The 7 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes for Seniors [2025]

Recumbent exercise bikes are a fantastic option for seniors who want to stay active while minimizing strain on their joints.

Their comfortable, reclined seating position provides great back support, making them ideal for people with mobility concerns or arthritis.

And the horizontal positioning of the pedals makes these bikes lower impact than most other varieties of exercise machines.

Recumbent bikes are easily among the best exercise machines around for seniors, but with so many models to choose from these days, it can become daunting to find the best option.

But don’t worry, we’re here to help.

In this guide, we’ll go over the best recumbent bikes the year has to offer, but we’ll also go over what specs and features seniors should specifically consider before purchasing.

After reading, you’ll know everything you need to in order to find the right recumbent bike to fit your needs.

	Seat	Resistance	Warranty	Price
#1 Spirit XBR25	Large, comfortable	20 lb flywheel 20 levels	Lifetime frame 10 year parts 1 year labor	$$
#2 Sole R92	Comfortable	20 lb flywheel 20 levels	Lifetime frame 2 year parts 1 year labor	$$
#3 Schwinn 230	Large, mesh	13 lb flywheel 16 levels	10 year frame 2 year parts 90 day labor	$
#4 Matrix R50	Comfortable, adjustable	Sophisticated 30 levels	Lifetime frame 7 year parts 2 year labor	$$$
#5 Sole LCR	Comfortable	31 lb flywheel 40 levels	Lifetime frame 3 year parts 1 year labor	$$
#6 NordicTrack Commercial R35	Large, mesh	25 lb flywheel 26 levels	10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year labor	$$
#7 Niceday Recumbent	Smaller	15 lb flywheel 16 levels	1 year?	$

Why Should Seniors Consider a Recumbent Bike?

Recumbent bikes are an excellent choice for seniors due to their comfortable design and low-impact nature.

The reclined seating position provides back support and reduces pressure on the joints, particularly the knees and hips.

This makes it easier for seniors to get their cardio in without discomfort or risk of injury.

Additionally, the step-through design of many recumbent bikes ensures easy mounting and dismounting, while the seated position offers stability and balance, reducing the risk of falls.

These features make recumbent bikes a safe and accessible option for seniors to stay active and maintain their fitness.

They also allow for a variety of resistance levels, making it easy for seniors to gradually increase intensity as they build strength and endurance.

The gentle, repetitive pedal motion these bikes offer are also great for seniors dealing with arthritis, as this can help keep with joint stiffness and pain.

Overall, recumbent bikes make great options for seniors because:

• They offer a low impact form of exercise
• They come with comfortable, supportive back rests
• Their step-thru frames make them easy to access
• The easily adjustable resistances allow seniors to progress intensity over time
• Their gentle, repetitive pedaling motion can help reduce stiffness in achy joints

The 7 Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes for Seniors

#1 Spirit’s XBR25 Recumbent Bike

It’s not easy declaring a top ranked model when creating a list like this, mostly because so much of it depends on personal preference.

But even so, I feel confident giving the top spot here to the XBR25 because it has so many great features for seniors.

The first feature that comes to mind is the large backrest that provides a lot of back support during workouts.

But the XBR25 scores equally highly in terms of performance.

With a 20 lb flywheel, 20 levels of resistance, and a heavy-duty frame, this recumbent bike has everything it needs to provide a smooth pedaling motion, while offering a lot of control over the intensity of workouts.

It also comes with an impressive weight capacity of 350 lb, allowing seniors of all sizes the ability to safely use it.

I think seniors will also like the straightforward console that doesn’t require an ongoing membership to access the built-in workouts.

All of this is great, but what really sets Spirit apart from the competition is the warranty they provide.

With a lifetime frame and 10 year parts guarantee, you get a little extra peace of mind when purchasing this recumbent bike.

Overall, there’s not much to complain about when it comes to this recumbent bike, but it would be nice if you could adjust the angle of the backrest.

But otherwise, Spirit’s XBR25 would make a great choice for seniors looking for a reasonably-priced exercise bike that’s built to last.

