11 Best Upright Exercise Bikes: Reviews & Comparisons 2023

Upright Exercise Bikes Compared

Benefits of Using Stationary Upright Exercise Bikes

We’ve already covered one of the big benefits of using an upright exercise bike - it targets muscles throughout the entire body - but there’s a lot more to it than just that. Another perk of stationary bike riding is that it’s less impactful than other home cardio workouts, causing less strain on the joints than running on a treadmill or walking on pavement.

On top of that, an upright stationary bike offers a more consistent workout compared to riding outdoors. It simulates the same upright position as riding on an outdoor bicycle, just with more consistency. Plus, it’s a lot safer since you won't have to weave through traffic (or fellow bikers), and there's no worrying about rocks, sticks, and other hazards along the way.

Choosing a Quality Upright Exercise Bike

Users Workout Needs

Most cyclists have the shared goal of staying fit, but everyone is different, both in terms of their physical anatomy and their fitness goals. When choosing the best upright bike for you, you’ll want to consider the physical (your height, weight, overall health, etc.) as well as the mental (your goals, ambitions, and general preferences for your upright bike workout).

For instance, if you’re taking up biking for the first time to help improve your mobility, you’ll definitely want to choose a stable bike that caters to beginner cyclists. For more intensity - say you’re training for an Ironman Triathalon - you might be more interested in the bike’s built-in workout programs.

Comfort & Adjustability

When comparing a recumbent bike vs. an upright bike, recumbents come out on top for comfort, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a comfortable upright bike. 

Pay close attention to the quality of the upright bike handlebars and seat - both of these features play a significant role in comfort. And more adjustability generally means it’ll be easier to find the perfect position based on your height and weight.

Footprint & Storage Features

Although a recumbent bike wins for comfort when comparing recumbent exercise bike vs. upright, upright bikes are better for smaller gym spaces since they have a smaller footprint. Since you're sitting with your feet hanging down rather than out, upright bicycles are slimmer and taller.

For even more convenience, especially for storing and transporting, you might consider getting a folding upright exercise bike. When you’re done using it, you’d just pull a lever, fold the bike down, and store it in a safe place until you’re ready to use it again.

Flywheel & Frame Durability

A bike’s flywheel has everything to do with how smooth the ride is. An upright fan bike that uses air as resistance doesn't have this, but most upright bikes have a heavy metal disk that helps control resistance and smoothness, and that heavy disk is the flywheel. Generally speaking, the heavier the flywheel, the smoother the ride.

Don't forget about the frame - it doesn't matter how heavy the flywheel is; without a sturdy frame, your bike is basically worthless.

Preset Workout Programs

Most stationary bikes come with several preset workout programs to get your heart racing, to help you lose weight, or to engage in some HIIT. While some have 5 or 6 workout programs, others have 20 or 30, so decide how important that is to you as you browse through upright exercise bike reviews.

Extra Features

First, you’ll want to focus on things like frame and flywheel, but after that, it’s time to get nit-picky with all the extra features. This is the time to focus on things like the display monitor and whether there’s Bluetooth connectivity, integrated speakers, entertainment packages, bottle holders, etc.

Price

The final price of your bike depends on all the things listed so far in this bike buyer’s guide.

You’ve got the option to go with a more basic bike that doesn’t break the bank and is still perfectly capable of getting your heart pumping, or you could opt for the best commercial upright exercise bike that comes with all the bells and whistles and a high price tag.

For home gymers on a budget, the good news is that there are several good affordable upright bikes out there. Some of the products below are broken down based on price range, so you should be able to find what you’re looking for when it comes to budget.

1. Schwinn Upright Series Bike – 170 model

Our Top Pick!

The best upright exercise bike is the 170 model from Schwinn's Upright Bike Series. It's a commercial-grade piece of equipment with a mid-range price tag, so even if you’re on a budget, it’s a bike that’s worth considering. The 170 is the perfect combination of comfort, innovation, and value, and it’s a great addition to any home gym.

This bike is built with enhanced Bluetooth connectivity, so you can go ahead and set, track and monitor progress with app-based fitness tracking tools, or just keep it old-school with real-time monitoring on the LCD screen.

