Best Exercise Bikes In 2022
It’s never been easier to get in shape. Gym memberships are more affordable than they’ve ever been and there’s so much advice online about how to eat well. But it’s not always that easy to get to the gym. Sometimes you get stuck at the office or wake up too late to go before work. Whatever the reason, it’s always good to have some gym equipment for home, so you never have to miss a workout. And the exercise bike is the ultimate piece of home-gym equipment. Here are the eight contenders for the title of the best exercise bike on the market.
The Best Exercise Bike
1Assault Fitness Assault AirBike Classic
Air bikes have been around for over four decades. The Assault AirBike was manufactured by Assault Fitness, which is an arm of LifeCORE Fitness Industry located in California, United States. They specialize in producing rowers and bikes that will stand the test of time. The unrestricted resistance of the Assault Airbike is facilitated by spinning fans which is a terrific system. As you get accustomed to the bike, you will encounter more resistance from it when you pedal faster. What’s more, there are ball bearings strategically-placed at every moving joint of the bike to enhance its durability and ensure smooth operation. Air bikes are infamous for having uncomfortable seats, which are usually hard, small, and sometimes injurious to sit on for lengthy hours of rides. However, the Assault AirBike’s seat is very comfortable and large enough to give you the best riding experience. Furthermore, the seat can be adjusted to get the most comfortable position before you go for a ride – the seat post of the Assault AirBike is also solid and well-balanced. You need not worry about unsteady movements during exercises.
Even though the display screen does not come in high-definition, the size is considered large enough. It displays regular exercise metrics like every other air bikes. What’s more, the consoles of this bike work effectively with Bluetooth and ANT+ heart rate monitors. This is a feature that makes it stand out from the other bikes on this list. As for its weight, the Assault AirBike weighs 350 pounds which is not too heavy for an indoor exercise bike. In fact, it is lighter than a lot of bikes on the market. As a matter of fact, quality bikes should have a maximum weight of 400 pounds. So the Assault AirBike is considerably portable. Plus, the Assault AirBike was designed to comfortably carry a biker weighing a maximum of 340 pounds.
350 pounds weight capacity
Bluetooth connectivity
Warranty for major components
Comfortable seat
- BrandAssault Fitness
- ModelAssault Air Bike
- Weight99.2 pounds
2Schwinn Upright Bike
Schwinn has been producing indoor cycling bikes for nearly a century now and the Schwinn Upright bike boasts of the same cycling ingenuity as other products manufactured by the brand. This exercise bike features twenty-five levels of eddy current brake magnetic resistance to provide adequate safety and support for cyclists. One of the most notable features of this bike is the DualTrack™ console, which has over twenty-eight programmed workouts. Out of these twenty-eight workouts, nine are heart-rate programs, while twelve are exercise activities such as mountain rides, challenges, and fun rides which are designed to give you the best workout experience. Through this console, you can keep track of your workout performance as you progress – the proprietary console has two backlit screens that display your exercise statistics. Another benefit of the console is that you can make use of Bluetooth connections in transferring your exercise statistics. This is made possible by the patented ConnectTM and MyFitnessPal technology of Schwinn.
Another very exciting thing about this product is the fact that with all its user-friendly features, it still comes at a pocket-friendly price. The Schwinn Upright bike can be assembled seamlessly by one person in no time. Perusing the instruction manual that Schwinn provides, the process should take you less than sixty minutes. The Schwinn Upright bike is fitted with a contoured seat and ambidextrous handgrips, which allows users to adapt to the best riding position. What’s more, the pedals do not wear out even after using them for a long time, unlike traditional bikes and the forearm rests of the bike are detachable, while the position of the handgrips can be adjusted to any desired angle. In fact, with the fan positioned to cover your entire body mass, you won’t break a sweat even after exercising for an extended period of time.
Streamlined console
Patented ConnectTM and MyFitnessPal technology
3-speed fan
10 years warranty for the frame
- BrandSchwinn
- Model100512
- Weight70.5 pounds
3Sunny Health & Fitness 49 Lb Indoor Cycle Bike
You may think there’s no such thing as a high-quality yet affordable exercise bike, but that’s because you haven’t come in contact with the Sunny Health and Fitness Cycling Bike. This bike weighs 97 pounds and nearly half of this weight is from the flywheel. Studies have shown that the heavier a flywheel, the smoother its resistance. Hence, the weight of the Sunny Health bike is not out of place. In addition, heavy flywheels help in balancing the bike to avoid unstable movements during workouts. The handgrips, seat, resistance, and speed of this bike can be adjusted by pressing a knob. And due to the easy adjustability of the Sunny Health bike’s features, the chances of injured or strained during workouts are completely ruled out. Furthermore, the handgrips are well cushioned and padded, which makes them easy to hold onto, even if your palms are sweaty. So, the era of having sore palms or blisters after workout sessions is over.
