Exercise Bike With Back Support
As part of building my own home gym, I’ve been looking all around the internet for a good cardio solution. I wanted something that I could do for a long time without getting bored or messing up my joints.
I was never a big fan of stationary exercise bike workout cause my back would get sore from bending over, that was until I tried exercise bikes with comfortable backrest. After doing hours of research, I found the best ones out there, and in this article, I’ll show them to you.
My Personal Recommendation (The Bike I Bought)
The Schwinn 270 is the bike I ended up going for after hours of research. I even reached out to a few friends of mine that own it so that I could test drive it before making a purchase.
The Schwinn 720 provides me with everything I could ever need out of an exercise bike, and then some. It makes it super easy to track my progress, I can watch my favourite shows while I charge my tablet, and thanks to its hundreds of options I don’t get bored. I can switch up my workout style countless times to keep things interesting.
Best Exercise Bikes with Back Support
Here are the best exercise bikes with lumbar support on the market.
Technical Specs
- Dual track two lcd window system
- Dimensions: 64 x 27 x 50 inches
- Weight: 101.00 lbs
- Warranty: Frame: 10 Years, Mechanical: 2 Years, Electrical: 1 Year, Labor: 90 Days
- Power Requirements: Plugs into any standard electrical wall outlet on a 110V-120V circuit. 120V 60Hz AC input; 1.5A output. AC power adapter included.
- Maximum user weight: 300 lbs
What I like
There’s a lot to like about the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike, especially as you start using it and get to know the machine. If I told you everything I like about this bike we’d be here forever though, so I’ll just stick to the highlights.
For starters, let’s talk about the Schwinn 270’s tracking options. Like most exercise bikes, it allows you to track Time, Distance and your heart rate, thanks to a conveniently placed heart rate monitor.
Unlike most machines though, the Schwinn can connect directly to Samsung health, MyFitnessPal app and other fitness apps. Once you get used to having your workouts logged automatically, there’s no going back. I’m telling you, having this feature makes tracking calories a whole lot easier. If you wanna get shredded for the summer, get a Schwinn.
That’s not all though! There’s also the 29 different training programs and the 4-user goal tracking settings. That means that up to 4 people can use it and track their goals at the same time! It’s great for families or roommates.
The Schwinn displays all of this data in two LCD window systems that can show up to 13 different stats for you to track AT ONCE. Honestly, I’d list them to you but I’m not even close to figuring everything out yet!
Of course if you recommend a bike, you gotta talk about resistance, the Schwinn has 25 different levels of it and an extremely quiet flywheel for ultra quiet workout. Noise may seem inconsequential at first, but it gets old when you’ve been on the bike for an hour or so. It can ruin your workout. Don’t even talk about when you’re trying to watch a show on your ipad.
Speaking of Ipads and tablets, the Schwinn has built in speakers and 4 usb charging ports that work off of the electricity you generate while pedalling. This is great just because it allows you to watch movies without worrying about battery life, but there are other benefits too..
I kid you not, I used this feature to charge up my phone one day when the power went out, so it’s like having your own mini generator.
Finally, you also have the amazing build quality. I mean, they’re so confident in it that they offer a 10 year warranty on it, what more is there to say?
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
Does it surprise you that this bike has amazing reviews? cause it shouldn’t. It’s rated at 4.5 out of 5, I checked out those bad reviews and for the most part, they were from people who messed up when assembling it.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike, 350lb High Weight Capacity, Cross Training, Arm Exercisers, Monitor, Pulse Rate Monitoring | SF-RB4708
Technical Specs
- Digital monitor measures speed, time, distance, calories, and total distance
- Adjustable Inseam Height Min 26.5 in / Max 34 in
- Multi-control smooth magnetic resistance system
- Max User Weight: 350 lb
- Product Weight: 94.8 lb
- Product Dimensions: 60L x 25.5W x 52H inches
- Drive Mechanism: Belt Drive
What I like
This one was almost the magnetic recumbent exercise bike I went for. Why? Well it’s an all around great bike, but what really made my choice tough was the arms. As you may have noticed, my bike doesn’t have moving arms.
