Best Recumbent Bike For Home Use

Although I love to play tennis, I hate exercising. I have even wasted money on gym memberships, just not to show up due to time constraints. I have been working on this special project now for 3 years and have acquired what we affectionately call the "Project 15". Yes, most of us on the team have gained 15 pounds due to too much sitting, too much eating, and not enough exercising.

Several of us said enough is enough. We joined Weight Watchers and started walking around the office building once a day. I knew I needed to burn more calories and after a long day, the last place I want to be is at a gym. An exercise bike seemed like the perfect solution. I started looking for the best recumbent bike for home use so that I could exercise within the comfort of my own home.

There are many advantages to having a recumbent bicycle. It is easy on the back, hips, and knees, provides a great cardio workout while you watch tv or listen to music, does not take up too much space, and is affordable.

I discovered that cost is a big factor in selecting this type of exercise equipment. You can literally spend thousands or under $100 depending on the bells and whistles that you want. Some manufacturers have newer versions of the same model. Newer does not necessarily mean better according to the reviews.

I researched many brands at various prices, read customer reviews and ratings before narrowing my selection to the top 5. Listed are my recommendations. 4 models are under two hundred dollars. The product that offered the most features for the money and my favorite is priced just under $400. This brand also offers the best higher priced models, for those on a bigger budget.

You really can not go wrong with any of these, but you must decide what features that you want!

Marcy ME 709 Magnetic Resistance Recumbent Exercise Bike For Home Use

For those you who have never used a recumbent bike or are on a budget, the Marcy ME 709 Magnetic Resistance Recumbent Exercise Bike is a cost effective option. This is a no frills machine that will help you gain all the benefits of a cardio workout without blowing your budget.

The Marcy brand has been around for over 50 years. This particular model offers 8 level of resistance, a display console that tracks speed, distance, calories, and time. It has adjustable seating. It is very quiet because it uses magnetic resistance and does not have an electric motor. It is compact and has transport wheels for portability. What I really like is that it has a 2-year warranty and has a 300-pound weight capacity.

The ME709 does not have features like pre-programmed workout routines or heart rate pulse monitoring. But for the money,
this is a great option. There are over 1500 customer reviews available with an average 4.2-star rating.

Exerpeutic 900XL Extended Capacity Recumbent Bike

The Exerpeutic 900XL Extended Capacity Recumbent Bike has several additional features than the ME709. Of course, it costs a little more, but still within my budget. Has a nicer LCD computer screen than the Macy bike that monitors distance, calories, time, speed and heart rate.

The 900XL comes with pulse sensors in the handles that measure your heart rate zone. It has an oversized seat and back cushion for a comfortable workout and has a 3-year warranty.

This model is ranked #6 in exercise bikes by Amazon with over 2,100 customer reviews. At this price point, there are no preprogrammed workout routines.

PROGEAR 555LXT Magnetic Tension Recumbent Bike

For just a few dollars more you can purchase the PROGEAR 555LXT Magnetic Tension Recumbent Bike. When comparing it to the Exerpeutic, however, there are pros and cons. It has more features but is missing a pulse sensor.

The 555LXT has 14 levels of resistance and includes a built-in smartphone and tablet holder as well as a built-in bottle holder. The LCD display is larger and displays current speed, distance cycled, calories burned, rpm, time elapsed, odometer. It also has an easier seat adjustment than the 900XL. In addition, it is more compact with a slimmer design even though it weighs more.

I like that it has a built-in computer where you can program workout goals for distance, time and calories burned. I do not like that weight capacity is only 250 pounds, that there is not a pulse sensor and that there is only a 1-year warranty.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF RB4616 Recumbent Bike

For a bump in price but still under $200, you can purchase the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RB4616 Recumbent Bike. This bike is not only equipped with pulse sensors in the handles, it provides a tablet holder so you can watch TV to listen to music while exercising. The digital monitor displays: time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse rate. It has 8 levels of magnetic tension.

I really like its easy seat adjustment feature. You can change positions while still sitting on the bike. It has an extended weight capacity of 300 pounds.

Schwinn MY16 230 Recumbent Bike For Home Use

If you are willing to spend more for features and stay within the $400 budget, my choice is the Schwinn MY16 230 Recumbent Bike. For me, the name Schwinn is synonymous with a bicycle. Growing up, everyone wanted a Schwinn. It is not surprising that Schwinn offers various bikes at different price points. The MY16 offers so much for the money.

This bicycle comes with 2 LCD displays (DualTrack) to measure 13 different statistics. It comes with a charging USB port where you can not only charge your tablet but also sync up your statistics via SchwinnConnect, a media shelf, and a water bottle holder.

With 20 different levels of resistance as well as 22 pre-programmed exercise routines, you will be able to enjoy a very varied workout.

Additional features that I really like are the built-in speakers, 3-speed fan to keep you cool, the easy sliding adjustable seat, and vented seats. The back is ergonomic and great for lumbar support.