Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes 2024

Last Update: October 25, 2023

The recumbent exercise bike is an enigma in the indoor and outdoor cycling community. Outdoors, it is faster than the traditional upright bike, but it never gained the same traction in the sports world. Indoors, it is beloved for its comfortable design. It is the bike of choice for users with mobility limitations, recovering from injury, and reducing knee and back pain. Whether you are making a comeback to exercise or continuing an ongoing routine, you may be drawn to the improved comfort of the recumbent exercise bike. For your convenience, we have compiled some of the best recumbent exercise bikes available for home use.

Here’s Our List Of The Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes 2024

• Best Recumbent Bike: Sole LCR Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike with Content: NordicTrack Commercial R35 Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike For Home: Sole R92 Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike For Seniors: Horizon 5.0R Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike For Larger Users: LifeSpan R5i Recumbent Bike
• Best Budget Recumbent Bike: XTERRA SB120 Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike Under $1000: Schwinn 290 Recumbent Bike
• Best Recumbent Bike With Free Content: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Recumbent Bike

Best Recumbent Bike: Sole LCR Recumbent Bike

Sole updated the LCR Recumbent bike with its latest and greatest features. The construction is very impressive and is rated by Sole as light commercial quality. For these reasons and more, we have chosen the Sole LCR Recumbent Bike as our pick for the Best Recumbent Bike overall. The Sole LCR has a top-tier warranty, onboard content, and impressive smart features. Exercisers looking to maximize their training and comfort features should consider the Sole LCR Recumbent Bike.

The Sole LCR is a light commercial recumbent exercise bike. This designation promises that the LCR is ready for heavy-duty training. If you have multiple users in your household or are planning for serious training, the Sole LCR is our pick for you. Sole backs the LCR with a great warranty. For regular or light commercial use, the frame is covered by a lifetime warranty. The parts and electronics are covered for 3 years for home use or 2 years for light commercial. Labor is covered in both scenarios by a 1-year warranty. The Sole LCR has a maximum user weight capacity of 350 lbs and a product weight of 152 lbs for a construction consumers can trust.

Sole has stepped up its feature offerings, and the LCR was one of its machines that saw the upgrade. The 10.1” touchscreen has training and entertainment content. There are streaming apps that allow you to watch shows and movies from apps like Netflix and Hulu. You don’t have to worry about your device dying during your workout thanks to a wireless charging station built right into the LCR’s console. If you have an iPhone, you can also screen mirror content right onto the touchscreen. Hopefully, Sole will improve the Android integration with their devices to allow more users to screen mirror to the LCR.

The LCR does not require an ongoing monthly subscription to access content unless you want to use integrated third-party apps, like video streaming apps or Kinomap. Sole’s content is free to use. There are various training programs, as well as the option to customize your own training template. The screen mirroring again comes in handy if you wish to train with non-supported training apps. The speakers are Bluetooth and you have two device racks to view your device from, allowing you to train however you would like. There are 40 electromagnetic resistance levels to keep your workouts challenging.

The Sole LCR is a sturdy recumbent bike with extensive training and entertainment features. It is hard to think what Sole has missed with this design.

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Best Recumbent Bike with Content: NordicTrack Commercial R35 Recumbent Bike

The NordicTrack Commercial R35 is a smart recumbent bike. NordicTrack falls under the iFIT umbrella, providing the bike with beautiful onscreen content. This recumbent bike is perfect for shoppers hopping for a great bike and subscription content to match. The NordicTrack Commercial R35 is perfect for the exercise enthusiast who wants to improve their fitness level and test their limits. The trainer-led content helps you stay motivated.

iFIT is a subscription-based training platform with content from over a hundred trainers on all seven continents. For the exercise bike specifically, you have tons of guided workouts that automatically adjust the resistance. The longer you use iFIT the better the platform learns your training level. The resistance will then become more tailored to you. The content is fun and engaging, allowing you to virtually tour scenic locations in faraway places. The 14-inch touchscreen is great for viewing the locations and the front-facing speakers allow you to hear the audio clearly. iFIT also provides content for off-the-bike, so you can develop a well-rounded workout routine.

