Best Magnetic Resistance Spin Bikes in Canada (May 2023)
One of the easiest and most efficient ways of getting a great workout is with a magnetic stationary bike, but it can be hard to know which spin bikes with magnetic resistance in Canada will fit your needs. Whether training for a race, using it to supplement a regular outdoor cycling routine, or making it a part of an overall workout agenda indoor cycling can offer a varied and intense exercise to strengthen and improve your health and lifestyle.
This is why we made tried several indoor cycling bikes and this list of top magnetic resistance indoor bike reviews in Canada. Cycling offers an almost complete body workout and any athlete, trainer, or average Joe who wants to be healthier should consider having one in their home gym.
There are a lot of variations to consider when deciding on which bike is right for you so we wanted to provide you with a magnetic resistance spin bikes review and comparison list. Some of those things will be obvious enough, such as the handlebar shape or the seat contours, but there are also things that someone just starting may not know.
For example, there are some magnetic indoor exercise bikes in Canada with belt drives and some with chain drives. While a chain drive will have a more outdoor, real cycling feel, the belt drive offers a quieter and smoother ride, and less maintenance. There’s also the Q-factor. This is the distance between the pedals and can make or break the comfort of your workout. Here is the list of what we consider the best magnetic spin bikes in Canada.
Comparison Chart of the Best Magnetic Indoor Bikes in Canada
Top 10 Magnetic Resistance Spinning Bikes in Canada:
Keiser M3i Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike
The Keiser M3i bike‘s V-shape frame is a favorite for studio cycling membership gyms as well as home gyms, and easily makes the top of our list as the best magnetic resistance spin bikes in Canada. It’s mainly because it can fit anyone from short to tall.
Assembly was incredibly easy and it comes packed neatly and conveniently. Its handle design allows you to grip it in a variety of ways for the most comfort and ease of use. Whether you’re training for a race, trying to build your strength, or want to lose some pounds the Keiser M3i has you covered. It also has curved crank arms to accommodate different footwear for those who like to use multipurpose fitness shoes.
This spin bike with magnetic resistance in Canada fits everyone from 4 feet, 10 inches to 7 feet tall, and up to 350 pounds (160kg) in weight. It has a Q-factor of 197mm, making it wider than many, but not the widest on our list and the perfect middle ground for those with wider or narrower shapes.
The aluminum flywheel is only 8 pounds and it uses a Poly-V belt drive for a smooth and quiet workout. I know it’s a lightweight flywheel and has less momentum but it’s also easier on knees and hips. Plus, it has less maintenance because there is less pressure on the bearings compared to some indoor bikes in Canada that have 20kg (45lb) flywheels.
The handlebars can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally, and there is a convenient bottle holder to stay hydrated while exercising. The magnetic resistance is adjustable with 24 levels with a lever which is easier and more precise to use compared to knobs. Although I am happy it displays your current resistance level on the bike’ console, I wish it was also automatically adjustable like Nordictrack and Echelon indoor bikes.
The pedals are dual-sided to work with SPD cycling shoes as well as a toe cage for regular shoes. You can also adjust the clipping tension with the tool that comes with the bike. To be honest, M3i’s pedals are the highest quality pedals I have seen when reviewing the best magnetic indoor cycling bikes in Canada. They are made of high-quality steel with durable no-slip cages.
The limited warranty covers the frame for ten years and the displays, processor boxes, and cylinders for three years. It also covers the bearings and pulleys, and the compressor for up to two years, the Chrome for one year, and the cosmetics and plastic parts for 90 days. This covers all your bases, proving Keiser knows they have great equipment.
The monitor displays cadence, Kcals (food calories), power, time, distance, heart rate, and gear. There is Bluetooth capability to use many fitness apps and it’s backlit for low light for those who workout during those early morning hours or later evenings. The Keiser M3i’s footprint is 45 inches tall, 49 inches long, and 26 inches wide. It weighs a light 85 pounds, making it easy to move when you need to.
