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FACT CHECKEDExercise bikes have been a staple piece of fitness equipment in gyms since the late 1800s. As time has gone on, people have looked into figuring out how to improve the workout equipment that has been tried and tested already. One such improvement came with the 1978 introduction of the Schwinn Airdyne, which promised a great cardiovascular workout in less time.
Air bikes became extremely popular in a short amount of time and could be regularly found in a home gym near you. As with most things, the popularity of the air bike started to dissipate until this piece of cardio equipment found a new fanbase: CrossFit.
With the demand for tougher and tougher cardio workouts, CrossFitters turned to the notoriously brutal air bike, leading to a rise in competitors and options.
We have compiled a list of the 7 best air bikes of 2024 to help you sort through the myriad of choices, enabling you to reach your fitness goals in no time.
Table of Contents:
We selected the best air bikes based on build quality, resistance mechanisms, user feedback, and overall performance to ensure our readers get the most value for their investment.
Our top pick for the best overall air bike is the Blitz Air Bike. Built for use with both a commercial gym and a home gym, this heavy-duty air bike is made to take whatever you can throw at it.
We love using this air bike for a plethora of reasons but first and foremost it's provided us and our clients with some killer workouts without breaking the bank.
Boasting a 350 lb weight capacity, even larger users can take advantage of the benefits this bike offers. The large, comfortable vertical and horizontal adjustable 10.4"padded seat is a great fit for users of all sizes and can be moved to the user's ideal positioning.
The Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike comes with a worry-free, two-year warranty. So if anything on your air bike breaks in that period due to normal wear and tear usage, they will send you the replacement part for free. They will also provide detailed instructions via e-mail or tutorial video, so you should not have any issues fixing it yourself. When you receive your Blitz Air Bike, it is almost completely assembled, making putting it together and getting started a breeze.
Unlike other air bikes, the Blitz Air Bike uses a belt-driven steel fan as opposed to a chain drive. This means that it will run smoother, which is ideal if you plan on doing any high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and will be overall quieter than a chain-driven machine. The automobile quality rubber belt that the belt drive system uses will also need fewer adjustments and maintenance over the course of the bike's use.
The fan blades measure out to be a whopping 25", providing you with as much resistance as you can handle. The bigger the fan the more resistance.
This fan bike does come with a removable fan guard, as well as a water bottle holder and a phone holder, not that you will be able to use your phone while you are working out, but it is convenient if you are playing music on it. The removable fan guard also gives you the option of taking advantage of the breeze you are generating during especially warm sessions.
The onboard console will help you keep track of your RPMs, current speed, interval times, distance traveled, calories burned, watts generated, and heart rate. The Blitz Air Bike is compatible with most heart rate straps, but you may want to double-check yours just to be sure. There are seven built-in programs all of which will give you intense workouts. The programs are 10/20 Interval, 20/10 Interval, Custom Interval, Target Time, Target Distance, Target Calories, and Target Heart Rate.
With a frame measuring 53" L x 23" W x 51" H, this fan bike won't take up a lot of valuable home gym real estate.
If you do need to move the bike for some reason, there are two convenient transport wheels on the front of the frame for a simple tilt and roll.
Overall this is a fantastic bike that will provide you with kick-ass workouts for years to come.
The Blitz Air Bike is the definitive choice for your home gym. Belt driven with an oversized fan and comes standard with wind guard, bottle and phone holder and a super comfy seat...
Our second place finish for best overall air bike is the Titan Fitness Fan Bike. The Titan Fan Bike is made from a beefy heavy-duty steel frame, weighing in at 111 lb. Built with sealed cartridge bearings in every pivot, they will help keep excess maintenance down on most of the air bike.
The pedals and solid steel cranks have been reinforced so you can be sure they will handle the most grueling of workouts you throw at it.
The Titan Fitness Fan Bike comes with a one-year limited warranty, which frankly could be better, but, there is the Titan Fitness 30-day guarantee. If you find yourself not liking the fitness equipment you bought, you can return it for a full refund. Full disclosure, you will have to pay return shipping costs.
