The trend of people enjoying working out at home is showing no signs of slowing, and with this, a rise in the popularity of equipment. This is good news for the consumer, with prices becoming more competitive on products like exercise bikes. These machines are easy to use, and when you pick up a quality product, are a great way of raising your pulse and shed some calories.
Because it can be an important purchase, we have created a list of the best folding exercise bikes available. There is more to these products than convenient storage, and each of the models we have selected is going to a great job of helping you get into shape.
Quick Summary of Best Folding Exercise Bikes
Reviews
Editor’s Choice: Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider
There is a phone holder on the handlebar as well as a place to hang a towel for when things start to heat up and it is sturdier than some might expect, able to hold up to 130 kg at a time. The adjustable seat is on the large side which makes it more comfortable than most, and the seat is adjustable.
- 8 resistance levels
- Great price
- Can hold up to 130 kg
- Adjustable seat
- LCD display
Best With Upper Body Resistance : Stamina Wonder Exercise Bike
The tension dial is adjustable and easy to reach at any time should you need to up the ante, and its monitor displays multiple statistics. Its maximum recommended weight is 250 lbs and the recommended height is between 4 ft 9 to 6 ft 4 so there is a variety of potential users and packing it down is easy once it is folded to the convenient size.
- Upper body and arm resistance areas
- Monitor display
- Packs down small
- Up to 250 lb recommended weights
- Not as sturdy as some products
Best Mini: Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike with Digital Monitor
Because it measures just 20.5 inches long and 10.5 inches tall, it is the most convenient product on our list and can even be put on a table pr desk to use for an arm workout whilst pushing the pedals. It has a non-slip base to keep it in place, and the same goes for the feet thanks to the adjustable straps.
- 8 resistance levels
- 7-inch stride
- Easy to use
- Convenient size
- Not as versatile as other products
Best Non-folding: Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
The pedals have safety straps to keep the feet in place and under the handlebars is a resistance wheel that makes it easy to step things up a little. Tracking your progress is important for reaching targets which is why the LCD display screen is so useful for tracking time, calories, distance, odometer, and more. The seat is adjustable so anyone can fit and there are recumbent handlebars for comfort, the weight capacity of 300 lbs is also pretty generous.
- Easy to maneuver by tilting
- Step-through design
- LCD display
- 300 lb capacity
- Easily adjustable
- Nonfolding
Best With App: ShareVgo Bluetooth Smart Folding Semi Recumbent Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike
Included is a drinks holder and a place to put a tablet to make a workout go a little faster, this, combined with the comfortable seat with plush padding makes for a pleasant workout. When in use, it is one of the quieter models on our list which will be good for everyone else in the house, and with pulse sensors for tracking heart rate, 8 levels of magnetic resistance, and easy assembly, it is easy to see why this is a popular product.
- Includes an app
- Drink and tablet holder
- Quiet operation
- 8 levels of resistance
- Folds down small
- The app needs to resync when you exit
Best For Work: FitDesk Standing Adjustable Desk Bike for Exercising for Home Use or Office
The arm support is adjustable so when things are getting a bit much, it offers some respite to stop arms from aching. The steel frame is what makes it so sturdy and is the reason why it can hold up to 300 lbs at a time. There is a digital display and a nonslip surface to hold a laptop securely making this an ideal exercise bike for work. On top of all this, it packs down small so when you are done, it can be easily stored.
- Can hold up to 300 lbs
- Convenient nonslip area for a laptop
- Resistance bands for upper body workout
- Sturdy steel frame
- The seat could be a little more comfortable
Foldable Exercise Bike Buyer’s Guide
Working out at home takes some motivation to get started, but a foldable exercise bike is one of the best ways of saving space and burning calories. Even if you have plenty of room, you might not want your exercise equipment on display which is why so many people opt for these reliable products.
They are only going to work when you know what to expect from the better products, and because of this, we have created the following buyer’s guide. It lists everything there is to know so you can pick up a quality product.
What To Look For In A Foldable Exercise Bike
Convenient Storage
Some products are better at this than others and since it is an essential part of what makes these products so desirable, it is not to be ignored. An X-shaped design is often a sign of a product that is going to pack down small, but it should also have wheels to make it easy to move into storage.
Maximum Capacity
Most foldable exercise bikes still have the strength to hold plenty of weight, with anything between 250 – 300 lbs being pretty common. The max capacity is usually the sign of how sturdy the bike is, and quality materials such as powder-coated steel are a good indicator.
Variable Resistance
It’s not enough to have one or two levels of resistance because even those who haven’t used a foldable exercise bike before will find that they will soon need to up the ante and increase the resistance. This is what can help burn more calories once the user has increased their stamina a little. Most products tend to offer around 8 levels of resistance and the better options are those that feature an easy to reach dial.
Comfortable Seat
Anyone who wants to burn as many calories as possible is going to find that they need to spend more and more time on the seat, and they clock up greater distances and speeds. This is where a comfortable seat becomes even more important. Plush padding is going to almost literally save your butt.
Multiple Functions
The more uses the bike has, the better, and some brands include resistance bands for arm and upper body exercises. This is where a bike can save even more space as it means there is no need to purchase multiple exercise machines. Some products are better at this than others and look for a brand that hasn’t put these functions together hastily, as well as those that have multiple resistance levels.
Adjustable Height
It is rare that you will an exercise bike that is only the ideal height and for multiple people to be able to use it, the product must have an adjustable seat. Some have adjustable height as well as an adjustable distance to the handlebars, although this is going to be less likely with a foldable design.
LCD Display
Everyone wants to be able to track their progress on an exercise bike, and just because these are foldable, doesn’t mean this is something that should be compromised on. An LCD display should also shoe the users as many statistics as possible. Some of the most common include time, distance, calories, and speed.
Easy Assembly
Because they take up less room, a lot of foldable exercise bikes are easy to put together. With fewer parts to worry about, it usually takes a matter of minutes to put them together, but some are easier than others. The more features the product has, the more longer it is going to put together, but this is an easy trade to make for the added uses.
What Is The Best Type Of Resistance?
With different types of exercise, bikes come different types of resistance, and magnetic is the most common for foldable bikes. As the name suggests, a magnet can be turned via a dial to turn is closer to the flywheel which ups the resistance.
A fan resistance exercise bike will use air to increase the resistance but these are less common for a foldable design since this method takes up more room.
Is A Foldable Exercise Bike Worth It?
For convenience alone, a quality foldable bike is worth the asking price. Because they store away easily, they are ideal for anyone who lives in an apartment and is easier to maneuver than a treadmill. There is also the price to consider. Because they are made to be smaller than a lot of standalone bikes, they are usually more affordable.
Also, an exercise bike is safer to use compared to biking on the road where accidents can happen. When you have exercise equipment in your home, there are no excuses for getting into shape and it can also save money on a gym membership.
How Much Does a foldable Exercise Bike Cost?
A lot of people think that these products are expensive because treadmills tend to be pricier. The fact is, they don’t have to cost more than $200, and that is more a quality product. Of course, anything closer to $400 – 500 is going to be made with a higher quality spec of materials, and may even include more features, but for a simple foldable exercise bike that is easy to use and has multiple levels of resistance, $200 should suffice.
What Is The Best Foldable Exercise Bike?
After reviewing multiple products, we found the Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider to be the best., Because of its simple design it packs down small and is easy to assemble. This doesn’t mean that it lacks features though. It has an adjustable seat, max capacity of 130 kg, 8 resistance levels, and comes at a very reasonable price.