Similar to ellipticals and treadmills, stationary bikes are a common home gym equipment that can motivate you to move, particularly in the era of fitness behemoths like Soul Cycle and Peloton. However, Peloton isn’t your only choice because of its history of equipment safety recalls.
We evaluated exercise bikes under $2,000 and spoke with professionals about crucial factors to invest in the finest bike for your needs in order to help you focus your search.
GO Ahead and SkipWhere to find the greatest exercise bikes, how to choose the best stationary bike for you, what about Peloton, and why should you trust NBC Select?
Selected.
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Best overallBowflex C6 Bike
$799.00$999.00Bowflex
Learn more
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Best budget pickYosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
$263.99$329.99Amazon
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Best splurgeBowflex VeloCore Bike
$999.00$1,799.00Bowflex
Learn more
How we picked the best stationary bikes
Here are some important considerations that our experts advise making when you buy for a bike in order to locate one that meets your needs:
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Weight
: Exercise bikes typically have a weight limit for users our options can hold at least 270 pounds. -
Price
: A basic indoor bike will easily run you a few hundred dollars or more. -
Adjustability
: All of the bikes we recommend have either adjustable handlebars, seats (or a combination of the two) and resistance knobs. Keep in mind that unlike most of the higher-end models, budget stationary bikes don t typically list how many resistance levels they have. -
Subscriptions and connectivity
: Smart bikes may require monthly subscriptions, especially when it comes to on-demand training and cycling classes. They also include metric consoles and the capability to link your workouts to apps and social media. -
Warranty
: For higher-end exercise bikes, our experts recommend looking for at least a one-year warranty. Although many affordable bikes don t come with warranties at their price point, we re highlighting those that do.
Related
Yes, you can find a good quality exercise bike under $500 these are the best
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The best exercise bikes to shop in 2024
High-rated, expert-recommended exercise bikes at a range of pricing points that follow our experts’ recommendations are listed below.
Budget-friendly stationary bikes
Best overall budget bike:
Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike
- Water bottle holder
- Adjustable handlebar
- Nothing to note at this time
The Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike features an iPad holder and an LCD panel to help you track your progress. The entire bike is covered by a three-month guarantee, and replacement parts are free for a year after purchase. Based on 22,100 customer evaluations, the bike has an average rating of 4.4 stars. Many of these reviews praise the bike’s ease of assembly and adjustment as well as its excellent pricing. The bike’s silent operation is another feature that reviews praise.
Weight limit: 270 pounds | Yes, digital monitorThree-month warranty
Best portable budget bike:
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Exercise Bike
- Access to free SunnyFit app
- Easy to transport
- No digital monitor
This Sunny Health & Fitness model is a wonderful choice for anyone searching for a simple, adaptable exercise bike, even though it does not include an iPad holder or a digital monitor. To facilitate transportation, the bike is put on wheels. The business claims that it has a one-year warranty for the bike’s frame and a three-month warranty for its parts, and it has an average rating of 4.4 stars based on 6,458 customer reviews on Amazon.
Weight limit: 275 pounds | No digital monitorWarranty: 1 year for the frame; 3 months for the parts
Best adjustable budget bike:
Pooboo Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike
Pooboo Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike
- Silent wheel
- LCD monitor
- Monitor batteries not included
Among other stats, this indoor cycling bike’s LCD digital monitor records your time, speed, and distance traveled. The Pooboo has a tablet stand that you can use to hold your iPad or water bottle if you want to give it a boost. According to the brand, customers can receive free replacement components within a year of purchasing the bike, even though it does not come with a warranty. Based on 512 customer reviews, it has an average rating of 4.7 stars on Walmart.
330 pounds is the maximum weight; digital monitor: yes; no warranty
Best versatile budget bike:
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
- High weight limit
- Versatile pedals
- Water bottle holder
- May be noisy
According to Chicago-based certified personal trainer Eric Ridings, Schwinns are dependable and steady equipment with a hint of nostalgia. The IC3 fulfills its function as a high-quality, feature-rich bike at a more affordable price. Because of its twin pedals, the Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike can accommodate both high-end clip-in shoes and standard sneakers. It also includes a tablet or water bottle holder and a digital LCD monitor. According to the brand, it has a five-year warranty that covers the frame, among other things, and it can support about 300 pounds more than the majority of bikes here.
