Are you looking for a new way to get in shape? Or maybe a way to spice up your current workout routine? If so, the time is now to add an air bike to your fitness arsenal. Air bikes have become the go-to cardio and conditioning machine for fitness enthusiasts, CrossFitters, and anyone looking to lose weight because of the progressive resistance offered. Air bikes don't just come loaded with innovative features; they also provide an incredible workout.
As with other cardio equipment, there are tons of options, so choosing the right one for you is a challenge. And the only challenge you are looking for is the fitness variety. Fear not; the ACTIVE Reviews Team has spun through those options to give you the best recommendations and help you make the ideal choice the first time around.
Why Trust Us?
The ACTIVE Reviews Team is made up of fitness experts that include athletes, coaches, and certified trainers who bring their years of knowledge and experience to each review. More importantly, each member of our team is a fitness enthusiast. Fitness may be our job, but it is also our passion. Therefore, we strive to bring you products that we trust and would personally use.
The Best Air Bikes – Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Air Bike: The AssaultBike Elite
- Best Air Bike for Home: Schwinn Airdyne AD7
- Best Budget Air Bike: Marcy Exercise Upright Fan BikeThe Assault AirBike Elite
- Best Air Bike for Beginners: Sunny Health Motion Air Bike
- Best Challenging Air Bike: XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro
- Best Air Bike without Arms: Concept 2 BikeErg
- Best Air Bike for CrossFit: Get RX'd XEBEX Air Bike
Best Overall Air Bike - The Assault AirBike Elite
Specs
- Footprint: 55.08"L x 26.26"W x 55"H
- Weight: 138.89 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs.
- Fan diameter: 25"
- Console: Hi-contrast LCD screen
- Seat: Ergonomic seat with adjustment options
- Type of handles/arms: Full motion handles
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 3-year non-wear parts, 1-year labor
When tasked with choosing the best overall air bike, the Assault Airbike Elite has come out on top. The AssaultBike range of air bikes is known for durability and excellent features, and this model does not disappoint. This bike is a superb choice for anyone looking for a hard-wearing piece of equipment that can be used for intense training like HIIT or a challenging cardio session to get your heart racing and muscles working. It features a bulky frame with solid steel cranks and corrosion-resistant coating, making it an extremely durable product.
The removable windscreen is a unique feature that blocks the airflow from the fan. Alternatively, you can remove it if you'd prefer to use the fan to cool off during an intense and sweaty workout. The Assault Airbike Elite can be pedaled forward and backward to provide variety and challenge your muscles differently. The bike has a large ergonomic seat with multiple seat adjustment options, making it a comfortable experience for any rider.
A hi-contrast LCD screen with Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity gives users the option to connect to the Assault Fitness App for custom programming and a free three-month Fiit subscription for interactive bike workouts. The bike records watts, RPM, heart rate, calories, distance, and time and has an Odometer to track your stats. The Assault Airbike Elite is a feature-rich and durable air bike and an excellent option for anyone looking for a challenging workout.
What We Like
- Bulky frame made with premium materials to withstand the toughest of workouts
- Access to interactive workouts via the Assault Fitness App and Fiit subscription
- Multiple seat adjustment options for a comfortable ride
- Ability to track a variety of metrics including time, distance, and calories burned
What We Don't Like
- No bottle holder or device holder
- No stationary handles to rest your arms as you train your lower body
Read the full AssaultBike review here.
Best Air Bike for Home - Schwinn Airdyne AD7
Specs
- Footprint: 53"L x 26.5"W x 53"H
- Weight: 113 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs.
- Fan diameter: 30"
- Console: Multi-display LCD console
- Seat: Height and forwards/backwards adjustment options
- Type of handles/arms: Full motion handles with multiple hand grip positions
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year mechanical, 2-year electrical, 6-months labor
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 is a high-quality air bike ideal for home use. It features a single-stage direct drive system designed for greater power transfer and lower maintenance, and the bike is made with corrosion-resistant steel to ensure that the frame lasts a long time. The Airdyne AD7 also features telemetric heart rate measuring technology, as well as a multi-display LCD console that tracks calories, watts, time, distance, speed, and rpm.
