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Boost Your Home Fitness With The Best Folding Exercise Bike

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woman on a foldable exercise bike

In a busy world filled with both time and space constraints, there’s no better way to get your fitness on than with a foldable exercise bike!

I continually find myself strapped for time, needing to squeeze a workout into a 45-minute window. Most people can barely make it to the gym and back in that time frame. 

Perhaps you live in an apartment or don’t have an extra room in the house. Don’t let a lack of available space prevent you from a good workout! Instead, let me help you make the most of your space.

I’ll review the best folding exercise bikes on the market and make sure you understand all the essential purchase considerations in the buyer’s guide below. Pedal your way to a healthier life, right in the comfort of your home.

Best-Rated Folding Exercise Bikes

Best Overall
XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike
XTERRA Fitness FB350 Folding Exercise Bike
  • Durable X-frame design
  • Folds up small - with wheels
  • Padded seatback
Premium Choice
Slim Cycle Stationary Folding Bike
Slim Cycle Stationary Folding Bike
  • Built-in arm resistance bands
  • Comfortable recumbent position
  • Slim Cycle app - 10 free virtual rides
Best Budget
XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
XTERRA Fitness FB150 Folding Exercise Bike
  • Super lightweight (32 lbs)
  • Similar X-frame design as FB350
  • Handlebar pulse grips for heart rate monitoring

Table of Contents

Other Recommendations

If you’re looking for a bike that gives an amazing total body workout, and you’re willing to step up in price, be sure to check out our Schwinn Air Bike reviews and our Assault Air Bike Review.

33 Items to Look for in Your Next Folding Exercise Bike

Woman riding a folding exercise bike

Before diving into each product review, let me tell you how we arrived at our conclusions.

After conducting extensive product research and user analysis, we chose over 33 different line items you should strongly consider in your next folding bike. We took our top contenders and analyzed them side by side to compare each of these items to see who comes out on top. We break these items down into six different categories:

  1. Design
  2. User Experience
  3. Popular Features
  4. Brand Strength / Customer Service
  5. User Feedback
  6. Cost 

In each product review, we tell you which of these critical characteristics is lacking. Conversely, let’s look at the minimum features you will find in ALL our folding stationary bike choices.

Baseline Features For All Bikes We Review

We established specific “minimum” criteria that every folding bike must meet (with few exceptions). Here are the standard features all exercise bikes have in this article.

  • Foldable
  • Heart rate monitoring (all except the FitDesk 3.0)
  • Wheels for easy storage
  • Pedal straps
  • Accessory holder for cell phone (all but Exerpeutic 400 XL)

We explain each of these items in our buyer’s guide below. Let’s move on to the results. Here are our top folding exercise bikes.

Folding Exercise Bike Reviews

Best Overall
Best Fold Up Exercise Bike - XTERRA Fitness FB350

The coveted “best overall” award goes to the XTERRA FB350 for providing the most value to users for its price. This collapsible bike offers a durable “x-frame” steel design with excellent stability. 

Maximize your home workout with eight levels of resistance using a robust 3.3lb flywheel. Pulse-grip handlebars will measure your heart rate and display it on the small LCD screen.

Enjoy a pleasant user experience with a comfortable seat back and hybrid reclined seating position (somewhere between upright and recumbent). You will love how easy it is to fold up this bike and wheel it in the corner of your room. 

Note: the XTERRA FB360 is now available on the XTERRA website. XTERRA solved a few design issues, like improving the LCD screen and adding a tablet holder with their new FB360.

What We Like:

  • Hybrid seating position with seat handlebars
  • Sturdy, steel, “x-frame” design
  • Quiet
  • Easy Assembly

Needs Improvement:

  • Footstraps are small & can be challenging to fit into
  • Hard to get on and off due to the tall design
  • Small LCD screen - have to cycle through displays with a button

Missing Features:

  • Not fully recumbent or fully upright
  • Offers one “hybrid” bike position, which is a split between the two
  • Tablet holder

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight: 42.3 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 250 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  20.5" x 21" x 50.5"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  40.5" x 21" x 50.5"
  • Accessory Holder: Yes - for cell phone, below handlebars on frame
  • Warranty: 1-year frame, 90-day parts
Premium Choice
Best Collapsible Exercise Bike - Slim Cycle (with Arm Bands)

I highly recommend spending an additional $60 for the Slim Cycle Portable Stationary Bike. This bike will take your workout experience to the next level with its thoughtful design and integrated armbands.