If you want to travel the globe from your basement, garage, or living space, download "Explore the World." The Schwinn is fully compatible with this app, which lets you virtually bike through jungles, beaches, mountains, or city streets.

The Schwinn 170 is all about value, and value is exactly what you get from the 29 built-in biking programs. The fully-loaded console with DualTrack blue backlit display gives a rider 29 different options for workout programs, so you’re basically set no matter what your fitness goals are.

Compared to recumbent bikes, the footprint of the 170 is small, but we’re not loving that it doesn’t have a folding design like the Schwinn A10.

Unless you’re extremely tight on storage space, this is an easy flaw to overlook, especially when you weigh it with the telemetric heart rate sensors, charging USB port, adjustable 3-speed fan, 25 resistance levels, and comfy contoured seat with lots of cushion.

2. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike

Best Folding Upright Exercise Bike

One of the flaws of the Schwinn 170 is the lack of foldability, but we’ll make up for that with this next upright exercise bike. The Exerpeutic Folding bike is just 31” x 19” x 46” while in use with even smaller dimensions of 22” x 20” x 55.5” when folded. That means it’s easy to store, easy to move, and an all-around good choice for small spaces.

Aside from the folding feature, the main attraction of this upright bike is the affordable price tag. It’s the best upright exercise bike under $200, and although it’s fairly basic with the extra features it offers, it gets the job done if cardio is the main thing you’re after.

The LCD screen is simple yet effective, and while there are just 8 tension levels and no preset cardio programs, most users are happy enough with the price tag.

Compared to other bikes, the Exerpeutic has a relatively small range of compatible height users; it’s not fit for anyone below 5’3” or anyone above 6’1”, so if you’re shorter or taller than this, it’s recommended that you go with another bike. Just like the Schwinn, it supports a max of 300 pounds, so while most people can use it, it’s just not meant for overly short or tall individuals.

3. Marcy Upright Exercise Bike ME-708

Best Affordable Upright Exercise Bike

While the Experpeutic foldable bike is a great choice for sticking to a budget, it’s not the best budget upright exercise bike available. That award goes to the Marcy foldable upright exercise bike with adjustable resistance, which is cheap but surprisingly has a lot of features you’d only expect from a higher-priced upright bike.

The first feature of the ME-708 that indoor cyclists are loving is the sturdy frame. You’ll be riding on a premium frame of 14-gauge steel tubing that’s finished with powder coating. It boasts both functionality and durability, plus the design is better than many higher-priced bikes.

Another reason for this being the best affordable bike is its smooth magnetic resistance system with 8 tension levels. It’s clear that Marcy designed this piece of equipment with fitness enthusiasts of all skill levels in mind.

Some cardio junkies assume that the low price tag means they should move on to a different choice, but even if you’re looking for some intense training, the Marcy doesn’t disappoint.

The bike itself is only 41 pounds, so you'll have no trouble moving it around the house. The seat is fully adjustable to accommodate most users, and the counterbalanced pedals are designed to provide maximum foot support while giving you ultimate control.

You won't get all the same cool features with the ME-708 as you will with a more expensive bike (no preset workouts, no Bluetooth, no fan, no water bottle holder), but all in all, it’s a go-to choice if you want to spend $150 or less.

4. Body Rider BRF700 Exercise Upright Fan Bike

Best Upright Fan Exercise Bike

While most users opt for magnetic resistance bikes, some prefer the old-school style fan bike that utilizes the surrounding air to build tension and create a challenging workout. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll want to go with the Body Rider upright fan exercise bike. Unlike other fan bikes, this one is relatively quiet while you ride (although it’s not as quiet as magnetic resistance).

The quieter air resistance is thanks to the built-in belt drive system versus other bikes with a louder chain drive. The BRF700 is built for staying comfortable and features an updated bidirectional adjustable seat for finding your perfect position and an encased fan flywheel for smoother workout sessions.

