Being tall comes with plenty of perks, like being able to reach the top shelf and never having to worry about seeing over the person in front of you at the theatre, but it has its downsides too.
Really tall people can have a hard time finding clothes that fit right and it can be hard to get comfortable in tight spaces (like airplanes and compact cars).
Well, turns out finding an exercise bike can also be hard for the taller folks out there because a lot of home bikes simply aren’t long enough to accommodate people over 6’4″.
But if you’re fortunate enough to be this tall, don’t give up hope just yet – there are some bikes out there that can get the job done, you just have to know where to look.
And that’s where I can help.
In this guide, I’ll go over the best options when it comes to exercise bikes and taller folks.
I’ll also go over some of the features you should look for when comparing options to make sure you find the best fit.
After reading, you’ll be ready to find the right bike for your home.
| Type | Height Limit | Warranty | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Keiser M3i | Indoor cycle | 7' | 10 year frame 3 year parts | Rear-mounted flywheel Fully adjustable seat Dual-compatible pedals |
| #2 Schwinn IC4 | Indoor cycle | 6'6" | 10 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | 40 lb flywheel 100 resistance levels Dual-compatible pedals |
| #3 3G Cardio Elite RB | Recumbent | 6'5" | Lifetime frame 7 year parts 1 year labor | 16 workouts Compact footprint Adjustable backrest |
| #4 Diamondback 1260sc | Indoor cycle | 6'5" | 5 year frame 3 year parts 90 day labor | 31 lb flywheel 16 resistance levels Self-generating power |
| #5 Nautilus R618 | Recumbent | 6'6" | 15 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | 29 workouts Adjustable back rest Included heart rate monitor |
| #6 Diamondback 910sr | Recumbent | 6'5" | 5 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | 32 lb flywheel 32 resistance levels 32 workout programs |
| #7 Original Peloton | Indoor cycle | 6'5" | 5 year frame 1 year parts | 35 lb flywheel 100 resistance levels 22" HD touchscreen |
Exercise Bikes and Being Tall
Full disclosure – I’m only 6’1″.
This is tallish compared to your average person, but it’s not “tall” tall – I certainly don’t have issues finding clothes that fit and pretty much any exercise bike should be able to accommodate me.
But I feel for ya.
For the sake of this guide though, I’m considering “tall” to be anything over 6’4″, meaning any bike on this list should be able to fit folks who are this tall or maybe even taller.
That said, we’re all built differently, so a bike might fit differently for 2 people of the same height.
When looking to see if a bike should fit, I encourage you to look for the following things:
Manufacturer Stated Height Limit
All bikes come with a max weight limit, but it’s harder to find a max (or min) height limit – which is a shame because this can be just as important.
Because if you’re 6’4″ or taller, there’s a real chance that a lot of exercise bikes aren’t gonna fit ya (especially if you’re closer to 7′).
But if you dig a little, you can sometimes find where the manufacturer states a suggest height range for their bikes.
Sometimes this is on their website, other times it may be in the user’s manual for the bike.
Another good place to look is the “Q & A” section for a given bike – sometimes other users have asked about height restrictions and you may find an answer from the manufacturer here.
When in doubt, you can always try reaching out to the brand and asking a question yourself (this is faster when the brand has a live chat feature on their site).
You’re going to get your most accurate info from the manufacturers themselves, so this should always be your first line of attack (and this is where I tried to get my info for the bikes listed below).
Inseam Lengths
When brands offer height ranges for their bikes, it’s often in the form of user heights themselves (example: 5’2″ – 6’5″, etc), but sometimes they’ll offer min and max inseam lengths instead.
By the way, the inseam length is the distance from your ankle to the highest part of your thigh or crotch and it’s usually measured in inches (at least here in the States).
This measurement essentially gives you your leg length and it can be a helpful way to figure out if you’ll fit on a bike or not.
Especially considering all of our proportions are different – two people who are the same height can have vastly different leg lengths.
If you know your inseam, this can be a helpful tool to use, but again, not all exercise bike manufacturers will readily provide this info.
Fully Adjustable Seats
A feature taller riders should look for is a fully adjustable seat – well, when it comes to indoor cycles and upright bikes anyway.
When a seat is “fully adjustable”, it means you can adjust both the height and the horizontal (fore/aft) position of the seat and being able to adjust both positions can be helpful in finding a comfortable riding spot.
Sometimes being able to back the seat up a little more makes all the difference when you’ve maxed out the height position.
Type of Bike
Finally, you’ll want to keep in mind the style of bike you’re shopping for too, because some bikes are better suited for taller folks than others.
Indoor cycles tend to be a little better at accommodating taller riders than upright or recumbent bikes, but this rule certainly isn’t written in stone.