#2 Sole’s R92 Recumbent Bike

Sole’s one of my favorite home fitness brands and their R92 is very similar to the XBR25 mentioned above.

Fun fact, Sole and Spirit are owned by the same parent company and you’ll notice a lot of similarities in their lineups (although Spirit tends to offer higher-end commercial models and offer longer warranties).

Anyway, the R92 is Sole’s entry-level recumbent bike and I could see it making a wonderful option for seniors looking for a dependable bike that won’t break the budget.

The R92 is a no-thrills cardio machine, so you won’t see a bunch of fancy touchscreens and streaming options on it, but it does come with some great performance specs.

Specifically, this bike comes with a 20 lb flywheel, 20 resistance levels, and a weight limit of 300 lb.

With a flywheel this heavy, the R92 can offer a smooth ride, while giving seniors who want a more strenuous workout the option to do so.

I also like the built-in handles at both the seat and the console, making it easy to access for seniors with mobility challenges.

As mentioned, the console is fairly simple, but it does come with a large screen for easy viewing and 9 or so built-in workout profiles.

Sole’s home warranty isn’t quite as generous as Spirit’s, but it’s still quite good for the price range: lifetime frame, 2 year parts, 1 year labor.

Overall, Sole’s R92 would make a good option for seniors looking for a straightforward recumbent bike that’s built for performance.

#3 Schwinn’s 230 Recumbent Bike

The above 2 options are great, but I understand we all don’t have $1k+ to put towards an exercise bike. Fortunately, there are some great bikes out there that cost a lot less.

Like Schwinn’s 230.

Actually, the 230 costs about half of what the previous models cost, but it still has a lot to offer seniors looking for an affordable bike.

In terms of comfort, the 230 has a large, vented backrest for added lumbar comfort and the low step-thru frame makes for easy access from either side.

When it comes to performance, the 230 doesn’t have as heavy a flywheel as the more expensive options mentioned, but at 13 lb, it comes with a respectable flywheel for this price range.

And with 16 resistance levels, it also offers a fair amount of freedom when it comes to tuning your workout intensity.

The console on the 230 is pretty basic (which might be a good thing), but it does come with 13 built-in workouts and is bluetooth compatible with heart rate monitors and some training apps.

Schwinn’s warranty is also quite generous given the cost – 10 year frame, 2 year parts, 90 day labor.

The biggest downside here, other than the lighter flywheel, is the fact that this bike only weighs about 80 lb, making it a lot lighter-duty than pricier options.

This means it may not feel quite as stable as heavier bikes, but the 230 is still as good as $600 recumbent bikes come.

FYI, Schwinn offers an updated model, the 290, which comes with a sleeker design and upgraded console, but personally, I still think the 230 is a better deal.

#4 Matrix’s Cycle R50

If you’re looking for a higher-end recumbent that resembles something you might find in a commercial gym, Matrix’s Cycle R50 is certainly worth considering.

Because when it comes to smooth operation and console features, this bike is at the top of the list… it also may be the most comfortable recumbent bike around.

At first glance, it’s hard to miss the huge backrest mounted on the seat, but besides being of (very) generous size, that backrest also reclines.

This means you can change the back rest angle to meet your needs – a great feature for seniors dealing with back problems.

The seat on the R50 is amazing, but Matrix’s Exact Force Induction Brake resistance system is equally impressive.

This elite magnetic resistance system is able to create a smooth, nearly silent pedal motion without the need for a heavily-weighted flywheel.

The result is smooth pedaling with even less stress on knee and hip joints.

Combine that with 30 levels of resistance and it’s easy to say the R50 can handle seniors of all fitness levels.

And I love how heavy-duty the frame of this recumbent is – with an assembled weight of 172 lb, users of all sizes will feel stable and secure during workouts.

Oh, and Matrix gives us 4 consoles to choose from, ranging from a simple LCD screen to a 22″ HD touchscreen loaded with all kinds of streaming apps and workout options.

And if that wasn’t enough, Matrix backs the R50 with one of the best warranties out there – lifetime frame, 7 year parts, 2 years labor.

What’s the catch?