Similar to the ME-708, this is another budget bike that fits well in most homes. It’s not the most compact of upright bikes since it has a large fan at the base and long handles, so if you’re looking for a compact design, the Marcy is probably your best bet. Another thing to be mindful of is the lower-than-average user capacity of 250 pounds (instead of 300 for most upright bikes).

There’s a knob at the base of the bike for adjusting your resistance from (-) to (+), so you won’t choose an exact resistance level. Even though that’s not ideal, the BRF700 is a go-to choice for HIIT since the moving handlebars allow you to work the lower and upper body simultaneously.

5. CONCEPT 2 BIKEERG

Best Commercial Upright Exercise Bike

The Concept2 is a high-end bike that lets you take your home gym to the commercial gym level. It looks like any upright bike you’d see at a Lifetime or LA fitness location, and that’s because commercial gyms trust the Concept2 to deliver a low-impact but effective cardio session every time.

This bike’s seat is adjustable from a minimum of 30.75 inches to a maximum of 41. The Concept2 has a footprint that’s more similar to a recumbent bike. This is both good and bad, good since it creates a sturdier frame footing but bad for those who want a compact cardio solution for small spaces.

Concept2 has designed this bike to have a similar effect to rowing machines and the motions of cross-country skiing.

Similar to the BodyRider, the BikeErg uses air resistance to create a smooth, quiet ride that responds to how fast the rider pedals. The damper is your "gearing" that allows you to change the tension, letting you adjust the feel of your ride.

Unlike most stationary bikes, the BikeErg has a clutch, so just like your outdoor bike, when you stop pedaling, the flywheel keeps on spinning so that you can continue coasting, making it a top pick for spinning.

6. XTERRA Fitness FB150

Popular Cheap Model

Stocking your home gym with quality equipment might seem like an impossible feat if you're on a budget, but now thanks to the Xterra Fitness FB150, "cheap" doesn't mean "cheaply made." This folding exercise bike is another less than $200 option with simple features for an easy riding experience from home.

When folded and not in use, the FB150 takes up just 18” x 18”, so you can put it to the side in the corner or closet when not in use and bring it back out as soon as you’re ready for your workout. It also comes with transport wheels, so even though it weighs just over 30 pounds, moving this bike in and out of storage or around the home won’t be an issue.

Because of its folding frame, the FB150 isn’t as durable as bikes like the Concept2 or Schwinn, but Xterra designed it with a 3-piece pedal crank for added durability. The dial-style resistance has 8 adjustable levels, and the 2" x 1" LCD is easy to read with all the necessary information - speed, distance, time, calories, and even pulse.

Besides the fact that you won’t get cool features like Bluetooth or dozens of preset workout programs, the main drawback of the FB150 is the low maximum user weight limit. It’s not recommended for users over 225, which makes sense considering the bike itself is just 32 pounds. Also, if you’re over 5’10”, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

7. Nautilus Upright Bike Series

Best Upright Exercise Bike for Seniors

The Nautilus upright exercise bike is a go-to choice for seniors and anyone with achy joints or mobility issues. Most seniors opt for recumbent bikes, but some want the more intense workout that comes along with upright biking, so if that’s your scenario, the Nautilius is a bike to keep on your radar.

The U616 bike frame is stable, and the padded seat is comfy. Weighing in at just under 70 pounds, this bike weighs more than others, but that's actually a plus for seniors because heavier weight generally means more stability.

The thing that makes this the ultimate choice for seniors, though, is the highly accurate heart rate monitor. Plus, you’ll be able to select your workout (there are 29 different programs to choose from) based on cardio health, weight loss, interval training, or whatever your fitness goal is.

The overall smoothness is another major benefit for seniors. While cheaper bikes have flywheels in the 12 to 14-pound range, the U616 has a 22-pound flywheel. The heavier the flywheel, the smoother the ride, so it’s pretty obvious that this bike rides smoother than most.

To track every aspect of your cardio, the U616 has a Bluetooth connection so that you can pair it with the Explore the World app or another fitness tracking tool like MyFitnessPal.

Even if you don’t take advantage of the more high-tech features of the U616, the price is fair, especially when you consider the bike’s high speed, high inertia drive system with a perimeter weighted flywheel for easy start-up and smooth, consistent workouts for seniors (and everyone else) every time.