As you’ll notice though, the majority of bikes on this list are indoor cycles.
Ok, that about does it when it comes to bikes that are better suited for tall people, but it’s always a good idea to consider the performance specs too – flywheels, assembled weights, weight capacities, warranties, etc.
That’s still important stuff.
Anyway, let’s get to our list already…
The 7 Best Exercise Bikes For Tall People
#1 Keiser M3i
When it comes to bikes that can handle the really tall folks, Keiser’s M3i easily comes in first place – and it turns out this bike is awesome in plenty of other ways too.
With a V-shaped frame and fully adjustable seat, the M3i can handle riders all the way up to 7′ tall, something few bikes can claim.
But this indoor cycle also happens to be rockin’ a state of the art resistance system that can provide an insanely smooth ride.
Keiser only uses an 8 lb flywheel on this cycle, which sounds really light, but don’t worry – it’s light on purpose.
Instead of using a heavy flywheel to create the momentum necessary for a smooth pedaling motion, the M3i uses a lightweight one and gets it spinning really fast.
The result is a nice pedaling motion that isn’t difficult to start from a cold start and that puts less strain on your knees.
The M3i also comes with a heavy-duty frame that can handle users weighing up to 350 lb, a bluetooth compatible console, and dual-compatible pedals.
Oh, and the handlebars are fully adjustable too, so you won’t have to worry about getting them in the right position either.
This cycle is also backed by a solid warranty, which of course never hurts – 10 year frame, 3 year parts.
Overall, with the ability to accommodate 7 footers, Keiser’s M3i is the best option out there for the really tall riders. See full review.
#2 Schwinn IC4
This is another indoor cycle that can handle taller folks and at roughly half the cost of the M3i above, it’s quite a bit more affordable too.
According to Schwinn, the IC4 should be able to handle riders up to 6’6″ tall or with an inseam of approximately 39″ – although I would think most people with a 39″ inseam would be taller than 6’6″… who knows.
Personally, the 6’6″ recommendation sounds more realistic to me, but I know some people have really long legs.
Regardless, the IC4 has a lot else going for it too.
This affordable cycle comes with a 40 lb flywheel, 100 levels of magnetic resistance, and a 330 lb weight capacity.
It also comes with a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and dual-compatible pedals that are SPD compatible on one side and has a toe cage on the other.
The console is well-lit and bluetooth compatible and Schwinn includes several bonuses with purchase, including a pair of 3 lb dumbbells, dual water bottle holders, and an included bluetooth heart rate monitor.
And Schwinn’s warranty is pretty legit too: 10 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
Overall, the IC4 is easily one of the top indoor cycles under $1k and the fact that it can fit riders up to 6’6″ is impressive for such an affordable bike. See full review.
#3 3G Cardio Elite RB Recumbent Bike
Indoor cycles are great, but I realize not all tall people are looking for one – luckily, there are some recumbents out there that can handle tall folks too.
Like 3G Cardio’s Elite RB.
The Elite RB is one of the more compact recumbent bikes out there (only 49″ long), but don’t let its small size fool ya – it can still fit riders who are are up to 6’5″ tall.
When it comes to performance, 3G Cardio doesn’t disclose their flywheel weights, but users seem to agree it offers a great pedaling motion.
And with 16 levels of magnetic resistance at your disposal, you’ll have plenty of control over the intensity of each workout.
The Elite RB also comes with a heavy-duty frame and an impressive weight capacity of 350 lb, so again, even though this recumbent bike is of small stature, it’s still rock-solid.
When it comes to features, the console on this bike is pretty straightforward, but it does come with 16 built-in workout programs and the ability to save info for 4 user profiles.
But what’s really cool about this bike is that it comes with an adjustable angle backrest (as well as the tilt of the seat), making it easier for all riders to find a comfortable riding position.
And 3G Cardio’s warranty is amazing too – lifetime frame, 7 year parts, 1 year labor.
Overall, I think the Elite RB is one of the best home recumbent bikes on the market for riders of all heights. See full review.
#4 Diamondback 1260sc
Diamondback’s a great brand that I think kinda flies under the radar these days – I feel like we don’t hear much about ’em anymore, but that’s a shame because they’ve still got some great bikes in their lineup.
The 1260sc is one of their latest bikes to hit the market and I think it has a lot going for it.
And with the ability to accommodate riders up to 6’5″, it could make a great option for the taller cyclists out there.
The 1260sc is another indoor cycle and like the M3i, it too comes with a rear-mounted flywheel. But unlike the M3i which uses a lightweight flywheel, the flywheel on this bad boy is a heavy 31 lb.
That heavy flywheel is pair with 16 magnetic resistance levels that are controlled via a lever for easy adjustments.
