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When you think of an at-home exercise bike, your mind likely jumps to a high-end brand with fancy equipment and luxe streaming services that sells a bike for upwards of $1,500. But what if we told you that you could get a home exercise bike with many of the same mechanical features, but at a third of the...
The post The Best Exercise Bikes Under $500 of 2024 — Expert Tested and Reviewed appeared first on BarBend.
When you think of an at-home exercise bike, your mind likely jumps to a high-end brand with fancy equipment and luxe streaming services that sells a bike for upwards of $1,500. But what if we told you that you could get a home exercise bike with many of the same mechanical features, but at a third of the price? Affordable exercise bikes offer the same health benefits as their fancier counterparts, including a low-impact, beginner-friendly workout that boosts cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. (1)(2)
We’ve tested over 20 exercise bikes and curated the best at a super low price point. These exercise bikes all come in under $500 (likely less than your annual gym membership) while still offering the necessary features, comfort, and durability that you want in a piece of cardio equipment. Whether you’re looking for a gentle recumbent bike, one to slide under your desk as you work, or a studio-style bike for a more intense cycling experience, there’s an affordable exercise bike option here for you. Keep reading to see our picks for the best exercise bikes under $500.
The Best Exercise Bikes Under $500
About our Expert
This article has been reviewed by Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, a certified personal trainer, CrossFit Level 1 instructor, and BarBend editorial team member. She reviewed the research we cite and the exercise bikes we listed to help ensure we’re providing helpful, accurate descriptions and recommendations.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes Under $500
Investing in exercise equipment is a big deal. As a customer, you likely can’t vet every option yourself — but that’s where BarBend steps in to help. Our team has been testing fitness equipment, including exercise bikes, for years. We combed through countless models online and tried more than 20 of the best exercise bikes on the market to sort out which are worth a purchase.
Our group of expert testers (including certified personal trainers and an Olympic lifter) evaluated them on criteria including footprint and portability, durability, adjustability and ergonomics, tech capabilities, warranty, and even customer service. The result: these eight picks, which we think will serve you well. Here are a few factors we paid special attention to when picking these eight bikes.
Durability
When you’re buying a low-cost piece of exercise equipment, you may have doubts about quality and durability — especially because you, or your friends or family members will be the one sitting (or, in the case of low-cost treadmills, running) with your full body weight on the machine in question. Luckily, you don’t need to spend big bucks to get a machine that’ll last, and many of the budget exercise bikes we tested and examined surprised us with their sturdiness and follow-through. In fact, we have only included reliable options that we have tested on this list.
When you’re spending under $500, the warranties tend to be limited, but they can make or break your experience with a bike, so that affected our decisions, too. The most durable bikes offer a 10-year warranty, but our certified personal trainer recommends looking for “at least five years on the frame, two years on parts, and one year for labor.”
Price
If you’re here, you’re not looking to spend $2,000+ on an exercise bike, and we understand that. That’s why we curated a list of bikes that range in price and features, so you can spend as little or much as you want and get only the things you need. At the absolute maximum, though, these bikes will cost $499.99 on the dot.
Features
Budget bikes may not have all the techy features included in high-end workout equipment, but they should still cover the basics. We kept an eye out for all the necessities, like a water bottle holder, media shelf, and adjustable parts to fit riders of different sizes. Beyond that, it’s up to you which features matter for your individual workout needs and goals — because no bike in this price range really has it all. However, we’ve included a range of different options with varying features, so there is likely a fit for you here.
Best Overall Exercise Bike Under $500: Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
Yosuda YB001R Exercise Bike
Yosuda YB001R Exercise Bike
Smooth and quiet cycling with a 35 lb flywheel and attached transport wheels so you can cruise where you want to. Simple LCD screen with a lip for an iPad, tablet, or phone.
Shop Yosuda
Specs
Pros
Cons
The Yosuda YB001R Indoor Cycling Bike is our pick for the overall best exercise bike under $500, as it offers a pretty solid workout experience for an affordable price tag.
This is a cycling-style bike, like those you’ll see in organized cycling classes. One of the standout features is the 35-pound flywheel (the spinning metal disc that provides resistance and momentum as you pedal). Generally, the heavier the flywheels the better, as it offers a less jerky ride. This one is almost on par with higher-end bikes like the Peloton Bike or Echelon Connect EX-8s, which both have 38-pound flywheels but go for about $1,500 and $3,000, respectively.
