Best folding exercise bike 2024: Jump Menu
00. The list in brief ↴
01. Best overall: Ultrasport F-Bike
02. Best workout: Sportplus X-Bike
03. Best affordable: Viavito ONYX Folding Exercise Bike
04. Best mid-range: Roger Black Folding Exercise Bike
05. Best built: Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike
06. Best supportive: Pro Fitness FEB2000
08. How to choose the best folding treadmill for you
09. FAQ
You’ll need the best folding exercise bike if you lack space at home or want a kit that you can easily stash out of the way when not in use. Like a regular exercise bike, folding exercise bikes are an excellent way to lose weight and keep your cardio health in check for little money – making them one of the most accessible pieces of home gym equipment overall. Cycling is gentle on the joints too, so it's ideal for those who want to keep fit and strengthen their muscles, in a low-impact way.
If this sounds like the kind of thing that would work well in your house or apartment, we have rounded up the best folding exercise bikes below so you can see what’s out there and what rates well in testing. Also, if you’re looking for more compact cardio equipment, don’t forget to check out the best folding treadmills and best rowing machines too.
As someone who spends 95% of their time in the gym, I've been able to test and trial a variety of strength, functional and cardio equipment, so I know exactly what to look (and not to) when it comes to choosing your very own foldable exercise bike for your home; ideal for improving your aerobic fitness levels and strengthening your leg muscles.
T3's top 3
Best overall
Best overall folding exercise bike
Costing under £150, this folding exercise is an absolute steal. It has a ton of great features too, including eight resistance levels, an easy collapse system, and an LCD screen to display all your fitness metrics. If it's hardcore cycling you're planning to do, this bike isn't for you, but if it's just some gentle endurance training then it's pretty much perfect.
Best workout
Best workout folding exercise bike
The X Bike is sturdy, dependable, and has 24 resistance levels making it an ideal choice for those who want a more challenging workout (it does require mains power though). It comes pre-programmed with six training workouts and connects to an app where you can analyse your workout data, and the LCD screen displays all-important health metrics, including heart rate and calories burned.
Best affordable
Best affordable folding exercise bike
Thanks to its lightweight, compact, and collapsible structure, this exercise bike can fit into even the smallest of spaces. It has eight resistance levels, an LCD monitor display, and is straightforward to use. It costs less than £100, so if you're looking to purchase an exercise bike for the first time, but don't want to spend a fortune, then this would be our pick.
Best folding exercise bikes to buy right now
Why you can trust T3
Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
This is a popular bike due to its low price, and it is sold specifically for “gentle endurance training”, so avoid this if you aim to push yourself in your workouts. The F-Bike looks like it might not be sturdy but feels robust even though the maximum user weight is 100kg and height is 200cm. The eight resistance levels can be altered via a knob just below the handlebars, making it as easy or as hard a workout as you wish.
It features an LCD screen that can read out calories burned, time, distance, speed and heart rate via the sensors on the handle (the screen requires batteries to work). In terms of folding, the F-Bike collapses via a hinge in the centre of the frame to take up very little space when not in use. You’ll find a range of colourways available, with some bright pops of colour, which is unusual in the sea of grey or black bikes on the market.
Read our full Ultrasport F-Bike review
Best workout
2. SportPlus X-Bike
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
This sturdy and dependable folding bike from the German brand SportPlus has a few features that make it stand out from other folding bikes. It has 24 electronic resistance levels, perfect for those who are looking for a more challenging workout (although this does mean it requires mains power so you’ll need to be near a plug socket). It also comes pre-programmed with six training workouts, so you can jump on and get straight to work and has app support, which can help take your cycling sessions to the next level. Through the app, you can analyse your workout data, access coaching videos and even see how you stack up against other users.
There's also a large comfortable seat and the pedal straps can be adjusted, so you'll remain comfy and secure. The LCD screen displays also displays all the health metrics you could need, from calories burned to heart rate, distance, speed, and training duration. Need more back support? the SportPlus S Bike is exactly the same but has a seat with a backrest.
Best affordable
3. Viavito Onyx Folding Exercise Bike
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Viavito Onyx Folding Exercise Bike provides a convenient, practical, and affordable solution for those who want to get fit at home but are short on space. The star of the show is the lightweight, compact, and collapsible x-frame, which folds away simply and easily when you want to reclaim your space but is also safe, sturdy, and reliable when you want to work up a sweat.
The eight levels of resistance alongside the basic metrics displayed on the LCD monitor – including accurate heart rate readings - make it a great choice for new and casual exercisers wanting to understand the effects of exercise on their body. But those wanting a more strenuous workout or greater scope for progression should look elsewhere.
