If you like to cycle daily but can’t go out for some reason and don’t want to ruin your routine, an indoor exercise bike is what you must get. These bikes are excellent if you want to exercise daily without leaving the house.
Moreover, with modern bikes, you get many features to improve your workout, and you’ll get to know how many calories you burn daily. On the other hand, people who have problems finding the right exercise bike because of their short height should rejoice as we found five of the best exercise bikes for them.
The articles cover the best exercise bikes with reasonable prices, solid build, and multiple features for short people.
Table of Contents
Best Exercise Bikes for Short Person
- XTERRA Fitness Folding Exercise Bike – Best Portable Upright Bike
- Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance – Most Features at Low Price
- Bowflex Max Trainer Series – Heavy-Duty Exercise Bike
- pooboo Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike – Stimulate Real Road Riding
- DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary – Digital Monitor To Track Your Data
1. XTERRA Fitness Folding Exercise Bike – Best Portable Upright Bike
XTERRA is one of the most affordable upright bikes that are foldable, lightweight, and easy to move around. Having an exercise bike at home, which is not portable, can become a nuisance. You can’t move it anywhere, can’t take it anywhere, and every time you move the furniture, you can’t move the bike without extra help.
Moreover, XTERRA’s compact size makes it a reasonable option for apartments where you can’t have dedicated space for exercise equipment.
Despite being convenient and compact, it is solid, and the maximum user weight it can withstand is up to 225 Pounds. While it can hold so much weight, this bike is not suitable for taller people. A person more than 5 feet 5 inches might not feel comfortable using this chair. This makes it an excellent option for ladies; they can easily move it around as they like.
Features
Great Design: Its convenient folding design and the built-in wheels make it easy to transport. You can lock and unlock the wheel after moving so the machine stays in place. One lock in the middle keeps the body in a fixed position. Open the lock, fold the bike and take it anywhere you want. Even if you want to open and put the bike parts in your car, it won’t take more than five minutes.
Great seating: Its adjustable seat is large and padded, making it comfortable for anyone. Plus, it is built solid, so it won’t break, and the padding won’t smush even after months of frequent usage. However, that seat has no support on the back.
Comfortable: Another good thing about this upright bike is its comfort. This exercise bike is not for those who like to slack off as they exercise. The shape is designed in such a way that you have to maintain your balance and stay stiff to avoid falling. The only thing it misses is the option to adjust the body; you can only adjust the seat height for comfort and balance.
Magnetic Resistance System: It has a magnetic resistance system, and you have eight resistance levels. Instead of controlling them from LCD, this bike has control right beneath the console. Rotate it to the desired resistance level, and you are good to go. This gives much more control as you can easily rotate the wheel without slowing down.
LCD screen: The LCD screen on the bike can let you measure the calories burned during the workout. Your goal is to match the calories you burned in the previous session or pass them.
Pros
- Battery powered
- Foldable and compact
- Only 32 pounds in weight
- Multi-position padded handlebars
Cons
- Uneven pedal resistance after a couple of months
- The monitor might have issues showing all the data
2. Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance – Most Features at Less Price
This exercise bike also has a compact design, but it is suitable for people with long legs. Instead of moving its seat up and down, you can move it back and forth so your legs remain in proper shape. Being a recumbent bike, it doesn’t have any handle on the front. Instead, it has two handles on the seat that you can hold or rest your arms. The adjustable handlebars allow you to get the maxim comfort of the upper body as you work out with your lower body.
This is one of those recumbent bikes where you can exercise and watch videos or have a video call with someone. It is stable, has a good grip, so you can go as fast as you want, and the bike won’t jiggle. The only thing you might not like is the silver and pinkish color combination.
Features
Solid build: Marcy’s recumbent exercise bike has a solid build, and as you sit on it and move the pedals, you’ll experience a premium feel. The steel tubes have a powered coating finish providing ease while mounting and dismounting this bike. This item comes disassembled; you can reassemble it in no time using the guide. This might be a fun part of purchasing this recumbent bike, but it is a great nuisance for some people. Some customers complained they had to watch a video to assemble it as the instructions were complicated.
Easy-to-read screen: Unlike many exercise bikes, this bike has an easy-to-read computer screen. The annotations are easy to understand, and the screen is sharp and bright. Moreover, it also has big numbers, so you can read everything even from a distance.
Comfortable: Since this is a recumbent bike, it has back support with comfortable padding. The high-density foam presses a bit inside as you put weight on it, but it returns to its original position within seconds. With its overall comfortable design, you are in for a smooth ride.
