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We Found the Best Recumbent Bikes for Comfortable Cardio At Home
Our favorites deliver an effective, low-impact workout
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Alena Hall is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and fitness. Alena worked as a fitness trainer for two years. She also has experience in private yoga training.
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Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching.
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Isabella Broggini is a health writer and editor, NASM-certified personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. She is the associate editorial director for Verywell Fit.
Verywell / Sabrina Jiang
Recumbent exercise bikes are an effective way to add cardio to your home gym routine. A recumbent bike also promotes good spinal alignment because of the way you sit which may help reduce lower back pain and pressure, allowing for a more comfortable ride. In addition, these machines can benefit those age 65 and older who want to stay active safely, people of all ages recovering from injuries, and anyone looking for a low-impact way to improve their cardiovascular fitness. “Recumbent bikes are also a great way to increase strength in your lower extremities as well as mobility,” says physical therapist Candace Morton, PT, DPT.
A good recumbent bike should have a high height and weight capacity, adjustable components, varying resistance levels, and an easy-to-read display. “All of these features allow you to have a more comfortable and customizable ride in which you can achieve your fitness goals,” Morton says. To find the best recumbent bikes, we consulted experts like Morton to learn which key features all top models should have. Then, we reviewed recumbent bikes from trusted, popular fitness brands based on their weight, height capacity, sturdiness, comfort, and overall value. We also had a certified personal trainer from our Review Board review this article for accuracy, including how to shop for a recumbent bike, how safely use one, and who can benefit most from them.
Does a recumbent bike give you a good workout?
Yes: “Recumbent bikes can be a great benefit to some in achieving the goal to become more functional,” says Dan Jonhenry, expert trainer at Retro Fitness. These bikes provide a quality aerobic workout that benefits your cardiovascular system over time. It's a particularly helpful workout for beginners who need a machine that provides more stability, people with joint problems looking for a low-impact form of movement, and seniors focused on longevity.
“When exercising on a recumbent bike, you’ll use your quadriceps, hamstrings, shins, calves, and glutes,” Jonhenry says. It’s also good for your knees and hips, especially for individuals with osteoarthritis, as it's low-impact but increases blood flow and joint fluid, according to Dan Macera, PT, DPT, clinic director at Pappas OPT Physical, Sports and Hand Therapy.
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25 resistance levels
Ventilated, padded seat
29 workout presets
Assembly requires more than one person
Paired app needs improvement
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward | Resistance: Perimeter weighted flywheel with 25 resistance levels | Product Weight: 86.6 pounds | Dimensions: 64 x 27.7 x 49.9 inches
Why We Love It
We chose the Schwinn 270 Recumbent bike as our top overall pick because of its 25 resistance levels, ability to store multiple user profiles, and other impressive features. A household name in the cycling realm, including indoor cycling bikes, Schwinn built this recumbent bike with home riders in mind. It has a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds and a sliding seat to adjust for your ideal pedal position. The seat is padded, well-ventilated, and contoured to provide lumbar support as you exercise. Plus, the three-speed fan keeps you cool throughout your workout.
The perimeter-weighted flywheel makes for a smooth ride, and 29 workout presets allow you to take advantage of the bike’s many resistance levels, giving you the exact intensity you want. Moreover, the LCD display lets you store workouts across four different user profiles, so everyone in your home can keep track of their fitness data.
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Heavy-duty construction
Clear and sharp LCD display
Comfortable seat and handles
Fewer resistance settings than other options
Stiffer seat
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward | Resistance: Magnetic resistance mechanism with eight resistance levels | Product Weight: 61 pounds | Dimensions: 55.5 x 25 x 37.5 inches
Why We Love It
For a fraction of the price of other bikes on our list, you can enjoy this recumbent design from Marcy. The heavy-duty construction supports a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds, and the seat slides to accommodate a wide range of leg lengths. The step-through design makes it easy and safe to hop on and off whenever you’re ready to exercise, and the magnetic resistance mechanism provides eight different resistance levels for you to customize your workout based on your needs.
We love that the LCD display allows for a clear and sharp readout of your time, speed, distance, and calories burned in extra-large numbers, so you won’t feel compelled to hunch forward in the high-density foam seat. Finally, the bike features contoured, foam-covered handles for extra support as you ride, keeping your form intact and your back free of pain.
