Best Smart Exercise Bikes For Home Gyms (2023) Expert Guide

There are two important factors to consider when determining the size of smart bikes.

First of all, you want to take note of the exact dimensions and then measure out the space where you plan to use it.

If you have a dedicated home gym, add a few inches on each side and take a look at where you can best set it up without getting in the way of other equipment.

And if you plan to store it out of the way, then measure your closet or other storage areas to ensure it will fit.

Secondly, the overall size of a bike will also end up being a limiting factor for the height of the person using it.

For most people, this won’t be a problem, but if you’re very tall, then check whether the bike’s size will suit your needs.

Related: Best Way to Store Workout Equipment at Home

Weight Limit

Just as important as the dimensions is the overall weight limit of a bike.

You’ll find high-end exercise bikes in gyms that can carry 500 pounds or more, but most home exercise bikes will be a lot lower.

However, I would still suggest getting something with a weight limit of about 300 pounds, as these products tend to have a much sturdier and more durable frame.

Some of the best home gym exercise bikes that I have tested over the years generally had more than 30 resistance settings.

The more of these you have available, the more flexibility you have in your training intensity.

But there’s another benefit.

When you have higher resistance levels, the transition from one to the other will be a lot smoother.

And that will give you a much more realistic cycling experience, almost like being on scenic rides outdoors.

“Low-impact cardio is a category of exercise that gets your heart rate up specifically in a joint-friendly way.”

- Jake Harcoff, C.S.C.S., Head Coach At AIM Athletic

Frame Adjustments

At the very least, you should see adjustments for seat and handlebar height on smart bikes.

This is important for you to reach the pedal comfortably and avoid unnecessary strain on your leg joints.

If your legs aren’t aligned properly, then you can trigger some painful joint issues.

On my own bike, I also made sure that I could adjust the seat and handlebars forward and backward.

This allows me to fine-tune my posture while using the indoor trainer.

The more comfortable you feel on your workout equipment, the more likely you will be to use it more regularly. And it also helps to avoid back pain from being awkwardly hunched over.

Typical exercise bikes will aim to get you into a natural cycling position where you are leaning forward.

At the other extreme, you’ll have recumbent bikes where you’re sitting back and your feet are positioned much higher up.

For a true cycling experience, like with an outdoor bike, I would suggest avoiding a bike that takes you out of that natural forward-leaning position.

While these might seem to help people with back issues, they might put you in a less-than-ideal posture for your leg movements.

Basically, the more natural the pedaling feels, the better it will be for your training goals and avoiding injuries.

Screen Size

Some of the best exercise bikes that we tried out for the research in this post had quite a large display.

The largest one we encountered was 22 inches on a NordicTrack model, and there might be people reading this that remember TVs being that size. 

The reason you want to have a large display is to be able to follow along with live and on-demand classes while also seeing your current training data.

When this is cramped into a small display, it becomes difficult to follow along and optimize your training performance.

A large screen will also allow you to play videos of nature scenes that make it feel like you're on scenic rides with an outdoor bike.

Another option to look out for with smart exercise bikes is how they integrate with third-party apps.

We all have our favorite apps, whether it’s MyFitnessPal on Android or the Fitness app on an iPhone.

The more apps you can integrate with, the easier it will be for you to track all your progress in one place.

Some budget smart bikes will also not include a large display but instead allow you to attach your phone or tablet and install an app that connects to the bike.

It’s a great way to get smart features on a budget bike.

Related: 10 Best Fitness Tracker For Cycling

Free Fitness Subscription

One thing you need to factor into the smart bike cost is whether you need to buy a monthly subscription to a workout app. In some cases, you’ll be able to simply use your existing apps.

But there are also indoor trainer options where you really need to sign up for a specific subscription.

And a monthly subscription can quickly add to the cost of keeping your exercise bike working.

What I would like to see is some form of free or discounted subscription. This will allow you to figure out if you like the service before committing to it.

One thing you need to be careful of with smart bikes and other exercise equipment is the details about the warranty.

Some companies will advertise a 3-year warranty, but when you take a closer look, there’s more to it.

Those longer terms often refer to just the frame. You might then get a 12-month warranty for parts and just six months for labor.

So, take a close look at the warranty wording to ensure you don’t get duped.

Price

Some of the best budget exercise bikes we tested would still cost about $400 to $500. But that’s a pretty good deal for smart bikes that offer great technology integration.

But if you want to get something with a built-in display and multiple integrations with fitness subscriptions, then you’ll need to budget considerably more.

What I would say, though, is that increasing your budget in that way can pay off a lot for your fitness progress.

The more training data you collect and the more access you have to live workout classes, the more you’ll enjoy using the bike.