Exercise bikes are great for getting low-impact cardio into your regular workouts, but if you consider they need more comfort on the knees or hips, opting for a recumbent bike may be the best decision due to the “reclined” seating position.
Additionally, recumbent bikes can help you engage the anterior part of your legs a bit more efficiently—similarly to the leg press—by making the resistance a bit higher.
When choosing any of the best home gym equipment, you should always consider that a recumbent bike may also be a big investment.
So regardless you are looking for budget picks or high-end models, we have chosen bikes for every price category.
We reviewed the best 5 recumbent bikes, whether you want to have a more supportive seat, rounded pedals that eliminate the need for extra care, or you want to stream workouts on your phone, smart TV, or tablet!
5 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes
Our top pick for the best exercise bike is the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike because of its high-quality features like 25 resistance levels and multiple user profiles.
This recumbent bike is designed by Schwinn, a name famous for cycles — both outdoor and indoor.
The cushioned office chair-style popup seat supports up to 300 pounds and slides back and forth to adjust for use with the pedals.
During your regimen, a cushioned and ventilated seat provides lumbar support which is contoured ergonomically with the ability to adjust 19 inches back and forth while a built-in three-speed fan keeps you cool.
The Schwinn 170 model has a perimeter-weighted flywheel, ensuring smooth and stable riding.
The bike has 29 workout presets, meaning you can make use of its 25 resistance levels however you see fit.
The bike has an LCD display, and all workout data is saved and can be linked to any of the four user profiles for multiple members of the same household. The seat is ventilated and padded.
✯ PROS
25 resistance levels
Ventilated, padded seat
29 workout presets
✯ CONS
Assembling the bike is a task for two people
The app that goes with the bike needs improving
For those who are particularly fussy about getting an ideal fit for their recumbent bike, the Marcy ME 706 is the best choice.
The bike comes with enough legroom and an adjustable seat, which can be adjusted comfortably while you are seated.
The ME 706 is a strong bike that supports up to 300 pounds, making it suitable for different heights and weights.
The bike also has adjustable levelers. This functionality can balance the bike while it sits on the ground even on relatively uneven flooring.
The bike features 24 levels of magnetic resistance. The magnetic resistance provides a smooth and quiet ride and is maintenance-free.
An LCD display on this machine, powered via pedaling, has a standard backlit and a blue-tinted screen, as against many other more advanced and costlier ones.
Also, it has 23 workout programs to choose from. This display also monitors various crucial workout data: time, distance, RPM, speed, calories, and pulse.
✯ PROS
Quiet and smooth operation.
No external power supply is required.
Can be used by users of different sizes.
✯ CONS
Assembly can be a bit time-consuming.
There is no bottle holder.
NordicTrack’s newest recumbent bike model is our top high-tech pick. This machine features 26 levels of resistance and near-silent magnetic resistance.
It has a 14-inch high-definition smart touchscreen for live and on-demand iFIT workouts and classes.
Plus, the iFIT trainers take control of your on-screen bike, automatically adjusting your resistance to what you need in each workout.
Anyway, while you can opt in or out of the classes, you’ll need an iFit Membership to access them, which is a downside to the machine but is the same deal you’ll get with our highly-rated elliptical pick from NordicTrack.
It’ll cost a monthly fee after your 30-day free trial is over but you get world rides that mimic real life.
We believe that the additional cost is justified even though the device is a bit overpriced.
For that much money you not only get a home exercise bike but also get to virtually ride anywhere in the world thanks to an immersive screen and built-in GPS Maps!
In addition to that, the bike was designed with comfort in mind – lumbar support, a fully adjustable seat, and oversized pedals will help you feel great no matter what. As you might expect, we do have a few gripes with it:
✯ PROS
26 resistance levels to choose from
Comes with a 30-day iFIT membership
Trainers can adjust your resistance remotely
✯ CONS
Quite expensive
Most of the useful features require the iFIT membership.
Explore More In Our Exercise Equipment Reviews!
Afraid that your fitness equipment will not be able to bear much weight? If that fits at the top of your list, we would suggest considering the Sunny Health & Fitness recumbent bike.
It supports up to 350 pounds on its heavy-duty frame, which means you’ll be able to focus on lifting your body without pain instead of worrying about breaking the table.
With an additional oversized and comfortable seat on which you can adjust your backrest for posture correction and safety during exercise, the seat to take care of while pedaling allows you to find your ideal position quickly.
The bike has non-slip adjustable foot pedals with a large surface area to ensure stability while working out.
You’ll get eight resistance levels from the magnetic resistance flywheel, and with those moveable handlebars you also have the option to work out your whole body at once.
✯ PROS
Oversized seat and backrest
Non-slip pedal design
Full Body Workout
✯ CONS
Assembly is a bit tedious
The pedals may be more fragile than the rest of the bike
In case you are a fan of recumbent bike workouts to reduce knee pain, I’d suggest using the Star Trac recumbent exercise bike.
Being considered the best option in the category, this bike is a fully functional device with a steel frame that can support up to 350 pounds.
Additionally, there is no need for an external power source to make it work.
Except for the fact, that it features a one-piece crank system and twenty levels of resistance, to make its operation as convenient as possible.
Furthermore, a walk-through design and wrap-around adjustment tool of these recumbent bikes allow users to adjust seat position relative to the pedals in a very accurate way.
Being selected as the best option in the category, this device is the one recommended for usage.
In addition to that, the built-in fan keeps you from sweating excessively and an intuitive console provides all the key data points required for efficient workout tracking.
✯ PROS
Sturdy steel construction
20 resistance levels
The Layer Seat features this wrap-around seat adjustment mechanism
✯ CONS
Pricier than many other models
What to Look for When Buying The Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes:
✯ Weight and Height Capacity: This should reflect the weight, and height of all members (including yourself) using the bike.
Read the product description to find out what weight it can handle and how tall or short you need to be so you will be able to pedal safely.
✯ Adjustability: The perfect recumbent bike includes a seat and backrest that are adjustable for users with different leg lengths as well as pedals that come with an adjustable foot cage bracket.
When sitting on the exercise bike, your body is immediately in with the very best placement to reach the handlebars easily and control the display.
✯ Resistance: Recumbent bicycles generally have magnetic tension resistance on the flywheel for a smooth silky and quiet ride.
This lets you place as much intensity into your drive as required. Choose a bike with a range of resistance levels to get sweaty in different ways on each ride.
The basic idea is that the flywheel weight is directly related to how realistic the ride feels.
✯ Console Display: Not every bike will have a way to keep track of your performance, but in case you choose one with it, that is a good thing.
Because you can see your resistance level, time, speed—some of them even have heart rate monitors.”.
Check nothing more than the display cover that you require in order to keep an eye on your progress over a period of time.
Disclaimer: At Thriven Authority, we strive to provide clear and helpful information for our readers. All products listed are carefully curated by our editorial team, but we recommend using your discretion and seeking an expert’s opinion before using them. Prices and availability may change after publication. If you buy something via the links in this article, we may earn a commission
