6 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes for All Budgets [2023]

What are the best recumbent exercise bikes and why do you need one?

Many people, especially the youth and the middle-aged ones would rather use an upright bike.

If you are a senior or you have a bad back or joints, there are not that many exercise options for your cardio workouts.

Your bones become weaker, you start losing your posture. Your heart and lung health deteriorates.

But all is not lost!

With a recumbent stationary bike, you can turn your health around.

Just as the name suggests, this type of bike allows you to lean back as you pedal your way to fitness. Their seat has a backrest.

 

Can you get a good workout on a recumbent bike?

150 minutes a week of working out on a stationary bike will work wonders for your heart, lungs and circulatory system. It is also going to help you burn calories.

As a low impact exercise, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, back pain or joint pain, you will still be able to work out your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and other muscle groups.

Including cardio in your workout regimen can help control your blood pressure and burn calories.

Now that you know the benefits, keep reading to see the best indoor bike to buy.

 

What is the best recumbent bike for home use?

Cardio is very popular. As a result, there are so many indoor exercise bikes. All of them claim to be the best.

While variety is good, it can be a bit challenging for first-time buyers. However, don’t worry. We have done all the footwork for you here.

You can buy any of these indoor bikes without hesitation.

1. Schwinn 270 Recumbent Stationary Bicycle

Granted, the Schwinn 270 is going to cost you a substantial amount of money, but you will be glad you bought it.

It is just perfect for a beginner or an advanced user. With 25 resistance levels, your workout intensity and the benefits thereof are under your full control.

Below are some of its features.

Design and Build quality

It is feature-rich, but it is definitely not too big. This makes it perfect for small townhouse apartments. It measures 64 by 27.7 by 50 inches (L by W by H). It weighs 87 pounds, so it should not be too hard for you to move it around on your own.

The frame is made of high quality, powder-coated steel. It is anti-corrosive and it can support a maximum weight of 300 pounds. The plastic and rubber parts are also well built. With good care, this stationary bicycle is going to last many years.

Computer

When you are working out regularly, you want to see your metrics. That is why Schwinn 270 uses one of the best consoles in the world.

It is a two, blue-lit computer console with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It will display workout stats such as time, speed, calories, heart rate, level and distance.

With 4 user profiles that keep personal information and data, you will always be aware of your progress. There are two profile programs that include 4 challenges, 4 fun rides and four mountain rides. In addition, there are 9 customizable programs for heart rate.

Warranty

This workout equipment comes with 10 years warranty on the frame, 2 years on mechanical parts and 12 months on the electrical parts. For labor, you get a 90-day warranty.

 

2. Marcy Magnetic – best recumbent bike under $300

Sometimes, you just want something that is affordable and high quality at the same time. They do not come any better than the Marcy Magnetic Stationary Bicycle.

To meet the needs of the lower end market, many manufacturers make equipment with the important features.

Design and Build Quality

This is a well-built bike, quite sturdy with a high quality frame. It measures 52 by 25 by 38 inches, which is quite manageable. It occupies minimal space at home. With a weight of 52 pounds, you will not break your back moving it around.

At the same time, this bike also has wheels that move surprisingly well on almost all types of floors.

The seat of this stationary bicycle is not only comfortable, but it is also adjustable. Whether you have long or short legs, this bike will accommodate you very well.

Computer

You will get a good LCD computer screen that displays stats such as calories burned, speed, time and distance. While it is a small display, it does the job well. At the touch of a button, you can change between stats.

Resistance

You will get 8 magnetic resistance levels. The shift from one level to another is so smooth you will hardly feel it. Besides, magnetic resistance bikes make minimal noise. Just use the resistance knob to increase or decrease the resistance level.

 

3. Sunny Health & Fitness – Recumbent exercise bike with small footprint

Do not let the girlish pink color and the small size fool you because this indoor stationary bike packs quite a punch. First, it has a weight rating of 220 pounds. Therefore, if you fall within that range, you can use it.

Design and build quality

The construction is quite simple. Therefore, it lacks the bells and whistles that come with other costlier bikes, you know, things such as speakers, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the frame is still constructed with heavy-duty steel, so you can use it for years without wearing it out.

The handles are positioned in such a way that the pulse sensor can monitor your heart rate easily. This can help you know whether you are making any progress.

Digital monitor

You can get data for heart rate, speed, distance, time, calories and more on the digital display. This monitor also has Scan mode. You can engage it so that it keeps up with the changes in your heart rate as well make the calculations for you.