With its dual-action handles and multi-position hand grips, you’ll have access to various workout options to get your body moving. It also has an optimized fan for high resistance and reduced noise to provide a challenging but enjoyable workout. Finally, the air bike comes with an Air Diverter to block the airflow created by the fan. Overall, the Schwinn Airdyne AD7 is the best air bike for home use and an excellent exercise bike that can provide a great workout.
What We Like
- Air diverter to block the air from the fan
- Measures heart rate, time, distance, watts, and more
- Adjustable seat for a better fit
- Dual action handles allow you to work your upper body and lower body
What We Don't Like
- No access to workout apps or subscriptions
- No stationary handles to rest your upper body
Best Budget Air Bike – Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike
Specs
- Footprint: 45"L x 25"W x 47.5"H
- Weight: 79 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
- Fan diameter: N/A
- Console: High-tech LCD
- Seat: Multiple seat adjustment options
- Type of handles/arms: Dual-action handles for an upper-body workout
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
The Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike is our best budget air bike pick, a brilliant choice for anyone with a tight budget and a need for a well-made cardio machine. This bike is made with premium 14-gauge steel tubing and is powder-coated to provide scratch and corrosion resistance. Additionally, the bike has dual-action handles that allow you to exercise your upper body in tandem with your lower body. The bike also comes with a high-tech LCD monitor that displays time, speed, distance, and calories burned and includes an odometer for lifetime stats.
The seat allows for a customized fit, and the bike comes with adjustable levelers to work on all surfaces. The bike also has adjustable foot straps for many sizes designed to secure your feet as you pedal, reducing the chance of injury because of slippage. Finally, the bike comes with transportation wheels for easy storage. So, if you are looking for the best budget air bike that comes with all the features you need, the Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike is a fantastic option.
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Transportation wheels for easy storage
- Adjustable foot straps to secure your feet
- High-tech LCD screen that tracks a variety of metrics
- Levelers that allow you to place your air bike on a variety of surfaces
What We Don't Like
- No foot pegs to rest your feet on when resting or isolating your upper body
- No access to workout apps or subscriptions
- It only has a 2-year warranty
BUY: Marcy Exercise Upright Fan Bike
Best Air Bike for Beginners – Sunny Health Motion Air Bike
Specs
- Footprint: 40"L x 23"W x 47"H
- Weight: 60 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 265 lbs.
- Fan diameter: N/A
- Console: Performance monitor
- Seat: 4-way adjustable seat
- Type of handles/arms: Full motion handles
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 3-year structural frame, 180-day parts and components
The Sunny Health Motion Air Bike is a great addition to your home workout equipment. This bike has a digital monitor that tracks your calories burned, distance, speed, and time, as well as a built-in odometer to track usage. It also has progressive resistance levels, so the faster you pedal, the higher the resistance allowing you to make your workouts more challenging as you get stronger. Additionally, the bike features a four-way adjustable seat that is padded for comfort and full-motion handlebars that allow you to work both your upper and lower body simultaneously for a dynamic full-body workout.
The bike also has transportation wheels to move and store as needed. Plus, the joint belt-and-chain drive ensures a smoother and quieter ride. The low price and outstanding features make this model the best air bike for beginners looking to get started.
What We Like
- Tablet holder which allows you to watch TV, listen to music or follow a workout video
- Transportation wheels for easy storage
- A joint belt and chain drive for a smooth and quiet ride
What We Don't Like
- The 3-year warranty is less than most air bikes
- Lower weight capacity which means heavier users won't be able to use the air bike
BUY: Sunny Health Motion Air Bike
Best Challenging Air Bike - XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro
Specs
- Footprint: 48"L x 28"W x 54.5"H
- Weight: 115 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs.