Well, all this greatness comes with a hefty price tag – the base model starts at around $3500 and goes up significantly from there depending on which console you choose.

But if you want one of the most comfortable and luxurious recumbent bikes out there, it may be worth the investment.

#5 Sole’s LCR Recumbent Bike

Seniors that are looking for a sophisticated console, but working with a more moderate budget, may want to consider Sole’s LCR.

The LCR is the upgraded version of the R92 mentioned earlier and it comes with some key upgrades.

Most notably a heavier flywheel, more resistance levels, and a nicer console.

Specifically, this recumbent bike comes with a 31 lb flywheel, 40 levels of resistance, and a 10″ touchscreen console that comes loaded with free instructor-led workouts (Sole+), standard workout profiles, and screen-mirroring capabilities.

The back rest on this bike isn’t adjustable, but it is large and cushioned for added comfort.

And like the R92, the LCR also comes with those large handles/safety rails for added safety when getting on/off the bike.

With an assembled weight of 152 lb, the LCR is a robust bike that can safely hold riders weighing up to 350 lb.

And this is Sole, so of course this bike comes with a nice warranty as well (lifetime frame, 3 year parts, 1 year labor).

Overall, the LCR strikes a great balance between performance and console features.

I could see this being a great option for seniors who are interested in exploring instructor-led classes or who would like a more tech-savvy console.

#6 NordicTrack’s Commercial R35

NordicTrack is one of those brands we’re all likely familiar with. I mean, they’ve been around for a long time and you see their marketing everywhere.

They’ve also become one of the top fitness brands in the world.

That alone, doesn’t necessarily mean the brand is any good, but in this case, it does.

Personally, I think NordicTrack pushes their iFit streaming media too hard, but their equipment is still among some of the best on the market.

Anyway, the R35 is the only recumbent bike you’ll find them selling directly at the moment and it’s got a lot of great features for seniors.

For starters, this recumbent bike is pretty heavy-duty (weighs around 150 lb) and the low step-thru frame makes for easy access to the seat.

You’ll also notice the large back rest that has a little lumbar support built-in for added comfort.

The R35 is certainly designed with streaming workouts in mind, hence the 14″ HD touchscreen console, but it scores highly in the performance department too.

I like that it comes with a 25 lb flywheel and 26 resistance levels and the 350 lb weight limit is a good indicator of overall build quality.

With a sales price well under $1500, I think the R35 is priced fairly, so the biggest downside I see here is the warranty.

NordicTrack only offers a 10 year frame, 2 year parts, and 1 year labor guarantee – which honestly, isn’t bad, but it’s always nice to see a lifetime frame warranty.

Again, this bike is designed to pair with iFit, which gives you access to unlimited instructor-led workouts, metric tracking, scenic routes and all kinds of other cool features.

But iFit requires an ongoing monthly subscription fee to use it (~$39/month last time I checked).

Now you can definitely use the R35 without an iFit membership, but you’ll be limited to basically manual mode – which really wastes that huge touchscreen mounted in front.

So, personally, I don’t think it makes much sense to invest in the R35 if you don’t plan on using iFit.

But either way, the R35 is still a very nice recumbent bike and could be a great fit for seniors looking to explore streaming workouts.

#7 Niceday’s Recumbent Bike

Rounding out my list is an affordable recumbent sold through Amazon.

Honestly, there are a ton of these really affordable recumbents on Amazon and a lot of them come with really generic names that make them hard to differentiate from all the others.

But Niceday’s recumbent has been around for a while, comes with legit specs, and has earned a good reputation from users.

The price (~$500) makes this recumbent an attractive option, but I like that it comes with a 15 lb flywheel, 16 resistance levels, and an impressive 400 lb weight capacity.

I also like that the back rest has a little lumbar support built-in that the frame is pretty robust for a recumbent bike in this price range (weighs in at around 89 lb).

The console on this model is very simple and really only consists of a digital readout of your most basic metrics, but it does come with a large tablet holder allowing you to watch shows while you exercise.

Oh, and seniors/caregivers might appreciate how easy assembly is too.

