In the past couple of years, air bikes have become one of the most popular cardio machines on the market.
They don’t take up too much space, and they’re a great addition to any home gym.
But with so many different makes and models choosing the best air bike for you can be exhausting.
To save you time and money, we’ll give you our top options right here!
Best Air Bikes of 2021
- Best Overall Air Bike: Rogue Echo Bike
- Runner-up Best Air Bike: Assault Air Bike Elite
- Best Air Bike for CrossFit: Schwinn Airdyne AD Pro
- Best Budget-Friendly Air Bike: Marcy AIR-1 Upright Fan Bike
- Best Air Bike for Shorter People: AssaultBike Pro
- Best Air Bike for Cyclists: Concept2 BikeErg 2900
Best Overall Air Bike: Rogue Echo Bike
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 127 lbs.
- Drive Type: Belt
- Weight Limit: 350 lbs.
- Warranty: 2 years
- Seat Adjustability: 8 height and 5 front/back settings
Pros: Almost no rocking, the excellent design of LCD console, doesn’t take up too much space.
Cons: Bigger proportions not suited for everyone
Our top choice on this list is easily the Echo Bike from Rogue.
Some people have said that this bike is a squat rack turned air bike — and they’re quite correct, as it’s amazingly beefy.
The bike doesn’t rock too much, even if you put a heftier person on it, as it is designed for stability. The manufacturing is incredibly high-quality, with almost all the machine made with powder-coated metals; this is true for both the fan blades and the flame.
Another positive for people who aren’t the biggest equipment enthusiasts is that there’s little to no maintenance involved; the fan is belt-driven.
There’s no chain that can lead to chopping and abrupt stops. Plus, the machine’s comfort is increased by the handy LCD screen; all of the included features are relatively easy to make out on it.
While it won’t take up too much space, the only potential grievance you might have with this air bike is that it’s bulkier than your average piece of home gym equipment.
Regardless, the Rogue Echo Bike is still the number one choice overall.
Runner-up Best Air Bike: Assault Air Bike Elite
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 139 lbs.
- Drive Type: Belt
- Weight Limit: 350 lbs.
- Seat Adjustability: Ergonomic seat with multi-adjustment options
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 3-year non-wear parts
Pros: Excellent build quality, long warranty, handle grips with great adjustability, bluetooth connectivity.
Cons: Relatively pricey.
If you can handle its heftier price — then the Assault AirBike Elite is one of the best choices among air bikes for you.
Rogue Fitness has created one of the top machines in this niche with the elite model of their Assault Airbike.
Firstly, there’s no doubt that the engineers of this product married style and substance. The design is quite stylish, but aesthetics aren’t the main appeal here.
Compared to the basic Assault bike model, you’ll find that this version has a larger LCD screen. Apart from that, it can also boast nifty Bluetooth connectivity.
But most importantly — it’s a sturdy, solid, well-made, aesthetically pleasing air bike.
Best Air Bike for CrossFit: Schwinn Airdyne AD Pro
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 113 lbs.
- Drive Type: Belt
- Weight Limit: 350 lbs.
- Seat Adjustability: Fore and aft adjustments
- Warranty: Mechanical Parts & Electrical 2 years, Frame 10 years, Labor 6 months
Pros: Great build, excellent variety in workouts, not too bulky, but a strong frame nonetheless.
Cons: Most people won’t benefit from detailed metrics.
Our third spot is reserved for the Schwinn Airdyne Pro. This doesn’t mean that the air bike is not of sufficient quality — far from it.
This bike has many features that won’t disappoint a professional athlete; plenty of metrics that can make it easier to track your overall progress and the state of your fitness.
People who are into CrossFit will have a blast. However, these features aren’t all that useful for the average household user.
The steel construction of the bike means that it won’t rock much and take on quite a bit of weight.
Apart from that and the myriad workout programs and trackers — we’d say that another main selling point would be that it’s very quiet. And that’s something most crowded homes will appreciate, as your workout won’t bother anyone.
Best Budget-Friendly Air Bike: Marcy AIR-1 Upright Fan Bike
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 79 lbs.
- Drive Type: Chain
- Weight Limit: 300 lbs
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros: Comfortable adjustable seat, lightweight.