8. ProGear 225

Best Compact Indoor Upright Exercise Bike

Although the ProForm upright exercise bike 225 CSX is often reviewed as the best compact option for indoor cyclists, the ProGear 225 is another excellent choice if compactness is a top priority. This space-saving exercise bike folds down to 19" x 17.5" x 53", a footprint that’s small enough to fit in any closet or under most beds.

Since this is a folding bike, the weight limit isn't as high as others - it holds just 220 pounds, but as long as you're under the weight limit, the ProGear 225 is as stable as any other upright bike out there. As long as you’re taller than 5 feet and less than 6’1”, the 225 is comfortable and effective with its 8-level magnetic tension, dual transmission flywheel, and easy-to-read LCD.

The previous ProGear model got some complaints about its overall smoothness, so the company took steps to fix this.

For less than $200, don’t expect to get much in terms of preset workout programs or other added features like a fan or Bluetooth. The 1-year warranty isn’t super competitive, but overall, the ProGear 225 will fit well in your small space.

9. Weslo Cross Cycle

Best Cross Cycle Upright Exercise Bike

The Weslo Cross Cycle upright exercise bike is an obvious choice for cyclists looking for a 2-in-1 arm and leg workout. It moves like an elliptical with handlebars that extend upwards from the pedals, so the arms move in conjunction with the pedals.

There are many benefits to using a cross cycle bike, like the fact that the added arm movement burns more calories and promotes more weight loss.

The Weslo has a larger footprint than your average upright bike, specifically length-wise, so if you're limited on floor space in your home gym, you'll definitely want to compare the dimensions with your available space.

The resistance is adjustable from (-) to (+), with the knob located right beneath the basic LCD. The positioning of the resistance adjustment and LCD is lower than many users prefer since it requires you to reach down while pedaling. This isn't ideal for seniors or mobility-impaired individuals.

That’s really the only downside to the Weslo Cross Cycle. Other than the not-so-ideal LCD placement, the bike itself is a solid performer. It lets you turn your indoor bike ride into a total body workout, so it adds in that extra challenge that a lot of people are looking for.

This upright bike is also priced the lowest, so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get an arm and a leg workout!

Just remember, with low pricing comes simplicity, and aside from the dual arm-leg movement, this bike is as simple as it gets. No preset programs (other than the standard Manual, Interval, etc.), no foldability, no Bluetooth, but on the plus side, the steel frame is durable, the seat cushion is comfy enough, and it can support up to 250 lbs.

10. L NOW Magnetic Resistance

Best Upright Exercise Bike Under $500

With a $500 budget, you’ve got a lot of options. This amount of money can get you a lot of great fitness features, like smooth magnetic resistance, lots of adjustability, and maintenance-free operation.

You’ll get all this and more with the L NOW, which is the best upright exercise bike under 500. Since the L NOW uses a belt-driven mechanism, it’s virtually silent.

Plus, belt-driven bikes require virtually no maintenance, so that’s a major perk.

This midrange bike features 8 adjustable resistance levels, an LCD screen and tablet/phone holder, and a wide padded seat that’s adjustable in 4 directions. This adjustability makes it so much easier to find the perfect and most comfortable position, especially compared to bikes that only allow for up-down seat adjustment.

L NOW is a relatively new company founded in 2016, but so far, it has earned its solid reputation. A big reason for this is the all-inclusive flywheel that's contained within the bike base. This design ensures complete safety since there's no way for pets or kids to access the flywheel or for loose laces to get caught in the mechanism.

For the cost, we'd expect to see a more competitive warranty. L NOW only has a 12-month replacement policy similar to the policies included with cheaper upright bikes. The good news is that you probably won’t need to use the warranty thanks to the bike’s durability, but if you do, there’s no coverage after 1 year.

11. Precor UBK 835 Commercial Series

Top of the Range

Want to go all out with your upright bike purchase? Then check out the Precor UBK 835 from the brand’s Commercial Series. We’ve covered options under $200, under $400, and under $500, and while the UBK 835 doesn’t fall under any of those price ranges, it’s a great choice if budget is no concern.

