Best Folding Exercise Bikes for 2019

Foldable exercise bikes offer a light, inexpensive workout that you can enjoy while bingeing your favorite Netflix series. These lightweight machines fold up for easy storage to allow you to minimizing the amount of space that gym equipment takes up, while maximizing the calorie count. The easily adjustable seats make them pieces of equipment that the whole family can enjoy. The low intensity workout these machines provide on the lowest setting is an ideal physiotherapy workout for the older generation to stay active. Whatever the reason, foldable bikes are an easy, inexpensive way to burn calories and tone muscles. 

There is not a huge difference in price between budget models and high-end expensive models of foldable exercise bikes. Most models will only feature the most basic of functions with the high-end offering better durability and stability. Budget models start from around $100, whereas the high machine cost max out at around $250.

What features should I consider in a budget folding exercise bike?

• Construction materials. The material the bike is made from will effect how sturdy and stable the bike is during the workout. Bikes made from metal frames will be more sturdy, durable, and will accommodate higher weights, but will be less portable. Plastic frames will be lighter, less sturdy, and less able to withstand higher weights. 

• Adjustments. Seat adjustment is an important point to consider when buying a bike. Always check that a bike is comfortable for your height. Another consideration is whether you want recumbent or upright cycling. recumbent is the popular style- riding in an reclining fashion for a more comfortable ride. Upright is a more traditional riding style with less back support. Most foldable bikes will allow you to switch styles. If you're buying a bike for the whole family, always check how easy it is to adjust the seats, the riding style, the height range, and the weight capacity. 
• Weight and portability. If you are looking for a lightweight exercise bike you should consider the material, the frame design, and whether it has any wheels to help transport. The most portable bikes usually are plastic, with foldable frames.
• Performance monitoring. Performance monitoring is done through the console, which will display stats like distance, speed, calorie burn, time, odometer, and heart rate. Due to the stripped, basic nature of foldable bikes, most performance monitors are basic and the same on all models. Calorie burn will be inaccurate due to the inability to input user data, and heart monitoring does vary from bike to bike. There will be no reprogrammed workouts either. 

What are the more advanced features that I should consider in a high-end folding exercise bike?

• Noise. The foldable bikes in this review use a magnetic drive system, which is extremely quiet. Any bike with a manual magnetic belt will be quiet enough to hear the television, and will not be heard in the next room. They are the ideal bike if you live in an apartment and don't want to disturb your neighbor below.
• User weight capacity. User weight capacity is the maximum weight an exercise bike can take. It does vary greatly due to construction material and design, ranging from 220 lbs to 400 lbs. It is important not to go over the maximum capacity, as it can cause the bike to become unstable and cause damage to mechanics. 
• Resistance levels. Resistance level is how hard it is to pedal the bike. The higher the resistance, the greater intensity of the workout. Resistance levels 1 to 4 is ideal for a low level beginners workout, whereas resistant levels 4 to 8 offer a more intermediate workout. Most foldable bikes only extend to level 8, and will not provide a high level workout. 
• Additional workout accessories (e.g heart rate chest strap).  The high-end bikes will offer full body workouts through built in resistance straps that work the upper body as you pedal. You can also buy extra monitoring equipment to augment the basic performance monitoring with a heart rate chest strap. This will monitor your heart beat more consistently and more accurately than most bikes. 

• Are foldable exercise bikes portable? Most foldable bikes offer a degree of portability. How portable the bike is depends on its weight, how it folds, and whether it has any transport wheels. Always look for these three things when choosing a bike for portability. 
• What muscles does an exercise bike tone?
  Cycling is a workout for both your quadriceps and your hamstring muscles. Pushing down on the pedals will work your quads, while the upwards movement will tone your hamstrings. 
• What is the weight limit that that folding exercise bikes can support?
  The weight limit a foldable bike can withstand varies from model to model. Each model should have a recommended weight capacity advertised, and most Amazon pages have user questions concerning this, so the information is easy to find. 

The Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS is a mid-range exercise bike. This is an extremely sturdy, foldable bike that is designed for the beginner to intermediate cyclist who needs to save space. 

This exercise bike comes partly assembled with very clear instructions, eight resistance levels, and a clear digital display that cycles through distance, speed, time, and heart monitoring. This bike is fantastic for light workouts, but is not designed for hardcore cycling sessions, spin workouts, or standing up when cycling. 

The magnetic belt system provides a quiet workout that will not disturb the whole house. 

