Upright exercise bikes, which are also referred to as stationary bikes, don’t seem to be quite as popular as they used to be thanks largely to the increasing popularity of spin bikes.
Many people seem to prefer these modern indoor cycling bikes because they tend to offer a more intense workout, and because you can pedal away in both a seated and standing position, they are ideal if you want to perform group cycling / spinning workouts in the comfort of your home.
Nevertheless, lots of people are still choosing to buy a traditional upright bike for their home because they provide a comfortable, low-impact workout that is ideal if you just want to get fit and lose a few pounds from your waistline. Plus many of the cheaper models can be folded away for storage when not being used, which makes them ideal for small spaces.
So in this article I want to provide you with a detailed guide to the best upright stationary bikes that are available to buy right now in all of the different price categories, and have provided reviews of each one to help you decide which one is best for you.
Low-Cost Bikes
Pooboo 4-in-1 Folding Exercise Bike
If you are looking to buy a low-cost upright exercise bike for your home, Pooboo have developed a 4-in-1 bike that will give you a lot more workout options that many others in the same price category.
That’s because this machine can be used as either an upright bike or a semi-recumbent bike thanks to the back rest and arm supports.
Not only that, but the Pooboo bike comes with a set of resistance bands that you can attach to various parts of the frame to help tone and strengthen your upper body while you are cycling, giving you a more productive full body workout.
So you can choose from different riding positions, and you can choose whether or not you want to strengthen your arms and shoulders as well.
The bike is exceptionally quiet in operation, regardless of which of the 8 levels of magnetic resistance you choose to use, and it comes equipped with a multi-function display console that even includes a holder for your phone or tablet.
Therefore when you consider that this Pooboo exercise bike can be folded away very easily, takes up very little space in your home and can accommodate users up to 300 lbs and between 4’11 and 6’3, unlike some of other folding bikes that are a lot more cramped, this is an excellent entry-level bike overall.
→ Click here to buy the Pooboo Folding Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike
The Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike (with Pulse) is consistently one of the top-selling exercise bikes on Amazon.com, and it’s easy to see why because this is a very affordable bike that delivers an excellent workout.
This one has 8 levels of magnetic resistance to help you vary the intensity of your workouts and comes equipped with a good quality LCD display that indicates time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse (if you use the built-in hand pulse sensors).
In addition, this particular upright bike is smooth and quiet in operation, unlike some of the other models in this price range, and is also a very strong bike because it has a large weight capacity of 300 pounds. Therefore it is suitable for both men and women.
Finally, it is also worth pointing out that this bike is very easy to fold away when it is not being used, which makes this an ideal exercise bike if space is at a premium in your home.
→ Click here to buy the Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Also available:
→ Exerpeutic 500 XLS Foldable Upright Bike – this new model from 2015 has a larger weight capacity (400 pounds) and is even more user-friendly than the model above because it can be used by anyone between 5’1 and 6’5 (read review).
Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 Desk Exercise Bike
If you like the idea of keeping fit while you work, you might want to consider buying yourself an upright exercise bike that comes with a built-in workstation, such as the Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000, for example, which is one of the most popular desk bikes.
This particular bike has a large desk attached so that you can easily work on your laptop or watch a movie, for instance, and it can still be folded away when it is not being used, just like many of the other entry-level models.
You can tilt the desk to different angles and adjust the desk forwards and backwards, upwards and downwards to find the most comfortable position, and you can also move it into a flat position and use it as a standing desk when you don’t feel like exercising.
This WorkFit 1000 bike has a thick Airsoft seat and unlike a standard upright bike, it also comes with a back rest, which means that your workouts will be a lot more comfortable, and you can easily cycle for several hours without any pain or discomfort when you need to do some work.
Furthermore, it is strong enough to support anyone up to 300 pounds, and still has many of the same features as a typical upright bike, such as 8 magnetic resistance levels and a computer display to track your performance, which is why it continues to receive a lot of positive reviews.
→ Click here to buy the Exerpeutic Workfit 1000 Desk Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Mid-Range Upright Exercise Bikes
FitDesk v3.0 Desk Exercise Bike
The Exerpeutic WorkFit 1000 is a very good choice if you are looking to buy a desk exercise bike, but the FitDesk v3.0 Bike is another good option if your budget can stretch a little further.
That’s because this bike has many of the same features, such as a fully adjustable work desk, a storage drawer, a back rest and a computer display, but it also has a few additional features that you may find useful.
