Best Folding Exercise Bike – 7 Stationary Spin Bikes Reviewed 

The adjustable tension is magnetic and offers eight different tension options, which provide a challenging workout regardless of your fitness level.

This Exerpeutic bike also features an oversized seat, large display, and hand pulse sensors to keep you comfortable and dialed into your workout.

The weight limit for this bike is 300 pounds. This bike is built to last, and a one-year limited warranty is included, which adds some peace of mind.

Even when fully assembled, this bike has a small footprint. But, when it's folded, you'll be able to save on space even further. It's folded dimensions of 22" L x 20" W x 55.5" H are sure to be a hit with people who are very short on free small space.

As for the workout, extra wide leg stabilizers provide smooth and comfortable operation without the fear of tipping over. The drive mechanism is extremely quiet, so you won't have to worry about disturbing anyone while riding, including yourself.

The high torque 3-piece crank system, "double drive" transmission, and many other features are explored in our Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Review.

Its heavy-duty and durable design is where this bike truly shines and hence, making it the best folding exercise bike for a heavy person. This bike’s resistance band levels on this bike are particularly easy to adjust, even on the fly.

It's constructed from high-grade 14 gauge steel frame that's powder-coated with a scratch-resistant finish. The pedals are counterweighted and offer the feel of a high-end bike at a fraction of the cost.

This Marcy folding exercise bike has a 2" LCD computer which provides the rider with different variables, including speed and calories burned, distance, and time.

At only 37 pounds, it's one of the lighter bikes on the market and certainly one of the smallest, whether it's ready to ride or folded up for storage. However, the bike supports most riders with its 250-pound weight capacity.

Best Folding Recumbent Exercise Bike

With a recumbent bike, you'll find several differences compared to an upright one. First, the seat is more similar to a chair, with a seat section and a back. Also, the pedals are in front of the rider instead of underneath them.

This allows for a ride that many feel is more comfortable than an upright bike, especially for extended periods. Many riders find that the position of the bike helps alleviate muscle fatigue.

Recumbent bikes are especially well suited for older people or who have joint or mobility issues, as they're easier to get on and off of compared to an upright bike.

Although these bikes can be more comfortable to use than upright bikes, that doesn't mean they're easier to ride.

Due to the way the seat and pedals are pitched, a recumbent bike requires additional effort to pedal the bike.

Those seeking comfort are sure to appreciate the heavily padded seat and backrest of the 400XL. Unlike most bikes, the large seat on this model is nearly as comfortable as a high-end desk chair.

The display is large and easy to read. It offers readouts for time, speed, calories burned, and heart rate.

It also features a which makes this an ideal choice for larger riders and anyone looking for a bike that's built to last.

The heavy-duty build, 300 pounds weight capacity and many other aspects are explored in our Exerpeutic 400XL Review.

Desk Station Folding Exercise Bike

Does it seem nearly impossible for you to put down your work for long enough to get a good workout in?

Fortunately, desk station bikes make it easy for you to take your work with you. Desk station bikes feature an integrated desk that's large enough for a laptop computer, so you can keep up with work while you're working out.

These bikes are growing increasingly popular and seem like a good fit for those who are otherwise too busy to exercise.

They're even finding a home in libraries and office buildings throughout the country, so people can get a workout in while they study, read or work.

The FB150 is one of the most affordable exercise bikes that is designed for light cardio workouts. The frame is forged from thick steel tubing with an "X" structure, along with the silent belt drive, which makes the pedaling motion very smooth.

If you're looking for comfort and to shed off those extra calories, this may be your best bet for an upright bike. It features an oversized seat that you can adjust up and down to provide maximum comfort during your workouts.

It also features multi-grip padded handlebars for extra versatility and comfort.

Pros and Cons of Folding Exercise Bikes

When it comes to portable exercise bikes, there are some benefits as well as some pitfalls when compared to a traditional exercise bike.

On the plus side, it's difficult to beat a folding bike when it comes to saving space.

It's great to fold your bike up and stow it out of the way when it isn't in use. Some of these bikes fold up so small that they can even fit under a bed, or in a closet when they aren't in use.

This feature is reason enough for many people who don't have much space to work out to opt for a folding bike.

Plus, folding bikes tend to be much more affordable than their larger counterparts. They're also easier to assemble and transport if necessary.

At the same time, there are some drawbacks to opting for a folding bike.

To make a folding bike practical, you must make several concessions in its design.

They're usually lightweight, and the stability features are much less robust than what you'll find on a traditional stationary bike. In most cases, the smaller and easier to store a folding bike is, the less stable it feels when you're riding it.

For many riders, the benefit of being able to stow your equipment away when you aren't using it outweighs the drawback of stability. Unless you have a large room in your home or apartment that you can dedicate to working out, a traditional exercise bike is rarely practical.

