5 Best Home Exercise Bikes

A home exercise bike is a well-worth investment to boost your cardiovascular health. They are easily one of the most popular pieces of fitness equipment, and at some point, many people have owned one.

If it’s time to replace your stationary bike or experience owning one for the first time, the many options are enough to put anyone in a spin. However, indoor bikes are a lot sexier than they used to be and offer a lot more features.

Read on as we discuss nine of the best home exercise bikes and a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you decide.

Best Home Exercise Bikes: Reviews

Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike

The Exerpeutic folding upright exercise bike is super comfortable, easy to store, and designed to support you in building your fitness level. Exerpeutic offers a history of excellent products and has been manufacturing bikes that deliver safe and effective workouts for over a decade.

Product Highlights

This exercise bike is designed with everything you need in a complete home bike at a budget-friendly cost. The eight-level magnetic tension control system allows you to push yourself without getting bored. You can increase the tension to keep challenging your body as you become fitter.

Its performance monitor LCD shows your distance, calories burned, time, speed, and pulse rate. To assist in meeting and progressing your workout goals. The bike has an adjustable seat for users from 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall. And its solid steel construction accommodates up to 300 pounds of weight.

What I Like

This bike folds up to half its size for easy storage, unfolding just as quickly when it’s time to exercise again. It has a large 3.5 inches by 1.5 inches user-friendly LCD to access your desired information quickly. It is super quiet, so you can exercise anytime without disturbing the rest of the household.

The bike’s construction is the right balance of solid yet lightweight. It is stable enough, so you don’t need to worry about rocking around while exercising, but light enough for pulling around your home. The 15 inches by 10 inches seat is comfortable for longer workouts.

What I Don’t Like

Their “MyCloud Fitness Cadence” sensor, designed to facilitate streamed fitness classes and help with food calorie control, is sold separately.

Pros

• Eight resistance levels
• Fold up design
• Comfortable seat
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• “MyCloud Fitness Cadence” sensor sold separately

ODOGYM Indoor Cycling Bike

The ODOGYM cycling bike is designed to ensure you have total control of how you feel when using it. Its solid and durable design delivers a quiet and smooth riding experience.

Product Highlights

This stationary bike is made from alloy steel and weighs 57 pounds. It has two specially designed transport wheels at the front base for easy dragging from room to room. The bike accommodates up to 330 pounds and is incredibly sturdy and durable.

What I Like

The ODOGYM bike offers a sporty look in black with a green decorative detail around the wheel areas and on the handlebar. And you’ll be able to get a drink without leaving the bike with its handy water bottle holder. ODOGYM focused the design of this bike on delivering a comfortable workout with its “humanized design.” The cushioned seat, handles, and pedal belts are all easily adjustable. It is super easy to assemble and comes with everything; no extra tools are required.

What I Don’t Like

The multifunctional LCD is battery-powered, so if the battery is dead and there’s no backup, you won’t be able to monitor your workout.

Pros

• Sporty design
• Transport wheels
• Comfortable seat cushion

Cons

• Battery-powered LCD

XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike

The XTERRA Fitness FB150 exercise bike offers a foldable and straightforward design with fantastic features at a budget-friendly price.

Product Highlights

The FB150 delivers a smooth and sturdy workout through a sold x-frame construction with fixed steel tubing and a silent belt drive system. There are eight challenging levels of resistance to help build your fitness. The easy-to-use console monitors and displays your speed, distance, time, calories, and pulse. And for more performance details, the scan feature monitors your heart rate through the handlebar-mounted sensors.

What I Like

This bike includes a large anatomically-friendly thick padded seat and sizeable multi-grip padded handlebars for improved comfort. The pedals have adjustable straps for a secure and comfortable workout. When not in use, it takes up 18.1 inches by 18.1 inches of floor space and can be conveniently wheeled to store via built-in transport wheels. It looks good in silver, blue, and white.

What I Don’t Like

The FB150 can only accommodate a maximum weight of 225 pounds which is a little poor compared to other exercise bikes with a similar design.

Pros

• Padded oversized seat
• Folding design
• Heart-rate monitor

Cons

• 225 pounds maximum weight capacity

Merax 3 in 1 Adjustable Folding Exercise Bike

Merax’s 3-in-1 recumbent-style home exercise bike offers the best comfort and high back support. It converts into upright and recumbent positions to tone up different areas of your body and get into shape effectively.

Product Highlights

Merax’s adjustable folding exercise bike allows you to customize your workouts using 10 resistance levels, more than the average eight. It quickly transforms from a recumbent to an indoor bike to an ultra-compact foldable position for storage. The bike also includes two resistant bands for upper body strength training.

