Exercise bikes are great for a lot of reasons, but one is certainly the fact that they’re pretty affordable when compared to most other exercise machines.
And yes, exercise bikes do come in all price ranges, but the truth is you don’t have to drop 4 figures to get a nice bike.
Yup, there are plenty of awesome exercise bikes under $500, but there are also plenty of not-so-awesome ones too – the key to finding a legit budget bike is knowing what to look for.
And that’s where I can help.
In this guide, I’l be going over all the stuff you should look for before buying a budget-friendly exercise bike; I’ll also provide my top picks for the best bikes $500 can get ya at the moment.
After reading, you’ll be ready to find the right budget bike for your home.
Well, let’s get to it.
| Style | Resistance | Frame | Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Diamondback 510ic | Indoor cycle | 32 lb flywheel 16 magnetic levels | 104 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 5 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor 90 day wear items |
| #2 XTERRA SB2.5r | Recumbent | 22 lb flywheel 24 magnetic levels | 108 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 5 year frame 1 year parts |
| #3 Nautilus U618 | Upright | 13 lb flywheel 25 magnetic levels | 83 lb assembled weight 325 lb weight limit | 15 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor |
| #4 XTERRA MB550 | Indoor cycle | 48.5 lb flywheel Micro-adjustable friction brake | 107 lb assembled weight 250 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 1 year parts 1 year labor |
| #5 Schwinn 230 | Recumbent | 13 lb flywheel 16 magnetic levels | 80 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year electronics 90 day labor |
| #6 Schwinn 170 | Upright | 13 lb flywheel 25 magnetic levels | 63 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year electronics 90 day labor |
| #7 JOROTO X2 | Indoor Cycle | 35 lb flywheel Micro-adjustable magnetic | 94 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 12 month all inclusive |
| #8 SHF Motion Air Bike | Air bike | n/a | 60 lb assembled weight 265 lb weight limit | 3 year frame 180 day parts |
Choosing An Exercise Bike
Choosing an affordable exercise bike isn’t any different from picking a more expensive one – the considerations are the same, you just have to have realistic expectations.
We have to keep in mind that most affordable bikes are affordable for good reason.
This usually means lighter-weight components, fewer console features, and shorter warranties, but that said, all budget cycles aren’t created equal.
Some are much better than others, you just have to know what to look for to spot the gems from the lemons.
Resistance System
The first thing I look at (regardless of price) is the bike’s resistance system.
Most exercise bikes these days are using magnetic systems, but in this price range, this isn’t a given – especially if you’re looking for an indoor cycle.
Most upright and recumbent bikes use magnetic systems, but some indoor cycles still operate with friction brake systems.
There’s nothing wrong with a friction brake and they can work quite well, but personally, I prefer magnetic systems because they tend to be smoother and you don’t have to worry about replacing the brake pad.
Friction brakes also don’t come with distinct resistance levels. Instead, they come with what’s referred to as a micro-adjustable resistance, meaning you can make really small changes to the resistance.
But without any distinct levels, you have to depend on the feel of it to replicate your workout conditions – again, not necessarily a dealbreaker, but you have to be comfortable with not knowing what “level” you’re on.
With magnetic systems, you do get “levels” to work with, making it easier to gauge your intensity.
When it comes to magnetic resistance levels, having more is a good thing because it allows you to make smaller adjustments to your resistance throughout your workouts.
In other words, it gives you more control over your workout intensity.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to check flywheel weight because this spec can give you a good idea as to how smooth you can expect the pedaling motion to be.
Bikes in this price ranges are designed to benefit from heavier flywheels because the extra weight makes for a smoother pedaling motion.
Basically, heavier flywheels build more momentum, which helps keep the pedals moving a little between pedal strokes – and this makes for a more continuous feel.
Nicer bikes will come with flywheels that weigh 20 lb+.
Indoor cycles in this price range can still come with really heavy flywheels, but recumbent/upright bikes usually don’t.
In this price range, most upright/recumbents are packing 10 – 15 lb flywheels.
