Best Residential Exercise Bikes of 2024
Editor's Choice
Exercise Bike Benefits
- Efficient cardio trainer for all skill levels
- A great tool for weight management
- Tones the lower body
- Recumbent exercise bikes are very low impact
- Cycle trainers are effective for strength training
Comparing exercise bikes for home use, you can find big price differences. Which bikes are worth the money? This year we see genuine values under $1,000 as well as over $1,000. Five favorites are summarized on the chart below. As you can see, on-board electronics such as color touchscreens increase the sale prices. If fitness machine electronics aren’t so important to your household, you can spend less and be satisfied.
In the lower price range the best home exercise bikes are basic but durable and comfortable. The Assault Airbike is our favorite exercise bike under $1,000. Besides being reliable and ergonomic, it can support all workout intensities and user strengths. For comparison, most other exercise bikes for 2019 use magnetic resistance. Magnetic resistance is quieter than air resistance, but it might not meet all ability levels -- and especially if the bike is relatively cheap.
In higher price ranges the top-rated residential bikes are comparable to commercial models. These exercise bikes won’t soon be “outgrown” as you build strength and cardio endurance, and in home gyms they serve trouble-free for many years. Electronics on these trainers can be very motivating: Look for 10” and 22” high-definition screens on the exercise bike chart below.
Top 5 Best Rated Residential Exercise Bikes
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Model |  NordicTrack Commercial S27i |  ProForm |  Echelon |  Assault |  NordicTrack |
| Rating |  Rating: 96.9% | Rating: 96.5% | Rating: 96% | Rating: 95.75% | Rating: 95.1% |
| Type | Indoor Cycle | Indoor Cycle | Indoor | Upright | Indoor Cycle |
| Resistance | 24 Levels | 24 Levels | 32 | 27" Fan 6 Fan Blades | 24 Levels |
| Display | 27" HD touchscreen | 22" HD touchscreen | 24-inch Curved HD Touchscreen | LCD Screen | 22" HD touchscreen |
| Programs | iFit | iFit Coach | Echelon Fit app | 7 on board workouts | iFit |
| MSRP | $2,499 | $1,299 | $2299.99 | $999 | $1,899 |
| Pricing | See Best Price | See Best Price | See Best Price | See Best Price | See Best Price |
Residential Exercise Bikes Buying Guide
Residential exercise bikes target home use, hopefully alleviating costly memberships to your local gym. The main difference between residential exercise bikes and commercial bikes is the amount of time spent on the bike. Commercial bikes are built sturdier to endure longer usage from many riders. Residential exercise bikes provide all that you are looking for in a home environment unless you plan to invite the neighborhood over to workout. Since some gyms are open 24 hours a day, you can easily see how commercial bikes receive a much heavier workout.
Residential exercise bikes are designed to accommodate all of your family members plus provide workouts tailored to each individual. Residential exercise bikes adapt to each rider through adjustments on the seat, handlebars and pedals. There are many residential bike choices available whether you are choosing an upright bike that mirrors the outdoor riding experience or purchasing a recumbent bike to support your neck and back.
The flywheel and number of resistance levels are both important factors when considering a residential exercise bike purchase. Most residential exercise bikes come with at least 15 levels which is sufficient for most home users. If you like to change resistance often and beef up your routine, you will want to spend a few more bucks to gain more levels.
Residential exercise bikes that include workout programs provide riders with a variety of options to their fitness routine. Most riders either want to lose weight, burn extra calories, build muscle tone or recover from injury or surgery. Certified trainers design workout programs to address these specific areas. Usually residential exercise bikes also include a couple of user-defined programs to customize your routine specifically the way you want.
Many options on residential exercise bikes are now becoming standard features. If working out to music is important to you, be sure to invest in a residential exercise bike with an iPod dock and built-in speakers. Plug in your iPod or MP3 player and ride away to your favorite music.
While listening to music as you ride may not be a priority to you, being coached by a world renowned trainer might be. Residential exercise bikes with iFit technology open up a vast experience to your fitness routine. Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels has each helped develop courses to help you lose weight, stay fit and increase your cardiovascular workout. Be sure the residential exercise bike’s display is good because iFit allows you to track your progress on your bike’s screen.
Why pay expensive gym memberships for everyone in your household, when you can make an investment in a residential exercise bike? Today’s residential exercise bikes offer a plethora of options and adjust to every member’s needs in your family. If you would rather work out in the comfort of your own home as opposed to driving across town to the local fitness center, a residential exercise bike is for you.