What’s the benefit of the Arm Exercisers? Well unlike most stationary exercise bikes, this one actually provides a full body workout. Just to clarify, this bike wont give you crazy thick arms or 3D biceps and triceps, you build those in the gym – be it a makeshift backyard home gym setup or a commercial one. What it will do is improve your endurance for your upper body, something most people don’t really work on.
It’s also great if you’re on rehab or for seniors that are just looking for a low impact, full body workout.
That’s not all this bike has to offer though, it has eight levels of resistance, a great LCD screen to track your stats and a handy device holder so that you can watch your movies.
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
Again, we have a 4.4 out of 5. It’s a great recumbent exercise bike, no way around it.
Technical Specs
- Item Weight: 150 Pounds
- Resistance Mechanism: flywheel resistance
- Maximum Weight Recommendation: 300 Pounds
- Protected with a 5-year frame warranty and a 90-day parts & labor warranty
- Dimensions: 16.99” H x 25.6” W x 55.74” L
What I like
The great thing about this bike is it’s smooth flywheel resistance mechanism. Unlike other mechanisms, there are no parts rubbing against each other in this one, there’s less wear and tear and absolutely no noise and the pedaling is silky smooth - love a smooth ride? This is it.
The outstanding tension control system also provides 25 different resistance levels, it can go really really heavy for a challenging workout.
If you’re looking for a tough, grueling yet quiet workout that will hit the correct muscles in your legs, this is one of the best recumbent bikes you can get your hands on.
This bike features LCD screen and a heart rate monitor for great fitness tracking and the ability to read your time, calories burned, distance, resistance and heart rate as you pedal.
When it comes to comfort, the ProForm is a winner. It’s oversized padded seat provides excellent lumbar support, which makes it a great exercise bike for back pain or those looking to achieve a proper posture when working out.
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
Customers are definitely in love with the robust alloy steel construction, it's foldable design, and the easily adjustable seat.
Technical Specs -
- Dimensions: 64″ L x 27″ w x 44.5″ H | Weight: 80 lbs
- Max. User Weight: 300 lb
- Warranty Description: 10-Years frame, 2-Years parts, 1-Year electronics, 90-Days labor
What I like
Another bike that I almost went for. No surprise here, it’s another Schwinn.
Why do I think this bike is great? Bluetooth connectivity. With this bike you can connect directly to your phone for data transfer, and other biking apps like Zwift.
With Zwift, you’ll be able to access thousands of workouts, training courses and guidance. Even if you don’t have a Zwift membership, the bike offers 13 in-built workout programs and awesome fitness tracking capability to help you keep tab of all your stats on the LCD screen.
When it comes to the bike basics, this bike also blows it out of the park! 6 levels of resistance ensures anyone can have a decent workout, and the seat is AMAZING. It literally feels like sitting on the couch, it’s that good.
Besides, this bike features a sturdy and durable frame, designed to offer the most comfortable recumbent position possible while still giving you a stable ride even when pedaling at high speed or taking on more challenging workouts.
Finally, I gotta talk about price. I doubt there’s a bike on the market that provides more bang for your buck.
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
It doesn’t get any better than being selected as an Amazon’s choice product. Only the best of the best gets selected. With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that this bike has 4.5 out 5 stars.
Technical Specs
- Dimensions: 58.8” x 27.7” x 41”
- Weight: 108 LBS
- Weight Limit: 300 LBS
- Console: 5.5″ Dual Color Backlit LCD
- Flywheel: 22 LBS, 12.5” Diameter
- Warranty: • 5 years frame • 1 year parts
What I like
The XTERRA SB2.5 is more of a minimal option. It’s great at what it does, and definitely gets the job done, though you shouldn’t expect any luxury. That being said, I always love a good bargain, so the XTERRA is right up my alley.
