Best Exercise Bikes 2024

Cam Vigliotta March 6, 2024

0 14 minutes read

The best exercise bikes have convinced me to reconsider the act of pedaling in place. Let me explain: For most of my life, the exercise bike has served as a last resort. Raining outside? Exercise bike. Tight hamstring? Exercise bike. Completely unwilling to go for a run? You get the idea. In recent years, however, exercise bikes have become capable, downright engaging machines with large screens, Bluetooth speakers and live classes. Our overall favorite for 2024, the Schwinn IC4, embodies just how far exercise bikes have come, offering incredible versatility.

The best exercise bikes offer dynamic, engaging workouts from the comfort of home.

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS

Obviously, it isn’t easy to pick the ‘right’ bike when options abound. That’s why we spent hours researching top models, consulted fitness experts and rummaged through our own gym equipment archives to identify bikes for every type of rider. “When purchasing a bike for in-home workouts, make sure the bike you purchase is the best for you,” says Keith Hodges, a National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer and performance coach. With that said, these are the best exercise bikes of 2024 for a variety of needs and budgets. And while you’re at it, check out our guides on the best spin bikes and recumbent exercise bikes.

Best Exercise Bike Overall: Schwinn IC4
Best Budget Exercise Bike: Yosuda YB001
Best Exercise Bike For Seniors: Exerpeutic 400XL
Best Exercise Bike Display: Bowflex VeloCore 16
Best Folding Exercise Bike: Xterra Fitness FB150
Best HIIT Exercise Bike: The Carol Bike
Best Exercise Bike For Classes: Peloton Bike
Best Recumbent Exercise Bike: NordicTrack R35
Best Add-On Exercise Bike Accessory: Wahoo Kickr

Schwinn IC4

Resistance: Magnetic, 100 levels | Footprint: ‎48.7 x 21.2 x 51.8 inches | Weight: 113.6 pounds, 330 pounds maximum rider weight | Display: LED metric console | Wheels: Yes | Warranty: 10 years (frame), 3 years (mechanical and electrical) | Subscriptions: Peloton, JRNY, Zwift, Sufferfest, Rouvy, FulGaz, Tacx, TrainerRoad, MyFitnessPal

Schwinn’s IC4 has received high praise across the health and wellness space for several reasons. First and foremost, its robust build and refined engineering provide a smooth and silent cycling experience, ensuring that you can work up a sweat without disturbing your family, roommates or neighbors. It offers 100 levels of resistance and a comfortable, adjustable design to accommodate users of all shapes and sizes, making it an investment that will serve not only you, but others in your household, too. And such versatility means you can fine-tune your workout to precisely match your goals.

One of the standout features of the IC4 is its seamless integration with popular fitness apps like Peloton, Zwift and Explore the World. This connectivity opens up a world of interactive and engaging workouts, making every ride a lot more enjoyable and engaging. You can join virtual cycling classes, race against friends or explore scenic routes from around the globe, all from the comfort of your home.

Most home riders will be well served by this $320 spin-style bike courtesy of Yosuda. The seat is cushioned and adjustable in four directions (top, bottom, front, back), which makes it an ideal option when you’re looking for a bike that promotes proper form—it takes unwanted stress off weight-bearing joints like the knees. The handlebars are adjustable, too, with a 10-inch threshold up and down. Because it’s so adjustable, multiple members of the household should be able to use the bike. With a footprint of just 22 inches wide by 40 inches long, it’s an easy fit for most homes or apartments. And as an additional cost saver, it has cage pedals. This means you can ride in your sneakers, so there’s no need to invest in pricey spin shoes.

The Exerpeutic 400XL earns its place as an excellent choice for older adults due to its thoughtful design and user-friendly features that emphasize comfort, safety and ease of use. The step-through design eliminates the need for high leg lifts when getting on and off the bike, reducing the risk of accidents or strain. Comfort, meanwhile, comes courtesy of a large cushioned seat and backrest that provides much-needed support during longer workouts. And the bike’s adjustable seat height accommodates a wide range of users, allowing each individual to discover their perfect riding position.