300 pounds is the maximum weight. Digital monitor: yesFive-year frame warranty, two-year mechanical warranty, two-year electrical warranty, and one-year labor warranty
Best lightweight budget bike:
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
- Adjustable seat
- Recumbent design
- LCD extra features
- Static handlebars
According to Zach Moxham, a certified personal trainer at Physical Equilibrium in New York City, this Schwinn recumbent bike is the greatest choice for anyone who require a back rest when riding or who have restricted movement.
You may track your fitness goals and compete with other users using cycling applications like Explore the World and Zwift, which are compatible with this bike but require separate memberships. It has a curved seat that may go forward and backwards, but its handlebars are stationary because of its recumbent shape, which facilitates entry and exit. It also offers 16 magnetic resistance levels, 13 workout programs, a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor and a 5.5-inch LCD display that can show programs, goal tracking and more.
300 pounds is the maximum weight. Digital monitor: yesWarranty: 10 years (frame); 2 years (parts); 1 year (electrical); 90 days (labor)
Best adjustable bike:
Echelon Connect Bike EX-15
Echelon Connect Bike EX-15
- Adjustable seat
- Recumbent design
- Static handlebars
The Echelon is about as close to the Peloton as you can get, with the major differences being that the Echelon has only 32 resistance levels compared to Peloton s 100. Both offer an interactive experience with a wide range of on-demand classes (subscription sold separately), but the Echelon doesn t require special cycling cleats. According to the brand, its racing-style seat is fully adjustable, and its bullhorn handlebars have a built-in device mount as well. The toe cages are also fully adjustable.
Echelon also makes rowers and treadmills, so it s great if you want to expand your home gym, Ridings says. They also have their own brand of trainers. If you have good instructors and the riders connect with them, it s a valuable service.
Maximum weight: 300 pounds |Digital monitor: no|Warranty: 1 year limited parts and labor
High-end stationary bikes
If you re looking for a smart, higher-end stationary bike that costs less than Peleton s options, below are highly rated and quality stationary bikes under $2,000.
Best overall high-end bike:
Bowflex C6 Bike
Bowflex C6 Bike
- Lots of resistance options
- App membership
- Dumbbells included
- Nothing to note at this time
The Bowflex C6 Bike has a backlit LCD metric console as well as a media holder for your phone or tablet. An upgrade compared to the more affordable exercise bikes, it has two water bottle holders (for those of us who get extra thirsty during a ride) and a knob that allows you to choose between 100 resistance levels.
The bike comes with several additional features, including a two month free trial fitness membership toJRNY, Bowflex s workout app that comes with trainer-led videos. (Once its trial is up, JRNY costs $20 a month or $149 annually.) It also has dual-sided pedals to slip your toes or clip your cycling shoes into, and comes with a pair of three-pound dumbbells that slide into cradles at the front of the bike and a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor. The Bowflex has the weights, and people really enjoy the JRNY trail rides, Ridings says. It also has a sleek, modern look. People care what it looks like in the room.
Maximum weight: 330 pounds |Resistance levels: 100 |Membership: 1-yearJRNY Membership|Warranty: 10 years (frame); 3 years (mechanical); 3 years (electrical); 1 year (labor)
Best with built-in tablet:
Bowflex VeloCore Bike
Bowflex VeloCore Bike
- Built-in tablet
- Bluetooth heart monitor
- Bluetooth speakers
- Shorter warranty
If you love Bowflex but you re looking for a bike that has a built-in tablet, the Bowflex VeloCore Bike is your best bet. It comes with a 16-inch console, and you can swap it out for a22-inch consoleif you re looking for something bigger and don t mind spending $400 more. Like the Bowflex C6, it has two water bottle holders and a knob that allows you to access 100 resistance levels. It also offers the same one-year JRNY fitness membership, dual-sided pedals, three-pound dumbbells and Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor. The VeloCore has Bluetooth speakers and a media rack, though it does come with a shorter warranty than its brethren: two years for its frame. It has a 4.8-star average rating from 1,027 reviews on Bowflex.
Maximum weight: 325 pounds |Resistance levels: 100 |Membership: 1-yearJRNY Membership|Warranty: 2 years (frame); 2 years (mechanical); 1 years (electrical); 1 year (labor)
Largest tablet display:
NordicTrack Commercial Studio S22i Cycle
NordicTrack Commercial Studio S22i Cycle
- Large display
- Long warranty
- Dual-sided pedals
- Nothing to note at this time
NordicTrack stationary bikes are recommended by our experts because they offer similar features to the Peloton, including scenic rides and Bluetooth connectivity. Like thePeloton Bike+, the NordicTrack Commercial Studio S22i Cycle has a large, 22-inch touchscreen display that rotates 360 degrees, so you can use the display off your bike, too (it s also the most affordable bike here with that capability). It comes with dual water bottle holders, dual-sided pedals and a variety of resistance levels (though it only offers 24 compared to Bowflex s 100 levels).