Frame
I mentioned that a lot of affordable bikes are affordable in part because they use lighter-duty components.
Well, this makes for a lighter-duty bike that’s more likely to feel a little rickety when you’re on it.
Budget bikes tend to wiggle or wobble a little more than higher-end bikes and they often come with lower weight limits too.
That said, you can still look at the assembled weights to get an idea as to how “heavy-duty” you can expect the bike to feel while you’re on it.
This spec tells you exactly how much the bike weighs and seeing higher numbers here is always a good thing because a heavier bike is going to feel more stable.
You know, it’ll be harder to move, so it should wiggle around less during use.
Anyway, I like to see an assembled weight north of 100 lb for any exercise bike, but that isn’t always going to be doable in this price range.
In this price range, bikes weighing more than 80 lb is pretty solid.
Oh, the weight capacity can also give you an idea about general construction quality and higher numbers here is always a good sign too.
You want to make sure the bike can safely hold you, but seeing higher numbers usually means the bike has a better overall build.
I like to see weight limits of at least 300 lb, but again, not always gonna happen in this price range.
When in doubt, it’s a good practice to have at least a 50 lb buffer between your weight and the bike’s weight capacity.
Warranty
This one speaks for itself, but you’d be amazed how many times I’ve heard of folks not knowing what the warranty on a bike was before purchasing.
And then being shocked to find the warranty sucks.
Yup, I highly recommend figuring out exactly what a bike’s warranty is before purchasing because this is your insurance policy for your new bike.
Bike warranties can vary greatly and generally speaking, more affordable bikes come with shorter guarantees.
Bike warranties are usually divided into 3 parts (frame, parts, and labor), but some budget bikes simply come with a 12 month guarantee that covers everything.
Nicer bikes will come with at least 5 years on the frame, 1-2 years on parts, and a year on labor.
But many bikes in this price range will come with much shorter guarantees and no labor warranty.
Ok, I think those are the 3 most important specs to check out before deciding on a budget bike, but depending on your needs, you’ll probably want to consider the console features as well.
And there’s always the seat and types of pedals too, which will vary depending on what kind of exercise bike you’re looking for.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff.
P.S. – the prices on these bikes can change at any time and may vary depending on where you find them, but all bikes on this list were under $500 at the time of writing this. If prices have risen by the time you read this, please don’t hate me (and you can leave a comment below to let me know). Enjoy.
The 8 Best Exercise Bikes Under $500
#1 Diamondback 510ic Indoor Cycle
If you’re looking for an indoor cycle, it’s gonna be hard to find a better one at this price than Diamondback’s 510ic.
I actually owned this bike several years ago and I had to pay quite a bit more than $500 for it, but I thought it was a fabulous cycle (and the only reason I stopped using it was because we ended up getting a Peloton).
Anyway, when it comes to performance, the 510ic is a workhorse.
With a 32 lb flywheel, this cycle has plenty of muscle under the hood for providing a smooth pedaling motion and with 16 magnetic resistance levels, you have a nice control over your intensity.
The resistance is actually controlled through the console too, which I liked.
The 510ic is also quite heavy-duty for such an affordable bike, coming with an assembled weight of 104 lb.
And I can attest to how stable this bike feels during workouts – it’s rock solid.
I weigh 200 lb and it didn’t budget when I was standing up to climb against those higher resistances.
The console is pretty simple, but it does come with 12 workout programs, a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and toe cage pedals.
And Diamondback covers it with a solid warranty too: 5 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor, 90 day wear items.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable indoor cycle that can perform, the 510ic is about as good as it gets. See full review.
#2 XTERRA SB2.5r Recumbent Bike
XTERRA is a budget fitness brand that probably doesn’t get the respect they deserve – which is a shame, because you can find some great buys in their lineup.
Their products aren’t especially flashy, but if you’re looking for high-performing products for the price, it’s a great brand to consider.
Which shouldn’t be a surprise though, considering they’re part of the same family that includes Sole and Spirit Fitness.
