Best Spin Bike Brands That You Should Know About
Indoor cycling has made its way to the top of many people’s exercise routines. And why not? It allows you to keep getting that cardio action without having to go through the pains of leaving home. It also allows for working out at just about any time of day so long as you don’t have noise-sensitive family members or neighbors. However, one of the challenges that many people face with these spin bikes nowadays is the variety of options they have to pick from.
How do they know whether a bike from Keiser or Sunny Health & Fitness is better? The brands that make these spin bikes can heavily influence what sort of features come with it, what the price is, how long it is covered with warranties and other crucial factors on just how enjoyable one of these bikes can be. That’s why we’ve decided to look over the best brands that make indoor cycling bikes, so you don’t have to.
We’re going to take various aspects that make up one of these spin bikes and compare them from brand to brand, making sure that you can tell which one is at the top, which one falls solidly into mid-table and which one is OK, but not fantastic. With all of that out of the way, let’s get into our list of the best brands that make spin bikes!
Top 8 Spin Bike Brands in 2021
Keiser
Name | Discontinued | Handlebars | Bluetooth | Flywheel | Resistance | Applications | Shelf |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle | No | Only Vertically Adjustable | No | 8-LB + Belt Drive | 24-Level Manual Magnetic Resistance | Not Compatible | No media tray |
Keiser M3+ Indoor Cycle | Yes | Vertically & Horizontally Adjustable | No | 8-LB + Belt Drive | 24-Level Manual Magnetic Resistance | Not Compatible | No media tray |
Keiser M3i Indoor Cycle | No | Vertically & Horizontally Adjustable | Yes | 8-LB + Belt Drive | 24-Level Manual Magnetic Resistance | Compatible | Included media tray |
Keiser M3ix Indoor Cycle | Yes | Only Vertically Adjustable (Pivoting) | Yes | 8-LB + Belt Drive | 24-Level Manual Magnetic Resistance | Compatible | No media tray |
Up first on our list of the best brands that make indoor bikes is the American brand that is used by the world’s top athletes and some of the best gyms available. Manufactured in California, the Keiser M3 indoor bikes focus on their magnetic resistance and light flywheel weights in order to give them their smooth yet challenging feel. All Keiser products (in the modern case, the M3 and M3i) come with a standard and effective warranty to back up the longevity of their products. It has a 10 year warranty on the frame, 3 year all-inclusive (excluding wearable parts and labour) warranty and a 90 day wearable parts warranty. Certainly a good package for those who want to make sure their products last. Keiser indoor cycling bikes can be acquired either on their website or through third party sellers like Amazon.
While Keiser does make some extremely good spin bikes, they aren’t perfect. They only have 4 models of spin bikes, all belonging to the M series. The M3, M3+, M3i and M3iX are all of them. As you might notice, if you aren’t a fan of the M series’ bikes, you’re out of luck. Because these bikes also happen to be made of and designed with some high-quality materials, they also tend to be quite expensive. The various iterations of the M3 (with the M3i and M3 being regarded as the best and second-best, respectively) all cost around $2000, give or take a couple of hundred dollars. The M3+ can only be found on retro bike shops these days, as it is so out of date. The Keiser M3i stand on the top of our list for the best spin bikes in 2021.
