Best Exercise Bikes: Top Picks And Reviews
Everyone needs to exercise. Some of us do it to be fit, while others do it to rehabilitate after an accident or a traumatic event. Some of us even exercise to body build. But gym memberships are expensive and depending on where your local gym is located, you may have to walk or drive a long way to reach it. These factors might even make you want to not exercise at all. That’s why it’s easier and more efficient to buy one of the best exercise bikes.
There are several benefits to buying your own exercise bike. First of all, you only have to pay for it once and then it’s yours; there are no recurring monthly fees or price hikes from a gym membership contract to worry about. Second, you can use it any time of day or night without having to leave your home. At this point, the only thing you should be concerned about is what type of exercise bike to buy. To help you make that decision, we created the following review and buying guide for the best fitness bikes from 7 different types: recumbent, upright, spinning, air, full-body recumbent, folding and desk.
Best Exercise Bikes In The US
Recumbent Exercise Bike – Nautilus R618
2 used from $645.85
The Nautilus R618 is the best recumbent fitness bike on the market. This type of bike comes with a backrest as well as handholds for maximum support. The seat is slanted downward so you can sit down on it instead of having to mount it. This type of exercise bike is the lowest impact of all the types listed in this article, which makes it perfect for elderly individuals or people recovering from an injury.
The features on the Nautilus R618 make it stand out from the crowd. It comes with an adjustable console and a dual backlit screen. From the console, you can choose between 29 customizable workout programs with settings like incline and decline.
Aside from the premium seating and workout programs, the best part of this bike is its Bluetooth connectivity. With Bluetooth, you can connect the bike to a wide array of different fitness apps, including the RideSocial app which lets you connect virtually with your friends and “ride” with them.
If you’re worried about moving your exercise bike in and out of the rooms of your house, the Nautilus R618 will put you at ease on that score. It only weighs 107 lbs, a relatively light weight for an exercise bike. Its lightness adds to its value as a low impact machine.
Verdict:
This bike is the best, most versatile and fun recumbent-type exercise bike for people on the lookout for a low-impact indoor biking experience. Elderly people and individuals recovering from injuries will find this machine easy to transport and work with.
Pros:
- Comfortable seating
- Back and arms support
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 29 customizable workout programs
Cons:
- Not suitable for HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts
Upright Exercise Bike – Nautilus U618
The Nautilus U618 is for people who need a low impact biking experience, but also want more of a challenge. This type of exercise bike is called an upright, and the name pretty much speaks for itself when you see what it looks like. There are no backrests or side handholds here, and the bike seat is not directed downward. You need good balance to be able to mount and stay on this bike. It’s compact, efficient and oriented toward one goal: upright pedaling.
Like its recumbent type sister, the Nautilus U618 comes loaded with premium features. There are 29 customizable workout programs to choose from using the dual backlit screens on the console. Furthermore, the console is adjustable, meaning you can change its position to meet your line of sight. The front handlebars are also adjustable via controls that are located directly on the bars.
You can access fitness training apps using the bike’s Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can use RideSocial, which will make your biking experience more fun as you can share it with friends. The versatility of the programs and apps you can access will keep you engaged and give you plenty of opportunities to find the routine that works best for you.
One other feature of the Nautilus U618 that we must mention is its size and weight. This bike is only 38.5 inches long, a little over a yard. And it only weighs 90 lbs. You can easily fit it into your home and move it around as needed. This is especially helpful if you are someone who either doesn’t want to or is unable to perform too much strenuous exercise.
Verdict:
This bike comes with all the features you could ever need in an upright exercise bike: adjustable handlebars and console, lots of programs and apps to track your fitness, and a small size you can fit just about anywhere in your home. It’s also the second-lowest impact bike on our list. It’s perfect for people who need a gentler workout than a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) program but are still looking for a challenge.
Pros:
- Upright design allows you to sit up straight
- 29 customizable workout programs
- Adjustable console
- Lightweight for easy transportation
Cons:
- Not suitable for HIIT workouts
- Requires good balance to mount and stay on
Spinning Exercise Bike – Keiser M3i
If you’re looking for an experience similar to what you would find on a real outdoor bike, the Keiser M3i is the perfect choice for you. This is a spinning type of exercise bike, and what makes it unique is it is designed to replicate an outdoor bicycle. People who use the Keiser M3i can stand on the pedals and perform HIIT on their lower body. It’s the option for people who want a higher impact form of exercise and can handle a more intense workout.
There are no fancy screens on this bike, and that’s a good thing. It allows you to concentrate on the most important part, which is pedaling. It does come with a stand which you can prop your phone or even a book on (if you can read and pedal at the same time, that is). It is also equipped with a simple monitor that tracks information like your heart rate.
