A recumbent bike is a low-impact exercise machine that will help you lose weight and get in shape. But if you want to improve your arm strength, then this article is for you. We’ll show the best recumbent bikes with arm workout so that you can make an informed decision about which one works best for your needs. Read on!
What is the Best Recumbent Bike With Arm Workout?
You are here to find the Best Recumbent Bike With Arm Workout and we did all the necessary research to make life just a little bit easier for you. With so many options and products available, we narrowed the selection down for you to the absolute best 4 recumbent bikes with arm workout and reviewed why they’re worth your time and money.
We have also compiled a list of main things to consider before buying recumbent exercise bike with arm workout which you can find later on in this article, together with some helpful FAQs. So let’s get started with the list of Best Recumbent Bike With Arm Workout.
1. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise with Arm exercisers
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 94.8 pounds (43 kg) Size: 60 x 52 x 25.5 inches (152.4 x 132.1 x 64.8 cm) Resistance Type: Magnetic Resistance Levels: 8 levels Material: Steel Screen Type: LCD |
The Sunny RB4708 features an enhanced design that allows you to work out your arms as you cycle. It has a larger footprint and is almost 36 pounds heavier than the Sunny RB4616 model on the one hand. But, it also comes with a few similar attributes, such as the LCD console, seat adjustment, and low profile design. Although it costs more than the Sunny RB4616, it is still within the entry-level price point that makes it affordable for many. Moreover, this exercise recumbent comes with tons of positive reviews as it is well made, sturdy, and has a comfortable saddle. However, it does have some negatives, such as it is a little technical for the average person to assemble quickly, and the instructions are not easy to follow. Also, some users have noted that the bike squeaks while pedaling, which could be a manufacturer defect. Sunny customer care is quick to respond to any defects that occur within the warranty period. They also have a 6-month warranty on parts which is twice as much as the Exerpeutic bikes. However, you may have to figure out how to replace the parts yourself. Also, one cannot lock the movable arms if you don’t want to use them as they are interconnected to the pedal action.
The positives are many, and you get the same easy-to-slide and ergonomic saddle as the RB4616 model. Also, you may burn more calories than a typical recumbent exercise bike due to the arms, which is a plus for weight loss. However, I also recommend adding light bodyweight workouts to strengthen your upper body for better results. Another benefit is it has a higher maximum weight limit of 350 pounds, though it does take more floor space. It is a factor you may want to consider when buying it. The magnetic resistance system and console are the same as the other entry-level models I have reviewed here. Unlike the tension knob you get in the other models, the RB4708 features a lever adjustment that gives you eight intensity levels.
Pros
- Includes moving arms for upper body workout,
- Heavy-duty construction supports higher maximum weight,
- Step-through design allows easy mounting,
- Burns more calories as you work your arms,
- It has a smooth and quiet pedal action
Cons
- Arms and pedals are dependent on the same system,
- Heavier build with a larger footprint,
- It does not feature side handlebars for support
2. Sunny Health Magnetic Recumbent Bike with Arm Exercisers – SF-RB4936
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 68.7 pounds (31.16 kg) Size: 60 x 46.5 x 26.5 inches (152.4 x 118.1 x 67.3 cm) Resistance Type: Magnetic Resistance Levels: 8 levels Screen Type: LCD |
The RB-4936 model features movable arm exercisers, unlike the previous Sunny Health and Fitness model. The arms are dependent on the pedal mechanism, which some people may find cumbersome as you can’t lock one part to use the other. However, you can get more range of motion with these arm exercisers than with the RB-4631, which gives you a more intense full-body workout. I also like that it comes with a media rack to hold your phone or tablet because you can read or watch something while training.
The RB-4936 features a low-profile design that makes it easy to mount the saddle. It has the largest footprint of all the recumbents I have reviewed here, and it’s something to consider if your storage space is limited.
Generally, the bike delivers low-impact exercises suitable for people recovering from injury and the elderly. It also has a significantly lighter frame with a maximum user weight limit of 265lbs and would not be ideal for obese people.
Pros
- An ideal choice for seniors and rehab exercises,
- Sturdy construction prevents movement while cycling,
- Drive mechanism offers smooth and quiet operation,
- Affordable with a decent built quality
Cons
- Unclear instructions make it hard to assemble,
- Poor customer service from the manufacturer
3. Upright Recumbent Foldable Fitness Cycle with Arm Resistance
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 46.41 pounds (21.05 kg) Size: 45.4 x 15 x 8.9 inches (115.3 x 38.1 x 22.6 cm) Resistance Type: Magnetic Resistance Levels: 8 levels Material: Steel Screen Type: LCD |
This Bifanuo stationary exercise bike features a semi-recumbent design that gives you the benefits of an upright bike and is foldable for easy storage. It features a recumbent style saddle with a high-density sponge seat and backrest that is height adjustable with a knob. The bike features a foldable design that makes it ideal for tight spaces and comes with roller wheels for easy movement around your house. The location of the pedals gives the rider an upright form compared to the reclined form of the ordinary recumbent bike. The advantage of this design is that it gives you more intense workouts that burn more calories. It also allows for anaerobic training like you would have on a spin bike, which helps develop lean muscles and accelerates weight loss. Additionally, the bike comes with tension ropes to exercise your arms and shoulders.
