We have a lot of great indoor cycles to choose from this year – so many in fact, that it can be hard to narrow the options down and decide on one.
This isn’t the worst problem to have, but still, it can be a problem none the less.
Well, I think I can help.
In this guide, I’ll share my picks for the best indoor cycles 2023 has to offer, but I’ll do ya one better too – I’ll also share my rationale, including which specs and features I think are most important to consider when searching for a new cycle.
This way, you’ll know what to look for in case one of these bikes isn’t the right fit for your home.
And I’ve tried to include cycles from different price ranges too because we aren’t all in the market for a $2k streaming cycle.
Luckily, there are great bikes available in all price ranges, you just have to know where to look.
Feel free to jump ahead to the bikes, but I’m going to start with a quick discussion on what we should be comparing when looking for an indoor cycle in the first place.
| Resistance | Frame | Warranty | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Keiser M3i | 8 lb flywheel 24 gears | 92 lb assembled weight 350 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | Dual-compatible pedals Bluetooth Free fitness app |
| #2 The Peloton | 35 lb flywheel 100 resistance levels | 135 lb assembled weight 297 lb weight limit | 5 year frame 1 year parts | 22" HD console Streaming workouts Delta-compatible pedals |
| #3 NordicTrack Commercial S27i | 32 lb flywheel 24 resistance levels | 217 lb in box weight 350 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year labor | 27" HD console Incline/decline feature Automatic Trainer Control |
| #4 Sole SB900 | 48 lb flywheel Micro-adjustable magnetic | 160 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | Dual-compatible pedals Fully adjustable seat/handlebars |
| #5 Diamondback 910Ic | 40 lb flywheel 32 resistance levels | 135 lb assembled weight 325 lb weight limit | 5 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | 12 built-in workouts Fully adjustable seat/handlebars |
| #6 Bowflex C6 | 40 lb flywheel 100 resistance levels | 112 lb assembled weight 330 lb weight limit | 10 year frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | LCD console Bluetooth Dual-compatible pedals |
| #7 Sole SB700 | 48 lb flywheel Friction brake resistance | 141 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | Lifetime frame 3 year parts 1 year labor | LCD console Heart rate monitoring Toe cage pedals |
| #8 SHF SF-B1805 | 44 lb flywheel Micro-adjustable magnetic | 126 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 3 year frame 180 days parts | Toe-cage pedals Fully adjustable seat/handlebars |
| #9 JOROTO X2 | 35 lb flywheel Micro-adjustable magnetic | 94 lb assembled weight 300 lb weight limit | 1 year parts | LCD console Toe-cage pedals Tablet holder |
How To Choose An Indoor Cycle
When you strip down all the touchscreen displays and fancy console features, most indoor cycles are actually pretty simple devices.
They all consist of a spinning flywheel, a resistance mechanism, a seat, handlebars, frame, and pedals.
Of course, when you dive in and start looking closely at these components, you’ll soon find that all indoor cycles are not created equal.
I know all the console features are exciting, but I still think it behooves you to focus more on the performance specs when choosing your next indoor cycle.
Because as I always say, if your bike doesn’t perform smoothly, it doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles it has, odds are you won’t be using it for long.
Plus, there are tons of streaming bikes to choose from these days, so you don’t have to compromise on performance to get any specific feature any more.
Anyway, let’s start from the top.
Resistance
Indoor cycles are designed to mimic the feel of riding a road bike – and that means being able to provide smooth pedaling at faster cadences and more challenging resistances to mimic riding uphills.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a cycle is the quality of its resistance system.
And by this, I’m really talking about the flywheel and the resistance mechanism.
Most indoor cycles these days are coming with magnetic resistance systems and this is great because they offer smooth, nearly silent operation and are virtually maintenance free.
Some cycles still use friction brakes too though.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of friction brakes because they don’t tend to feel as smooth as magnetic systems – plus, you have to occasionally replace the felt brake pad.
Not to say friction brakes can’t still offer great workouts, but just something to consider when choosing.
The other big issue is the size of the flywheel.