This cycle also comes with a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and dual-compatible pedals, which is always a plus.
The console is bluetooth/ANT+ compatible, so you can use any heart rate monitor you like and with a self-generating power source, you can also put this cycle anywhere in your home.
The warranty on this bike isn’t bad (5 year frame, 3 year parts, 90 day labor), but it isn’t quite as generous as some of the ones we’ve seen up above either.
Overall, I like Diamondback as a brand and I think their 1260sc is a pretty impressive specimen. See full review.
#5 Nautilus R618
When it comes to affordable recumbent bikes, Nautilus’ R618 rules supreme.
I say that because this thing is packing some great specs for a recumbent well under $1k.
Most importantly for the sake of this guide, the R618 should be able to fit most riders up to 6’6″ tall, which is impressive for any recumbent bike.
But when it comes to the features and other specs, the R618 doesn’t disappoint.
When it comes to performance, this bike comes with a 13 lb flywheel and 25 levels of magnetic resistance. This isn’t the heaviest flywheel in the world, but for a recumbent in this price range, it’s pretty solid.
And most users would agree that flywheel does a fine job of providing a smooth feel.
The R618 also comes with a surprisingly heavy-duty frame and a weight limit of 325 lb, allowing it to hold heavier riders as well.
The console is loaded with 29 built-in workout programs, bluetooth, quick-touch controls, and even comes with an included chest strap heart rate monitor.
And the backrest on the seat is also adjustable, making it easier for everyone to find a comfortable riding position.
And what I really like about this bike is its warranty – Nautilus covers it with a 15 year frame, 3 year parts, and 1 year labor guarantee.
Add all this together and it’s easy to see why the R618 landed a spot on my best recumbent bike list this year. See full review.
#6 Diamondback 910sr
The 910sr is Diamondback’s only recumbent bike at the moment, but it’s got just about everything you could want in an exercise bike – great performance specs, nice console, and a fair price.
And with the ability to fit riders up to 6’5″, it does a pretty good job handling the taller folks out there too.
Under the hood, the 910sr isn’t messing around – with a 32 lb flywheel and 32 levels of magnetic resistance, this is one of the highest performing recumbents you’re gonna find in its price range.
Speaking of price, as I’m writing this Diamondback has it listed well under $1k, which is more than reasonable if you ask me.
Anyway, back to features.
The 910sr is also one of the heavier-duty recumbents you’ll come across, weighing in at around 130 lb.
This can certainly make moving it around a little more difficult, but it also means it’s gonna feel stable during workouts.
When it comes to the console, this bike comes packed with 32 workout programs, quick-touch controls, built-in speakers, and an included cooling fan.
And with an adjustable backrest, the 910sr also makes it easy to find a comfortable position.
Diamondback’s warranty isn’t the best, but for the price, it isn’t that bad either – 5 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
All things considered, I think the 910sr is a great recumbent bike for riders of all heights. See full review.
#7 Original Peloton
Rounding out my list is a bike I bet we’ve all heard of before – the Peloton.
I know Peloton has had their fair share of problems lately and I know they aren’t the hot new brand anymore, but their OG indoor cycle is still a great bike.
I’ve had mine for over 4 years now and it’s still going strong – and I still say they have the best instructors…
Anyway, the Original Peloton is an indoor cycle and it can fit riders up to 6’5″ tall.
The star of the show is obviously that 22″ HD touchscreen display mounted front and center, but the Peloton is no slouch when it comes to the performance specs either.
With a 35 lb flywheel and 100 levels of magnetic resistance, you have full control over the intensity of every workout.
And with a robust frame (135 lb assembled weight), you can stand up and go al out without feeling like the bike is going to tip over.
Other features include a fully adjustable seat, height adjustable handlebars, dumbbell rack, and Delta compatible pedals.
The Peloton is designed for streaming workouts, so you have to be cool with the $39/month streaming fee to access all your workouts.
But if you’re tall and looking for a great streaming experience, the Original Peloton is still a great buy.
Final Thoughts
Ok, I think that went fairly well.
If nothing else, I hope this list shows that there are some great bikes out there that can hold people well over 6’4″.
I chose 6’4″ as the starting point because most exercise bikes should be able to comfortably fit most riders who are under 6’2″.
Really affordable bikes might be an exception, but generally speaking, if you’re 6’2″ or under, you should be safe on pretty much any bike.
Also keep in mind that these manufacturer height recommendations are estimates and won’t apply to everyone.
Again, we’re all built differently and 2 people who are the same height can have drastically different leg lengths.
But that about does it.
I hope you found this guide helpful and if you know of any other exercise bikes that work great for taller riders, I’d love to hear about it.
Just leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
