There are 4 different types of Peloton Bikes:
- Original Series Bike
- Original Series Bike+
- Cross Training Series Bike
- Cross Training Series Bike+
Peloton Bikes are differentiated based on hardware features, changes that were made to the physical structure of the bike over the years and you get in depth insights about that as you continue through the article.
This article will also break down the different Peloton Bike Generations, which deals primarily with the upgrades made to the Peloton Bike Tablet. For now, we will focus on gaining a better understanding of the different types of Peloton Bikes from a hardware perspective, but when you are done here, if you still want to take a deeper look at the hardware of the Peloton bike, you can read this, Peloton Bike: Full Length Review & Hidden Usability Advantages blog post. .
ORIGINAL SERIES BIKE VS. ORIGINAL SERIES BIKE+Original Series Bike vs. Original Series Bike+
The most impactful difference between the Peloton Original Series Bike and the Peloton Original Series Bike+ is the ability of the screen on the Original Series Bike+ to rotate 360 degrees. This range of motion makes for an easy transition from bike riding classes to strength or yoga classes. The Original Series Bike only has a tilting screen.
Auto Resistance is another differentiator that separates the Original Series Bike+ from the Original Series Bike. While auto resistance might seem small, for serious riders who are constantly trying to improve performance metrics, this is a major upgrade. The ability of the bike to mimic the resistance level without you having to physically reach down and turn the knob avoids dips in cadence, output and speed. When I physically turn the knob on my bike, I almost always see my numbers drop. If beating personal records are important to you, then you have to get a Peloton with Auto Resistance.
The only other two noticeable improvements from the Original Series Bike to the Original Series Bike+ is the fact that the Original Series Bike+ has a slightly bigger screen along with front facing speakers and rear woofers. Everything from a Hardware perspective is exactly the same. If you’re making a purchase decision and you’re deciding between these two bikes, you have to decide if the extra features of the Original Series Bike+ are worth the extra money. Do you need a screen that has a 360 degree range of motion, do you need auto resistance, a bigger screen along with front facing speakers and rear woofers, if the answer is yes, you better get the Original Series Bike+ so you are not disappointed.
Now let’s take a look at the Cross Training Series Bike in Comparison to the Cross Training Series Bike+.
peloton original series bike+ come with auto resistance
CROSS TRAINING SERIES BIKE VS. CROSS TRAINING SERIES BIKE+
When comparing these two different types of bikes, unlike the Original Series Bike vs the Original Series Bike+ comparison, the upgrades from the Cross Training Series Bike to the Cross Training Series Bike+ are 100% worth the extra money. Peloton IQ launched on October 1st, 2025 and is an AI driven data coaching system. Peloton IQ plans your workouts by providing custom training regimens when you select your goals, coaches you in real time, analyzes your performance, and adjusts your future workouts based on the data it acquires.
Technically Peloton IQ is available on the Original Series Bike, the Original Series Bike+, the Cross Training Series Bike and the Cross Training series Bike+. However, the only bike in the entire line of Peloton Bikes that can coach you in real time is the Cross Training Series Bike+, because that’s the only bike in the lineup that has the movement tracking camera. The Cross Training Series Bike doesn’t have that feature and the Original Series Bike or Original Series Bike+ definitely don’t have that feature either. The movement tracker allows Peloton to give you a full circle data driven feedback loop. The feedback loop is as follows:
- You Select Your Goals
- You Take The Classes That Peloton Recommends
- You Get Coached During The Classes, Because Peloton Is Analyzing Your Form And Making Recommendations
- Your Performance In Class Is Analyzed Across A Variety Of Different Metrics
Those In Class Metrics Are Then Used To Make Suggestions On How To Improve On The Workouts You Are Currently Taking Or Provide More Difficult Courses, Because Of How Well You Are Performing
The reason this feedback loop is so exceptional is because with the Peloton Cross Training Series Bike+, you can track rep count and analyze form with the movement tracker, which allows the data driven AI Coaching model to provide you with excellent feedback on how to get to the next level. Sure the Cross Training Series Bike can analyze heart rate, calories, cadence and a number of other metrics, but without the movement tracker, the feedback loop won’t be as refined and your results will suffer.
As mentioned before, the difference in price between the Cross Training Series Bike+ and the Cross Training Series Bike is definitely worth it, especially if you are serious about your workouts.
Now it’s time to take a look at bike generations.
HOW MANY PELOTON GENERATIONS ARE THERE?
There are 3 Peloton Generations and these generational transitions deal primarily with software upgrades as opposed to the hardware upgrades that were previously discussed. Transitioning from Generation 1, Generation 2 and Generation 3 shows improvements in 4 areas:
- User interface Responsiveness
- Load Speed
- Stability
- Forward Compatibility
Before diving any deeper into the performance of the different generations across the different categories mentioned above, understand that the term generation is a completely made up categorization developed by the internet. Nowhere on the Peloton website will you see the term generation. With that out of the way, it’s time to take a look at how the Peloton Generation 1 tablets perform.
PELOTON GENERATION 1
The Peloton Generation 1 is the oldest screen on the market and the most impactful problem that comes along with that is the fact that it’s no longer forward compatible and isn’t receiving software updates. Peloton ended support for this generation of tablet a while ago, so it really doesn’t make sense to venture down this path. If you’re in the market for a Refurbished Peloton, you definitely don’t want to get a 1st generation Peloton Tablet, you want a gen 2 or a gen 3.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PELOTON GEN 2 AND GEN 3
The main difference between the Peloton gen 2 and gen 3 is how the improved processing power improves on the usability issues presented above, responsiveness, load speed and stability. Peloton generation 2 added chromecast/airplay as a result of the improved processing power. The second generation Peloton is also capable of handling and receiving software updates and is future proof for the foreseeable future as it relates to Peloton launching any new major updates. While Peloton Generation 2 would be the next logical generation of screen tablets to stop receiving updates, this shouldn’t happen anytime soon.
The Peloton generation 3 tablet is the best of the bunch and provides the best navigation, load time and stability experience of all three generations. More importantly the Peloton generation 3 tablet is future proof, it is able to take any and all Software updates that Peloton is going to push in the future.
In the market for a Peloton that you can experience for years to come without concern, be sure to get Peloton generation 3 tablet.