- Fan diameter: 27"
- Console: 6.6" LCD monitor
- Seat: Adjustable padded seat
- Type of handles/arms: Ergonomic full motion handles with multiple grip options
- Color: Black
- Warranty: Lifetime frame,1-year parts, 1-year labor
The XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro has several features that make it a great addition to your home gym. First, it has a sturdy steel frame and fan blades that provide progressive resistance and cooling as you ride. The XTERRA features an industrial-grade chain drive system that provides unlimited resistance, which can be adjusted by pedaling faster or slower. The bike also has an adjustable padded seat, ergonomic handles bars with multiple padded grip options, and foot pegs to rest your legs while you train your upper body. These features combined can either give you a challenging full-body workout or a nice warm-up if taking it slow at first.
It has a 6.6-inch LCD monitor that shows rpm, distance, time, speed, calories burned, watts, interval prompts, and heart rate. It also comes with built-in programs that include six presets and one custom for workout variety. The XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro is the best challenging air bike that is sure to impress even a veteran trainer.
What We Like
- Industrial grade chain drive system for durability
- Built-in programs
- Foot pegs to rest your legs while you train upper body
What We Don't Like
- Chain drive is not as quiet as belt-drive air bikes
- The bike is heavier than most air bikes and may be harder to move and store
BUY: XTERRA Fitness AIR650 Airbike Pro
Best Air Bike without Arms - Concept 2 BikeErg
Specs
- Footprint: 48"L x 24"W x 40.5"H
- Weight: 68 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
- Fan diameter: N/A
- Console: Backlit LCD screen with Bluetooth and ANT+
- Seat: Adjustable height, forward and backward seat positions
- Type of handles/arms: Adjustable handle position
- Color: Black
- Warranty: Limited 2-year and 5-year warranty
One of the more unique air bikes on this list is the Concept2 BikeErg. This bike does not have full motion arms like most air bikes, but it makes up for it with other features. The seat is adjustable to fit riders of different builds, and the easy-to-assemble frame means you can be up and riding in no time. Additionally, the frame was designed to fit most standard bike parts, so you can switch out the seat, handles, or pedals if you prefer your setup. The aluminum frame is durable and lightweight, making it easy to transport while ensuring a long-lasting bike.
One of the unusual features of this air bike is the clutched flywheel, which provides "coasting" while you rest. This nifty feature makes it ideal for interval training. The backlit LCD screen shows all your workout information, and the Bluetooth connectivity and ANT+ allow you to connect to heart rate monitors or other apps. Finally, you can log your workouts via the free Erg App to track your progress or save it on a USB. The Concept2 BikeErg is decidedly the best air bike without arms and offers all the features you need to create a challenging and effective cardio workout.
What We Like
- Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity to connect to apps and heart rate monitors
- Light but durable frame for easy assembly and storage
- Ability to attach your own seat, handles, or pedals
What We Don't Like
- No dual action handles
- Limited warranty
Best Air Bike for CrossFit - Get RX'd XEBEX Air Bike
Specs
- Footprint: 48"L x 26"W x 52"H
- Weight: 109 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 350 lbs.
- Fan diameter: 27"
- Console: Large console that tracks distance, speed, calories, heart rate, watts, and time
- Seat: 4-way adjustable seat with extra padding
- Type of handles/arms: Full motion handles
- Color: Black
- Warranty: 5-year frame, 2-year non-parts
Introducing the Get RX’d XEBEX Air Bike, a CrossFitter’s dream. This stellar bike is ideal for those looking for an intense and challenging workout. Made with Chro-Moly cranks, sealed cartridge brackets, and sealed ball bearings, this bike is one of the most robust bikes on the list, suitable even for military use.
The bike has rubber-dipped handles to provide a good grip, a four-way adjustable seat, and foot pegs to rest your legs to ensure a comfortable and customized experience. It also has extra seat padding to increase comfort and full-motion handles to help train your upper body. In addition, the bike tracks distance, time, speed, calories burned, watts, and heart rate. It also has a programmable custom interval function to help you create custom training programs or HIIT workouts.
The RX'd XEBEX Air Bike is also heavier than the majority of bikes, so it can provide more stability and allows users to really put this bike through a grueling CrossFit WOD.