The R35 has 26 levels of digital resistance. This recumbent bike is very quiet due to its magnetic resistance. Some users described even the low levels of resistance as too hard. For this reason, the R35 is not our favorite for rehabilitation purposes or for users with limited strength. Instead, the R35 is best for more advanced users or those with serious training goals. The R35 is designed to challenge you.

In addition to its great content, the R35 has a solid construction. Its shipped weight is 192 lbs. Though it has transport wheels, it is not the easiest for most users to move regularly. The NordicTrack R35 does best with a dedicated space. Many users are drawn to recumbent bikes for their comfortability, and the R35 delivers. It has a wide, padded seat for maximum user comfort. The R35 finds the balance between performance and comfortability with great content to help the minutes tick by faster.

Read Our Full Review Of The NordicTrack Commercial R35 Here

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Best Recumbent Bike For Home: Sole R92 Recumbent Bike

Unlike the Sole LCR, the Sole R92 is not a light commercial product. Instead, it is designed purely for home use. Yet, it is an excellent recumbent bike from a brand known for its quality and durability. The R92 is a great recumbent bike for users not wowed by high-tech features, who are looking for a product that will last them a long time.

The Sole R92 is not as high-tech as recumbent bikes with smart touchscreen displays, but it has plenty of features loaded into its console. To make up for the lack of features in its 9-inch LCD screen, the R92 has two tablet racks and Bluetooth speakers. Thus, your personal device effectively becomes the screen, if you wish. You can even connect with the Sole+ app to view your metrics. To prevent your device battery from running out, the Sole R92 has a USB charging port on the side of its console. This makes the R92 the perfect choice for users who don’t care to have a built-in touchscreen. This bike still has plenty of features.

Train at no extra cost. The R92 has your standard interval, hill, and fat-burn programs preloaded onto its console. These programs make use of the 20 levels of magnetic (ECB) resistance for plenty of training variation. The handles have pulse grip heart rate monitors, so you can check in on your heart rate while training or use them to complete a heart rate training program. The Sole R92 is also compatible with several heart rate monitors, so you can train with these programs more accurately. The R92 is great for low-tech training or can be paired with a smart device for more involved training.

Nothing beats a lifetime warranty! The Sole R92’s frame is covered with such a warranty while the parts/electronics and labor are covered by a 2-year and 1-year warranty respectively. The R92 can support a maximum user weight of 300 lbs but weighs only 130 lbs. It has two transport wheels for relocation. Because recumbent bikes take up quite a bit of space, we suggest users have a dedicated space to store their bikes.

The Sole R92 has a wide padded seat that slides up and down a rail to adjust the proximity to the pedals. Users should have no trouble getting the right feet and feeling comfortable during their rides.

Read Our Full Review Of The Sole R92 Recumbent Bike Here

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Best Recumbent Bike For Seniors: Horizon 5.0R Recumbent Bike

Horizon makes cardio equipment with low-tech, easy-to-navigate consoles. This is one reason we have selected the Horizon 5.0R Recumbent Bike as our top pick for seniors. Horizon does not require a monthly subscription to access its content, but they support training with third-party apps for plenty of variability. The Horizon 5.0R is a versatile recumbent bike that will appeal to seniors and budget shoppers.

The Horizon 5.0R Recumbent Bike is under one thousand dollars, making it a great choice for budget shoppers with plenty of value. This recumbent bike is perfect for seniors and beginners. It is affordable and easy to learn to use. The simple console invites users to sit right down on the comfortable, padded seat and get to pedaling. The 5.0R also has a padded backrest with lumbar support. The seat is horizontally adjustable, so you can get the perfect positioning from the pedals. There is a very low step-through design to make the bike more accessible.

Training on the Horizon 5.0R starts with the onboard training programs. There are four programs in addition to manual training. These programs allow you to set a distance or calorie goal, perform intervals, or follow a “weight loss” workout. There are 100 levels of magnetic (ECB) resistance. The flywheel is a little lighter than we prefer. It weighs only 15.4 lbs. However, we are impressed with Horizon’s integration with third-party training apps. Horizon suggests users try apps like Peloton, Kinomap, Zwift, and more to expand their training horizons (pun intended).

