Air bikes and air rowers: Xebex compared with Assault Fitness
If you are fitting out a functional training box, a cross-training floor or a race-format club and comparing Xebex equipment supplied by Light In Fitness with Assault Fitness, three published facts should drive the decision: Assault’s own limited warranty states that labour for repair or replacement is the owner’s responsibility, the Assault AirBike Classic uses pure air resistance with no adjustment, and the Xebex range covers rower, air bike, ski erg and sled from a single supplier at published prices — from 1,050 EUR excluding VAT for an AirPlus bike to 1,850 EUR excluding VAT for the hybrid Air Bike Power. Here is the full scoring grid.
Two different propositions, not two versions of the same thing
Assault Fitness (LifeCore Fitness, California) defined the modern air bike so thoroughly that “assault bike” became the generic term for the category, and its dual-belt Pro X is a well-regarded low-maintenance machine used by professional athletes. The company sells direct in the United States and reaches European buyers through a reseller network.
Xebex, distributed by Light In Fitness, is built as a complete HIIT ecosystem rather than a single hero product: air rowers 2.0 and 3.0, air bikes including a hybrid air-plus-magnetic model, ski ergs in wall-mounted or free-standing versions, and the XT3 Plus V2 sled with console. All of it is priced publicly and quoted alongside rigs, flooring and accessories in one package.
Both categories fall under EN ISO 20957-1:2024 class S for professional and commercial use. Confirm class S on the declaration of conformity for anything installed in a staffed facility.
Comparison table: published facts side by side
| Criterion | Xebex (Light In Fitness) | Assault Fitness |
|---|---|---|
| Published prices | AirPlus air bike 1,050 EUR; Air Rower 2.0 1,250 EUR; Air Rower 3.0 1,450 EUR; Air Bike Power 1,850 EUR; Ski Trainer 1,550 EUR; XT3 Plus V2 sled 1,250 EUR — all excluding VAT | Published in some markets; European pricing set by the reseller |
| Warranty terms | Manufacturer warranty handled by a dedicated European after-sales desk, response within 48 working hours | Official limited warranty: 5 years frame, 2 years other parts; the published terms state that labour is the owner’s responsibility |
| Air bike resistance | Air Bike Power: hybrid air resistance plus 8 magnetic levels. AirPlus: dual resistance | Classic: pure air, no resistance adjustment. Pro X: pure air, belt drive |
| Rowers | Air Rower 2.0 folds to under 50% of its length in 5 seconds without tools, stainless steel chain. Air Rower 3.0 adds a 5 kHz-compatible console, footplates adjustable in length and width, 53 cm seat height | AssaultRower with LCD console |
| Range coverage | Rower, air bike, ski erg (wall or stand), sled with console — one product family | Air bike, rower, non-motorised runner |
| Maximum user weight | Up to 150 kg depending on model | Pro X: 150 kg (330 lbs) |
| Project scope | Rig, flooring, accessories and cardio in a single quotation, one point of contact for installation and service | Cardio equipment; other categories sourced elsewhere |
Every statement about Assault Fitness above comes from the manufacturer’s own published catalogue and warranty text. Nothing here is based on service data for equipment Light In Fitness does not maintain.
Warranty scope: read the labour clause before you compare headline years
Warranty length is the number buyers quote; warranty scope is the number that shows up on an invoice. Assault’s official limited warranty covers the frame for 5 years and other parts for 2 years, and its published terms state that all labour is the responsibility of the owner. That is a legitimate commercial model, common for direct-import equipment, but it means a bearing, belt or console failure in month 18 produces a free part and a chargeable engineer visit plus downtime.
When you compare any two suppliers, ask for these five items in writing:
- Frame, parts and labour cover, stated separately, in years.
- Whether the warranty distinguishes domestic from commercial use, and which tier applies to your site.
- Published response time for a service call, in working hours.
- Spare-part stock location and typical lead time.
- Who signs the warranty — the manufacturer, the distributor or the reseller.
Light In Fitness relays the Xebex manufacturer warranty through its own after-sales desk with a published 48 working hour response commitment, and the same contact handles the sale, the parts and the intervention.
Resistance control: why a hybrid air bike sells more class slots
Pure air resistance is superb for maximal intensity and nothing else: the harder you push, the harder it gets, with no calibration step. The Assault Classic is built exactly that way and the manufacturer does not present it as adjustable.