NordicTrack S22i Studio Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike
Listed second in our top magnetic indoor bike reviews in Canada, this indoor exercise bike is great for those who don’t already have a routine in place and like the ifit application coaching system to reach specific goals.
NordicTrack Studio cycles come with a 27″, 22″, or 15″ touchscreen and an iFit membership for one month. The price of the bike varies based on the screen. The one with a 22-inch screen is more expensive than the one with a 15-inch screen. Other than the size of the screen, they are the same magnetic exercise bikes with the same features.
One of the unique features the NordicTrack S22i Cycle has is a built-in adjustable fan to cool you down while working out. It’s amazing how much of a difference it can make in comfort to have that little bit of a breeze.
But what really set this magnetic resistance indoor cycling bike in Canada apart from every other magnetic indoor bike in Canada is its tilting system. There is an electronic motor built under the bike that can decline by 10% and incline 20% for a better and more intense workout session and to mimic uphill and downhill rides.
A really cool thing is that Nordictrack can automatically change its incline and decline when iFit instructors change their bike’s incline/decline. So, you can focus on the exercise while the bike keeps adjusting itself to what iFit’s instructor suggests.
One of the big differences between the top of our list and the second, the NordicTrack, is the flywheel weight. While the Keiser M3i’s flywheel is only 8 pounds, the NordicTrack’s flywheel is 32 pounds. The benefit of the heavier flywheel is that momentum will help with the motion, though it does add a lot of weight to the bike and a bit of future bearing maintenance.
The NordicTrack can accommodate riders up to 350 pounds and from 5 to 6.5 feet tall. Although it has really basic cage pedals without SPD or Delta clipping elements, it does have a somewhat narrower and better Q-factor of 150 compared to other magnetic spinning bikes in Canada. This gap between the pedals is not too wide and can be comfortable for most cyclists, even pro-road riders.
As I mentioned, it has only caged pedals so if you want to wear proper clipping indoor cycling shoes, you would need to get better Nordictrack replacement pedals that often cost around C$100. Make sure to 9/16 standard thread pedals.
The limited warranty covers the frame for 10 years, parts for 2 years, and labor for 1 year. The NordicTrack is a bit bigger than the Keiser M3i at 56.9 inches tall, 55 inches long, and 22 inches wide. It weighs 77 kgs (170lb) which is almost double Keiser M3i so you should keep in mind that moving this bike frequently is not an easy task. So, if you need to move the bike every day after each ride to a different location, I suggest you consider a lighter-weight magnetic indoor cycle in Canada like Keiser.
One of the nicest features of this indoor exercise bike is the 22 inch HD monitor to display your iFit online cycling classes. The screen also rotates 360 degrees, making it great for all home gym use but it doesn’t work with non-iFit applications like Zwift or Peloton. I know there is a way to jailbreak its screen but it’s not worth it. Therefore, if you are a fan of Zwift, I suggest that you buy one of the fully Zwift compatible indoor bikes with automatic resistance.
There are water bottle holders for convenience and a set of 3-lb dumbbells for upper body workout with a rack that goes on the handlebars. To adjust the 24 levels of magnetic resistance, you can use the controls on the handlebars which do precise micro-adjustments, making it easier for some to adjust by sight alone.
Because it has an electronic magnetic resistance system, the bike can automatically change its resistance when you are riding on iFit and following an online cycling class. It’s a fan and advanced feature that I saw on this bike and Echelon magnetic spin bikes in Canada.
It uses a belt drive for minimal noise and maintenance. Unfortunately, Nordictrack has a really uncomfortable saddle, at least that’s what my experience was. If you feel saddle-sore for too long, I do suggest trying one of these Nordictrack S22i replacement saddles. They are way more comfortable and well-padded.
Echelon EX-5S Indoor Cycling Studio Bike
1 used from C $973.53
Our third favorite magnetic indoor cycling bikes in Canada are from Echelon. The Echelon indoor bikes are a great design, allowing for the pickiest of riders. Both the seat and handlebars allow micro-adjustments so you can set them exactly where you want them to be.
Echelon knows what they’re doing when it comes to indoor cycles and for sure they improved in the last couple of years. They were the first to make a stationary bike that could compete with Peloton and have been continuing to do so since.
Not only have they called the Echelon EX-5s indoor cycling bike their flagship, but it also has one of the smallest footprints compared to rowing machines and ellipticals making it great for those home gyms or smaller spaces.
The EX5s uses a belt drive and magnetic resistance to make a great workout experience. But its resistance system is different from any other magnetic spin bikes in Canada that we reviewed in this article. It has both manually adjustable resistance and electronically adjustable resistance.
So, when you connect the bike to an indoor cycling application like Zwift or Peloton, it can automatically change your resistance level to mimic the program you choose. For instance, if you reach an uphill on Zwift, it will add a few levels of resistance to mimic that uphill.
One big attraction is that it comes with a 22″ HD and highly responsive touchscreen monitor that rotates to right and left, so you can use the bike’s monitor to follow off-the-bike fitness class and instructions that are available on the Echelon application.
The actual monitor that comes with the bike is built to work only with the Echelonfit application so right out of the box it doesn’t work with Zwift, Peloton and other third-party apps. However, it is possible to install the Peloton app on its screen if you jailbreak it. In the Echelon indoor cycling bike comparison article, I explained how to do that.
If you wish to connect the bike to non-Echelon applications like Zwift, I suggest you to remove its screen and use your own Bluetooth tablet or TV. Once you shut off the bike’s console, it can transmit your progress including rpm, speed, watt, resistance, calories, and time to your phone or tablet as long as the bike’s screen is unplugged. I strongly suggest that you use the Qdomyos application as a bridge so it will connect to apps like Zwift with controllable resistance, watt, rpm, and speed.
It will work for anyone under 325 pounds and from 4.5 feet to 6.8 feet. The flywheel is not super heavy at 28 pounds especially compared to Stages indoor bikes, but the frame is relatively heavy (not made of lightweight aluminum), making the total weight of the bike 128 pounds (58kg).
It takes up to 23 inches in width and is 54 inches (137cm) tall. The pedals are dual-sided for both a toe cage and SPD users, and the handlebars are adjustable both horizontally and vertically. The spin bike Q-factor falls between our wide entry at 204mm which is not ideal for elite cyclists who are used professional road bikes.
The limited warranty covers the parts and labor for 1 year, not as good as Keiser but nothing to worry about because the bike is a high-quality piece of fitness equipment and I don’t think you would need to worry about breaking anytime soon.
Bowflex IC Series IC7 Indoor Cycling Bike
The Bowflex IC7 is a great indoor exercise bike in Canada for those who train for races or who are regular cyclists and want to spend less than C$1000. As the second on our list from Nautilus, you know it’s from a reliable manufacturer and features the same four-way adjustable seat as the others from Bowflex stationary bikes.
With SPD pedals and JRNY compatibility on our list, the Bowflex semi-commercial spin bike is best for those hardcore trainers and those with limited floor space. I know it’s also compatible with other applications but to bypass and get the bike’s Bluetooth to transmit stats to another application, you need to use your own tablet/phone and have a JRNY membership.
Basically, in order to connect the bike to Zwift or Peloton, you can’t use the bike’s console and you need to have a paid JRNY subscription which costs around $20 per month. If you are a little tech-savvy, you could jailbreak the bike and connect to other apps even without a JRNY membership.
I personally wouldn’t recommend this magnetic indoor bike in Canada for Zwift or Peloton but instead, I suggest the Echelon EX5 because it synchs with all major spinning applications without jailbreaking. Plus, EX5 has automatic resistance which makes it a better choice for online cycling than Bowflex C7.
The flywheel on the other hand is heavier at 40 pounds than Echelon, Keiser, and Nordictrack indoor cycles. So, there is a good amount of momentum and resistance which is great unless you have weak knees or you are a senior person.
