If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym is, then I’d recommend the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike as the best one.
The best way to tone your legs, hands, and back is doing it right from the comfort of your home.
The home gym is the perfect solution to enjoying that essential morning workout, especially when you can’t make it out to a gym.
This article compares some recumbent bikes from different brands and seeks to find the best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym.
Read on to find out more about recumbent bikes and why you should use one when you work out.
Here are the top recumbent exercise bikes we’ll be reviewing:
- Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike Exercise Bike
- Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
- Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
- Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike
- XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike
What You Should Know When Shopping For a Recumbent Bike
Recumbent bikes are great tools for working out.
The design of a recumbent bike allows you to exercise your legs while sitting in a relaxed, leaning back position.
These stationary bikes are commonly found in public gyms, but are also gaining popularity in home gyms.
How a Recumbent Bike Works
Unlike the normal bike where the pedals are placed below your feet, the recumbent bike has cycling pedals located at the front and a backrest at the back.
The front pedals allow you to cycle while leaning back on the back rest as opposed to upright or leaning forward position on a normal bike.
On some bikes, you can adjust the backrest to different angles allowing you to exercise at the position you feel most comfortable.
Cycling in this posture is great for people who have back problems and allows them to work out for longer hours.
Now that you know how it works, let look at some of the features that make the difference between different models.
These features will come in handy when you are picking the best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym.
Design
Manufactures have designed their recumbent bikes differently in order to appeal to different niches in the market.
Therefore, you can be rest assured that somewhere out there, there is a bike that addresses your specific needs.
For instance, some recumbent bikes have backseats that are mounted on a track.
This means the seat can be moved backward and forward enabling you to adjust the distance between the seat and your legs.
Such bikes can be used comfortably by both short and tall people.
The Flywheel
The flywheel where the pedals meet is also a design feature that sets brands apart.
Some bikes will have large flywheels that are loved by experienced gym enthusiasts. The large flywheels offer high resistance enabling performance of intense workouts.
Flywheels on some brands feature magnetic resistance systems.
With such flywheels, the resistance can be varied to be less or more depending on the level of intensity you want for your workout.
Pedals
The pedal design also varies on bikes from different manufacturers. You can find pedals that are up high on some recumbent bike models.
Highly placed pedals enable your feet to be at the same level as your body when sitting on the seat.
Other models have the pedals placed lower enabling you to cycle in the natural sitting position.
Center Console
Since the seat placement when sitting on a recumbent bike has your face looking upwards, most recumbent bikes do not have state of the art center consoles like the front facing bikes.
The consoles on many recumbent bikes feature simple LCD displays that display information and statistics about the workout session.
LCD display consoles come in different varieties with some being backlit. Backlit display consoles are great for working out in the dark.
Some recumbent bikes might feature more advanced consoles with touchscreens and internet connectivity.
Consoles also come with a set of buttons that you can use to adjust different settings on the bike, such as pedal resistance.
You should note that budget recumbent bikes may not include this feature and only have manual resistance adjustment.
Additional Features
When looking for a recumbent bike, you should look out for extra features that can make your workouts more comfortable.
One essential feature that most buyers overlook is how comfortable the seat feels.
Pricey bikes come with cozy seats that are extra padded for more comfort, while budget bikes come with basic seats.
An uncomfortable seat can affect your workout session causing you to get tired quickly.
Another feature you should look out for is handlebars.
Handle bars might seem unnecessary since the recumbent bike is stationary, but they offer great support for your hands when you are working out.
Some bikes also come with extra features, such as speakers, that allow you to listen to music when you are working out.
If you find one that has a Bluetooth music system, you can link it with your smartphone and listen to your favorite playlist when working out.
Considerations That You Should Observe When Working Out on Recumbent Bikes
Workout Shoes
Before you get on the recumbent bike for a workout session, ensure that you have put on shoes that cover your toes.
If your shoes have laces, ensure that they are tightly tied down to prevent loose laces from getting caught up in the flywheel gears.
Workout Clothes
Ensure that you have put on tight fitting but comfortable clothes when working out.
Loose clothes or clothes that have some hanging parts can get entangled in the gym equipment especially the moving parts.
Hydration
Ensure that you don’t leave behind your water bottle when you go to the gym. An intensive workout session should always be punctuated with water breaks.
The Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes For a Basement Gym
Now that you know a little more about recumbent bikes and what to look for, let’s take a lot at some of the top recumbent bikes to add to your basement gym.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike Exercise Bike
The Sunny Health fitness recumbent bike features an adjustable seat and front handlebars that enable you to burn more calories when working out.
The grip surface of the handlebars has integrated pulse rate sensors that display the heart rate, in beats per minute, on the large LCD screen on the side.
The flywheel has a magnetic resistance mechanism and offers up to 8 levels of resistance adjustment.
The large sized foot pedals have a large surface area for pushing in addition to coming with straps that securely hold your feet in position to avoid sliding or slipping.
An oversized seat with an adjustable backrest enables you to work out for longer and in the correct body posture.
The bike supports body weight of up to 350 pounds and has built in transport wheels that support portability.
Pros
- Has a large sized digital display screen
- Includes handlebars that enable a full body workout
- The handles feature pulse rate monitors that measure heart rate and display the information on the screen
- The resistance level can be adjusted to 8 different positions
- The seat is extra padded for comfort
- The transportation wheels enable easy movement of the bike
Cons
- The handlebars are not adjustable
- The assembly instruction that come with the bike are hard to follow
- The console is not backlit
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709
The Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance ME-709 is made of 14-steel gauge tubing, PVC plastic, and rubber materials that make the bike sturdy and able to withstand heavy daily use.
