Best affordable exercise bikes: 10 cost-effective options to roll with
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Helping to get your heartbeat racing and your endorphins pumping, while giving your overall fitness a boost, the best affordable exercise bikes can help you reap many of the rewards cycling brings - but on a budget.
No matter whether you spend £100 or £400, as one 2023 piece of research details, the act of cycling has the rather impressive power to lower the risk of mortality from any cause. Plus, this type of aerobic activity also decreases your risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, while bettering your overall well-being. And it has the power to do all the above without putting little to no pressure on your joints. Which is pretty great, right? So it makes sense that there are up to 10,000 searches for ‘affordable exercise bikes’ each month.
We’ve already detailed the best road bikes under £2,000 and the best folding bikes for commuters. But if you prefer to get your spin-class fix indoors, at home and without having to take out a small mortgage - you’re in good company. We’ve compiled a list of the best affordable exercise bikes for every type of cyclist.
But first, what exercise bike features should you look out for?
Good question. Melissa Power, founder of indoor cycling studio, Cadence, suggests forgetting any unnecessary add-ons like a water bottle holder or heart rate (HR) monitor. “In-bike HR monitors won't work a lot of the time, they're unreliable and you're better off using a watch or personal monitor,” the expert says.
Instead, Power recommends focusing on sourcing a bike that’s both sturdy and stable. “You want the bike to have a high user weight capacity, this will make it more supportive and stable,” she says. Next on the list? “It should have a screen that displays revolutions per minute (RPM) and watts and your resistance level,” Power says. “They are the only things you need to see on a screen.”
The bike should also be really easy to adjust. “If you're having to spend ages re-screwing things or losing bits of the bike every time you adjust it, it's not very stable.”
What makes a good exercise bike stand out from an 'OK' one?
Along with having good stability and durability, Power says to keep an eye out for resistance. “If the resistance doesn't go up that high then it's incredibly limiting,” the indoor cycling expert notes. “The standard of the flywheel also makes the good bikes stand out. You need a heavy flywheel as this will mirror the feeling of riding outside.”
So, now you know what features to look out for, let’s get stuck in. Roll this way to find out the best affordable exercise bikes on the market in 2024.
Best affordable exercise bikes at a glance:
- Best all-rounder: Domyos Basic Exercise Bike 100 - £250, Decathlon
- Best for a budget: Opti Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike - £99, Argos
- Best for small spaces: Pro Fitness FEB2000 Folding Exercise Bike - £199, Argos
- Best for range of resistance: Viavito Satori Exercise Bike - £249, Amazon
- Best for a splurge: JOROTO X2 Exercise Bike - £339.99, Amazon
- Best for beginners: Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider - £176.99, Amazon
- Best for minimal maintenance: JLL Exercise Bike, Adjustable Magnetic Resistance Cardio Workout - £109, Amazon
- Best for comfort: UREVO 10kg Flywheel Indoor Exercise Bike - £209, Amazon
- Best for bright and bold colourful design: Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Exercise Bike With LCD Display - £189, Home Fitness Code
- Best for stability: JTX Cyclo-3: Indoor Racer Bike - £250, JTX
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Domyos Basic Exercise Bike 100
Best for: all-rounder
- Flywheel size: 12kg
- Product dimensions: 120 x 45 x 120 cm
- Product weight: 29 kg
If there’s one brand you can count on to offer value for money, it’s Decathlon. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the Domyos Basic Exercise Bike 100 which looks stylish and stable and will enable you to pedal up a sweat from the comfort of your four walls. It comes with 32 different levels of resistance, a 12kg flywheel and a maximum user weight of 100kg.
So, no matter whether you plan to complete an endurance cycle or sprint, this bike will help you add and decrease as much resistance as you need. Priced at £250, we think there is lots to love about this modern indoor exercise bike.
Home Fitness Code Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Exercise Bike With LCD Display
Best for: bright and bold colourful design
- Flywheel size: 10kg
- Product dimensions: 100cm x 99cm x 51cm
- Product weight: 27kg
Depending on how smooth you want your cycle to be, and how much square footage you can sacrifice will be a deciding factor as to whether the Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary Exercise Bike With LCD Display is the right affordable two-wheel drive for you. We love the fact you can customise this bike, choosing between an 8kg or 10kg flywheel. And thankfully, if you pick the latter, there’s just a £10 different price between the two.
If you do invest in this beautiful-looking creation, you can also experience a digital monitor and some added extras that will make your life easier, like a bottle holder, transportation wheels and soundproof pedal covers.
Opti Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike
Best for: a budget
- Flywheel size: 1.6kg
- Product dimensions: 115cm x 42.5cm x D77cm
- Product weight: 13.1kg
Now, if you’re tracking down the best budget and beginner exercise bike, allow us to introduce you to the Opti Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike. For starters, it’s priced at £99. Secondly, it doesn’t come with lots of confusing add-ons. And thirdly? It folds, so it’s ideal for anyone short on square footage. This inclusion uses a magnetic resistance system and you can adjust this seat position between 72cm and 83cm.
Plus, the small screen gives you some guidance on time, distance ‘travelled’, speed and heart rate. Just note: the flywheel is the smallest we’ve seen and at 13.1kg, this bike is very lightweight. The upside is that it will be easy to set up and stash away in a cupboard. The downside is that it’s not particularly sturdy.