Safety is another key consideration for seniors, and the 400XL incorporates a precision-balanced flywheel and a V-belt drive that results in smooth, quiet and low-impact pedaling experience. The eight levels of magnetic resistance are gentle on joints while providing a customizable workout intensity. Plus, its easy-fold mechanism allows for convenient storage when not in use—a feature particularly appreciated by seniors with limited living space.

Bowflex

Bowflex VeloCore 16

A great Peloton alternative, this impressive home bike from Bowflex is our pick for the best exercise bike with a screen for two reasons: The bike comes packed with many features and they work well with the large display.

Models are available with HD touchscreen consoles sized 16 or 22 inches and both come with the company’s JRNY experience, a library of on-demand workouts that include trainer-led videos, virtual coaching and destination rides. Like its competitors in the connected-fitness space, Bowflex requires a monthly membership to JRNY with the purchase of its bike, which will run you $20 per month.

The platform also has a built-in app library for seamless streaming of Netflix, Hulu and other top entertainment hubs. The other big benefit of a tech-y bike like this is its capability to track accurate metrics, allowing you to track your progress over time.

Amazon

Schwinn AD6 Airdyne

If you’ve ever been subject to an air bike, just looking at one should raise your heart rate. These high-intensity beasts are a favorite of CrossFit gyms, HIIT studios and trainers. The bike is powered by strap-in pedals (no special spin shoes needed) and handlebars, kind of like an elliptical, for a full-body workout against the unlimited resistance of air.

There’s a single-stage belt drive that keeps the whole thing running quietly while the front “wheel” fan generates a steady stream of air to help keep you cool as you work up a sweat. You’ll cycle through a progressive wind resistance system that provides varying levels of intensity while you bike. A console tracks your speed, RPM, distance, time and calories. And, because this is an air bike, you don’t need to plug it in.

Amazon

Xterra Fitness FB150

If you aren’t interested in having an exercise bike as a permanent piece of furniture, a folding bike may be right for you. The major compromises you make with a folding exercise bike are stability and resistance, though, so this style is best suited for someone looking for a low-impact, steady-state cardio workout. It’s also great for those with joint pain or for anyone new to (or getting back into) exercise who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.

The FB150 from Xterra has a big, cushy seat that can be adjusted up and down to fit rider heights from 58 to 70 inches. It has equally cushy, padded handlebars for comfort and a basic LCD display to track metrics like time, speed and distance. You’ll get eight levels of resistance from the machine’s petite 3.3-pound flywheel, enough to get your heart pumping and maybe a little burn in the legs depending on your ability level.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has proven to be an effective way to lose weight, so it makes sense that the tagline for a bike tailor-made for HIIT workouts (which are characterized by short bursts of intense effort followed by brief periods of rest) is, “The bike that gets you fittest, fastest.”

One of the stand-out features of the Carol Bike is that it can personalize workouts based on the user’s fitness level using AI. That technology adapts to your performance in real-time, with a goal of optimizing each session for maximum effectiveness (Carol stands for “cardiovascular optimization logic,” in case you were wondering). It’s also important to note that there’s a $15/month home membership cost, which is the only way you can access the AI-personalized workouts and metrics.

Yes, Peloton Bikes have a sleek, ergonomic design and quality build, but those aren’t the primary reasons that explain why these particular bikes have emerged as one of the most popular choices for home gyms in recent years. At the heart of Peloton’s massive appeal is its 22-inch high-definition screen and immersive content, both of which keep you engaged when you might otherwise struggle to exercise every day.

Peloton delivers a vast library of live and on-demand classes led by world-renowned instructors with cult following of their very own. Those workouts cater to a range of fitness levels and preferences, so there really is something for everyone. And through group rides, virtual competitions and the ability to share achievements on the Peloton platform, the brand provides a more social and supportive ecosystem than you’d typically find in a home workout setting. Keep in mind that access to all those classes and perks costs an additional monthly fee of $44.