It’s designed to accommodate riders with inseams between 29 inches and 38 inches (around 5.2 to 6.4 feet), and under 330 pounds. As you can see there is a good range of user height capacity but not quite as good as Keiser M3i or Peloton bike that can adjust for riders below 5 feet tall.
The bike weighs 115 pounds and has a footprint of 52 inches tall, 50 inches long, and 21 inches wide. It’s a little more compact than rear-drive magnetic indoor bikes like Echelon but its flywheel is also more exposed to corrosion because it is right under “user sweat zone”. So, there is a pro and cone front-drive flywheels.
This model comes with a 7 inch touchscreen monitor, and has a quiet belt drive that reduces the maintenance needed, and uses magnetic resistance for a smooth and quiet workout. The console comes with entertainment applications installed so you can watch Netflix shows during your workout as long as you have the JRNY membership.
The handlebars are adjustable 4 ways and it also has a bottle holder on the side. The pedals are dual-sided and it has a limited warranty of 3 years of parts coverage. Its seat is a little hard and narrow but if you wear padded indoor cycling shorts, you probably won’t need to replace the seat. If you still feel uncomfortable, you can either change the seat with a standard one or just get a seat gel for C$20.
Schwinn Fitness IC4 Magnetic Indoor Cycling Bike
With 100 levels of manually adjustable magnetic resistance, the Schwinn IC4 bike offers a decent indoor cycling workout for high cadence and high resistance sessions. It also has Bluetooth connectivity to connect with cycling applications such as Zwift, Kinomap, Peloton, Rouvy, and Strava.
Although the bike can automatically connect some of its metrics to the mentioned apps, I highly suggest that you use the QZ application by Roberto as a bridge app as it changes the whole experience and makes it more fan. Plus, it gives the option to connect all the metrics such cadence, speed, watt, and heart rate to Zwift rather than just an rpm. It’s an exceptional application that only costs $5 and is available for IOS and Android.
The IC4 has a magnetic resistance system which is great but would have been even better if it was electronically adjustable so it could automatically change resistance like Echelon EX3 to mimic uphills and downhills on Zwift. Thankfully there is the SS2K V3 accessory that you can buy separately from Emad to enable automatic resistance on this indoor cycling bike.
There is no pulse sensors on the grips its screen receives heart rate from Bluetooth heart rate monitors so you can use a wireless heart rate monitor armband, watch or strap and get accurate feedback on your heart rate and calories. Thankfully, there are two conveniently placed water bottle holders by the handlebars. It’s way easier to reach your water and stay hydrated while cycling at home compared to the one on Sunny Health and Fitness bike down below with bottle holders on the fork arm.
The 4-way adjustable handlebars are dipped multi-grip style for a simulated racing grip, and the water bottle holders are within easy reach to reduce the interruption to your workout. Made to fit inseams between 28 inches and 39 inches and users under 300 pounds, the IC4 indoor bike with magnetic in Canada offers a Q-factor of 190mm.
It also has a heavy-weight aluminum flywheel, weighing only 40 pounds. The IC4 by Schwinn does come with a digital monitor that displays resistance level, cadence information, speed information, distance, calorie information, time, and pulse on the handlebars and Bluetooth cycling chest straps.
There are dual-sided pedals for both SPD users and toe cage users, and the bike weighs around 120 pounds. It stands 50 inches tall and is 48 inches long by 21 inches wide, with Schwinn’s awesome 1-year part warranty and support for consumers in Canada.
Sunny Health and Fitness SF-B1709 Indoor Bike
In the category of the most affordable magnetic spin bikes in Canada, SF-B1709 bike is designed for budget shoppers who want to feel as close to outdoor cycling as possible without sacrificing any of the convenience and comfort.
Unlike the Schwinn IC4 which is great for racers and those who like using Zwift, the SFB1709 is designed with affordability in mind and has the lightest weight of the Sunny Health & Fitness indoor bikes on our list.