Life Fitness
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Life Fitness IC1 Indoor Cycle | $400 Overpriced at $900 | Backlit with RPM reading (sold separately) | Toe-cage | Vertically adjustable | Friction Resistance | Durable Built |
Life Fitness IC2 Indoor Cycle | $400 Overpriced at $1000 | Backlit with RPM reading (sold separately) | SPD dual-sided | Vertically adjustable | Friction Resistance | Durable Built |
Life Fitness IC3 Indoor Cycle | $550 Overpriced at $1200 | ANT+, Backlit with RPM reading (sold separately) | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable | Friction Resistance | Convenient bottle holders |
Life Fitness IC4 Indoor Cycle | $500 Overpriced at $1500 | No monitor for this model | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable | Magnetic Resistance | Convenient bottle holders |
Life Fitness IC5 Indoor Cycle | Good Value at $1900 | ANT+ and Bluetooth, backlit with RPM and Direct Watt | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable | Magnetic Resistance | Direct watt tracking |
Life Fitness IC6 Indoor Cycle | Good Value at $2000 | Self-powered, ANT+ and Bluetooth, backlit with RPM and Direct Watt | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable | Magnetic Resistance | Direct watt tracking |
Life Fitness IC7 Indoor Cycle | $500 Overpriced at $2700 | Self-powered, ANT+ and Bluetooth, backlit with RPM and Direct Watt | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable and Gas-assisted technology | Magnetic Resistance | Toothed belt and direct watt |
Life Fitness IC8 Indoor Cycle | $700 Overpriced at $3500 | Self-powered, ANT+ and Bluetooth, backlit with RPM and Direct Watt | SPD dual-sided | Fully adjustable and Gas-assisted technology | Magnetic Resistance | Right and left leg power balance, Free-wheel |
In second place are the spin bikes from the folks over at Life Fitness. Specifically, their IC series. They have done well throughout the ages making sure that these bikes evolve with the times, now with their 8th edition on the market. Made in China, the prices of these spin bikes range from $1700 (IC4) to $3300 (IC8), giving a decent range of prices for owners of all financial circumstances. These bikes come with a fine warranty of 5 years on the frame, 3 years on the electronic parts, and 1 year on the electronics. The IC1, IC2, IC3, IC4, IC5, IC6, IC7, and IC8 Indoor Cycles can all be acquired on their website, or on third-party sellers.
Admittedly, these bikes aren’t perfect. Their latest edition in the IC8 particularly seems to be receiving some rough reviews thanks to handlebars that don’t work properly and inconsistent Bluetooth connections. Despite the magnetic resistance, it is also apparently rather noisy, all of which should not be happening with a bike that is worth over $3000. That’s why it might be better to look at some of their past models in an attempt to find the ideal Life Fitness indoor cycle.
Stages
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stages SC1 Indoor Cycle | Good Value at $1700 | Optional: Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate, Time, and Distance | Dual-sided SPD Pedals | Fully adjustable | Magnetic resistance | Toothed belt and durable |
Stages SC2 Indoor Cycle | Good Value at $1800 | Optional: Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate, Time, and Distance | Dual-sided SPD Pedals | Fully adjustable | Magnetic Resistance with Sprint-Shif | Toothed belt and durable |
Stages SC3 Indoor Cycle | Good Value at $2500 | Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate , Time, and Distance | Dual-sided SPD Pedals | Fully adjustable with racing grips | Magnetic Resistance with Sprint-Shif | Self-Powered, toothed belt and direct watt |
Stages SB20 Indoor Cycle | Great Value at $2700 | No Monitor but syncs with apps: Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate, Time, and Distance | No pedals included | Fully adjustable with racing grips | Electromagnetic resistance | Smart, four crank length, toothed belt and direct watt |
Stages Solo Indoor Cycle | $500 Overprice at $3500 | 15" HD Touch, Distance, Kcal, Heart Rate, FTP, Effort Gauge, Accuracy & Total Accuracy Points, Watts, and Power Zones | Dual-sided SPD Pedals | Fully adjustable with racing grips | Magnetic Resistance with Sprint-Shif | HD display, toothed belt and direct watt |
Coming up in third place are the bikes from Stages. These Stages spin bikes can be primarily found on the Stages website, allowing you to see their full lineup of bikes. They have the main series of SC bikes, the SB20 and the Stages Solo bike to round out their catalog. These indoor bikes are all manufactured in China and come with warranties that reflect how much the company values each of them. The SC2 and SC3 bikes come with 15 year warranties on the frame, 10 year warranty on the carbon belt drive, 3 years on the mechanical systems and 1 year on the electronics. The SC1, Solo, and SB20 indoor bikes, all come with a nearly identical set, though with only 10 years on the frame.
These are all high-quality indoor cycling bikes, with their prices reflecting that. Their prices range from $1700 (with the SC1) and $4000 (Stages Solo). They will certainly cost you quite a pretty sum. One of their main features, the Stages SprintShift, also doesn’t work quite as well as advertised. It’s supposed to make switching resistances easier than turning a knob, but the effectiveness of that system is highly questionable. The SC series also has the major disadvantage of having no monitors/consoles whatsoever (often sold separately).