The NordicTrack R35 recumbent exercise bike boasts an impressive array of features. It sports a high-definition touchscreen display, a built-in fan, a convenient water bottle holder and a wide range of 26 resistance levels to cater to various fitness needs. What sets it apart is the ease with which you can adjust the distance from the seat to the pedals, ensuring a perfect fit for users of different heights. What’s more, the seat’s ergonomic design, featuring a curved mesh backrest, facilitates improved airflow around your upper body during your workout sessions. In the eyes of the experts we consulted, this bike stands out as the ideal choice for individuals committed to maintaining a high level of fitness.

The bike seamlessly integrates with the iFit Fitness app, a subscription-based service offering a diverse selection of on-demand workouts for streaming. Users can explore workouts set in virtual locations using the innovative Google Maps feature or take on personalized challenges. The annual iFit membership is priced at $180 per year per person, and NordicTrack sweetens the deal with a complimentary 1-month trial when you sign up. It’s worth noting that the bike can be used without a membership, and you have the flexibility to connect your preferred audio devices via Bluetooth.

If you’re an avid outdoor rider, you probably don’t need to invest in a stationary bike packed with unnecessary features. Instead, consider an add-on exercise bike accessory like the Wahoo Kickr. Simply put, these attachments transform your existing bicycle into a stationary bike by removing the back wheel, but they still engage the drivetrain, allowing you manipulate resistance without hitting the hills. These attachments tend to have a smaller footprint, are more easily storable and, in some cases, are more cost-effective (plus, you can continue using your preferred outdoor bike all season long). The Kickr also has a more realistic road feel, which some cyclists may prefer over the controlled experience of a stationary bike.

We ranked the Wahoo Kickr as the best all-around bike trainer because it “can handle heavy watts, sweat and has an extremely reliable Bluetooth connection.” With that said, the Wahoo Kickr is on the more expensive side, so if you’d prefer a more budget-friendly alternative, consider the Wahoo Kickr Core for only $500, or upgrade to the Kickr Move that features horizontal and lateral motion for $1,600.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

We’ve published a large library on everything you could possibly need to set up a home gym, including different types of exercise bikes and cardio machines.
Gear editor Cam Vigliotta holds a degree in sports medicine from the University of Massachusetts Amherset and regularly reviews the latest in fitness equipment, including the best treadmills and best Garmin watches for women.
We consulted four fitness experts while compiling this guide: NASM-certified personal trainer and performance coach Keith Hodges; indoor cycling instructor Marisella Villano; physical therapist and founder of The Healthy Hiker Alicia Filley; and fitness professional Jeanette DePatie.
We regularly update this story to maintain accuracy and ensure our picks are still the best the market has to offer. It was last republished in February 2024 to review our winners and expand our buyers guide.

How We Chose The Best Exercise Bikes

We sought out reputable exercise bike brands and compared the most popular models from each by the following criteria: resistance type, weight limit, dimensions and warranty. Extra features, such as displays, speakers, bottle cages and live classes, were also taken into account.
We put a handful of the bikes on this list to the test ourselves, namely the Schwinn IC4, Peloton Bike and Wahoo Kickr.
We understand that everyone has different fitness goals and budgets, which is why we recommended a variety of exercise bikes to cover everyone’s needs.

Buying Guide: Exercise Bikes

Resistance: What Resistance Level Should I Use On A Stationary Bike?

Being able to control the resistance helps make a cycling session easier or harder. Without enough resistance, you might not feel like you’re really getting a workout in. With too much resistance, you may not be able to maintain proper positioning, which makes the risk of injury more likely (and, if you’re taking a class, it may make it more challenging to keep up). In general, you should be able to maintain a pace of at least 60 revolutions per minute (RPM) at a given resistance.

Weight Limit: How Much Weight Can An Exercise Bike Hold?

Another element to consider, fitness professional Jeanette DePatie says, is the weight limit of the bike. “Many exercise bikes have stringent weight limits,” she warns. “Make sure the bike can accommodate the weights of everyone who wants to ride.” Most exercise bikes can support 300 pounds.

