In this article, we have reviewed some of the best recumbent exercise bikes with moving arms.
We looked at different models to test all the features that people look for in a cardio exercise machine. These include a comfortable seat, a wide range of resistance levels, a digital monitor, an ergonomic design, a heart rate monitor, and more.
By the time you are done reading, you should be able to choose with more confidence which indoor exercise bike is best for you. Given the current price market, you could also use this information to get the best value for your money.
If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot. Or you can scroll down for detailed product reviews.
Last update on 2022-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Table of Contents
Recumbent bikes with moving arms enable you to work out your upper part of your body and the lower part of your body. This type of bikes are very similar to elliptical, but the way your legs are worked out is different in these two.
Apart from moving arms, another idea for upper body workouts is recumbent bikes integrated with resistance bands. We will be covering both types of recumbent bikes in this article.
According to our research, the Stamina Elite Recumbent Bike is the best bike with moving arms for most people. The best part about dual motion recumbent bikes is that it provides a low-impact cardio workout for the lower part and the upper part of your body. In short, they are best suitable for a low-impact full-body workout.
Also, due to the legs and the hands’ rapid movement, it will work out all the ab muscles, which is otherwise not possible in an only leg workout. This type of recumbent bikes is best suitable for seniors for strength training for the whole body with a light workout. If you are looking for bikes to do high-intensity workouts, refer to this article on spin bikes.
Our Picks For Best Recumbent Bikes With Moving Arms
Analyzing some of the market’s recumbent bikes, I’ve picked some of the good bikes that come with moving arms.
Also Read: Different Types of Excercise Bikes
#1. Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Exercise Bike
This recumbent bike is really sturdy with a steel frame and stabilizer bars. It can support users weighing up to 250 pounds without any problems.
The stationary bike itself weighs 120 pounds, so moving it from one room to another could be a bit of a challenge. In addition, it does not come with transport wheels. This means you might need some help to carry it to a different part of the house, especially if you have to take it up a flight of stairs.
This bike won’t come with any levelers. Hence, you may need to place this on even surfaces like a floor mat or an even surface.
That said, Stamina did many other things right in this Elite model, making it our top choice even with its not-so-great features.
The seat is adjustable both vertically and horizontally. This means you can adjust the height and the nearness of the seat to the hand pedal.
After figuring out the optimum configuration for the adjustable cushioned seat, you will have more motivation to sit for a longer workout.
For taller people above 6.5ft, they still need to fold their knees slightly and can’t fully extend their legs while pedaling.
However, this is not an issue for most of them.
The resistance mechanism is magnetic, with 8 levels of varied intensity.
These many levels of resistance make the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike a great piece of equipment for all users with varying fitness goals. Simply adjust it to the lowest setting if you want to do low-impact cardio or crank it up for a more intense workout.
The universal resistance knob controls the resistance of both the legs and arms pedals. There are no separate knobs to adjust them in case if you need them.
While it does leave little room for flexibility, having one control for both sets of pedals makes for a more balanced whole-body cardio workout.
Another thing you will really like about the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is that the resistance is quiet. It won’t make any noise as there’s no rubbing inside. If you suddenly get the urge to exercise while the rest of your household is asleep, this should be no problem.
The bike also comes with a simple LCD console. This console displays basic information like distance, calories burnt, time, and others. Only one metric is displayed at a time; this can be toggled by hitting the mode button.
While the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike’s digital display seems basic at first, it gets the job done. You will have all the data you need to get the full-body workout you want.
The bike also contains pulse sensors, and also the display alerts you when your pulse maxes out.
This feature, along with the heart rate monitoring function, is important if you want to get the maximum workout intensity without putting too much stress on your heart.
Despite all of its advanced and safety features, the Stamina Elite Total Body Recumbent Bike is easy to operate.
The console needs 2 AA batteries for it to run. No other external power source is required.
It is a type of exercise bike you can set up in any part of the house without having to worry about wall sockets or extension cords.
On top of all these, using this bike does not feel like work at all. The seat is thickly padded and offers good comfort. As this bike is designed especially to be used by seniors, the seat is top-notch.
If you need any additional softness, you may always keep a soft cloth or a small pillow underneath your seat or as a backrest. The angle of the backrest is automatically adjusted when the seat is adjusted horizontally. This feature enables you to work out on this bike for hours easily.
The video below shows what we are talking about.
Overall this is a nice bike that also comes with variable resistance for an arm workout. The bike is also well-built and is durable.
If you are looking for a high-quality bike with arm pedals that offers the perfect balance between comfort and performance, this machine is for you.
Features
- Quiet magnetic resistance, Sturdy with angled backrest
- LCD with scan. Can track speed, calories, heart rate, distance, and workout time.
- Comfortable, padded seat.
- Tracks heart rate
Last update on 2022-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#2. Velocity Exercise Dual Motion Recumbent Bike
The bike is well-built for the price. It comes with a solid frame coated with ABS plastic to enhance durability. The sturdy frame provides a good base and a low center of gravity.
