Welcome to our guide on the best recumbent bikes in the UK in 2023! An often-overlooked form of exercise, recumbent (or ‘sit down’) bikes provide a superb way to get in shape and lose calories at home. Furthermore, they’re ideal for anyone who can’t train on an upright cycle too, offering safe training for those with back injuries.
Best Overall JLL IC300 |  | "There's really no advantage to choosing a more expensive bike than the budget priced JLL IC300."
| Amazon UK |
Runner Up Nero Sports |  | "A great-looking home spin bike that's sturdy and represents good value for money."
| Amazon UK |
XS Sports Aerobic Indoor Bike |  | "This low-cost home spin bike has a chain drive for a more cycle-like feel."
| Amazon UK |
We R Sports |  | "a rock-solid spin bike that has a gym-like feel and is ideal for doing spin classes at home."
| Amazon UK |
XS Sports SB350 |  | "This high-quality recumbent gives a great workout and even converts to an elliptical machine. It's comfy, effective and kind to joints."
| Amazon UK |
Dripex Indoor |  | "A fantastic, sturdy budget spin bike that offers good value for money."
| Amazon UK |
As with every fitness category, there’s a whole slew of cheap spinning bikes that promise to promise to be the best on the market but we’ve dug deep and found the best ones we think you’ll want to look at. Whatever your budget, you’ll find something here that suits your needs. Grab an extra water bottle and let’s get on our bike!
Let’s jump straight in with the best budget spin bike in this category which is an excellent bit of kit – the JLL IC300 (Amazon UK). Lets look at what makes this cheaper spinner such a good addition to any home gym. It has the feel of riding a mountain bike, but obviously from the comfort of home.
The first thing I noticed was the decent sized 18kg flywheel. It’s driven directly via the chain and makes for a smooth workout. The IC300 has enough oomph for both beginners or experienced users looking for some serious hard work. The design is also something worth mentioning. Glossy black (or white is also available), with red trim and a bit of flare throughout. A lot of thought as gone into the looks.
Nice chunky grips adjust the seat and handlebars and there’s 6 vertical and 10 horizontal seat positions. As it’s quick and easy to change settings, this is a good choice if there’ll be more than one person using this spinning bike at home.
A nifty 6-function track computer displays your essentials, such as speed, calories, distance as well as pulse. Compromises have to be made at this price range and the only negative with the IC300 is the display isn’t as fancy as more expensive bikes. But it has the basics.
It is heavy (in a sturdy sort of way) but can be moved thanks to the wheels at the front.
Build wise, it’s as sturdy as you can get, and will suit anyone up to 130kg. You can stand up and hammer away on the pedals as much as you like, the 3 piece crank is as solid and reliable as they come. Impressive for a budget spin bike.
This product also has some superb reviews on Amazon, so don’t just take my word for it.
Click here for full reviews on amazon
There’s really no advantage to choosing a more expensive bike than the budget-priced JLL IC300. It’s got a fantastic build quality, a good price and it is a fine addition to any home gym.
- Excellent 18kg flywheel
- Solid and sturdy design
- Good safety features
- Some thought has gone into the striking design
- Pulse sensors
- The LCD display is basic but OK
#2 – Nero Sports Spin Bike
If you’re sick of crappy exercise bikes and want to buy a decent one, the Nero Sports Bike (Amazon) is well worth your time. As well as having a fairly cool design, this is a very stable, comfy bike that has everything you need to do spinning at home.
Everything is adjustable, so you can get the seat and bars set just right for your body. And the toe straps here fit well and keep you from slipping.
Although it’s solid, there’s a set of wheels at the front so you can move it where you like. And setup isn’t as horrible as you might think. An easy build taking around 30 mins tops.
Once you’re on your spin bike, there’s a decent LCD panel that will keep track of calories, time, distance and it’s fairly easy to read. There’s also a really good tablet holder here so you can use a fitness app, or simply watch some Netflix while you ride.
- Solid, sturdy bit of kit
- Fresh modern design
- Everything is adjustable for a perfect fit
- LCD computer does the job
- Again, the display could be better lit
#3 – XS Sports Aerobic Indoor Bike
One of the main things I look for when reviewing the best budget spinning bikes is whether or not it’s a ‘proper’ spin bike – as in can it take some punishment? Is it suitable for taller people? Can you stand up on the pedals? the XS sports exercise cycle (Amazon) ticks all of the boxes on build quality and comes in at a very reasonable price.
