Top 10 Home Exercise Bike Reviews

In the late last few decades of the 20th century, the exercise bike was one of the most popular piece of equipment in any gym or homes of exercisers. There have been many major inventions in the fitness industry since then, yet this simple machine still holds the popularity crown. Why? Mainly because it’s easy to use, cheap yet effective way to lose weight or keep fit. But not all exercise bikes are equal. There are those that will do the job better. After decades of riding the steed and thousand of hours of research, here are the top home exercise bikes and the reasons why they rule:

1. Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

Rating: 4.1 and Price: $425.71

From one of the leading manufacturers of fitness equipment, this recumbent bike is a priced somewhere in the middle, neither too cheap nor too pricey.

It has plenty of bells and whistles to keep techie exercisers entertained such as heart rate control, 29 programs, quick start program, 25 resistance levels (including 10 resistance, quick keys), monitor that shows 13 different statistics, easily connectible to multimedia player devices (e.g. iPad, Kindle), speakers, and of course a holder for your water bottle.

Despite being hi-tech, the manufacturers have managed not to make it too unwieldy for users and easily storable at the same time. It’s built for several users as it can save multiple profiles (up to 4), so that the whole family can use it. And because its a recumbent bike, it’s great for people with back problems or for people who have been sitting on their desks all day long.

You won’t get bored using this bike – you can watch videos or listen to music while working out. The best thing is that the dual display lets you do that while keeping tabs of your progress. Of course, it’s not perfect (monitor can be too bright for some people and the fan is a bit weak), but it’s a great buy for the price.

2. Schwinn 170 Upright Bike

Rating: 4.00 and Price: $329.99

If a recumbent bike is not your thing, this Schwinn 170 Upright Bike might be more along your taste. Upright bikes mimic traditional bikes, and is therefore, easier to master. The usual complaints, however, for uprights is that like a real bike, long rides can be uncomfortable.

Schwinn addressed the problem and created a comfortable saddle that allows riders to stay longer. It has also upped the notch a little by integrating 29 built-in programs with 25 resistance levels. But if you have a workout in mind, this bike can accommodate your creativity.

It can monitor your heart rate so that you can keep maximize the benefits of your exercise. You can also customize your heart rate control if you want to build up the strength of your heart and lungs.

The resistance levels are nothing to scoff at – there are levels for novices and advanced users alike. If you are an OC about your fitness, you can track your progress so that you know whether you are on your way to achieving your fitness goals.

For those who are competitive, you can compare notes with other people at myfitnesspal.com by simply uploading your data. This not only fuels the spirit, it will also keep you going!

3. Sunny health & fitness pro indoor cycling bike

Rating: 4.30 and Price: $279.95

Schwinn, of course, is not the only manufacturer worthy of landing the top 10 home exercise bike reviews. This model is a solid contender for exercise bikes in the $300 category. It’s a basic model that is easy to assemble yet can perform heavy-duty functions. Unlike the Schwinn models above, this one is shipped sans a computer.

What!?, no computer?! Yes, but this does not detract to its performance. Some people don’t like fiddling with buttons before sweating. They don’t care about their speed, time, distance covered, heart rate or all the other statistics.

They are comfortable with just going with their gut. They don’t need numbers to tell them that they are working their heart out. If that describes you as an exerciser, then this is your machine. It’s a no-frills bike at a reasonable price and built just to do what it’s suppose to do – let you work out a sweat.

And why not? The first exercise bikes did not have machines and worked for the users back then. Plus, there are all kinds of smart wearables (e.g. smartmatch, fitness bracelets) that can do these functions. So why spend extra if you already have them? It will save you money and poses less distractions.

4. Exerpeutic 900XL Extended Capacity Recumbent Bike with Pulse

Rating: 4.20 and Price: $168.99

Most people who exercise at home are usually pressed for time and space. Nonetheless, they still want an exercise bike that is of gym quality without costing an arm and a leg. Enter the Exerpeutic 900 XL Extended Capacity Recumbent Bike with Pulse. While this model is easy to assemble and can be rolled into a storage closet easily, manufacturers still managed to go beyond the basics.

It’s a recumbent bike, and so the seats are built for comfort, long-term use as well as prevent needless stress on your back. After a long day in front of the computer, you want to rest your back.

It has an LCD display that monitors your progress in terms of distance, time, speed and calories burned. And did I mention it also has a heart rate monitor built into it? While it only has 8 resistance levels, still, every level presents a challenge on its own.

If you live in an apartment, you don’t want to alert the neighbors every time you ride your bike, so the quiet wheels are perfect. It can accommodate users from 5 ft to 6ft 3″, and up to 325 pounds.

5. Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike

Rating: 4.20 and Price: $169.95

If price is an issue with you, but still want the best exercise bike in the market, consider this Marcy ME 709 Recumbent Exercise Bike. It’s a basic exercise bike that costs under $200 and yet still manages to rise to the top in terms of other features. For that price, you get a compact equipment that can be assembled by almost anyone, easily stored in closets, and yet performs quietly and smoothly.

