Our testers evaluate each exercise bike for a number of different factors that are likely to influence users’ satisfaction with their machines long-term. For all three types of bikes, we assess adjustability, including how finely you can adjust the bike’s seat height and position to get a comfortable ride, and how wide a range of user heights the bike can comfortably fit (for recumbent bikes, we call this the rider fit range). We also assess all three kinds of bikes’ displays for how intuitive and easy to use they are.
For upright and recumbent bikes, we also judge the comfort of the seat, the level of stability each bike provides, and the variety of its programming. For indoor cycling bikes, we assess each bike’s noise level, evaluate how easy it is to assemble, and score it on its weight capacity, warranty, and range of features.