It’s got a 22 pound wide perimeter weighted flywheel that’s electronically controlled to provide 24 different adjustable resistance levels that are put to use with the inbuilt training plans. There are 12 preset plans, 5 heart rate oriented ones, 1 Watt and a Manual setting for regular workout routine.
When it comes to media and entertainment, the XTERRA has an audio jack and a decent set of speakers. You might have to buy an adapter for your phone if it doesn’t have a headphone jack, but it’s still a cool option to be able to play your music or movies out of speakers rather than earbuds.
Finally, it’s got a decent sized LCD screen that will display your heart rate, calories burned, time, distance though it will be covered up by your tablet.
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
When it comes to reviews, they’re pretty good for this bike. Some users have complained that the tension maxes out too fast, so you won't be getting extra challenging workouts. But if you’re looking for low impact, steady state cardio sessions after your workout, you shouldn’t have any issues.
Technical Specs
- Dimensions: 66in L x 28in W x 53in H / Weight: 212 lbs.
- Max User Weight: 350 lbs.
- Resistance: 20 Levels of Intensity
- Electrical: Self Contained Power Supply / No External Power Supply Needed / AC Adapter is Available
What I like
If the XTERRA was a budget option, the Star Trac is its luxurious counterpart. With a pretty big price tag, the STAR TRAC is packed with features to make your stationary exercise bike experience as great as possible.
One thing I really like is that it doesn’t need any sort of power supply to function, it’s got one included just in case you want to install the TV addon. I don’t know about you, but being able to watch tv directly from your bike seems pretty cool to me.
It’s got – get this – personal fans! You’ll never be too hot while biking, since the power you produce by pedalling will power the fans to keep you feeling fresh.
Finally, it’s got an amazing dashboard that can display 4 messages at once. IT can cycle independently between:
- Time Elapsed
- RPM, Distance
- Heart Rate
- Motivational Track
- Course Profile and Resistance Level
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
The bike is rated at 4 out of five, which may seem weird at first, but you gotta understand that with such a high price people put a lot of expectation, far more than they would with a cheaper cardio machine. However, a quick read of reviews shows that all users are pleased with it, and it’s even used in rehab centers.
Technical Specs
- Weight: 121.00 lbs
- Max weight capacity: 250lb
- Number of Resistance Levels: 8
What I like
The Stamina Elite is a great option for those looking for a full body workout. Even better, if your legs are sore or you have any sort of injury, you can still get some cardio in without using your legs at all!
The Stamina Elite offers up to eight levels of resistance, which is great for anyone looking for a very low impact workout or for those recovering from injury, but trained individuals may find it lacking.
Either way, you still get an LCD display that showcases your time, distance and heart rate, which is measured by grabbing on to the seat handles.
Customer Reviews – What The Reviews Are Saying
Customer reviews are a mixed bag for this one, those that knew what this bike was about are really pleased with it, but those who were expecting much heavier loads are somewhat disappointed.
NordicTrack Commercial VR25 Elite Recumbent Bike
Technical Specs
- Resistance: 26 Levels
- Seat type: Lumbar Support
- Programs: 35
- Flywheel: 25 LBS
- Weight capacity: 350 LBS
- Dimensions: 61.2″ L x 23″ W x 68″ H
What I like
For our last entry, we have another luxury bike. You’ve probably heard of Nordictrack before, they’re even featured on an Eminem song! That’s how good they are.
Let me tell you, it shows. I didn’t get this good bike for myself cause I wasn’t looking to spend that much on a bike, but if I could, I would.
Unlike other bikes, where you can set up your ipad or tablet to watch movies, this bike has a bright and beautiful screen! With it, you can connect to hundreds, even thousands of IFit workouts that come with the free, one-year Ifit subscription.
That’s not all though, you still can connect to your ipad or tablet if you wanna transfer your biking data to other training apps like Zwift!