What I Like

The Merax’s 3-in-1 should be named 2-in-1 as the third position is when it’s folded upright for storage. The other two positions are the recumbent-style and regular exercise bikes that are achieved through a simple twist and pull of a knob.

You can exercise your calves, thighs, and glute muscles in the recumbent position with less strain. As less stress is placed on your joints, this bike is ideal for those with arthritis. The seat is adjustable and oversized with extra thick cushioning.

What I Don’t Like

The 3-in-1 description is misleading as the third position is for storage.

Pros

• Accommodates upper body strength training
• A recumbent and indoor style
• Includes an LCD tracking monitor and phone holder

Cons

• Battery-operated performance monitor

Cyclace Exercise Bike

The Cyclace stationary exercise bike enhances cardiopulmonary function and major muscle groups.

Product Highlights

The Cyclace makes an excellent spin bike. It is constructed with premium quality thickened steel and a triangular frame for stability during sitting or standing workouts. This silent belt-driven bike supports a weight of up to 330 pounds and includes adjustable cage pedals for ultimate foot support as your weight shifts. This bike accommodates beginners and professionals with a multi-grip handlebar with adjustable resistance.

What I Like

This spin bike has ametabolic PVC-coated handlebars, which keep their shape and don’t deform quickly. The iPad holder is made from solid material instead of plastic. You can also adjust the balance for the best stability on different floor surfaces.

What I Don’t Like

The Cyclace may be considered slightly expensive.

Pros

• Comfortable wide seat
• Solid iPad holder
• Triangular structure for excellent stability
• Includes transport wheels

Cons

• Expensive

YONKFUL Exercise Bike

The YONKFUL exercise bike is the home cardio bike that the whole family can use.

Product Highlights

The YONKFUL spin exercise bike is suitable for spinners between 5 feet to 6 feet 3 inches. The cycle has a five-way adjustable height handlebar and eight-way adjustable seat height with a heavy-duty steel frame for guaranteed wobble-free stability. The adjustable pedal straps will fit different foot sizes. It features an emergency brake system to stop the bike immediately when pushed down, and a one-year parts warranty backs the YONKFUL.

What I Like

This one has stuck to a traditional design and included a water bottle holder. The feature is vital to replenish water levels without leaving the bike mid-workout conveniently. Its emergency brake system is a great idea, as with many exercise bikes, if you need to stop immediately, you may have to fly off the bike and hope for the best. However, this option will be difficult when your feet are strapped to the pedals.

What I Don’t Like

While it includes transport wheels for moving around and positioning into storage, this bike design would have been perfect had it offered foldability. The maximum weight support is also slightly disappointing for a bike with such a solid construction.

Pros

• Emergency brake
• Water bottle holder
• Supports different heights

Cons

• Supports a maximum weight of 280 pounds

VIGBODY Exercise Bike

The VIGBODY exercise bike is the ultimate home cardio workout machine.

Product Highlights

The VIGBODY stationary bike has sturdy construction with a 1.5 millimeter thickened heavy-duty commercial quality square tube. Its 35-pound bi-directional flywheel can support up to 330 pounds. It features a thickened brake pad made from wool felt to make it stronger for more wear resistance with a significant amount of noise reduction. The VIGBODY brake pad offers a service life three times more than the average brake pad, and the adjustable resistance is suitable for any user’s skill level.

What I Like

The gray and red design will look great in any room. Additionally, moving it to any room is made easier through its lightweight construction of 64 pounds.

What I Don’t Like

There is no place to put your water bottle. This should be a must-have feature instead of a nice-to-have one, especially on spin bikes. Though many designs don’t offer dedicated water bottle holders, you can usually get away with resting it on the handlebars. However, the minimalist design of these handlebars means you’ll have to jump off to get some water.

Pros

• Strong brake pad design
• Emergency stop
• Lightweight design

Cons

• No water bottle holder

HARISON Exercise Bike

The HARISON stationary bike is an upright exercise bike with a high-quality design, LCD, and iPad holder.

Product Highlights

This indoor exercise bike has been built with a solid heavy-duty frame to support a weight of up to 350 pounds. The US mute feature creates a surprisingly smooth and almost silent ride. The LCD will monitor your time, distance, speed, and calories burned as you cycle. In addition to this high-quality bike, you’ll receive a 12-month replacement warranty.

What I Like

This bike looks like the real deal, resembling a commercial exercise bike in the gym. However, that look may not be for you. The handle includes a conveniently placed water bottle holder and offers an impressive 14 resistant levels to customize your workout. The four-way adjustable wide leather padded seat moves forward, backward, up, and down.

What I Don’t Like

Again, this bike may be considered slightly expensive.