We’ve probably become a little too focused on flywheel size these days, but generally speaking, most indoor cycles benefit from having a heavier flywheel.
And this is because the extra weight builds more momentum as it spins, which actually helps keep that flywheel spinning between pedals strokes.
The result is a smoother feel.
That said, some more sophisticated cycles (like the Keiser M3i, which you’ll see down below) can accomplish the same thing by using a really lightweight flywheel, but by getting it spinning really fast.
In these cases, light flywheels can work exceptionally well.
The problem is when affordable cycles use light flywheels, but aren’t designed to get them spinning really fast – in these cases, the smoothness of the pedaling motion often suffers.
When going for heavy flywheels, I suggest aiming for a flywheel that weighs at least 30 lb – at this weight, you should be able to rest assured that the pedaling motion will feel nice and fluid.
Oh, you should also consider how many resistance levels a bike comes with.
This isn’t a huge deal, but having more resistance levels gives you more control over the available resistance – and having more control is always a good thing in my book.
Frame
Flywheels are important, but so is having a stable bike that feels secure during workouts.
Most indoor cycles are roughly the same size in terms of foot print (taking up a space of roughly 2′ x 4′), but bikes vary greatly in terms of how heavy-duty they are.
It can be hard to compare this quality from bike to bike without getting on each one and taking them for a test spin, but luckily, there are other specs you can look at to get an idea.
Like the assembled weights and weight capacities.
When looking at these specs, seeing higher numbers is always a good thing.
Sure, a heavier bike will be harder to move, but that’s the point.
If a bike is hard to move, that means it’ll move less when you don’t want it to (like during workouts).
I like to see an assembled weight of 100 lb+ to ensure a rock solid feel during workouts, but you also have to keep in mind flywheel size when thinking about this.
Bikes with a massive flywheel can have higher assembled weights because the weight of the flywheel jacks the total number up, when in reality the frames are kinda wimpy.
That’s why it’s also a good idea to consider the weight capacity.
Seeing a higher weight capacity is just another indicator of superior build quality.
I like to see a weight capacity of at least 300 lb to ensure a quality frame, but first and foremost, you have to make sure the weight limit is high enough to safely hold you.
Warranty
This one isn’t specific to indoor cycles, but it’s important stuff, so I think it’s worth mentioning.
I think it’s always a good idea to consider length of warranty when comparing cycles – not only does this act as your insurance plan, but better bikes often come with better warranties.
Although warranties on indoor cycles aren’t usually as generous as they are on other types of fitness machines.
When comparing warranties on indoor cycles, you’ll usually see them divided into 3 different sections:
- Frame
- Parts
- Labor
The frame should be the longest and most cycles are offering somewhere in the 5 – 10 year range these days (although some still offer lifetime frame warranties).
When it comes to parts, expect somewhere in the 1-3 year range.
And most brands only offer a year on labor, which is standard procedure.
Features
Finally, you always have to consider what features you’re looking for in your next indoor cycle.
These days, more and more bikes are coming with HD touchscreen consoles designed for streaming workouts, so if that’s what you’re looking for, there ya go.
But if you’re not interested in streaming, there are still plenty of great cycles that don’t force you to mess with monthly membership plans.
Besides the touchscreens, there are plenty of other features you might want to consider when comparing options.
These include:
- Built-in workout programs
- Bluetooth
- Heart rate monitoring
- Cooling fans
- Type of pedals (toe cage vs clipless)
- Fully adjustable seats
- Fully adjustable handlebars
- Dumbbells
As you can see, there’s more to consider than just the size of the console.
Well, I think it’s time to get to the good stuff already, so, here we go…
The 9 Best Indoor Cycling Bikes For Home Use 2023
#1 The Keiser M3i
You know, it’s not easy coming up with these lists.
Sure, you have a general idea of which bikes you want to include, but it’s hard ranking them, especially when including bikes from different price ranges and such drastically different features.
But I’ve never come across any exercise bike, across the board, that’s more beloved than the Keiser M3i.
I mean seriously, try to find a negative review – it’s not easy.