For example, it has massage rollers to provide support for your wrists and forearms and prevent any discomfort, and has integrated resistance bands to help you tone your arms and get a decent upper body workout as well as a cardio workout.
It also performs well as an actual exercise bike because it has a compact but very strong steel frame design that can fold away when it is not being not used, and delivers a smooth workout with a choice of 8 resistance levels to help vary the intensity of your workouts.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that this FitDesk v3.0 Bike now includes a free desk extension kit, which basically doubles the size of the workstation and gives you a lot more space for all of your belongings.
So overall this is a really good upright exercise bike if you usually find these workouts really tedious and would prefer to be doing other things at the same time.
→ Click here to buy the FitDesk v3.0 Desk Exercise Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
Another really impressive mid-range model worth considering is the Schwinn 170 Upright Bike.
Schwinn are one of the leading manufacturers of home exercise bikes, and this Schwinn 170 is their top-of-the-range upright bike.
This one comes with 25 resistance levels and 29 workout programs, which means that you will never outgrow this machine or become bored of the same old routines, and the workout itself is smooth and quiet because it has a high speed high inertia flywheel.
Just like earlier models, this one has a large LCD display unit, but this one is a little more advanced because it has two windows and displays 13 different readouts.
Plus it also houses a built-in sound system and a cooling fan, and includes a USB port and data export facility should you wish to analyze your performance data using Schwinn Connect.
Therefore it is one of the most feature-packed stationary bikes that you will find in this price category.
→ Click here to buy the Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Also available:
→ Schwinn 130 Upright Bike – this cheaper model has fewer resistance levels and workout programs and only has user profiles for two people instead of four, but it is still a sturdy machine that is loaded with extra features and is comfortable to use thanks to its padded contoured seat (read review).
Nautilus U616 Upright Bike
The Nautilus U616 Upright Bike is another mid-range bike that is well worth considering.
This has the same kind of features as the Schwinn 170, which is hardly surprising as I understand that Schwinn are now part of the Nautlilus group, but is every bit as impressive.
For example, this one also has 25 resistance levels and 29 individual workout programs, as well as some built-in speakers, a cooling fan, a USB port and a media tray. It also has a similar looking display unit that can connect with third party apps such as Nautilus Connect and Myfitnesspal.
The key difference is that they are a different color and have a slightly different design, but overall they are both high quality machines that deliver a smooth and comfortable ride, with lots of workout options for people of all fitness levels.
→ Click here to buy the Nautilus U616 Upright Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Also available:
→ Nautilus U618 Upright Bike – this latest model shares many of the same features as the one above, but has a much more comfortable gel seat, and has a slightly higher weight capacity of 325 pounds (read review).
→ Nautilus U614 Upright Bike – this is a cheaper model that only has 22 resistance levels and 20 workout programs and doesn’t have an oversized saddle and pedals, but otherwise it shares many of the same features as the U616 model (read review).
LifeCore Fitness Assault Air Bike Trainer
If you are looking to get a more intense workout experience, you might want to consider buying the Assault Air Bike because this offers unlimited resistance.
The reason why is because it uses an advanced air resistance system that is solely determined by the pace of your pedal action.
So in other words, if you pedal faster, the resistance will intuitively increase as well, and if you ease off the pace, the intensity will fall.
Air bikes such as this one are a little noisier than your standard upright bike, but this is a strong and durable machine that can be used for home and commercial use, and is guaranteed to work both the upper and lower body because it has moving handlebar arms that are directly linked to the chain drive mechanism.
Plus it offers a range of different workout options with its selection of pre-set programs, and you can also customize your own programs as well.
→ Click here to buy the Assault Air Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Top-Of-The-Range Upright Bikes
Lifecore Fitness 1060UB Upright Exercise Bike
If you have a decent amount of money to spend on a top-end commercial-grade machine, then the Lifecore Fitness 1060UB Upright Bike is one model that you might want to consider buying.
This is a relatively new model from 2015, and I have to say that it looks mightily impressive because for a start, it has 32 magnetic resistance levels and 35 workout programs that will surely satisfy people of all fitness levels.
It also has an outstanding multi-window display unit because both the resistance setting and the workout programs can be changed at the touch of a button, and it basically tells you everything you need to know about your workout performance.
This bike also comes with a built-in fan with three different settings to keep you cool during your workout, and has built-in speakers, a USB charger and MP3 jack, and a panel to hold your phone or tablet.
So overall it should be more than good enough for everyday home use because it is designed to be used in a commercial setting.