The Yosuda has a heavy flywheel, but small footprint, coming in significantly shorter length- and height-wise than a Peloton Bike. That’s why our expert tester and certified personal trainer gave it a 4 out of 5 for footprint and portability. “It’s quite compact and easy to move, thanks to transport wheels under the handlebars,” they say. Reviewers agree that it’s an especially great option for small living spaces, like apartments, or slipping into the corner of a room.
Our tester riding a Yosuda YB001R exercise bike
Otherwise, the bike has pretty standard features, with quiet magnetic resistance, a water bottle holder, a tablet shelf, a four-way adjustable seat, adjustable handlebars, and an LCD display that rotates between stats. “The digital display is nothing fancy, but it has the basics,” our expert tester says.
While this is the best budget bike we’ve found, it’s still a budget bike. Customers have some concerns about its durability, as does our tester. “It’s a great price but it’s not a very durable bike,” our expert tester admits. “I already have some tears in the bike seat, the LCD monitor can be wobbly, and I noticed that the pedal strap comes apart easily. Many people will probably need to replace it within a couple of years, which is fine if you’re looking for a quick fix but it’s not if you want a forever bike.”
For that reason, they gave this bike a 3 out of 5 for value, despite its low price. (You’re covered by a limited warranty after purchase, but it times out after six months for parts, one year for labor, and three years for the frame.) The good news is that customers who’ve taken advantage of it have great things to say about their customer service.
Best Recumbent Exercise Bike Under $500: Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
This bike isn't fancy, but it still has everything you need for a solid at-home cardio workout. It offers eight levels of magnetic resistance, and you can track your stats on the LCD display screen.
Shop Amazon
Specs
Pros
Cons
If you’re shopping for an exercise bike because you want a low-impact cardio workout, are a beginner or senior, or are dealing with an injury, it may be smart to choose a recumbent bike instead of an upright bike. A recumbent bike is a type of stationary bike where the seat is situated far behind the pedals rather than above them. This means more of your body weight is in the seat versus in the pedals, making it easier to pedal and putting less force on your lower-body joints. Recumbent bikes also have backrests, so your torso is supported while you ride.
“Recumbent bikes allow people with mobility limitations or injuries to enjoy cycling, as they are reclined and take pressure off of the hips and back,” says Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and our expert reviewer. This Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike, in particular, has a 300lb user weight limit (above the industry average), making it a great exercise bike for heavy riders as well.
This bike doesn’t have tons of bells and whistles, but it has all you need to get a decent cardio workout. Adjust the magnetic resistance within eight present levels while you ride, and see basic stats on your time, speed, distance, and calories burned on the little LCD screen. There’s no media shelf to hold a tablet, phone, or book, so this could be a better exercise bike option if you’re planning to pedal while doing audio-only workouts or watching something on your TV.
The limited warranty runs out after two years, but reviewers have good things to say about its durability. (It’s earned a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from a collective 20,000+ reviews.) Many happy customers report using this bike for years without any issues, logging multi-hour workouts many times per week. “This machine reminds me of an old truck I used to own: looked terrible, but ran like a champ,” one reviewer writes. “The bike is approaching 9000 [miles] on the odometer and is showing its age, but has otherwise held up well.” And at just $250 — the price of about 50 to-go lattes — that kind of performance just can’t be beat.
Best Adjustable Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
This bike has a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars to accommodate riders of varying sizes. It also offers a 49-pound flywheel — this heavy weight offers a consistent ride.
Shop Sunny Health & Fitness
Specs
Pros
Cons
If you typically ride outside or in a cycling class, you’re used to setting up your bike, so it fits you exactly. With the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike, you can nearly replicate that fit and feel at home, thanks to the highly adjustable seat and handlebars. Both can be moved vertically, and the seat can also slide forward and back. With these tweaks, the bike can support riders up to 275 pounds and with a 31” to 42” inseam.
Once you find your ideal setup, you can ride hard without worry. In Amazon reviews, customers are impressed with how sturdy the bike feels, even when riding out of the saddle, thanks to the alloy steel frame and floor stabilizers. (It earned a 4.4 out of 5 overall rating after 6,000+ reviews.) The 49-pound flywheel and belt-drive system means this bike is smooth and quiet. “I can ride out of the saddle vigorously with no movement or instability. Thing is a rock,” one review wrote.
This is the only bike on this list with friction-based resistance. When you turn up the resistance, there’s a little leather strip that gets pressed against the flywheel to make pedaling harder. This means you have to judge the resistance level yourself by feel, and it isn’t always consistent from ride to ride, reviewers note. You’ll also need to keep it lubricated, so it doesn’t get noisy and, after a while, replace the leather completely, since it wears out with use. The common alternative, magnetic resistance, doesn’t require any upkeep but typically costs a little more at the outset.