Read our full Viavito Onyx Folding Exercise Bike review
Best mid-range
4. Roger Black Folding Exercise Bike
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Former 400m Olympic silver medallist Roger Black sells his own-name branded fitness equipment, including this folding exercise bike. An 8-level tension knob controls the 3kg flywheel, meaning there’s a range of levels to push yourself harder or adjust as your fitness levels increase. Another handy feature is the self-levelling pedals, so you don’t have to spin them around with your toes to find the side with the strap. Also, expect a personal thank you from Roger himself for purchasing the bike…
Best built
5. Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Bike
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Exerpeutic’s folding bike has two big plus points – it’s sturdy and built to hold more weight, so whereas most bikes on this list have a maximum user weight of 100kg, this goes up to 137kg. It also features a wide and flat saddle which most users will find comfortable, and it folds down to half its original size. The LCD screen provides data for you to track, and the resistance is controlled via an 8-level magnetic tension system, which you alter via a dial.
Best supportive
6. Pro Fitness FEB2000 Folding Exercise Bike
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
One user review said, “Better than a Peloton” – that’s glowing praise, but we’re not sure we’d go that far. The ProFitness FEB2000 is a sturdy machine that offers a backrest, so if you suffer from lower back problems, this will help provide some helpful extra support. Like most others, it features a battery-powered LCD console that reads out the usual data. It’s worth noting that the seat is high, and you cannot lower it, so if you measure less than 5ft 4in, you may struggle to reach the pedals.
How to choose the best folding exercise bike for you
Folding exercise bikes are designed for light workouts of around 30-60 minutes at a time. Due to their construction and limited resistance levels, folding exercise bikes are aimed at those who are new or returning to exercise or are coming back from injury. Due to the fact that they collapse, they are perfect for anyone short on space or who doesn’t want a full-size stationary bike taking up room in the spare room or garage.
You’ll find that their design means you’ll be cycling in a more upright position than other stationary bikes (you can find out the difference between a folding exercise bike and a stationary exercise bike here), with your body in a neutral position and your feet on the pedals slightly in front of you. This is perfect for those suffering from back problems who tend to find a regular cycling position painful.
The type of fold can vary from bike to bike. The most common fold you’ll see is with the ‘x’ shape bikes – the two sides close up together when it’s not in use. Due to the more lightweight construction of these bikes and the fact that the frames are made of thinner metal, many have a low user weight limit, often around 100kg. Most also recommend that you don’t use them for more than around 3-4 hours a week.
The usual pedal type you will find on these bikes is flat with a foot strap that you tighten over your forefoot. The gentler nature of these bikes means that the provided flat pedals will suit the level of cardiovascular expenditure. Most of these bikes feature a heavy flywheel that provides magnetic resistance. This also means they’re quiet – you won’t have problems disturbing neighbours, sleeping family members, or flatmates, and you can also watch TV or a tablet while you work out.
How we test the best folding exercise bikes
Folding exercise bikes are not performance home gym equipment, and we take this into account when reviewing them. All folding exercise bikes are tested in a home environment. We test the following: build quality, workout performance, utility and ergonomics. We also test the features of the bikes and how convenient it is to fold and unfold them. For more info on how we test at T3, click on the link now.
FAQ
Are folding exercise bikes worth it?
There’s no denying that folding bikes have their place, but the workouts they provide are at the more gentle end of the workout spectrum. The price generally reflects this, as most bikes on our list come very cheap. For that money you should not expect a sturdy bike that you can push yourself on – these bikes are built for leisurely spins while you watch TV or a series on Netflix.
Can I lose weight using a folding exercise bike?
Absolutely! Just like a regular exercise bike, you can burn lots of calories using a folding exercise bike, which will help aid weight loss. Harvard Health reports that 30 minutes of moderate cycling can burn up to 210 calories for a person weighing 125lb person, 252 calories for a 155lb person, and 294 calories for a 185lb person. If you’re not sure what type of cycling to do, check out these three ways to use an exercise bike for weight loss.
Can you stand up on a folding exercise bike?
As a general rule, and due to the design of folding exercise bikes, it is not recommended that you stand up while cycling them. Some of the bikes on this list even state that they are “not to be ridden out of the seat”. For most, it would be difficult physically to do this as the pedals are out in front of your body, almost in a recumbent cycling position.
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When not seeking out new running and cycling trails, Howard writes about all things health and fitness. As well as T3, he's written for a plethora of websites, newspapers and magazines including Runner’s World, Cycling Weekly, Trail Running, Women’s Running, ShortList, Fit&Well, Red Bulletin and Wareable. When not running ultramarathons he's taking on MTB singletrack trails and hiking all around the world. As a side hustle, Howard is also on an ongoing quest to find the country’s best cinnamon bun.
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