The biggest downside is likely the warranty – you won’t find any specifics about Niceday’s warranty, which likely means they cover it with a 1 year guarantee.

This isn’t very long, but that’s pretty normal for this price range.

Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable recumbent bike that’s easy to setup and use, Niceday’s Recumbent Bike could be a good option.

What To Consider When Choosing A Recumbent Bike

I think the above options offer a great representation of the best recumbent bikes currently on the market, but seniors may still want to explore other options.

And there’s nothing wrong with that – after all, it’s smart to do your due diligence before making a final decision.

In any case, it’s a good idea to have a game plan when comparing different bikes and I suggest you consider the following when checking out different options:

Comfort

I hate to make assumptions, but I have to assume the primary reason anyone would consider opting for a recumbent bike is because of the added comfort they can provide.

So, it’s definitely a good idea to look for comfort features when considering any bike.

Pretty much all recumbents should come with step-thru frames these days, making them easier to get on/off of, but seats will vary widely.

When it comes to optimal comfort, look for:

• Wider, larger seats
• Extra-thick cushioning on seats
• Larger back rests
• Adjustable back rests
• Weighted pedals

And if you have an achy back, you might want to consider choosing a recumbent bike that comes with an adjustable angle back rest because these offer more adjustability, making it easier to find a comfortable riding position.

Resistance

Personally, I always tend to focus more on performance specs than console features, so I immediately look to the resistance systems when checking out any new bike.

Specifically, I like to look for the flywheel weight and the number of available resistance levels.

The flywheel is the part that rotates as you pedal and generally speaking, having a heavier flywheel is preferred because it makes for a smoother pedaling motion.

This is because the extra weight builds more momentum as the flywheel spins, which actually helps keep the pedals moving between pedal strokes.

The result is a smoother feel while pedaling.

That said, nicer bikes often don’t use heavy flywheels because they use more sophisticated resistance systems that can provide really nice feels without bulky flywheels.

How heavy is heavy enough?

That’s a tough one to answer, but if you’re looking for a bike with a smooth feel and that can provide a substantial amount of resistance when you need it, it’s a good idea to aim for at least a 15 lb flywheel.

It’s worth knowing though, that more affordable recumbents often come with lighter flywheels (10 – 15 lb range), while more expensive models tend to pack heavier flywheels (20 lb+).

Seniors simply looking for low intensity, gentle pedaling can certainly make do with lighter flywheels.

When it comes to resistance levels, having more is always a good thing because it gives you more control over the intensity of your workouts.

Now having more levels doesn’t mean the bike can offer more total resistance, but it does mean you can make smaller adjustments between levels.

Frame

A smooth-acting resistance system is important for enjoyable workouts, but so is having a durable frame.

After all, no senior wants a wobbly exercise bike that feels shaky every time they use it.

Now it can be hard to determine which bikes are heavy-duty and which aren’t from looking at pictures, but luckily, there are some key stats we can look for to get a better idea.

And these include the assembled weight and the weight capacity.

The assembled weight tells us exactly how much the bike weighs and seeing a heavier bike is always a good thing when it comes to stability (although yes, heavier bikes may be more difficult to move around).

Heavier bikes will usually feel more stable with less rocking or wobbling during use.

But how heavy is heavy enough?

Again, tough call because it can depend a lot on the design, but seeing an assembled weight of at least 100 lb is a good sign the bike will feel secure.

More affordable recumbents will often come with assembled weights in the 80 – 90 lb range, while more expensive recumbents will often weigh more in the 130 lb+ range.

When it comes to weight capacities, first and foremost you want to make sure the bike can safely hold any user in the home.

But seeing a higher weight limit is another good indicator of overall build quality.

Personally, I like to see a weight limit of at least 300 lb for any prospective bike.

Warranty

The warranty is like an insurance policy for your new bike and longer is always better.