Cons: Loud compared to other choices on our list
Suppose you need a more budget-friendly option that can still stand proud in almost every home gym. In that case, the Marcy AIR-1 is one of the best options for you.
It has plenty of features that make it a great contender among bigger-priced peers, such as its high comfort level thanks to a great ergonomic seat.
Indeed, comfort and affordability are the words of the day here; each aspect of this product is made with ease of use in mind. The LCD screen isn’t of the highest quality — but the interface is incredible at conveying all of the information that you need while doing your workout.
This is a resistance air bike that you wouldn’t be ashamed of. The higher your pedaling intensity is, the more resistance you will encounter — always keeping you sufficiently challenged and, quite literally, on your toes.
Best Air Bike for Shorter People: AssaultBike Pro
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 118 lbs.
- Drive Type: Chain
- Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
- Warranty: 3-year for non-wear parts, 7-year for frame
- Seat Adjustability: 11 height settings and 6 front-to-back settings
Pros: Industrial-grade pedal strength, almost no maintenance, solid steel frame
Cons: Not foldable
Our penultimate choice on this list is the Assault Bike Pro. This is a lower-quality version than the Elite one, but seeing as it falls just below the $1,000 line, it’s still one of the best home gym bikes that you can get for that price.
It’s exceptionally durable as well, and its size (with 11 height settings) means that almost anyone will be able to use it comfortably.
Plus, while people who need to start with light rehab will find it useful, the air resistance system means that you can easily achieve a practically unlimited level of resistance.
It doesn’t matter how strong or fit you get — you will never find that this machine is something you’ve outgrown.
Still, one of the only issues with it is that it’s not foldable, so it does take up a handsome amount of space.
Best Air Bike for Cyclists: Concept2 BikeErg 2900
Specifications:
- Display Console: LCD
- Weight: 68 lbs
- Drive Type: Belt
- Weight Limit: 300 lbs
- Warranty: 2 year for parts, 5 year for frame
Pros: Bluetooth and WiFi compatibility, adjustable handles, clutch for automatic fan movement, relatively lightweight.
Cons: Seat angle can’t be switched
The folks behind Concept2 have garnered more fame with their excellent rowing machine, and their BikeErg 2900 Air Bike lives up to this high quality.
The excellent flywheel that was used for their previous exercise machine has found its way onto their air bike as well.
This means that the quasi-ride that you get on this machine is as smooth as you want it to be. Further proven by the existence of a clutch that is there to ensure the machine doesn’t abruptly stop if you momentarily cease pedaling.
There’s an excellent performance monitor that the brand uses in other machines as well. You can get a lot of useful feedback from just a single glance; everything from calories to cadence is clearly visible.
However, the reason that this machine is not exactly at the top of our list is quite simple. While cyclists will find it highly useful due to the different metrics it shows you. Casual users might be put off by the inability to adjust the seat angle to a more comfortable position.
Best Air Bike Comparison Table
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How we Chose our Top 6 Air Bikes
There is a whole heap of air bikes on the market nowadays. Trust us – we know, we looked at them all to pick our top 6.
Narrowing it down to only 6 was no easy feat. To help us rank the options, we used the criteria in the section below (What to Look for) – including:
- Display console
- Performance tracking
- Comfort
- Durability
- Adjustability
- Noise
- Ease of assembly
- Ongoing maintenance
- Warranty
- Value for money
With 100’s of air bikes currently on the market, we couldn’t personally test them all, so we researched the options through talking to real personal trainers, reading user reviews, checking product manuals, assessing overall brand quality and reputation, and checking the current prices.
What to Look for When Buying an Air Bike
As you can see, choosing the best air bikes for your home gym can take a while; there are plenty of excellent choices out there, and the market is filled with all kinds of options for all types of athletes.
Considering this, there will be plenty of different factors to keep in mind as you work on picking the very best air bike.
Don’t worry, though — we will give you a rough outline of all of the different things that you should consider before laying down any of your hard-earned money!
Display Console
Almost all exercise machines have some screen or console that you can interact with. However, when it comes to air bikes, these tend to be somewhat less impressive compared to other kinds of workout machines or exercise bikes in general.
This is mainly because they rarely give you pre-installed workout programs. So, if you find some that do — those are a catch.
Plus, you want your air bike to have an HD display or at least a clear one where things won’t get muddled.
