Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes – Buying Guide & Reviews

Recumbent exercise bikes suit people with a variety of different needs. The exercise you get using them is solely on the leg muscles.

For someone with mobility issues or after an injury, using one can allow you to relax your core muscles while building strength and stamina from pedalling.

Others like to separate their workout routines, focusing on different muscle groups in dedicated exercise routines.

A final group like to do other things while they get their exercise and a recumbent exercise bike allows them to relax and do other things as they quietly burn off the carbs. 

Whatever your reason for wanting one, in this article we will look at four of the best recumbent exercise bikes and discuss what you need to think about when you go to buy one.

Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes of 2020

What is the best recumbent bike on the market?

A small yet comfortable machine, the MaxKare is the best recumbent exercise bike on the market because it does all you need without taking up a lot of space.

At just 45.7″ (L) x 18.9″ (W) x 41.7″ (H) this recumbent exercise bike can be used where space is a premium and stored away easily when not in use.

The fully adjustable seat height allows a taller person to set it up, and then for storage the seat can be lowered after your exercise routine.

Its compact size also allows for almost anyone to get and off the machine without having to flex too much.

This means that those with mobility issues can use it just as easily as those who are more flexible.

It being virtually silent you won’t disturb your friends or loved ones with machines as you use it!

The eight gear settings can be adjusted to change the resistance that you need.

If you are someone who is fitter and wants to do intense strength training you can adjust the magnetic resistance to suit.

For those who are less mobile yet still need to burn the carbs you can set a  lower resistance setting so you can spin more freely and still achieve your fitness goals. 

All this comes with a high definition dashboard that can be used to monitor time, distance, calories, and speed, allowing you to monitor your workouts as you go.

What is the best recumbent bike for seniors?

Thanks to the workstation fitting the Exerpeutic Exerwork Fully Adjustable Desk Folding Exercise Bike allows you to do your exercise while focusing on other important things in your life like watching your kids’ and grandchildren’s activities on social media or while working!

The high weight capacity of the recumbent electric bike (up to 300lbs) allows a larger person to sit on and use it, allowing you to do your exercises in complete comfort.

For those with bigger backsides the 2.5″ thick large AirSoft seat allows you to be in complete comfort as you work on burning the fat and building muscle.

With eight levels of magnetic resistance you will be able to move between a higher intensity strength training mode to a more cardio mode with a quick adjustment on the controller.

For those looking to use the exercise bike in different ways this allows for three angle adjustments, and five height adjustments so you can move between an upright cycling position and a recumbent one according to the exercise routine you’re doing.

While doing these things, the recumbent exercise bike also folds away to just 54 x 65 x 137cm for easy storage when not in use.

What is the best recumbent bike for home use?

The fully recumbent Marcy Recumbent Magnetic Cycle has all you need in a recumbent home exercise bike.

It can be fully adjusted for your size and exercise goals, and can take up to 300lbs in weight for those who are heavier framed.

The big and wide seat is comfortable for those who wish to spend a long time in the machine, while the control console is directly in front of you so you can monitor your exercise goals like speed, distance, time, odometer and calories burned with just a touch of the button.

For those seeking to vary their exercise routine from lower to higher intensity you can also adjust this from the comfort of the seat as you go. There are eight resistance settings for you to vary the intensity too.

Finally, for those with mobility issues the recumbent home exercise bike has a floor-level cross-tube, allowing extremely easy access onto and off the machine.

This makes for a comfortable exercise bike that can be used by people of all ages and abilities.

What is the best recumbent exercise bike under $500

Without cost compromising quality, the Exerpeutic 900XL Recumbent Bike with Pulse is a machine that ticks all the boxes of an exercise bike without breaking the bank.

It can take a person of up to 300lbs comfortably and its wide padded seat makes for a machine that you can ride for hours at a time without pains appearing in the wrong places!

Hand pulse pads can help you work on keeping your heart rate at a certain level as required in certain cardiovascular exercise routines.

A one-touch controller in front of you can switch between different fitness measurements including distance, calories burned, time, speed, scan and heart rate monitor.

Using the controller you can move between the eight levels of resistance, allowing you to quickly adjust the intensity of your workout – without even leaving the seat!

The belt drive system on this recumbent exercise bike allows near silent operation, and this means you can do other things like watching the TV or listening to music as you go.