This exercise bike has a 15kg chain-driven flywheel and the same kind of adjustments you’d expect at the gym. The bars and seat are fully adjustable, making this a good choice if there’ll be more than one person using it.
The LCD computer isn’t anything fancy but shows calories, distance, time, speed and, unusually for bikes in this price range, it also has pulse sensors. Max user weight is 125kg and it’s fine for all heights, even tall riders.
This bike represents great value for money and is perfect for beginners or anyone seeking a good solid spin bike.
- Sturdy build
- Simple computer to track the essentials
- Shows pulse
- Great value for money
- Shiney design and cool water bottle!
- the trim on the bike has a plastic feel to it
#4 – We R Sports Aerobic Training Cycle
If price is at the top of your list and you’re looking for a spinning bike that won’t break the budget, check out this little gem from We R Sports (Amazon). It has a lot of the features of more expensive bikes while coming in at a low price.
The seat and bars can be easily adjusted, it has two straps, and comes with the water bottle.
Unlike some cheap spin bikes, this one has an LCD display that tracks the essentials like calories, time, distance, odometer. Although it’s a bit small it does cycle through them all in scan mode.
You’re getting a 13kg flywheel, which might be a little light if you’re used to some seriously hard work on your spinning classes, but it will be fine for others.
- Very low price for a spin bike
- Solid
- Quick and easy to adjust
- The onboard computer tracks the basics
- Can be a bit noisy
- Flywheel will not provide enough of a workout for advanced cyclists
#5 – XS Sports SB350
Proving you don’t need to spend silly money to get yourself a decent home spin bike, you’ll want to take a look at the XS Sports SB350 (Amazon). This is a great-looking, sturdy bike that can support user weights up to 100kg.
It’s really easy to get this bike set up too, which can’t be said for all the spin bikes we’ve seen. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the quality, especially considering this is one of the cheaper bikes we’re showing off today.
The resistance is adjusted with a dial and the bars and seat can be adjusted in umpteen different ways to get just right for your build. It’s comfy enough, and the seat even has a basic form of suspension to help new riders get used to the saddle.
This bike is excellent value for money and a solid budget spinning bike.
- Solid, firm bike
- Comfy ergonomic racing bars
- The chain system is strong and feels good
- Good price for a decent spin bike
- Not suitable for anyone over 6 foot
#6 – Dripex Indoor Exercise Bike
New for 2023 is this awesome indoor spin bike that is perfect for anyone looking for a cheaper bike that’s close to a gym experience as possible. The Dripex Indoor Exercise Bike – Amazon is a high-quality home spin bike that’s easy to put together, looks great and has some really well-thought-out features.
There’s a heavy 16kg flywheel here which is ideal for anyone looking for a challenging workout. Showing how sturdy the build is, this bike offers a hefty 150kg upper weight limit for users and is fine for anyone up to around the 6 foot, 3 inches height.
There’s a simple, easy-to-read LCD display upfront along with your water bottle holder which is in easy reach. This bike has a belt drive system so it’s a bit quieter than other machines in this range too. Everything is comfy here, from the padded seat to the non-slip pedals.
In short, this is a great value indoor bike and it’s hard to find fault with it at this budget price tag.
- Good value for money
- Fine for taller or heavier users
- Very comfy ergonomic seat
- Toe straps keep you from slipping out
- Has wheels to move it around easily.
- Not the cheapest on our best of list
If you’re not looking for a low-price bike, and have a slightly higher budget, we recommend checking out our JTX Cyclo 6 review. This is a good quality home bike from a reputable brand.
Tips for picking the perfect budget spin bike under £300, £400 or £500
Getting in some extra spin sessions at home can make a massive difference to how much progress you make towards your fitness goals. But not everyone wants to splurge £1500+ on a new Peloton bike.
The question is can you get something close to those bikes for a quarter of the price?
What to look for in a bargain bike?
- Flywheel weight – A big thing with cheaper indoor cycles is that the flywheel can be on the small side. (Some really cheap bikes have a flywheel weight of around 8kg, whereas something like the Peloton is up to around the 18kg mark). A heavier flywheel makes for a smoother, more challenging ride. If you’re a spinning pro or a bigger, stronger rider you’ll need a heavier flywheel.
