Finding a good exercise bike could be the first step to your weight loss success story. Whether you’re looking to burn more calories or maintain a healthy weight, you want to invest in the best exercise bike on the market. We’ve scoured the internet to find models to help you achieve your fitness goals.
The exercise bikes listed here include comfort, connectivity, resistance, and smooth riding in their feature set. We’ve found bikes for every budget, so read on for the top options to stay fit at home.
Top-Reviewed Best Exercise Bikes of 2023
TOP PICK
Peloton bikes set the standard for indoor bikes. With a sleek design, robust frame, and large inbuilt screen, a Peloton bike has every feature you’d need in an indoor exercise bike.
This bike comes in two variants. There’s the Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+. The difference between these two is about $1000, and a 2-inch difference in screen size. Besides, the Peloton Bike+ screen swivels and has better speakers and additional connectivity capabilities.
The Peloton bike is a fan favorite because it’s sturdy, and its welding is cleanly done. In addition, you can track your progress and stats such as heart rate, cadence, resistance, and output on the screen. Moreover, you can pair your Apple Watch or heart rate monitor with the app to sync metrics from your workouts.
The Peloton bike can track the progress of multiple users. As such, it can save yours and your family’s stats individually. The peloton app allows you to access world-class simulations and instructors combined with a community of peloton bikers’ stats and progress.
To put this in perspective, Peloton has a Facebook group with 246,000+ members. You get access to challenging but rewarding exercises. Plus, the leaderboard and the metrics provide motivation and healthy competition.
While it’s a bit pricey, the Peloton bike opens up a unique indoor cycling world, a rare find in indoor bikes.
The Nordic Track S22i bike offers the best outdoor simulation. First, this bike uses quiet magnetic resistance to adjust up to 20% during incline and 10% during a decline, simulating going up and down a hill.
To add to the outdoor feel, the Nordic Track S22i has a front-facing fan that not only cools you as you are working out but also simulates wind giving you an outdoor cycling feeling. Its large high-definition 22-inch screen is easy to use and pivots over 360 degrees.
The hybrid pedals are compatible with athletic shoes or SPD cleats to your liking. Besides, you can adjust the bike in three points. The seat adjusts forward and backward using the carriage knob, and you can raise or lower the stem to move the saddle. Lastly, you’ll be able to move the handlebars up or down for the best sitting angle.
Other Nordic Track S22i features include front-facing speakers, a compact footprint, and a smooth pedal stroke. For a monthly $39, you can enjoy the iFit app for up to five users, a database of 1600 workouts, and tracking speed and stats.
The only drawback is paying a monthly fee to access features on the iFit app since it does not come with preloaded apps.
2nd Runner Up
The Bowflex C6 bike is the best value exercise since you don’t need to connect to an app to see your progress. This bike is simple as it has an LCD instead of a High Definition screen. The LCD is handy for seeing your reps, calories, time, speed, heart rate, and resistance.
For an immersive digital experience, connect the bike to a mobile device like a tablet and use Peloton or Zwift at a fraction of the price. This bike features magnetic resistance with 100 micro-adjustable resistance levels. Hence, you’ll find the right resistance level, whether a beginner or a pro.
A race-style adjustable seat means you’ll never deal with a painful butt. Plus, the toe cages on non-slip pedals for additional stability. It comes with a pair of dumbbells to power your workouts further.
This bike is light in its class as it only weighs 112 lbs. Therefore, it’s easier to move about. It also occupies a smaller footprint due to its relatively smaller size. Therefore, it’s ideal for tight spaces.
The only thing most users don’t like is it takes about an hour to assemble. However, the fun begins after you are done assembling. Moreover, you’re assured long term usage due to its 10-year warranty.
The Echelon Connect Bike EX-5s competes on the same level as the Peloton and NordicTrack exercise bikes. However, it has a V-shaped frame design that is great for tall riders. This is because of the ample space between the saddle and handlebars.
Unlike the Peloton, the Echelon Connect Bike EX-5s has a slightly smaller screen at 21.5 inches. It also has a 29-pound rear-mounted flywheel that’s out of the way from sweat and water. The flywheel offers good, heavy motion with no drag.
You will like that the Echelon EX-5s has comfortable handlebars and an adjustable well-padded saddle. It also offers a silent biking experience owing to its quiet magnetic resistance with 32 levels of resistance.
This bike’s screen adjusts over 180 degrees. You’ll be able to select your exercise app and see the touchscreen metrics. Clip on the pedals with SPD cleats, or wear any athletic shoes because you have dual pedal options.
The only letdown is that Echelon EX-5s come with a 12-month warranty. Nonetheless, we’ve not seen any complaints about durability; hence it’s an excellent buy for a quiet but fun indoor riding experience.
The NordicTrack S15i is very similar to the NordicTrack S22i but more affordable. One of the notable differences between the two is their screen size. While the NordicTrack S22i rocks a 22-inch screen, the NordicTrack S15i has a 14-inch screen. The S15i, however, measures up with an immersive outdoor biking experience, including incline and decline functionality.
The S15i also comes with a 32-pound flywheel that offers 22 levels of magnetic resistance. It has a studio design that helps you keep to road cycling form. As such, you can continue cycling off-season indoors.
This bike connects to the iFit app that links you to on-demand content to get you biking with world-class trainers and exercises. With the 14-inch HD rotating screen, you can view it from any angle, on and off the bike.
While the S15i is relatively quiet, the incline/decline motor is slightly loud. But with multiple variables of speed, incline/decline, and resistance, you can agree that it’s the most affordable bike for outdoor simulation.
ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 is compact. Therefore, it’s ideal for those with limited space. It measures only 56.5″ x 21.9″ x 54″ (LxWxH) in size. But with compact size comes a limited weight capacity of 250 lbs. Nevertheless, you get a quiet bike thanks to a magnetic 32-pound resistance wheel.
This model features 24 automated resistance levels. It also has multi-position handlebars, up and down, and front and back seat and saddle adjustment. The bike has a 22-inch high-definition screen with preinstalled iFit access, and you’ll be able to adjust the touchscreen’s resistance levels, screen brightness, and volume.
The ProForm Studio Bike Pro 22 has a steel frame but weighs only 144 pounds. With wheels on the front, you can quickly move it out of the way. The only thing not to like is the absence of touch buttons or a resistance knob to adjust the resistance. Otherwise, you’re looking at a well-built, low-impact exercise bike for small spaces.
YOSUDA is the best budget bike retailing at under $400 on amazon. However, it is sturdy and boasts a high-quality, heavy-duty steel frame. In addition, the bike is ergonomic, with comfortable two-way adjustable handlebars and a padded seat. You can adjust the seat in four different ways for a comfortable ride.
This exercise bike lets you track your speed, time, calories, and distance on the LCD. You can also connect an iPad or mobile device to link an exercise app for a fun exercise experience. In addition, it has adjustable cage handles that prevent slippage. Furthermore, you can stop the bike on a whim by pressing the resistance bar, preventing accidents.
YOSUDA is also light as it only weighs 72.75 pounds. This feature helps with portability during storage. We do like the seat, but you may find the cushioning is not up to par with long rides. As such, it’s better to pair it with biking shorts to avoid a sore butt.
The Sole SB900 is an excellent pick for both indoor and outdoor cyclists. It is a solidly built bike hence durable. The design features an Integrated tablet holder that connects smart devices to keep you entertained or follow up on your workout routines. This means you can exercise without subscribing to an exercise app to ride on this bike.
The SB900 focuses on ergonomics as it has adjustable handlebars and a seat that moves four ways to fit your comfort. Moreover, you can add on a toe clip or clipless (SPD) pedals.
In addition, a magnetic braking design and a heavy-duty 48 lb. chrome-plated flywheel will give an optimal quiet and smooth ride. The Eddy current magnetic resistance creates smooth resistance without wearing the flywheel. Therefore, it will last long and in great condition.
This bike has an integrated console that displays RPM, time, KCal, distance, and speed. It is also compatible with a chest strap for monitoring your heart rate. This ensures optimal exercise results by staying within your heart rate training zones.
The handlebars could, however, use a little more padding since they can cause slight bruising when you ride for extensive periods. Still, adding biking gloves will eliminate the chances of bruising. And with a lifetime warranty, Sole is committed to quality, so you can buy this model with peace of mind.
The Echelon Smart Connect EX-3 also offers a spin-like experience since it’s easy to use and connects to the Echelon app for many live and on-demand classes. While it does not have a built-in screen, it does not tie you to the Echelon app. This means you’re welcome to get on third-party apps like Peloton or Zwiftto to view all your stats.
Echelon Smart Connect EX-3 is well built with fully-adjustable handlebars and an equally comfortable saddle. In addition, it comes with a silent 32-level magnetic resistance wheel. It features a 29-pound rear-mounted flywheel, a rotating console, and SPD-compatible pedals with a toe cage.
The bike doesn’t come with built-in speakers. However, it has Bluetooth connectivity that you can connect to any device. It’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to be confined to the brand’s fitness app.
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike is one of the best for seasoned cyclists. It has a 40 lbs. flywheel with 100 micro levels of resistance. This model is also one of the easier bikes to assemble out of the box, as its instructions are pretty straightforward. You can adjust it four ways, and it can fit a person up to 6’6.
The Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike features an LCD where you can see stats such as speed and pulse. Furthermore, it has a tablet dock and Bluetooth connectivity to connect with third-party apps. It is built to work with Zwift and Peloton apps meaning you can stream thousands of classes at home.
However, you might hit your knees on either the bottle holder or your water bottle for the tallest guys. It’s a slight design flow that we’d like to see Schwinn improve on in the future. For under $1000, the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike is an excellent Peloton alternative.
How to Choose an Exercise Bike
An exercise bike can help you achieve your fitness goals at home. It can satisfy your need to bike outdoors since it’s fun, and you can connect to a community of riders. All thanks to the new breed of Wi-Fi connected bikes that open your world to a slew of apps.
Before you fork out money for an indoor exercise bike, these features will help you narrow down your choice.
Clear, Easy-to-Use Display
A good upright bike has a clear, easy-to-use display. You want to track your time, speed, calories, heart rate, and other metrics. Some models include built-in smart HD displays that provide more connectivity. However, they are more expensive than exercise bikes with a simple LCD.
Adjustments
How well you adjust a bike’s fit means the difference between comfort and discomfort. For this reason, it’s best to find a bike where you can adjust the handlebars and the seat for your needs. In addition, look for a model that you can adjust in minute rather than discrete increments.
Extra Features
Apart from a display, a bike with a heart rate monitor, dumbbells and a water bottle holder will improve your experience. Also, watch for bikes with features like a tablet console holder, reading shelf, or pedals with clips. These features are optional. Hence, it’s good to be on the lookout before choosing a model.
The Peloton bike brings a community aspect to indoor cycling to motivate riders.
Bring your cycling competitiveness indoors with the Peloton bike. It ticks all the boxes for an immersive riding experience through guided workouts that align with the spinning-class devotee.
