RS Recommends: The Best Home Exercise Bikes to Buy Online
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Home gym equipment has been on the rise ever since Covid hit (and even now that gyms are open again) with fitness enthusiasts buying treadmills, rowing machines, and high-tech fitness mirrors en masse. But, of all the excellent new home gym tech, one piece of equipment remains the star: exercise bikes.
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The best exercise bikes (a.k.a. spin bikes or fitness bikes) now include at-home access to studio-style classes, take up very little space, and come with accessible price tags — especially compared to paying for studio classes every month. Plus, spin bikes provide an exceptional workout, developing cardiovascular fitness and strength without putting stress on joints (like running does). Fitness bike workouts also vary dramatically from mellow to buckets-of-sweat intense, making them useful for fitness buffs of all skill levels.
How We Chose the Best Exercise Bikes
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right indoor exercise bike for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while choosing the best exercise bikes.
Construction and build: Exercise bikes come in all shapes and sizes, but we’ve found ones that are all made from sturdy steel frames with heavy-duty parts and construction. These bikes can withstand weight up to 300 pounds, with durable seats, handlebars and wheels that can really take a beating. Though all bikes look similar when assembled, make sure you’re buying a bike that fits your height. Some of the bikes on our list are best for people six feet and under, while other options work for taller people as well.
Chain vs. Belt: While old indoor exercise bikes used to come with a chain-wheel design (to mimic an outdoor bike), the best spin bikes these days all use a belt-driven design, which is less likely to fray or snap. A belt-driven system is also a lot quieter and makes for a smoother, more consistent ride. You used to have to lay a mat down under your exercise bike as well, to make sure it didn’t slip or move while you were riding. These days, the best exercise bikes all have grippy, non-slip pads at the bottom, to ensure that your bike stays put on the floor.
Pedals: Most spin studio bikes use SPD clips, which let you “clip in” your spin shoes or biking cleats to the foot pedal. However, that requires either renting or buying a pair of shoes specifically for your bike. The options on our list work with a regular pair of sneakers (or socks if you prefer going shoe-less at home). Simply slide into the pedal compartments and you can either tighten a strap or lock your feet into a “cage” to secure your feet.
Resistance: All home exercise bikes come with a padded, adjustable seat, adjustable handlebars and a resistance knob, usually between your legs, that lets you turn the resistance of your pedals up or down. Turn the knob to the right to add resistance and intensity (you’ll have to pedal harder to push through the weight). Turn it to the left when you want to give your legs a break. Note: you never want to ride with no resistance on the wheel, as that could leave your legs spinning out of control.
Extra features: Some of the bikes on our list come with stands for a phone or tablet — or a built-in screen — letting you easily connect to an online spin class and follow along while you ride. Some of our picks also come with built-in monitors, that let you see your stats, from speed to time to calories burned.
The Best Exercise Bikes to Buy Online
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly spin bike or a tech-loaded all-in-one gym, there are plenty of great fitness bikes to choose from. See our picks for the best exercise bikes below.
1. Bowflex VeloCore
With the addition of just one key feature, Bowflex’s VeloCore won our vote for the best exercise bike. That feature is a leaning mode that turns to up realism and immersion while also engaging more of your body than other exercise bikes. Of course, this feature can also be turned off if you want a traditional, non-leaning spin bike experience.
Even without the unique leaning ability, the VeloCore is still one of the best exercise bikes around. The pedaling mechanism feels smooth and responsive with simple resistance adjustment from easy to very difficult.
For classes, professional guidance, and stats, you’ve got a 16 or 22-inch HD touchscreen console and access to JRNY, which delivers coaching, on-demand classes, and guided workouts. You also get a wide range of data from calories burned to cadence, ensuring an easier progression as you get better.
Bowflex VeloCore
3. Carol Bike
This Carol bike does things differently, encouraging shorter workouts that result in more cardio improvement than regular spin routines (seriously). Called Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) workouts, Carol’s routines are as short as five minutes and can be done three times a week to significantly improve VO2max (they proved this in a study with Western Colorado University).