Pros
- The semi-recumbent design provides a full-body workout,
- Has quick assembly as most parts are pre-assembled,
- Excellent tension on the pedals for HIIT training,
- Compact design for tight spaces
Cons
- Foldable design makes it unstable for heavy cycling,
- It may not be ideal for short people under 5-feet
4. Sunny Health Recumbent Bike SF-RB4631 with Arm Exerciser
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 91.1 pounds (41.32 kg) Size: 52.5 x 51 x 25 inches (133.3 x 129.5 x 63.5 cm) Resistance Type: Magnetic Resistance Levels: 8 levels Material: Steel |
Arm exercisers on recumbent exercise bikes can add value to your workouts by building upper body muscles and strong shoulders. Additionally, if you incorporate moderate weight lifting exercises, you can greatly improve your cardio fitness and reduce the risks of heart disease. The arm exercises on the RB-4631 allow you to engage your upper body to burn more calories. The bike is also ideal for overweight users as it has a sturdy and robust frame with a 350-pound user limit and has a low-profile design for easy access. It also comes with transportation wheels on the rear stabilizer bar to make moving it around your space easier. I like that the bike is easy to assemble even though it is significantly heavy at 91 pounds. However, the bulk does help stabilize the bike on the floor while cycling, and the slider seat adjustment ensures that you get a comfortable fit. Unlike most recumbents with arm exercisers, the pedal mechanism on this bike works independently, which means that you can work your arms without the pedals. The recumbent comes with a wide seat with a contoured backrest and sliding adjustment mechanism that is simple to use while seated. Although it is ergonomic, the seat padding is firm, and some users may not find it comfortable. The resistance system delivers moderate intensity at its highest level, and the bike comes with a simple LCD monitor with a large display.
Pros
- Delivers a smooth and quiet pedal action,
- Features arm exerciser with high friction resistance,
- Sliding saddle adjustment for a comfortable fit,
- Sturdy frame with a high user weight limit
Cons
- Saddle padding may be uncomfortable,
- Poor build quality and durability
Verdict
And that’s it for Best Recumbent Bike With Arm Workout. Let’s sum up our findings:
After taking into consideration personal experiences with recumbent exercise bike with arm workout, their main features, and opinions of real customers online, our opinion is that the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise with Arm exercisers is the best recumbent bike with arm workout out there.
Now, if you want the best product that money can buy then you can go for Sunny Health Magnetic Recumbent Bike with Arm Exercisers – SF-RB4936 which is our premium pick.
However, there’s nothing wrong with going for the budget option, which we found to be the Upright Recumbent Foldable Fitness Cycle with Arm Resistance.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
- Best Recumbent Bike For Tall Person
- Best Recumbent Bike Under 500
- Best Recumbent Exercise Bike Under 200
What You Should Know Before Buying recumbent bikes with arm workout
Adjustability
Saddle adjustments allow you to fit the bike to the length of your legs and reach the pedals. There are two types of adjustments depending on the design of the recumbent exercise bike. The most affordable type involves sliding two movable parts of the frame to bring the saddle closer to the pedals, such as the Marcy ME-709 bike. The frame features pre-set holes that you align to position the seat and lock with a holding pin and knob.
On the other hand, you can get bikes that only use a lever to lock the seat’s position. The advantage of this system is it allows you to adjust the saddle as you sit on it, unlike the previous method. However, these bikes are also more expensive and are ideal for commercial purposes such as the gym. While the recumbent exercise bike saddle design provides excellent support for your back and lower joints, how you position it ensures that you don’t suffer pain and injury while exercising. Generally, the seat should be such that your knees are not too bent or overextended to cause strain. Also, your legs should be at the same level or higher than your hips to protect your lower back.
Types Of Recumbent Exercise Bikes
While recumbent road bikes vary greatly in construction, recumbent exercise bikes have slight variations in design features. These differences include digital versus manual consoles, the various seat adjustment, and drive mechanisms, and sizes. I have described these features in detail below.
