The classic upright exercise bike has been a staple in gyms around the world for decades and it’s easy to see why – they offer a comfortable mode of exercise and they don’t take up that much real estate.
And even though streaming cycles and smart gyms get most of the attention these days, there are still plenty of great, traditional upright bikes to choose from.
You just have to know where to look and what to look for.
But, if you’ve made your way here, you’re in luck.
In this guide, I’ll be going over my picks for the top upright exercise bikes of the year.
I’ll also be going over everything you need to know before you decide on a bike, including which specs and features should be prioritized over everything else.
This way, you’ll know why I chose the bikes on this list (I promise there’s a method to my madness), but more importantly, you’ll be able to find a great bike on your own in case none of these options are right for ya.
I’ll get right to the good stuff, but if you’re not that familiar with exercise bikes, you might want to read my buyer’s guide near the end as well because it goes over all the stuff you need to know before making a choice.
| Resistance | Frame | Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Spirit XBU55 | 30 lb flywheel 20 resistance levels | 105 lb assembled weight 350 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 10 year parts 1 year labor |
| #2 Sole LCB | 27 lb flywheel 40 resistance levels | 112 lb assembled weight 350 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 3 year parts 1 year labor |
| #3 Matrix Cycle U50 | n/a 30 resistance levels | 152 lb assembled weight 350 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 7 year parts 2 year labor |
| #4 NordicTrack Commercial VU29 | 19 lb flywheel 24 resistance levels | 115 lb in-box weight 325 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year labor |
| #5 3G Cardio Elite UB | n/a 24 resistance levels | 91 lb assembled weight 350 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 7 year parts 1 year labor |
| #6 Sole B94 | 20 lb flywheel 20 resistance levels | 101 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 2 year parts 1 year labor |
| #7 Nautilus U618 | 13 lb flywheel 25 resistance levels | 83 lb assembled weight 325 lb weight limit | 15 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor |
| #8 Schwinn 190 | 8 lb flywheel 25 resistance levels | 81 lb assembled weight 330 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 2 year parts 90 day labor |
The 8 Best Upright Exercise Bikes of 2024
#1 Spirit XBU55 Upright Bike
If you’re unfamiliar with the Spirit brand, I doubt you’re alone – I know I never see any marketing or promotions for ’em.
And that’s a shame because I think they’re easily one of the best home fitness brands in the game.
They’re actually owned by the same company that owns Sole, one of my other favorite brands, and there are quite a few similarities between ’em.
Anyway, the XBU55 is one of the only upright bikes they offer marketed for residential use and it’s a beauty.
This bike comes packing a 30 lb flywheel, which is as heavy as I’ve ever seen on an upright before.
Pair that with 20 levels of resistance and a belt drive and you’ve got the makings for an upright that can perform with the best of ’em.
The frame on the XBU55 is surprisingly light, weighing in at only 105 lb, but with a 350 lb weight capacity it can safely handle folks of all sizes.
When it comes to the features, there’s nothing too crazy going on here, but the XBU55 does come with several built-in workouts programs, bluetooth compatibility, and an included chest strap heart rate monitor.
There’s also direct resistance buttons, allowing you to instantly jump to a set resistance level.
But what really sets the XBU55 apart from most is its warranty.
Spirit backs this bike with a lifetime frame/brake, 10 year parts, and 1 year labor guarantee for residential use and also offers a great commercial warranty.
And to make things even better, this bike is usually on sale for under $1500 on Fitness Factory.
Overall, if you’re looking for an upright bike that can perform, Spirt’s XBU55 is as good as it gets. See full review.
#2 Sole LCB
Coming right behind the XBU55 is Sole’s LCB, which is very similar to the XBU55 in many ways.
And as I mentioned above, this isn’t a coincidence because Sole and Spirit are owned by the same parent company.
The LCB is usually priced similarly to the XBU55 and it too comes with some great performance specs.
More specifically, we’re talking a 27 lb flywheel, 40 levels of magnetic resistance, and a fully-adjustable seat.
The LCB is also about as heavy-duty as uprights come – with an assembled weight of 112 lb and a weight capacity of 350 lb, you won’t have to worry about this beast moving on ya during workouts.
And now that Sole has given the LCB an updated console, you don’t have to choose between performance and features here.
This bike now comes with a 10″ touchscreen console that comes with screen mirroring, built-in entertainment apps, bluetooth speakers, and wireless device charging.
There are also a bunch of built-in and custom workout options as well.
Sole also offers great warranties, although not quite as generous as Spirit: lifetime frame, 3 year parts, and 1 year labor (the LCB also comes with a light commercial guarantee as well).