Mad Dogg
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spinner Chrono Power Spin Bike | Good Value at $2300 | Direct Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate , Time, and Distance | Dual-Sided SPD | Fully Adjustable | Magnetic | Bluetooth, ANT+, Tooth Belt, Direct Watt tracking |
Spinner Shift Spin Bike | $800 Overpriced at $1800 | There is no monitor | Dual-Sided SPD | Fully Adjustable | Friction | Commercial quality |
Spinner Ride Spin Bike | $800 Overpriced at $1500 | There is no monitor | Toe caged | Vertically Adjustable | Friction | Commercial quality |
Spinner A5 Spin Bike | $600 Overpriced at $1100 | There is no monitor | Toe caged | Fully Adjustable | Friction | Sleek design |
Now we reach those who termed indoor cycling as “spinning”. The various Spinner series of bikes are those that can be found in cycling classes and gyms across the country, having been made and shipped from China. If variety is what you are looking for, this is where you want to look. Whether it’s the L series, P series, A series or one of the independent bikes (like the recently released Chrono Power) there are so many different options to pick from. The prices reflect this variety, ranging from $400 to $2900, which can all be seen on the Spinning website.
While this variety might be great for the wallet, it does mean that the quality of the bikes are also all over the place. Some have advanced screens and Bluetooth connections, while others are a bike that sits indoors with nothing else on it. What does not vary is their warranty, which is poor. They have a 1 year warranty across all bikes, which would be reasonable for the cheaper bikes. Not quite the same for those that cost thousands. Choosing between the 15 different models can also be a bit of a chore, as you need to look at and compare all of them in your price range.
NordicTrack
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NordicTrack S22i Indoor Cycle | Great Value at $2000 | 22" HD Touch with Bluetooth connection, displaying cadence, power, kcals heart rate, time and distance | Cage-integrated pedals | Vertical adjustment with weights | 24-Levels Electromagnetic | Built-in controls on the handlebars and smart incline/decline |
NordicTrack S15i Indoor Cycle | Great Value at $1500 | 15" HD Touch with Bluetooth connection, displaying cadence, power, kcals heart rate, time and distance | Cage-integrated pedals | Vertical adjustment with weights | 24-Levels Electromagnetic | Built-in controls on the handlebars and smart incline/decline |
NordicTrack enters the ring with their commercial series of S studio cycles. The more premium and high-profile of these two is the S22i cycle, with both it and the S15i cycle being made in China. They come with a fancy touchscreen and subscription to the iFit training program In fact, the technology of these bikes are what sets them apart. Accessing Google maps for new views, daily fitness challenges, stat tracking and other perks from the screens Both have a 10 year warranty on the frame, 2 year parts warranty and a 1 year labour warranty. They can be found on NordicTrack’s website and Amazon.
There aren’t a whole lot of downsides to the NordicTrack commercial spin bikes. The lack of choice might be a concern for some, but considering how good these bikes are, you really won’t have a hard time finding the good in each. The S15i and S22i do cost $1600 and $2000 respectively, which means they aren’t exactly for those who are looking for budget bikes. The fact that you have to continue subscribing to get the benefits of iFit is also a downside for those who like money (and who doesn’t?).
Peloton
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peloton Bike Original | Good Value at $1500 | 22" HD Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate , Time, and Distance | Look Delta Pedals | Vertically Adjustable with Weights | Manual Magnetic | Bottle holder and weight holder |
Peloton Bike Plus | Overpriced at $2500 | 23" HD Watts, RPM, Speed, Heart Rate , Time, and Distance | Look Delta Pedals | Vertically Adjustable with Weights | Motorized Magnetic | Bottle holder and weight holder |
Perhaps the most renowned brand on this list, (and any other best quality indoor bike manufacturers’ list) Peloton is known throughout the world of indoor cycling. The cultish following that the Chinese-made bike seems to have truly taken off over the past decade, thanks to it’s subscription to different classes and quality build. The service offers a variety of themes, workouts, instructors and all sorts of other bits and pieces in order to allow you to have whatever workout you want. While Peloton does only have a single model of their bike, this service has done so well to keep that model relevant thanks to it’s subscription model.
