Best Exercise Bikes, 2025 – A Cycling Instructor’s Top Picks

The Nordictrack S22i changed what it means to ride inside. While other bikes offer fun studio-based rides, iFIT on the S22i offers outdoor routes for road and mountain rides. We love the variability of the routes in iFIT. You can traverse the rugged mountains of New Zealand or join a road race with hundreds of other cyclists on the Tour of Utah.

The S22i also inclines and declines, so the bike will tilt while you ride to match the route’s terrain. The incline and decline features are automated, so you don’t have to adjust it yourself–making rides on the S22i feel natural. (You can override the automation at any time if desired).

The touchscreen is placed at the end of the handlebars, so it is easy to see and reach but not right in your face. Control buttons on the handlebars also make it a breeze to adjust the resistance or incline when needed. We also love the built-in fan at the base of the screen, which has four power settings.

The S22i has hybrid pedals, so you can ride it with an SPD cycling shoe or any athletic shoe. It also includes 3lb hand weights for upper-body work in the strength training workouts on iFIT.

The Nordictrack S22i is best suited for those who want an outdoor riding experience inside. We recommend it to consumers looking for innovative tech, riders who prefer outdoor routes on a touchscreen, and those who wish for subscription content that is updated regularly. Riders will enjoy the automated incline and decline, as well as the overall quiet, engaging, and fun experience that the S22i provides.

Click here to read our detailed review of the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike.

The Bowflex C6 bike does not have a touchscreen but a Bluetooth-enabled console. The console provides ride metrics such as speed, distance, calorie burn, time elapsed, RPMs, etc. Since the console is Bluetooth compatible, it will also sync with a phone or tablet and connect with certain third-party apps. You can use Zwift, Peloton, iFit, or other cycling apps with the C6.

It has 100 levels of magnetic resistance. Other bikes have 32 resistance levels or maybe 26, but these arbitrary levels can make it harder to interpret overall resistance and rider strength.

The Bowflex C6 bike also has hybrid pedals, so it will work with any athletic shoe. However, there are SPD clips on the underside of the flat pedal for those who prefer SPD spin shoes. We are impressed with the combination of a Bluetooth-enabled console, the ability to sync with 3rd party apps, the use of 100 levels of resistance, and the hybrid pedals on the Bowflex C6.

We think the Bowflex C6 is a great all-around bike and a good option for those who want the freedom to use other apps — you’re not locked into one subscription. This is one of our favorite bikes, and we are thrilled about the great price!

Click here to read our detailed review of the Bowflex C6.

The REHIT workouts (reduced exertion high-intensity interval training) are CAROL’s bread and butter. If you only have a short amount of time, these are the workouts you need. These involve short, intense interval sprints followed by a few minutes of low-intensity intervals. The sprint intervals are only 10-20 seconds long for 2-3 times per REHIT workout.

You can do anything for 10 or 20 seconds, which makes working out and developing a consistent routine achievable. This exercise bike features thoughtfully constructed, science-based workouts to increase your VO2 max and functional threshold power, not only for beginners but also for advanced athletes.

By incorporating AI-generated resistance, the CAROL puts you at your maximum intensity by determining an appropriate resistance for you and your fitness level during the sprints. Then, after a REHIT workout, you can choose from HIIT and zone 2 training or control the resistance yourself in regular free rides.

Plus, if you want to spend more time on the bike, but don’t want to get bored, there are plenty of streaming apps available to download, log in, and stream from straight from the attached tablet on the bike. Although you’ll need to subscribe to CAROL’s membership to access all of the workouts, you can stream from the apps without CAROL’s membership.

Rated for commercial use, the CAROL 2.0 has a generous 330 lb weight limit and a 22 lb rear-mounted flywheel. Grippy handlebars and a nicely-padded seat, make the CAROL Bike comfortable, even if you only spend a few minutes on it every other day.

Click here to read our detailed review of the CAROL Bike.

What’s best about these apps is that they don’t require an additional subscription to access. All you have to do is log in with your Netflix or Hulu (insert relevant app) and start watching.

Another excellent feature is that you can screen mirror your device in case none of the included apps are what you want to stream from. If you like trainer-led content, there are free Sole+ app classes and you can use your device to screen mirror other training apps. You also have the option to put your device on the rack above the screen to view content straight from your device.