This air bike uses an enclosed chain drive system similar to a traditional air bike. This means it is a bit easier to get moving than a belt-driven air bike but it also will require some maintenance down the road (such as lubing the chain drive and tightening as needed).
Like most air bikes that use a chain drive, it can be a bit noisy while in use, so using it in a home gym might not be an issue, but it may not make an ideal piece of cardio equipment for a living room.
The Titan fan bike comes with a removable fan guard to take advantage of your self-made breeze during your sweaty workout. The onboard grippy phone holder is great for being able to watch your favorite content during steady state workouts. The water bottle holder attaches directly to the mast of the bike and can hold standard 16.9oz bottles.
There are five included workout programs on this machine. Interval Training, Target Goal Time, Target Distance, Target Calories, and Target Heart Rate. So whether you are trying to get some HIIT workouts in or LISS (Low Impact Steady State), this machine has you covered.
Like other air bikes, the Titan fan bike comes with transport wheels. Where this particular air bike shines is that these are 10" turf tires. Meaning that this bike is easily transportable on almost any surface which can be a challenge for fan bikes with smaller wheels.
An advantage that the Titan fan bike has over other air bikes is the handle on the back of the frame, making transporting a lot more convenient than trying to use the seat as a handle.
This bike measures in at 50.25" L x 20.375" W x 50" H.
The Titan Fitness® Fan Bike is loaded with all the extras that come standard: fan guard, water bottle holder, phone holder, turf tires, and a built-in back handle for easy maneuverability...
The Marcy fan exercise bike is our pick for the best bike for those on a budget. Coming in at a super low price of about $340 USD, this budget air bike provides a lot of bang for your buck. Built with a 14-gauge steel tube body, this sleek looking upright fan bike can hold a body weight capacity of 300 lb, which is not as high as some other competitors, but still more than adequate for the majority of users.
The adjustable seat can be moved vertically and will fit users with a 21" inseam up to a 33" inseam, so once again, it won't fit all users, but it should be fine for most.
The Marcy upright fan bike comes with a two year warranty which is a great value since other bikes that are more expensive don't even offer coverage that long.
While it does not specifically state it in their description, this air bike is most likely chain driven, which as previously mentioned means that some maintenance will have to be performed on it at some point to make sure it stays running in top shape.
This air bike provides an upper and lower body workout with the option to focus on just on the upper body. Placing your feet on the stationary foot pegs will take your legs completely out of the movement, so you can focus just on your upper body if you are looking for a great push/pull workout. The foot pedals on this air bike do have straps which takes away having to worry about your foot slipping off during your full body workout.
Unlike our previous two air bikes, this one does not come with a fan guard. So don't plan on using this air bike in a cold environment unless you want to feel like you are working out in the arctic. The buyer should also be aware that the lack of fan guard means that it might take the user a little longer to get their body temperature up and get a sweat going.
The Marcy fan bike does come with an onboard LCD monitor that runs on two AA batteries (not included). The monitor tracks your speed, time, calories burned, and distance traveled. There are no included workout programs on this machine, but at this price point that is not surprising.
This piece of fitness equipment is a bit shorter than other air bikes measuring in at 48" L x 27" W x 48" H, making for a small footprint in your home gym. Weighing in at 79 lb, it is significantly lighter than other fan bikes on the market.
While it may not have all the bells and whistles, Marcy has provided one of the best air bikes that would be great for almost any user getting into the air bike scene.
Designed to give you an efficient and effective workout, this exercise fan bike features a pair of dual-action exercise designed to simultaneously work your upper body...
The air bike models that started it all, the Schwinn Airdyne. The Schwinn Airdyne has been around since the late 1970s, but the AD7, our pick for best Airdyne, isn't your grandparent's air bike. Notorious for being some of the best air bikes on the market, this 113 lb air bike is a sturdy piece of equipment that won't give up before you do.
Rated at a weight capacity of 350 lb, This machine is ready to take on almost anyone. Similar to the JTX Mission Air Bike, the AD7 features exercise arms with vertical and horizontal grip options. The seat adjusts vertically and horizontally so you can find the perfect riding position for yourself.