With a Q-factor of 203mm and a larger body type range to accommodate inseams between 28 inches and 39 inches and user weight of up to 300 pounds, this magnetic resistance spin bike in Canada will work for most users.
The flywheel weighs in at 7 pounds and this belt-drive magnetic indoor bike in Canada features dual-sided pedals. Its flywheel is extremely lightweight and, to be honest has very little recovery time and momentum but at the same time it is easy to move from one place to another.
It has the same 5-year frame and 180 parts limited warranty as the other Sunny Health & Fitness indoor bikes I tried and reviewed for the best budget spin bikes in Canada. It takes up 54 inches in length by 23 inches in width and it stands 53 inches tall and weighs 90 pounds.
There is also an included awesome tablet holder and a monitor that tracks the RPM, speed, distance, time, HR, and calories. The handlebars are adjustable 4 ways and it has a convenient water bottle holder that is adjustable to fit a wide range of bottle size.
It uses magnetic resistance and belt transmission but it’s not automatic like Echelon bikes. There is also no Bluetooth technology so you can’t connect this bike with Zwift or Peloton unless you buy an optional cadence and speed sensor.
Its belt transmission has less maintenance than chain drives. This will appeal to those who don’t want to get their hands and floors dirty with oil. At this price point, I found it impressive that it comes with dual-sided pedals to use regular shoes as well as clip-in indoor cycling shoes. It’s something normally you don’t get from magnetic spin bikes in Canada under C$500.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-B1805 Magnetic Spin Bike
As the predecessor to the top Sunny Health & Fitness indoor bikes on our list, you can be sure the Sunny Health Fitness SF-B1805 is a great option. Except for the lightweight steel used in the frame and the lack of a built-in console, this SF-B1805 model is very similar to the SHF Evolution Pro II.
I know the lack of a built-in console is not very appealing to some riders but there are people who prefer to either use their own tablet as a screen with a set of power pedals. If you are one of these people, the SF-B1805 is great for you. It’s a high-quality indoor bike with a reduced price because it doesn’t have a console.
The Sunny SF-B1805 magnetic exercise bike in Canada has a rather wide Q-factor of 216mm (distance between the pedals) which is fine for some riders but for pro cyclists and those who focus a lot on power efficiency, it’s too wide.
The flywheel is a little heavier than all the other magnetic spin bikes I compared for the Canadian market. It is 44 pounds flywheel so there is lots of momentum and resistance. It’s nice if you don’t have knee issues and if you are not buying the bike for people above 60s, otherwise it’s just too heavy for them to start pedaling even without applying resistance.
Thanks to the fact that it has horizontal and vertical adjustment, a wide range of users can set up this spin bike and use it comfortably and safely if their inseam measurements are anywhere from 28 inches to 37 inches.
Remember that it’s your bike inseam that we are talking about and not your pants inseam. If you don’t know what is your bike inseam, I suggest you read my instructions on how to measure your spin bike inseam before buying this or any other exercise bike in Canada.
Because it has a sturdier frame, it accommodates users up to 330 pounds which is a little more than the SHF bike I reviewed above. As for the warranty, it’s pretty poor just like every other indoor bike with magnetic resistance in Canada by this brand. So, you only get 3 months of parts and 3 years of frame coverage.
I know its poor warranty is a shame but its quality is excellent. That includes its parts too. For instance, its handlebars are fully dipped and non-slip and its adjustment knobs are all decent quality. This particular model only has cage pedals but there is a newer model (SF-B1805 Smart) with dual-sided pedals, Bluetooth connection, and a console. It’s a bit more expensive but if the mentioned features are important factors, the newer model is worth it.
It is about the same size at 45 inches tall, 48 inches long, and 23 inches wide, and 125 pounds. For online, I don’t think it’s the best choice because you need to use your own tablet and your own wireless data reading sensors but for offline cycling away from electronics, it’s a good option.