When it comes to the seat of the Sunny Health bike, it is fully padded for your comfort. However, we advise you to use an extra gel cover if your workout session is going to be very long. Also, in case you want to stand while exercising, the sturdily constructed pedals of the Sunny Health bike will give you the needed support. As for the installation, the Sunny Health bike comes with the frame and flywheel already pre-assembled. So, you need not worry about fiddling with bolts and nuts if you know nothing about them. Additionally, assembling other parts of the bike such as the handgrips, seat and back support would take less than thirty minutes, because every tool required to couple the bike are included. Also, a user’s guide with clear instructions is included, so you don’t miss a step.
Adjustable seat, hand grips, and resistance
97 pounds weight
Partially assembled
1-year warranty for the frame
- BrandSunny Health & Fitness
- ModelSF-B1002
- Weight115 pounds
4NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle
The studio class option of the Nordictrack Commercial Bike is a group workout session that focuses on high-intensity interval training. This should not be seen as a mere musical experience, but as a rigorous exercise that is led by a professional trainer, who coaches users to remain focused, challenged, and motivated. With these trainers, you are inspired to go beyond your comfort zone when doing full-body exercises. You will have the feel of a one-on-one workout as you are engaged by Nordictrack’s studio class. The next riding option is a simulation of a road race. You can choose from several popular races such as the Tour de France and The Americas. Your trainer will guide you as you go through several adventures that you can’t get enough of. The ability of the Nordictrack Commercial bike to incline at +20% and decline at –10% rate makes it stand out from rival exercise bikes. This feature gives users a more electrifying experience as they find themselves in a whole new world.
In addition, this bike’s trainers are designed to automatically adjust the incline, decline, speed, and resistance level through real-time control, so bikers can focus on their exercises. Furthermore, the Nordictrack Commercial bike sports a 22-inch touchscreen that can rotate at an angle of 360 degrees. If you want to cross-train, then simply swivel and tilt the touchscreen to off-the-bike mode. As you swivel, you can watch more on-screen trainers and follow their every move. The Nordictrack Commercial bike bags a one-year free iFit membership subscription. This not only saves you hundreds of dollars but also gives you ample time to bounce back to fitness. Your iFit free subscription will also keep a record of your workout statistics as you make progress.
22 inches capacitive touchscreen display
Free one-year iFit membership subscription
4 riding options
Lifetime warranty for the frame and 3 years for other components
- BrandNordicTrack
- ModelNTEX02117NB
- Weight204 pounds
5Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
The Marcy ME-709 offers something a little different. For a start, it’s a recumbent exercise bike, which means you can recline, and your back is supported while you exercise. Whether or not this works for you is a personal preference. Some people much prefer to be sitting upright when they exercise, but some people need back support. There isn’t a huge difference in how many calories you burn. It’s also quite a lot cheaper than most of the bikes in this list, so we’ve selected it as our Best Value product. If you’re looking for an entry-level way into home-exercising, there really aren’t many better options than this.
Unlike the Sunny upright bike, you get a small display. It’s not the most advanced display out there, but you can read your time, speed, distance, and calories burnt – which is pretty awesome for less than $150. Plus, the information is displayed in easy-to-read large letters and numbers. This, along with the eight different resistance levels, gives you enough information to do loads of different workouts.
Like the Sunny bike, you do have to assemble it yourself. But, if you read the Amazon reviews, there are plenty of grandmas that have managed to get it upstairs and assemble it themselves. So, you should be absolutely fine. Plus, it has a fully adjustable seat and can take up to 300lbs. That’s a lot for such an affordable and portable bike. Our handy guide to the best elliptical machines features more great products like this.
Easy-to-read display
Eight resistance levels
Padded seat
Supports up to 300lbs
- BrandMarcy
- ModelME709
- Weight61 pounds
A lot of features for a very low price.
The display is really easy to read, great for people who can’t see very well.
Some complaints of low-quality parts – but you can’t expect it to be perfect for the price.
6Schwinn 170 – Upright Bike Series
The Schwinn 170 is one of the most popular upright workout bikes on the market. Made by a company that has been in the bicycle game for well over 100 years, this workout machine has some serious cycling pedigree. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a Tour de France winner to own one. This exercise bike is designed for home use, whether you’re a professional athlete or you just want to stay in shape.
The Schwinn 170 is the most expensive product in the Schwinn Upright Bike Series. So, what do you get for your money and why is it three times more than the Schwinn 130? Well, to put it simply, it’s more advanced in every way. It has dual backlit LCD displays that lead you on 29 different exercise programs. Using Bluetooth, you can connect your bike to a number of different apps to enhance your ride. It’s even compatible with VR headsets if you want to feel like you’re really out on the road.