Extra Features
Some of the extra features recumbent exercise bikes come with include media racks to hold your tablet or phone, so you can watch something online or read a book while you exercise. Built-in speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB drives are also included in the midrange models to enable you to link your devices to the bike for entertainment and upload your workout data to apps such as MyFitnessPal. Some extra comfort features to look out for include built-in fans to keep you cool and gel padding on the seats to reduce fatigue while performing lengthy workouts.
Comfort
Comfort is a critical design attribute of any recumbent exercise bike and is ideal for people who need upper body support while exercising. The bikes feature a low-profile design that makes it easy for the elderly, overweight, and infirm to get on the bike safely, while the bucket seats provide back support and balance with minimal pressure on the lower body joints.
Drive mechanism
When you are shopping for a recumbent exercise bike, you will probably see the drive mechanism mentioned a lot. The drive mechanism includes the flywheel, which is a disc that sits in front of the bike. It is the component that creates resistance in an exercise bike. It is usually covered with a casing in recumbent exercise bikes and connected to the pedals via a belt or chain. The flywheel is weighted to generate resistance to simulate the experience of outdoor riding on your exercise bike. There are two types of weighted flywheels that include the perimeter weighted flywheel and the center-weighted flywheel. In a perimeter-weighted flywheel, the weight is positioned along the outside of the disc. It delivers the closest simulation to a road bike than the center-weighted option. They are also heavier and require more effort to pedal to start and stop. However, once you gain momentum, the pedaling gets smoother and is ideal for people with joint problems.
On the other hand, center-weighted flywheels are typically lighter and are commonly not used for exercise bikes. They are often more expensive, and the ride may not be as smooth as you would get on a perimeter flywheel. However, they are easier to start and stop as they are lightweight and are ideal for people with joint aches.
Pedals
There are three types of stationary bike pedals which include clip-ins, flat, and hybrids. Clip-ins and hybrid pedals are found on upright and spin bikes, while recumbent exercise bikes typically come with flat pedals made of steel or plastic material. Most flat pedals are textured and come with a plastic strap or toe-cage adjustable strap that holds down the forefoot securely on the pedal to prevent slipping.
Maintenance
Like all equipment, recumbent exercise bikes require regular maintenance, and we recommend having your bike checked for wear and tear every six months or so. It is also necessary to ensure that you inspect the bike often for loose nuts and bolts and lubricate the mechanical parts to ensure that it remains in good working condition. In addition, you should also wipe down the handlebars, seat, and digital console with a soft cloth and antibacterial cleaner after every workout for hygiene reasons.
Resistance
Resistance helps you determine the intensity of your workout, and the most affordable recumbent exercise bikes feature 8 – 12 levels. Generally, exercise bikes use a resistance mechanism that applies various degrees of pressure on the bike’s flywheel to make the pedaling harder or easier to simulate riding up a hill or a flat surface. There are various types of resistance systems that include friction, magnetic, and electromagnetic. All work the same except that the friction magnetic resistance bike delivers an experience closest to a road bike where a change in the resistance level is immediate as you turn the knob.
On the other hand, magnetic bikes are manual and do not require electricity to work while electromagnetic mechanisms do. The disadvantage of magnetic bikes is they have a slight lag when you switch the resistance level, and electromagnetic systems are typically more expensive.
Storage Space
Unlike upright stationary bikes, recumbent exercise bikes take up significantly more space due to their bulky design. The bikes come in different sizes, and you may want to consider the dimensions when shopping for one. Home exercise bikes are typically smaller than the commercial varieties, and you can get foldable designs such as the Exerpeutic 400XL if you have a tight space.
Display
The display console is a pretty standard feature for all recumbent exercise bikes, and they help track and display workout data such as speed, distance, time, RPM, calories burnt, and pre-set programs. The more advanced recumbents will feature a tablet shelf, Bluetooth connectivity, speakers, and possibly a cooling fan. Display screens vary in size, the backlight color, and whether it is a touch screen or comes with buttons.
The Key Features Of Recumbent Exercise Bikes
The key design feature of recumbent exercise bikes is the adjustable reclined seat with a backrest that allows one to be comfortable while working out their lower body. Other critical features include the size and weight of the bike, materials for durability, a display panel to monitor your workout, and resistance levels. One noticeable feature that stationary recumbent bikes lack is the handlebars you would find on upright bikes. Instead, most come with support bars on the sides of the seat or moving handlebars to work out your arms, such as you would find on the Sunny Recumbent Exercise Bike. However, dual-action exercise bikes such as the Xspec Dual Exercise Bike give you the option of using it as an upright or recumbent bike. Hence it features handlebars for the straight position alongside the support bars on the sides of the seat when you recline.
Arm Exercisers
Recumbent exercise bikes with moving arms are also known as dual-action exercise bikes as they combine lower and upper body workouts. Dual-action bikes are ideal for weight loss as you burn more calories due to the extra exercise and help develop strong shoulder joints and tone your arm muscles. The mechanism that moves the handlebars is often linked with the pedals to work simultaneously.