The 5.0R supports using your smartphone or tablet during training by including Bluetooth, a tablet rack, and USB charging. The one feature it lacks is secondary resistance controls. It would be nice to easily toggle between a high resistance and low resistance level. I am so used to this feature on the Horizon treadmills, that I feel its absence on this bike. Horizon, otherwise, does a great job of allowing users to train however they wish. The ability to exercise as soon as the motivation strikes is a definite plus for the 5.0R, but we are also glad it has more connectivity for exercisers looking for programmed training content.

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Best Recumbent Bike For Larger Users: LifeSpan R5i Recumbent Bike

LifeSpan’s brand creates products for improving your lifestyle and health. The R5i Recumbent Bike is designed with a high user weight limit and comfortable features to help as many of us reach our goals as possible. The LifeSpan R5i is great for home or light commercial use. The LifeSpan R5i is a comfortable recumbent bike to encourage you in your fitness journey.

LifeSpan makes commercial and residential equipment, and with the R5i Recumbent Bike, they have designed a product that excels in both conditions. Residential users can be assured they are purchasing a quality machine due to this rating. The R5i also has a 400-lb weight capacity. It can support users from 4’11” to 6’4”. We like the R5i for larger users, because these capacities are well over the residential equipment standard for recumbent bikes. The seat is adjustable horizontally, and the backrest is also adjustable.

One of the most interesting and impressive features of the R5i is its self-generating power. The bike requires no power cords or batteries. Instead, it is powered by user activity! This feature not only saves you on your electricity bill; it allows the bike to be moved almost anywhere. In addition to this nifty power-saving feature, the LifeSpan R5i also has soft touch buttons on its simple console and a comfortable, padded seat. The R5i is designed for users’ comfort and convenience.

The R5i has 40 training programs accessible through its console. There’s no need for a subscription. These programs are divided into the categories of heart rate, active living, and sports training. The heart rate programs can be completed using the HR sensors on the handles or with a compatible heart rate monitor. The R5i is Bluetooth compatible so you can pair a HR monitor or sync your workout activities to the free LifeSpan fitness app. There are plenty of training programs, but we found the resistance levels a little lacking. There are only quick adjust buttons for levels 4, 8, 12, and 16. The LifeSpan R5i is more suited to beginners or casual users.

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Best Budget Recumbent Bike: XTERRA SB120 Recumbent Bike

The XTERRA SB120 is a very inexpensive recumbent bike. It is perfect for anyone who needs a quick and easy exercise solution. The XTERRA SB120 has all the required features anyone would need for a recumbent bike–the padded seat, the low impact, and a basic console. Pay for only what you need with the XTERRA SB120.

The XTERRA SB120 has that easy-going geometry you need from a recumbent bike. The seat is padded with a backrest for comfort you just can’t find on an upright bike. The seat is adjustable forwards and backwards to accommodate a moderate height range of 4’10” to 5’10”. The maximum user weight capacity is 250 lbs, which is a little lower than the standard limit we see on home exercise equipment, but it is not bad for the price.

The SB120 is a lightweight recumbent bike. There are transport wheels to allow the user to move the bike more easily. While these transport wheels are typically found on recumbent bikes, many models are still heavy and cumbersome. The SB120’s minimal design makes it more portable. However the low weight does has a disadvantage. The seat is not as stable from side to side, so you may feel some movement if you are not perfectly centered on the recumbent bike. The XTERRA SB120 won’t feel as solid as pricier bikes.

The XTERRA SB120 has a very simple display and console. It only has one button, so you can shift between viewing your time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse. To view your pulse, use the heart rate grips on the low handles. These handles provide a convenient way for users to quickly check in on their heart rate. There is a small phone holder at the bottom of the console. For training more intensely, there are 8 resistance levels, so you do get a bit of training variety on the SB120. This low range of resistance is best suited to beginners and casual users. Overall, the XTERRA SB120 is an affordable recumbent bike that makes improving your exercise routine more accessible.

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Best Recumbent Bike Under $1000: Schwinn 290 Recumbent Bike

The Schwinn 290 Recumbent Bike is an affordable exercise bike with plenty of training and performance features. The Schwinn 290 is a cardio machine that keeps its cost low by not incorporating a built-in touchscreen into its display. Instead, you can use your own phone or tablet to turn this low-tech bike into a smart bike. The Schwinn 290 lets you keep things simple or achieve the same high-end training as a luxury bike.