The bike doesn’t have any onboard tech, though you can purchase a cadence or speed monitor separately to track your ride metrics if you’re invested. (And if you buy the bike on Sunny’s website instead of Amazon, they’ll throw in one for free.) You can then connect the monitor to a cycling app like Peloton or Zwift, or the brand’s completely free workout app called SunnyFit, which streams 1,300+ different types of workouts, including cycling, running, strength, stretching, and rowing.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike is a simple, solid exercise bike that doesn’t offer anything fancy, but doesn’t have any real downsides, either. And because it doesn’t come with much, you can customize the bike to your liking. As one reviewer puts it: “All in all, this is an excellent machine and at this price point, it’s also a phenomenal value.”
Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500: Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
This bike has a standard LCD display and offers a comfortable seat that places you directly upright for your ride. It's also quite compact, making it great for home use.
...
Click here to view the article.
The post The Best Exercise Bikes Under $500 of 2024 — Expert Tested and Reviewed appeared first on BarBend.
When you think of an at-home exercise bike, your mind likely jumps to a high-end brand with fancy equipment and luxe streaming services that sells a bike for upwards of $1,500. But what if we told you that you could get a home exercise bike with many of the same mechanical features, but at a third of the price? Affordable exercise bikes offer the same health benefits as their fancier counterparts, including a low-impact, beginner-friendly workout that boosts cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength. (1)(2)
We’ve tested over 20 exercise bikes and curated the best at a super low price point. These exercise bikes all come in under $500 (likely less than your annual gym membership) while still offering the necessary features, comfort, and durability that you want in a piece of cardio equipment. Whether you’re looking for a gentle recumbent bike, one to slide under your desk as you work, or a studio-style bike for a more intense cycling experience, there’s an affordable exercise bike option here for you. Keep reading to see our picks for the best exercise bikes under $500.
The Best Exercise Bikes Under $500
- Best Overall Exercise Bike Under $500: Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
- Best Recumbent Exercise Bike Under $500: Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
- Best Adjustable Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
- Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500: Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
- Best Exercise Bike Under $500 for Small Spaces: Sharper Image Space Saving Stationary Bike
- Best Budget Exercise Bike Under $500: Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Bike
- Best Magnetic Exercise Bike Under $500: JOROTO X2 Indoor Exercise Bike
- Best Folding Exercise Bike Under $500: Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike
About our Expert
This article has been reviewed by Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, a certified personal trainer, CrossFit Level 1 instructor, and BarBend editorial team member. She reviewed the research we cite and the exercise bikes we listed to help ensure we’re providing helpful, accurate descriptions and recommendations.
How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes Under $500
Investing in exercise equipment is a big deal. As a customer, you likely can’t vet every option yourself — but that’s where BarBend steps in to help. Our team has been testing fitness equipment, including exercise bikes, for years. We combed through countless models online and tried more than 20 of the best exercise bikes on the market to sort out which are worth a purchase.
Our group of expert testers (including certified personal trainers and an Olympic lifter) evaluated them on criteria including footprint and portability, durability, adjustability and ergonomics, tech capabilities, warranty, and even customer service. The result: these eight picks, which we think will serve you well. Here are a few factors we paid special attention to when picking these eight bikes.
Durability
When you’re buying a low-cost piece of exercise equipment, you may have doubts about quality and durability — especially because you, or your friends or family members will be the one sitting (or, in the case of low-cost treadmills, running) with your full body weight on the machine in question. Luckily, you don’t need to spend big bucks to get a machine that’ll last, and many of the budget exercise bikes we tested and examined surprised us with their sturdiness and follow-through. In fact, we have only included reliable options that we have tested on this list.
When you’re spending under $500, the warranties tend to be limited, but they can make or break your experience with a bike, so that affected our decisions, too. The most durable bikes offer a 10-year warranty, but our certified personal trainer recommends looking for “at least five years on the frame, two years on parts, and one year for labor.”
Price
If you’re here, you’re not looking to spend $2,000+ on an exercise bike, and we understand that. That’s why we curated a list of bikes that range in price and features, so you can spend as little or much as you want and get only the things you need. At the absolute maximum, though, these bikes will cost $499.99 on the dot.
Features
Budget bikes may not have all the techy features included in high-end workout equipment, but they should still cover the basics. We kept an eye out for all the necessities, like a water bottle holder, media shelf, and adjustable parts to fit riders of different sizes. Beyond that, it’s up to you which features matter for your individual workout needs and goals — because no bike in this price range really has it all. However, we’ve included a range of different options with varying features, so there is likely a fit for you here.
