Exercise Bikes Under $500 Comparison

Exercise bikes under $500 may lack the prestige of some of the higher priced models, yet there are many hidden gems located in this price range. Learn more about what you can expect (and need to pay attention for) with exercise bikes under $500 below...

Exercise Bike	Schwinn 240	Schwinn 120	Schwinn 220	Nautilus U514	ProForm ZX2
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Rating Our custom rating considers all of the bike's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	Rating: 82.8%	Rating: 82.4%	Rating: 80.4%	Rating: 76.2%	Rating: 74.8%
Full Review This table compares the top 5 exercise bikes. Click Read Review to learn about one bike.	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review
Type Type refers to the style of the ride: Recumbent bikes allow you to lay back, while Upright bikes are more like road bikes (lean forward).	Recumbent	Upright	Recumbent	Upright	Upright
Resistance The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.	16 Levels	16 Levels	16 Levels	16 Levels	12 Levels
Frame It's important to choose an exercise bike that will last, and the material of the frame determines how durable the bike is.	"Step Through" Design	Durable Steel	Durable Steel	Durable & Lightweight	Durable Steel
Cooling Fans Exercise Bike Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout.
Music Ready Bikes that are music ready allow you to plug a music-playing device (iPod, smartphone, etc.) directly into the machine.
Speakers Bike that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers.
Display Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	Multi-Color Backlit LCD	LCD	LCD	Backlit Blue LCD	Grafixx™ Hi-Res Display
Programs Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	17	10	10	17	16
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$599.00	$399.00	$499.00	$599.00	$599.00
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.	$488.00	$299.00	$349.00	$449.00	$599.00
Visit Site After carefully evaluating each online retailer that offers this bike, this is the website we recommend purchasing from.

Exercise bikes under $500 are surprisingly dependable, especially when compared to traditionally low rated ellipticals and treadmills offered in the same price range. The reason for this likely falls under two explanations A) exercise bikes have less wear parts and features compared to other types of exercise equipment, thus reducing the potential for cheap parts break downs and B) exercise bikes are generally lower priced compared to ellipticals and treadmills to begin with.

Consequently, exercise bikes under $500 may not always get the same hype and coverage as other, higher priced (and more reputable models), but that is not to say that a few hidden gems exist in the under $500 price range. For example, in our list of exercise bikes under $500, four models actually received an 80 or higher percent overall rating — not bad for a budget-friendly supposedly “cheap” price range.

Exercise bikes under $500 actually compare favorably to exercise bikes from $1,000 to $1,500. The major difference is that exercise bikes under $500 do not quite have the number of extra features and luxuries of the higher priced models. If you consider one of the Top 5 Exercise Bikes Under $500 (above) you’ll be surprised to find some very dependable trainers.

For 2011, FitRated.com’s Best Exercise Bikes Under $500 include the NordicTrack C2SI (rated 82.9), Schwinn 240 (rated 82.8), Schwinn 120 (rated 82.4), Schwinn 220 (rated 80.4) and Nautilus U514 (rated 76.2). As you can probably tell, Schwinn exercise bikes particularly have a reputation for producing quality exercise bikes under $500.

When shopping for an exercise bike priced at $500 or lower the four most important things to compare and contrast is the resistance type/drive system, number of resistance levels, durability of the frame as well as the warranty & guarantee. If the warranty is poor, it probably shows a lot about the manufacture’s confidence in the trainer. You need something that is not only proficient in meeting your fitness demands but also dependable.

While upright exercise bikes are much more common in the Under $500 price range, there are actually a few recumbent bikes available including the highly touted Schwinn 240 and Schwinn 220. Check out other exercise bikes under $500 below…

More Exercise Bikes Under $500

The following did not make the Top 5 Exercise Bikes Under $500, but are still worth a look: