Affordable Exercise Bikes Reviewed

Budget Stationary Bikes: What’s Worth Buying

Stationary bike options have gotten complicated with all the brands and price points flying around. As someone who needed an exercise bike for winter but didn’t want to spend Peloton money, I learned everything there is to know about what actually matters after researching for weeks.

Bought a mid-range option. Here’s the summary.

What “Budget” Actually Means

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Under $200: Expect compromises. These bikes work but feel cheap and may not last. Okay for occasional use.

$200-400: The sweet spot for quality-to-cost ratio. Solid construction, decent features, should last years with regular use.

$400-600: Near-premium features without premium branding. Often as good as $1000+ bikes from name brands.

Above that, you’re paying for screens, subscriptions, and marketing.

Types to Consider

Spin/indoor cycling bikes: Heavy flywheel, road bike position, feel most like actual cycling. Best for serious workouts.

Upright exercise bikes: More casual position, often with backrests. Good for light to moderate cardio.

Recumbent bikes: Seat with backrest, pedals in front. Easiest on joints and back. Good for recovery or people with mobility issues.

Folding bikes: Compact storage, usually upright style. Trade-off is stability and durability.

Features That Matter

Flywheel weight: Heavier (30-40+ lbs) feels smoother and more like real cycling. Lighter flywheels feel choppy.

Resistance type: Magnetic is quiet and low-maintenance. Friction pads are cheaper but wear out.

Adjustability: Seat height is basic. Look for seat fore/aft and handlebar adjustments too, especially if multiple people use it.

Weight capacity: Check the rating. Heavier riders need sturdier frames.

Noise level: Matters if you’re in an apartment or riding while others sleep. Belt drives are quieter than chain drives.

Features That Don’t Matter

Built-in screens: Usually cheap displays showing basic stats. Your phone does more. Save the money.

Preset programs: Most people ignore these after the first week.

Heart rate sensors on handles: Notoriously inaccurate. A chest strap works better if you care about heart rate.

Brands Worth Considering

Schwinn: Their IC3 and IC4 are solid mid-range spin bikes. Good value.

Sunny Health: Budget-friendly with decent quality. The SF-B1002 gets recommended often.

Yosuda: Amazon darling. Surprisingly good for the price point.

Exerpeutic: Good folding options if space is limited.

Skip the Peloton Knockoffs

Lots of bikes try to look like Pelotons. Big screens, monthly fees, branded content. For the price of one year’s subscription, you could buy a better bike and use free YouTube workouts or a $15/month app.

The Peloton tax is the screen and ecosystem, not the bike itself.

What I Bought

Sunny Health spin bike, about $350. Heavy flywheel, magnetic resistance, built solid. Paired with a tablet holder and the Peloton app (free tier) or YouTube videos.

Works great. Gets used 3-4 times per week. No regrets about skipping the fancy options.

Space Considerations

Measure before buying. Spin bikes have a larger footprint than you’d expect. Recumbent bikes are even bigger. Folding bikes trade sturdiness for compactness.

Consider where you’ll use it. Basements are cold in winter. Bedrooms work but bike noise during early morning workouts can be problematic.

Bottom Line

That’s what makes understanding budget stationary bikes endearing to us riders who’ve figured it out. A $300-400 stationary bike does 90% of what a $2000 bike does. The hardware difference is minimal. You’re paying for screens and subscriptions, not better cycling.

Buy something with a heavy flywheel, adjust it properly, and ride consistently. The bike matters less than showing up.