Best Overall Exercise Bike Under $500: Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
Yosuda YB001R Exercise Bike
Yosuda YB001R Exercise Bike
Smooth and quiet cycling with a 35 lb flywheel and attached transport wheels so you can cruise where you want to. Simple LCD screen with a lip for an iPad, tablet, or phone.
Shop Yosuda
Specs
- Price: $439.99
- Dimensions: 40? L x 22? W x 45? H
- Weight: 68lbs
- Resistance Type: Magnetic
- Max User Capacity: 270lbs
Pros
- The heavy-duty flywheel weighs 35 pounds — close to that of best-in-industry bikes.
- This bike is super compact, measuring 19 inches shorter in length and 8 inches shorter in height than a Peloton Bike.
- There’s an iPad mount just under the LCD screen, the latter of which can connect via Bluetooth to your smartwatch or heart-rate monitor.
Cons
- Some customers have complained that the pedals fell off while riding or otherwise have concerns about the bike’s durability.
- Our tester and other reviewers say the bike seat is uncomfortable, and recommend swapping it or buying a padded seat cover.
- The LCD screen only displays basic stats, not including RPM, and can be difficult to read.
The Yosuda YB001R Indoor Cycling Bike is our pick for the overall best exercise bike under $500, as it offers a pretty solid workout experience for an affordable price tag.
This is a cycling-style bike, like those you’ll see in organized cycling classes. One of the standout features is the 35-pound flywheel (the spinning metal disc that provides resistance and momentum as you pedal). Generally, the heavier the flywheels the better, as it offers a less jerky ride. This one is almost on par with higher-end bikes like the Peloton Bike or Echelon Connect EX-8s, which both have 38-pound flywheels but go for about $1,500 and $3,000, respectively.
The Yosuda has a heavy flywheel, but small footprint, coming in significantly shorter length- and height-wise than a Peloton Bike. That’s why our expert tester and certified personal trainer gave it a 4 out of 5 for footprint and portability. “It’s quite compact and easy to move, thanks to transport wheels under the handlebars,” they say. Reviewers agree that it’s an especially great option for small living spaces, like apartments, or slipping into the corner of a room.
Otherwise, the bike has pretty standard features, with quiet magnetic resistance, a water bottle holder, a tablet shelf, a four-way adjustable seat, adjustable handlebars, and an LCD display that rotates between stats. “The digital display is nothing fancy, but it has the basics,” our expert tester says.
While this is the best budget bike we’ve found, it’s still a budget bike. Customers have some concerns about its durability, as does our tester. “It’s a great price but it’s not a very durable bike,” our expert tester admits. “I already have some tears in the bike seat, the LCD monitor can be wobbly, and I noticed that the pedal strap comes apart easily. Many people will probably need to replace it within a couple of years, which is fine if you’re looking for a quick fix but it’s not if you want a forever bike.”
For that reason, they gave this bike a 3 out of 5 for value, despite its low price. (You’re covered by a limited warranty after purchase, but it times out after six months for parts, one year for labor, and three years for the frame.) The good news is that customers who’ve taken advantage of it have great things to say about their customer service.
Best Recumbent Exercise Bike Under $500: Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike
This bike isn't fancy, but it still has everything you need for a solid at-home cardio workout. It offers eight levels of magnetic resistance, and you can track your stats on the LCD display screen.
Shop Amazon
Specs
- Price: $249.99
- Dimensions: 58? L x 20? W x 38? H
- Weight: 53lbs
- Resistance Type: Magnetic
- Max User Capacity: 300lbs
Pros
- A recumbent bike places less impact on your hips and knees, making it a gentler and more beginner-friendly option than an upright or cycling bike.
- Not all recumbent bikes are movable, but this one can be tilted up onto the transport wheels and is only about 50lbs (compared to other recumbent bikes, which can weigh up to 200lbs).
- At $250, this is the cheapest non-folding exercise bike on this list.
Cons
- The seat back and bottom aren’t individually adjustable; you have to move the whole seat section of the bike to find a fit according to your height.
- There’s no device shelf, so you won’t have a place to set your phone or tablet if you like to use them to stream classes.
- You can increase the resistance, but otherwise, recumbent bikes limit your workout intensity, as you don’t need as much core engagement and don’t have the option to stand. (3)
If you’re shopping for an exercise bike because you want a low-impact cardio workout, are a beginner or senior, or are dealing with an injury, it may be smart to choose a recumbent bike instead of an upright bike. A recumbent bike is a type of stationary bike where the seat is situated far behind the pedals rather than above them. This means more of your body weight is in the seat versus in the pedals, making it easier to pedal and putting less force on your lower-body joints. Recumbent bikes also have backrests, so your torso is supported while you ride.