Get all the features of the XTERRA FB350 plus:

  • A larger LCD screen (capable of holding a tablet if you’re willing to cover the screen)
  • Adjustable workout positions - recumbent and upright
  • Increased weight limit (300 lbs) while weighing less than the FB350 (39 lbs)

What We Like:

  • More comfortable experience while riding than the FB350
  • Easier to get on and off (lower top height)
  • Better overall workout, incorporating upper body resistance
  • Capable of holding a tablet for better entertainment

Needs Improvement:

  • LCD Display:  can be tough to see in low light
  • Warranty:  not listed on the Bulbhead (manufacturer) website 

Missing Features:

  • None

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight: 39.5 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 300 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  22" x 21.5" x 52"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  43" x 21.5" x 42"
  • Accessory Holder: Yes
  • Warranty: 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
Best Budget
Best Portable Exercise Bike - XTERRA Fitness FB150

The FB150 is the most lightweight exercise bike we feature. Coming in at just 32 lbs, it’s five pounds lighter and about $10 cheaper than its sibling, the FB350, yet it sports virtually all of the same features.

Here are the three features missing from the FB150 compared to the FB350

  • No seatback
  • No seat handles
  • No accessory (phone) or tablet holder

Except for these three features, this is virtually the same bike as the FB350. You’ll find the same steel “x-frame” design and the same display.

What We Like:

  • Great bike for a great price
  • Super lightweight and portable
  • Folds up small

Needs Improvement:

  • The seat can be uncomfortable, particularly with no seatback.
  • Not suited for tall people
  • Users complained that the heart rate monitor is finicky over time

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight: 32 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 225 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  18.1" x 18.1" x 50.79"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  31.9" x 18.1" x 43.3"
  • Accessory Holder: No
  • Warranty: 1-year frame, 90-day parts
Best Heavy Weight
Best for People Over 200lbs - Exerpeutic Gold Heavy Duty Foldable Exercise Bike

Exerpeutic was wise to design a folding upright exercise bike specifically for tall and heavyset people. Many other foldable bikes simply aren’t suited for people taller than 5’11’’ and heavier than about 225 lbs.

The Gold 500 XLS by EXERPEUTIC comes out as a favorite for users over 300 lbs and up to 6’5” tall. One user commented, “the pictures just don’t do it justice; this bike is a tank.” You will find it very stable and quite heavy, which adds a slight challenge to its portability.

What We Like:

  • Solid - heavy-duty steel construction
  • Optimized for tall and heavyset people
  • Large, comfortable seat cushion

Needs Improvement:

  • Mobility - heavier and more challenging to move than other bikes 
  • LCD screen - no backlight and hard to read in a dark room
  • Customer Service - received slightly below average reviews for being slow to respond

Missing Features:

  • Seatback and seat handlebars
  • Not recumbent capable (only upright)
  • Tablet holder

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight: 51 lbs
  • Weight Limit: 300 lbs (400 lbs with $50 price increase)
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  26.4" x 24.8" x 57.5"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  39" x 26.4" x 48.4"
  • Accessory Holder: Yes
  • Warranty: 1-year frame, 90-day parts
Great Option
Lanos Folding Exercise Bike

Lanos is a well-respected brand on Amazon, and this bike gets excellent user reviews. It rivals the Slim Cycle 2 in 1 (our premium choice) in both design and price but falls a bit short in our rating. Nevertheless, it’s certainly worth checking out, especially if you can find it on sale.

In all transparency, I would love to know more about the Lanos brand. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a website or any other contact information outside of their Amazon listing. I’ll be sure to update you if and when I find out more about their folding bikes. 

