Best Upright Exercise Bikes For Your Cycling Needs [Updated 2023]

Not every upright stationary bike is good for you. Thankfully, we have done the footwork for you, so you just have to choose from some of the best upright exercise bikes here.

But forget about choosing the right one for a moment. Think about the benefits that you will get from an indoor stationary bicycle.

You see, a stationary bicycle ranks high on the list of home and gym equipment for cardio workouts. Others include rowing machines, treadmill and climbing machines.

Whether you are old or young, you must fit cardio exercises in your regimen. They enhance your heart health, circulatory health and lung health. In addition, they also help you lose weight because you will burn the calories.

Here are some of the best upright exercise bicycles.

 

4 Best Upright Exercise Bikes

Which brand of exercise bike is best? That is among the things that we shall consider here. Every stationary bike manufacturer claims that theirs is the best. Therefore, it can be impossible to find the right one.

Mostly, it is advisable for you to consider the features more than you consider the price. The reasoning is that it is better to pay a higher cost to get more features than pay a lower price and get fewer features.

1. Marcy ME-708 Upright Stationary Bike

Marcy is up there when it comes to the best home and gym equipment makers. Therefore, this stationary bicycle meets many needs. It is small, simple and very effective. If you are looking for workout equipment that has a minimal impact on your joints, get this one.

Design and Build Quality

We can summarize this part by saying: Built to last!

However, the devil is in the details, so let us delve right in. We can start by looking at the frame. It is steel, and it can last a long time. Precisely, this is 14-gauge steel, with powder-coat finishing.

Resistance

This bike has magnetic resistance. Besides, it also has 8 levels of resistance so you can make your workout harder or easier with a touch of the tension knob.

You can use it to simulate different terrains so that you can work out at different resistance levels.

Console

You need to know certain stats as you pedal your way to fitness. This includes things such as speed, distance, calories burned and time.

This enables you to know whether you are making any progress. The readings are displayed in large numbers so you should have an easier time.

Pedals

These pedals have adjustable foot straps so that you can lock in your feet securely. That way, you don’t worry about your feet falling out. You can concentrate on speed and power.

Pros

• You can adjust the seat for the best pedaling position

• Smooth transition from one resistance level to another

• Small footprint, requires minimal storage space

• Good weight rating of 300 pounds

Cons

• The rollers perform poorly on hard floors

• The seat could be better

 

2. Body Rider BRF700

For a very affordable amount of money, you can have this stationary bike. It is in the upright design, which forces you to keep your torso straight as you work out.

Design and Build Quality

This one comes in a sturdy steel frame. It is finished with powder-coating for durability and to make it anti-corrosive. The handlebars, the seat, the rubber and plastic parts are also high quality.

Resistance

This is a fan resistance bike. Now, the main benefit with a fan bike is that your hard work gives you the best workout. It is best for high intensity interval training (HIIT) which is the best fat burner.

The faster that you pedal, the higher the resistance and the more calories you will burn. The fan wheel also keeps you cool and aerated as you work out.

Console

The display is a bit small. However, it still displays readouts for calories burned, distance, speed and time. That way, you know where you are from when you started.

Handlebars

This bike comes with high handlebars. They have been designed that way so that they can be more engaging.

That way, you also get a chance to engage your upper body muscles. These bikes mostly work out the lower body.

Pros

• At 47 pounds, bike is easy to move around

• High quality build

• Cooling breeze from the fan wheel

• Smooth enough for shaky joints

Cons

• Seat is a bit low and permanent – not replaceable

• Not good for extra tall people – 6 feet and taller

 

3. Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Stationary Bike

Sunny Health & Fitness makes engaging workout gear. With this bike, for example, you will be in control of the distance that you cover, the calories that you burn and the time you put in. Of course, it lets you do the hard work for great results.

Design and build quality

This bike is made of steel, rubber and plastic parts. Everything is designed to last a long time. With good care, you will keep the piece in prime condition.

The chain, crank and the flywheel come assembled, so you should spend a little time putting together the rest of the bike.