Anyway, the SB2.5r is one of their mid-range recumbents and even though the console is very simple, it’s easy to read and comes loaded with 24 workout programs.
More impressively though, this recumbent comes with a 22 lb flywheel and 24 levels of magnetic resistance.
This is amazing for a bike in this price range, considering there are plenty of recumbents costing 2x as much that aren’t packing this kind of heat.
And with an assembled weight of 108 lb, the SB2.5r is remarkably heavy-duty for this price range.
The warranty isn’t quite as good as some others on this list, but it isn’t bad for the price: 5 year frame, 1 year parts.
Overall, if you’re looking for a recumbent bike with some serious muscle, you should definitely check out XTERRA’s SB2.5r. See full review.
This bike is actually priced over $500 on XTERRA’s site, but as I’m writing this, it’s well under $500 on Amazon.
#3 Nautilus U618 Upright Bike
We don’t see a lot of marketing for good ol’ fashioned upright bikes these days, but there are still plenty of good ones around and they can still make a great addition to a home gym.
Basically, they’re a little more comfortable than an indoor cycle, but you still get the experience of sitting upright like you do on a real bike.
Anyway, the U618 is a lot of bike for the price, especially for folks looking for a nicer console.
This bike comes with a blue-backlit display, 29 built-in workouts, bluetooth, and an included chest strap with purchase.
It also comes with a fully adjustable seat, weighted pedals, and a USB charging port.
When it comes to performance, the U618 holds its own well against other similarly priced uprights. With a 13 lb flywheel, it offers a nice pedaling motion for the price range and with 25 resistance levels, it gives you a lot of control over your workouts.
It’s also reasonably heavy-duty, weighing in at 83 lb and can safely accommodate folks weighing up to 325 lb.
If all of that isn’t reason enough to choose this upright, check out its warranty: 15 year frame, 3 year parts, and 1 year labor.
Yeah, an incredible deal for well under $500.
Overall, at this price, the U618 is easily the best upright in its class. See full review.
#4 XTERRA MB550 Indoor Cycle
We got another XTERRA bike here, but hey, I told ya they have some awesome budget bikes in their lineup.
The MB550 is one of the only indoor cycles they carry and it’s a very bare-bones cycle, but it’s packing a lot of muscle.
More specifically, this cycle comes with a 48.5 lb flywheel and an assembled weight of 107 lb.
Surprisingly, the weight limit is only 250 lb though, so it’s definitely better suited for smaller riders.
The console is very simple – there aren’t any built-in workouts, bluetooth, or any other advanced features.
It’s basically just a little stop watch that’ll track your time, distance, and speed, but if you plan on watching tv or doing your own thing, this might not be a deal breaker.
The biggest downside I see is that the MB550 uses a friction brake resistance system, which I’m not a big fan of, but if your cool with ’em, this could still be a smart buy.
Especially since XTERRA offers a lifetime frame guarantee (as well as 1 year on parts and labor too).
Overall, if you’re looking for a heavy-duty bike with a really heavy flywheel, XTERRA’s MB550 could be a good fit. See full review.
#5 Schwinn 230 Recumbent Bike
If you’re looking for a comfortable, dependable recumbent bike, Schwinn’s 230 is a very smart choice.
Not only does this bike come from a trusted brand name, but it’s become one of the most popular home recumbent bikes for good reason – people love it.
The 230 comes with a 13 lb flywheel, so not the heaviest by any means, but for this price range, it’s not bad.
And with 16 magnetic resistance levels, you have plenty of control over the intensity of each workout.
When it comes to the frame, the 230 has an assembled weight of roughly 80 lb and a weight limit of 300 lb, both of which are solid for an affordable recumbent bike.
What’s impressive though, is that this bike’s console is bluetooth compatible with some fitness apps, as well as strap heart rate monitors.