It’s the recumbent version of the Sunny health & fitness pro indoor cycling bike, except that it has an LCD screen that only monitor basic statistics such as calories burned, speed, time and distance. For those obsessed with their numbers, this would be a minor disaster, but it is not without a solution.

Lucky for you that you live in this era because technology is kind to the number-obsessed. You can always purchase a smartwatch or a fitbit if tracking a detailed progress is important to you. Otherwise, the ergonomic seat, quiet performance, and cheap price of this model makes it a good workout partner. The recumbent seat is great for those who want to take good care of their backs as well as be able to ride the bike longer.

6. Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike

Rating: 4.40 and Price: $124.95

Another floor-saving exercise bike from Marcy, this foldable version easily, well, folds for easy storage. And even though it’s foldable, it’s still very cheap and surprisingly solid and dependable.

The downside is that it can only seat users of up to 250 pounds, so heavier folks would have to shop around. It’s an upright bike, so it rides like the regular bike and lets you have the workout that is similar to it (except that its stationary, duh!). It has 8 resistance levels that can be adjusted to your specifications.

Like the Schwinn 170, the manufacturers put some thought into the saddle. It padded the seats and designed ergonomically so that users can ride longer without the aches and pains that accompany a usual bike ride. When seats are uncomfortable, riders tend to stay on the saddle shorter, which may render the workout useless. The magnetic resistant system allows for a smooth ride.

The LCD has some basic programs for novice riders and can track distance, speed, time and calories burned. This model is particularly enticing to people who have never used an exercise bike before but would like to do workout in a limited space.

7. Schwinn 230 Recumbent Exercise Bike

Rating: 4.20 and Price: $278.92

Another moderately priced bike from Schwinn, this model comes with a plethora of features that can definitely motivate exercisers. It’s from Schwinn, so the computer is of top-quality.

It has 20 levels of resistance, and a variety of programs for all types of riders. There pre-programmed workouts or you can make one for yourself. The controls on the LCD are quite large and idiot-friendly. Even the most technophobic can quickly work out the system, as long as he knows how to read, of course!

The built-in programs are so challenging that it takes some time for users to go through all of them. Some even have had favorites and stuck to them for quite some time before moving on! The heart rate monitors are awesome, allowing the users to distinguish between a cardiovascular or fat burning session.

It can monitor up to 9 user profiles, more than enough for every member of the family. The seats are designed for long term use, and are comfortably padded. You can also synchronize your data at myfitnesspal,com! And if the weather is too hot to exercise, it has a built-in fan that can cool you down. To top it all, it has a USB port that can charge your devices, so that you can power your phones and tablets while you sweat. It’s a sweat deal (pun intended).

8. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with Pulse

Rating: 4.44  and Price: $149.00

This is another model that is meant for people with space constraints. It can handle up to 300 pounds of weight but still has all the features of an upright bike. It’s also very affordable but with all the features you want.

The LCD screen is quite basic but can still monitor up the statistics necessary to monitor your workout.  Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike is a highly recommended exercise bike for home exerciser.

Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike with pulse is a exercise bike that has highest customer review and high customer rating. You can buy and use it without any hesitation.

9. Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike

Rating: 4.50 and Price: $149.00

This is another affordable bike that stands out from the rest of the exercise bikes. Like the bike just discussed above, it’s also foldable. Again, this is a bike for people where space is a major issue. The difference is that this is a recumbent bike, and therefore, it is geared for people who have problems with their back.

You can easily slide in and out of the seats and can support weights of up to 300 pounds. For a folding bike, that’s really sturdy. It’s slightly over $100, which is a great bargain for the serious exercisers. And despite the price, the manufacturer did not scrimp on the features.

It has an LCD panel that tracks the basic numbers – time, distance, heart rate and calories burned, all statistics that are important to a serious exerciser. Exercise bikes with complicated computers can be intimidating to first time users.

The Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike targets users who don’t want to fuss with their machines. Get in, workout and then get out – all these the 400XL can do. If you are familiar with exercise bikes, your learning curve is pretty low with this model. Almost anyone can operate this with no problem at all.

10. Sunny Health and Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike (Pink)

Rating: 4.30 and Price: $169.99

Priced at under $300, this model offers a solid and sturdy design that is quite visually appealing. Unlike the other bikes above, this is more for the use of spinners. In spin classes, students tend to pedal vigorously. Because it has a flywheel that is heavier than most (40 lbs), it can withstand rigorous pedaling from enthusiastic spinners.

Studies have shown that heavier flywheels make for an efficient workout. The handlebars are adjustable so that the rider can customize the bike to his needs. Serious athletes are the usual people attracted to this model, and the padded handlebars can keep blisters away.

It is also equipped with sturdy pedals, so you can sit or stand at will and make your workout harder or easier as you please. Be that as it may, the bike can be assembled easily. You can take your spinning class home and work up a sweat in front of the television or to the blast of music. The box contains instructions as well as the tools necessary to make the bike work for you. The various tensions will guarantee a workout comparable to your spinning classes.