If you’re looking to get fit, an exercise bike is one of the best cardiovascular options out there. Not only does it give you a great cardio workout, but provides muscular endurance, and a great lower-body strengthening workout at the same time. If you suffer from any joint and knee pain, biking will be your best option too.
As great as activities like running, jumping, and mobility work are, they result in a lot of impact on hard surfaces. This can be further damaging if you suffer from knee or joint pain. Biking has almost no impact on the knees and joints, so your workout sessions can last a lot longer.
But there are a few issues that come with biking outdoors. It is not always safe–especially if you live in a city or busy environment. You have to deal with the weather conditions and then there’s the issue of the limited hours. Biking at night isn’t a great idea, so this leaves you limited to day time hours, and that might not fit in with your daily work schedule.
Before we dig deep into the best exercise bikes under £200, we have created a table of customers top rated exercise bikes.
Customers Top Rated
Image | Exercise Bike | Max User Weight | Resistance | Customer Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
XS Sports B210 Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike | 100kg | Variable | Check Feedback and Price | |
YYFITT 2-in-1 Foldable Fitness Exercise Bike | 120kg | 16 Resistance Levels | Check Feedback and Price | |
2WD Exercise Bike | 120kg | Variable | Check Feedback and Price | |
We R Sports Exercise Bike | 100kg | Variable | Check Feedback and Price |
Our Review Of The Best Exercise Bike Under £200
An exercise bike provides the best solution. It allows you to do a great, low-impact workout in the comfort of your own home, and at any time of the day. But where do you start when trying to decide on an exercise bike? And what if you’re limited to a budget of under £200? £300? or a budget of £500?
Fortunately, there are some great options to choose from and this article will break down the 8 best exercise bikes under £200.
Ultrasport F-Bike and F-Rider, Fitness Bike Trainer
The F-Bike comes in at a cost of less than £200 and is a top choice on Amazon. This is a foldable exercise bike so not only is it affordable, it will take up very little room. It’s a great choice if you live in a small space or apartment. But it is still a quality exercise bike with a sturdy build despite it’s compact size. The F-Bike has 8 different resistance levels to provide a variety of intensity to cater to your workouts. It has an LCD display so you are able to track your stats such as time, distance, speed, and calories burnt. The display area of the bike also contains a holder for your phone so you can stay in touch and listen to your own media.
Pros
- Easy to set up with minimal parts to put together
- Ultra-compact and light
- Can still support riders of various sizes and weights
Cons
- No programable workouts
- 8 levels of resistance may limit you to the workout intensities you want
Ultrasport F-Bike with Hand Pulse Sensor, Fitness Bike Trainer
Another great option from Ultrasport, and this time, it’s even more affordable than the last option. This is still a fold up bike to serve you well in small spaces. But it is still a serious piece of equipment. This model features a back support on the seat which may serve you better if you have back issues and need more support.
It also features an LCD screen to display your stats, and features a pulse monitor so you can track your heart rate during your workout. This model may be even more space saving with its curved design. It’s a best-seller on Amazon with over 7000 reviews with 74% giving it a 5-star rating making it tremendous value.
Pros
- Affordable and efficient for intense workouts
- Also very easy to assemble and put together to use straight away
- A high amount of comfort from a stationary exercise bike
Cons
- Limited resistance levels and no pre-programmed workouts
- Might be tougher for shorter people to use
XS Sports B210 Folding Magnetic Exercise Bike
The B210 may be one of the strangest folding exercise bikes out there–and it’s tremendous value being under £200. This allows for a more intense riding experience knowing that it will hold up well. This makes it a great option for those that want to do some high-intensity intervals involving full-out splints, followed by slower-paced recovery periods. This is a bike that will last you years, and not cost you a lot of money.
It makes a great addition to a home gym, but still will be effective on its own. Even though this is a basic bike–meant for intense exercise–it still features an LCD display to track things like speed, distance, time and even your pulse while exercising.
Pros
- Very strong despite its size and weight
- Features a deep padded and comfortable seat not often found on exercise bikes
- Uses a magnetic flywheel for a smooth and quiet ride
Cons
- Limited in features especially anything tech-related
- No holders for phone or water bottle
- Takes some assembly
SportPlus S-Bike / X-Bike with Heart Rate Monitor
The S-Bike provides amazing value for a very affordable price. This is another foldable exercise bike, but one that may feel like a regular free-standing version. It has a great base of support and accommodates riders of any size. It features a magnetic brake system and also provides a super quiet ride and peddling experience. This is a great option if you want to exercise at home, but live with other people.
You could use this bike in the next room and not even be noticed. It has 8 different resistance levels allowing you to adjust the intensity of your ride. The S-Bike has built-in hand pulse sensors so you can quickly take your heart rate and find out if you are in the right target heart rate training zone. Besides the resistance levels, the S-Bike features pre-installed training programs giving you more options for workouts.
