So you're thinking of installing an exercise bike in your home, but don't know where to start? Cycling on an exercise bike can boost your cardio fitness, build lower body strength without impacting your joints, work the muscles that make up your core, and improve overall endurance. But which should you buy?
We tested the best exercise bikes on the market, including the hugely popular Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+, and the super comfortable Yosuda Indoor Stationary Bike, which is perfect for budget buyers. Our round-up spans bikes that present a range of different budgets, tastes, and sizes so that you can find the right exercise bike for you.
We install each of the bikes we review in our homes for at least a month, and put them to the test over a number of different workouts. We look at how easy the bike is to use, the range of classes offered, and how well they ride along with any associated subscription costs. Get the wheels spinning with our recommendations for the best exercise bikes for staying fit at home.
What are the best exercise bikes right now?
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This sturdy, solid stationary bike from Sunny Health & Fitness has a steel frame and 49-pound weighted flywheel that can hold a maximum weight of 275 pounds. The seat can adjust to four settings and the caged pedals include clips to keep your feet in place. The leather band resistance system is designed to mimic the feel of a real road. While the bike doesn’t come with a screen, there is a bottle holder and assembly takes about 10 minutes.
We found it was a very sturdy bike, had nice large toe baskets, and offered a nice quiet ride. However, those who are a bit shorter may find the bike a bit uncomfortable, as we did. And, because there's no display or guided fitness programs, you'll have to be self-motivated to use it. Overall, though, it's a great bike for beginners who don't want to spend thousands of dollars on something they might not use again.
Read our full Sunny Health & Fitness exercise bike review.
Peloton has become a craze for its high-end exercise bike, hard-core instructors, and the HD touchscreen that streams spinning classes right into your home. At $2,495 — plus $250 delivery and set up, and $39 a month for a subscription and more for spinning shoes — the Peloton Bike+ is higher in price than most stationary bikes, but there is nothing like it. Peloton is the at-home version of going to a cycling studio minus being in a crowded room filled with others and requires less time for your workout since you do not have to travel to and from the gym.
Having cycled on both, we were blown away by the Bike Plus' experience, but if you're not bothered by the rotating screen, the base-level Peloton Bike is still an excellent choice. It's incredibly well-made and durable. Check out our Peloton Bike review here to learn more, as well as our Peloton Bike vs Peloton Bike Plus face-off.
The Bike Plus has all the bells and whistles you would want including live classes, an abundance of on-demand workouts — and not just for cycling — all in the convenience of your home, a rotating screen, and Apple Watch integration. You can also set auto-resistance on the machine, meaning you don't have to worry about manually upping the resistance mid-workout, or if you're pushing yourself hard enough. The Bike+ won our best exercise bike award in our Tom's Guide Health and Fitness awards because its content is second to none; and its rotating screen means you can use it for more than just spinning.
Read our full Peloton Bike+ review.
For those of us who want a good workout without sacrificing a month (or two) of rent, the Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike is a high-quality, reasonably-priced option.
It’s true that the YB001 model doesn’t offer a quarter of the frills you’d find on a Peloton, Bowflex Velocore, or NordicTrack S22i. Yet we found that what it lacks in cutting-edge features and comprehensive metrics, it makes up for in solid construction and design. With those essentials in place, and a little bit of ingenuity, it can deliver a similar cycling experience to one of these elite brands.
We found the main downside of the Yosuda is the exclusion of cadence from its LCD monitor. This number, which is a measurement of your pedals’ revolutions per minute, is frequently used in many popular cycling classes (like the offerings from Peloton and Apple Fitness Plus). While it is possible to just match an instructor’s leg speed to the best of your ability, having an exact cadence displayed helps to keep you honest with your perceived effort.
That said, if you prefer to do your own thing while in the saddle, or you’re perfectly happy riding along to classes on your phone or tablet, the Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike would make a fantastic, cost-effective addition to any home gym.
Read our full Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike review.
If you're looking for a smart bike that doesn't cost as much as a Peloton, the Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike is a good choice. The bike has a quiet magnetic resistance, which has 32 different levels for the hardest climbs. It's not too difficult to set up, and there is the option to take live classes on the Echelon app, although this costs £29.99 per month.