Along with awesome content included without a subscription, the SB1200 is a solid bike that comes with 100 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance, hybrid pedals with toe cages and SPD clips, a narrow, lightly padded saddle, a 330 lb weight limit, and 3-way adjustability. The seat and handlebar posts adjust for various heights, so this bike is great for most people and quiet for most homes.

The Sole SB1200 offers a traditional riding experience with a standard adjustment knob to control your resistance and the ability to ride in and out of the saddle comfortably. This is a great bike for high-intensity workouts and distance rides. It also doesn’t hurt that the frame is backed by a lifetime warranty, which helps to instill confidence in the overall construction.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Sole SB1200.

With its admirable performance and handling of heavy use, the Keiser is an excellent choice if you’re looking for commercial-grade quality in your home. It also has many other features that make it appealing for public and private use.

The Keiser is pretty lightweight at 92 lbs for easy transporting. It has a lightweight 8 lb rear-mounted flywheel that makes it lighter than comparable bikes. It’s also specifically designed for a light flywheel. With the flywheel being at the rear of the bike, you won’t be dripping sweat on it while you’re pedaling for miles and miles, making it less prone to damage.

The Keiser M3i includes plenty of resistance to pedal against for all fitness levels. It’s very quiet to use, so you can cycle away (well, in place) without disrupting your housemates or neighbors.

The Keiser Bike has a battery-powered console that tracks everything you need, such as your RPMs, watts, kilocalories, heart rate, time, resistance level, and distance. The console is backlit, so it’s easy to see, or you can do what I’ve seen many riders do: place a towel over it and cycle.

Even though this bike doesn’t have a touch screen, you can use it anywhere because it doesn’t require an outlet to use. You could also place it in front of the TV and pedal your heart out while watching your favorite show.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Keiser M3i.

With an iFIT membership, you can explore the entire library of trainer-led classes. Choose from studio indoor cycling classes and outdoor classes filmed in beautiful locations worldwide. Plus, the bike boot camp and mat classes like strength and yoga on iFIT are incredibly awesome because the screen pivots up to 360 degrees from side to side. So, once you’re finished working your lower body on the bike, you can turn the screen and move into an upper body workout on iFIT.

Just like the NordicTrack S22i, the S27i has an attached motor that tilts the frame up and down to mimic the experience of riding hills outdoors. When you’re riding, the bike will incline up to 20% and decline to -10 %. There are also 24 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance to add variability to your rides. We love that the S27i is quiet and solid, mainly because of the steel construction and large 350 lb weight capacity.

We recommend the NordicTrack S27i to users who want to take classes led by instructors and riders who want a bike with innovative features. Those who want to feel like they’re riding outside, users who want a bike that’s fun to ride with plenty of variability for training, and riders who want a bike that adjusts on its own to follow the preprogrammed workout should check this bike out.

Click here to read our detailed review of the NordicTrack S27i.

With some updates, Peloton has added streaming from apps like Netflix and gamified Lanebreak workouts to mix up their ever-growing library of instructor-led classes. There’s even a (slow-growing) list of outdoor-filmed workouts, although these have nothing on iFIT.

The content is the big reason people love Peloton’s bikes. You can use the Peloton app on a few other bikes on this list, but to get the full experience (leaderboard high-fives and all) you’ll need one of the bikes. Our top recommendation is the OG Peloton Bike. It’s priced reasonably and has a nice build quality, like the Bike+. Things like 100 levels of quiet adjustable resistance and good adjustability for a variety of sized riders are available on both bikes.

For maximum features, the Peloton Bike+ has a larger rotating touchscreen and automatic resistance changes with the instructor’s cues, front-facing speakers, and a USB-C charging port. It’s more expensive, but we like the all-black design.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Peloton Bike.

The device rack holds your device for streaming, and the backlit LCD console tracks your metrics while riding. There are 100 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance to pedal against to vary your training with recovery rides, intervals, and high-resistance work. The IC4 is a great option for those who want to hop on and go or for streaming from apps of your choosing.

You can also roll the IC4 in front of your TV and ride while streaming your favorite shows. This bike is only around 112 lbs, so it’s pretty easy to move and doesn’t take up much floor space. It also handles up to 330 lbs, making it suitable for riders of pretty much all sizes.