- Upper user limit – Another thing to look for is the weight limit on a spin bike. You can skip this if you’re on the lighter side, or petite, but if you’re over 90kg look for a bike that’s suited to your weight. The lower-priced bikes can have a greatly reduced weight limit so just be wary it’s robust enough and check the max weight.
- User reviews – Forget about the total number of reviews instead drill down to what people are really saying about the bike you’re thinking about buying. Somewhere between glowing five-star and ranting one-star reviews you’ll get a more true idea of what each budget bike is like, warts ‘n’ all.
- The kind of resistance – The main two kinds of resistance are the traditional felt brake pad, which offers the highest level of challenge, and the more modern magnetic kind, which is silent but offers less of a challenge if you’re an experienced cyclist. Most users will find the magnetic kind perfect for what they want in an indoor home bike.
- Noisy beast or stealth mode? – Many people are buying spin bikes to use in apartments, or at times when other people in the house are asleep. Noise level is a big factor that’s impossible to judge from anything other than videos, which aren’t always available for each bike. Definitely go for magnetic resistance and belt drive to keep the noise down on your spin bike.
Budget spin bike FAQs
Do cheap spin bikes have uncomfortable seats?
They can, but this is highly subjective. After all, one bum’s bone-jarring seat is another’s acceptable comfort. It’s really hard to gauge this from pics, videos or even user reviews. And this isn’t limited to the lower-priced bikes either! We’ve seen some pretty swanky bikes that would test the toughest of buttocks.
Joking aside, there are steps you can take to get a comfy ride on a cheaper machine. If the worst comes to the worst, it’s a simple job to buy a better quality seat that is comfier.
Padded saddle covers are also a godsend if you’re struggling with a problem seat and are extremely cheap to buy.
Can you really get a decent cheap spin bike?
Yes, don’t write off a spin bike just because it costs under £300 – £400. There are some great heavy-duty indoor bikes available at this price range.
Where are corners cut?
- The heart rate monitors and calorie counters leave a lot to be desired– Ultra-basic display that can often have a questionable level of accuracy. The answer is to not rely on these too much.
Fix this by: Instead, use something like a Fitbit, apple watch, heart rate strap and an app to track your calories, heart rate etc. - Online functions – With bikes like NordicTrack and Peloton offering dazzling built-in colour screens, the lowly budget bike often has a simple LCD display with no way to connect to apps.
Fix this by: You can get some handy shoe sensors that track your cycling progress and can work with Zwift and other apps.
What’s the absolute cheapest spin bike you can buy online?
Come in, shut the door and let’s head down to the real bargain basement. Between you and me, it is possible to get a spin bike for under £100. Obviously, this is a fifteenth the price of a Peloton so there are going to be some concessions made in terms of quality.
But if you’re looking for something that is functional and doesn’t cost the earth, you can still get something in this price range. Homcom’s stationary bike is available at Amazon and falls into this price category. It still has an 8kg flywheel, LCD display and can support users up to 120kg.
What happens if I buy a cheaper bike and something goes wrong?
One thing that’s well worth doing with any bike you buy is to do a bit of detective work and look into the warranty prior to buying it. If you’re shopping for a spin bike on Amazon, which has a good range of bikes under £300, you’re covered by their 30 day returns policy where you can return your bike whether its defective or not. Details here.
User reviews are also another good source of info on how reliable a cheaper bike is and what happened to anyone who had problems. Lots of 1-star reviews where people have had trouble returning a bike scream warning.
Check the product descriptions too – they may offer an extended warranty of one or two years for peace of mind.
Another sneaky test you can do is to send a message to the seller before asking and use their response to gauge whether or not they are helpful and reliable.
Spin bikes of any kind are big, heavy bulky things too. So it’s worth checking who is responsible if it has to be returned due to a fault.
Do I need a mat to go under the bike?
Yes, it’s definitely a good idea to get a rubber mat to go between your spin bike’s stand and your floors. This will protect any surfaces such as wood or carpet. You’ll also get a more stable ride and the bike won’t move around. You can pick them up quite cheap on places like Amazon and CQ’s bycle mat is a really good one to get.
Resources and further reading
- Check out our guide on how to choose a spin bike
- Study into the benefits of spin cycling
- Details on the most popular classes (spoiler – spinning is #2)
- Cycling hydration strategies you need to know – At MapMyRun
- Health benefits of indoor cycling (spinning!)