Another drawback with folding bikes is they tend to lack many of the higher-end features that make a traditional stationary bike so desirable.

Folding bikes usually feature small screens with a limited number of readouts compared to non-folding bikes. They also don't provide the same level of resistance that a traditional bike can, making them a poor choice for serious riders and cyclists.

There are also several benefits of a stationary bike compared to a traditional outdoor bike. For one, a stationary bike allows you to work out at any time, regardless of weather conditions. You're also able to listen to music, watch tv, browse the web, or even do work when on a stationary bike.

Sure, you won't be able to enjoy the great outdoors from your seat on a stationary bike, but they still represent a very practical alternative to a traditional bike for most people.

Why You Should Choose Your Best Folding Exercise Bike Carefully?

Purchasing a new fold-up exercise bike can be a major expense, especially if you're looking for a more high-end model, which can often cost $1500 or over.

Not only can a new bike be a relatively major expense, but making a poorly informed choice can lead to you purchasing a bike you're not quite happy with, which will result in you dreading your workout or, worse yet, not doing it at all.

By carefully selecting the best bike for your needs, you'll be able to ensure that the bike you choose falls within your budget and provides you with all the features you need.

Most importantly, you'll be sure you're selecting a bike that provides a comfortable riding experience. 

This is perhaps the most important facet of an exercise bike. If your bike is uncomfortable, you'll be making excuses for skipping your workouts in no time.

What To Pay Attention On When Choosing Your Folding Exercise Bike

When selecting the folding exercise bike reviews, there are several features you'll want to consider before arriving at your decision. Depending on your needs, some of these features will be more or less important to you.

A helpful way to narrow down what is and isn't important to you is to create a list with each of the features below.

Then, score each feature’s importance to you on a scale of 1-5. That way you can organize which features are most important so you'll know exactly what to look for when you start shopping.

Sturdiness

For many riders, sturdiness and stability are the most important features. Several concessions must be made when compared to traditional stationary bikes to create a practical and useful folding bike,. One of those concessions is usually stability.

Bikes that are particularly small and portable be the least sturdy, while more substantial bikes tend to provide more stability and sturdiness.

If you're a large rider planning on engaging in demanding workouts, you will want to look towards a model can handle everything that you can dish out.

This may mean sacrificing size, weight, and portability, but you're likely to find that the added stability is worth the trade-off.

Setting Up

Ask anyone who uses a foldable upright exercise bike, and they're likely to tell you that they mainly reason they opted for a folding bike to save time. No one wants to spend the first ten minutes of their workout fumbling around with their bike trying to get it set up and ready to go.

Today, many bikes can be set up and ready to ride in under a minute. But there are still plenty of bikes on the market that is a bit more clumsy and difficult to set up and ride.

If time is a concern for you, you'll want to choose a bike that's quick and easy to set up from its folded state.

Your Fitness Level

How physically fit you are is another important consideration you'll need to evaluate the best folding exercise bike for your needs.

If you're looking for a low-impact stationary workout on a bike that's easy to ride, you'll be looking at different models than a cyclist looking to stay sharp when they're unable to ride outside.

Fortunately, there are models available for people of all abilities and skill levels.

Older riders and riders with joint, mobility, or other health issues, will likely find that a recumbent bike suits their needs the best.

These bike styles are the easiest to get on and off of, and they usually feature heavily padded chairs with backrests that make riding a comfortable experience.

Meanwhile, suppose you're a serious cycling enthusiast or just someone who is looking for a more challenging workout. In that case, you may choose to opt for an upright bike that's capable of providing an experience that's closer to cycling, with resistance levels and programs designed to challenge the rider.

Resistance Types and Levels

There are several different types of resistance systems available on stationary bikes.

Most bikes you'll come across will have magnetic resistance. You'll also find bikes using different resistance systems, including flywheel-based resistance, fan resistance, and friction resistance.

This resistance style isn't particularly common because it's not very practical. With this style of bike, a large flywheel is used to create resistance on the bike.

This can result in a extremely heavy bike since a flywheel can weigh upwards of 50 pounds. Sometimes, flywheel's are used in conjunction with other resistance styles.

But, as other resistance models become more accessible, bikes that only use a flywheel for resistance are going the way of the dinosaur.

Bikes that use friction for resistance are among the most popular for serious workout enthusiasts and cyclists. These bikes use brakes to affect how difficult it is to pedal the bike. They're reliable and can generate extremely high levels of resistance.

These bikes are less popular for home use because they create quite a bit of noise. They also require occasional maintenance to make sure the brake pad is operating properly.

Occasionally, they need to be replaced, adding maintenance cost to the bike.

If you’re a casual cyclist, or someone looking for a basic home workout, you’ll probably find a friction resistance bike isn’t best suited for your needs.