The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 has the best air bike frame warranty on our list at an astonishing ten years! Mechanical and electrical are covered through two years, which is plenty of time to put the air bike through its paces. Assembly and maintenance are easy to understand with Schwinn's extensive and thorough manual.
The Schwinn Airdyne features a buttery smooth belt drive system perfect for keeping you honest in your workouts. unlike traditional air bikes which are chain driven, a belt drive system won't keep the momentum going if you stop pedaling. You are going to get out exactly what you put in. The fan features an astounding twenty-six fan blades which give you a tremendous amount of resistance.
Featuring a built-in water bottle holder and phone holder, the Schwinn Airdyne has you covered for keeping you hydrated and a place to put your phone so you can blast your favorite tunes during your workout.
The Schwinn Airdyne also now comes with an air diverter which was previously an item that could be bought separately. Also an AC adapter can be purchased if you don't want to worry about having to deal with the two D batteries the air bike takes.
The monitor on the Schwinn Airdyne provides real-time feedback on calories burned, watts generated, time, distance, RPMs, and heart rate. Also included on the console are nine preloaded programs including a 20/10 interval, 30/90 Interval, Custom Interval, Time Target, Calorie Target, Distance Target, and Heart Rate Training that will sync with any Polar chest strap heart rate monitor.
The Airdyne measures 53" L x 26.5" W x 53" H and does have transport wheels on the front.
Given the small size of the wheels and heaviness of this machine, this machine is probably not going to be moved around that much.
The Schwinn® Airdyne® AD7 Bike combines the latest in air resistance technology with unmatched durability and performance, allowing you to reach your full potential...
The Concept2 BikeErg 2900 is our top choice for the best fixed-arm air bike. Fixed arm air bikes are more like a traditional exercise bike due to the lack of upper body inclusion in the workout, but like other fan bikes, it uses air resistance. Think of it as being similar to a spin bike. You can control your resistance using the air damper, which affects how much wind can get into the fan, which will give you one heck of a lower body workout.
Unlike other air bikes, the BikeErg 2900 has an aluminum frame rather than the traditional steel frame, resulting in a bike that still has an adequate weight capacity of 300 lb while weighing only 68lb! That means this is one of the best air bikes to have if you are planning on moving it around quite a bit.
The seat is adjustable vertically, but an advantage this air bike has over other bikes is that the handlebars can be adjusted as well. Moving them vertically or horizontally means you are going to find your perfect position for working out.
Speaking of handlebars, the BikeErg is compatible with most bike parts, so you can use your preferred handlebars, seat, and pedals. Just that option of customization makes this come into consideration for the best air bike out there.
The Concept2 BikeErg comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is plenty of time to see if it meets your expectations. When you decide on keeping the bike, it comes with a five-year frame warranty and a two-year warranty for all the other parts.
Getting set up with this air bike is fairly simple since Concept2 provides all the tools you will need to put your new bike together. The bike does come partially assembled, so you won't be starting from scratch.
The BikeErg uses a belt drive system like other high-quality air bikes. But unlike other belt-driven air bikes, this one has a clutch that lets the flywheel keep spinning while the pedals have stopped moving.
This is super helpful if you are planning on sharing the machine with someone during interval training, you don't have to worry about a pedal smacking you in the shin while trying to get on the bike. Also in that manner, this is more like a stationary bike, and will probably appeal to the cycling crowd, rather than checking off some of the CrossFit boxes.
This bike fits in the category of no-nonsense air bikes, with no attachments at all, including nowhere to put a water bottle. Which at a $1,200+ price point, you would think would be included.
The onboard console is the PM5 Performance Monitor, which can be connected to with Bluetooth and ANT+ to monitor your heart rate. You can also save your workout metrics to a USB (not included) and transfer them to your computer for tracking purposes. The BikeErg can also be synced to the free Concept2 Online Logbook in the ErgData app. The PM5 allows you to keep track of your time, RPMs, watts, and much more while the onboard programs include time-based, distance, and interval-based workouts.
The frame measures in a bit smaller than other bikes at 48" L x 21" W x 40.5" H.
While this could fit in easily with air bikes at commercial gyms, it would make an excellent addition to any serious cyclist's home gym.
