Phoenix 99608

If you're on a strict budget, the Phoenix 99608 gets a lot of good reviews from owners who simply want a no-frills recumbent exercise bike at a low price. It has a 250-pound weight limit, eight resistance levels for variety, pedals with straps and a seat that adjusts both vertically and horizontally. You won't get any pre-programmed workouts or heart-rate monitor like you'll find on the top-rated budget upright bike, the Stamina 5325 (*Est. $180) , and the basic, digital-clock-like display shows only time, speed, distance and calories burned. We found a few complaints that the seat's too far away from the pedals for some users, including complaints from a 5-foot 2-inch user and one who's 5-feet 7-inches. There are also several reports that the bike arrived with broken or missing pieces. The warranty is short -- one year for the frame and 90 days for parts. For a lower price, the top-rated budget recumbent bike, the Marcy ME 709 (*Est. $160) , has a higher 300-pound weight limit and a longer two-year warranty.

Few professional sources test exercise bikes, so online retailers are the best source of information on bikes like the Phoenix 99608. Amazon.com has the most detailed owner reviews of the Phoenix 99608, and Buzzillions.com also posts a large number of user reviews collected from various retail websites. Viewpoints.com posts only one owner review.