5 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed
We tested recumbent exercise bikes from popular brands like Matrix, Sole, and Spirit to find models that provide back support and comfort, especially if you’re older or undergoing rehabilitation
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Looking for a low-impact workout without the stress a typical exercise bike puts on your back? A recumbent exercise bike recommended by Consumer Reports might be a good option for you.
Unlike an indoor cycling bike or an upright bike, a recumbent bike allows the user to sit in a reclined position with the pedals out in front. A recumbent exercise bike generally has a wide seat with a supportive backrest to lean against as you exercise. That means less pressure on your knees and lower back, making the activity more comfortable.
Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes
The best recumbent exercise bikes should score highly in fit, range, comfort, display, stability, and programming. These are the best-performing models we tested.
How CR Tests Recumbent Exercise Bikes
To assess rider fit range for recumbent exercise bikes, our testers take a variety of key measurements, such as the distance from the seat to the pedals, while the seat is in its forward-most and backward-most positions. High-scoring models have wide ranges of these measurements, which means the bike can fit people with a variety of arm and leg lengths.
Another important measurement we take is the Q-factor, or the distance between the two foot pedals. Exercise bikes earn a higher score if they have a narrower Q-factor, which facilitates a natural-feeling pedal stroke and minimizes knee strain. This is especially important for your body’s alignment over time. We also measure the seat angle to ensure you’re not sliding forward or being pushed backward by the seat.
Our testers assess the comfort of the bike’s seat and, to evaluate stability, measure the force required to tip each bike over. We noted that when bike seats had dual slide rails, side-to-side wobbling was minimized (most bike seats are mounted on single rails).
We assess each recumbent exercise bike’s display by evaluating how easy it is to read and interact with, and we rate the bike’s programming based on whether it offers a wide range of preset and manual workouts, customizations, and heart rate-control programs.
Finally, we time unboxing and assembly to assess how difficult each bike is to put together, and we evaluate how easy it is to move the bike a short distance, such as within a room.
What Are the Different Types of Exercise Bikes?
CR currently tests three types of exercise bikes: recumbent, upright, and indoor cycling (aka studio or spin) bikes.
Below, we describe how one uses each type of exercise bike and to whom each type of exercise bike is best suited.
- Recumbent exercise bikes allow you to sit in a more reclined position with your back supported and the pedals positioned out in front of you. They’re marketed toward older adults and those undergoing rehab because of their step-through design, but they’re great for anyone who thinks typical exercise bikes are uncomfortable.
- Upright exercise bikes are the quintessential stationary bikes. They’re beginner-friendly, unlike indoor cycling bikes, and designed to accommodate a wider variety of users and workout intensities. They should take up less space than traditional recumbent bikes.
- Indoor cycling bikes, like those popularized by brands such as Spinning and Peloton, are designed to more closely mimic the feel of riding a road bike in an aerodynamic, crouched position. Their heavy flywheels provide both momentum and resistance, which makes pedaling feel more realistic. They’re geared toward high-intensity workouts, with a higher calorie burn, and they may be best for advanced exercisers.