The NordicTrack S22i bike comes with a 30-day iFit Family Membership it costs $15 a month once the trial is up, or $180 for the year and a pair of three-pound dumbbells. Like the Bowflex, it has a 10-year frame warranty.
Maximum weight: 350 pounds |Resistance levels: 24 |Membership: 30-dayiFIT Family Membership|Warranty: 10 years (frame); 2 years (parts); 1 year (labor)
Highest resistance:
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike
- App syncing
- Lots of resistance
- Heart-rate armband
- May make noise
The IC4 has more features and costs a bit more than the IC3. The exercise bike which has a 4.7-star average rating from 807 reviews at Best Buy can be synced with other workout apps like Peloton and Zwift, so you can stream thousands of workout classes. It comes with a 40-pound flywheel, 100 levels of resistance and a set of included three-pound dumbbells that sit in an easy-to-reach cradle, according to the brand. It also has dual water bottle holders and an integrated media rack so it can hold your tablet, and a Bluetooth heart-rate armband is also included.
Maximum weight: 330 pounds |Resistance levels: 100 |Membership: 1-yearJRNYmembership |Warranty: 3 years (parts); 90 days (labor)
Best fan-type resistance bike:
Rogue Echo Bike
Rogue Echo Bike
- Adjustable seat
- Fan resistance
- No tablet included
This highly rated bike is a good option if you want a good quality bike without the bells and whistles of traditional high-end options: While it doesn t include a built-in tablet, it does offer a mounted LCD console to monitor distance, calories burned, heart rate and more. And instead of using magnetic resistance settings like many other higher-end bikes, the bike uses a fan to adjust resistance, which means the faster you pedal, the more resistance builds, according to the brand. The padded seat can also adjust to eight different height settings and five front-to-back settings for a more comfortable fit. Keep in mind, however, that the rubber-grip handles are welded directly to the bike s arms and can t be adjusted.
Maximum Weight: 350 pounds |Resistance levels: n/a |Warranty: 2 years
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How to shop for a stationary bike
The best stationary bike is the one you re most likely to use, according to Ridings: Whether that means a realistic price point or the prestige of getting the same gadgets your friends have, it always comes down to the system that fits you best and leads you to more exercise.
Serious riders should prepare for a hefty price tag (starting at $1,000) if they re looking for quality equipment, according toAngelina Palermo, a former professional cyclist and spokesperson forUSA Cyclinga non-profit group focused on cycling as a sport. That said, you don t need to spend almost $2,000 onPeloton s Bike Ultimate Package. If you know you are going to ride consistently, it makes all the sense in the world to invest in a more expensive bike and the no-interest financing many of them offer makes some of these expensive bikes more accessible, Ridings says.
Many of these needs may be met by relatively affordable options. Maybe you want to easily adjust the bike s resistance, move its handlebars or just need something quiet for nighttime sweats. It s often when you introduce screens, monitors and trackers as well as features allowing for social connectedness that prices climb significantly.
And don t overlook sprucing up your current stationary bike withspinning accessorieslike a padded, adjustable seat and easy-to-grip support handles, if those are the issue. An uncomfortable bike has the potential to affect your performance and form while you bike. In the long run, this could lead to unnecessary muscle strain and sustained injury, Ridings says.
What about Peloton?
On May 11, 2023, Peloton announced arecallof about 2.2 million of its popular exercise bikes due to safety concerns over the seat post on its PL-01 models, which were sold from January 2018 through May 2023, according to the brand. Users can contact Peloton for a free replacement seat post that can be self-installed, according to Peloton. In the meantime, Peloton is requesting customers toimmediately stop usingthe recalled bike.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
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Eric Ridings
is a Chicago-based certified personal trainer.
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Zach Moxham
is a certified personal trainer atPhysical Equilibrium
in New York City.
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Angelina Palermo
is a former professional cyclist and spokesperson forUSA Cycling
.
Why trust NBC Select?
Mili Godiois an updates editor at NBC Select who has written a variety of stories about fitness equipment, includingdumbbells,affordable ellipticals,weighted hula hoopsand more. Ashley Morris is anassociate SEO reporterfor NBC Select reporting on stories including the bestthermal underwearand thebest sales each week. For this article, Godio spoke to four cycling and fitness experts about how to shop for exercise bikes and researched dozens of options on the market to recommend the best ones to consider.
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