Pros

• SGS certified
• 14 resistance levels
• Padded four-way adjustable seat

Cons

• Expensive

BARWING 16-8-2-3 Exercise Bike

The BARWING-X home exercise bike is more than just an exercise bike; its 4-in-1 design supports an all-over body workout suitable for all ages.

Product Highlights

This 4-in-1 foldable bike is perfect for seniors as it caters to relaxed riding, competitive cycling, leg stretching while standing, and arm strengthening. It includes 16 resistance levels, eight height seat adjustments, and two seat angle adjustments. It is suitable for users between 4 feet 6 inches to 6 feet.

What I Like

It offers various upright and reclining posture adjustments, making it suitable for senior citizens and other people with mobility problems. The bike has a nice, broad, and comfortable seat, it is sturdy and high-quality, and you can work out your arms simultaneously.

What I Don’t Like

Its aesthetic is very basic and uninspiring in dull gray and black color. It may look quite industrial in your home. Apart from being super comfortable to use, it may look better in a gym than at home.

Pros

• 16-intensity levels
• Super quiet
• Easy folding design

Cons

• Uninspiring look

Buyers Guide

Efficient use of a stationary bike affords an effective cardio workout and a way to develop muscle and lower body strength. You’ll need to consider specific features, bike dimensions, and your budget to find the best home exercise bike.

In addition, a general understanding of the different types of standard bike components and their pros and cons will help. With this knowledge, you’re more likely to purchase a bike suitable for your fitness level, with less chance of experiencing an injury, and one to satisfy your overall requirements.

Saddle

One of the biggest mistakes that can be made when purchasing a bike is overlooking the significance of the seat. The default seat on most standard exercise bikes lacks the padding most riders need. A lousy saddle will cause movement pressure and shock in the lower back. This, in turn, can cause considerable discomfort.

The right amount of saddle padding will absorb that shock. Many good indoor bike seats are designed to mold to your bottom easily. This construction gives your posterior the support needed without causing painful pressure to the lower back and bottom area.

Flywheel

The flywheel is a weighted disc positioned at the front or back of a home bike. It connects to the pedals using a belt or chain and collects the rotational energy created during exercise. When you start pedaling, the flywheel begins to spin as momentum develops, and the flywheel delivers a steady and smooth cycling action.

Flywheels are available in various weights. The heavier type requires additional energy to rotate, similar to how an outdoor bike works. Lighter flywheels are generally less difficult to build momentum, although the ride will not be as flat.

The recommendation is to go for a bike with a heavier flywheel where feasible. The recommended average flywheel weight for a home exercise bike is approximately 40-44 pounds, while the weight can be around 44-48 pounds for commercial bikes (gym bikes). However, not everyone wants to mimic outdoor riding, and a heavy-weight flywheel isn’t for everyone. Besides, the heavier it is, the more difficult it will be to move around.

Pedals

You’ll find one of the four-pedal types on a home exercise bike: clipless, toe clip, flat, or dual-sided.

Flat Pedals

These are similar to the pedals on a bike you may have owned when you were a kid. Some indoor and spin bikes come fitted with flat pedals and may look comfortable; however, the toe clip and clipless pedals are superior due to increased energy efficiency.

Toe Clip Pedals

Pedal designs have evolved from flat types to toe clips or toe cages to overcome the problem of slipping off them. Its surface is designed for grip, as your shoe fits snuggly into its non-slip protrusions and crenulations. It’s perfect for extra backup if your foot is not securely fastened.

Toe clip pedals clip-in at the front of the pedal. A nylon or steel frame wraps over the top of the shoe back towards the ankle. An adjustable strap looped around the shoe keeps the foot firmly in place.

Where forward movement was once gained from pushing a pedal on a down stroke, mechanical advantages are now secured through pulling during each pedal cycle’s upstroke. The strap isn’t easily worn as it’s made of tough nylon threads braided into a firm binding.

Dual-Sided Pedals

The dual-sided pedals are a standard spin bike pedal design. For example, a bike design may have a traditional flat pedal design, with the cage bolted to the front of the pedal body. However, if you get tired of using the cage, this design allows you to flip over to use a cleat bracket on the other side.

A cleat is a thermoplastic bracket that attaches to the bottom of your shoe and presses into a matching spring-loaded bracket on your pedal. Dual-sided pedals where the cleat recesses into your shoe sole are usually the best for home exercise bikes.

Clipless Pedals

Despite the name, the “clipless” pedal does clip in. This design has bracket tension, adjusted like other models, and the same spring tension adjustment bolt for the main surface, like fine-tuning standard road bike clip-ins. It is suitable for replicating a road bike experience, as this design is popular among most road racing bikes.