Resistance Levels

You will enjoy the magnetic resistance, which is quiet and efficient. You also get 8 resistance levels that you can adjust manually with the knob provided for just that.

 

4. Pooboo Recumbent Indoor Bike 

Sold at an affordable price, with a comfortable seat and with 8 resistance levels, this is a good workout bike for people on a low budget.

It is best for a beginner but later, as you advance in your exercise regime, you might want to shift to something with more features and definitely more resistance levels.

Design and Build Quality

This stationary recumbent bicycle comes with magnetic resistance, which is not only quieter but is also smooth and effective.

The frame is made with powder coated steel, to make it not only resistant to corrosion, but to bacteria as well. The handles are nicely designed with foam handles that are friendly to your skin. Its seat is not only breathable, but it keeps you well supported throughout your workout time.

The dimensions of this machine are 55 by 25 by 40 inches, which is not too big compared to others in its price range. It weighs a minimal 55 pounds, so it is easy to move to different positions at home.

This bike also has rollers for easier movement across different types of floors.

Computer

The display is simple, which goes with the low price. It displays readings for speed, time, distance and calories burned in large numbers. You can switch between stats at the touch of a button.

 

5. Marcy ME-709- Best recumbent bike for seniors

The ME-709 is especially good for seniors because of the step-through design. What we mean by step-through design is that you do not have to lift your legs over the frame because it only has the horizontal bar at the bottom.

Design and Build Quality

The construction is quite sturdy, what with the use of heavy-duty 14-gauge steel tubing that is beautifully finished in powder coating.

This is a small workout bike because it measures 56 by 25 by 37.5 inches. You can use it even in small urban apartments. It has a weight of 61 pounds, which is not too heavy and at the same time, it has a weight rating of 300 pounds.

If you have bad knees, you will not feel too much pain when getting on or off the seat.

Magnetic Resistance

This recumbent stationary bike has magnetic resistance, which has many benefits. First, it is quiet even when you are running the hardest resistance.

You can actually read a book as you workout and even if your baby is sleeping in the room, it will not wake him up.

Secondly, you get a smooth transition from one resistance level to another. This bicycle has 8 resistance levels and changing from one level to another is just a twist of a knob away.

Thirdly, magnetic resistance requires minimal care and maintenance.

Computer

You get an LCD computer with a sharp panel display that allows you to read your stats from a distance. This computer displays data for calories burned, distance pedalled, speed and time taken.

Seat and Pedals

The seat has comfortable padding and it has foam covered handles so that you can get enough support when you start working out.

The pedals are counterbalanced and they have adjustable straps to help you get the right fit. Being weighted, these pedals give you full control over your workout.

 

6. Nautilus R614 Recumbent Bike Series

Nautilus seems to make stationary workout bikes that are targeted at the middle and high-end markets. However, they still do have some affordable ones that will not dent your pocket too much, such as the R614 Bike Series.

Design and Build Quality

Because of its excellent build quality and features, this bike seems to move fast such that you may not find it on all online marketplaces. This is despite its high cost.

It has a slightly larger footprint as compared to many that we have reviewed here. It measures 64 by 27 by 50 inches (L by W by H) and it measures 80 pounds. The frame is made with powder-coated steel tubing. It is going to last a long time.

Resistance Levels

You get all of 20 resistance levels, which definitely makes this a good bike for an advanced user. Many beginner stationary bikes come with 8 resistance levels.

This one gives you ultimate control over your workout intensity. The high drive inertia flywheel gives a smooth transition between intensity levels.

Computer

The DualTrack display is simply top of the range. First, it is large, so you can read your stats from a distance away. Secondly, it has an MP3 port so you can listen and pedal in rhythm to your favorite music.

You will get 22 integrated training programs so that you can get started on your cardio workouts right away.

Other things that you will get on this indoor bike include media tray, USB charging port and built-in speakers.

Warranty

The frame has a warranty of 10 years, mechanical parts 2 years, electronics 1 year and labor 90 days.

 

Conclusion and Recommendation

The search for the best recumbent exercise bikes can be hard. However, here are the most important things to consider:

Weight rating – The higher the better. Chances are that you are not the only person who is going to use it in your family. Therefore, a weight rating of at least 250 pounds would be good.

The price – Some brands such as Nautilus and NordicTrack target the high end users. Therefore, they easily cost even more than $1000. The good thing is that brands such as Marcy have something for all budgets, including less than $200.

However, do not sacrifice quality on the altar of money.

Quality – Build, design and durability is very important in exercise gear, especially if you will use it daily. If it is a gym bike, it is better to pay more for more features.

 

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