Though this is a slight detractor, this bike is certainly worth taking the time to review.

What We Like:

  • 2 in 1 featuring both a recumbent and an upright riding position
  • Customer Service - multiple users praised quick responses from the company 
  • A larger LCD screen shows all metrics 
  • Capable of holding a tablet on the LCD

Needs Improvement:

  • Several users complained about a clicking noise quickly developing in the pedals - this could be a result of minor assembly errors
  • Sensitive Display Pushbutton - Tablets and cell phones sometimes activate the button while resting on the display
  • Resistance system- tends to provide lower resistance compared to other folding exercise bikes

Missing Features:

  • None

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight:  Not listed
  • Weight Limit:  300 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  22'' x 20'' x 55.5''
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  Not listed
  • Accessory Holder:  Yes
  • Warranty:  90 Day Parts
Best Recumbent
Best Portable Recumbent - Exerpeutic 400XL Folding Recumbent Bike

Do you ever have a hard time staying focused (or even awake) at your desk? There’s no better way to re-engage and get exercise than pedaling right from your office desk.

The 400 XL’s unique design allows it to fit nicely under a taller workstation. Burn calories while you type or make phone calls. Then, fold up this space-saving exercise bike and store it in the corner.

What We Like:

  • Multi-task masterfully with its recumbent design capable of sitting underneath your desk
  • Great resistance range for a better potential cardio workout
  • Quiet while riding so you can work

Needs Improvement:

  • Tall people beware - this may not be the bike for you. Tall users (above about 6’0”) complain about overly bent knees
  • Pedals are close together, which can cause the calves to brush up against the side of the bike
  • Display - no backlight

Missing Features:

  • Upright riding position (bike is recumbent only)
  • Accessory/tablet holder

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight:  43 lb
  • Weight Limit:  300 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  20" x 17" x 54"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  33” x 19” x 46”
  • Accessory Holder:  No
  • Warranty:  90 Day Parts
Great Option
Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike

The Marcy brand is a subset of IMPEX - an established fitness equipment manufacturer since 1982. Marcy features four unique folding exercise bikes at four different price points ranging from ~$140 - $380.

The basic (lowest tier) model is, in fact, quite simple. You will find a small LCD panel, but there’s no seatback, no accessory holder, and no pulse grips for heart rate monitoring.

The second tier model sports a more comprehensive display. It includes pulse grips, a tablet holder, and a water bottle holder (thanks, Marcy - one of the few that has a water bottle holder).

Here’s What We Like:

  • Beautiful colors available on the upgraded model
  • Lightweight, easy to fold up, and store
  • Smooth, quiet ride

Needs Improvement:

  • The cheapest model lacks several useful features 
  • Expensive (to upgrade) - the upgraded models cost quite a bit more than any other bike we review in this article
  • No tablet or cell phone holder on the basic model

Missing Features:

  • As described above for the basic model 
  • No seatback for any model
  • Recumbent position not available on any model

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight:  37 lbs
  • Weight Limit:  250 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  14" x 18" x 51"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  32." x 18" x 42"
  • Accessory Holder:  No
  • Warranty:  Not listed
Best Bike Desk
FitDesk Standing Adjustable Desk Bike

Sitting for extended periods has been shown to result in joint aches and back problems. These problems have become more familiar with our increasingly sedentary lives than they were back in the day.

This desk bike offers a solution by providing a platform for your laptop, attached right to your bike. Work while you ride, and burn those post-lunch calories.

What We Like:

  • Non-slip desk with adjustable arm support
  • Resistance bands
  • Storage compartment (fit for papers, a tablet, or other small items)
  • Best warranty (see in specs)

Needs Improvement:

  • Durability - multiple users complain about mechanical problems developing over time
  • The seat is uncomfortable to some (purchase a seat cushion to solve this)
  • The water bottle holder is only available with the Extention Kit (~$50)

Missing Features:

  • Recumbent capability
  • Heart rate monitor
  • Multi-grip handlebars
  • Seatback

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight:  47 lbs
  • Weight Limit:  300 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  26" x 20.5" x 58"
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  28" x 16" x 45"
  • Accessory Holder:  No (unless you purchase the accessory kit)
  • Warranty:  3-year parts replacement for all moving parts. 100% refund for the 1st 30 days
Great Option
Exerpeutic 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike

This may be the ninth bike in our review, but that is no reflection on the quality of the Exerpeutic 1200. The 1200 is a feature-packed bike that competes well against all of the other exercise bikes on the list.

