The 3 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes Under 300 In 2021
Are you looking for a recumbent exercise bike under the 300$ mark to meet your fitness goals? Well, you have come to the right place then.
Introduction
Regular exercise is an integral part of leading a healthy life, the simplest and the most convenient way to include it in your busy schedule is either running or biking. But since the conditions outside are not always favourable, we have to find other ways to burn that fat. The most sensible alternative is to buy an exercise bike that you can use at home, recumbent bikes are most comfortable, so that’s the one for you. But not everyone can afford the best or have the luxury to invest more than a couple of hundreds in fitness equipment.
But nowadays the best recumbent bikes are trendy in the fitness community because of the comfort they provide and the low impact on the joints. As a result, fitness companies have put much effort into making these fantastic machines at a lower cost without compromising on quality.
Even though you get your money’s worth, under this price point you really can not expect to get all the new features, there are usually some sacrifices made. So here we have chosen the best recumbent bikes with the right combination of features that you need to get your heart pumping without putting stress on the knees.
Here are some other information on recumbent bikes – schwinn 270 vs nautilus r616 & nautilus r614 recumbent bike reviews.
So, let’s get on with this show, shall we?
Factors that were taken into consideration for this list.
Build quality.
Build quality, a critical factor that determines how much money you spend on your machine after buying it. At this price point, the only thing you can expect is a strong frame, but branded companies have a reputation to keep so they will do everything they can to make their products more durable. So we have chosen bikes from well-known companies in the industry to give you a more durable fitness partner.
Comfort.
Now comfort depends on tiny factors like the seat position, distance to the pedals, console’s height and the seat itself.
Console and features.
When talking about consoles, all the recumbent bikes have at least the basic display and parameters. Additional features like digitally controlled resistance and some connectivity options are rare at this price point, but we have included one if you value that more.
Risk of Injuries.
Even though you are inside your home, you can still get injuries like the neck, hip, knee, back pain and saddle sore. Recumbent bikes are designed to avoid such injuries, but some models have better length and posture to prevent your old injuries from gaining traction.
Customer reviews
The recumbent exercise bikes chosen here have a good opinion among the consumer base. The users have mostly praises to sing about them, and we also enquired about them to gym owners to get a full picture.
Adjustability
Basically, it tells us the bike’s limitations like maximum weight, height, the connectivity options and performance. This factor influences which people can use the bike to meet their needs if a senior and a youngster in a family can equally get their money’s worth of sweat on the exercise bike without hurting either of them.
So, let’s move on to the first one on our list.
1. Schwinn A20 Recumbent Bike
The Schwinn A20, it has been one of the best selling recumbent bikes under 300 $ for a while now. The main reason is the larger console, the build quality is decent, and of course, the brand name.
Design
The Schwinn A20 has a simple walkthrough design like most recumbent bikes. Even though the bike only weighs in about 60 lbs, the long and low hanging frame gives stability to the bike during high-intensity workouts. And the structure is strong enough to handle over 275 lbs; the seat is very comfortable with both the bottom and the backrest being padded so it can accommodate a person of any age or conditions. The seat is adjusted with the help of a sliding mechanism and a knob which will take you hardly a minute. There are transport wheels at the lower front part of the frame for easy adjustments inside your house.
There are also smaller details like a water bottle holder to keep you hydrated during your workouts, a media shelf on the console for your tablet and a heart rate sensor built into the grips. The pedals are large and come with straps which will save you from a lot of pain.
In terms of the warranty, the Schwinn A20 has three years of coverage for the frame, one year warranty on the mechanical parts and electronics, 60 days for wear parts, and the first 60 days free labour.
Console
The console has a larger single LCD screen than others of the same price; the buttons are pretty straightforward with all of them labelled and beautifully spaced. There is a port where you can plug in an audio jack and dual speakers to play the music during your sessions. A media shelf to place your smartphone or tablet.
It’s not pretty, but it gets the job done, the console displays your heart rate using the inbuilt sensor in the grips, distance, calories, time and all the usual things.
The console has 4D batteries within them and draws power from the wall.
The Workout
There are a total of 7 profile programs available including a quick start, two fun rides, two mountain rides and two challenges for you to beat. The flywheel is silent, and the resistance offered here is not that bad either, you get eight levels of magnetic resistance with a turn of a dial. Since it’s magnetic, the flywheel will last longer and give you a seamless transition from each level to the next.
For a beginner and the elderly, eight levels are plenty to get your heart pumping and burning those love handles. The seating posture hits all the big lower body muscles giving you a well-toned body, but your upper body is not significantly stressed.
Comfort level
The extended frame and padded seats allow for a more comfortable training posture; you can stretch your legs and relieve some pressure off your knees. The backrest is long; it will provide support to your spine, keeping it straight and freeing you of back pain.
