If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best airbike for a small home gym is, then I’d recommend the XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro as the best one.
If you want a way to do a great low-impact cardio workout at home, an airbike is the way to go.
They’re affordable, compact, and lightweight compared to other exercise machines.
Airbikes provide a great workout for everyone, no matter what your fitness level is. Plus, they fit perfectly in a small home gym.
I went on a search for the best airbike I could find.
After checking out countless models, I came across five that stood out.
Here is some information about airbikes that you need to know if you plan to buy one and my top five picks for best airbike.
Here are the top airbikes we’ll be reviewing:
- XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro – Overall Best Airbike
- Schwinn Airdyne AD7 – Most Well-Known Brand
- Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike – Most Compact Option
- Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike – Best 2-Way Seat Bike
- Sunny Health & Fitness Zephyr Air Bike – Best Budget Choice
Airbike 101: What You Should Know Before Buying One
Airbikes are a great way to get a low-impact cardio workout session done.
You get a serious workout for your lower leg muscles like your quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and soleus.
However, because of the arm motion from the handlebars, you also workout your upper body and core as well.
Essentially, it can give you a total body conditioning.
As you shop for an airbike, keep in mind how you will be using it.
Comfort is important since you’ll be working so hard.
You also need to think about quality because you need something that will keep up with you. Keep reading to find out what you should be looking for in an airbike.
Quality and Construction
Airbikes are made with steel frames.
However, to be considered as a best airbike, the frame should be made with a high-grade of steel and not very many plastic parts.
Plastic parts, even if it’s hard plastic, aren’t meant for hardcore workouts so the more plastic, the more the bike will break down.
The bike shouldn’t wobble when you put it together. It should be sturdy and solid, giving you the confidence to go all out.
Of course, this is something you wouldn’t know until you’ve already purchased the bike and put it together, so if there is a model available to try in a store, you should do that before purchasing.
I’ve already taken care of this part with the five picks below.
Size and Weight
Airbikes are small and lightweight no matter which model you get.
Some high-end models may be made with a higher grade of steel, so they’ll be a little heavier than average, but they can still be handled by one person.
Despite this, you should still check the dimensions and weight to be on the safe side.
The bigger concern with size and weight deals with the adjustability of the bike and the weight capacity that the bike can support.
The seat of the bike needs to move up and down at a minimum so that people of different heights can use the bike.
This is called 2-way adjustability.
Some seats can also move forward and backward.
This is called 4-way adjustability.
It’s possible that the handlebars can also be adjusted.
Weight capacity is self-explanatory.
Make sure the bike can handle the weight of the heaviest person using it. Otherwise it will break, and your warranty won’t matter.
The Console
Consoles will vary widely from model to model, but the one thing they all do is give you the stats of your workout.
Some will have more stats than others, but they’ll all have time elapsed, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Some consoles may come with preset programs or even allow you to create your own.
They may have media holders for your smartphone or tablet.
Some of them may be monochrome with no lighting while others will be multi-colored with a bright back light.
All these features are optional and not having them won’t affect your workout.
However, it will affect how much you enjoy being on the bike.
The Five Best Airbikes
XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro – Overall Best Airbike
I chose the XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro as the best overall because it has all the right features and parts for an airbike in a small home gym.
In fact, there really isn’t anything bad to say about this airbike other than the fact that it’s a bit expensive.
However, it’s well worth the money because it’s made to last a lifetime. That’s why you have a lifetime warranty on the frame.
The frame is made of heavy-duty steel. The curved bars and welded joints add to the stability and strength.
Pair that with an industrial-grade chain drive, 9 heavy duty steel fan blades, and unlimited resistance, and you have an airbike that’s ready for the toughest workouts.
The console is a fair size. It has a back light and displays all the stats on one screen. Each stat has its own individual button that allows for easy setting.
The 4-way adjustable seat is thoroughly padded, as is the handlebars, so you’ll be comfortable during your exercise session.
The bike measures 48″L x 28″W x 54.5″H and weighs 115 pounds. It’s heavy due to the high-grade of steel used to make the bike. It has a weight capacity of 350 pounds.
Pros
- High weight capacity.
- Has heart rate monitoring feature.
- Lifetime warranty on the frame.
- Transport wheels make it easy to move.
Cons
- No media holder.
- It’s heavy.
Schwinn Airdyne AD7 – Most Well-Known Brand
In the exercise world, Schwinn is one of the most well-known brands.
In fact, these machines are manufactured by the same company that makes Nautilus and Bowflex.
All these brands are known for superior quality products. The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 is a perfect example of the top-quality products you get from this company.
The strong powder-coated steel frame, precision construction, and extra-stable support legs makes this a great choice for an investment machine.
It can take a beating, look great while doing so, and last for a long time.