In other words, the Carol bike promises to reduce exercise time and intensity, while increasing calories burned and cardio performance.
Better yet, the bike itself is sleek and sturdy with a powder-coated steel frame, and the AI-controlled, motorized resistance lends a very natural feel. Every component, from the saddle to the handlebars, are made of high-quality materials that let you rip it as hard as you want without feeling like the bike is going to collapse. Plus, the bike’s footprint is very small at 45.5 by 22 inches.
Carol Bike
3. Peloton Original
There’s a reason why Peloton has defined the home exercise bike space: It’s a great product — even compared to new competitors like the Bowflex above.
The major draw with Peloton has always been its excellent classes and the community that comes with a bike purchase. Group classes — both live and on-demand — are viewed on a 22-inch HD touchscreen and come courtesy of professional, high-energy instructors that keep us motivated. And it’s not just spin classes. Peloton’s $44-a-month membership (required for all classes) also gets you yoga, strength, and many other at-home fitness classes.
In terms of build quality, the Peloton lives up to its price point. The bike looks sleek and feels very sturdy, supporting up to 297 pounds. It’s also highly adjustable for the perfect riding position, fitting users from four-foot-eleven to six-foot-five. And all of this comes with a relatively compact footprint of four by two feet, making the bike viable in very small homes.
Peloton Original
4. Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
Yes, you can get a solid exercise bike for less than $300, as proven by this spin bike from Yosuda. Constructed from a durable steel frame, this indoor spin bike is packed with fitness-minded features, like a 35-pound bi-directional flywheel, smooth belt-driven movement, and a connected LCD monitor, which tracks your pace, speed, distance and calories burned.
The bike fits riders up to 270 pounds. Find your perfect riding position with a four-way adjustable seat and two different handlebar heights. A central knob increases or decreases resistance; press down firmly to use it as an emergency brake.
The bike comes with caged foot pedals, but they can be easily swapped out for SPD pedals if you have spin shoes. A built-in device stand lets you prop up a phone or tablet. For its slim profile, this bike is surprisingly sturdy and delivers some pretty robust performance.
Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
5. Nordictrack S27i Studio Bike
If you’re looking for a top-notch riding experience — and you don’t mind paying more for it — check out Nordictrack’s new S27i bike.
Like its predecessor, one of the major draws of the S27i is an incline feature that simulates hilly rides. It can tilt between a 20% incline to a 10% decline, and, thanks to Nordictrack’s AutoAdjust feature, it can do this automatically with preprogrammed workout routes. Needless to say, this incline feature is a massive upgrade, providing much more intensity when you want it.
But the premium features don’t stop at the incline. The bike has a massive 27-inch HD touchscreen display with 30-watt built-in speakers, which makes classes all the more immersive and provides plenty of room for workout metrics. The screen also tilts and pivots for off-bike workouts. Classes all come courtesy of iFIT, which delivers a massive catalog of live and on-demand workouts taught by pros.
As expected, build quality is also as good as spin bikes get. The 32-pound flywheel is “Inertia-Enhanced,” which creates one of, if not the smoothest and most realistic pedaling experience. Plus, despite all its features, the bike’s footprint is very reasonable at 57 inches long.
6. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
Don’t let the small size fool you: this home spin bike supports up to 300 pounds of weight and comes with eight levels of tension to deliver an effective, customizable workout.
A large LCD display clearly tracks your speed, time, distance, and calories burned. The handlebars have built-in hand and pulse sensors to monitor your heart rate.
For a smaller bike, the seat is surprisingly large and comfortable. The wrap-around design of the handlebars helps to stabilize your arms and core when you’re standing up. Note: the foot pedals use a single-strap, “slide-in” design, rather than the more secure cage design of other bikes on our list.
You won’t get the same heavy-duty construction and performance features as the other bikes on our list, but if you want to workout in a small space, this bike is a solid option for its size. We love the compact, space-saving design – the bike folds down to approximately half its size.