The Exerpeutic Gold is a little sturdier than most fold up bikes, and can accommodate a heavier weight.

As the bike was designed for a heavier weight capacity, it weighs a little more than its competitors, meaning it is heavier to move around and store when folded. 

Complaint against the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS are common to the whole range of exercise bikes- the saddle is uncomfortable, the monitor only displays one stat, and it is designed for light workouts only. This will be the same for all foldable bikes.

Some users warn that attaching the cable during construction can be a little tricky. 

The Marcy NS-652 is a low cost, back to the basics, foldable exercise back. The exercise bike comes partially assembled with extremely clear instructions and easy construction. 

This foldable bike is best for beginners to intermediate level cyclists, and is an ideal light exercise bike for stroke victims or causal users. It is one of lightest models of foldable bikes, meaning it is easier to move when storing. The magnetic belt system gives a smooth, consistent, and extremely quiet pedaling motion. 

As it is a more basic model, it does lack some of the functionality you typically find on the measure console. 

The Marcy NS-652 is a no-frills, basic bike build designed to be a low cost workout option. Despite being lower in price and missing some of the more common features, it is a durable bike that is a good choice for the novice cyclist. An advanced or expert cyclist may find that its highest setting is not  challenge. 

The Marcy NS-652 suffers from all the common complaints exercise bikes receive, like that it has an uncomfortable saddle, it is unfit for intense/spin workouts, and its monitor can only display one measure. 

The standout complaints for this model are the lack of heart monitoring equipment and the lower weight capacity, but this bike is still a great value. 

The Harvil Foldalble Magnetic exercise bike is a mid-range entry of bikes. This stylish model has all the trimmings you'd need such as an easy to read LCD, heart rate monitors, and ten levels of resistance. 

The Harvil is a sturdy bike with a solid construction; the bike is easy to put together and maintain. The bike has a smooth, and quiet pedaling motion, meaning it is a joy to use in front of the television and even has a handy little nook for a smartphone or tablet. 

This bike is recommended for beginners to intermediate cyclists. This bike is not designed for advanced workouts or spin exercises. 

The Harvil has a greater number of resistance levels than most bikes on this list which means the cyclist can do higher intensity workouts.

Although this bike is still designed for beginners, it allows them to go the extra mile in learning how to ride.

The Harvil's seat is a mixed bag of reviews with some people finding it comfortable, while others do not. Despite having a high number of resistance levels, the work out is still not intense enough for an experienced cyclist. Smaller users also found the bike harder to use. 

The Ultega is a small, lightweight, foldable exercise bike. This high-end bike is geared toward beginners who are new to exercise and want a gentle workout. 

The large console displays a range of measures such as speed, distance odometer, calories, time, and heart rate. This easy to build bike is a smooth, clean ride that only starts to get a bit choppy in higher gears. 

The small, lightweight frame makes it ideal for the person who wants a light work out while minimizing space consumption. 

The Ultega's ultimate feature is its lightweight, compact frame that minimizes the amount of space it needs when stored. 

It's lightweight frame means it is easily transported even with the use of transport wheels. 

The Ultega Foldable F-bike suffers from some minor stability issues. It's narrow frame and lack of levelers mean it can be a bit wobbly, and it's best used on a flat surface or rubber mat. 

The heart rate monitor is hard to consistently use due to placement, and users may be better off using a connection strap. 

The Best Choice Sky 2380 is a budget level exercise bike that is foldable and easy to store. The bike comes equipped with all the basic features a user would expect, like a monitor to display stats and the ability to measure heart rate. 

The bike is lightweight, and designed for a light to intermediate workout. It has an upright position and recumbent mode. The saddle is large with a back support, making it an ideal bike for older people or someone with a back injury who wants to exercise. 

The bike comes partially assembled, but there are easy to follow instructions. 

This bike has a large, comfortable seat with a supportive back rest. This makes it a stable ride for those people who struggle with balance, or need extra support due to a back injury. 

The recumbent mode on this bike is not as comfortable as other models that offer this option. This is due to the placement of the handle bars, which make the built-in heart monitor uncomfortable to access. 

The Body Rider Leisa Hart is a foldable exercise bike that is easy to store and move due to its lightweight frame. The bike is designed for light to intermediate physical activity. 

This bike boasts a stylish, retro design, making it the most attractive bike in the review. The Body Rider offers a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride. The large, tablet holder back support seats make this the ideal bike to read on. 