Magnetic Resistance

As you'd imagine, this style of bike uses magnets to generate resistance for the rider as they pedal.

These bikes are most popular for home use for many different reasons. First, they require no maintenance at all while offering reliable operation that's well suited to most riding scenarios.

These bikes are also among the quietest available, making them a strong choice for multitaskers who would like to work, listen to music, or watch television as they ride.

Nearly every rider will find that a bike with magnetic resistance offers high quality, challenging workout. So, unless you're looking for a high-end cycling experience, this style of bike could be your best choice.

Fan-Based Resistance

This style of bike is perhaps the most interesting. With fan-based resistance, the bike's flywheel is eliminated.

Instead of using friction or magnets to generate resistance, a large fan inside the bike’s front section works to create resistance. The faster you pedal the bike, the more resistance is generated.

This style of bike is very popular among professional cyclists because of the level of resistance it can generate. It also offers the bonus of increasing airflow in the area, which helps keep the rider cool and comfortable during their workout.

These relatively quiet bikes make them a strong choice for at-home use. Unfortunately, they're prohibitively expensive for most riders, and due to the large fan located at the front of the bike, they aren't available in a folding format.

Comfort Level (adjustable seat and handlebars, pedals, etc...)

Comfort is usually a critical consideration for most riders, for obvious reasons.

If you expect to use your new stationary bike several times each week, you're going to want it to provide you with a workout that's at least somewhat comfortable.

Most bikes are relatively adjustable and can be altered to fit the needs and body types of different riders. While not all bike components will be adjustable, you'll likely want to find an option where you can at least adjust the seat’s height.

Some bikes feature additional adjustments and allow you to adjust the pedals, handlebars, and seat. The more room for adjustment on the bike, the easier it will be for you to dial in a perfect fit to achieve a comfortable workout.

For people who are especially short or tall, finding a bike that's comfortable to ride can be challenging, so you may want to try and ride as many different options as possible in a store before making your decision.

The seat will be a major consideration for anyone hoping for a comfortable workout.

Most upright bikes feature standard bike seats to mimic the act of cycling. This style of the larger seat can be much more unforgiving than a heavily padded seat with a back like you'll find on most recumbent exercise bikes.

That said, upright bike seats can still be very comfortable. You just need to select the right one. Some manufacturers have aftermarket seats available.

Most seats can be outfitted with gel seat padded covers designed to provide an extra level of padding and comfort as well.

Some upright bikes and most recumbent bikes feature seats that are far more forgiving than a standard bike seat.

Some are heavily padded and large and offer an experience similar to sitting in a comfortable desk chair. These seats may be best for people with limited fitness levels, as well as older people as well.

These seats also usually feature padded back sections, making riding even easier and more comfortable.

A final consideration to make when it comes to comfort is the ergonomics of the bike.

Today, many bikes feature ergonomic designs that allow the rider to maintain a comfortable posture and positioning while riding.

The ergonomic design extends to every aspect of the bike, including the comfortable seat, pedals, and handlebars. Ergonomically designed bikes can be significantly more comfortable, and they're especially helpful for longer exercise sessions.

If you don't have any experience assembling workout equipment, or if the idea of spending more than an hour or so constructing a bike seems like torture, you may want to opt for a bike where most of the assembly is already completed.

The next aspect to consider is how easy or difficult it is to get the bike set up or folded away for storage. Some bikes, especially the more expensive options, can be set up for use in just a few seconds, with very little effort.

On the other hand, there are plenty of options that aren't nearly as easy to set up, and they can leave riders feeling frustrated and less interested in working out.

If you plan on stowing your bike away often, chances are you'll want a bike that can be set up and stowed away quickly and with ease.

It also may be helpful to look for a model with an integrated wheel, which makes moving your bike around the house or transporting it much easier.

Additional Gadgets/Features

So far, we've covered many basic considerations you'll need to make when choosing the best bike for your needs. But, there are still many additions to the features, gadgets, and options available on different bikes.

This includes things like the onboard computer and the display of a bike. Even bare-bones models provide some degree of information on an LCD screen. Most provide values like time, distance, calories burned, and speed.

More advanced models include heart rate monitoring and different programs that simulate an actual bike ride over different types of terrain.

If your needs are very basic, you probably aren't very concerned with how comprehensive the computer system of your bike is. But for more serious riders and anyone interested in a bike that offers specific workout programs, you'll want to invest in a bike with a more robust onboard computer.

Another style of bike that's rising in popularity are bikes that also include adjustable desks that allow you to work while you exercise.

These bikes are an attractive alternative to a traditional stationary bike for anyone who has difficulty taking time away from work to exercise. Most of these bikes also make great standing desks, so they can be used even when you aren't working out.