The handlebars are positioned right beside your hip, so there is no great stress on your wrists, unlike a regular bike. The straps on the pedals and the adjustable seat can be tweaked to your liking until your body feels little pressure.
Pros
- Great value for money.
- Larger display and easy to use controls.
- Silent magnetic flywheel.
- Long stable frame.
- It has an inbuilt heart rate monitor and speakers.
- Transport wheels.
Cons
- The power cord is shorter than the others.
- No vented backrest.
- The weight limit is 275 lbs.
2. Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike
The next on our list is from the company Marcy which is quite famous and has products that range from a few hundred to a few thousand. The Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike has stood the ever-changing markets for a reasonable amount of time.
Design
You can get this one at 200$ on sale, the design and the features provided are very simple, an open design, large padded seat, oversized pedals with straps to secure your feet while pedalling at high speeds. The seat is adjusted by a knob on the lowest part of the frame; it can be a little hassle sometimes. The design reduces the chance of injuries and relieves almost all stress on the joints.
The frame is made of a heavy-duty 14-gauge steel tubing that has a powder-coated finish; therefore, it is strong enough to withstand intense workout sessions.
The main glorified feature provided here is the counterbalanced pedals, both the pedals are equally weighted so that you can put more power into the legs without any wobble. The warranty is for two years from the manufacturer.
Console
The Marcy ME-709 has a small console with the most basic LCD screen similar to the one found on a low budget upright bike. It has no preset programs or any other notable functions except the necessary parameters like distance, speed calories burned and time on the display. The numbers displayed large are clear so you can see it from your seat without bending over. It has three physical buttons for set, mode and reset.
The Workout
As you know, it has no preset programs so you will have to manual decide your session. The magnetic flywheel makes the machine virtually silent, and there are eight levels of resistance which can be adjusted with the help of a tension knob.
It will race your heart, and it’s good for burning calories fast.
Comfort level
Despite all the missing features, the Marcy ME-709 is a comfortable bike to use. The seats are padded, the handlebars are in an excellent position. Only the distance from the seat to pedals can be adjusted, not the height. The seat height given here is a good 19″ off the ground, which is a comfortable height for stretching your legs and is manageable by the elderly. The counterweighted pedals only make it easier to start pedalling.
Overall, you will have no discomfort of any kind on this bike.
Pros
- The numbers on the console are big and clear.
- The packing is through; every individual part comes in a cardboard box.
- Simple and ergonomic design.
- A sturdy steel frame to handle heavy sessions.
Cons
- The seat height cannot be adjusted.
- No preset programs of any kind.
- There is no heart rate monitor.
- No water bottle holder.
3. Marcy NS-40502R Recumbent Exercise Bike
Another bike from Marcy, this one is the best looking of the bunch with a unique console and an ergonomic design which will give your living room a facelift. You can get this at 250$ approximately depending on the offers.
Design
The bike has a steel frame with a sharp and sleek design; it looks very modern compared to the others. The frame is solid and can handle upto 300 lbs, the bike itself weighs in about 69 lbs. There are two sets of handlebars, one beside your hip and the other near the console; you can use it to put more power in your legs.
Transport wheels are provided here to make transportation simpler inside. The seat is padded and long to support your upper spine. The pedals have safety straps and sliding mechanism, which is at an angle basically as you adjust the distance from the seat to the pedals, you also influence the height, which is good.
Console
The design of the console stands out; there are three buttons to make it simpler. The LCD screen has the data type labelled to the side in multiple colours. The display is durable, and the numbers are large and very sharp, it shows speed, distance, time, calories and has an odometer function. It has a sleep function that turns off the display if its inactive for more than 4 mins to conserve the battery.
The Workout
There are no preset programs the same as the Marcy ME-709; the eight resistance levels are good enough for a beginner and certainly for the elderly. You can use the secondary handles to get into a posture similar to a spin bike which allows you to transfer more power to the pedals. The bike has a rubber belt drive system instead of a chain; the resistance is controlled by a tension knob just below the console on the side.
Comfort level
The padded seats provide excellent lumbar support, and the two sets of handlebars only help to give you more support while getting on or off. The risk of injuries is extremely low, and the bike has an adjustable stabilizer on the lower body to keep the bike stable during high speed.
Pros
- Strong and oxidation resistant steel body.
- Modern ergonomic design.
- Media shelf and transport wheel available.
- Two sets of handlebars for more support.
Cons
- No water bottle holder.
- No preset programs or heart rate monitor.
Conclusion.
All these three bikes have good sets of features the most ergonomic and stylish one is the
Marcy NS-40502R.
The one with the most features and preset programs is the Schwinn A20 Recumbent Bike.
And the Marcy ME-709 has the most simplistic design for elders and children alike.
The best one here is the Schwinn A20 Recumbent Bike, but you can buy the other two if your wallet is too thin.
I hope by now you know enough about the best bikes under the 300$ mark to make your choice. Good Luck.