Aluminum 68 lb frame is engineered to be durable for your most powerful sprints, yet easy to move around on its built-in caster wheels; easy to assemble...
The Assault Fitness Air Bike or more commonly referred to as the assault bike, was for a long time the official air bike of CrossFit, a mantle now held by the Rogue Echo Bike. But if you ask most people what they would call air bikes, the answer will almost be assault bikes and that is saying something.
Made out of a durable heavy-duty steel frame, the assault bike can handle a weight capacity of 350 lb. With twenty sealed ball bearings in the frame and pivot points, these air bikes feel solid no matter how hard you are pushing. The adjustable seat can be moved horizontally, vertically, and tilted to find the ideal position.
The Assault Fitness air bike comes with a five-year frame warranty and two-year warranty for all other parts. Assembly is pretty easy, taking an average of twenty to thirty minutes to set up. The 25" diameter fan and frame comes fully assembled, leaving the handles, pedals, seat post, and monitor for the user to have to set up.
The Assault Bike uses a chain drive system, which means it will run a little bit louder than a belt drive bike and will need some maintenance from time to time (lubricating the chain drive as well as adjusting tension). Don't let that deter you though, there is a reason that these air bikes are so popular.
This is a very straight forward air bike, no water bottle holder, no wind guard, no Bluetooth. Just a reputation for humbling even the most elite athlete.
The onboard monitor has multiple workout programs preset including Tabata, Watts, Calorie Target, Distance Target, Time Target, Intervals, and Heart Rate Targets. Assault Fitness bikes work with Polar heart rate chest straps (sold separately), if you want to take advantage of the heart rate programs.
The Assault bike does take up a fair bit of room measuring in at 59.95" L x 23.34" W x 50" H and weighs a solid 110 lb.
While there is an upgraded version available in the Assault Fitness AssaultBike Elite, we couldn't see the upgrades coming out to be worth the added cost.
Twenty sealed ball bearings throughout the frame and pivot points to provide a smooth and durable feel. Unlimited resistance for upper and lower body extremities based on air resistance...
Our pick for the best commercial air bike is the Endurance FB300B from Body Solid. Made from alloy steel with sealed bearings, this frame can carry a weight capacity of 300 lb. The movement arms are made from sturdy 12-gauge steel, so you can get your upper body work in without worry.
The adjustable seat can be adjusted fore and aft, as well as up and down so finding a comfortable riding spot won't be an issue. You will get more air resistance than you could dream of with the huge 27" diameter fan.
The Endurance has an incredible lifetime frame warranty for in-home use, five years on parts, two years on electronics, and one year on labor. This is one of the best warranties on our list, and in it alone helps to justify the price tag. Setting up this air bike is simple, taking an average of thirty minutes to get it built.
This air bike uses a chain drive system similar to the Assault Bike, so some adjustments will need to be made along the lifetime of this equipment.
Like most of the other bikes on our list, this is a no frills bike, so don't expect a water bottle holder or fan guard but if you are expecting to do quick intense sessions, that may not matter to you at all.
The LCD monitor displays your watts, speed, RPMs, calories, distance, and time. This exercise bike comes with seven built-in programs, Target Time, Target Distance, Target Calories, Target Heart Rate, 10/20 Interval, 20/10 Interval, and Custom Interval. So there are plenty of options for you to hit your goals.
The FB300B measures in at 49" L x 24" W x 50" H, weighs 97 lb, and has built-in transport wheels. So moving this bike around won't be as cumbersome as some of the other bikes on our list.
Toughest Bike in the industry! 15 yr frame warranty! Excellent for All fitness levels including rehabilitation and especially for high-intensity workouts. Heavy welded frame construction...
Below we created a chart to show the highlights of our top picks for air bikes. Have a look to see which option is best for your needs.