→ Click here to buy the Lifecore Fitness 1060UB Upright Exercise Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Sole Fitness LCB Light Commercial Upright Bike
If you are a serious fitness fanatic and are looking to buy a top quality machine that will last you many years and provide you with a serious challenge, then the Sole Fitness LCB Light Commercial Upright Bike could be the bike for you.
This bike is designed for light commercial use in a gym or a health club, and is therefore ideal if you are looking for a quality bike for your home.
This one comes with 40 resistance levels and has 6 standard workout programs, 2 custom programs and 2 heart rate programs. It also has a large 30 pound flywheel that offers a smooth transition between resistance levels, and guarantees a smooth and quiet workout.
Plus it has a strong durable frame that can accommodate users up to 300 pounds, is very comfortable to use thanks to its fully adjustable seat and handlebars, and has plenty of extra features, including a cooling fan and an MP3-compatible sound system.
So you are basically getting a commercial-grade upright exercise bike at a reasonably affordable price if you do decide to buy this particular model.
→ Click here to buy the Sole Fitness LCB Light Commercial Upright Bike
→ Click here to read a full review
Additional Product Reviews
The upright bicycles listed above are some of the top-rated bikes that are available right now, but we have also reviewed a few other machines that didn’t quite make this list that you might like to read about:
→ Schwinn AD7 Airdyne – this indoor exercise bike has a really smooth and quiet air resistance system that provides you with infinite levels of resistance, and can be used to tone up your upper body as well to get an intense full-body cardio and toning workout.
→ Ironman 310 – this value for money upright exercise bike has 32 resistance levels and 12 workout programs, and comes with a dual window LCD display that is Bluetooth enabled and compatible with a number of fitness apps.
→ Flexispot Deskcise Pro – this exercise bike comes with its own work desk so that you can keep fit and increase your activity level while you work, but has also been designed to be used as a standing desk as well.
→ FitDesk v2.0 – the FitDesk v3.0 featured above is the very latest model, but we have also reviewed the v2.0 model as well, which is a slightly cheaper alternative.
→ Stamina Wirk Workstation Bike – this machine comes complete with its own workstation for your laptop or tablet device so that you can exercise and get some work done at the same time.
→ Schwinn A10 – this low-cost machine includes 7 workout programs and has a large console unit that includes lots of useful extra features, such as a built-in fan and a reading rack (DISCONTINUED).
→ Innova XB350 – this folding upright bike has 8 magnetic tension levels, built-in pulse sensors and a small computer display to track your performance, and is one of the few upright bikes that includes a tablet holder for your phone or tablet so that you can keep yourself amused while you exercise.
→ Fitness Reality 210 – this machine has a lot of workout options for such a low priced machine with its 24 resistance levels and 21 workout programs, and is a little bulkier and sturdier than many other folding bicycles.
→ Alpine Upright Bike – this exercise bike has a sturdy frame and adjustable magnetic resistance, and is suitable for people of all heights because it has a four-way adjustable seat.
→ Best Choice Products Upright Bike – this new exercise bike for 2016 is an entry-level model that provides a little more comfort than a standard upright bike because it has a back rest and arm supports.
→ Sunny SF-B2605 – this latest model from Sunny Health & Fitness has 8 magnetic resistance levels and a large cushion seat, and can be folded away really easily.
→ ProGear 225 – this light and compact upright exercise bicycle comes with a very comfortable ergonomically designed seat, is smooth and exceptionally quiet in operation and has a convenient folding design.
→ Xterra Fitness FB150 – this strong and very quiet folding bike is ideal for users between 4’10 and 5’10 (and up to 225 lbs) who want to keep fit at home, but don’t necessarily have a lot of extra space for cardio equipment.
→ Body Rider Fan Bike BRF700 – this low-cost upright bike has moving arms to strengthen and tone your arms and your abs muscles, and is powered by a fan resistance system that keeps you cool whilst you work out.
→ Alpine Folding Bike – this relatively recent model from 2016 has a heavy duty steel frame construction, a foam padded seat and 8 magnetic resistance levels, and can be folded away when not being used.
→ Merax Folding Bike – this model from 2015 is a very basic folding upright bike that has adjustable magnetic resistance, and comes with an LCD display and a holder for your iPad or tablet device.
no mention of the Schwinn airdyne?
You’re right, the Schwinn Airdyne does deserve to be featured on this page because it has received lots of good reviews. The only reason I haven’t added it yet is because I don’t have much experience of using air resistance bikes, but we will certainly review it soon.