Since there isn’t a touchscreen, the IC4 has four adjustment points. This adjustability means riders can get a custom fit by adjusting the seat and handles vertically and laterally.

It also helps that the construction is stable, with a steel frame and supportive floor stabilizers. For a bike that offers a lot of value for the price, we suggest seriously considering the Schwinn IC4.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Schwinn IC4.

Are you looking for more options? Check out our Best Cheap Exercise Bikes.

With the same iFIT and training features of some of the bikes we’ve already mentioned, including our #1 pick, you can utilize all of the things we love about the training platform while saving a bit on the bike.

The Studio Bike Pro 14 is a front-flywheel bike with a welded steel frame. It captures what we love about ProForm- nice quality with great tech on a compact design. The Pro 14 is also lightweight at just 116 lbs when it arrives in the box.

While this bike isn’t for heavier riders because of the weight limit, most people looking to replicate a studio cycling experience at home on a bike for less money should consider this ProForm.

The Echelon EX-5s-22 has 32 levels of magnetic resistance, so it is quiet to ride. It also has a touchscreen like other bikes, but it is priced slightly less. The Echelon Premier Membership is designed to compete with iFIT and Peloton by offering trainer-led workout classes. The price of the membership is comparable to these popular training apps and the library is ever-growing.

Live and on-demand cycling classes are available and then you can turn the screen and follow your ride with strength, stretching, Pilates, and yoga mat workouts. There are also entertainment streaming and scenic rides with the Premier Membership. Plus, when you purchase Echelon’s Premier Membership, you get a 5-year warranty and up to 5 member profiles on one account.

The Echelon EX-5s-22 is one of the most compact indoor bikes on the market with a touchscreen. At 124 pounds, it is lightweight and easy to move.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Echelon EX-5s-22.

The lean mode makes riding the bike feel like a motorcycle race! It requires a bit of balance and core strength, but once you get the hang of it, this bike is entertaining to ride. We love how the lean mode targets and strengthens your core. Unlike standard bikes, where you just need to sit on the saddle, the Velocore is a full-body challenging workout!

You can’t sit idly by and spin the pedals on this one. Along with the lean mode, subscribing to JRNY makes for a good training experience. JRNY features tailored workouts, trainer-led studio classes, and outdoor-filmed routes. You can also stream from Prime Video and Netflix with a subscription.

The Bowflex Velocore is best suited for riders who can sit upright and lean slightly from side to side without losing balance. We recommend this to cyclists who are looking for something fun that requires more core engagement than a standard spin bike. The Velocore is also a good option for those who want to watch third-party apps and access other training content with a subscription on the touchscreen.

Click here to read our detailed review of the Bowflex Velocore.

Our top pick for the best air bike is the AssaultBike Pro X. AssaultBikes are found in homes and commercial settings. The Pro X is unique because of its belt drive system. This makes it smooth to ride and a little quieter than other air bikes. It’s important to note that air bikes are loud because of their fans, but they’re worth it if you want to seriously crank up your cardio in a matter of minutes.

The AssaultBike Pro X has a comfortable seat and flat, metal pedals to wear regular tennis shoes. The console is also simple with onboard workouts. The Pro X doesn’t need to be plugged in, making it awesome for garage gym, and even the great outdoors. Although you could do long rides on the Pro X, it’s better for short, intense sessions, warm-ups, and cool-downs.

Click here to read our detailed review of the AssaultBike Pro X.

Are you looking for more options? Check out our Best Air Bikes.

The R35 isn’t a recumbent bike to get bored on. It has a 14” touchscreen to stream iFIT workouts. There are thousands of trainer-led workouts filmed all around the world that you can take from the screen with a subscription. You can also just put it in front of your TV, if you don’t want to use iFIT.

The construction and high weight limit, as well as the 192-lb build, make this a heavy-duty recumbent bike. Because of its weight and lack of a rear handle, it isn’t the easiest to move, so it’s best to keep it in a designated spot. It is also the largest bike on this list of best exercise bikes, so keep that in mind.

The overall design of the NordicTrack R35 is easy to get on and off of, making it ideal for those with limited mobility as well as people in recovery. The seat adjusts and provides nice lumbar support for a comfortable, yet surprisingly challenging ride when you want to crank up the resistance.

Click here to read our detailed review of the NordicTrack R35.

Are you looking for more options? Check out our Best Recumbent Bikes.