The Schwinn 290 Recumbent Bike is under a thousand dollars, and for this price, you get a pretty nice bike. The 290 is 107.6 lbs, so it isn’t crazy heavy. It has transport wheels, so you can move it around a bit easier than other recumbent bikes on this list. It doesn’t have the easy step-through design we commonly see on other recumbent bikes, so it may not be the best suited to users with balance or mobility restrictions. The pedals are weighted, making them easier to slide your feet into and delivering a smooth pedaling experience. Most importantly when it comes to a recumbent bike, the seat is padded and ventilated.

The 290 has quite a few features, making it a great value for its price. The Schwinn’s 7-inch LCD screen tops a simple console. There are quick adjust buttons for the 25 resistance levels, though not all of the levels are represented. The console also has a device rack, so you can position your phone or tablet over the LCD screen for viewing. Some of the other features include USB charging, a water bottle holder, and Bluetooth speakers. The only thing the 290 lacks is a fan.

JRNY provides premium subscription content for the Schwinn 290 if you prefer guided training. The app pairs with your bike to display your metrics on your device screen. The app can even communicate with the 290 to automatically adjust the resistance level to match the trainer’s recommendations. The 290 is also compatible with popular cycling app, Zwift. The Schwinn 290 Recumbent Bike gives exercisers the freedom to train how they want and decide for themselves if a subscription platform is right for them.

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Best Recumbent Bike With Free Content: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Recumbent Bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Recumbent Bike, also known as the “Premium Magnetic Resistance Smart Recumbent Bike,” shall henceforth be referred to as the “Sunny Smart Bike.” This bike is affordable with a simple console and free content from the SunnyFit app. In a time where we see more subscriptions than anyone can possibly keep up with, Sunny creates training videos for its products at no extra cost!

Sunny Health and Fitness has been steadily impressing me with the SunnyFit app. The app is totally free, so you won’t be tricked into any in-app purchases. Sunny has video classes from fitness instructors for many different types of fitness equipment. You can further filter the equipment category to view recumbent bike workouts only. The instructors are great and upbeat, but it is not as overwhelming of an experience as you might find from Peloton or Echelon cycling classes. There are classes suitable for beginners and advanced exercisers.

The Sunny Smart Bike has built-in training for users who do not want to connect to the app. There are 24 onboard training programs. These programs are basic interval and heart rate programs that you find on most cardio equipment, but they are great additions to the Smart Bike. To keep you hydrated, no matter how you train, the bike has a water bottle holder below the console. There are pulse grip sensors to help you along on those heart rate programs. The Sunny Smart Bike has a variety of features to support your ride.

The Sunny Smart Bike weighs only 86.4 lbs, but it can support a user of up to 300 lbs. The low weight is a bit of a tradeoff between stability and portability. The seat may wobble side to side a bit more than other bikes, but it will be far easy to wheel from one area to another. This recumbent bike has a spacious padded seat with a mesh back for improved breathability. It has grippy pedals with adjustable straps so you can maintain good contact with the pedals. The flywheel is lighter than we prefer, weighing only 6.6 pounds. Overall, we are pleased with what the Sunny Smart Bike offers for under a thousand dollars.

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What To Look For In A Recumbent Exercise Bike

The Seat

One of the biggest draws to a recumbent exercise bike is the seat. The wider cushion and lumbar support make recumbent biking far more comfortable than upright cycling for many users. Individuals returning to exercise from an injury or rehabilitating from health complications often turn to recumbent biking because of its accessibility and comfort features. Thus, it is very important to make sure the recumbent bike you select actually has a comfortable seat. Some bikes will have mesh backs for improved ventilation or adjustable backrests. If these features are important to your comfort, look for bikes that offer them.

Step-Through Design

Speaking of accessibility, the most accessible recumbent bike designs have step-through frames. This design allows users to step over a very low frame that is easier to navigate when sitting in the seat. If the frame between the seat and console is very high, it may be more difficult for users to lift a leg to the other side of the bike. Look out for a step-through frame when making a recumbent bike choice if you have balance or mobility limitations.