Comfort is a plus with the Airdyne AD7. The thick padded 4-way adjustable seat is plush while still being supportive.
The handlebars have multiple grip areas, all covered with textured padding for extra grip without tiring your hands.
The console, although it’s thorough and modern, is a little busy. There are a lot of buttons and small words, plus a large area that looks like a speedometer.
While the information is helpful, it can be a bit distracting if you just want to look at your stats quickly.
The airbike measures 53″L x 26.5″W x 53″H and weighs 113 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 350 pounds.
Pros
- High weight capacity.
- Telemetric heart rate monitoring available.
- Has a single-stage direct drive system.
Cons
- It’s heavy.
- No straps to keep your feet in place on the pedals.
Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike – Most Compact Option
Not that airbikes are huge machines anyway, but if you need something as small as possible that’s still a high-quality airbike, the Sunny Health & Fitness Motion Air Bike is a great choice.
It’s also very lightweight and easy to move because of the transportation wheels.
It features a dual drive system using a chain as well as a belt. This allows for smoother, stronger operation.
The airbike is ergonomically designed from head to toe. The handlebars, the 4-way adjustable seat, and the self-leveling, adjustable pedals are all made with the idea of comfort in mind.
The bike has foot pegs, a feature that sets it apart from the others on the list. You can place your feet on the pegs instead of the pedals if you just want an upper body workout.
The console is a bit basic although they tried to spice it up with a colorful chart at the top. The chart is almost unnecessary and seems a bit out of place.
Besides that, everything else about the bike is great. The airbike measures 40″L x 23″W x 47″H and weighs a little over 60 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 220 pounds.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable seat and handlebars.
- The console has a media holder.
- The foot pedals are self-leveling.
Cons
- The console is a bit awkward with the unnecessary chart.
- The bike is noisy when pedaling and may squeak while you’re using it.
Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike – Best 2-Way Seat Bike
While having a seat that is adjustable in four ways is preferred, it also keeps the price tag up.
If you want to save money, you could get a 2-way adjustable seat. If you do, the Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike is the best air bike with a 2-way adjustable seat.
The construction of the bike is great. It’s made with 14-guage square steel tubing and is welded at many of the joints.
The legs of the bike are wide and keep it very stable while you pedal, no matter how hard you go.
The bike is amazingly comfortable with the ergonomic design of the handles and seat. The seat is also padded very well.
One thing that stood out to me about this bike over the previous ones is that it has foot straps to help keep your feet in place.
This comes in handy since people have different sized feet. Another mention is the console.
While it’s a basic console – monochrome, only one readout at the time, and minimal buttons, it’s actually quite large.
You will be able to clearly see whatever readout you have it set to.
The bike measures 45″L x 25″W x 47.5″H and weighs 79 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.
Pros
- High weight capacity.
- Console is highly visible.
- Levelers are easy to access.
Cons
- Seat is small.
- Handlebars are tall for shorter people.
Sunny Health & Fitness Zephyr Air Bike – Best Budget Choice
Sunny Health & Fitness made the list again with the Sunny Health & Fitness Zephyr Air Bike.
It’s very affordable yet it is still a great quality bike.
You may sacrifice a few features for the low price, but it’s still going to last a long time. It’s great for people who just want an airbike and don’t mind missing the extras.
The frame of the bike is made from heavy-duty steel that is powder-coated and resists scratching.
It’s not as thick as some of the other bike frames, but that is why this bike has a lower weigh capacity than the others.
The seat is a 2-way seat and the handlebars can also adjust up and down.
The bike utilizes a dual drive system using a chain and a belt for a smoother, quiet operation. It will give you a great workout while saving you money as well as space since it’s very compact.
The Zephyr Air Bike measures 44″L X 24″W X 45″H and weighs 60 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 240 pounds.
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Dual drive system.
- Pedals have adjustable straps.
Cons
- Seat has little padding.
- Seat is narrow.
- It may wobble a bit if you pedal hard.
Final Thoughts on the Best Airbike for a Small Home Gym
For a small home gym, all models of airbikes will fit wonderfully since they’re compact by nature.
When it comes to your home gym, whether it’s small or large, you want to invest in something that’s worth your hard-earned money.
The five models I’ve reviewed for you are some of the more compact ones on the market that are still high in quality and longevity.
I rated the XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro as the best airbike of all because the quality is unmatched, and it has the right number of extras to keep you comfortable and keep you going.
It’s one of the higher priced airbikes, but you should expect to pay more for the best. It’s better than buying something cheap and having to replace it quickly.
No matter which one you choose, or even if you choose something that’s not on the list, you’re now prepared to make the best choice.
Take all the information that I’ve given you and get the best airbike possible.
With the right equipment, you’ll be proud of your home gym and more motivated than ever to hit your fitness goals.