The M3i ranks as one of the top indoor cycles year in and year out and it’s pretty easy to see why – this thing is badass.
As I mentioned earlier, Keiser utilizes a very lightweight, rear-mounted flywheel (8 lb) on this cycle, which most users actually agree is a bit easier on the joints than most heavy-flywheel bikes.
And with some pretty serious engineering, they’re able to get that flywheel spinning crazy fast (11x for every full pedal rotation) – which is how this light flywheel is able to provide such a smooth pedaling motion.
It probably doesn’t hurt that it’s paired with a sophisticated, magnetic resistance system either.
The M3i comes with 24 gears, but you can make smaller adjustments to your resistance between gears as well.
When it comes to the frame, the M3i is about as minimalistic as they come.
Its assembled weight is only 92 lb, but again, keep in mind the flywheel only weighs 8 lb – the frame here is still rock-solid and comes with a weight capacity of 350 lb.
You’ll also notice the V-shaped frame – well, this is intentional because it allows this cycle to fit riders up to 7′ tall.
Other highlights include a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and dual-compatible pedals.
The M3i also comes with a bluetooth compatible console and free app to help you track all your metrics.
And Keiser backs this cycle up with a pretty legit warranty: 10 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
Put it all together and you’ve got one of the sleekest, most sophisticated indoor cycles on the planet. See full review.
#2 The Peloton Bike
I know Peloton’s been going through a rough patch lately and they have a ton of competition with all the other streaming bikes on the market and whatnot, but the classic Peloton Bike is still a great cycle.
I’ve had mine for 4+ years now and it’s survived kids and a move and it’s still going strong.
We also have Peloton to thank for the whole workout streaming revolution we’re currently in, so there’s always that too.
Anyway, the 22″ HD touchscreen console is hard to miss and it certainly makes watching all the instructor-led workouts very enjoyable, but the bike itself is also top notch.
The Peloton Bike comes with a 35 lb flywheel and 100 levels of magnetic resistance, which work together to provide a very smooth pedaling motion.
It also comes with a heavy-duty frame (assembled weight around 135 lb), a fully adjustable seat, and height adjustable handlebars.
The Peloton’s pedals are Delta-compatible, so you do need to purchase riding cleats to hook in (or swap ’em out for whatever pedals you prefer).
The only real complaint I have is that for a bike of this caliber the warranty could be better – with a 5 year frame and 1 year parts guarantee, I feel like Peloton is skimping a little in this department.
But again, I’ve had mine for years and it hasn’t missed a beat yet (knock on wood).
And now that Peloton has so much competition, their prices have gone down significantly, so if you’re looking for a streaming cycle, you should still consider the O.G.
Plus, their instructors are amazing – it’s not wonder they’ve become celebrities in their own right.
#3 The NordicTrack Commercial S27i
I mentioned Peloton has a lot of competitors these days and there’s no bigger one than NordicTrack.
NordicTrack has really doubled-down on the whole streaming thing and now all of their products come with iFit compatible, touchscreen consoles of one size or another.
And the Commercial S27i specifically has got to be one of Peloton’s biggest competitors.
With a 27″, rotating HD touchscreen console, this bike is well-equipped for all the streaming workouts iFit gives you access to, but it’s also no slouch in the performance department.
This cycle comes with a 32 lb flywheel, 24 levels of magnetic resistance, a heavy-duty frame, a fully adjustable seat, and dual-compatible pedals.
And the Commercial S27i is loaded with tech features.
The large console is a show-stopper, but there’s also the incline/decline function to mimic the sensation of going up/down hill and the Automatic Trainer Control feature that allows the resistance/incline settings to adjust automatically during workouts.
And even though NordicTrack basically uses the same warranty for all their products, it actually works quite well in this case: 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 1 year labor.
Put it all together and you’ve got the makings for a great streaming cycle (and that extra huge screen will come in especially handy when doing off the bike workouts). See full review.
#4 The Sole SB900
Ok, time to step away from the streaming cycles and get back to some good ol’ fashioned, no BS indoor cycles.