However, that does lead us to the negatives. First, no matter what package you buy from Peloton, you get a 1 year limited warranty. That’s pretty darn sad for a company and brand of such repute. The other issue that some might have is their method of purchase. They offer 4 different packages, with each increasing the amount of accessories that comes with the bike. The fact that you also have to continue paying to get access to the various workout programs and instructors is also a negative, because the cheapest level of the Peloton already costs $2245. That cost will only go up with their subscription model.
Schwinn Fitness
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Wheel | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schwinn IC2 Indoor Cycle | Overpriced | Distance, Time, Calories, not backlit | Cage-integrated pedals | Fixed | Friction, Chain Transmission | None |
Schwinn IC3 Indoor Cycle | Overpriced | RPM, heart rate, distance, time, calories, not backlit | SPD clipless and cage | Fixed | Friction, Poly-V Belt Transmission | None |
Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycle | Great Value | Bluetooth, Resistance, RPM, distance, time, HR, Calories | SPD clipless and cage | Fixed | Magnetic, Poly-V Belt Transmission | Bluetooth & Dumbbell holder |
AC Sport Indoor Cycling Bike w/ Chain Drive | Overpriced | Mpower Echelon2 and Cadence Pro Compatible (not included) | SPD clipless and cage | Fixed | Magnetic, Chain Transmission | Aluminum frame |
AC Sport Indoor Cycling Bike w/ Carbon Drive | Overpriced | Mpower Echelon2 and Cadence Pro Compatible (not included) | SPD clipless and cage | Fixed | Magnetic, Carbon Belt Transmission | Aluminum frame & Toothed Transmission |
Schwinn AC Performance Plus w/ Chin Drive | Overpriced | MPower Echelon Compatible (not included) | SPD clipless and cage | Free (Smart Release System) | Magnetic, Chain Transmission | Aluminum frame |
Schwinn AC Performance Plus w/ Carbon Drive | Overpriced | MPower Echelon Compatible (not included) | SPD clipless and cage | Free (Smart Release System) | Magnetic, Carbon Belt Transmission | Aluminum frame & Toothed Transmission |
Schwinn AC Power w/ Carbon Drive | Good Value | MPower Echelon 2G Comes Included | SPD clipless and cage | Free (Smart Release System) | Magnetic, Carbon Belt Transmission | Aluminum frame & Toothed Transmission |
As we near the end of our comparison of the best brands that make indoor cycling bikes, we reach Schwinn Fitness spin bikes. Their main line is currently the IC series, consisting of the IC2, IC3 and IC4 indoor cycles. Then there’s the AC Sport, AC Sport with Carbon Blue, AC Performance Plus and AC Performance Plus with Carbon Blue, with all of these bikes being made in China. All of these bikes perform well while riding them, but have different levels of technological advancements. They can have computers, Bluetooth connections and heart rate monitors, though these are not present in the IC3 and IC2. AC Performances and IC3 come with a 10 year warranty on the frame, 3 year warranty on the mechanical and electronic parts and 1 year warranty on the labor. The IC3 and IC2 come with a 5 year warranty on the frame, 2/1 year warranty on the parts and a 1 year/90 day warranty on the labour. All except for the Performance bikes are also relatively cheap, ranging from $300 to $900.
The downside to Schwinn is that there is a pretty wide gap between the budget options and the top-tiers. The IC3 and IC2 aren’t even magnetic resistance, much less having Bluetooth connections. However, the IC4 and Performance bikes do offer better deals and warranties. The fact that there is this divide in one brand rather than having a nice middle ground is disappointing.