With all these important functions you get a lot of bang for your buck, which makes this very much the best recumbent exercise bike for under $500.

How Do I Choose a Recumbent Bike?

When you are looking for the best recumbent exercise bike then you need to take into consideration your requirements for using it, space, needs and cost. Let’s look at these in detail now.

Why do you want a recumbent bike?

If you have an injury or are otherwise less mobile you will want more support from the saddle and back.

This will mean you can rest your back and core more comfortably  while working your legs on the machine.

The flip side to this is that these larger machines take up a bit more space so you need to balance those needs with the available space for it.

Some recumbent bikes have a space for a workstation so you can focus on other things while burning the carbs.

Yes, you could work from home while getting the miles in!

Linked to this is that long sessions of exercise can work your body but bore the daylights out of your mind.

Having a comfortable, relaxed position and a space for you to put your laptop or tablet can be useful, though even one without can allow you to hold your smartphone and talk to your friends as you work out.

Space availability

Space might be an issue. You may need the benefits of one of these machines thanks to your physical issues but just not have the space for one of the more expensive machines that does everything except making your coffee for you.

As such the best recumbent exercise bike for you may not be the most expensive one.

If space is limited then you would do well to go for a smaller one that still has the basic elements such as a comfortable riding position and differing levels of resistance without a computer system that takes more space.

Even the smaller recumbent exercise bikes will achieve the desired results, and you can still go hands-free to divert your mind from the routine itself thanks to the relaxed position.

Needs behind buying a recumbent exercise bike

If mobility and flexibility is an issue then you should look for one that has a low step-through frame so you can step into the bike more easily.

This will allow you to work on improving your mobility, strength and fitness without being difficult to access and leave.

Many of the more expensive recumbent exercise bikes have a range of programs that can give you different workout routines.

If high intensity training (HIT) is one of the routines you do then you could well need a machine with more software and hardware to help you achieve your exercise goals.

You may want a machine to work on your legs and not core for practical reasons – you may for instance have other apparatus for those muscle groups and want a machine solely for your legs and butt.

Cost

As with nearly every exercise machine on the market there are bikes that fit into a range of different budgets.

As a rule you should buy the most expensive one you can afford. This is because the better ones are better quality and will offer a better range of exercise routines.

They will often come with better, more comfortable seats and in some cases with handles for you to hold onto while pushing yourself very hard.

So what’s the best for you?

As you can see, the best recumbent exercise bike for one person may well be different to the best one for another! Having thought through the issues we have described above, so you will be in a better position to make a choice for yourself as to the best recumbent exercise bike for your needs and wants.

FAQ’s

Are recumbent exercise bikes effective?

Yes! Recumbent exercise bikes help build muscle strength and are great for cardiovascular workouts. They focus your workout on your legs and as such while more comfortable than upright exercise bikes still enable you to get a good workout.

Which is better upright exercise bike or recumbent?

This can be dependent on what you are what you want an exercise back for. Recumbent exercise bikes focus solely on your legs and butt so you can spend time on dedicated upper body workouts in your training.

If you have a back injury recumbent exercise bikes are far better for you as you don’t put pressure on your back when you do it.

Unlike upright exercise bikes you don’t have to hold onto the handlebars so can text your friends or be on social media while still getting the same workout on your legs. This could mean you do your workout for longer!

Is recumbent bike as good as walking?

Recumbent exercise bikes are better than walking as you can work at a higher intensity than you would on foot.

Once more you put less pressure on your joints than walking so as a low-impact exercise you’re putting your body under less strain.

Does a recumbent bike burn belly fat?

Yes, it does. Using a recumbent bike your work is entirely on your legs however as this will burn calories it will help burn fat from all over your body including your belly.

Are recumbent bikes good for knees?

Yes! You aren’t pounding your knees as you would walking or using a treadmill.

As such you can work at a higher intensity without asking so much from your joints as you do it.

Can I lose weight on a recumbent bike?

Yes, you can! There are two ways of doing this – through a high intensity aerobic workout you can force your body to burn fat for energy and thereby lose fat that way.

If you work on a higher resistance to build muscle, muscle burns more energy than fat does so you will naturally burn the carbs and fat even when resting from the increased muscle mass.

If you combine these workouts then you will find yourself burning fat through the two methods we describe.