Pros
- Resistance options and training programs not always found at this price point
- Built-in wheels for easy transport
- A tablet and phone holder to use your own device while you ride
Cons
- Tougher to use for shorter people
- Might not be able to accommodate very intense bike sprints
Merax Fitness Bike, Exercise Bike with Training Computer and Expander Cycling Bike
The Merax fitness bike comes in at just under 200, but is a fully equipped exercise bike. This is a multi-use bike that gives you several exercise options. It works like a cross trainer and has built-in resistance bands that can give you an upper body workout along with a lower body one. It also can be adjusted to turn into a recumbent bike which is a great option for those with lower back problems. And it can also be used as a traditional standing bike too.
Even with all these features, this is still a folding exercise bike that does not take up a lot of room. The seat features a wide back rest for added support and can be a great option for those with limited mobility or even for seniors. Technology-wise it has an LCD display to track your workout stats along with your heart rate.
Pros
- Built-in tablet holder
- Very comfortable seat and riding experience
- Features a 10-step magnetic tension system to provide various intensities
Cons
- Not a top choice for higher-end athletes needing intense training
- Tougher to adjust for people of different heights
Esprit Fitness XLR-8 Exercise Bike Adjustable Resistance Cardio Workout Indoor Fitness Bike
The Esprit XLR-8 may be one of the most budget-friendly exercise bike options out there coming in at only 79. But this is still an effective option to provide you a great workout at home. The XLR-8 features enhanced engineering to make it very space saving, but it’s still adjustable.
You can alter the handlebars and seat to accommodate any size rider. Despite being a budget option, the XLR-8 still allows you to track your time, distance, speed, and calories burned on a very bright LCD display. This is an exercise bike that is so affordable it doesn’t give you any excuses to not start exercising at home.
Pros
- Very lightweight and very easy to move and transport
- Very sturdy despite the size and weight
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- No specific features or other technology besides the LCD display
- No water bottle holder or device holder
- No pulse measurement
ANCHEER Exercise Folding Bike, Stationary Cycle Indoor Upright Bike
The Ancheer exercise bike is a great option if you’re looking for a bike that provides more technological options. Not only does it have ten different levels of resistance, it features a digital display and tablet stand. This bike provides a link to the Qiber fitness app which gives you some great riding options.
There is a simulation game on it and allows you to race against friends and other people. The app gives you fitness goals and challenges and measures your results in real-time. The Ancheer is also a folding bike so it can be easily moved away and stored. It still has a strong build quality and can accommodate riders up to 300 pounds.
Pros
- 6-level adjustable seat which is also comfortable
- Great amount of resistance levels
- Hand pulse sensors to track your heart rate
Cons
- Some have issues with assembly
- May be issues with the drive belt
HOMCOM 2 in 1 Upright Exercise Bike
Another great exercise bike option that is actually two machines in one. It functions as a regular upright exercise bike, but has built-in arm resistance bands for a full body workout. Cycling is a great lower body, muscular endurance–and strengthening–workout, but the upper body does get neglected. HOMCOM gives you the option to target the muscles of the upper body with the built-in resistance bands. The other option you have is turning this into a recumbent bike.
This is great for those with occasional lower back issues as they can take the pressure off by positioning it into the recumbent setting. Then, when things feel healthy, you can return it to a normal upright exercise bike. This bike is also foldable which is a great feature considering it has the recumbent option.
It has eight levels of resistance to give you an ever-changing workout intensity. Comfort is also a big selling point on this affordable exercise bike; with its large padded seat, backrest, and padded armrests for a great amount of support.
Pros
- Great for those looking for a well-rounded training experience
- Comfortable and supportive for those with mobility issues
- Adjustable and easily transportable
Cons
- No manual for the LCD display
- The resistance bands might not be intense enough for some people
Personal Trainer Tips & Tricks
Any form of biking benefits from a proper warm-up. Starting with a 5-10 minute warm-up at a lighter pace will help to increase the heart rate, blood flow, and activate the working muscles in the lower body. Make sure to stretch at the end of a cycling workout which should also include at least a 5-minute cooldown. If you’ve been going at an intense pace, and just jump off the bike when you’re done, blood will pool in the muscles leading to discomfort and cramping.
Biking lends itself well to high-intensity interval training, and this may be a better way to get fit and burn body fat. Studies show that more calories can be burned in a session of intervals than with longer steady-state cardio, along with some other heart and health benefits. Steady state cardio is still very beneficial for cardiovascular health, but if you’re pressed for time, and want to give your workouts a boost, interval training can be a great option.
HIIT training involves an all-out sprint for around 30 seconds at a higher intensity. Then, the pace is slowed to a recovery period for around 90 seconds at a lighter intensity. For the exercise bikes that have multiple resistance levels, high-intensity training can be easily done on them,