That said, when comparing the Echelon to a Peloton Bike, there's one huge difference - the Echelon bike doesn't have a screen, so you'll have to use a tablet or smartphone to access classes. That said, this means you’re not beholden to Echelon's hardware, and can swap and change your device whenever you see fit. It’ll also help keep the price down, which is nice.
During testing, we liked the range of classes, and the option to just use the bike for our own workouts. The downsides are that the resistance knob is a little glitchy, and the saddle wasn't all that comfy for longer workouts, but it's a decent, affordable option for most.
Read our Echelon Ex-3 Smart Connect Bike review here
Don't want to pay (or wait) for a Peloton bike? The MYX II Exercise Bike is the best Peloton alternative at a lower price. It's also a better fit for people who prefer a personalized workout experience over a class-like one. MYX Fitness is as close as you’ll get to on-demand personal training at home. Plus, delivery is free!
For over $1,000 less than the Peloton Bike Plus, MYX’s machine provides the most comparable experience in the at-home exercise space — a sturdy build, swiveling screen, sparky coaches, and the not-so-optional paid membership for hundreds of on-demand workout classes.
The MYX II Exercise Bike features a large, swiveling HD screen that can face in whatever direction you're working out, even if it’s 180 degrees. Use the intuitive interface to choose from among the diverse class portfolio, categorized for the bike, floor, cross-training and recovery. The navigation has Netflix-like menus for classes based on workout format, recommendations and classes you’ve favorited. MYX Fitness classes are more personal than competitive; there’s no leaderboards or cult-like vibes.
Read our full MYX II Exercise Bike review here.
A brilliant alternative to Peloton, the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle has a number of impressive features, including magnetic resistance, which means the ride will be quieter than a lot of exercise bikes on this list. The bike comes with a year's access to the brand's live and on-demand iFit classes and unlike Peloton, with the NordicTrack, the instructors can control the resistance of the bike from afar for a serious workout.
Talking of classes, as well as spinning, there are a number of other cross-training classes available on the iFit platform and the NordicTrack S22i's touchscreen rotates 360 degrees, which is handy if you want to watch a strength workout without a bike in the way.
Although it's slightly more expensive than the Peloton bike out of the box, it's a better deal overall as the membership is free for an entire year.
Read a longer comparison of the NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle vs Peloton.
The Bowflex Velocore exercise bike leans from side to side so you feel like you're riding a real bike, instead of just pedaling away in your living room. While it’s just as expensive as a Peloton, the Bowflex VeloCore’s unique design and large display makes it a compelling alternative. Plus, its side-to-side movement will help tone your midsection — if you can stomach its price.
During testing, we found the VeloCore's screen to be fantastic. It's big, bright, and pretty easy to use as long as your fingers aren't slippery with sweat. The console tilts but is very sturdy while you're using the bike.
The VeloCore can be used in either upright (locked) mode or lean mode. There's a locking knob on the crossbar, just above the resistance knob — push it down with an open palm to unlock the bike and enable lean mode; pull it up to lock the bike in its normal upright position. It's very easy to lock and unlock, even in the middle of a workout, so you can swap between modes whenever you want.
The VeloCore is an excellent exercise bike — no gimmicks necessary. It has one of the most versatile consoles out there, offering several options, including free workouts and scenic rides, to choose from should you decide not to subscribe to JRNY.
Read our full Bowflex Velocore review
The Wattbike Atom could be considered a Peloton alternative at its price point. We won’t sugar-coat it, the second-generation Wattbike Atom is an expensive piece of equipment. Compared to the original bike, the Wattbike Atom Next Generation features upgraded internals such as an improved electromagnetic resistance system.
Unlike the Peloton bikes, the Atom bike doesn’t include a built-in touchscreen display. While you can sync it to your smartphone, we recommend making use of the extendable tablet holder with an iPad or other device. Pairing your tablet and installing the Wattbike Hub app (Android and iOS) will let you take advantage of everything the exercise bike has to offer. Once you fire up the native Wattbike app, kickstarting your fitness journey is as easy as setting up an account. From there, you’re free to start with a Quick Ride. You can also choose from a series of warm-ups, cool-downs, challenges, and endurance tests. On a separate tab, you’ll find several long-term fitness plans.
Overall, the Wattbike Atom Next Generation is an improvement over the previous model. Despite its high price and lack of interactive display, the Atom offers a realistic cycling experience thanks to an updated electromagnetic resistance system and additional flywheel speed and crank angle sensors. We were impressed by how similar the experience felt to cycling on the roads, making this an excellent choice for serious cyclists.