The inexpensive bike is popular with older people or people undergoing physical therapy who want a gentler, easygoing exercise regimen. 

The bike offers a similar range of basic features that all exercise bikes have, such as heart rate monitoring and an LED monitor. 

This bike does have a more comfortable seat and back rest than most included in this review. 

Its retro design makes it an attractive bike.

The Body Rider includes a holder for a tablet, but the holder covers up the LED monitor and makes reading your stats harder. The bike is also not the quietest on the market, and clicks a little while in use. 

The Sunny Health Fitness B2710 is a small, compact exercise bike that folds up easily for storage purposes. This machine is designed to provide a light to intermediate work out, depending on the resistant level chosen. 

This bike comes equipped with resistance straps for both the arms and the legs, giving the user an option for a full body work. This means that the cyclist can tone their arms and upper body as they pedal. 

The Sunny Health Fitness B2710 is a budget level machine that offers all the basics, and an extra way to burn off those calories. 

This exercise bike offers the user extra ways to tone and build their muscles through resistance straps. It also includes all of the basic things an exercise needs, such as a pulse monitor for heart rate information, and a monitor for stats. The heart monitor is accessed through the handle bars but is less useful if the user is using the arm straps as they cycle. 

When compared to the other machines in this review, this bike does not offer the smoothest of rides. The Sunny is still an enjoyable ride, but there are other machines that are more enjoyable, like the Exerpeutic Gold 500 XLS. 

Smaller people also found this machine's saddle to be uncomfortable. 

The Echelon Flex Bike Ultra is a high end exercise bike that can be folded to save space when storing it. The Flex Bike is a strong and sturdy exercise bike offering fantastic stability and a smooth enjoyable ride. 

This machine comes with all the built-in basics, such as a monitor to show time, distance, and speed, as well as a heart rate monitor. The tablet rest and comfortable back support means that you can pedal and read your Kindle, or catch up on last night's television show. 

This bike is designed to give a low intensity to intermediate level work out. 

The Flex Bike Ultra has resistance straps for the arms, giving the user a full body workout, and a more robust exercise schedule. 

The bike has overwhelmingly positive reviews from smaller users, making it one of the better bikes for people five feet or below. 

Many older people or people using the bike for physical therapy have trouble lifting their legs over the central cross due to its height. There are also concerns that the switching from recumbent to upright is not as easy as it was demonstrated to be. A few bikes have been missing instructions or screws, making assembly harder than it should be. 

The Innova XBR450 is a mid-range, foldable exercise bike. The bike is designed to give a light to intermediate workout depending on the resistance level chosen.

The bike comes with a built-in tablet holder that allows you to surf the net, watch television, or even play games as you pedal away the calories. A handy LCD monitor is positioned below the tablet so you can monitor your workout while enjoying your favorite show. 

The Innova offers an enjoyable, smooth pedaling experience. 

The tablet holder is the most well designed of the bikes in this review, as it allows you to watch television without removing your hands from the pulse monitor. If you enjoy using your tablet while cycling away the calories, this bike might be the one for you. 

The Innovia does not have the best foldable features. It is a little heavy with no wheels, making transport tricky and awkward. The bike is also missing the pin that keeps it in a folded position when moving. 

There have been some durability issues regarding the life-span of the pedals on this product, many breaking within a year of purchase. 

The Fitdesk FDP2.0 is a foldable exercise bike designed to help you work off those calories at the office. The desk is equipped with a platform for a laptop, so you can tally up the spreadsheets as well as the miles. The chair comes with  specially designed comfort rest to support you while you work. 

The bike is compact and easily stored away, saving you space in the office or at home. The bike is at the more expensive end of the market due to desk design. There are eight resistant levels on the bike, which offer an easy to intermediate workout that is ideal for rounding down the calorie count as you work.

The Fit Desk FDP 2.0 features a large desk so that the rider can work, play, or watch on a laptop as they pedal away. The desktop has a large sliding drawer underneath to store items such as pens or headphones, making it a convenient way to burn some calories as you toil away. 

A high number of users report durability issues with the Fitdesk's pedal, which become damaged or start making noises within the first year of usage. The biggest concern and complaint is one of durability and build quality. 

Foldable exercise bikes are an ideal way to introduce a light and regular workout into the home for the whole family. These easily stored machines are also an inexpensive and easy way to get back on your feet after an injury. The ultra quiet workout is the ultimate way to burn calories while chilling out with Netflix or reading a book on your tablet or Kindle.