In addition, the five-kilogram flywheel balances the sturdy frame even more. This ensures you don’t tip over even if you get a bit carried away while pedaling.
Looking at the bike’s design, the bike seems to last for a couple of years with no problem at all. The bike comes with two stabilizers that make the bike not to wobble when working out. The back stabilizer can be adjusted so that the bike will be sturdy even on uneven surfaces.
The front stabilizer, as usual, contains transport wheels that help in transporting the bike easier. The seat is adjustable both vertically and horizontally. At the seat’s closest horizontal adjustment, the bike tends to be quite uncomfortable for people below 5.4′ height.
The bike cushion is thickly padded, and they adjust to the shape of your back without causing any discomfort.
The resistance mechanism is magnetic, like most of the recumbent bikes. This, along with the belt drive, makes the bike totally silent to drive.
The LCD console is rather simple. There is only one button that you can use to change the modes. The console displays various things like distance, calories burnt, time, and heart rate. The console needs only 2 AA batteries to run.
You can also measure the pulse rate. This can be done by holding the sensors at the side of the bike while riding it. The pulse is not so accurate as most of the bikes in this range. The tension knob in front of you can be used to vary the intensity of your arm workout.
However, as you may expect, you can’t measure the pulse rate while doing upper body and arm workout because the pulse sensors will be at the side of the bike.
This dual-action exercise bike weighs 97 pounds, which is a bit on the heavy side. Even so, it comes with built-in transport wheels that maximize its mobility. You can move it from room to room by yourself without any problems.
Some people might not think that this feature is important, but it actually comes in handy if you live alone and want to move your bike to another part of the house.
Features
- 5 Kg flywheel
- One way bearing belt driven
- 8 levels of tension control
- Computer readouts for time, speed, odometer, distance, calorie, hand pulse.Dimensions 51 Hx 25 W x 50 D inches
- 5 Kg flywheel
- One way bearing belt driven
- 8 levels of tension control
- Computer readouts for time, speed, odometer, distance, calorie, hand pulse.Dimensions 51 Hx 25 W x 50 D inches
- Place the product on a level surface, with at least 3 feet of clearance around it. To protect the floor or carpet from damage, place a mat under it
Last update on 2022-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#3. Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser
This bike is a newcomer to the market. The bike comes with a steel frame and stabilizers to keep the bike sturdy even on quite uneven surfaces. These don’t come with levelers like that of other bikes I reviewed in this post.
While the Sunny Health and Fitness Recumbent Bike is not flashy, it does all the basics very well. It is not something you often see in high-end gyms, but it is not a cheap bike either—not by a long shot.
It has a comfy seat with a back cushion for maximum support. Plus, it is wide and can accommodate all body types.
The seat height can be adjusted by pulling the knob and releasing it to the seat pole’s pre-set holes. There’s no option for you to make the fine incremental adjustments. The seat is padded for good comfort. The backrest is also comfortable. The seat is also adjustable to vary the proximity of the seat to the handlebar.
So, for shorter people, this is a great feature for convenient, longer workouts.
The resistance is magnetic. The resistance knob for the leg pedals are marked and have 8 levels of varied intensity. This enables you to vary the intensity of your workouts.
The LCD console displays time, distance, counts, and also the calories you have burnt. These metrics help you keep motivated while working out. The handlebars at the side of the seat also have pulse sensors on top to track your pulse rate. It helps you determine the intensity of your workouts and helps in fat burning.
As usual, you can’t use both track pulse and do arm workout simultaneously.
Features
- Handlebars with dual position handle grips
- Large seat and back cushion.
- Height adjustable with inseam height Max 75 in/ Min 63 in
- Adjustable 8-level magnetic tension control System. Exercise digital displays: time, count, total count, calories, and count per minute
- Built-in transportation wheels for easy portability. Extended weight capacity: max. User weight 350Lbs
Last update on 2022-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#4. Slim Cycle Recumbent Bike With Upper Body Resistance Bands
This is a popular recumbent + upright bike hybrid, a product that you might have seen several times on television advertising (Slim cycle, Harley Pasternack – ring a bell?) as well.
If not – well, the concept is simple. You have a magnetic resistance that can be used both with a recumbent style workout and an upright stationary bike workout by modifying the position of your seat and holding on to the handlebars. There are resistance bands for the upper body workout, which can be used to get a wholesome workout.
The seat can accommodate anyone in the height range of 4’11” to 6’4″, which covers most average-sized people. There is a convenient backrest available on the bike so that if you are a more senior person looking for a low impact workout, you can relax and put the bike in a recumbent position and enjoy a quiet pedal two.
The seat itself is 12.5″ wide, and there is comfortable padding on it, so you can exercise for a long time without worrying about pain in the tailbone.
