Best Exercise Bikes

Recumbent exercise bikes are most comfortable

There are two main types of exercise bikes. Upright bikes are pretty much how they sound -- you sit upright in the saddle as you would on a normal bike, and your feet extend down to the pedals. You reach forward to grasp the handlebars. Recumbent bikes, however, don't have a traditional bike seat. Rather, you get a wider seat with a back pad, which gives you some back support. Your legs extend out in front of you to reach the pedals. Experts say it's really a matter of personal preference as to which type you prefer, but because of their back pad, many people find recumbent bikes more comfortable. They are also a better bet for anyone with back trouble. We saw numerous complaints that the seats on upright bikes are uncomfortable, since they put more pressure on sensitive areas of your body. On the flip side, serious cyclists usually prefer upright bikes because they more closely replicate riding a bike outside.

Among recumbent cycles, we found the best reviews for the Schwinn 240 (*Est. $440). This exercise bike, which has a 300-pound weight capacity, comes with 16 resistance levels and 18 workout programs. It also features a handgrip heart-rate monitor (wireless heart-rate monitoring is supported, but you'll need to provide your own chest strap). In addition, the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike has a magazine rack, bottle holder, adjustable seat and an under-seat storage bin. The backlit LCD display tracks more information than budget exercise bikes, including time, interval time, watts, rpm, distance, pulse, speed, calories and resistance. Schwinn provides a five-year frame warranty; mechanical and electric parts are covered for one year, while wear parts are covered for 90 days.

Users at a variety of review sites, including Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com, give the Schwinn 240 recumbent bike high overall ratings. In fact, it enjoys a 4.5-star rating after nearly 400 reviews at Buzzillions.com, where owners rave about the quality construction and stable ride. The 16 levels of resistance provide a lot of variety, and the bike runs quietly. "It is unbelievably smooth, quiet and sturdy," says one owner at Amazon.com. "I'm used to the loud noise of my treadmill and it's almost creepy how silent this bike is," says another. Although the Schwinn 240 is heavy (117 pounds), reviewers say it's relatively easy to move from room to room thanks to the integrated transport wheels. There are also very few durability complaints compared to other exercise bikes. However, some users find the assembly process challenging because the written instructions aren't very clear. A few reviewers also say the console is not intuitive, especially when programming custom user settings.

Schwinn also gets high marks for the Schwinn 220 (*Est. $350) exercise bike, a step-down model from the Schwinn 240. The two recumbent bikes are quite similar, but the Schwinn 220 has fewer workout programs (12 in total) and lacks some features like the bottle holder and under-seat storage bin. The Schwinn 220 does have a handgrip heart-rate monitor, but it doesn't support wireless monitoring with a chest strap like its pricier counterpart. It also lacks the oversize "deluxe" pedals found on the Schwinn 240. Other features, including the warranty, 16 resistance levels and 300-pound weight limit, are the same.

The Schwinn 220 gets very good ratings in user reviews, including a 4.5-star rating after more than 300 reviews at Buzzillions.com. Owners say the Schwinn 220, like the Schwinn 240, is comfortable and very quiet while exercising. It also feels stable and sturdy, even when pedaling at high speeds. "It's super quiet and comfortable so watching TV is a breeze while pedaling away at an easy or hard pace," says one owner. It provides a good workout, according to reviews, and those who are rehabbing from an injury are especially pleased with the Schwinn 220. However, we saw a few complaints at Amazon.com that the pedals are too small, including from one owner with size 12 feet.

It is a little more expensive, but the Vision Fitness R1500 (*Est. $600 and up) earns several recommendations, including a nod from Bestcovery.com as one of the best exercise bikes. The bike has an adjustable seat, handgrip heart-rate monitor and a 300-pound weight capacity. It comes with three console options, including the Simple (*Est. $600), Deluxe (*Est. $800) or Premier console (*Est. $1,000). The consoles differ in the number of workout programs and how much workout data they track. The Premier console also supports wireless heart-rate monitoring, while the Simple and Deluxe consoles are limited to a handgrip monitor. Regardless of which console you choose, the Vision Fitness R1500 has a lifetime warranty for the frame and brake, two years for electronics and parts and one year for labor.

At the review site Bestcovery.com, Jeff Wilson says the Vision Fitness R1500 can accommodate users at all different levels. "Three different options of console take this from an absolutely incredible value at around $600 up through a feature packed monster at just under $1000," he says. Quiet operation and a comfortable seat are additional benefits. The Vision Fitness R1500 also earns a recommendation from Megan McMorris of Prevention magazine, who says it is one of the best recumbent bikes for a home gym. The adjustable seat gets especially high marks in this review. "The cushioned lumbar supported seat is so comfy, you may not want to get off," says McMorris.