You can easily mount and unmount the bike that has an open step through frame design.
The seat has attached side handles that give the user a comfortable grip during a workout session.
On the front, the bike has an LCD screen that displays time, speed, distance, and odometer statistics for the workout session.
Pedals on this recumbent bike are weighted at the bottom to give your feet maximum control and enough support when you pedal.
The top side of the pedals has included straps that securely hold your feet in place reducing chances of slipping.
Resistance level on this bike can be adjusted using the easily accessible knob located below the LCD display screen and offers 8 levels of resistance adjustment.
The bottom of the bike also has fitted wheels, which enable easy transportation.
Pros
- Supports body weight of up to 300 pounds
- Movable seat enables use of the bike by both short and tall individuals
- The bike is sturdy and made of durable materials
- Includes LCD screen that allows easy view of workout statistics
- The moving parts do not make squeaking noises during use
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- The LCD screen is not backlit and can only be red in a brightly lit room
- The knob only offers 8 levels of resistance adjustment
Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike gives you a dynamic workout experience due to the useful features that it packs.
Beginning with a 29-program workout monitor that enables you to set the bike to 12 different workout profiles, it has 9 heart rate control programs, 4 custom programs, 2 fitness tests, 1 recovery test, and 1 quick start up program.
The front has a large backlit display console that allows monitoring of up to 13 distinct display feedbacks.
Sitting on the spacious ventilated seat provides enough comfort during a workout session that is enhanced by the lumbar supporting backrest.
The console on this bike supports Bluetooth connectivity for data transfer and is compatible with MyFitness Pal app to help track heart rate and calorie burning goals.
Also included on the bike are 10 Resistance level keys that easily alter the intensity of your workout from simple to difficult and vice versa.
Enjoy cooling off in the middle of your workout with the mounted 3 speed fan that comes with the bike and a spacious water bottle holder.
Easy transportation of the bike is enabled by the attached wheels at the bottom.
The Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike comes fitted with sealed acoustic chamber speakers that produce quality sound so that you can listen to our favorite songs when working out.
Pros
- Backlit console allows use even in low lit rooms
- All parts are covered under warranty
- Compatible with fitness apps
- Is fitted with multimedia speakers
- Includes heart rate monitors on the handle grips
- Enables resistance adjustment up to 10 levels
- Remains quiet during operation
Cons
- Sold at a high price
- Difficult to assemble by yourself
Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike
The Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike delivers comfort and style while at the same time allowing you to put in a serious workout.
The bike comes with an adjustable backlit center console with dual track screens that allows you to adjust the console to an ideal viewing angle.
When you purchase this recumbent bike, you get 29 pre-installed training programs that you can pick from to help you monitor your heart rate while training, keep track of your weight loss, or customize your training sessions.
Bluetooth connectivity allows the bike to work with fitness apps installed on smart devices that are compatible with the bike and enables data transfer from the apps to the bike’s console.
You also get a wireless chest warp that helps monitor your heart rate and displays the information on the screen.
The handlebars have soft urethane grip surfaces that are integrated with incline and resistance controls to allow you to adjust the intensity of training.
The seat allows unlimited reclining adjustment enabling you to exercise at the most comfortable angle.
This Nautilus R618 Recumbent Bike supports weight up to 350 pounds and all the parts are covered under warranty.
Pros
- Supports Bluetooth, smart devices, and fitness application connectivity
- Comes with 29 pre-installed workout programs
- The center console is backlit and allows use in dark rooms
- Has adjustable resistance
- Display console can be tilted to the best viewing angle
- Comes with a chest warp heart rate monitor
Cons
- Sold at a very high price
- Difficult to assemble
XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike
The XTERRA Fitness SB120 Recumbent Bike has a step through frame design that allows easy accessibility and a small footprint that allows use of the bike in small spaces.
The seat is extra padded for comfort and has a backrest that maximizes comfort when you are working out.
Handlebars are attached to the seat and have grips with pulse readers to monitor your heart rate as you continue working out.
Comfort is further enhanced by the extra-large pedals that also come with adjustable holding straps to securely hold your feet in and prevent sliding.
The front of the bike has a large LCD display console that shows important workout metrics including time, distance, speed, and calories burnt.
The bike supports resistance level adjustment up to 8 levels. You can easily adjust resistance using the adjustment knob positioned at the front for easy access.
Transportation wheels are located at the bottom of the bike, which allow easy movement when the bike is not in use.
The XTERRA Fitness SB120 supports weight up to 250 pounds.
Pros
- The bike is easy to assemble
- Has a large sized LCD display screen
- Provides 8 level resistance adjustment
- Handlebars have pulse rate sensors on the grip area
- The seat is padded and comfortable to sit on for a long time
Cons
- Only supports weight up to 250 pounds
- The seat does not lock in place firmly
And the Winner is…
Our search for the best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym led us to compare the above products and our perspective is that Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is the best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym.
We base our findings on the many features that come with the bike from app integration, resistance adjustability, and most importantly, the backlit center console.
We also found the backlit console to be of great importance when working out in the basement due to poor lighting.
The Nautilus R618 gave our winning recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym some stiff competition, but its higher price tag made us place it in second place.
It is important to note, however, that the top two bikes might be out of your reach if you are on a budget.
Not to worry though because the other bikes in this best recumbent exercise bike for a basement gym review will give you a nice workout at home.
