The Best Budget Spin Bikes in the United Kingdom I Tried
Searching for the best budget indoor cycling bike in the United Kingdom but you don’t know where to start? We’ve brought 10 of the most affordable spin bikes on the UK market to one place and compiled all the important information right here for your convenience
Winter can be a brutal time, especially in the cold reaches of the United Kingdom. Thus, people might not want to leave their warm and comfortable homes to go exercise outside. Instead, they might want to look into investing in pieces of exercise equipment that will keep them nice and warm. Spin bikes have become some of the ideal purchases for these people in recent times. However, people don’t want to spend an absolute fortune on them.
That’s why we’re taking a look at the best budget indoor cycling bikes in the United Kingdom. We’re going to judge them based on what is offered, how stable it is, and how much it costs. Once we get through the list, we’re going to talk about some individual elements you should measure and base your choice on. Then we’re going to end by giving our final verdict on just what the best low-cost indoor cycling bike in the UK is. Let’s get underway, shall we?
Best Low-Cost Spin Bike in The UK Compared
| Name | Verdict | Capacity | Monitor | Resistance | Pedals | Connectivity | Flywheel | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joroto X2 Pro Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike | Best value | 130 Kgs | RPM, HR, Distance, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | Bluetooth | 15 kg | Tablet holder and good handlebars |
| Sunny HF SF-B1709 Indoor Cycling Bike | Good value | 130 Kgs | HR, RPM, Distance, Speed, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged and SPD | N/A | 4 kg | Drop handlebars and rear flywheel design |
| Sunny HF SF-B1805 Indoor Cycling Bike | Good value | 130 Kgs | No monitor | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/a | 20 kg | Tablet Holder |
| JLL IC300 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike | Great value | 130 Kgs | RPM, HR, Speed, Distance, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 20 kg | RPM reading and heavy flywheel |
| Bluefin Budget Indoor Exercise Bike | Good value | 130 Kgs | HR, Distance, RPM, Speed, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Friction resistance | Toe-caged only | Bluetooth | 25 kg | Tablet holder |
| Dripex 2021 Magnetic Exercise Bike | Great value | 150 Kgs | HR, Distance, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 15.8 kg | Tablet holder and affordable price |
| JLL IC200 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike | Great value | 100 Kgs | HR, Distance, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 7 kg | Child-safe covered flywheel and affordable price |
| Dripex Affordable Indoor Cycling Bike | Good Value | 120 Kgs | HR, Distance, Speed, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 10 kg | Tablet holder |
| Labgrey Budget Indoor Cycling Bike | Overpriced | 150 Kgs | HR, Distance, Speed, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Magnetic resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 15 kg | Tablet holder |
| UK Fitness Indoor Exercise Bike | Overpriced | 100 Kgs | HR, Distance, Speed, Calories, Time, (no backlit) | Friction resistance | Toe-caged only | N/A | 13 kg | Tablet holder and 3 Month Membership to Studio Sweat classes |
Top 10 Budget Indoor Bikes in the UK:
JOROTO X2PRO Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Now we know what you might be thinking here and no, this is not the same as our first pick. This one is relatively a new budget indoor bike in the UK market with some differences, the main one being the Bluetooth connectivity and tablet holder.
The “JOROTO X2 PRO” is one of the most recent Joroto indoor cycling bikes that offers plenty for the cost. The Pro version has Bluetooth for Zwift and Kinompa connectivity which was missing on the Joroto x2 model.
However, we’d like a bit less focus on the online classes as they come with cost and you’ll have to pay to continue that subscription to get classes. However, it’s still a solid machine that you can use to get plenty of fit without any online membership.
As for how much space the JOROTO X2PRO indoor bike takes up, it is a smaller size than the IC300. Its dimensions measure about 40 inches (102 cm) long and 20 inches (51 cm) wide. It’s also a lighter bike than our first pick, weighing only 41 kg and having a maximum weight limit of 130 kg (300 lbs).
If you are between 150 cm to 195 cm, you should ble able to adjust this budget indoor bike for your height. If you are shorter and your inseam is 27.5″, you will still be able to fit the bike because at the end of the day, it’s your inseam that matters the most when fitting an indoor cycling bike.