Buying a premium exercise bike like the Schwinn 170 also affords you extra comfort and quality. It feels completely solid, even when you’re pedaling at full tilt. Plus, it has a bunch of premium features like a contoured padded seat, wide-platform pedals, and adjustable handles with forearm rests.
Dual backlit LCD screens
Bluetooth connectivity
25 levels of resistance
Premium-grade frame
USB charging port
- BrandSchwinn
- Model170
- Weight76 pounds
7XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike
The XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike is one of the most popular products on this list. There are two reasons why people can’t stop buying it – it’s super cheap and it doesn’t take up much room in the house. The fact that this bike costs just $130.82 (at the time of writing) is a constant surprise to consumers. Gone are the days where home gyms are reserved for the elite classes. Now, everyone can afford to get fit without a gym membership.
As we said, the foldable design is another huge benefit to customers. When you’ve finished exercising for the day, just fold it up and store it in the cupboard. When it’s fully folded, it measures just 20” x 20.5” x 50.5”, which is considerably less than most exercise bikes.vOf course, the fact that this bike is so cheap means that you have to forget a few of those premium features. It has a small LCD screen that shows very basic information like speed, distance, time, calories, and pulse. Plus, there are eight levels of manual resistance and a large dial tension knob.
Foldable metal frame
Padded lower back pad and seat
Small LCD screen
Eight levels of manual resistance
Large dial tension knob
- BrandXTERRA
- ModelFB350
- Weight42.3 pounds
8Schwinn Airdyne Bike Series
If you’re looking for a more full-body cardio workout, the Schwinn Airdyne Bike Series might be the perfect product for you. It uses wind resistance to control the intensity of your workout and utilizes both your arms and legs. We’ve featured a couple of air bikes on GearHungry in the past, but it’s hard to compare them with the quality you get from Schwinn. Every material and component is carefully selected to ensure that this bike works for years. Check out the Amazon reviews and you’ll quickly see that this air bike is a seriously good investment.
Featuring Airdyne’s signature Wind-Resistance Technology, the bike uses your speed to control your workout intensity. The faster you move your arms and legs, the more resistance you will feel. It has a basic LCD screen that shows you your performance metrics but other than that, this is a really simple machine. We love the fact that you can just sit on it and start moving – it takes all the complexity out of working out.
Airdyne Wind Resistance Technology
Integrated footpegs
Whisper-quiet fan
LCD screen
Self-balancing pedals
- BrandSchwinn
- ModelAD6
- Weight116 pounds
9Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness makes some of our favorite exercise bikes. This one is one of their cheaper models but it still provides an excellent workout. We’ve already featured a couple of air bikes on this list so you should know by now that they provide a full-body cardio workout. You can get your legs and hands moving at the same time, increasing your heart rate, and getting fitter by the minute.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike has a couple of features that help it stand out from other air bikes on the market including – a four-way adjustable seat, a performance monitor, a device holder, and transportation wheels. We also really like the sturdy frame, which is made from heavy-duty steel and can support up to 265 pounds.
Progressive resistance
Performance monitor
Heavy-duty steel frame
Tablet holder
Four-way adjustable bike seat
- BrandSunny Health & Fitness
- ModelSF-B2916
- Weight68 pounds
Exercise Bike Buying Guide & FAQ
Before you decide to buy, here are the features you should be looking for in every exercise bike.
Spin– Exercise bikes are also known as spinning bikes. That’s because you are pedaling to make a flywheel spin round. The heavier the flywheel, the smoother the exercise bike will be so it’s important to look for a bike with a high-quality, heavy flywheel.
Resistance – You don’t just want to exercise in one setting for the rest of your life. As you get fitter, you will want to increase the resistance of the flywheel to make the exercise harder. This is also important for different training techniques. For example, if you are doing heart-rate training, you will want to have the resistance at a low setting and cycle for a long time.
Display – The display on your exercise bike is like your personal fitness computer. It will tell you your heart rate, calories burnt, speed, resistance, distance traveled, and more. On some displays, you will also be able to choose from pre-set workouts.
Safety – You might not believe it, but exercise bikes can be dangerous. They’re safer than riding a bike on the road because you don’t have to think about cars, buses, and potholes, but you should still think about safety before you use one. Firstly, make sure the bike is perfectly adjusted for your height, otherwise, you could end up injuring yourself. Your leg should be slightly bent when the pedal is at the lowermost point. Secondly, make sure there is plenty of room for the bike, so the moving parts don’t hit anything. Also, make sure you are wearing grippy footwear and that your feet are securely fastened onto the pedals, so the pedal doesn’t slip and hit you in the shin.
Foldable – Not all exercise bikes are foldable, but it’s a useful feature if you like to exercise in different places. It also means that you can make the most of the space in your home gym.