Product Name |
Price ($-$$$) |
Size (dimensions) |
Warranty |
Weight Capacity |
Features |
Average |
$$ |
53” (L) 23” (W) 51“ (H) |
2 Year |
350 lb |
25 Inch Diameter Fan Heavy Duty Construction Clear LCD |
170 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.8
|
|
$$ |
50.25”(L) 20.375”(W) 50”(H) |
1 Year Limited Warranty |
330 lb |
Large Turf Tires Transport Handle |
170 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.4
|
|
$ |
48”(L) 25”(W) 48”(H) |
2 Years |
300 lb |
14 Gauge Powder Coated Frame Pedal Straps |
1,484 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.3 |
|
$$$$ |
53”(L) 26.5”(W) 53”(H) |
10 Year - Frame 2 Year - Electrical and Mechanical |
350 lb |
Multi-Position Hand Grips Belt-Driven 26 Steel Fan Blades |
325 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.7 |
|
$$$$ |
48”(L) 21”(W) 40.5”(W) |
5 Year - Frame 2 Year - All Other Parts |
300 lb |
Light Aluminum Frame Clutched Flywheel |
274 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.8 |
|
$$ |
59.95”(L) 23.34”(W) 50”(H) |
5 Year - Frame 2 Year - All Other Parts |
350 lb |
25 Inch Diameter Fan Twenty Sealed Ball Bearings Throughout The Frame |
2,136 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.8
|
|
$$$ |
49”(L) 24”(W) 50”(H) |
Lifetime - Frame 5 Year - Parts 2 Year - Electronics |
300 lb |
27 Inch fan diameter Clear to See LCD Monitor With Seven Built-In Programs |
15 Reviews ☆☆☆☆.8
|
Air Bikes are one of the go-to machines for CrossFitter enthusiasts, who are known to be in tremendous shape, for good reason. While we could write an entire article dedicated to how great air bikes are for fitness, we will just write about some of the highlights.
An air bike is a great way to build your cardiovascular health, which is extremely important in helping reduce the chance of heart attack. People that cycle regularly (at least thirty minutes per week) have a 15% lower chance of a heart attack.
Air bikes help burn calories faster. Because of the added intensity of using your upper body as well as lower body, you can expect to burn 1.5 times more calories than a traditional stationary bike. More calories burned equals more fat loss.
Since a lot of people use air bikes for high-intensity interval training sessions, that means your workout will be quick and efficient. There aren't many other types of cardio machines that can give you a full-body workout like an air bike can.
As brutal as air bikes can be, they are still considered a low-impact exercise. This means they are great for people who may have some mobility issues, someone doing some rehab work, elderly people, or pretty much anyone else.
Another great benefit is the fact that the resistance is only limited by what you can put out. The harder you push, the harder an air bike will push back. No fiddling with knobs or buttons, you decide how hard you want to work. This also makes HIIT training more straightforward, without having to manually adjust anything between intervals
There are a variety of air bikes on the market, let's have a look at the types you're bound to see when shopping for indoor cycling bikes.
Belt Drive air bikes are starting to become more and more common in the industry. Using a rubber belt, similar to those used in automobiles, These bikes offer a super smooth resistance and work quieter than a traditional chain drive air bike. The belt system also means there is going to be less upkeep needed throughout the life of the bike.
Chain drive bikes are the most widely used air bikes on the market currently. Similar to a standard bike, the drive system uses an individual linked chain. These bikes do need some tune-ups every now and again, mainly with grease and tension adjustment. They do run louder than other types of fan bikes, but if you are going to use and air bike you aren't going to get silence anyway.
These are pretty uncommon in the air bike industry. In addition to utilizing the resistance from the fan, these bikes use magnets to increase the resistance. Normally you would have to pedal harder to up the difficulty, but with one of these bikes, a twist of a knob can do that for you.
A fixed-arm air bike is closer to a spin bike than other bikes on our list. This takes the upper body portion out of the equation with handlebars more akin to what you would see on a bicycle. These bikes might be more appealing to a serious cyclist as opposed to someone looking for an intense full-body workout.
So you have decided that an air bike is for you, now how should you go about deciding which one is right for you? We'll give you some tips on what to look for to fit your criteria.
Figuring out how much room you have to work with should be top priority. You don't want to have your heart set on a certain one then find out it isn't going to work in your air bike space. While most of the bikes on our list do seem to be similar sizes for the most part, there is almost a 12" difference in our shortest bike to our longest.