Although the monitor may not look anything special, it does more than any other indoor cycle in this article. Featuring Bluetooth and tracking most of the essential workouts. The monitor counts RPM, time, speed, distance, and calories. It can also help track your pulse thanks to sensors that it has in the (4-way adjustable) handlebars.
There isn’t too much to say about the pedals or seat. They are both simply average and don’t have any sort of special features like a clip-in area to use specific indoor cycling shoes. But thankfully the bike has standard 9/16 pedal thread so you should be able to get a set of indoor cycling clip-in pedals in the UK for as little easily. That’s of course if you are planning to ride the bike with clip-in indoor cycling shoes otherwise you can use your regular gym shoes without having to change the pedals.
Sunny SF-B1709 Indoor Cycling Bike
We now reach the beginning of Sunny Health and Fitness indoor cycling bikes section. The Sunny SF-B1709 Indoor Bike offers many of the core elements of the others, though just a little bit of a different design and nicer handlebars with drop grips.
At roughly 400 BP, the Sunny HF SF-B1709 is a budget model and it only has 13 magnetic resistance levels which offer less verity compared to Joroto and the other Sunny indoor bikes. Similarly, it combines with the belt drive in order to create that smoother workout that you’d find on those upper levels of bikes.
Instead of the usual manual knob adjustment system, it has a lever that you push up to lower the resistance and push down to increase the resistance. It has a 4 kg flywheel which most people might find the main drawback of the bike. But I think it also has pros such as less bike weight, less bearing maintenance, and more importantly less impact on the knees.
It’s probably not ideal if you like to do high-intensity workouts with lots of momentum but otherwise, its light flywheel has its own advantages. Once again, it isn’t the heaviest spin bike flywheel but it certainly has many competitors and does the job that is asked of it. Even the Keiser M3i which is the industry’s one of the best seller indoor cycling bikes in the UK has around the same flywheel.
The dimensions are 53 inches (135 cm) long and 23 inches (60 cm) wide. It takes a little more space than the other budget indoor bikes I tried and reviewed in the UK and it’s because of its rear-drive flywheel. Again, a rear-drive frame has its pros such as more stability and less maintenance because it’s away from the rider’s sweat zone.
It’s one of the lightest indoor cycling bike in this list weighing at a good 40 kg (89 lbs). However, it can hold up to 130 kg (300 lbs) for long-term endurance. If you are anywhere from 152 cm to 195 cm and under 130 kg, you should fit this bike without any hassle or overstretching. But to be 100% certain, I suggest measuring your inseam to make sure you are between 28″ to 39″ (71cm to 99cm).
The monitor doesn’t have Bluetooth to connect the bike to online exercise bike applications, but it does count your cadence, time, speed, distance, heart rate, and calories. Once again, the 4-way adjustable handlebars have heart rate sensors. Other than that, there isn’t too much tech integrated in here.
The seat is more comfortable than Dripex and JLL exercise bikes because it has an almost 8cm foam cushion and breathable design but if you still need more padding and support from the seat, it can be fixed with an exercise bike seat cover.
One thing I got with this budget indoor exercise bike that wasn’t included with the other models was its dual-sided spd and cage pedals. I didn’t use the spd pedals but I could if I wanted because it has a clipping area. It’s a nice bounce and helps you save around 50 Pound Stirling.
Just keep in mind that the clipping area is for SPD/MTB indoor cycling cleats, not for SPD-SL or Look Delta. If you have those cleats and indoor cycling shoes, you will need to swap the pedals with 9/16 Look or SL pedals.
Sunny SF-B1805 Budget Indoor Exercise Bike
We’re finally going to finish the last model from the Sunny Health and Fitness series of budget indoor bikes in the UK and look at one of the most popular models that I also happen to like. The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1805 indoor exercise bike is one of those that you would be rather unlikely to find unless you were searching for spin bikes on a budget in the UK.
The resistance system of the SF-B1805 is magnetic and manually adjustable via its knob. It doesn’t adjust automatically via any button or controls because there are no electronic parts involved but it’s smoother and nearly silent compared to the Bluefin bike.