Proper balancing: Plus, the pedals and the magnetic resistance are even and properly balanced. You won’t feel like putting extra pressure on any pedal. Not to mention it also has adjustable foot straps, so you can get a better grip while paddling. The pedals are also evenly weighted, so you can put equal pressure on both.
Pros
- Step-through design
- Eight resistance levels
- Easy-to-read computer screen
- Comfortable padded seat
- Counterbalanced pedals
- It comes with a 90-days warranty
Cons
- A bit hard to assemble
- The seat and arms wobble slightly
3. Bowflex Max Trainer Series – Heavy-Duty Exercise Bike
This is the most expensive exercise bike on our list, but it is worth the price with its customization and features. You can personalize it based on your height, weight, and the calories you want to burn. Plus, it has presets that can help you get the correct settings with one touch. It doesn’t matter if you want to work out for five minutes or half an hour; this exercise bike makes even the shortest workout count.
There is no need to change the settings every time you work out after someone else. You can save the desired settings with your name; whenever you want to work out, choose your name from the presets, your preferred settings are available.
Features
App: The most noticeable feature of this bike is its app. With that app, this bike automatically adjusts the resistance, time, and intensity as you improve. It also comes with cardio session settings that you can automatically implement in the app, and their settings will reflect on the machine. You’ll have the whole cardio course on your exercise bike without making any effort.
Full-body exercise: With Bowflex, you are engaged in full-body exercise; with your hands, you move the bars and balance their movements with the pedals. You’ll have a smooth and quiet ride if they are in synchronization. If they are not in sync, you’ll feel extra pressure on the part that needs correction. Let go of the arm bars, use your feet to balance the movement, and grab the arm bars again to support the legs.
Manageable: Despite looking big and heavy, this exercise bike is lightweight and fits in any corner of the house. Plus, it is silent, so you can even work out in your room with someone else sleeping. However, you might need some help to move this thing as it doesn’t come with wheels. The lack of wheels is the only noticeable problem with this machine.
LCD screen, phone rack and contact sensor: Apart from the LCD screen with many features, it also has a magnetic mobile phone rack. Attach your mobile or tablet and watch cardio videos or movies as you want. It also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate. Connect the machine with the app using Bluetooth, and the contact sensors in the armbars will measure your heart rate and display it on the screen.
Pros
- 50 routes that auto-adjust in real-time
- Multi-grip and dynamic handles
- Interactive full-color backlit display
- Create daily custom workouts
Cons
- Horrible squeaking after a couple of months
- The bike requires monthly maintenance
4. pooboo Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike – Stimulate Real Road Riding
This spin bike is the best for those who enjoy a real sports bike feel. It is designed in such a way that you have to lean forward and move the pedals. Its sturdy frame and 35lbs flywheel are heavy enough to keep it in position no matter how fast you go. This is one of the most reasonably priced spin bikes that can support up to 300 pounds. All the controls are near your hand, and the seat is grippy enough to let you leave the armbars and exercise without tripping.
It runs on battery, and you must charge it fully once a day, but if you want full functionality, ensure that it is powered in when you exercise. The belt-driven system is smooth and silent; unlike many traditional bikes, this spin bike won’t make any noise regardless of how fast you are going.
Features
Solid build: The first thing you’ll notice is its solid build, its color might give a plastic feel, but the overall bike is built with solid metal. However, even with the all-metal build, it only weighs 35 pounds, and if you remove the wheel, the overall bike has no weight. Movable: Pick it up from the back; two front wheels will touch the ground, and you can easily drag the bike to another room. Removing the wheel is not an easy job, so if you ever want to move the bike, you’ll have to use the wheels it comes with.
Adjustable levels: Its handlebar comes with two adjustable levels. Flatten it to have the sports bike feel, and straighten them for easy grip if you like a light cardio session. The four-way padded seat provides comfort even if you sit for a 30 min cardio session.
Can attach tablet: It does have an LCD monitor but not a useful one; you can only see some basic information on it. However, you can attach your tablet to the rack and watch cardio videos for guidance.
Resistance bar and water bottle holder: Pressing the resistance bar stops the wheel immediately. There is also a water bottle holder on the body that is missing on all other bikes. The resistance knob is right in the middle giving easy access to change the resistance level.
Pros
- 12-month parts replacement warranty
- Comes pre-assembled
- The monitor holder can support the tablet and phones
- Comfortable indoor riding experience
Cons
- The heart rate monitor is inaccurate
- Not good for people with back issues
5. DMASUN Indoor Cycling Bike Stationary – Digital Monitor, To Track Your Data
The company behind this exercise bike, DMASUN, is a leading brand in exercise equipment. Thousands of people around the world love their magnetic exercise bikes. This indoor stationary bike is one of their best spinning bikes, with a bigger flywheel weight. Moreover, its overall body is made with high-quality, thick steel for ultimate endurance against your movements. They have a huge range of exercise bikes and rowing machines with top-notch quality.