Pro Fitness FEB2000 Folding Exercise Bike
Best for: small spaces
- Flywheel size: 3kg
- Product dimensions: 116cm x 42cm x 86cm
- Product weight: 16kg
Check your speed, keep an eye on the time and watch your distance rise as you pedal on the Pro Fitness FEB2000 Folding Exercise Bike. You can even monitor your heart rate and enjoy eight different levels of tension.
But one of the best things about this bike? The fact it folds. So this could be the best buy for you if you’re in a studio flat or tight on space and intend to store your bike away once you have got your kicks. This indoor bike also comes with a backrest, so will provide some added support to your lower back if you’re completing a slow leisurely cycle.
Viavito Satori Exercise Bike
Best for: range of resistance
- Flywheel size: 9kg
- Product dimensions: 100cm x 54cm x130cm
- Product weight: 34kg
Hand pulse senses, adjustable handlebars and 32 levels of controlled magnetic resistance are just some of the reasons why we rate the Viavito Satori Exercise Bike. The LCD can also tell you all the need-to-know stats, from your distance and your RPM to your speed and duration.
The fact it comes with four different user profiles means you can easily adjust this bike from rider to rider so it is a great option to keep in mind if you plan on sharing this ride. Either way, you’ll have 20 auto-set programmes to enjoy. Or if you prefer to get your head down and ride, you can do so at your own heart’s content.
JOROTO X2 Exercise Bike
Best for: a splurge
- Flywheel size: 16kg
- Product dimensions: 109 x 50 x 108 cm
- Product weight: 42.6 kg
Just a heads-up: priced at £339.99 the JOROTO X2 Exercise Bike is the most expensive two-wheeled option in our guide - but we’ve included it as you get a lot of bang for your buck. Weighing in at 42.6kg and kitted out with an impressive 16kg chromed flywheel, this is a sturdy and stable bike that’s going nowhere (and fast).
This means you’ll feel supported on this bike, knowing it’s not flimsy or going to topple over mid-cycle. It’s also whisper-quiet. We realise £300 is a lot of money, but if you’re cycling on a budget, you can rest assured you’re buying from a brand that knows a thing or two between a good exercise bike and a great one.
Ultrasport F-Bike
Best for: beginners
- Flywheel size: 16kg
- Product dimensions: 74 x 41 x 111 cm
- Product weight: 16 kg
Compact, easy-to-use and giving you the option to keep a check on your speed, heart rate and calories burned, the Ultrasport F-Bike is a great addition for beginners. If you’re new to cycling, or just tempted to buy a bike so that you can pedal slow and steady in the comfort of your own home, this foldable design is worth a look.
It’s kitted out with a 16kg flywheel which makes for a smoother operation. All in all, this indoor bike will help give your cardio a boost and strengthen your lower body without any faff or noise.
JLL Exercise Bike, Adjustable Magnetic Resistance Cardio Workout
Best for: minimal maintenance
- Flywheel size: 4kg flywheel
- Product dimensions: 62 x 51 x 120 cm
- Product weight: 18.1kg
Smooth, quiet and requiring minimal maintenance, the JLL Exercise Bike comes with 10 levels of magnetic resistance to help you make your ride easier or harder. The LCD display monitor might be small, but you can still track a handful of the worth-knowing stats, like time, speed and distance.
It’s also kitted out with pulse sensor plates so you can see what your heart rate is doing mid-workout. Any rider will know how important being comfortable is when you’re spinning away for 10 minutes or 60. So thankfully, this bike has seven levels of adjustable seat height and you can rotate the handlebars 360 degrees to help find your comfy spot.
UREVO 10kg Flywheel Indoor Exercise Bike
Best for: comfort
- Flywheel size: 10kg
- Product dimensions: 100cm x 50cm x 120cm
- Product weight: 24kg
Feast your eyes on this UREVO 10kg Flywheel Indoor Exercise Bike that comes with a silent belt drive, built-in shock absorption to protect your knee and spine joints and a race-grade cushion, so your bottom half will thank you later. It looks great but does the job too.
The home gym essential is designed with a multi-triangle structure - a design aspect the brand says will help stabilise the machine and make it safe. It’s also kitted out with a swish LCD monitor where you can keep count of your distance, speed, heart rate and time. The phone stand enables you to place a tablet there so you watch your favourite series or listen to music as you pedal.
JTX Cyclo-3: Indoor Racer Bike
Best for: stability
- Flywheel size: 17kg
- Product dimensions: 62cm x 51cm x 120cm
- Product weight: 42kg
Fancy yourself as a bit of a racer? Then this JTX Cyclo-3: Indoor Racer Bike could be the answer to your at-home spin bike dreams. It’s actually inspired by the brand’s stellar range of indoor cycling bikes for commercial gyms which means you can create the look and feel of a spin session without needing to leave your living room.
There’s a tablet holder, a large 17kg flywheel and it weighs a sturdy 42kg so this bike is not budging. If you can stretch to £250, this is the best affordable exercise for daily use or for anyone who plans on putting a serious shift in.
Verdict
Each bike in our guide is different so will suit a variety of riders. But if we were forced to choose, it would be the Domyos Basic Exercise Bike 100 from Decathlon that steals the top spot. It’s stylish, pretty sturdy and it packs a decent 12kg flywheel on it. Whether you intend to use this bike once a day for 30 minutes or once a week, you’re bound to enjoy your ride.