DMASUN Magnetic Resistance Indoor Exercise Bike
This Dmasun indoor bike is the first of this brand on our list but it has been updated and upgraded from friction resistance to magnetic resistance. This bike has certainly earned a name you will see often when looking at reviews and comparisons of magnetic resistance spin bikes in Canada and has been a top seller in the category of affordable indoor cycling world for a while.
The Dmasun has 6 pieces of strong magnets that apply to its flywheel from the top. As with all the other magnetic indoor cycles in Canada that I have tried, this one’s resistance also doesn’t wear out or make any noise. So, you are set to enjoy and sleep while your partner is using the bike and vice versa without bothering each other while cycling indoors.
Unfortunately, its resistance is not automatic so no automatic uphill or downhill but there is an easy-to-reach knob for manual resistance adjustment that you can also use as an emergency brake for safety and convenience. It also doesn’t display your current resistance level which I found a little annoying when following online virtual cycling classes but it’s to be expected from this price range.
Its seat is comfortable and has a 3-inch thick foam cushion with a breathing design that helps to keep you fresh during summer indoor cycling rides. It’s also a four-way adjustable seat so you can get it exactly where you want it to fit your height and cycling position.
The DMASUN ties with a limited user height accommodation on our list at 5 feet to 6.3 feet tall and accommodates up to 330 pounds. This is great for many, but it may put off some of those who plan to use the bike with taller people in their households.
One thing that I liked about the Dmasun is that instead of straightforward boring handlebars with limited handgrips, it comes with multi-grip-dipped racing drop-bars. This is far more engaging than just a straight bar for handlebars and helps you enjoy all the indoor cycling hand grip positions.
The flywheel is heavier at 40 pounds, and it uses a belt drive and magnetic resistance so it’s smooth, quiet, and has good momentum with a pleasant pedal stroke. Although the pedals are not dual-sided for SPD users, it does come with standard 9/16 pedal thread size and replacements dual-sided spin bike pedals are widely available.
There’s also a bottle holder that can accommodate most bottle sizes. The Dmasun is 95 pounds and 46 inches tall, 41 inches long, and 21 inches wide. The digital monitor on Dmasun is the most basic and low-tech display among all the magnetic resistance indoor bikes I tried and reviewed here. It’s very small and the display is very dark so it’s hard to see your progress.
It only gives your speed information, distance, time, calories, and pulse from the pulse sensors but unfortunately, no cadence, power, or resistance level which is understanding considering the price for this magnetic indoor cycle in Canada. DMASUN offers a 1-year warranty for parts and frame which is acceptable for this category of indoor bikes with magnetic resistance systems in Canada.
CHAOKE Magnetic Resistance Indoor Cycling Bike
For someone who is just starting or who is on a tight budget, this magnetic indoor bike in Canada is the one to pick. In the same way that the SF-B1805’s simplicity can be perfect for some, this bike is functional and easy to use, as well as easy to set up. It’s also a smaller size to further the appeal for home gyms.
With a few features, the CHAOKE stationary bike is simple and inexpensive. The only electronic parts are its super small and basic 2×1″ display that runs on two AAA batteries which comes included with the bike. There is no electronic incline, decline, or resistance motors like Echelon or Nordic bikes.
It stands 49 inches tall, 43 inches long, and 24 inches wide with toe cage only pedals and a belt drive system. It uses magnetic for resistance and the handlebars can be adjusted vertically which is okay if you want to lean for spinning but not great if you want to set the bike for upright position.
Chaok bike can accommodate users from 5 to 6.2 feet tall and up to 300 pounds. The flywheel is 37 pounds, making it on the heavy side which is always a good sign in budget magnetic indoor bikes in Canada.
It doesn’t have any warranty, and it is from a company called Chaoke which isn’t as well known as the other manufacturers like Schwinn and Keiser on this list. While it doesn’t provide RPM, watt or resistance levels, it does track your time, pulse, speed, and calories.
There is no Bluetooth or any other type of wireless connection protocol to pair with heart rate monitor watches or cycling apps but it has a nice media stand so you can use your own device to enjoy a spinning DVD class or your favorite TV show.