The UBK 835 has a lot going for it, especially when it comes to the frame. It’s a solid steel frame that went through a 2-step powder-coating process for added resistance against rust, corrosion, and normal wear and tear. The bike’s frame is covered under a lifetime warranty, so even if it doesn’t live up to your expectations, you’re covered against damage.

This is a commercial series bike, so the LED console is a lot more advanced compared to budget and midrange options. Instead of changing the resistance with a dial or knob, this one lets you change it digitally with the push of a button. Not only that, but you’ll also get full readouts of everything related to your workout, from the calories and time to the % complete and average speed.

The Precor is preset with 12 workout programs, so you can take your pick between weight loss, cross country, heart rate control, and more. This console is advanced, to say the least, and that’s a big part of why so many users are willing to pay the high Precor price.

Another drawback in addition to the high cost is the longer-than-average assembly time. This bike is a lot sturdier than most, so it’s a lot heavier most, so plan on needing 2 people for assembling it.

Comparing Upright vs. Other Exercise Bike Types

So how do you know that an upright bike is for you? Maybe a recumbent bike is the better choice, or perhaps you’d get a lot of benefits from a full-on spin bike. That could very well be the case, so it’s a good idea to make a pros and cons list for each bike type and do the right comparisons.

For upright vs. recumbent bikes, the big difference has to do with how the rider is positioned. Seniors and individuals with mobility limitations often go with recumbent bikes since they're safer and pose less risk of injury. However, there are benefits to upright bikes, like the fact that they’re more compact and offer more of a total-body workout.

A spin bike and an upright bike are very similar, and you might even say that a spin bike is a type of upright bike. A spin bike is usually more expensive since it's geared towards bikers who want to replicate a true outdoor biking experience.

Spin bikes have a heavier flywheel, allowing users to train in various positions and maximize fat-blasting with the smoothest performance possible.

Recommended Exercise Bike Workouts

Whether you’re riding on the Schwinn 170 upright bike or the Life Fitness upright lifecycle exercise bike, the quality of your stationary bike workout all comes down to you. You need to choose your fitness routine based on your end goal, which for most people who are looking for the best home upright exercise bike is weight loss.

If you’re new to this and trying to lose weight, here’s a great beginner-friendly bike workout.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How do exercise bikes compare to other cardio equipment?

Upright bikes are an all-around solid choice for at-home cardio. While some other machines (treadmills in particular) allow you to burn more calories, they’re not as gentle on the joints. That’s a big reason why so many people invest in home exercise bikes over treadmills, ellipticals, or rowing machines.

What are the main differences between the cheap vs. expensive upright bikes?

It usually comes down to extra features, like more resistance levels and Bluetooth connectivity. The good news is that if you’re looking for the best budget upright exercise bike, the low cost usually doesn’t have to affect the overall performance (as long as you go with a respected brand).

How long should I exercise on an upright exercise bike per day to lose weight?

Unfortunately, you won’t see much in terms of weight loss results if you bike for 10 minutes a day. 

Try to do this for at least 30 minutes.

Is it easy to get these large machines shipped when buying online?

It is. Nowadays, it’s possible to get lots of large home appliances and fitness machines delivered right to your doorstep. Your bike will come in a large box, and it will most likely come partly assembled. Just follow the user manual for the rest of the assembly process.

Where is the best place to buy these stationary upright exercise bikes?

Amazon is one of the best places to buy fitness gear for your home gym, even if you’re looking for the best value upright exercise bike. All of the manufacturers listed in this review sell their products directly to consumers on Amazon, so it’s basically no different from purchasing on a brand’s website.

Conclusion

We had a lot to say about some great pieces of cardio equipment in these best upright exercise bike reviews, and hopefully, you found what you’re looking for.

The Schwinn 170 is a great all-around choice, and probably the best upright exercise bike for the money, but there’s also the budget-friendly Xterra Fitness Bike, the top of the range commercial Precor UBK 835, and a few more to consider.