An oldie and a goodie with a whopping 15,000+ ratings on Amazon, this magnetic upright exercise bike will not disappoint.

What We Like:

  • Quiet ride, ideal for an indoor workout
  • Easy to assemble
  • Tried and true, battle-tested product

Needs Improvement:

  • Some users complain that the pedals are too far forward
  • No place for a tablet (but you could buy a table holder)

Missing Features:

  • Recumbent capability
  • Seatback and seat handles

Specs:

  • Assembled Weight:  39 lbs
  • Weight Limit:  300 lbs
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH):  22” x 20” x 55.5”
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH):  31" x 19" x 46"
  • Accessory Holder:  Yes - for cell phone only
  • Warranty:  1-year frame, 90-day parts

Buyer’s Guide – Best Folding Exercise Bike

Woman checking phone on collapsible stationary bike

As they say, the devil’s in the details. With that in mind, we’re going to look at the six major categories we analyzed (plus each of their sub-categories), so you can pick the best exercise bike.

  1. Popular Features
  2. Design
  3. User Experience
  4. Brand Strength / Customer Service
  5. User Feedback
  6. Cost 

Cost

We focused our efforts in the $100 – $200 range. Cost changes almost weekly, so be sure to check current prices through the links provided. You may find a great sale on a premium bike.

In the beginning, we mentioned several minimum features we required in all bikes we chose to include. I highly recommend these additional popular features when purchasing your folding exercise bike:

  • Heart rate monitoring
  • Hand pulse sensors (reads your heart rate through the handlebars)
  • At least eight magnetic resistance levels
  • Accessory holder
  • Tablet holder
  • Water bottle holder (few come with this feature, which is quite surprising)
  • App integrations: enables you to track fitness metrics, monitor your workout progress, and provides virtual riding experiences through

Design

Let’s start with the most crucial design considerations to help you narrow down your choice. We’ll review the three different categories of foldable bikes and why you should take your height and weight into consideration. Additionally, we’ll cover durability and storage factors.

Folding Upright Exercise Bikes

Upright bikes cause you to engage your core and lower back muscles a bit more based on being seated “upright” or above the pedals. 

Many upright bikes allow you to sit or stand; however, folding upright bikes truly aren’t designed for standing because of their collapsible design.

Expect a great cardio workout while engaging your core, lower back, and leg muscles.

Folding Recumbent Exercise Bikes

Is comfort important to you? Perhaps you have back problems, or you simply need more support. If any of these apply, you should strongly consider a recumbent bike.

These folding bikes allow you to get a great lower body workout while providing much-needed back support. If you’re looking to include your upper body while pedaling, we review several bikes with arm resistance bands.

2 in 1 Exercise Bikes

I’m all about getting the best of both worlds, so you will find me on a 2-in-1 folding bike that offers both a recumbent and upright position. 

You can exercise different muscle groups and keep your workouts exciting, and I highly recommend incorporating arm resistance bands.

User Height & Weight Limitations

Most foldable bikes work well for people between 5’3” and 6’1” tall. Make sure to reference the specs on the model that interests you.

If you’re shorter than 5’3”, you may have difficulty reaching the pedals. If you’re taller than ~6’1”, you may find your knees jammed and increased stress on your joints.

I highly recommend the EXERPEUTIC GOLD 500XLS for tall, heavy people. Multiple users over 300 lbs and over 6’4 – 6’5” had great things to say about their experience.

Construction / Durability

Look for a relatively lightweight bike (below 45 lbs) but also durable. Stay away from plastics and stick with steel. Most bikes we recommend feature frames made out of steel.