The 230 also comes with 13 built-in workout programs, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
And when it comes to the warranty, Schwinn doesn’t mess around: 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 1 year electronics, and 90 day labor.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable recumbent with a more advanced console, Schwinn’s 230 might just to the trick. See full review.
#6 Schwinn 170 Upright Bike
The 170 was Schwinn’s highest-end upright bike for a long time, but now that their new 190 has come out, you can get some great deals on the older 170.
And it’s still a great upright in its own right.
The 170 is actually very similar to Nautilus’ U618 mentioned above, so not a bad idea to compare prices.
Like the U618, the 170 also comes with a 13 lb flywheel, 25 levels of magnetic resistance, and 29 built-in workout programs.
It also comes with a pretty advanced console that’s bluetooth friendly, has a built-in cooling fan, USB charging, and can save up to 4 user profiles.
The 170 isn’t quite as heavy-duty as the U618 and weighs in at only 63 lb; it also comes with a lower weight capacity of 300 lb.
Schwinn’s warranty isn’t quite as generous either: 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 1 year electronics, 90 day wear items.
But all things considered, Schwinn’s 170 is still a great upright bike, especially for folks looking for some higher-tech console features. See full review.
#7 JOROTO X2 Indoor Cycle
The JOROTO X2 has become a very popular indoor cycle and it’s not that hard to see why.
Not only is it quite affordable, but it’s packing some legit performance specs and features.
The X2 comes with a 35 lb flywheel, which is heavy enough to hang with any indoor cycle, as well as a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and toe cage pedals.
And its resistance system is interesting too.
The X2 uses a magnetic system, but it still use a micro-adjustable system like you’d expect to find with a friction brake.
So, you get the low maintenance and smoothness of the magnets, but you still don’t have any distinct resistance levels like you normally get.
Either way, users seem to enjoy the combination because the X2 is highly regarded by most.
And with an assembled weight of 94 lb and a 300 lb weight limit, this cycle is pretty heavy-duty for the price range.
In terms of the console, the X2 is very basic – it’s console really only tracks a few simple metrics.
And the warranty isn’t much better – JOROTO only offers a 12 month guarantee.
But if you’re looking for a surprisingly heavy-duty cycle with a lot of happy customers, JOROTO’s X2 is certainly worth looking into. See full review.
#8 Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike
I realized I hadn’t included any air bikes on this list, so I wanted to make sure I mentioned at least one… you know, for the sake of fairness and what not.
I’m not sure who I’m worried about being fair too… the exercise bikes themselves??
Ha, anyway, there aren’t a ton of respectable air bikes in this price range, but Sunny Health & Fitness’ (SHF) Motion Air Bike is pretty legit.
As an air bike, there aren’t any weighted flywheels or resistance levels to worry about – instead, your resistance depends entirely on how fast/hard you pedal.
Pedal faster and you get more resistance, slower and less.
These bikes are great for interval training because you can get your heart rate up really fast.
SHF’s Motion Bike is very simple, but it’s got everything you need to get your workout on.
This bike comes with a fully adjustable seat, self-leveling pedals, and a simple console that can track basic stats (it also comes with a tablet holder).
And SHF’s warranty isn’t great, but it’s not bad for such an affordable bike: 3 year frame, 180 days parts.
Overall, if you’re looking for a really affordable air bike, SHF’s Motion Air Bike might be a good fit.
Final Thoughts
Alright, I think that about does it.
There are a ton of affordable exercise bikes out there and a lot of ’em are kind of, well, crappy.
We have to keep in mind that a lot of these bikes are affordable for very good reasons.
But, if nothing else, I hope this guide shows that there are some legit bikes out there that cost under $500.
When comparing these budget bikes, I encourage you to pay attention to the fine print and compare those performance specs (flywheel weights, assembled weights, warranties) because this info will tell you a lot about the quality of the bike.
Anyway, that’s all I got.
I hope you enjoyed this guide and found it at least a little helpful – and again, I apologize if these prices have changed by the time you read this.
If you have any questions, comments, or know of any bikes that deserve a spot on this list, please leave ’em below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
