Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health and Fitness

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 8 Best Cheap Stationary Bikes for Men on a Budget

Amber Sayer
By

Home workouts have become increasingly popular in the past couple of years, and people are enjoying the convenience of working out without needing to invest time traveling to and from a gym or paying ongoing membership fees. Moreover, the fitness market has responded to the demand for affordable home exercise equipment with tons of options for commercial-quality exercise equipment with reasonable price tags.

Buying an exercise bike or indoor cycle for your home gym is a great way to get in low-impact cardio workouts with a relatively compact footprint. Plus, you don’t have to drop $1,000 or more to get a high-quality exercise bike. Though there are pricey stationary bikes and indoor cycles, there are also plenty of inexpensive exercise bikes that have the durability to handle your most vigorous workouts and stand the test of time.

A man in red t-shirt using an exercise bike in a gym, with several exercise bikes and other fitness equipment in the background.
Image Source Trading Ltd/Shutterstock

When shopping for a cheap exercise bike, it’s almost always wisest to save costs when it comes to onboard technology and bells and whistles over the quality of construction, resistance mechanism, and flywheel weight. With apps, tablets, and even your phone, you can typically rig up even the most basic exercise bike to keep track of the metrics and workout stats that matter to you and stream exercises classes or entertainment with an external device and subscription. Ready to see the best inexpensive exercise bikes and affordable indoor cycles? Keep reading for our recommendations.

Yosuda Indoor Stationary Bike

A Yosuda Indoor Stationary Bike on plain background.

Indoor cycles that use friction resistance are generally less expensive than those with magnetic resistance, which means that you can get quite a good deal. Some riders also prefer the flexibility of having a dial that enables a continuous range of adjustable resistance rather than discrete, locked-in levels because it allows you to modify the resistance in tiny increments to dial into the exact level of tension you want. Moreover, the maximum potential resistance is usually higher on a friction resistance exercise bike. That said, the felt pads can wear out and will need to be replaced and it’s harder to know your exact cycling wattage or power because the resistance isn’t easily quantified.

The Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike is among the best inexpensive exercise bikes because it’s surprisingly well-built. It features a carbon steel frame capable of supporting up to 270 pounds and a super quiet belt drive mechanism. The 35-pound flywheel makes for a smooth pedaling stroke, yet the bike Is only 76 pounds, so it’s easy to move around on the transport wheels. The Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike has a four-way adjustable seat and two-way adjustable handlebars to accommodate riders with an inseam of 25-35 inches. Finally, the onboard LCD monitor tracks your time, speed, distance, calories burned, and lifetime miles, and the indoor cycle comes with a tablet holder so you can enjoy your media while you ride.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 Indoor Cycle

An eye-catching Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 Indoor Cycle against a white background.

The biggest difference between an inexpensive exercise bike for your home and the nicer models you’d find at a gym or spin studio is the durability of construction and the quality of materials. As a result, commercial exercise bikes tend to be sturdier and often ride smoother than inexpensive exercise bikes. This may not be an issue if you’re a smaller rider or just plan to take easy spins on your exercise bike, but if you anticipate heavy use (frequent rides, vigorous workouts, or a heavier rider) and want the exercise bike to last a long time, it’s prudent to look for a particularly sturdy, durable, commercial-quality exercise bike.

Although it’s difficult to find the best exercise bike under $500 with gym-quality construction, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 Indoor Cycle more than matches many indoor cycles at fancy spinning studies. Its alloy steel frame and extra heavy, 49-pound flywheel make it robust and sturdy enough to withstand the toughest rides day in and day out without breaking down. With such a heavy flywheel, the exercise bike feels incredibly stable and sturdy, and can give you a really solid cardio workout.

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 features friction resistance with a nearly unlimited range in potential resistance with the turn of a dial. Employing a silent belt drive system, the indoor cycle is nearly as silent as it is fluid and smooth and requires no oiling or maintenance. With two-way adjustable handlebars and a four-way adjustable seat, this inexpensive exercise bike can accommodate a wide range of riders, with an inseam from 31-42 inches. The seat is quite comfortable but can also be replaced if you prefer a different saddle.

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1002 Indoor Cycle is quite easy to assemble and takes roughly 20 minutes to build. Finally, there is a water-bottle holder and transport wheels, but no console, which means you have to use your phone or tablet with an app or buy a specific cycle computer device if you want your workout stats.

Circuit Fitness AMZ-587R Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike with Pulse Sensor

A Circuit Fitness AMZ-587R Exercise Bike with tablet holder against a white background.

A recumbent bike can be a good option for beginners or guys needing more stability when riding. The Circuit Fitness AMZ-587R is an affordable recumbent exercise bike with the features and construction to hold up to your workout demands with a price tag you can feel good about. It has a high-grade steel frame with an easy step-through design, and can support up to 300 pounds. There are 32 levels of magnetic resistance to help you reach your fitness goals. The bike runs smoothly and quietly.

The Circuit Fitness AMZ-587R has a comfortable seat, transport wheels, a convenient tablet holder, and an informative console with your workout metrics. There are 15 programmed workouts to follow based on different fitness goals, from fat loss to strength building. Lastly, there are ergonomic handles and pulse sensors so you can keep track of your effort level.

Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike

A black Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike facing to the right.

Echelon makes several high-end smart exercise bikes, but the Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike is a great option for those looking for an inexpensive smart bike. At less than $500, the Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike offers the benefits of smart bikes — such as streaming Echelon indoor cycle workouts and integrating with fitness apps — on a budget.

The Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect Fitness Bike is a sturdy, stable bike despite having a lighter flywheel (7 kg). The belt drive mechanism is extremely smooth and efficient, and there are 32 levels of quiet magnetic resistance. The seat and handlebars are fully adjustable, not to mention comfortable and ergonomic. Lastly, the bike has a surprisingly comfortable seat and can accommodate riders up to 300 pounds.

Famistar QK-118 Exercise Bike

A Famistar QK-118 Exercise Bike with tablet holder.

Another high-quality inexpensive indoor cycle is the Famistar QK-118 Exercise Bike. It features friction resistance, a whisper-quiet belt drive, and a heavy, 45-pound flywheel. The high carbon steel frame makes this indoor cycle suitable for riders up to 308 pounds, and this higher weight limit speaks to the durability and sturdiness of the machine. Unlike most inexpensive indoor cycles, the Famistar QK-118 Exercise Bike has a handy LCD console, enabling easy tracking of your workout progress.

Advenor Magnetic Resistance Exercise Bike

A sleek Advenor Magnetic Resistance Exercise Bike on plain background.

Many of the higher-quality inexpensive exercise bikes employ friction resistance because it’s cheaper than magnetic resistance. By using felt pads instead of magnets, more money can be invested into the frame and other components while saving on the resistance. However, the Advenor Magnetic Resistance Exercise Bike checks both boxes if it’s magnetic resistance you’re for because it’s well-made and still relies on this more precise, quiet, lower-maintenance form of resistance. In fact, there are 100 levels of micro-adjustable magnetic resistance, which is perfect for fans of Peloton workouts since the number of levels matches up between the two exercise bikes, allowing you to easily take the queues from your favorite instructors without needing to convert numbers or approximate your intensity level.

The Advenor Magnetic Resistance Exercise Bike has a 35-pound flywheel, which is still plenty heavy for most users to perform vigorous indoor cycling workouts. The bike can support up to 330 pounds and can be adjusted to fit riders from 5’1” to 6’5” tall. It has a comfortable seat and even comes with an LCD console for tracking basic workout stats.

Circuit Fitness AMZ-594U Magnetic Exercise Bike

A Circuit Fitness AMZ-594U Exercise Bike facing to the left on plain background.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive stationary bike rather than an indoor cycle or spin bike, consider the Circuit Fitness AMZ-594U Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike. It has 32 levels of magnetic resistance, a supremely quiet belt drive, and 15 preset workout programs. The programs can help keep your workouts varied and take the planning and thinking out of the picture for you. Lastly, the stationary bike has a maximum user weight of 300 pounds, feels nice and sturdy, and has pulse sensors to measure your heart rate.

Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike

A top view of an Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike on white background.

If you’re concerned about space and portability, you’ll want a folding exercise bike. Our pick for the best inexpensive folding exercise bike is the Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike. At just 39 pounds and featuring a foldable design, you can easily move and store this stationary bike when not in use. It has eight levels of magnetic resistance and a quiet belt drive mechanism, so you can pedal away while you sit at your desk or watch TV with minimal noise.

Because it is a foldable exercise bike, the Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike has a very compact design, so it’s not particularly well suited for vigorous workouts; rather, it’s a great way to add physical activity to your day in a convenient, simple-to-use fashion. When fully assembled, this affordable exercise bike measures 31 inches long, 19 inches wide, and 46 inches high, and folded up it measures 22 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 55.5 inches high.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Amber Sayer
Amber Sayer
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Amber Sayer is a fitness, nutrition, and wellness writer and editor, and was previously a Fitness Editor at Byrdie. She…
The 5 Best Fitness Watches for Men in 2022
Young mixed race man checking his fitness tracker.

Fitness trackers have come a long way since the first-ever pedometer. As technology has gotten better over the years, so has our ability to track and monitor that data. Nowadays you don’t even need a separate fitness tracker to access that health data. Our watches can get the job done.

Today’s fitness watches have the latest and greatest technology available to them. One of the things that truly sets them aside from other basic fitness trackers is their versatility - they can be worn and used for their primary purpose: to tell time. 

Read more
The 10 Best Quad Exercises for Size and Strength
A close-up of a male athlete's quad muscles.

Often overlooked in the weight room community, the legs are the foundation of your physical fitness. The group that stands out most happens to be one of the largest and most powerful muscle groups: the quads. Comprised of four individual muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius), the quads run down the front of your thighs from your hip to your knee. Your quad muscles are responsible for hip flexion and knee extension, so having strong quads will help you run faster, jump higher, squat heavier, and make you an all-around better athlete.

The best quad exercises for men strengthen one or more of the four quad muscles and condition the quad muscles as a group to handle greater loads and higher forces. Quad exercises may also target the glutes and hamstrings, which work in opposition to the quads because working these antagonistic muscles builds eccentric (lengthening) strength in the quads. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective quad exercises and quad workouts that can be done with just a few dumbbells or exercise machines. Check out our detailed guide of the best quad exercises for men and start sculpting that iconic teardrop shape and leg strength you’ve always wanted.
Bulgarian Split Squat

Read more
Get a Recumbent Exercise Bike for Only $650 With This Deal
The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike on a white background.

For fitness enthusiasts, you have a wide range of choices for deals that will help with your workouts, including bicycle deals, treadmill deals, and exercise bike deals. If you've got your sights set on buying an exercise bike, you shouldn't miss Best Buy's offer for the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike, which you can purchase for just $650 after a $150 discount to its original price of $800.

The benefits of a stationary bike workout include improving your cardiovascular health, increasing your leg strength, and burning calories, among many others. You'll enjoy all of these with the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike, which comes with features that are found in the best exercise bikes, such as a wide range of resistance levels, a padded seat with a lumbar supporting backrest, heart rate monitoring, and Bluetooth connectivity to link your progress with your preferred app.

Read more