Most fitness brands offer 3 different warranties for their recumbent bikes:

• Frame – this should be the longest because it’s the least likely to break down. Generous frame warranties will range anywhere from 10 years to lifetime coverage.
• Parts – this covers most components that aren’t considered part of the frame. Parts warranties will vary greatly from brand to brand, but impressive guarantees will offer 5 – 10 years on parts.
• Labor – this covers the cost to pay for service and it’s always the shortest part. Most brands will only offer 1 year for labor, although some may offer 2 years.

Warranty length usually coincides with cost, with affordable bikes offering shorter warranties and more expensive bikes offering longer guarantees.

When in doubt, go with the bike with the longer warranty.

Features

These days, seniors have a lot of options when it comes to console features, so it’s just a matter of knowing what you like.

A lot of brands are offering touchscreens and loads of built-in streaming options now, so if this is what you’re looking for, you shouldn’t have any problems finding it.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a simple console that doesn’t require a streaming membership, there are plenty of bikes offering this as well.

When comparing recumbents, you can expect to see the following features:

• Varying console sizes (touchscreen vs LCD)
• Bluetooth capabilities (apps and heart rate monitors)
• Workout programs
• Built-in speakers
• Cooling fans
• Tablet holders
• Water bottle holders

Additional Considerations Before Purchasing a Recumbent Bike

Size

Before you buy anything, you need to make sure you have enough room to actually use it in your home. Fortunately, recumbent bikes don’t take up that much floor space.

Your average home recumbent bike takes up a footprint of roughly 2.5′ x 4.5′.

If you’re dealing with limited space, you’ll want to check for the assembled dimensions of any prospective bike and measure out your floor space to make sure it’ll fit.

Oh, and when deciding on where you’re going to put it in your home, you’ll have to consider whether or not your bike needs to be plugged in.

Some recumbents need to be plugged in, others don’t – so make sure you check for this to see whether you’ll have to place it near an outlet or not.

Budget

I’m a realistic guy and realize that cost is going to be one of the most important considerations when making any recumbent bike purchase.

The good news though, is that you don’t have to spend tons of money to get a nice bike.

These days, you can find recumbent bikes in all price ranges, so regardless of your budget, odds are you’ll be able to find something to meet your needs.

Of course, it’s important to realize that you normally get what you pay for -cheaper bikes are usually cheaper for good reason.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect from different price ranges:

• $100 – $300: really affordable recumbents, expect light-weight flywheels, light-weight frames, very basic consoles, and short/non-existent warranties.
• $400 – $600: still affordable, but you should see heavier-duty frames, more console features, and better warranties. Flywheels will still be light (<15 lb).
• $1000 – $2000: moderately-priced recumbents, expect heavy flywheels (20 – 30 lb), heavier-duty frames, sophisticated consoles, and much better warranties. This price range is where you’ll find most of the top recumbent bikes for home use.
• $2000+ : luxury and commercial-grade recumbents, expect sophisticated resistance systems, well-built frames, additional comfort features, and generous warranties.

Precautions

Recumbent bikes are some of the safest, most senior-friendly exercise machines out there (second only to recumbent cross trainers), so most folks should be able to use them without any issues.

These bikes are very low-impact, so most seniors with arthritis or achy joints can often use them comfortably as well.

But if you have any cardiac issues or other medical conditions you’re not sure about, make sure to discuss with your physician.

A doctor can help determine if a recumbent bike is a good fit for your health needs and suggest an appropriate workout plan.

When in doubt, consult with your healthcare provider to make sure a recumbent bike is safe for your health.

Final Thoughts

Ok, I think that about does it.

I suggest recumbent bikes to a lot of my patients because they’re easy to use, affordable, and gentle on the joints.

All of this makes them a smart option for seniors looking to stay active and improve overall health.

The recumbent bikes mentioned in this guide are easily some of the best options out there for seniors, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other great bikes out there.

When comparing bikes, I encourage you to compare the important specs and features and go with one that has the most to offer for your price range.

And again, pay attention to those flywheel weights – even if you don’t plan on working against heavy resistances, heavier flywheels tend to provide a much better pedaling action.

I hope you found this guide helpful and as always, if you have any questions, comments, or know of any recumbents that deserve a spot on this list, please leave ’em below and I’ll get back to you soon.