And none are less BS than Sole’s SB900.
I’ve been a big fan of the Sole brand for years, mostly because their products are ridiculously heavy-duty and backed by some of the best warranties around.
This speaks volumes to me, but on the other hand, Sole isn’t known for having the most advanced consoles, so if you’re looking for streaming workouts, this isn’t the right cycle for ya.
But it’s going to be hard to find a better performing bike in this price range.
Anyway, the SB900 is packing a 48 lb flywheel, so it’s certainly got enough muscle under the hood for smooth, challenging workouts.
It uses a micro-adjustable magnetic system too, allowing you to make very small adjustments to your resistance (but no “levels”, if that makes sense).
This beast weighs in at 160 lb, which is crazy heavy for an indoor cycle, so you won’t have to worry about this bike feeling wobbly during use either.
When it comes to the console, it’s small and simple, but it still makes it easy enough to view all your workout metrics.
And it’s heart rate monitor compatible too, which is always nice.
Additional features include a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and dual-compatible pedals.
Oh yeah, it’s also backed by a lifetime frame and 3 year parts guarantee (as well as a light commercial warranty) – not bad right?
Overall, the SB900 easily earns its way onto this list and is a great option for folks looking for a reasonably priced, easy to use cycle. See full review.
#5 The Diamondback 910Ic
I feel like I used to hear a lot about Diamondback Fitness back in the day, but no not so much anymore…
Well, regardless, they’re still around doing their thing and their exercise bikes are still legit.
The 910Ic is actually quite similar to Sole’s SB900, mostly in the sense that’s it’s really heavy-duty and doesn’t come with many frills.
This is the upgraded version of their 510Ic, which I used to own years ago – long story short, it was a great cycle.
But back to the point.
The 910Ic comes with a 40 lb flywheel and 32 levels of magnetic resistance, giving you a lot of control over your workouts.
And with an assembled weight of 135 lb and a 325 lb weight limit, this bike is sturdy enough to handle users of all sizes.
It also comes with fully adjustable handlebars, a fully adjustable seat, toe-cage pedals, so you don’t have to mess with cleats if you don’t want to.
And even though the console on this cycle isn’t super sophisticated, it does come with 12 built-in workout programs and is heart rate strap compatible.
Oh, this bike also comes with a self-generating power source, meaning you don’t have to plug it in – you can put this bad boy anywhere you want without having to worry about placing it near an outlet.
The warranty isn’t as generous as Sole’s but still not bad – 5 year frame, 3 year parts, and 1 year labor.
So, if you’re looking for an affordable, easy to use cycle that’s built like a tank, the 910Ic might just be speaking your language. See full review.
#6 The Bowflex C6
The C6 is another bike that might not get the respect it deserves, but that’s a shame because this cycle has a lot to offer.
I’m not sure if some folks are a little put of by the Bowflex brand, thinking they’re a little too gimmicky, but the C6 is really just a down to earth cycle with some great performance specs.
Under the hood, the C6 is packing a 40 lb flywheel and Bowflex pairs that with 100 levels of magnetic resistance.
As a Peloton owner, I appreciate this because I love having the ability to make such small adjustments to the resistance.
Plus, having the same resistance scale makes it easier to do Peloton workouts from this cycle… just sayin’.
And with an assembled weight of 112 lb and a weight limit of 330 lb, the C6 is surprisingly heavy-duty for a bike in this price range.
The C6 comes with a small LCD console, but unlike many in this price range, it measures your cadence (and displays your resistance level), making it easier to pair this bike with outside streaming apps (like Peloton).
And with fully adjustable handlebars, a fully adjustable seat, and dual-compatible pedals, this bike is as customizable as they come.
Additional goodies include an included pair of 3 lb dumbbells, an included arm band heart rate strap, and a built-in tablet holder for easy viewing during workouts.
It’s also backed by a great warranty: 10 year frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
Overall, there’s not much to complain about here, truly a great deal. See full review.
#7 The Sole SB700
Hey, I told ya I love the Sole brand, so I couldn’t help sneaking another one of their cycles onto this list.