The stand will come in handy if you use your phone to connect to a training app. While you’re leaning over your bike, you can follow an exercise program to keep both your mind and body focused on meeting your exercise goals. The Keiser M Series app is one option you can use. It’s especially helpful for helping you keep track of information such as your power, heart rate and FTP using easy-to-read graphs.
We won’t lie: this bike is a heavy one, weighing in at 350 lbs. But its size and weight allow for higher impact exercise, as well as more adjustable parts.
Verdict:
The Keiser M3i is one of the best spinning bikes you can buy. It allows you the option of a more authentic biking experience and a HIIT workout for your lower body.
Pros:
- Designed to simulate riding a real bicycle
- Equipped with a stand to prop up your phone and tablet
- Display monitors fitness information
- Provides HIIT workout for your lower body
Cons:
- Not equipped for working out your upper body
- No customizable pre-loaded exercise programs
Air Exercise Bike – Schwinn AD7
Let’s say you’re looking for a full-body HIIT workout, and you need a fitness bike that can give you that. Look no further than the Schwinn AD7, one of the best air bikes. The Schwinn AD7 is big and loud, and that’s because it’s an air type of exercise bike. It comes with moving handlebars and pedals that will get your whole body moving. The other types of exercise bikes we mention in the article use magnets to create resistance. Not this guy. This one uses a fan. As a result, you can achieve a high impact workout, but just be aware that the noise level will be high, as well.
The console display on this bike is pretty sweet. It’s high resolution and tracks all kinds of information, including heart rate, calories, distance and speed. The bike also comes equipped with different programs you can use to focus on specific goals, like fat burning or aerobic training.
As on the other fitness bikes we listed in this article so far, the handlebars and seat on the Schwinn AD7 are fully adjustable. This means that anyone, regardless of size or height can use it.
Verdict:
People looking for an exercise bike that will allow them to perform HIIT will find this one easy to use, efficient and easily adjustable for their unique needs. The only thing to be aware of is the noise level due to the fan.
Pros:
- Provides HIIT workout for the whole body
- High-resolution display tracks your fitness goals
- Pre-installed workout programs
Cons:
- Loud fan
- Heavy and difficult to transport
Full Body Recumbent Exercise Bike – Sunny SF-RB4631
You may not need a low impact workout for your legs alone. Getting your arms moving as well as your legs allow you achieve a full body workout. You can do all of this from the comfort of the Sunny SF-RB4631.
This bike is great for everyone, including the elderly and people who are recovering from a traumatic physical event, which makes it a great gift for fitness enthusiasts. It provides low impact exercise for both the legs and the arms. Everything is adjustable, from the pedals to the seat to the handlebars.
Like the Nautilus R618, this Sunny bike has a backrest to give you extra support while you’re pedaling. One glaring difference between these two machines is, of course, the moving handlebars on the Sunny which allow you to exercise your arms. This machine also comes with built-in wheels touted for easy transportation.
There are no fancy screens on this bike, but the digital monitor gets the job done by tracking your time, calories and count per minute. Pulse sensors on the side handlebars will monitor your heart rate, as well.
Verdict:
This full body recumbent bike is a no fuss, no muss machine that fits everyone. It quietly and efficiently gets the job done for adults of all ages and sizes who need a low impact workout for their legs and arms.
Pros:
- Comfortable seating
- Support for back and arms
- Moving handlebars for exercising your upper body
- Pulse sensors in the side handlebars monitor your heart rate
- Display tracks your fitness information
Cons:
- Not suitable for HIIT workouts
- No pre-loaded fitness programs
Folding Exercise Bike – FitDesk
One big factor that might deter you from buying an exercise bike is a lack of space. Fitness machines in general carry a large footprint, and it can be inconvenient to walk around it all the time. But there is a bike that will solve this problem. It’s a folding type, and the best in its class is the FitDesk.
This fitness bike is designed for portability and to suit the convenience of the person using it. It only weighs 45 lbs and it folds up, so it is easy to move from room to room or store away when you’re not using it. But because it is constructed of steel, it can support up to 300 lbs of weight.
The FitDesk is designed for low impact exercise on both the legs and the arms. Resistance bands under the seat allow you to work out your arms, and the adjustable forearm supports provide a rest when you’re ready to take a break. There is a back on the seat so you can keep your balance while pedaling.
One of the most convenient features of this bike is the stand at the front of the machine. You can prop your phone or tablet, or even a laptop on it so you can work or watch videos while you exercise. The digital display meter on the bike will track fitness information like your time, cycle speed and the amount of calories you’re burning.