Drive System:
Figuring out what kind of drive system is going to be a huge piece of deciding which bike to buy. Belt-driven bikes seem to be the direction that these bikes are heading for the most part, but with that the price goes up as well. For someone that doesn't mind doing a little bit of maintenance work then a chain drive will probably be good enough for them. Even less common is the magnetic drive system, so uncommon that we don't even have a pick for one on our list.Weight capacity:
For the most part, these bikes have a pretty high weight tolerance of at least 300 lb. Unless you are finding yourself in that area between 300 lb and 350 lb, then this won't be as big of a concern for most people.Seat Adjustments:
Finding that perfect seating position is more important than most people think. If you aren't comfortable before you even start working out, it is just going to make your workout feel miserable. Seat tilt, forward and backward motion and seat height are all something to consider when buying.Console:
Consoles on air bikes aren't the most advanced pieces of technology. So it is important that you find a bike that does exactly what you want it to do. It needs to display the metrics you're concerned with, have buttons that are easy to work, and is easily readable. Some bikes do offer Bluetooth compatibility for chest strap heart monitors if you are planning on trying to maintain a specific heart rate target range.As touched on before, are you looking for a standard chain-driven bike? Or does the idea of having to tune up your bike every now and again make you think you would want a belt-driven bike. If you really want something uncommon you could spring for the magnetic resistance fan bike. If you are more concerned with lower body development and don't care about upper body work, then a fixed arm machine might be the best pick for you.
Just by their nature, these bikes are not the fanciest accessory-packed machines. There usually aren't that many extras, but the ones that are offered are pretty significant. For steady state training, a water bottle might be essential for you to have. If you plan on using your bike in a cooler area, then a fan guard might be something to consider. If you are looking for some variety in how you are holding the exercise arms, then a bike that offers a vertical or horizontal grip might sway you.
Possibly the most important part of any purchase for someone looking at these bikes is how much you are willing to spend. Even our best budget air bike comes in at $340, which isn't an insignificant amount of money.
Belt-driven bikes are generally going to cost you more money up front but may pay off down the road after a lot of use. Look at the difference in price for a couple of bikes and try to figure out if their differences are worth it to you.
This one is pretty important. In general air bikes aren't used for a casual workout. People push themselves and the machine they are on. You want to be sure if there is a failure of some sort, then you will be covered and can get back to working out without spending more money to do so.
Do not underestimate how helpful looking at the reviews are. Both good and bad reviews can give you valuable information on assembly, how the product was packaged, customer service, build quality, and much more. Check out several sources so you can make an informed decision.
If you are looking for a full body workout in a short amount of time, and you will commit to using your bike fairly regularly, then they are absolutely worth it, especially if you get an affordable air bike.
Yes they do! With an air bike you can strengthen and build muscular endurance at the same time.
As you can see from our list above, we've recommended seven AirBikes that are the best in their respective categories. However. if we had to choose just one best air bike then we would go with the Blitz Air Bike all things considered.
Airdyne bikes give a great workout. Schwinn were the originators of the air bike and they haven't stopped being at the top of the field since their introduction.
An Airdyne is a type of fan bike just like an Assault bike. Air bikes have started to be referred to as an Assault bike due to the popularity of their use in CrossFit.
If you are looking to take your cardiovascular health to the next level but don't have a whole lot of time to do it, then finding a quality air bike may be a great move for you. People that are trying to hit their upper and lower bodies in one exercise have shouted the praises of air bikes loud and clear.
Finding the right bike for you doesn't have to cost a fortune either. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a decent bike as we've shown you with our list.
We hope you've found the perfect fit for your needs and you'll be generating gale force winds in the near future.
Based on our research, testing and reviews, we believe the best air bike is the Blitz Air Bike. We think you won't be disappointed if you ended up choosing this one!
The Blitz Air Bike is the definitive choice for your home gym. Belt driven with an oversized fan and comes standard with wind guard, bottle and phone holder and a super comfy seat...
Looking for more of the best cardio machines for your home gym? Make sure to check out the Best Recumbent Bikes on the market.
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