Height Capacity

Recumbent bikes have horizontally adjustable seats, bringing the exerciser closer to and further away from the pedals. Very short and very tall users should be especially careful when choosing a recumbent bike to ensure it accommodates their size. Brands may list the height range or inseam length.

Training Options

Content

Recumbent exercise bikes, like most other cardio equipment nowadays, comes with or without subscription training content. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to adding on a subscription, but it could impact your budget. Before settling on a bike, determine how important premium trainer-led content is to you. It can really improve your motivation and adherence to a workout program, but there are free alternatives. We love bikes from NordicTrack that offer iFIT content for a monthly fee and those from Sunny Health and Fitness that pair with free content from the SunnyFit app.

You might even decide to skip the training content altogether. If you want built-in training programs, most bikes will have some. If you want to view entertainment content from your phone or tablet, ensure the bike has a tablet rack with an easy-viewing height. Additional features like Bluetooth speakers and automatic resistance control can improve your training experience.

Resistance

Not all bikes are created equal when it comes to resistance levels. Most recumbent exercise bikes we have reviewed use magnetic resistance to adjust the intensity of your training. Bikes can have anywhere from no resistance variation to 100 levels! Keep in mind that a lower number of levels does not mean the bike is easier. The levels may simply make larger leaps in how hard the next level is compared to the previous level.

Bottom Line – Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes

Recumbent exercise bikes are great training tools. They are low-impact and comfortable. This makes them a great choice for beginners and those returning from sickness or injury. Yet, they can also be great for harder training. Many recumbent exercise bikes offer training content suitable for beginners to advanced users. Like other exercise bikes, they come with variable resistance, but they up the comfort with wide, padded seats and backrests. Recumbent bikes prove that cardio machines do not have to put you in an uncomfortable position for an effective workout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who would benefit most from a recumbent bike?

Recumbent bikes are traditionally targeted toward individuals returning from injury or seniors. The comfortable seats with back support make exercising more accessible for these users. Recumbent biking is also low-impact, reducing the impact on the body. Yet, users who avoid other types of exercise due to discomfort will also greatly benefit from recumbent biking. This style of indoor cycling should not be limited to one group nor restricted to casual or beginner riders.

Is it better to walk on a treadmill or ride on a recumbent bike?

The number one important factor in considering which type of exercise you should do is your enjoyment of the activity. Whichever activity brings you the most enjoyment will lead to better adherence to an exercise regimen. If you are combating injury or illness, consider your body’s restrictions. Exercisers with balance issues, limited mobility, or bone breaks/fractures may do best with recumbent biking. Additionally, anyone recovering from an illness that has severely lowered their fitness level may find recumbent biking better, because there is less of a fall risk and they can sit and rest whenever needed.

Treadmill walking may be best for users who are combating hip or back pain from prolonged sitting. It can also help users improve their balance and cardiovascular health in a way that applies to their life. If an exerciser’s goal is to walk further or with more stability, the exercise chosen should resemble that goal as closely as possible. Recumbent biking can also be a stepping stone to treadmill walking depending on the exerciser’s needs and fitness level.

Is a recumbent bike a good workout?

Recumbent biking can be a good workout. The comfortable seated position can make it tempting to pedal at a leisurely pace that doesn’t tax the heart or lungs enough. This is okay for users returning to exercise from a bad injury or illness, but it won’t be enough to increase your cardiovascular fitness. To ensure you are getting a great workout, try to work at an intensity above a 3 on a scale from 1 to 10. You can also check on your heart rate using a fitness tracker, the built-in pulse grips on the bike, or the old-fashioned method of counting your heartbeats. Working at 50% of your maximum heart rate is a great place to start. If you don’t know your maximum heart rate, a rough estimate is 220 minus your age. Heart rate or a rating of perceived exertion are both valid ways to make sure your workout is effective.

Is a recumbent bike good or bad for knees?

The answer to this question is a bit complicated. For one, it depends on the injury. Overuse injuries can be exacerbated by cycling of any kind. However, recumbent biking offers a low-impact exercise method for training knee strength and range of motion. If recumbent biking is causing you pain, check that your seat is properly aligned with the pedals. Positioning your seat too far or too close to the seat can cause pain. You should have a soft bend in your knee when the pedal is the furthest from you. Make sure you are not sliding around in the seat and that you are seated all the way back.

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