It has a belt drive system which is pretty quiet and low maintenance as it doesn’t need oiling. The flywheel itself is also pretty impressive at 20 kg (44 lbs). There is lots of momentum and resistance which makes the ride a bit more challenging so if you have bad knees or don’t have much leg strength, it may not be a good idea to buy this model.
Fortunately, the dimensions are more straightforward. It measures out to be 45 inches (128 cm) long and 23 inches (55 cm) wide. It weighs a fairly light 30 kg (66 lbs). The maximum user weight is a fairly impressive 136 kg (300 lbs). Nothing wrong in regards to these elements and standard size for most exercise bikes in the UK that I have seen.
You don’t get any monitor on the SF-B1805 indoor bike which is good for those who want to stay away from electronics and don’t want to deal with electric cords or batteries. But if you want to see your progress, you can either buy the SF-B1805 Smart bike which is the same bike except with a Bluetooth monitor or you can buy a set of wireless cadence and speed sensors and attach them to the bike.
The handlebars are vertically adjustable and also the seat is adjustable both vertically and horizontally. It has a much wider adjustment range so if you are anywhere from 152 to 192, you should be able to fit the bike. But to make sure, I suggest that you measure your inseam and see if it’s within the recommended range of 71cm to 96cm. You also get a tablet holder on top of the handlebars which fits pretty much all tablet devices up to 15 inches.
JLL IC300 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike
Seen in several top magnetic indoor bike reviews in the UK, the JLL IC300 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike comes in fourth on our list of the best budget spin bikes in the UK. The first of many JLL bikes on this list, you’ll find that they often keep a high level of quality in their machines for a relatively modest price. And this one is the best of them.
The resistance is manually adjusted magnetic with a belt drive used in order to make the process that much smoother and quieter. It doesn’t change automatically as Echelon EX3 does on Zwift uphills and downhills because it doesn’t have an electronic motor.
I am not disappointed because I have never seen any budget indoor bikes in the UK with motorized resistance. So, unless you are ready to spend at least 600 British Pounds, you should forget about automatic/motorized resistance.
As for the flywheel that the bike uses, it weighs a nice 20 kg (44 lbs). It’s really heavy and requires a bit more effort to start pedaling but once you start, there is a pleasant momentum and there is no jerky move. The resistance can be adjusted manually thanks to the knob that sits right below the handlebars. You can also use the knob to push down for emergency braking.
It isn’t the largest spin bike you’ll find out there especially compared to rear-drive indoor cycling bikes in the UK like Keiser M3i and Life Fitness IC7, which is pleasant for those with smaller homes. Its dimensions measure to be 51.5 inches (131 cm) long, 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 44 inches (112 cm) tall. The bike itself weighs 45 kg (99 lbs) and has a maximum user weight of 130 kg (286 lbs).
The IC300 Pro indoor bike is pretty comfortable compared to UK Fitness and Ovix indoor bikes and it’s mainly because its saddle is cushioned with an airflow design that also makes it prostate-friendly. It also allows 4-way adjustability so you can have a decent bike set up. The handlebars are less brilliant, just vertically adjustable and shaped strangely. I had to lean too far forward to reach the handlebars properly. You’ve also got a computer that will track stats like RPM, time, speed, and distance but doesn’t do too much else like Zwift connection or data storage.
Bluefin Fitness Tour SP Indoor Cycling Bike
In fifth place, we have a contestant from Bluefin Fitness. This indoor cycling bike serves as a good example of what can come with some outer technology in addition to what is already built into the bike. One of the first things you’ll note about the bike is that it just looks sleek. The silver and black design reminds you less of an injury and more of a futuristic gym in your own home.
Although it has a friction resistance, you’ll find that the resistance of the Bluefin indoor cycle is ultra smooth compared to other friction spin bikes (still not as smooth as magnetic resistance). This is primarily thanks to the combination of a belt drive and good-quality wool pads used for resistance.
You’ll barely hear this budget exercise spin cycle in the UK, even as you exercise standing with high resistance right on top of it. The resistance settings can be changed through the knob that sits right below the handlebars. As for the weight of the flywheel, you’ll find that it is a fairly big 25kg. This and the strong resistance can challenge even experienced cyclists.