Overall, it’s hard to choose a clear winner between the XBU55 and the LCB and if I were writing this tomorrow, I might have put the LCB in the top spot.
Honestly though, I ended up putting the XBU55 in the #1 spot because of that parts warranty and the fact that it’s a little cheaper than the LCB (at the time of writing this anyway).
Regardless, the LCB is a great upright in its own right. See full review.
#3 Matrix Cycle U50
Matrix is an elite brand known for both their residential and commercial fitness equipment and they’ve got some great products to choose from.
The Cycle U50 is one of only 2 uprights they offer, but there’s not much to complain about here.
This bike is smooth acting, comfortable, and comes with the option to go really hi-tech if you want to.
With an assembled weight of 152 lb, the U50 is rock solid, offering a commercial-grade feel while sitting on it (the dual form frame design adds a lot of stability as well).
This bike uses a sophisticated exact force induction brake to provide a nearly silent ride and with 30 levels at your disposal, you’ll have complete control over the intensity of every workout.
Everything about this bike is large and comfy, including the seat, handlebars, and pedals, but what really puts this bike in a league of its own is the console.
Or more accurately, the option to choose your console.
Matrix offers 4 different console options to choose from, ranging from a simple LCD screen to a 22″ HD touchscreen that’s iFit compatible and loaded with built-in entertainment apps.
And unlike most brands, you don’t have to sign up for a streaming membership to access the apps.
Matrix also offers a great warranty on the U50: lifetime frame, 7 year parts, and 2 years labor.
The biggest downside here is the price – if you go all in with that jumbo console, it’s gonna cost ya.
But if you’re looking for one of the most sophisticated and comfortable upright bikes out there, then it’s worth the cost. See full review.
#4 NordicTrack Commercial VU29
Ah, now there’s a brand name we all know.
You know, when it comes to brand recognition, just because you’re always on tv and everyone recognizes ya doesn’t necessarily mean your products are worth a damn.
But in NordicTrack’s case, it does.
This is a brand that’s been around for decades and steadily earned a loyal group of customers through offering solid equipment year in and year out.
Personally, I think they’re pushing their iFit platform a little too aggressively, but if you’re looking for streaming equipment, that might be ok.
Their VU29 is their only upright bike at the moment and even though the 14″ HD touchscreen console is its most notable feature, it’s no slouch in the performance department either.
With a 19 lb flywheel and 24 resistance levels, the VU29 is capable of offering a great workout.
It’s also solidly built (115 lb in-box weight) and comes with a 325 lb weight limit, allowing riders of all sizes the ability to use it.
But let’s be real, it’s that large touchscreen console that most folks are interested in.
Through the touchscreen display, you can access unlimited live and on-demand workouts through iFit, NordicTrack’s streaming platform.
Through iFit, you also get access to all other kinds of workouts too, offering a well balanced fitness regime.
Other highlights include a built-in fan, Automatic Trainer Control, and a fully adjustable seat.
And NordicTrack’s warranty isn’t bad either: 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 1 year labor.
Overall, if you’re looking for a well-priced upright with some serious streaming capabilities, the Commercial VU29 could make a lot of sense. See full review.
#5 3G Cardio Elite UB Upright Bike
Of the brands mentioned thus far, 3G Cardio has gotta be the least known by far, although it wouldn’t surprise me if they started gaining more recognition.
And that’s really because their products are legit.
3G Cardio’s a much smaller brand than Sole or Spirit and they only offer a few cardio machines to choose from.
I mean they’ve only got 3 treadmills and 2 exercise bikes listed for residential use… that’s it.
And the Elite UB is their only upright bike – talk about a small lineup.
But you know what they say, quality over quantity.
The Elite UB is quite compact, even for an upright bike, so if you’re dealing with limited floor space, this bike might be a great fit.
3G Cardio doesn’t disclose the flywheel weight for this bike, but I’m guessing it uses the same 17 lb flywheel found on their recumbent model (but don’t quote me on that).
This upright also comes with a quiet belt drive and 16 magnetic resistance levels, giving you plenty of control over the intensity of your workouts.
At only 91 lb, the Elite UB is quite a bit lighter than the bikes mentioned above, but it still rocks a respectable weight limit of 350 lb.
This bike also comes with a very minimalist inspired console, so if you abide by the “simpler is better” motto, you may appreciate this.
Highlights include 16 workout programs, 4 user profiles, a fully adjustable seat, and an included strap heart rate monitor.
The warranty though, is where 3G Cardio really shines.
They back the Elite UB with a lifetime frame, 7 year parts, and 1 year labor warranty (there’s also a separate commercial guarantee).