Price: How Much Does A Stationary Bike Cost?

Exercise bikes range in price from $1,000 or less to upwards of $2,000. Typically, the more advanced features and sophisticated design, the pricier the bike. Most of the exercise bikes on our list cost around $1,000, which offers a nice intersection of quality construction, well-rounded features and affordability.

Popular Types: Including Upright, Recumbent, Indoor Cycle

Upright bikes resemble traditional outdoor bicycles. They have a small saddle, and because of the upright design, workouts on this type of bike are typically more intense because it forces you to rely on your core more in this position. Recumbent exercise bikes have a larger seat that’s closer to the floor for a lower impact workout. These are typically a better option for seniors or people with joint issues. Spin bikes, a.k.a. indoor cycle bikes, are similar to upright bikes in that you are also in more of an elevated position, but spine bikes have a heavier flywheel. This means you have to work harder to get the bike moving, setting you up for a higher-intensity workout.

Popular Brands: Where Is The Best Place To Buy An Exercise Bike?

Whether you’re shopping for an exercise bike online or in a store, we recommend brands that have solid customer reviews and customer service, as well as a generous warranty policy for the bike, frame and other parts. Exercise bikes are an investment; you can pay upwards of $1,000 upfront with the hope that your bike will last years, so it’s important to make sure you buy from a reputable brand. Some of our favorite brands are Schwinn, Bowflex, Carol, NordicTrack and Peloton.

Speed: What Is A Good Workout Speed On A Stationary Bike?

When using an exercise bike, how fast you’re peddling (and the resistance level) directly impact the effectiveness of your workout. Typically, beginners should aim to keep a pace of around 60 RPM, while more experienced bikers can strive for 80 to 100 RPM.

Comfort: How Can I Get Comfortable On A Stationary Bike?

Exercise bikes are a wonderful way for anyone to improve their fitness, but if the bike isn’t comfortable, it’s more likely to become a drying rack for your clothes than an exercise machine.

A lot of that boils down to the seat. Seats that are too hard or too small aren’t only uncomfortable—they can lead to tailbone pain, strain on your lower back and cause chafing and sores. Look for words like “ergonomic,” “padded” and “gel”—anything that suggests there is some cushioning. If the seat isn’t as comfortable as you were hoping it would be, you can always purchase a seat cushion or, in some cases, swap out the seat for one you like more.

Warranty: Should I Buy A Warranty On An Exercise Bike?

Exercise bikes can run thousands of dollars, so it’s important to choose one with a solid warranty program, meaning the manufacturer will repair or replace the bike if it breaks down within a certain timeframe. Each company has different policies, so look at each and compare how long the warranty lasts (1 to 5 years is the industry standard) and what it covers.

Height: What Is The Correct Height For An Exercise Bike?

For most people, it’s best to align the top of the seat to your hipbone. To check that the seat is at the right height, stand next the exercise bike, put your thumb on your hip and see if your palm is resting on the seat. If not, it may be too high or too low.

Calories: How Many Calories Does The Average Person Burn On A Stationary Bike?

The average person burns between 150 and 400 calories after 30 minutes on an exercise bike. Remember, though, that te amount of calories burned depends on individual factors like age, weight, height and the overall intensity of your workout.

What Is The Best Home Exercise Bike?

We’ve come across countless exercise bikes, but the Schwinn IC4 continues to reign as our overall favorite. It has 100 resistance levels and an adjustable design that makes it suitable for nearly any rider, plus you can integrate your workout with a variety of fitness apps like Peloton, Zwift and Explore the World.

Can You Lose Weight Using An Exercise Bike?

Absolutely, says Hodges. “Cycling is a form of exercise and to see a reduction in weight, you must be at a caloric deficit.” In other words: The calories burned from cycling can contribute to weight loss. “If your goal is to lose one pound per week, you should aim to burn an excess of 3,500 calories per week,” says Hodges. But for best results, he adds, “You’ll also have to consume less calories from food in addition to riding an exercise bike.”