As for how much space the bike takes up, it is a smaller size than the Sunny SF-B1709. Its dimensions measure about 110 cm long and 55 cm wide. It’s also a heavier bike than our third pick, weighing about 50 kg and having a maximum weight limit of 120 kg.
Although it adjusts horizontally and vertically on the handlebars and the saddle, the actual range of adjustment is very limited so only users between 5′.8″ to 6’3″ can achieve a decent bike fit. If you are shorter or taller, I suggest you consider the Sunny or Joroto indoor bike, they both fit a wider range of indoor cyclists.
Perhaps the best part about this low-cost indoor cycling bike in the UK is the monitor and tablet holder. The monitor alone will track your cadence, speed, distance, calories burned and heart rate. It has Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect to Zwift as a Power meter or even better, connect it to the QZ application and then connect the QZ to Zwift as rpm, speed, watt, and heart rate.
If you are within the recommended height range, the handlebars are comfortable enough and adjustable 4 ways but the seat is pretty hard and uncomfortable. I would suggest you invest in an indoor cycling replacement seat, preferably one that fits best your gender and body shape.
Dripex Magnetic Cycling Exercise Bike
And we’ve arrived at the third of our best budget spin bikes in the UK. The Dripex Exercise Bike is a fairly compact bike that does a simple job and gets out before making it complicated. It is an upgraded version with a heavier flywheel, magnetic resistance and nicer look.
The type of resistance that comes with this affordable home stationary indoor bike in the UK happens to be of the low-maintenance magnetic variety. It uses a belt drive in an attempt to make the entire operation quieter and has a 9 kg (20 lbs). There’s even an emergency brake that you can stop with if you are in a rush. All of the resistance can be adjusted through the familiar knob underneath the handlebars.
The Dripex spin bike measures out to 40 inches (102 cm) long, 20.6 inches (52.5 cm) wide and 40 inches tall (102 cm). For the size, it’s kind of a lightweight bike, sitting at 28 kg (61 lbs). The maximum weight that it can hold is right around 135 kg (300 lbs). This is nice and high, we’re glad to report.
There is a small monitor that will record and display stats like your exercise time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse through the handlebars. The seat is adjustable 4-ways, while the handlebars are only adjustable 2. The pedals are caged and anti-skid, but that’s it.
JLL IC200 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike
You might be seeing a pattern on who offers the better options for inexpensive spin bikes in the UK. Up next we have the JLL IC200 Pro Indoor Cycling Bike. While the gray/silver look of the bike isn’t that appealing, the workout you get while onboard is.
As seems to be the theme with JLL, the Pro version of this Affordable indoor cycling bikes in the UK also has magnetic resistance. You can adjust the 8 levels of resistance through the knob that sits right beneath the handlebars, while the belt-driven system will make sure that the entire operation remains silent. All of this rides on the back of a 7 kg (15 lb) flywheel. While this might not seem like a lot, it can still offer an excellent amount of resistance for the cyclist.
The dimensions of the IC200 Pro are fairly straightforward. You’ll find that it is 48.5 inches(122.5 cm) long, 22 inches (55.5 cm) wide and 48 inches (122.5 cm) tall. It weighs 30 kg (60 lbs), while it has been tested to comfortably hold 100 kg (220 lb) of weight. This doesn’t mean that it’ll collapse at 102 kg (225 lbs), but it is better for the bike to simply stay under that weight.
The monitor is the same as mentioned above. You can track time, speed, distance and calories while also seeing your heart rate from the handlebars. Once again, these are adjustable only vertically while the seat is 4-way adjustable. Nothing to report about the pedals; just caged pedals by default.
Dripex Affordable Indoor Cycling Bike
This budget indoor cycling bike in the United Kingdom from Dripex is another of those brands that you don’t often see reach the spotlight. However, it has certain elements that are most certainly beneficial to those who are willing to invest in it. The cool blue and black colour combos are just one of those.
Unlike the GT.team bike, the Dripex indoor cycling bike actually appears to claim what resistance type it uses. We’ve looked all around, and we found that states that the “ Resistance is controlled Magnetically” which gives you the experience of a realistic, real-road feeling of the stationary bike. We also know that it uses a belt drive and has either a 10 kg (22 lb) flywheel or an 8 kg (17.6 lb) flywheel.