Adults
Recumbents exercise bikes provide cardiovascular fitness in adults and increase flexibility in the lower body by strengthening the leg and joint muscles. The bikes can also help with weight loss in overweight adults and rehabilitate atrophied muscles to improve the range of motion.
Kids
Recumbent exercise bikes are generally not ideal for young kids due to the design structure of the bikes. However, the bikes are excellent exercise machines for improving cardiovascular fitness in youth and provide knee and leg rehabilitation for young adults recovering from injury.
Questions and Answers About recumbent bikes with arm workout
Are recumbent bikes a good workout?
Yes, you can get good cardio work with recumbent exercise bikes, depending on their type. Entry-level models provide low to moderate intensity, while midrange and commercial types provide more intense workouts for professional cyclists. Cycling with a recumbent bike helps build and tone your leg muscles and strengthen your lower body joints while providing upper body support. It is also an excellent option for anyone who needs low-impact cardio workouts, such as the elderly, people starting their fitness journey, or anyone recovering from illness.
Do recumbent bikes work abs?
Core muscles are activated while cycling, which includes the abdominals muscles. Additionally, cycling is a great cardio exercise that will help you lose fat and expose your abs.
How Do I Choose A Recumbent Bike?
Recumbent exercise bikes come with various aspects, and your choice depends on the fitness goals you want to achieve. The critical features to look out for include the resistance levels, where recumbents with more than 12 levels offer more intense workouts for advanced users than those with less. Comfort is another feature to consider, and it includes the saddle adjustment system and seat padding. Safety depends on how easy it is to mount and dismount the bike, and if you are not flexible, you may want to consider a recumbent with a step-through design. Many people consider price as a necessary factor, and there are many affordable recumbents to consider. However, as you look at how much it costs, you should also consider the build quality, durability, and manufacturer’s warranty to avoid buying junk equipment.
Do You Need Extra Features?
Midrange and premium-priced recumbents often come with extra features to enhance your workout experience and also provide convenience. These features include Bluetooth connectivity to help you link your workout metrics to fitness apps, speakers for listening to music from your phone or tablet, and 3-speed fans to help keep you cool while you work up a sweat. However, as nice as it is to have extra features, whether you need them or not is a matter of preference. Budget recumbents that feature the minimum functions may give you the results you need just as much as a bike with a water bottle holder. But, the performance features such as the resistance levels will determine if the recumbent will help you achieve your fitness goals.
Are recumbent bikes any good?
Recumbent exercise bikes offer a few benefits over upright exercise bikes, such as upper body support and low impact workouts for seniors, overweight people, and the infirm who most need it. On the other hand, you can get high-performance training that a professional cyclist would require on these bikes while reducing the risk of strained joints and back muscles due to the seating position.
How long should I ride my recumbent bike?
Your fitness goals will determine the workout duration on the bike. For seniors and anyone looking for a low-intensity workout, 30 minutes daily on the recumbent exercise bike will provide adequate cardio to maintain health. On the other hand, if your goal is weight loss or to improve your overall fitness level and cycling performance, 60 – 90 minutes for five days a week can deliver the results you are targeting. However, always exercise within your limits to prevent injuries and muscle fatigue.
Can I lose weight on a recumbent bike?
Riding a bike is a great cardiovascular exercise that will help you to lose weight. While cycling you can burn a significant amount of calories, especially on long rides, so accompanied by the right diet you will likely hit a calorie deficit and lose weight.
What’s better recumbent bike or upright?
Both types of exercise bikes offer specific advantages depending on your fitness goals. Recumbents are more comfortable due to the saddle position, and they are more suitable for people with knee or lower back problems. However, upright bikes offer more intense, full-body workouts that make them ideal for professional cyclists and people with high fitness goals.
Does the recumbent bike tone legs?
Generally, any cycling exercises you engage in will tone your leg muscles. Although recumbent exercise bikes are easier to ride than upright stationary bikes, they are just as effective. The cycling action on a recumbent will engage your thigh, leg, and calf muscles while the butt and hip joints get a low-impact effect from the workout.
Is recumbent bike as good as walking?
While both forms of exercise are efficient means of cardio exercise and weight loss, recumbent exercise bikes may help you burn more calories than walking as you put in more effort in the workout due to resistance. On the other hand, brisk walking may burn more calories in the same period as riding your recumbent on the lowest settings. When you consider the effect on the body, recumbent exercise offers more benefits as you reduce the impact on your joints as you reduce the weight on your lower body because you are seated reclined. However, walking has a better effect in helping you develop strong bones to prevent osteoporosis than training with a recumbent.