“Recumbent bikes allow people with mobility limitations or injuries to enjoy cycling, as they are reclined and take pressure off of the hips and back,” says Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and our expert reviewer. This Marcy Magnetic Recumbent Bike, in particular, has a 300lb user weight limit (above the industry average), making it a great exercise bike for heavy riders as well.
This bike doesn’t have tons of bells and whistles, but it has all you need to get a decent cardio workout. Adjust the magnetic resistance within eight present levels while you ride, and see basic stats on your time, speed, distance, and calories burned on the little LCD screen. There’s no media shelf to hold a tablet, phone, or book, so this could be a better exercise bike option if you’re planning to pedal while doing audio-only workouts or watching something on your TV.
The limited warranty runs out after two years, but reviewers have good things to say about its durability. (It’s earned a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from a collective 20,000+ reviews.) Many happy customers report using this bike for years without any issues, logging multi-hour workouts many times per week. “This machine reminds me of an old truck I used to own: looked terrible, but ran like a champ,” one reviewer writes. “The bike is approaching 9000 [miles] on the odometer and is showing its age, but has otherwise held up well.” And at just $250 — the price of about 50 to-go lattes — that kind of performance just can’t be beat.
Best Adjustable Exercise Bike Under $500: Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Trainer
This bike has a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars to accommodate riders of varying sizes. It also offers a 49-pound flywheel — this heavy weight offers a consistent ride.
Shop Sunny Health & Fitness
Specs
- Price: $399
- Dimensions: 54? L x 19? W x 44.8” H
- Weight: 113lbs
- Resistance Type: Friction
- Max User Capacity: 275lbs
Pros
- This model has a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars, accommodating heights from 5’2” to 6’1”.
- The 49-pound flywheel is one of the heaviest we’ve seen, which helps deliver a super consistent ride with plenty of resistance.
- Customers love using this bike with the Peloton app, saving over $1,000 compared to the popular brand’s bike.
Cons
- This bike uses friction resistance (instead of magnetic), which can be less precise and consistent, and requires some maintenance.
- There’s no shelf to set your phone or tablet; however, you can buy a mount separately that’s specifically designed for this bike for under $20.
- There’s no display — you can buy cadence and speed sensors separately, which can connect via Bluetooth to your cycling app of choice.
If you typically ride outside or in a cycling class, you’re used to setting up your bike, so it fits you exactly. With the Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike, you can nearly replicate that fit and feel at home, thanks to the highly adjustable seat and handlebars. Both can be moved vertically, and the seat can also slide forward and back. With these tweaks, the bike can support riders up to 275 pounds and with a 31” to 42” inseam.
Once you find your ideal setup, you can ride hard without worry. In Amazon reviews, customers are impressed with how sturdy the bike feels, even when riding out of the saddle, thanks to the alloy steel frame and floor stabilizers. (It earned a 4.4 out of 5 overall rating after 6,000+ reviews.) The 49-pound flywheel and belt-drive system means this bike is smooth and quiet. “I can ride out of the saddle vigorously with no movement or instability. Thing is a rock,” one review wrote.
This is the only bike on this list with friction-based resistance. When you turn up the resistance, there’s a little leather strip that gets pressed against the flywheel to make pedaling harder. This means you have to judge the resistance level yourself by feel, and it isn’t always consistent from ride to ride, reviewers note. You’ll also need to keep it lubricated, so it doesn’t get noisy and, after a while, replace the leather completely, since it wears out with use. The common alternative, magnetic resistance, doesn’t require any upkeep but typically costs a little more at the outset.
The bike doesn’t have any onboard tech, though you can purchase a cadence or speed monitor separately to track your ride metrics if you’re invested. (And if you buy the bike on Sunny’s website instead of Amazon, they’ll throw in one for free.) You can then connect the monitor to a cycling app like Peloton or Zwift, or the brand’s completely free workout app called SunnyFit, which streams 1,300+ different types of workouts, including cycling, running, strength, stretching, and rowing.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycling Bike is a simple, solid exercise bike that doesn’t offer anything fancy, but doesn’t have any real downsides, either. And because it doesn’t come with much, you can customize the bike to your liking. As one reviewer puts it: “All in all, this is an excellent machine and at this price point, it’s also a phenomenal value.”
Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500: Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
Schwinn 130 Upright Bike
This bike has a standard LCD display and offers a comfortable seat that places you directly upright for your ride. It's also quite compact, making it great for home use.
...
Click here to view the article.