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Quiet and smooth
No power source needed
Accommodates wide range of users
Assembly is a bit tedious
No water bottle holder
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward | Resistance: Magnetic resistance flywheel with 24 resistance levels | Product Weight: 105 pounds | Dimensions: 57 x 24 x 42 inches
Why We Love It
If you’re particularly concerned about getting the right fit on your recumbent bike, we suggest trying Marcy’s ME 706 bike. Designed to allow for plenty of legroom, it boasts an adjustable seat that fits most users and can be adjusted while you’re seated on the bike.
The well-built, heavy-duty bike can also support up to 300 pounds, so it’s a great option if you need to accommodate a wide range of heights and weights. Also, the bike features adjustable levelers that allow you to balance out the bike on most surfaces—including on slightly uneven flooring.
The bike’s magnetic resistance has 24 levels and provides a smooth, quiet ride. The LCD display, which is powered through pedaling, has 23 workout programs and shows workout stats such as time, distance, RPM, speed, calories, and pulse.
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Oversized seat and backrest
Non-slip pedal design
Works both your upper and lower body
Assembly is a bit tedious
Pedals may not be as durable as the rest of the bike
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward, foot pedals adjust, and handlebars move | Resistance: Magnetic resistance flywheel with 8 resistance levels | Product Weight: 95.8 pounds | Dimensions: 60 x 25.5 x 52 inches
Why We Love It
Worried when it comes to the weight capacity of your fitness equipment? If that's your primary concern, we recommend this recumbent bike from Sunny Health & Fitness, which features a heavy-duty frame that safely supports up to 350 pounds.
Its oversized seat and backrest provide the posture-correcting support you need for a safe workout and the seat is easily adjusted while you're already on the bike, so you can find your ideal position and get right to pedaling.
Speaking of pedals, this bike includes non-slip adjustable foot pedals with a large surface area for stability. Meanwhile, the magnetic resistance flywheel allows you to choose from eight different resistance levels during your workout, and the moveable handlebars give you an excellent total-body workout option.
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26 resistance options
30-day iFIT membership
Trainers can adjust your resistance remotely
Expensive
Many features can't be accessed without iFIT membership
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward, plus adjustable handlebars | Resistance: Magnetic resistance flywheel with 26 resistance levels | Product Weight: 192 pounds | Dimensions: 68.22 x 23.69 x 53.42 inches
Why We Love It
NordicTrack's latest recumbent bike model is our favorite high-tech pick. Even more feature-packed than the previous model, this bike has 26 resistance options and magnetic resistance that should be near silent. It comes with a 14-inch high-definition smart touchscreen where you can stream live and on-demand cycling classes. Plus, if you choose to take a trainer-led class on the bike, iFIT trainers can automatically adjust your resistance remotely, ensuring you always get the best workout.
The one caveat is that you can only access the instructor-led classes with an iFIT Membership, as is the case with other NordicTrack equipment like their elliptical, which is one of the best ellipticals on the market. You'll get a 30-day trial included with the purchase of this bike, but once that ends you'll have to shell out additional money per month to keep those perks. We think the extra cost is well worth it, as it will also allow you to ride anywhere in the world through the immersive screen, thanks to built-in GPS Maps technology.
Other than being extremely functional, this bike is also very comfortable. It features lumbar support, especially beneficial for exercisers with low back pain, a fully adjustable seat, and oversized pedals for every foot size and shape.
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Sturdy steel construction
20 resistance levels
Wrap-around seat adjustment mechanism
More expensive than other models
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward with wrap-around adjustment mechanism | Resistance: One-piece cranking system with 20 resistance levels | Product Weight: 212 pounds | Dimensions: 66 x 28 x 53 inches
Why We Love It
If you gravitate to recumbent bike workouts because of knee pain, we suggest you try this top-of-the-line Star Trac bike. This steel-framed bike supports a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds and doesn’t require an external power source for operation.
The one-piece crank system offers twenty different levels of resistance, so you can customize the intensity of your workout easily. The walk-through design paired with the wrap-around seat adjustment mechanism—which allows you to truly customize how far or close your seat is to the bike's pedals—prevent you from putting your knees in potentially painful positions.
Meanwhile, the built-in fan keeps you cool, and the dashboard shares all the statistics you need to keep track of your workouts.