Sunny Health and Fitness
Name | Verdict | Monitor | Pedals | Adjustment | Resistance | Extras |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASUNA Minotaur Spin Bike 7150 | $300 Overpriced at $1200 | Don't have one | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Commercial quality and convenient bottle holders |
ASUNA Sprinting Spin Bike 6100 | $150 Overpriced at $1000 | RPM, HR, distance, speed, time, and calories (no backlit) | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable with drop handles | Magnetic | Tablet holder, aluminium posts, convenient bottle holders |
ASUNA Lancer Spin Bike 7130 | $300 Overpriced at $900 | Don't have one | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Durable |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1913 | Good Value at $750 | RPM, HR, distance, speed, time, and calories (no backlit) | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Tablet holder, RPM, and SPD |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1986 | Good Value at $750 | Don't have one | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Tablet holder, RPM, and SPD |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1709 | Good Value at $600 | RPM, HR, distance, speed, time, and calories (no backlit) | SPD and toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable with drop handles | Magnetic | RPM reading and SPD pedals |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805 | $100 Overpriced at $600 | Don't have one | Toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Tablet Holder |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1714 | $200 Overpriced at $700 | Don't have one | Toe-cage compatible | Fully adjustable | Magnetic | Durable |
Finally, we have the various bikes from Sunny Health & Fitness. Specifically, we’re going to be looking at the ASUNA series, the Evolution Pro, and the SF-B1913 and SF-B1709. Sunny Health & Fitness has their bikes made in China like just about everyone else, with prices and warranties that often offer better deals to those who are looking for a bargain. The standard warranty on a SH&F bike is 15 years on the frame with 180 days on the parts. These specific bikes that we’ve chosen to look at are some of the higher-tier bikes that’ll keep sturdy underneath just about anyone.
The downside of Sunny Health & Fitness bikes are that they don’t tend to look at innovating or adding anything new to the spin bike catalogue. Even with their relatively advanced ASUNA Minotaur, it doesn’t do much else that can’t be found on other spin bikes in a “better” manner. The standardized warranty on these bikes are also a pro and a con. It means the cheaper models get a better warranty than their competitors, while the more expensive bikes get a worse one.
Bowflex Fitness
Name | Image | Price | Display | Statestics | Leaning | Lock | Connectivity | Applications | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bowflex Velocore 22 | $2200 | 22" HD touchscreen | Time, distance, calories, burn rate, heart rate, RPM, resistance, lean, and watts | Yes | With Flywheel Lock | Bluetooth and WiFi | Netflix, Youtube, Zwift, Peloton, and More | Third-part apps work on the screen if you are subscribed to JRNY ($20 monthly) | |
Bowflex Velocore 16 | $1900 | 16" HD touchscreen | Time, distance, calories, burn rate, heart rate, RPM, resistance, lean, and watts | Yes | With Flywheel Lock | Bluetooth and WiFi | Netflix, Youtube, Zwift, Peloton, and More | Third-part apps work on the screen if you are subscribed to JRNY ($20 monthly) | |
Bowflex C7 | $999 | 7" HD touchscreen | Time, distance, calories, heart rate, RPM, intervals, and resistance, | No | No | Bluetooth and WiFi | Netflix, Youtube, Zwift, Peloton, and More | Third-part apps work on the screen if you are subscribed to JRNY ($20 monthly) | |
Bowflex C6 | $699 | LED Console | Time, distance, calories, heart rate, RPM, and resistance, | No | No | Bluetooth | Peloton and Zwift | LED console, apps can't be installed on the bike's console |
Bowflex has been around the indoor cycling field for a while now. However, it’s only recently that we have seen some next level of innovation that they are bringing to that field. Their Velocore 22 and Velocore 16 bikes in particular have set an impressive precedent for future bikes to follow on account of their ability to lean back and forth.
Today, we’re going to compare the two versions of the Velocore bikes and the two other mainline Bowflex indoor cycling bikes: the Bowflex C6 and the Bowflex C7. Obviously, the two Velocore bikes will be rather similar to one another, but we think that it would be beneficial for all four of these bikes to be compared in order to see which one truly comes out on top.
After all, everyone is looking for which Bowflex exercise bike provides the best experience for the money. That’s what we’re here to figure out. So without further delay, let’s hop into our comparison of the Bowflex indoor cycling bikes!
I saw one with the name Spinning on the frame is that any good and is that the brand name.
Hi Richard
These days many bikes have the name spinning printed on the frame, it’s not necessarily the brand name. If you send us the image of the bike, we should be able to help. By the way, the Nordictrack S15i is on offer and available for less than $700, check that out, it’s a great bike with cool features. The link is on the sidebar of the site (best black Friday deals).