Resistance

You get a felt resistance with this bike. It uses felt pads that give the bike resistance at different points of contact. You can adjust the resistance by using the provided knob.

The downside is that the pads will eventually wear away but they are replaceable.

Digital Display

This bike comes with a digital monitor that displays stats such as time, calories burned, speed and distance covered.

The numbers are displayed in large figures so they should be easy to read even when you have whipped up quite a sweat.

Foot Pedals

This upright indoor bike comes with caged pedals. They hold your feet in place safely and securely and there is no danger of the foot slipping out even when you are doing high intensity cycling.

Seat

The seat is cushioned and adjustable. That way, differently sized users can use the bike very well and comfortably.

Pros

• Has wheels for easier movement across rooms

• It has stabilizers to keep it stable on the floor

• Handlebars are designed to offer different grip areas

• 12-month warranty on frame and 90-day warranty on parts

• Easy to assemble even for first-timers

Cons

• Price is a bit high

• Not very good for extra tall people

 

4. VIGBODY Exercise Bike

You will love the color scheme on this indoor bicycle – red and black! It is surely going to pack some enthusiasm into you for your intensive cardio workouts. Even from the features, it seems this one has a lot to offer the user.

Design and Build Quality

This exercise bicycle has been designed with heavy-duty steel tubing. With most of the size being vertical, this one is small and can be used even in small town apartments without taking too much space.

The rubber and plastic parts are also high quality. Clearly, this is one of the best upright exercise bikes.

Resistance

This bike comes with adjustable magnetic resistance. With just a twist of the knob, you can raise or lower the tension of your resistance to burn more calories.

Because the flywheel is heavy at 24 pounds, you will whip up a good sweat when working out. The flywheel has a low noise level.

Display

The monitor is large and it displays telemetry such as distance, calories burned, speed and others. You can keep track of your progress when working out to know where to adjust.

This bike gives you the ultimate control over your training intensity.

Saddle

The saddle height can be adjusted from 33.5 inches to 39 inches and that is not all because you can also adjust the distance between the saddle and the handlebars.

If everyone in your family loves working out, this indoor bicycle can meet all of their needs. Apart from that, the saddle is also nicely padded to keep you comfortable longer.

Pros

• 12-month warranty

• Easy to unpack and assemble

• High weight rating of 330 pounds

• Good for users of all sizes

• Stable – never wobbles

Cons

• A bit costly

• Has a burnt fabric smell when you use it

 

Best Stationary Bike for a Workout Buying Guide

You must bear a few important considerations in mind when you go to buy an upright indoor bike. Here are a few guidelines to bear in mind:

Resistance Types

The most common resistance types are magnetic, fan and pad resistance. The pad resistance type is not very common as the other two, but it works very well. Usually, the pads are made of leather or felt.

Magnetic resistance is quieter. Fan resistance is a bit loud but you can still use it in a small house.

Price

As much as we say you should consider the features more than the price, cost is still a deal maker or breaker. Some stationary bicycles can cost as little as $140 and some can even cost $1000.

The cheap one is not necessarily bad, but it may lack features such as bottle holder, speaker, Bluetooth and so on. At the same time, the most expensive one is not necessarily the best one.

Size and weight

If you live in a small town apartment, size will indeed matter to you. You should get a small bike, and if possible, get a foldable one so that you can save on space.

You also need the bike to be light in weight but at the same time, it must be high quality, which means heavy-duty steel for the frame.

A good bike should not exceed 70 pounds in weight when assembled. This should be easy to move around even when you are on your own.

 

Wrapping Up

These are only four of the best upright exercise bikes. However, there are many more, some costlier, some bigger and some for commercial use.

What you choose depends on your needs. It would be advisable you to get an indoor stationary bicycle with magnetic resistance. It is quieter, more effective and easier for beginners.

Your stationary bicycle comes partially assembled. The rest of the assemblage will take less time and you can even have your bike running in under an hour.

If you prefer recumbent bikes, here’s a list of bikes to choose from.

 

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