Read our full Wattbike Atom exercise bike review and Wattbike Atom Next Generation review
Recumbent exercise bikes provide a low-impact, gentler workout than upright bikes, which make them the best exercise bike for seniors. You get more lumbar support by reclining on a cushioned back and there’s less pressure on the joins in your hips, knees and ankles. The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is a brilliant option for those looking for a low-impact workout.
It has an adjustable seat, which is extremely comfortable when cycling. The bike itself comes with a number of different resistance levels and workout options to help you raise your heart rate. If you use the “Explore the World by Bowflex” Fitness App, you can virtually ride along some scenic routes; free scenic routes includeZion National Park, Route 66, and the French Riviera. There are also a number of heart rate training options on the platform, which encourage you to stay in a certain "zone" to burn calories, or just keep working through the whole session.
Our tester also loved the option to just ride, resting her phone on the console, giving her the option to catch up with a show or reply to emails, while getting a workout in.
The downside with this bike is that serious cyclists will probably miss the option to ride out the saddle or get that real-life cycling experience. That said, if you're looking for a lower-impact option, this is a great piece of kit.
Read our full Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike review
How to choose the best exercise bike for you
Choosing among the best exercise bikes can be tough, thanks to the multitude of options at various prices. To narrow down your options, you should first consider how well an exercise bike fits to your body and its needs. Does the bike have enough weight capacity? Are you within the bike’s height range? If you have physical limitations or problems, such as back problems, can the bike be adjusted so that you’re comfortable and safe while working out?
After thinking about the bike’s fit, you may want to consider what kind of workout you want. If you want a heavy-duty, full-body, high cardio-burning cycling session, look into exercise bikes that offer enough resistance and handles to provide arm movement.
Since the exercise bike is intended for home use, you should also look at how much room you have in your home or apartment. If you have a small space, a folding bike would likely be the best option.
Last but certainly not least, consider the exercise bike's cost. Luckily, exercise bikes now come in a wide range of prices. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still find a sturdy, well-built machine that’s right for you.
For more comparisons, you might also want to check out our Peloton vs. NordicTrack and Peloton vs. Echelon guides.
How we test the best exercise bikes
To help you work out which is the best exercise bike for you, we put them to the sweat test! We installed each of the bikes in our homes for at least a month, and put them to the test over a number of different workouts. We looked at how easy the bike was to use, the range of classes on offer, and how engaging and easy to follow these classes were.
We also looked for extras, such as how easy the bike was to move around the house, how easy it was to install, and how many different profiles you could set up on the bike for use by the whole family.
Finally, we looked at the ongoing subscription costs associated with the bike, and what you get for your money. If you're on a budget, see our guide to how to build a home gym under $500.
Are exercise bikes good for weight loss?
If weight loss is the goal when purchasing home gym equipment, an exercise bike can help — and will improve your aerobic fitness.
Those hoping to reduce their joint load on the road should consider these 5 cardio exercises that burn more calories than running — and yes, this includes cycling. Spin could even burn 600 calories per hour. However, a caloric deficit (expending more calories than you consume) plays a big role in weight loss. Other factors in play include your diet, hormones, sleep, and daily activity levels.
In short? The ride isn’t one size fits all. However, research — like this study (opens in new tab)— has shown that regular cycling (in this example, three days a week for 45 minutes) alongside calorie management could aid weight loss.
We recommend setting up your profile with your weight, height, and age using a compatible fitness app so that your exercise bike can more accurately track your metrics and progress. Read up on how to lose weight using an exercise bike if shedding the pounds is your goal.
Can you lose weight with just an exercise bike?
Weight loss is a complicated process that can be determined by factors like sleep, stress levels, hormones, diet, and exercise. To improve your chances of losing weight, managing each of these areas carefully should be a top priority.
Of course, cycling regularly as part of your exercise regime can help you burn calories and lose weight, but also ensure you are consuming a healthy and varied diet and moving regularly throughout the day. NEAT is a process of burning calories outside of dedicated exercise like HIIT classes or spinning. To aid safe weight loss, try to find time to walk more often and get fresh air.
In fact, spending time in nature has been shown to improve mood, decrease anxiety, and increase feelings of fulfilment.
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