This is one of those things that makes all the difference between lower-grade and premium-level air bikes. Naturally, this does not have to be your number one priority — especially if you’re starting to work out.
However, it is something most experienced fitness enthusiasts like to have.
Performance Tracking
One of the many reasons people opt for air bikes in their home gym is that they are excellent for HIIT — or high-intensity interval training. This is a workout method based on precisely timed bursts of effort with intermittent recovery periods — in repetition.
Now, suppose you want to make sure that you’re hitting the right intensity levels for proper durations of time.
In that case, you’ll need to have the appropriate performance tracking options on your air bike.
In other words — the electronic monitor that’s in front of you will have to provide you with all of the right data enabling you to track your workout efficiency.
Most of them show you burned calories and/or generated watts. But beyond that, you want your heart rate as well.
Comfort
Next up, we’ve got the overall comfort levels of the air bike. Seeing as this is a machine you intend to use for a long time, being comfortable is something you don’t want to compromise on.
Considering that, your seat has to be something that doesn’t hinder you in any way.
It’s crucial to have a saddle or seat that provides extreme adjustability, allowing you to remain entirely comfortable while you exercise. Plus, the versatility and the seat’s quality will mean that multiple people can use it regardless of their body type or stature.
This means other household members can use it and opens up more avenues to resell the machine down the line. See if the unit that you’re looking at allows seat upgrades — some do, which would allow you to customize them with professional bike seats.
Drive Type
With this, we’re about to get a bit more technical than you may like — but it’s still one of the necessary considerations to make before buying your first air bike.
When it comes to the construction of the bike itself, different kinds of drive systems allow the whole mechanism to function.
To be more specific — there are two distinct systems: the belt and the chain. As you might assume, both of them have their ups and downs. Firstly, there’s the fact that the chain-based systems are more affordable.
But there’s a reason for that — you need to perform basic maintenance on them from time to time, seeing as the chain requires greasing. So, if you fancy yourself as something of a handyman — then a chain drive won’t rub you the wrong way.
Still, if you don’t want to mess around with such stuff — the belt-based air bikes are probably more your speed. Not only is there no maintenance for you to be hassled by, but they’re also a lot less noisy.
As you might assume, none of that comes free — so you do need to be prepared to lay down some more money for such models.
Adjustability
When you buy an air bike, you could make a sizable investment depending on the model you choose. That’s why you don’t want to purchase a product that’s not versatile enough for your needs — or the needs of other people who will be using your home gym.
This is where we need to make a short disclaimer. If you read an air bike advertisement and it boasts its “resistance settings,” know that this is either a hybrid model or a budget bike with a false advertising strategy.
True air bikes adjust their resistance to how hard you train, so there are no real levels — only pre-programmed workouts on some.
Also, when it comes to adjustability, the seat of your air bike should be fully adjustable. More precisely, that means having the ability to change its position both vertically and horizontally.
Ease of Use
Any piece of workout equipment will get more use if it is easy to get on or pick up. So, basically, with cardio especially, you want to reduce any friction between you and working out.
We like air bikes that don’t require too much adjustment or fiddling around.
To quote Freddie Mercury – “Get on your bikes and ride!”
Durability
As a quality metric for your home gym, durability is correlated closely to the required levels of maintenance for these machines.
If you buy a high-quality air bike, it will withstand years of heavy training, even from CrossFit athletes.
However, such air bikes are more expensive, but their quality does not deteriorate over time — they work just like they did on the day you bought them.
Noise
We’ve already talked about the fact that the type of drive in an air bike has the most influence on how noisy it will be. And this is an critical purchase factor, particularly if you’re going to use this machine to equip your home gym.
The last thing you need is your neighbors or household members constantly complaining about the noise that the machine is generating.
So, the general rule of thumb is worth repeating — the belt drive models are more expensive, but they won’t generate nearly as much noise. Conversely, a chain drive will be a far less smooth workout experience; but it won’t cost you as much.
That said, you should also note that no air bike is entirely silent. Their fans do make some noise, whose loudness depends on how hard you’re pedaling as well.
Value
For most people, an air bike will be a significant investment.
The higher-end bikes are more durable and should last longer than cheaper ones. However, make sure you aren’t paying for fancy features that you don’t need or won’t use.
Ongoing Maintenance
Like most people, we prefer to spend our time working out rather than repairing or maintaining our equipment.