Jokes aside, the SB700 is another great bike, although it does come with a few downgrades from the SB900 listed earlier.
The biggest difference is that the SB700 uses a friction brake resistance system (yes, I know I said I don’t usually like these, but this bike has so many other awesome traits I let it slide), so you will have to replace that brake pad every once and awhile.
But if you’re ok with that, there’s not much else to complain about here.
The SB700 also comes with a 48 lb flywheel, so you won’t have to worry about it offering a smooth pedaling motion.
And with an assembled weight of 141 lb, you won’t have to worry about this cycle feeling flimsy or wobbling during workouts either.
Like the SB900, the SB700 also comes with a simple LCD console, so no touchscreens on workout streaming here, but it does display all your metrics and is also heart rate monitor compatible.
And Sole backs this bike with the same great warranty it offers on the SB900 – lifetime frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor.
So, if you’re looking for a simple indoor cycle that’s built like a tank (and want to save a couple hundred bucks), Sole’s SB700 is certainly worth considering. See full review.
#8 The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805
I mentioned earlier I wanted to include some of the top affordable indoor cycles on this list too – well, when it comes to affordable exercise bikes, Sunny Health & Fitness (SHF) is one of the best brands around.
SHF is a budget brand, specializing in really affordable exercise equipment of all kinds.
But I think indoor cycles is where they really shine.
The SF-B1805 doesn’t come with a console, so this certainly isn’t the right bike for folks looking for higher-end tech features, but it does come packed with some great performance specs.
Like a 44 lb flywheel, a magnetic resistance system (micro-adjustable), and a heavy-duty frame that can hold folks weighing up to 300 lb.
This cycle also comes with a fully adjustable seat/handlebars, toe cage pedals, and a built-in device holder.
The warranty isn’t much to speak of (only 3 years on the frame and 6 months on parts), but this is still better than plenty of the other models in this price range.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable indoor cycle that can still perform, SHF’s SF-B1805 is a great choice. See full review.
#9 The JOROTO X2
Rounding out our list is another very affordable cycle with some surprisingly impressive performance specs.
There are a ton of really cheap exercise bikes on the market now, so many that it’s getting harder and harder to tell ’em apart – especially since so many of come with really generic names that don’t make much of an impression to begin with.
But the JOROTO X2 does stand out.
With a 35 lb flywheel, the X2 has more than enough weight to provide a smooth pedaling motion, but what’s more surprising is the fact that this cycle comes with a micro-adjustable magnetic resistance system.
There aren’t a lot of bikes in this price range using magnetic systems, so this in itself is pretty impressive.
Unlike the SHF’s bike just mentioned, the X2 does come with a very basic console that really only keeps track of simple stats.
And it too comes with a fully adjustable seat, fully adjustable handlebars, and toe cage pedals.
As you might expect from a cycle in this price range, the warranty is quite short – only a 1 year parts guarantee.
But user feedback is ridiculously positive (at the time of writing this, this bike is rocking a 4.5/5 average user rating on Amazon).
So, if you’re in the market for a heavy-duty bike that’ll only cost ya a few hundred bucks, JOROTO’s X2 is easily one of the best options around. See full review.
Final Thoughts
Well, there ya have it – the best indoor cycles 2023 has to offer.
I know there are a lot of great cycles that could’ve easily made this list and didn’t, but like I said, it ain’t easy coming up with these lists.
I tried to include indoor cycles from all price ranges and include both streaming and non-streaming bikes on this list and to that effect, I hope I was successful.
And if nothing else, I hope you take away that it’s important to compare the performance specs between these bikes when trying to make a decision.
Things like flywheel weights, assembled weights, warranties, and weight capacities are important bits of info that tell you a lot about the quality of a bike.
So, if none of the bikes on this list are quite doing it for ya, I encourage you to use these specs when comparing bikes on your own.
Otherwise, I hope you found this guide helpful and at least a little entertaining and if you have any questions or comments, please leave ’em below and I’ll get back to you shortly.