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Thick, padded seat cushion and backrest
Bluetooth connectivity for digital devices
16 resistance levels
May be too lightweight for intense exercise
Not for taller riders
Key Specs
Maximum Weight Capacity: 380 pounds | Adjustability: Seat slides forward and backward | Resistance: Magnetic resistance flywheel with 16 levels | Product Weight: 53 pounds | Dimensions: 45 x 20 x 40 inches
Why We Love It
For beginner exercisers, we recommend Vanswe’s Recumbent Exercise Bike as an ideal entry-level machine that’s easy to use and extremely comfortable. With a weight capacity of 380 pounds and an adjustable seat, it can accommodate a wide variety of riders. It also has a thick, plush seat cushion and backrest to ensure proper posture.
Although it’s a fairly basic and inexpensive bike, we love that it still comes with features such as Bluetooth connectivity, heart rate sensors, and a wide, bright LCD screen that displays time, distance, speed, pulse, and calories.
The bike’s magnetic resistance system provides quiet, smooth pedaling and offers 16 resistance levels, so you can change the degree of difficulty as you become more fit. Plus, it has a stand to hold your tablet so you can watch your favorite shows as you’re riding.
What to Look for When Shopping for Recumbent Exercise Bikes
- Weight and Height Capacity: Double-check the weight capacity—make sure the bike you’re eyeing has the stability that you and other riders in your household may need. Also, check the height range listed in the product description to ensure you’ll be able to pedal comfortably.
- Adjustability: Your recumbent bike should have an adjustable seat and backrest to suit your leg length, plus an adjustable foot cage for secure pedaling. “With your feet on the pedals and the pedals furthest away from the seat, your knees should have a 25-to-30-degree bend to them,” says Shelby Morrison, certified personal trainer and owner of ShelbyFit. Proper positioning allows you to reach and hold the handlebars comfortably, as well as use any controls on the display screen.
- Resistance: Most recumbent bikes use magnetic tension resistance on the flywheel to create a quiet and smooth ride that can be as challenging as you want it to be. Make sure your bike has enough resistance levels to provide different levels of difficulty. When it comes to the flywheel itself, the heavier it is, the more realistic your riding experience will be.
- Monitor Display: “While all bikes don’t have a display, it can be helpful,” Morrison says. “Most people will work harder [with a monitor], since you can see the level of resistance, your time, your speed—some even have a heart rate monitor.” Regardless, be sure the display gives you the basic information you need to track your progress over time.
How We Selected the Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes
To find the best recumbent exercise bikes, we researched dozens of machines from top fitness equipment retailers and brands, opting for best-sellers and options with stellar customer feedback. We also reached out to experts—including two licensed physical therapists and two certified personal trainers—for recommendations and advice on what to look for when selecting recumbent exercise bikes.
To narrow down our options, we evaluated bikes based on their features, ease of assembly and use, adjustability, sturdiness, comfort, and value. We also considered each bike's price point to find models that suit a variety of needs and users.
Our Experts
We consulted experts at every stage while researching and reporting this story. Some, like Morton, explained the benefits of recumbent bikes and how they can improve your at-home fitness routines. Others, like Morrison, taught us which key features to look for in the best models. Although we choose products independently, expert input influences our decisions.
- Candace Morton, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at ProRehab in Louisville, KY
- Shelby Morrison, certified personal trainer and owner of ShelbyFit
- Dan Macera, PT, DPT, clinic director at Pappas OPT Physical, Sports and Hand Therapy
- Dan Jonhenry, expert trainer at Retro Fitness
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for me, an upright exercise bike or recumbent bike?
Both recumbent bikes and upright exercise bikes are good for improving your fitness, but there are differences in how you sit and how it affects your body. “An upright bike increases gluteus max, abdominal, and back muscle activation compared to a recumbent bike and typically burns more calories,” Dr. Macera says. “However, for those who have limited mobility or balance, the recumbent bike can be a safer option and more appropriate.” For example, people with back problems tend to find a recumbent bike to be more comfortable.
How much does a high-quality recumbent exercise bike cost?
For a quality exercise bike, you can expect to spend between $145 and $2,000. Our experts recommend investing in a bike in the $300 to $600 range unless you have a large household or you're planning on using the bike daily, in which case it may be worth splurging on a pricier model.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands the importance of not just staying active but doing so in a safe and smart way. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to condition-specific products to homeopathic essential oils, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life.
Additional reporting by Christine Luff, ACE-CPT
A certified personal trainer, running coach, gym buff, and fitness writer, Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, spends countless hours researching and testing the latest exercise gear and gadgets. When various injuries have sidelined her during marathon training, she has enjoyed rehabbing on the recumbent bike.
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