If you like your equipment’s sleek design, this exercise bike will be the best in your collection. Its red and black color is striking and won’t get dirty easily. However, you must check for potential problems weekly so your exercise bike can stay smooth and in perfect condition for a long time.
Features
Portable: While this bike might not look heavy, it actually weighs around 90 pounds. However, it is easy to move around with the wheels in front. You might need some help as the front magnetic wheel is much heavier. The company spared no expense and methods to make this bike a premium product, and they didn’t care about the weight either. Instead of using cheap materials to reduce the price, they kept the material’s quality high and the price reasonable.
Easy to assemble: The bike is easy to assemble. The guidelines are given in the manual book, and even videos are available online. It won’t take more than 15-20 minutes to assemble the bike. If you don’t want to assemble it, let the company know while ordering, and they’ll send a professional to do it for you.
Smooth magnetic wheel: There are no friction or debris thanks to the smooth magnetic wheel, and it is silent. However, it does make a little noise as you try to stop it, but it is not enough to disturb anyone’s sleep. Just make sure not to press the stop button as soon as you stop exercising, and you won’t experience that sound.
Great design and features: This bike can meet the need of a beginner and a professional with the features it offers and its design. It is a fitness product, but its color and design make it a modern home aesthetic art.
Digital monitors: This bike has one of the best digital monitors, considering its low price. That monitor can record and show your stats live, including your heartbeat and burned calories.
Pros
- Super easy-to-use exercise bike
- Excellent design
- Exercise data monitoring
- More friendly to people of different heights
Cons
- Not suitable for old people
- The seat is not comfortable compared to other bikes
Buying Guide for an Exercise Bike
Getting an exercise bike is like a huge investment to enhance your lifestyle. Like all other investments, you don’t want to waste your money on this. Whether you want an upright fan bike or a solid metal-made recumbent bike, here are some factors that can help you in your purchase.
Comfort
You must understand that your cardio sessions won’t be short. Sometimes, you could spend more than 30 minutes on the exercise bike. Getting a comfortable bike should be your priority so you only feel the strain of your workout, not the discomfort from the exercise bike. The first step toward comfort is the seat; it must have soft foam so your butt won’t get numb after sitting on it for a long time. Another thing is that seat should be big so you won’t slip moving left and right. The seat must also be swappable, so you can always purchase a more comfortable one.
Adjustable Resistance
Adjustable resistance is necessary to make the workout easy or hard. You don’t want to be stuck on the same level as your body adapts, and you can’t burn calories anymore or increase your stamina. While a digital resistance control is better, it gets expensive, so a knob control is what you should look for. Another thing to check is that the knob is easy to access, so you can change the resistance level while exercising. But if you have the money, the digital controls are more convenient and easy to use.
Ease of Use
You’ll need cardio video sessions to improve your workout. Some professionals provide live sessions, so you must have a bike with a mobile or tablet rack. Modern exercise bikes have smart screens with WiFi, so you can watch videos directly on them. On the other hand, those screens must have a user-friendly interface so you can easily access each setting. The easier it is to control the bike, the more fun your cardio session can become.
Adjustable Handlebar
The handlebar decides what kind of experience you want from the bike. If you like to work on the upper body portion, you’ll need straight handlebars, but if you want a more road-like experience, you’ll need drop-down handlebars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a stationary bike really good exercise?
Yes, stationary exercise bikes are a good option if you want to have indoor cardio sessions and want to burn maximum calories without leaving your home.
Is an exercise bike better than running?
That depends on the purpose of the exercise. Running burns more calories as it requires muscle movement, but on an exercise bike, you can work out for a longer time.
Is it OK to ride an exercise bike every day?
Exercising daily is recommended if you want to lose weight and maintain your body mass. You can take a break on weekends, but a consistent workout is necessary.
Can biking burn belly fat?
An exercise bike won’t burn as much belly fat as quads or glutes, but you’ll see some results after a month or two.
Final Words
You can always have a burning calories session with an exercise bike at your home. Moreover, you can engage your kids in exercise since they’ll have no excuses. We shared the top five exercise bikes that are most suitable for a short person, but with some adjustments, even people with six-foot height can utilize them.
Bowflex Max Trainer Series is the best option if you have deep pockets and want an all-in-one bike. It won’t take much space, offers personalization like no other bike, and delivers guaranteed results.