The resistance to the slim cycle is magnetic. There is a resistance knob provided, which you can use to vary the intensity in 8 levels. You can choose to do a laid back workout or a high-intensity one, depending on your mood.
There is a digital display on the bike to show you your burned calories, speed, distance, and miles you rode. There are heart rate sensors built into the handlebars, which can measure your heart rate, allowing you to set a target intensity level based on the heart rate that you want to achieve.
One of the questions that we keep hearing about these exercise bikes every time is how big the bike is? We know that it is difficult to accommodate a large bike in your apartment or condo building. That is why we try to select bikes compact in size and fold easily to become even more compact. The slim cycle folds completely flat, and you can easily store it in a closet or under your bed when folded. Its folded dimensions are: 53 x 21 x 14 inches
Features
- Functions as both upright and recumbent bike
- Integrated Resistance bands for upper body workout
- 8 level magnetic resistance, easily adjustable using a simple knob
- Folds compactly and easy to store
- Weight capacity of 300 pounds
Last update on 2022-01-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#5. MaxKare Magnetic Recumbent Bike With Resistance Bands
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No products found.
This beautiful exercise bike is a 3-in-1 option for exercising your entire body without having to spend tons of money on the gym membership. You can use it as a recumbent bike for low-intensity workouts, an upright bike for high-intensity action, and use the resistance bands provided for upper body workout.
The bike works well with anyone in the height range of 4’11” to 6’3″, while the resistance bands stretch out to about 39 inches. There is an extra-large and padded cushion seat on the bike for the users’ comfort and long sessions. The seat size is 11.6 x 9 inches and is ergonomically designed. As mentioned already, it is a height-adjustable seat.
No products found.This bike is a great option for people who are a little shorter in height than average.
The bike uses 8-level adjustable magnetic resistance. Because the bike has magnetic resistance, the flywheel is very quiet, and therefore this bike is very convenient for use in smaller apartments where noisy neighbors are not welcome.
The advanced LCD Monitor displays Time, Distance, Heart Rate, Speed, and Calories. There is even a pad/phone holder provided for your convenience so that you can read and work while exercising.
No products found.Another great feature of this bike is that it is extremely compact and easily folds into a tiny size. The folded dimensions of this bike are 18.5 x 9.8 x 52.7 inches. Nevertheless, the bike is made from a solid steel frame and is very sturdy. It can hold a weight capacity of 265 pounds.
Apart from being compact, the bike can easily be transported within your house with the convenient transport wheels provided in the front.
Features
- 8 level magnetic resistance
- 3-in-1 exercise bike: Recumbent, Upright, and Resistance Bands
- Easy to fold and folds into 1/3rd its normal size
- LCD monitor to display speed, time, distance, and other important metrics
- The bike is height adjustable between 4’11” to 6’3″
- Soft, comfortable padded and contoured seating with adjustable backrest included
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Buyer’s Guide
This section will help provide you with the necessary information to make an informed decision regarding recumbent exercise bikes. There is also a frequently asked questions section to better picture what to look for in these exercise bikes.
So, let’s see how this information will make it easier when you are on a recumbent exercise bike buying spree.
Build
Recumbent bikes are built with comfort in mind while focusing mostly on lower body exercise that promotes cardio improvement. They come with comfortable seating with back support so the upper body can be relaxed while doing workouts.
Low and high workouts provide a more relaxing posture and less movement for the upper body.
Price
The high-end recumbent exercise bikes are, most of the time, a bit more expensive than most other types of exercise bikes. But that also depends on the model and brand of the bike and the types of features that come with it.
You can be prepared to pay more for the bike if it has many features and is made with durable construction.
Weight Limits
There are some weight limits on this type of exercise bike, so you need to make sure that you buy one that will accommodate you. They have a variety of weight category bikes available, so there’s one for every weight class and size of people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a recumbent exercise bike if I recover from an injury?
Because you use much fewer muscle groups when using this exercise bike, they are a good option. The pedals in front of the seat reduce the impact on joints and muscles, making them ideal for use with knee injuries.
The comfortable seat makes it a gentle exercise machine so that it might be favored by people recovering from injuries.
Q: Can I lose weight on a recumbent exercise bike?
While this exercise bike focuses more on cardio and lower movement exercises, it might not be ideal for weight shedding.
Q: Do exercise bikes take up a lot of space?
These exercise bikes come with many extras and are made with a large footprint, so they need more space.
Wrap up
These are some of the best recumbent bikes that have moving arms or upper body exercisers. These bikes are well suitable for full body low impact workout.
The arm workout workouts various parts like lats and the arm muscles. With this feature, you don’t need additional fitness equipment in your home for the upper part of your body. If you are looking for bikes suitable for high-intensity power workouts, spin bikes are suitable for you.
However, note that these bikes are only suitable for low-intensity workouts. These bikes are suitable for seniors who need a low-impact cardio workout.
I’m looking for a duel motion elliptical recumbent bike
I am looking for a duel motion recumbent bike made in USA. Is there one.