Of course, when it comes to comfort, this bike takes the cake, it’s got a specially designed seat that offers extra lumbar support so you can comfortably sit upright, extra wide pedals for easy pedaling and 28 levels of silky smooth resistance for varying workout intensity options.
Customer Reviews
Reviews for this bike are amazing, as they should be. The only complaints I could find where people who had trouble with shipping, though a little digging reveals that these people had bought their bikes from other retailers.
Why Exercise Bikes with Back Support Are Great
Exercise bikes are AWESOME, and here is why.
Great for Seniors
Not everyone can run on an incline treadmill or use a regular stationary bike or an elliptical. For some of us with chronic back pain, doing that is hell on our backs.
When you use a bike with back support, you can sit back, relax and only move your legs. This takes most of the stress off of your spine, so you can get your cardio in without worsening your back condition.
And it gets even better, as you can imagine, having an adjustable seat makes these bikes great exercise equipment for seniors, who may not be able to do other forms of cardio, but still need to get some exercise in. Some recumbent bikes like the jeekee recumbent exercise bike also offer smooth and quiet workout and great weight capacity capabilities that make it ideal for heavy users looking for a quiet ride.
Great for Beginners
Because of how incredibly safe recumbent exercise bikes and semi recumbent bike models are, they make a great tool for beginners. Due to their positions, you can’t stand up on the pedals, believe it or not that’s how most traditional stationary bike injuries happen.
Low Impact
Another benefit of the pedal and seat position is that it produces less stress on your knees and ankles. As a result, working out with one of these bikes is an incredibly low impact activity that is great for seniors, those recovering from injury, or even athletes that want some active recovery while keeping their fitness progress on track.
Ellipticals (like the Schwinn 470 or the Sole E25) are also great if you want a more challenging low impact exercise. If you’re looking for an even more challenging workout, then consider running for longer on a treadmill with cushioning system, like the Sole F63 or the Bowflex BXT6.
Better for Long, Steady State Cardio
You may have noticed that all of these bikes offer some sort of option to place your phone or tablet, some models even have an ideal water bottle holder too. This is because these bikes are for long, extended cardio sessions.
Not only are these bikes a lot more comfortable because you’re basically sitting on a couch - thanks to their adjustable padded seat for relaxed body positioning, but they’re also a lot more fun. Bikes like the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike and the Nordictrack VR21, sunny health or the marcy recumbent exercise bike and the other bikes we mentioned allow you sit still for long periods of time and enjoy a low impact exercise.
If you are lucky enough to find one with secure foot straps and a step through design, then the better it gets in terms of safety and ease of use.
You can use biking apps like Sufferest or Zwift, or even watch movies! What I do when I wanna get shredded is watch my shows on my bike, before I know it I’ve been its high inertia drive system for about an hour!
Questions Asked By People Looking for An Exercise Bike with Back Support
Here are a couple of questions that might pop to mind when looking for a recumbent exercise bike with back support.
Can You Use an Upright Exercise Bike with Sciatica?
For most patients with sciatica, a traditional stationary bikes in which you have to lean forward is a terrible choice. By leaning forward you can pinch your sciatica nerve even further, making your pain worse.
Upright bikes with back support on the other hand, keep your spine in a neutral position, so you are much less likely to experience pain, if you're looking fora full-fledge or mini exercise bike for back problems, any of these should work great. However, if you do, you should immediately stop your workout, and if possible seek professional medical advice.
How Long Should I Use My Exercise Bike?
For as long as you can! Nah just kidding, Even if these bikes give you a low intensity workout, it’s still a workout, so you should be careful not to overdo it. I usually train for around an hour in my exercise bike and I’ve never had problems with it. However, if you feel any pain or discomfort you should stop.
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- Nordictrack Space Saver Treadmill
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- Does Exercise Increase Metabolism? – Science-Backed Research Says Yes