What We Like
- Full motion handles for a full body workout
- Heavy-duty build for durability
- Large console for tracking stats
- Extra padding on the seat for comfort
What We Don't Like
- Heavier frame may make it harder to move and store
- No bottle holder
What to Consider When Shopping for an Air Bike
When shopping for an air bike, there are a few factors you should consider before investing in one.
Construction and durability
First and foremost, you need to consider the construction and durability of the air bike. You want to ensure that you choose a bike that can withstand long-term use. Things to look out for include the materials used and any reinforcing features such as sealed bearings. The construction of the air bike will also determine the type of training you can perform on the bike. If your training plan consists of intense cardio workouts, you will need to buy a sturdier bike made with premium materials. That way, you know your bike will withstand strenuous exercise. High-quality materials coupled with a sturdy design will give you a more durable air bike that will last longer and save you money.
Size of the bike
Next, you should consider the size of the air bike. Air bikes come in a variety of different sizes. Choosing the right size for you ensures comfortable riding. If the bike is too small, you may feel cramped and uncomfortable. If the bike is too large, you may find it more difficult to move around or store when not in use. Additionally, your available space determines which air bike you should buy. If you live in a small apartment or condo, a smaller air bike will be more suitable for your area or vice versa. The size of the bike also determines the max user capacity, as smaller air bikes will have a lower max user weight than larger air bikes. Therefore, your body weight will also determine which model you should buy.
Adjustability and Comfort
Exercise equipment is designed with the average person in mind, so if you are taller or shorter than the average person, you may struggle to use some equipment. This is why adjustability should be a consideration, and one of the best things about air bikes is that they can be adjusted to fit a variety of body types. The seat and handlebars on most air bikes are adjustable to ensure a comfy fit and come with padded seats that can help make your workout more enjoyable. Regardless of your build, you should be able to find an air bike that is comfortable to use.
Value-added features
Almost all air bikes come with value-added features. This could be anything from a digital monitor that tracks your progress to unlimited resistance that makes the bike more challenging to ride. When shopping for an air bike, be sure to look for one with features that you want for reaching your fitness goals. Some useful features to look out for are preset programs, Bluetooth connectivity, integration with workout apps, and air diverters or shields. These types of features add comfort and an increased range of workout routines to provide more of a challenge and prevent boredom.
Your Budget
Finally, the last factor you should consider when purchasing an air bike is the price and your budget. Air bikes range in price from around $400 to $1500. The price of the air bike will depend on its features, the size and construction of the bike, and the type of drive. To buy the best air bike for you, decide which features you consider essential while keeping the overall quality of the bike in mind.
FAQs About Air Bikes
Is the air bike a good workout?
The air bike is a dynamic piece of workout equipment because you can exercise your upper and lower body simultaneously. Air bikes also feature progressive resistance, which means you can adjust the difficulty of your workout by pedaling slower or faster. The progressive resistance also means you will not need to buy additional weights or weight stacks to add more resistance when you work out. Finally, cycling is a low-impact exercise, so it is gentler on your joints and can aid in injury rehabilitation. Air bikes are a fantastic choice for people who are new to working out, deal with joint pain, or want to use the bike as part of their rehab routine.
Is the air bike good for weight loss?
If you're trying to lose weight, then the air bike is the ideal choice for you. Air bikes are beginner-friendly, allow you to train your upper and lower body, and come with progressive resistance. The progressive resistance means you can tailor your workouts to your fitness level while challenging yourself and burning calories. Air bikes are also great for HIIT, a training method that is particularly effective for weight loss. Additionally, because the air bike is low impact, it is gentle on your joints, and you can continue to use it as you lose weight, meaning that the air bike can be a part of your long-term weight loss plan.
Why is the air bike so hard?
The air bike is hard because of the resistance created by the fan. Most stationary bikes work with a motor or a magnetic resistance flywheel, whereas an air bike works with a fan. The harder you pedal, the more the resistance increases. Air bikes also typically have full-motion handles that give you a full-body workout when you use them with the pedals. The progressive resistance combined with your upper and lower body working in tandem can result in a brutal workout. However, you can also pedal slower, remove your arms from the handles, or rest your legs on the foot pegs to reduce the intensity.