Overall, if you’re looking for a compact and comfortable upright bike that’s built to last, the Elite UB is a fantastic option. See full review.
#6 Sole B94
The B94 is basically a lighter-duty, less expensive version of the LCB mentioned earlier, so if you like that bike but are dealing with a smaller budget, the B94 could be a good alternative.
When it comes to performance, the B94 comes with a 20 lb flywheel and 20 levels of resistance, both of which are commendable for any upright.
And this being Sole, of course the B94 is heavy-duty from top to bottom.
This upright comes with an assembled weight of around 101 lb and a weight limit of 300 lb, both of which are impressive for a bike in this price range.
And even though Sole isn’t known for their hi-tech consoles, the B94 still comes with bluetooth speakers, a USB charging port, a cooling fan, an included chest strap, and the ability to connect with fitness apps via bluetooth.
It’s also backed by a great warranty: lifetime frame, 2 year parts, 1 year labor.
All things considered, the B94 easily earns its spot on this list and is quite possibly the best upright bike around $1k. See full review.
#7 Nautilus U618
We actually have Nautilus to thank for the popularity and success of commercial gyms too.
Back in the day, there were “Nautilus Gyms” full of Nautilus equipment and it was their cam technology that lead to the popularity of strength training machines in commercial gyms today.
Crazy.
Anyway, these days, Nautilus is more of a budget-friendly home fitness brand, but their equipment is still pretty impressive for the price range.
The U618 is their highest-end upright model to date and it comes with some notable features for such an affordable model.
At only 13 lb, the flywheel isn’t nearly as heavy as some of the ones mentioned above, but for a bike in this price range, this is about as good as it gets.
This upright also comes with 25 magnetic resistance levels, 29 workout programs, bluetooth compatibility, a USB charging port, and even an included chest strap heart rate monitor.
The U618 only weighs in at 83 lb, but it still comes with a weight limit of 325 lb, which is impressive given the price range.
Nautilus’ warranty is also generous for a bike in this price range: 15 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
All things considered, if you’re looking for an affordable upright with plenty of console features, the U618 is a pretty safe bet. See full review.
FYI, I’m not sure how much longer Nautilus is going to be offering the U618, but it’s a great deal while it lasts.
#8 Schwinn 190
Not sure if you knew this or not, but Schwinn and Nautilus are owned by the same parent company (Nautilus, Inc.) – talk about a powerful portfolio.
Schwinn’s another name that needs no introduction, so I won’t waste much time here, but I will say that like Nautilus, Schwinn offers a great “bang for your buck” ratio.
The 190 is Schwinn’s newest upright bike and it comes with a re-designed, sleeker frame and an updated, brightly-lit console.
The 190 only comes with an 8 lb flywheel, so it’s not packing a ton of muscle under the hood, but with 25 magnetic resistance levels, you will have a lot of control over your workouts.
This is a lighter-weight bike too, weighing in at around 81 lb, but its weight limit is still an impressive 330 lb.
When it comes to features, the 190 comes with some nice stuff for the price range, including 13 workout programs, bluetooth speakers, USB charging, weighted pedals, and a fully adjustable seat.
The warranty isn’t quite as generous on this model, although given the price, still pretty darn good: 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 90 day labor.
And speaking of price, at the time of writing this, the 190 is on sale for around $650, making it one of the most affordable bikes on this list.
Overall though, if you’re looking for a solid, budget-friendly upright bike, Schwinn’s 190 is likely to please. See full review.
How To Buy An Upright Bike The Smart Way
Technically speaking, there are several types of “upright exercise bike” because pretty much every type of exercise bike besides recumbent bikes puts you in an “upright” sitting position.
But for the purpose of this guide, we’re talking about the traditional upright bikes.
This means we’re not talking about indoor cycles or fan bikes here, just good ol’ fashioned upright bikes.
To me, a true upright bike is one that puts the rider in a higher, less bent over position because the console and handlebars are elevated (compared to an indoor cycle).
The seat on a true upright bike is usually a little larger than an indoor cycle’s standard saddle too.
These 2 features combined together are what make upright bikes a little more comfortable to use than your typical indoor cycle, but you still get the general feeling of riding a bike.
Upright bikes also force you to engage your core a little more than a recumbent bike, which puts you in an even more comfortable position and allows you to rest against a backrest.
I hope we’re all on the same page regarding the types of bikes I’ll be going over now, so let’s move on to which features are most important when comparing different uprights.
Resistance
I think it makes the most sense to start with an upright’s resistance system because this is what’ll be powering every workout you do for the life of the bike.