Verdict:
For people looking for a low impact fitness machine and are short on floor space, the FitDesk is the best exercise bike on the market. It’s lightweight, it folds up, and it’s versatile enough that you can exercise both your arms and legs.
Pros:
- Folds up for easy transportation and storage
- Equipped with resistance bands as well as pedals so you can exercise your arms and legs
- Digital meter tracks your fitness information
Cons:
- Not suitable for HIIT workouts
- Less durable because of its lightweight and folding construction
- No pre-loaded fitness programs
Desk Exercise Bike – Deskcise Pro
Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Work deadlines and homework can’t wait, which means other tasks like exercise get shoved to the backburner. And with the act of sitting all day comes the danger of becoming sedentary from lack of movement.
With a desk exercise desk like the Deskcise Pro, you don’t have to worry about not getting enough exercise because you no longer have to prioritize your tasks. Write that essay, meet that deadline and get your lower body workout in at the same time.
The best feature of the Deskcise Pro is its user-friendly design. The seat is adjustable so you can choose the height that is most comfortable for you. To make it more comfortable, you can also purchase an indoor bike seat cover. The desktop attachment is big enough for textbooks, a laptop or other electronics and anything other projects you need work on. The legs of this machine come with wheels for easy transportation around your home or office.
Like any good exercise bike, this one keeps track of your fitness information and allows you to view your stats on a small LCD display. Monitor your speed, distance, the calories you burned and more while getting your work done on the desk. This is a low impact bike, so don’t expect to also hit your HIIT goals. The main thing is you’re getting your body moving and staying productive.
Verdict:
For students or people who need to get their work done and combat a sedentary lifestyle, this fitness bike is the perfect choice. It has everything you need, from a wide desk to a light weight and wheels for easy transportation.
Pros:
- A wide desktop big enough to hold textbooks or a laptop so you can work from while you pedal
- Wheels allow easy transportation
- LCD display tracks fitness and workout information
Cons:
- Not suitable for HIIT workouts
- No upper body workout attachments
- No pre-loaded fitness programs
Quick Buying Guide To The Types Of Exercise Bikes
To recap, here is a quick buying guide to the different types of fitness bikes we covered in this article.
Recumbent
This type of exercise bike is for elderly people or individuals who are looking for a low impact fitness machine. It works the lower body while providing support to the back and arms. Its wide seat is low set so that you can sit on it instead of mounting it like a real bike. The pedals on a bike like this are typically angled at 45 degrees to allow for easier cycling.
Upright
An upright exercise bike is appropriate for people looking for a slightly more intense workout without moving into HIIT programs. There is no backrest, and the seat is high, so the person using it needs good balance.
Spinning
Spinning fitness bikes are designed to function like a real bike. The person using it needs to be able to lean forward on the seat to reach the handles. For a HIIT workout in the lower body, the user can stand on the pedals. This type of bike only provides high impact exercise for the lower body. People who want a full body experience should refer to our next type. Elderly people or individuals who need a low impact workout should not get this type of bike because it is designed for a more intense form of exercise.
Air
The air exercise bike is the highest impact fitness machine on our list. It comes equipped with moving handlebars so the user can achieve a full-body HIIT workout. Because it runs using a fan instead of magnets, this type of bike is very loud. People who don’t like lots of noise while they work out might want to look at the other types listed in this article. Furthermore, elderly people and people recovering from injuries or who have been advised not to engage in a high impact workout should not use an air bike.
Full Body Recumbent
The full body recumbent exercise bike allows you to give your whole body a low impact workout. Like the recumbent bike, this is a great choice for older folks or people recovering from an injury. It provides plenty of support for the back and arms, but it is also equipped with moving handlebars. The handlebars allow you to give your upper body a workout while you pedal.
Folding
The folding bike is essential for people who don’t have much space in their home. This type is usually lightweight and can be easily transported and stored. It doesn’t come with training programs, however, and it’s not durable enough for high-intensity workouts. It may be the best option if you’re short on room and only need a low impact exercise routine.
Desk
The desk exercise bike helps people who need to multitask. You can work on your computer or on a school project using the wide desk attachment, and still get your workout in. This is another type of fitness back that’s not constructed to withstand HIIT workouts. Choose it if you need to get work done and give your lower body some light exercise.
Final Verdict
In this article, we listed each type of fitness bike and the best product in its class, and how to choose the right one for you. We all need to exercise, but maybe not in the same ways or to meet the same goals. An exercise bike is a versatile machine that comes in an array of different types to suit every person’s unique needs, and if you are worried about protecting your floor from your fitness equipment during a workout, consider investing in a top exercise bike mat. Refer to our buying guide as you begin your journey to better fitness and a healthier body.