The Xebex Air Bike Power at 1,850 EUR excluding VAT adds 8 magnetic resistance levels on top of the air fan. Practically, one machine then serves three different sessions in the same day:
- 09:00 low-impact or senior class — magnetic level 2 to 3, reproducible from week to week, which matters for progression tracking and for rehabilitation protocols.
- 12:00 corporate HIIT — mid levels, so a mixed-ability group works at comparable relative effort.
- 19:00 competitive session — magnetic resistance off, pure air, full fan.
In an operating model, versatility is measured in billable slots per machine per week, not in specification lines.
Floor logistics: folding, footprint and the details that free up square metres
The Air Rower 2.0 at 1,250 EUR excluding VAT folds to under half its length in 5 seconds without tools and moves on four wheels with one hand. Ten rowers cleared between classes releases the equivalent of a whole studio. Its stainless steel chain also cuts the lubrication schedule, which matters in a humid, chalk-heavy room.
The Air Rower 3.0 at 1,450 EUR excluding VAT targets a wider population: footplates adjustable in both length and width, a 53 cm seat height that matches a standard chair, and a console with interval, competition and Tabata modes plus 5 kHz heart-rate strap compatibility. The seat height is the specification that opens rowing to older members, heavier users and post-injury programmes.
Building a race-format station
Race-format training strings ergometers together: row, ski, sled push, bike. Sizing the station is arithmetic, not taste.
| Athletes per wave | Rowers | Ski ergs | Sleds | Indicative equipment cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Approx. 12,150 EUR excluding VAT |
| 20 | 6 | 5 | 3 | Approx. 19,300 EUR excluding VAT |
| 30 | 8 | 7 | 4 | Approx. 27,350 EUR excluding VAT |
Figures use the Air Rower 2.0 at 1,250 EUR, the Ski Trainer at 1,550 EUR and the XT3 Plus V2 sled at 1,250 EUR, all excluding VAT. They are project estimates for budgeting: carriage, installation and flooring are quoted separately, and sled work requires a compatible surface.
Which set-up for which venue
- Functional training box — Xebex rowers and hybrid air bike, plus rig, flooring and accessories in one quotation with a single service contact.
- Race-format club — the full station: rowers, ski ergs and the console-equipped sled, sized by wave capacity.
- Studio, hotel gym or rehabilitation centre — Air Bike Power for calibrated magnetic levels and Air Rower 3.0 for its 53 cm seat and adjustable footplates.
- Site committed to the Assault brand — a legitimate choice. Budget it with the reseller’s written terms, including who pays for labour, where parts are stocked and the response time you can rely on.
If you are specifying the rest of the cardio floor at the same time, see our comparisons of commercial treadmills and studio cycling bikes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a Xebex and an Assault air bike?
The Assault AirBike Classic uses pure air resistance with no adjustment, calibrated for maximal intensity. The Xebex Air Bike Power, at 1,850 EUR excluding VAT, combines air resistance with 8 magnetic levels, so the same machine can be set precisely for a rehabilitation protocol, a mixed-ability class or a competitive session.
What does the Assault Fitness warranty cover?
According to the manufacturer’s official limited warranty, the frame is covered for 5 years and other parts for 2 years from purchase, and the published terms state that labour for repair or replacement is the owner’s responsibility. Terms applied in Europe depend on the reseller, so ask for the exact wording in writing before ordering.
How much does a commercial air rower cost?
Light In Fitness publishes the Xebex Air Rower 2.0 at 1,250 EUR excluding VAT and the Air Rower 3.0 at 1,450 EUR excluding VAT. Both are air-resistance machines rated for commercial use; the 3.0 adds an interval and competition console, adjustable footplates and a 53 cm seat height.
Why does a folding rower matter in a commercial gym?
The Air Rower 2.0 folds to under 50% of its length in 5 seconds without tools and rolls on four wheels. In a room that alternates classes with open floor use, clearing ten rowers in a few minutes releases the equivalent of a full studio and directly increases the number of usable slots per day.
What do I need for a complete race-format station?
Rower, ski erg and sled as a minimum, sized by wave capacity: roughly 4 rowers, 3 ski ergs and 2 sleds for 12 athletes, scaling to 8, 7 and 4 for 30. Keeping them in one product family means one console language for coaches and one maintenance routine.
Planning a functional training zone? Send us your floor plan, ceiling height and the number of athletes per wave. Light In Fitness returns a costed layout — ergometers, rig, flooring, accessories, delivery and installation, all prices excluding VAT — within 24 working hours, with a dedicated after-sales desk responding within 48 working hours. More than 500 facilities equipped across Europe since 2013.
Related guides: street workout park equipment.