Like pretty much all other types of exercise bikes, uprights provide resistance by pairing a spinning flywheel with a magnetic resistance mechanism.
At least I don’t think I’ve ever come across an upright bike that uses a friction brake, but you never know…
But magnetic systems are great because the resistance is created without any touching or friction between the flywheel and brakes.
This makes for smoother operation and less maintenance.
Most home bikes are designed so that having a heavier flywheel is a good thing (the extra flywheel weight builds more momentum, which helps keep the pedals moving between pedal strokes, which makes for a smoother feel).
So, flywheel weight is usually the first thing I look for when comparing bikes.
Flywheels on uprights come in various sizes, but personally, I like to see at least a 20 lb flywheel – this is heavy enough to ensure a pretty smooth pedaling motion.
That said, more sophisticated (and expensive) uprights might not utilize a heavy flywheel.
It’s possible to create a smooth feel with a nice magnetic system itself (this is often seen on commercial grade bikes).
But if you’re looking for uprights under $2k, odds are heavier is better when it comes to the flywheel.
You should also consider how many resistance levels it comes with too.
More is generally better because it gives you more play over the intensity of your workouts, but just know that more resistance levels doesn’t necessarily mean more overall resistance.
It just means you can make smaller adjustments between levels.
Frame
After checking out the flywheel weight and number of resistance levels, I like to check out the frame.
Most upright bikes are more or less the same in terms of their footprint, with most taking up a floorspace of roughly 4′ x 2′, give or take a few inches.
More importantly though, I like to check out the bike’s assembled weight and weight capacity because these numbers give us a good idea as to how robust or stable we can expect the bike to feel during use.
And seeing higher numbers in both categories is always a good thing in my book.
That’s because heavier bikes are going to be less likely to wiggle or wobble during workouts.
And seeing a higher weight limit is a good sign that the bike is structurally sound.
Assembled weight and weight limit are usually dependent on each other, with heavier bikes coming with higher weight capacities.
When looking at upright bikes, I like to see an assembled weight of at least 100 lb and a weight limit of at least 300 lb.
Seeing numbers this high should give a little extra peace of mind when it comes to a bike’s “heavy-dutiness”.
Warranties
There’s nothing exciting about talking warranty policies, but trust me – this is still important stuff to consider before making a purchase.
Longer is always better when it comes to warranties (duh).
Upright bikes usually come with residential warranties that are divided into the following components:
- Frame
- Parts
- Labor
The frame warranty should be the longest of the bunch and a “lifetime” guarantee is the best, although there aren’t that many brands still offering these.
Although, as you’ll see down below, there are still some out there.
The parts warranty covers all the mechanical components of your bike and most decent brands will offer somewhere between 2 – 5 years on parts.
Labor is always the shortest of the bunch and a year or so is pretty typical for most brands.
Features
The above specs represent the performance side of things, but I realize most folks are interested in what console features a bike has as well.
Upright bikes vary greatly on which additional features they come with, so you really have to pick and choose based on your budget, but here’s a list of some of the most common features you can expect to see:
- Consoles – can vary between very simple LCD screens to HD touchscreens
- Built-in workouts
- Heart rate monitoring – some are compatible with chest straps, others aren’t
- Bluetooth compatibility with apps
- Built-in fans
- Built-in speakers
- USB charging ports
Again, I think it makes more sense to focus on the performance specs when choosing between bikes, but ultimately it all depends on what you’re looking for.
Price
Finally, there’s always price to consider – after all, we can only invest in a bike that fits within our budget.
Luckily, there are upright bikes to choose from in every price range.
Most of the best bang for your buck uprights fall in the $1000 – $1500 range. This is where you see great performing bikes with plenty of features, but that won’t completely destroy your budget.
There are plenty of awesome, commercial-grade uprights that cost a great deal more than that, but honestly, a lot of us probably don’t need this much bike.
There are also a ton of more affordable uprights costing $500 or less.
With these bikes, you have to be a little more careful and have realistic expectations, but there are still some solid buys in this price range too.
Final Thoughts
Well, there ya have it – the best upright bikes the year has to offer.
If nothing else, I hope this guide illustrates that there are still some great upright bikes out there (even though it seems streaming cycles get all the attention these days).
When comparing bikes, I encourage you to focus on the performance specs (flywheel weight, resistance levels, assembled weights, warranties, etc) because these are what really set great bikes apart from the rest.
I chose the above bikes to be on this list based on the specs we discussed in the guide above, although brand reputation and user reviews certainly played a part.
As does price.
Anyway, I hope you found this guide helpful and at least a little bit entertaining.
And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or know of an upright bike that deserves a spot on this list, please leave ’em below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
