Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as obsessive (in the best way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
And while we’ve covered different bikes before — including the best Peloton dupes and the best commuter bikes — here, we’ve rounded up the best home exercise bikes, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.
The best-rated home exercise bike overall
This upright Exerpeutic exercise bike has 18,158 reviews — the highest number on this list — and 75 percent of them are five stars. It has a magnetic tension-control system; this means that resistance is created by magnets moving closer and farther away from the flywheel (the weighted disc which sits at the front of the bike) as you cycle. This particular model offers eight levels of resistance, and, overall, reviewers said it offered a fantastic home workout for the price point. Fifteen reviewers commended how simple the bike was to maneuver; one woman, who shares a 12-inch height difference with her husband, praised how easy it was to adjust the seat to accommodate them both. Customers rated it 4.7 stars for sturdiness and 4.4 stars for comfort, with 127 reviewers saying they would definitely recommend it to others. In fact, one buyer said she bought this bike at the beginning of lockdown in 2020 to ease her boredom at home and now cycles 20 to 50 miles a day.
Best-rated (less expensive) exercise bike
This foldable exercise bike from Ultrasport has 15,683 reviews. Similar to the best-rated option, it generates resistance through electromagnetic induction and has eight resistance levels; however, its maximum weight recommendation is 100 kilograms (40 kilograms lower than the Exerpeutic bike). Customers agreed this bike provides a good workout level for the average person. Reviewers loved how lightweight and compact this bike is; one woman said this motivates her to exercise more, as she can easily move it into the living room for a quick cycle before work. Another even said it makes a stylish addition to her spare bedroom. It comes with a simple battery-powered LCD screen that shows your speed, distance, pulse, and calories burned. One man compared the bike’s heart monitor with the rating on his Apple watch, and was happily surprised with how accurate it was.
Best-rated (more expensive) exercise bike
Ninety-two percent of buyers rated this JOROTO exercise bike four stars and above. A total of 273 customers said they would recommend this option to anyone considering buying a home exercise bike. One reviewer, who exercises on this bike for 40 hours each week, said it’s revolutionised his home workouts. It has a 16-kilogram flywheel (typically, bikes that have a heavier flywheel — anything above ten kilograms — can offer a higher level of resistance). On this bike, resistance levels are controlled by a tension-control knob underneath the handlebars. While many were happy with this feature, one customer expressed frustration that the control knob has no markings to tell you what resistance level you’re on, making it harder to track your progress. A few reviewers commented that the bike is virtually silent when in use, making it a great option if you want to exercise without disturbing the rest of your household.
Best-rated high-resistance exercise bike
The 20-kilogram flywheel is the heaviest featured on this list, and the majority of customers said this bike provided a good workout and a challenging uphill sensation. The bike itself is 45 kilograms and can support up to 140 kilograms in weight (also the highest on this list). While some customers warned the added weight makes it difficult to maneuver, others commented this made it feel extremely sturdy. One reviewer, who is a keen cyclist, said he was happily surprised by how comfortable the bike is; a further 25 commented it was good value for money. The bike also has a small monitor attached to the handlebars that displays time, distance, speed, calories, pulse, and RPM (revolutions per minute).
Best-rated lightweight exercise bike
This UREVO resistance bike has a ten-kilogram flywheel (half the weight of the previous option). Ninety-five percent of 374 reviewers rated it four stars and above, and customers gave it five stars for value for money. The bike weighs 24 kilograms and has a maximum weight capacity of 118 kilograms; one customer said this bike offers the best of both worlds, as the flywheel is heavy enough that you can choose a challenging level of resistance, but it’s also lightweight, so it can be easily moved around or stored if necessary. Fifty reviewers said they would recommend this bike to others, and eight more described it as excellent quality. Customers also loved the fact it came with a free set of resistance bands and a floor mat; one woman even called it her best purchase of 2021.
Best-rated recumbent exercise bike
Seventy-one percent of customers rated this Sunny Health and Fitness option five stars. Recumbent bikes have lower seats and a slightly reclined backrest — a fantastic choice if you want an exercise bike that places less strain on your joints and back. Thirty-eight reviewers said the pedals moved smoothly; another seven referred to the bike as sturdy and comfortable. Customers were happy with how easy it was to assemble — one man said it took him just over 30 minutes — and a number of others commented on how simple the instructions were to follow. Similar to the others on this list, it has an LCD monitor that displays basic information like time, speed, and distance.
Best-rated AI smart exercise bike
Although this bike’s sample size was smaller than some on this list — 200 reviews in total — 87 percent of customers gave this option from RENPHO four stars and above. The bike automatically modifies resistance levels based on your power output and exercise goals, an intuitive feature which reviewers especially liked. It also provides up to 80 different levels of resistance — the largest range on this list — meaning it’s well-suited to a wide range of fitness goals. This feature is compatible with the Zwift and AI Gym apps, where you can access over 70 classes and five different training modes without having to pay for a membership. One customer said he couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of this bike, and 33 said they would definitely recommend it to others.
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