Exerpeutic Folding Exercise Bike
7. DeskCycle Under Desk Pedal Exerciser
If you’re wondering how to make your workday more interesting, grab this under-desk pedal exerciser that will keep you feeling fit, even while you’re working on the most mundane spreadsheets.
It can easily fit under your desk and has eight resistance settings, depending on how intense of a workout you’re looking for. The brand also claims that it’s whisper-quiet, which means you can keep pedaling through your morning meetings. The LCD display is convenient too, offering useful stats like speed, time, distance, and calories.
Customers also said that it was easy to assemble so your new exercise bike will be ready to go in no time.
DeskCycle Under Desk Pedal Exerciser
8. Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike
The Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike is great for beginners, though it graduates with you as you start riding more and more too. The bike features a fully adjustable padded seat and a padded backrest that adds extra support and comfort. Both are filled with a high-density foam that provides just enough lift without letting you sink into the seat. Foam-covered handlebars at the side add extra comfort when riding, and offer a different challenge and experience than a traditional stand-up exercise bike.
The bike has a user-friendly LCD computer screen that tracks your speed, distance, time, total distance traveled, and calories burned, while a tension knob offers eight different magnetic resistance levels. The addition of wheels makes it easy to move the bike into a corner or closet when not in use while the sturdy frame ensures that the wheels are the only things spinning during your workout.
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike
9. Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bundle
This spin bike bundle includes the Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bike, a floor mat, media tray, stretch pads, and a heart monitor, which makes it a great all-in-one set. Everything sets up quickly and the bike is easy to use and understand.
The unique V-shape frame mimics a road-bike frame, allowing a more natural cycling position. The seat and handlebars can also be raised to accommodate riders from 4’10” to 7’ tall. The bike pedals also fit most spin shoes, or you can slide your feet into the basket-style holder.
The media tray lets you put your phone or tablet down if you want to follow a class online (or watch a TV show or movie while you spin). A water bottle holder is a convenient touch as well. Connect to the Keiser M Series app to get real-time monitoring of your power, heart rate, cadence, and more.
This bike is made in the USA by a company with more than two decades of experience in exercise equipment.
Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bundle
1. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Indoor Cycling Bike
Get a spin studio-quality ride without having to leave the comfort of home. This exercise bike is built with a durable steel frame that supports up to 300 pounds of weight. The bike features the same heavy-duty flywheel seen in name-brand fitness studios, along with a magnetic resistance belt that delivers an ultra smooth and silent ride. Adjust the intensity of your ride using the easily-accessible resistance knob.
Four different seat and handlebar heights let you find the best positioning and posture, while the steel-cage foot pedals come with adjustable straps.
Other details include a water bottle holder, foot pads to prevent the bike from shifting on the floor, and built-in wheels for easy transport. Keep in mind: at 48 x 23 x 45 inches, this is one of the largest bikes on our list.
A large device stand lets you securely place your phone or tablet right in front of you to easily follow an online video or instructions. This bike comes with a 44 pound flywheel, which is the heaviest weight on our list, offering more options for resistance.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Indoor Cycling Bike
2. YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike
We love the sporty and streamlined look of this exercise bike from YOSUDA. Constructed from a durable steel frame, this indoor spin bike is packed with fitness-minded features, like a 35-pound bi-directional flywheel, smooth belt-driven movement, and a connected LCD monitor, which tracks your pace, speed, distance and calories burned.
The bike fits riders up to 270 pounds. Find your perfect riding position with a four-way adjustable seat and two different handlebar heights. A central knob increases or decreases resistance; press down firmly to use it as an emergency brake.
The bike comes with caged foot pedals, but they can be easily swapped out for SPD pedals if you have spin shoes. A built-in device stand lets you prop up a phone or tablet.
For its slim profile, this bike is surprisingly sturdy and delivers some pretty robust performance.
YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike
3. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
Don't let the small size fool you: this home spin bike supports up to 300 pounds of weight and comes with eight levels of tension to deliver an effective, customizable workout.
A large LCD display clearly tracks your speed, time, distance, and calories burned. The handlebars have built-in hand and pulse sensors to monitor your heart rate.
For a smaller bike, the seat is surprisingly large and comfortable. The wrap-around design of the handlebars helps to stabilize your arms and core when you're standing up. Note: the foot pedals use a single-strap, "slide-in" design, rather than the more secure cage design of other bikes on our list.
You won't get the same heavy-duty construction and performance features as the other bikes on our list, but if you want to workout in a small space, this bike is a solid option for its size. We love the compact, space-saving design - the bike folds down to approximately half its size.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
4. Schwinn Upright Bike
Schwinn has been making road bikes for decades, and the company applies its same manufacturing experience and attention to detail to these at-home exercise bikes. These are similar to bikes used by pro athletes to recover after a game or to get some cardio going during their training.
This one features a classic upright design, which helps you avoid the "hunched over" look you get when using newer spin bikes. By forcing you to sit up straight, you're activating more muscles in your upper body, and working to strengthen your core.
This bike measures 41.3 x 21.4 x 55.6 inches and holds up to 300 pounds of weight. The upright design means it can accommodate the widest range of heights on our list, comfortably seating someone up to 6' 6".
Plug into any standard outlet to light up the high-resolution LCD screen, which tracks your time, distance, calorie burn and more. The screen also comes pre-set with 29 exercise programs to follow.
The ergonomic handlebars are comfortable to grip and have built-in heart-rate sensors. The contoured seat is easily adjustable.
Little details abound, like an adjustable three-speed fan to help keep you cool, a water bottle holder, and the ability to plug in your device via the USB input to play music through the built-in speakers, all while charging your phone.
Schwinn Upright Bike
5. DeskCycle Under Desk Pedal Exerciser
If you're wondering how to make your workday more interesting, grab this under-desk pedal exerciser that will keep you feeling fit, even while you're working on the most mundane spreadsheets.
It can easily fit under your desk and has eight resistance settings, depending on how intense of a workout you're looking for. The brand also claims that it's whisper-quiet, which means you can keep pedaling through your morning meetings. The LCD display is convenient too, offering useful stats like speed, time, distance and calories.
Customers also said that it was easy to assemble so your new exercise bike will be ready to go in no time.
DeskCycle Under Desk Pedal Exerciser
6. Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike
The Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike is great for beginners, though it graduates with you as you start riding more and more too. The bike features a fully adjustable padded seat and a padded backrest that adds extra support and comfort. Both are filled with a high-density foam that provides just enough lift without letting you sink into the seat. Foam-covered handlebars at the side add extra comfort when riding, and offer a different challenge and experience than a traditional stand-up exercise bike.
The bike has a user-friendly LCD computer screen that tracks your speed, distance, time, total distance traveled and calories burned, while a tension knob offers eight different magnetic resistance levels. The addition of wheels makes it easy to move the bike into a corner or closet when not in use while the sturdy frame ensures that the wheels are the only things spinning during your workout.
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike
7. Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bundle
This spin bike bundle includes the Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bike, a floor mat, media tray, stretch pads and a heart monitor, which makes it a great all-in-one set. Everything sets up quickly and the bike is easy to use and understand.
The unique V-shape frame mimics a road-bike frame, allowing a more natural cycling position. The seat and handlebars can also be raised to accommodate riders from 4’10” to 7’ tall. The bike pedals also fit most spin shoes, or you can slide your feet into the basket-style holder.
The media tray lets you put your phone or tablet down if you want to follow a class online (or watch a TV show or movie while you spin). A water bottle holder is a convenient touch as well. Connect to the Keiser M Series app to get real-time monitoring of your power, heart rate, cadence and more.
This bike is made in the USA by a company with more than two decades of experience in exercise equipment.
Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle Bundle
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