Upright exercise bikes better mimic real biking

If you prefer an upright exercise bike, reviews point to the Schwinn Airdyne (*Est. $625). This unique bike works -- and looks -- much differently than most exercise bikes. Instead of using magnetic resistance, the Schwinn Airdyne uses an air-resistance system. Rather than being manually adjusted with a dial, the resistance will automatically increase the harder and faster you pedal. As a result, the Schwinn Airdyne provides nearly unlimited amounts of resistance and can accommodate beginners to advanced cyclists. It also has moving handlebars for an upper-body workout. Other features include two workout programs, a 300-pound weight capacity and a small LCD display that tracks time, distance, calories, rpm, heart rate and workload (you'll need your own chest strap to see heart-rate data). The Schwinn Airdyne has a lengthy warranty: 30 years for the frame, three years for parts and electronics and one year for labor and wear items.

Users at both Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com rave about the Schwinn Airdyne. Of the 120 reviews posted at Amazon.com, 90 percent give it a 4- or 5-star rating. Users say the Schwinn Airdyne, which has been manufactured for decades, is a durable piece of equipment that will last for years. "I've owned my Airdyne for 12 years and it has been perfectly reliable the whole time -- and it has been moved 3 times and has taken a real beating," says one owner at Amazon.com. Reviewers say the bike is very intuitive and easy to use, since you can get on and start pedaling without figuring out resistance levels or other programs. In addition, the air-resistance mechanism acts like a fan and cools you down while exercising. "It really does feel great when you are working up a sweat to feel that cool air in your face," writes one reviewer. Users also report very few breakdowns or mechanical problems, and if a mishap occurs it's likely to be after years and years of ownership.

However, there are some downsides compared to the traditional upright exercise bike. For one, the Schwinn Airdyne makes more noise, which can make it hard to watch TV or listen to music without pumping up the volume. Some also find the seat uncomfortable. There are also a few complaints that the assembly instructions are confusing.

For those who want a more traditional upright exercise bike, the Sunny Health & Fitness Pro Indoor Cycling Bike (*Est. $310) is worth a look. It has a 275-pound weight limit. The seat and handlebars can be adjusted to achieve a good fit, and the resistance is adjustable using a dial underneath the handlebars. Reviewers at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com give the Sunny Pro exercise bike mostly high ratings. Many reviewers use the bike for Spinning, a high-intensity workout that combines various resistance levels with different positions on the bike, including standing up or hovering over the handlebars -- a workout users say feels like riding an actual bike. The sturdy frame and smooth ride are also high points. "This bike is solid -- the frame is sturdy, the flywheel is smooth and heavy, and it rides as well as most of the bikes in my current gym," says one owner. However, some users say the bike is noisy at high resistance levels, and many say the seat is hard and uncomfortable. Reviewers also wish the bike came with a display so they could track their distance and calories burned. The Sunny Pro Indoor bike comes with a one-year frame warranty; parts are covered for three months.

Club-quality exercise bikes

There are some benefits to buying a club-quality exercise bike -- as long as you have the money to spend. For one, these bikes are designed for intensive use, so they're a good choice for serious exercisers or multiple users. They are very durable and have longer warranties than most exercise bikes. You'll also find lots of nifty features, including wireless heart-rate monitoring and numerous fitness programs. In addition, less expensive exercise bikes typically have weight limits of 250 to 300 pounds, so a club-quality bike can be a good choice for those who exceed those limits. On the other hand, most people aren't ready to spend more than $1,000 on an exercise bike.

No specific club-quality exercise bike stands out in reviews, but several models earn at least one recommendation, including the Spirit XBR25 (*Est. $1,100) recumbent bike. It has 20 resistance levels, eight programs, a backlit LCD console, a 16-position adjustable seat and a 350-pound weight limit. The bike also includes a wireless heart-rate monitor and a magazine rack. The warranty for the Spirit XBR25 is more generous than the warranties you'll find on less expensive exercise bikes: lifetime for the frame and resistance brake, five years for parts and one year for labor. The Spirit XBR25 is the top-rated model in one independent test of nine exercise bikes. It is rated on a variety of criteria, including ergonomics, ease of use and construction quality, and it receives excellent scores across the board. In fact, it's the only tested bike that earns an excellent rating on every criterion. Unfortunately, there are no user reviews to back up this professional opinion.

Among upright exercise bikes, the Keiser M3 (*Est. $1,400) has a sleek frame and race-oriented positioning that is designed for indoor cycling at home. The Shimano pedals have a strap to keep your feet secure, or you can use clip-in cycling shoes for more control. The handlebar and seat are adjustable, and the magnetic resistance has 24 "gears" to replicate cycling on the road. The computer display tracks time, gear, distance, rpm, heart rate and power output in watts. Depending on the retailer, the display is sometimes included and sometimes sold separately, so be sure to check the product listing. The Keiser M3 comes with a three-year warranty.

Roy Wallack tests the Keiser M3 for the Los Angeles Times, and he says the bike has no obvious downsides. During his testing the bike runs smoothly and quietly, and he likes that the resistance is easy to adjust. The bike also earns near-perfect ratings at Amazon.com from over 20 reviewers. Users acknowledge that the Keiser M3 is expensive, but all say it's worth the cost to get a bike of this quality. In fact, most users say they first used the Keiser M3 at a gym or health club. "This is a first rate bike for anyone who is serious about biking and wants something to use indoors that feels like biking outdoors," says one owner. The exercise bike is quiet and incredibly stable, even when cycling at high speeds.