You want a precision-balanced flywheel with at least eight levels of magnetic resistance. The bike must offer a wide resistance range, which allows you to rest on lower levels while challenging you on higher levels.  

Storage

Most bikes fold up to be 50” – 55” high and 18” – 20” wide. Some bikes are more straightforward to fold up and store than others. All bikes we review have wheels for better portability.

User Experience

A woman resting after an intense workout

The user experience category includes essential factors such as stability, noise, ease of assembly, comfort, and the LCD. Here’s what we discovered.

Stability

We will affectionately call this the “wobble” factor. It’s a real thing, and you want to avoid it. 

Just realize that these are 40ish pound collapsible bikes, not 250 lb spin bikes. A spin bike will be very stable, but it will also cost you $1,000+. The good news is, many of the foldable bikes we review are very sturdy. 

We let you know which of these bikes to watch out for when it comes to the “wobble” factor.

Noise

With great features like magnetic resistance and a dial tension control system, folding bikes are ideal for quiet, indoor use. 

Some bikes may develop a “clicking” noise over time, possibly due to improper assembly. You may have success taking off the cover and tightening up a few parts. 

Ease of Assembly

The downside of online commerce these days is the fact that you often end up assembling products yourself. The good news is, these bikes are easy to construct. Expect 1-2 hour assembly time for most bikes. 

Comfort

Here’s a simple fact: if your exercise bike is uncomfortable, you won’t want to use it (at least not for long periods. Here’s what to look for:

Seat

Many bikes get low reviews for seat comfort. Make sure you can adjust the seat height and that the seat is stable. Otherwise, don’t let comfort deter you from buying a great bike. You can always purchase a seat cushion to fix the problem.

A seat cushion can add width to a potentially narrow seat. It will also absorb shock to help make for a smoother riding experience.

Seat Back

Many bikes do not have a seatback, but a seatback will add comfort and back support for those who need it.

Multi-grip Handlebars

Shifting your position with multi-grip handlebars offers an easy way to change up your workout and improve comfort. All bikes we review, except for the FitDesk 3.0, offer multi-grip handlebars. 

Some are adjustable, but most are not. Adjustable handlebars are a great feature.

Pedals

Here are the two most common problems with pedals:

  1. Grip: you don’t want your foot slipping off the pedals. 
  2. Pedal straps: make sure they’re adjustable and large enough to fit your foot. The best type of pedal straps cover your toe to prevent slipping.

Display

Exerpeutic 500XLS display
Source: Paradigm Health & Wellness

Users have three common complaints when it comes to the display:

  1. The display is too small 
  2. The display only shows one “metric” at a time (for example, time but not distance, calories burned, etc.) 
  3. It’s hard to read, which is a function of no backlight and small numbers

Some bikes have a “scan” feature that will display each metric on the screen at a set interval, which helps. In the end, look for a larger screen that shows multiple metrics simultaneously.

Brand Strength / Customer Service

We’ve got your back on this. We highlight (in our reviews above) the brands that received negative customer service marks when problems arose with a bike. 

User Feedback

User experience over time is the best test of a product. We poured through hundreds of folding bikes user reviews, so you don’t have to. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best folding exercise bike?

The Slim Cycle (our premium choice) is the best folding exercise bike in the $100 – $200 category. This bike received top marks after extensive research and user analysis.

Are folding exercise bikes any good?

Yes, used right, these bikes result in many benefits ranging from losing weight to improved cardiovascular systems. Additionally, you will love their collapsible, space-saving features. Also, if bikes don’t sound good enough for you, maybe you should think about getting into elliptical cross-trainers.

Conclusion

It’s been our pleasure taking you on this journey through the best folding exercise bikes on the market. Regardless of how you choose to stay in shape, it’s so important that you take action to improve your health through fitness. 

If you find that a folding exercise bike is not for you, it’s okay! Feel free to check out other excellent home gym equipment we recommend, including ellipticals, spin bikes, and treadmills. Perhaps you’re unsure if you should buy an Exercise Bike or an Elliptical? We’ve got your back!

If you found this article informative, please help us out by sharing it on social media. All the best in your quest for great fitness!

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