There are many reasons why someone would buy an exercise bike. Perhaps they wish to avoid paying for a gym membership, or they live in an area where biking is difficult outdoors. In the end, the question is not whether to purchase the bicycle, but which one is the best for their needs. Let’s review three popular models and see why they could help you achieve your fitness goals.
XTERRA SB2.5r Recumbent Bike
The XTERRA SB2.5r has a feature that some stationary bikes lack: a large, thickly cushioned seat. Anyone who has spent time riding knows that if the seat isn’t comfortable, it’s hard to get motivated to exercise.
While the seat adjusts forward and backward, it doesn’t tilt. But you have the choice of two sets of handlebars to help you find a comfortable position. The ones near the seat have heart rate sensors in their grips.
Another benefit to the SB2.5r is its step-through design. There is no crossbar in the way when you mount it. This fact is important for owners with limited mobility.
It’s also pleasing that the pedals are large enough to accommodate bulky shoes, plus they have adjustable straps to help you pedal more effectively.
Next, there are twenty-four built-in exercise programs to help you train efficiently. Choose from cardio, calorie burner, and other training to reach your fitness goals. Or customize your own workout and save it to one of the four slots for personalized programs.
As you workout, you can watch your progress on the 5.25-inch backlit LCD. You’ll see data like your heart rate, speed, time elapsed, calories burned, and more. And there is a jack for you to plug in your mp3 player and listen to music through the console speakers.
Finally, the XTERRA SB2.5r supports up to 300 pounds. The sturdy steel frame is powder-coated to resist corrosion. And the twenty-two-pound magnetic flywheel operates silently while you ride.
More features of the XTERRA SB2.5r:
- Comes with one-year warranty on parts and five years on the frame
- Measures 54.3 inches long by 25.2 inches wide and weighs 132 pounds
- Assembly required
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Magnetic Resistance and Pulse Sensor NS-908R
The minimal design of the Marcy NS-908R recumbent bike might be ideal if you want to squeeze in a little exercise in front of the TV. Its sleek step-though design, cushioned seat, and non-slip pedals make for a comfortable workout. Plus, the armrests on either side of the seat have dual grips to help you find the best position while you pedal.
During your training, you can choose from eight levels of resistance, from easy to challenging. All it takes is the twist of a knob to raise or lower the difficulty. Then the counter-weighted pedals with adjustable straps help you push to higher levels of fitness.
There are heart rate sensors embedded in the handlebars so you can view your cardio activity on the console. Meanwhile, the 2.25-inch LCD display also shows your speed, distance traveled, time elapsed, and calories burned.
Finally, the Marcy bike is built for durability. Its solid steel frame is rated for up to 300 pounds, plus it has powder-coating that resists moisture and scratches.
More features of the Marcy NS-908R:
- Requires two AA batteries
- Comes with two-year limited warranty
- Measures 47.6 inches long by 24.8 inches wide and weighs 50 pounds
Exerpeutic GOLD 525XLR Folding Recumbent Exercise Bike
As you may have noticed, each bike in our review today has become progressively less complicated and more minimalistic. Not everyone wants all the bells and whistles to distract them. And in the case of the Exerpeutic GOLD 525XLR, you’ll see just how much you can get out of a simple design.
The 525XLR recumbent bike is perfect if you’re hunting for one that can support more weight. It holds up to 400 pounds and adjusts for users between 5’2” and 6’5” tall.
It has a large padded seat set at a slight tilt to take pressure off your back while you ride. And it has large counterweighted pedals with adjustable straps to help you exercise efficiently. But do take note that this bike does not have a step-though structure for easy mounting.
Meanwhile, the sensors in the handlebars near the seat will measure your heart rate and display it on the LCD screen. You can also view the calories burned, time elapsed, distance traveled, and speed. And the nice part about the minimal display is that it’s not in the way if you want to gaze out the window or watch TV while you exercise.
There are eight levels of magnetic resistance to keep you challenged. Just turn the knob to increase or decrease the difficulty.
Finally, when you’re done for the day, the Exerpeutic 525XLR folds up for storage. In fact, it shrinks down to about half its size, plus it has small roller wheels to help you move it out of the way.
More features of the Exerpeutic 525XLR:
- Comes with 1-year limited warranty
- Measures 48.5 inches long by 24 inches wide and weighs 54.7 pounds
- When folded, it measures 27 inches long by 18 inches wide and 48 inches tall
Recommendation
The choice of best bike may seem difficult until we examine the details. For example, if you want a recumbent exercise bike that can support a rider weighing over 300 pounds, the Exerpeutic 525XLR is a solid choice. It’s adjustable to suit a wide range of users, too, up to 6-feet 5-inches in height. Plus, it folds up for storage, which is ideal if you have a small home. The only downside is that the foldable design is not step-though, so owners with limited mobility may struggle to mount it.
Otherwise, the XTERRA SB2.5r and the Marcy NS-908R hold up to 300 pounds each. Like all three bikes in the review today, they have large cushioned seats and pedals with adjustable straps. And they both have step-though designs that don’t require you to lift a leg to mount them.
The advantage to the Marcy bike is that it doesn’t need electricity to operate as the XTERRA does. It only needs batteries. But even if the batteries died, you could still use the bike because the knob to adjust resistance levels is mechanical, not electrical, and so is the flywheel.
Finally, the XTERRA SB2.5r may be the best choice if you want access to several training programs or want to customize your own.
Click here to purchase XTERRA SB2.5r on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Octane Fitness xR4x on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Octane Fitness xR4x on Amazon.com!