and that definitely plays a role in the stability issue, but still, I would like something a little more stable.
There were a few times where if I didn’t slow down altogether, I would have toppled the bike right over. Stability is definitely an improvement for the Echo over the Assault bike.
Stability is where the Rogue Echo can flex that muscle. The Rogue Echo bike features much wider feet meaning it is going to take a lot more to shake it.
In fact, there was never a point when using this bike where I felt that I was going to knock it over or topple it. This means that I was able to push myself to the max with every workout.
How does the Rogue Echo do it? Well, aside from the wide feet, the bike also comes in at a whopping 128 pounds, approximately double the weight of the Rogue Assault.
Therefore, this bike can be a little annoying if you are trying to transport it around often, but for the most part this should not be a problem in any way. Simply plop the bike down where you want it and that’s all there is to it.
When looking at stability in regards to the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, the Echo is a no-brainer for what it has to offer.
Unless you are hulking 500 pounds of pure muscle, this bike is going to handle what you have to throw at it and more with ease. I am so happy with this bike in that regard.
I do have to mention that in terms of weight, the Rogue Assault does have the Echo beat however. I’ve had to move bikes around quite a bit and have even let friends borrow these bikes to try them out for themselves.
I have no problem moving the Echo around, but the Assault is far easier to move because it is smaller and lighter. Looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, I’d have to say the Assault is slightly more portable at the expense of stability.
The next major thing I have to talk about when it comes to the Rogue Echo air bike is the condition that it is in.
Air bikes are notorious for needing constant maintenance, especially when they get older. When looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, the difference is crystal clear when it comes to the belt vs. chain system.
The Rogue Echo has taken a beating from me over the years and not once have I had a problem with the belt drive system. The same cannot be said for the Rogue Assault as I find myself having to do maintenance on the chain every now and again.
If you are having trouble visualizing the chain drive system, think of a bicycle. This is the exact same system and if you have owned a bike and used it, you definitely remember the chain falling off or needing oil at some point during its life cycle. Yeah, you can expect to be doing this with the Rogue Assault.
I have moved the Rogue Echo around multiple times and even brought it to other locations and not once have I had an issue with the belt drive. It sits there, takes a beating, and asks for more.
There has never been an issue with the belt in the years I have used it and that’s why in the Rogue Echo vs. Assault competition, I have to give the Echo the win when it comes to reliability.
So we’ve established that the Rogue Echo is more stable and reliable than the Assault, but let’s talk about some of the features out there and what they both have to offer in that department. When it comes to an air bike, the main thing you are going to be looking at is the fan.
Both fans on these bikes are solid, but the Echo fan is just a whole other beast. The size and power of it makes it durable and reliable for your workouts.
That being said when looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, the Echo is much harder to get started and stops much sooner if you aren’t pedaling.
Depending on how you are looking at things that can be a positive or a negative. The fan on the assault isn’t bad, but when you’re comparing it to the Echo, it just isn’t fair.
As for controls and displays on the bike, I have to say I didn’t notice much of a difference and Rogue seems to have used a similar interface with both bikes. In the technology department for the Rogue Echo vs. Assault, I’d have to go with a tie here.
After reading this, you can probably see why in the Rogue Echo vs. Assault competition I chose the Echo as the winner.
That is just my own personal opinion and I feel like I definitely want to spend some time talking about the Assault and what it does do very well. Hopefully this can allow you to make a better choice when choosing bikes.
What the Rogue Assault Does Well
Remember when I talked about stability and how I was worried I would topple the Rogue Assault over?
That’s because I’ve been working out for years and years to the max and pushing myself as much as I can.
If you are someone who just started working out, you probably won’t have to worry too much on this bike, especially if you are on the lighter side.
In terms of ease of use, I’d have to give it to the Rogue Assault as well. The fan does start up easier, requiring a little less effort on my end to get things going.
If you are new to the workout scene and just getting started, you will definitely like how easy the Assault is to use when compared to the Echo. Chain systems do make things a little bit easier.
When it comes to moving the bikes around and lending them to a friend, I would much rather they pick the Assault to the Echo as well. Being half the weight easily allows me to move it around without straining.
I might be strong, but I still don’t like moving large awkward things around. If a friend ever asks to borrow a bike, I definitely try to convince them to take the Assault.
The final area where the Rogue Assault shines is price. There’s a reason why the Echo is better in most things and that is simply because it is a more expensive bike. It wouldn’t make sense when looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault if the cheaper bike was better at everything.
If you are on a budget, this bike is great to consider getting. Sometimes sacrificing a little bit of functionality is worth it, especially if you can’t afford the Echo.
Finally, let’s wrap this up with a little bit of extra information that you can use to help guide your purchase and a quick little summary as well.
What is the Major Difference
The major difference when looking at the Rogue Echo vs. Assault is the size of the bikes and the drivetrain. The heavy duty model of the Echo makes it withstand intense workouts and the belt drivetrain makes it more reliable.
The main thing with the Rogue Echo vs. Assault and you should take that into consideration when deciding on a bike.
So What Should I Get?
At the end of the day, it all comes down to preference and what you feel more comfortable with. Are you looking for a workout bike that can take your workouts to the next level?
If that is the case, I strongly recommend the Echo and it is definitely worth the price you are going to be paying.
If you want to save some money while still getting a great workout in, there is nothing wrong with the Assault bike.
You should be prepared to do a little more maintenance on it, but other than that, the bike works great and will allow you to burn off all of those extra calories.
Personally, I would go with the Echo as I am someone who goes top of the line with any workout equipment I am getting. The versatility of the bike along with its reliability makes it a no-brainer in my books.
If you still aren’t satisfied in your decision between these two bikes, head on over to a gym or a store to try them out for yourself.
Final Thoughts
My words can only do so much to help you and sometimes, trying the products out for yourself is the best way to see what you prefer.
Do you like how easy it is to get the Assault started, or do you prefer having to push yourself with the Echo? Try it out for yourself so you can finally make a decision in the Rogue Echo vs. Assault battle.
