Advanced Search

Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes of 2024

Recumbent exercise bikes have seats with tall backs to help support your spine. This helps make them the most popular home fitness machines among people determined to not aggravate their backs. Besides that, recumbent bikes have big appeal with people looking to cycle with less downward pressure on their hips, knees and ankles. These fitness machines position you to pedal with your legs stretched out front… so compared with upright bikes, they shift some weight away from the sensitive joints, ligaments and tendons in your lower body.

On a good quality recumbent bike you can ride comfortably and with a generous range of resistance settings. Ideally you can pedal gently in case you need a home fitness machine for rehab, but you can also accomplish moderate-intensity and higher-intensity cross training when you’re in peak health. Each bike featured on our chart below supports 25 or more resistance levels. Air bikes can supply unlimited resistance.

Prices for reputable recumbent bikes vary widely. Quite a range is covered by the five models below, but each model has earned an impressive review score. Your best buy could very well be right here! For more suggestions arranged by price, see our menu categories above.


Top 5 Best Rated Recumbent Exercise Bikes

1 2 3 4 5
Model

Sole
LCR

NordicTrack
Commercial VR25 Elite

Diamondback 1260sr Recumbent Bike

Diamondback
1260sr

NordicTrack
Commercial R35

Diamondback 910sr Recumbent Exercise Bike

Diamondback
910sr

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: 96%
Rating: 95%
Rating: 95%
Rating: 95%
Rating: 94.5%
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).

RecumbentRecumbentRecumbentRecumbentRecumbent
Resistance

The flywheel in an exercise bike is what creates resistance. You can choose the level of resistance to increase your workout intensity.

40 Levels26 Levels32 Levels26 Levels32 Levels
Display

Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.

10.1" TFT LCD7" Smart HD TouchscreenLED14-inch HD Smart TouchscreenLCD
Programs

Bike Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.

103515iFit-only32
MSRP

Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.

$2,799$1,499$1899$1,799$1,199.99
Pricing

After carefully evaluating each online retailer that offers this bike, this is the website we recommend purchasing from.

See Best PriceSee Best PriceSee Best PriceSee Best PriceSee Best Price

Recumbent Exercise Bikes Buying Guide

Recumbent exercise bikes are traditionally larger than upright exercise bikes and offer extra back support through their unique seat design. Riding in a horizontal position rather than a vertical position provides equal weight distribution as you ride. This not only increases support to your back and behind, but to all areas of your body.

Recumbent exercise bikes support all types and weights of flywheels, which is what provides resistance during workouts. Most recumbent exercise bikes include at least 15 levels of resistance, but more expensive bikes offer up to 40 levels. All types of riders can use recumbent exercise bikes since the pedals, seat, and handlebars are easily adjusted to suit to any individual body type.

Many recumbent exercise bikes include built-in speakers and iPod docks. Being able to listen to your favorite tunes through state-of-the-art speakers will add extra motivation to your routine. Simply plug in your iPod and ride away.

Recumbent exercise bikes usually include a wide variety of exercise programs. Certified Personal Trainers design workouts specifically to lose weight, build muscle tone, or keep in shape. Recumbent exercise bikes with iFit capability enlist the aid of a trainer like Jillian Michaels to help you reach your goals in just 8 short weeks. If you are training for a race or simply like to compete against other trekkers, iFit sets up events through Google Maps 24/7.

Due to the design of recumbent exercise bikes, riders find they can pedal faster and for longer periods of time, which provides an extensive cardiovascular workout. A recumbent exercise bike’s center of gravity is very low, allowing users to tone their gluteal muscles and gluteus maximus (the butt). Soreness in neck, arms, and hands is virtually eliminated on recumbent exercise bikes because they place no stress on those body parts.

Recumbent exercise bikes are a great choice for all types of riders. Whether you are training for your next race, staying in shape during the off season, recovering from an injury, or simply riding as part of your exercise routine, recumbent exercise bikes will provide everything you need to reach your goals. Just sit back and let the bike to you to fitness heaven.

2 Comments

  • sam strong July 8, 2020 at 9:24 am
    73 yr old male looking for a recommended recumbent bike and a rower (Norditrack or similar) to be delivered and installed on my lanai near Englewood, FL
    • FitRated July 22, 2020 at 4:47 pm
      Hey Sam, any of the bikes on this page would suit your needs quite well. The NordicTrack VR25 or VR21 are both great options. The VR25 is currently on back-order, but the VR21 is available for delivery and assembly. You can check out our reviews and see the best price here: https://www.fitrated.com/exercise-bikes/nordictrack-commercial-vr25-elite-review/ and here: https://www.fitrated.com/exercise-bikes/nordictrack-commercial-vr21-review/.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Landice R7 Upright Exercise Bike

Landice R7

Rating: 92.25%
Price: $3,699 - Best Price: https://www.landice.com/home-fitness/r7-recumbent-bike/explore?aff=http://qwxyq.com/pixel.track?CID= 398837&ClickID=Place_Click_ID_Here&TotalSales=0.00&MerchantReferenceID=

Read Review »

7

Lifecore 1060RB

Rating: 91.75%
Price: $1,899 - Best Price: $1,899

A solid recumbent bike from lifecore fitness with commercial attributes. Read Review »

8

Lifecore 960RB

Rating: 90.25%
Price: $1,499 - Best Price: $1,499

A good mid level recumbent bike from lifecore fitness Read Review »

9 NordicTrack Commercial VR21

NordicTrack Commercial VR21

Rating: 89.5%
Price: $999 - Best Price: $699

The NordicTrack Commercial VR21 is a great value entry level recumbent bike. Read Review »

10

Lifecore 860RB

Rating: 88.75%
Price: $1,199 - Best Price: $999

A good entry level recumbent bike from lifecore fitness Read Review »

11

Precor RBK 615

Rating: 87.5%
Price: $2,745 - Best Price:

A commercial quality recumbent bike from one of the most reliable manufacturers. Read Review »

12

Precor RBK 835

Rating: 87.25%
Price: $4,335 - Best Price: $4,175

The Precor RBK 835 is easily a favorite in its luxury price category that is equipped to help make healthy living a habit for many years. Read Review »

13 ProForm 440 ES

ProForm 440 ES

Rating: 85.4%
Price: $799 - Best Price: $549

The ProForm 440 ES is a recumbent bike made for cross training with low impact to your spine, knees and other sensitive joints. Read Review »

14 Schwinn 270

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike

Rating: 84.5%
Price: $649 - Best Price: $549

Read Review »

15 Schwinn 230

Schwinn 230

Rating: 81%
Price: $449 - Best Price: $449

The Schwinn 230 bike can serve as an affordable low-impact fitness machine for your home workout area. It earns remarkably positive customer reviews for comfort, performance and stability; most exercise bikes under $500 don’t fare as well. Read Review »

Copyright