What Is the Best Pedal for Stationary Bikes?

The best pedal depends on your personal preference. If you’re new to exercise bike workouts, a flat pedal will let you focus on your training rather than being distracted by the pedal attachments. Once you get used to how it feels, you can upgrade to a dual-sided design.

It’s all about your comfort. Most exercise bike newbies will find the toe clip designs fine, and clipless pedals offer a different experience. For spin workouts, you may find it better to start with this type of pedal using cleats with a large amount of float (the side-to-side movement allowed).

Resistance

The types of resistance are magnetic, contact, or air.

Magnetic Resistance

This type creates tension against the flywheel using magnets. The magnets don’t touch the flywheel like the contact resistance type. Instead, as the magnets get closer or further away from the flywheel, the magnetic force applies varying degrees of resistance. The tension can be fine-tuned electronically via pre-set intensities on a digital monitor or by twisting a micro-tension knob.

Exercise bikes with magnetic resistance are some of the most popular available. The magnets create strong forces for solid resistance and a challenging workout. They are durable, offer a smooth ride, and are almost silent as the magnets don’t touch the flywheel.

Contact Resistance

Contact resistance applies force to the flywheel through different degrees of contact using a felt or leather pad. The resistance can be customized by turning a micro-tension knob. The contact resistance is extreme, so if the resistance is tightened completely, you should be unable to pedal.

Because of the physical contact made with the flywheel by the felt or leather pad, the pad will experience wear. Usually, the leather pads are better quality and more robust than the felt type and therefore need to be replaced less often.

If the exercise bike has a felt pad, after a while, you may notice it a little fuzzier and worn down, and the resistance will feel less effective. This is a sign that it needs replacing. To increase a felt pad’s life, lubricate it regularly.

Both pad types are relatively quiet; any noticeable noise when the pad and flywheel contact will be light and soft.

Air Resistance

This type of bike utilizes a fan rather than a flywheel. The air bike creates resistance when the fan blades push against the air. Therefore, the faster you ride, the more resistance will be felt. Air bikes are popular for those interested in “HIIT” or “Tabata” training, as they’re great for all-out sprints and intervals.

Most air bike designs have full motion handlebars to incorporate your upper body into a whole body cardio workout. The sound of air bikes isn’t super loud, although they aren’t as quiet compared to magnetic and contact resistance. Typically, the sound they make is what you’d expect from a regular house fan.

Display

Some of the best home exercise bikes display important exercise data, including time spent, heart rate, and burned calories. Screens may also feature built-in games and display data related to your iPod/mp3 if applicable. Most screens are touchscreens and feature LCD or LED screens.

People enjoy stationary bikes with a screen to access software built into them to interact with other riders or instructors, for example. It can also be used to watch a favorite show as a distraction during exercise.

FAQs

What Is the Difference Between an Upright Bike and a Spin Bike?

An upright bike is more suited for endurance workouts and should be performed in a seated position. While the spin bike’s design closely resembles the traditional outdoor bike and is better suited for customized workouts with acceleration, coasting, etc., while standing and sitting.

Do Exercise Bikes Require a Lot of Maintenance?

Like an ordinary bike, your stationary bike withstands a lot of impacts. Therefore, it should be maintained well to prolong its lifespan. Maintenance includes cleaning it thoroughly after each use to remove the sweat. And as part of annual maintenance, consider checking the belt, brake unit, seals, and bearings and lubricate them if required. Also, check that the screws are still tight.

Can You Do HIIT Workouts on an Upright Bike or a Recumbent Bike?

You can carry out a HIIT workout on an upright, recumbent, or spin bike.

Is It Safe to Use an Exercise Bike if I Exceed the Weight Limit?

Some bike designs offer a weight capacity of up to 500 pounds. If you’re concerned about being over the weight limit for the exercise bike you want, consider speaking to the manufacturer, who should be able to advise on safety or alternative options.

Can You Change the Seat if It’s Uncomfortable to Use?

Each manufacturer will have different rules, and it may be possible for some companies to create a customized seat at an additional cost. Contact the bike manufacturer to see what your options are.

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, it was a close call between the Merax’s 3-in-1 and BARWING-X home exercise bikes. Both bikes offer the recumbent style, which makes them much easier to balance and sit on, with comfortable back support. This design style was favored as it’s more accessible to all ages. Younger and fit people can partake in longer workouts, and older users will find it much easier to balance.

The Merax 3-in-1 bike holds up to 350 pounds, has two resistance bands for upper body strength training and a 10-level resistance. It looks great in blue and gray and should blend well in any room. This is one of the best home exercise bikes suitable for encouraging more exercise and a healthier lifestyle.