The dimensions are much easier to track. The Dripex spin bike measures out to be 43 inches (110 cm) long, 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 43 inches (110 cm) tall. The bike itself has a gross weight of 27.2 kg (60 lbs), while it has a maximum weight limit of 125 kg (300 lbs). You will also find that it is able to hold people of many different heights as well.
The monitor that comes with the Dripex spin bike is quite simple. It’s an LCD display that shows your time, calories burned, distance and speed. You can also track your heart rate through sensors on the handlebars. The seat is adjustable 4 ways and is fairly comfortable. The pedals have an aluminum non-slip surface, but that’s all they have. No SPD-compatibility or anything like that.
Labgrey Indoor Cycling Bike in the UK
Up next is the Labgrey indoor cycling bike. There are two colour options with this budget spin exercise bike in the UK. Funnily enough, there’s a £10 difference between them, with the white option being cheaper. Why? We’re not entirely sure.
The type of resistance onboard the Labgrey spin bike is a magnetic one. It uses a couple of magnets that get close on the 15 kg (35 lb) flywheel, while the belt drive system makes it all a much quieter process. You adjust the resistance through a knob that sits beneath the handlebars.
The dimensions of this bike are pretty straightforward. It measures out to be 40.5 inches (103 cm) long, 21.45 inches (54 cm) wide and 44.5 inches (113 cm) tall. The Labgrey indoor cycling bike weighs 59.5 lbs (27 kg) and has a maximum user weight of 330 lbs (150 kg). This is much more than most budget indoor cycling bikes in the UK features here.
There is a monitor onboard this budget spinning bike in the UK. It’ll show you the scan, speed, time, distance, calories and pulse thanks to the heart rate monitors in the handlebars. The seat is 4-way adjustable, while the handlebars are 2-way adjustable. The seat is leather padded (though not particularly comfortable), while the pedals are reversible.
UK Fitness Indoor Exercise Bike
This bike is extremely similar to the Black and Blue version that we mentioned earlier. However, it has certain weaknesses that separate it from it’s compatriot.
This bike has friction resistance with a 13 kg (28.6 lbs) flywheel and fixed belt drive. This does equate to a fairly quiet workout, though we would prefer the resistance system be magnetic. It would just lead to less maintenance issues.
The dimensions of this UK Fitness spin bike are (102 cm) long, (50 cm) wide and (103 cm) tall. The weight is a meaty 35 kg (77 lbs), while the maximum weight it can hold is 100 kg (220 lbs). That’s somewhat less impressive, but still decent.
The monitor still comes with the membership to Studio SWEAT onDemand, although it still only lasts for 3 months before you have to pay. The monitor can also track stats like RPM, time, speed and distance. There are water bottle and tablet holders available on board as well. The pedals are caged and anti-slip, while the seat is adjustable 4-ways and handlebars 2-ways.
Buying Guide to Find an Inexpensive Indoor Bike in the UK
Now we’re going to state some of the individual components you should look at to make sure the bike you are interested in is right for you.
Type of Resistance: You either get magnetic or friction in this range, with the latter being more common. However, magnetic resistance is usually seen as superior because of the lack of maintenance it requires.
Monitor: These monitors usually display basic statistics and that’s it. Anything such as Bluetooth connectivity, RPM and speed readings are are a bonus.
Price: Since these are all budget indoor bikes in Britain, it generally depends on you for how much you are willing to pay. Some are lighter on the wallet than others. Note that less expensive doesn’t necessarily mean less quality.
Adjustability: You want to make sure that you can comfortably fit on the bike. However, none of these inexpensive spin bikes in the UK have handlebars that can do anything but move up and down.
Final Verdict
If you want the best from budget spin bikes in the UK, go for the Joroto X2Pro. It has magnetic resistance and other elements that simply makes it better than the other options at this price range. However, if you are not willing to invest that much in it, there are cheaper alternatives that offer a similar sort of experience (mostly from Sunny Health and Fitness). Now get out there and get cycling!