In general, older-model air bikes and those with chain drive systems will require more maintenance and upkeep. Chain drive bikes in particular, will need regular oiling and adjustment.
If you are handy, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it is still something to consider if you weigh up something like the Rogue Echo Bike vs. the Marcy AIR-1 Upright Fan Bike.
Warranty
On the topic of maintenance, another consideration is the warranty.
Like all exercise equipment with moving parts, air bikes break.
If they break in a relatively short amount of time, the company should repair or replace the bike.
In general, our advice is to look for a warranty of at least 2 years. Air bikes aren’t cheap, so you want some peace of mind that you will not need to spend more money anytime soon.
Also, it is pretty common now for manufacturers to have split warranties. So, for example, wearable parts (such as the chain) might be covered for 2 years but the frame is covered for 3, etc.
It is a cliche – but always read the small print.
Ease of Assembly
Finally, there’s one last bit of hassle to avoid — and that’s extensive assembly.
There are plenty of air bikes where you don’t have to fiddle around much, and they practically come assembled right out of the box.
You only have to arrange a couple of parts, which you may be able to do in no more than an hour and a half. These bikes also provide all of the required tools in their kits.
However, there are situations where the manufacturer doesn’t provide tools of sufficient quality. Also, if the bike proves to be too cumbersome, professionals can always do the assembly for you.
Of course, you don’t want to pay additional money for this service after you’ve bought the bike, so it’s worth looking into air bike models that aren’t difficult to put together.
And even if that’s the case, we advise that you take a friend or a family member with you when you’re buying them.
The delivery can be challenging, seeing as these are usually bulky devices that you won’t budge alone.
Benefits of Air Bikes
Air bikes provide a full-body workout. Everything from your heart to your lungs and arms to your legs will be worked on the air bike.
If you haven’t seen one before, they might look a bit odd compared to a traditional bike. The air bike contains a large fan that is powered by pedals and long push/pull handles.
Since the handles contribute to the movement, the air bike is a great way to get your arms involved too. The resistance created depends on the amount of power you generate.
Put simply, the harder you work, the greater the resistance.
The fact that air bikes have pedals and handles, means your body has to work double-time as you get a lower body and upper body workout at the same time.
Air bikes are primarily used for shorter work periods with regular rest.
This includes sprints, HIIT, and interval training. Air bikes are also commonly used as part of a workout. For example, bike 10 calories, then perform 10 burpees for 10 rounds.
Air bikes are perfect for people who want a full-body workout or want to focus on interval training. They’re also perfect for people who want to incorporate cardio into workout sessions.
Finally, air bikes, are low-impact, so there isn’t wear and tear on your joints.
Air Bike Pre-Purchase Considerations
Now you know what to look for and the benefits of air bikes, it’s time to ask yourself some key questions.
What is Your Budget?
This will ultimately determine your option set of air bikes.
The air bikes on our list range from around $400 for the Marcy AIR-1 Upright Fan Bike up to over $1,000 for the Assault Air Bike Elite.
I am sure you can find cheaper air bikes out there but make sure you do your due diligence otherwise you will be in the market for another air bike before you know it.
Knowing your budget will also help you to decide between the different trade-offs we outline below.
What is Your Workout Goal?
Everyone is different, but most people fall into one of two camps when it comes to buying an air bike.
Easy rider – someone who is looking for a low-impact easy way to workout. If this is you, prioritize comfort when looking for a bike, as you’ll likely spend longer time on the bike.
Hardcore trainers – these are the people who want to push themselves hard through HIIT and interval training. For hardcore riders, look for a stable, well-constructed air bike as you are most likely going to punish the bike pretty hard. Also, make sure the monitor is high-quality and comes with pre-programmed training workouts.
Should you Get a Belt or Chain Driven Air Bike?
Chain-based air bikes are generally cheaper but noisier. And they will require regular maintenance such as oiling the chain.
Belt-type air bikes are more expensive but quieter and require less maintenance.
Always a trade-off.
Do You Need Adjustability?
If you will be the only person using it then seat adjustability is not such a big deal. But if you want something for the whole family to use, you will need one with multiple height settings.
What Kind of Console Do You Need?
Almost all exercise machines have some screen or console that you can interact with.
This is one of those things that makes all the difference between lower-grade and premium-level air bikes. So, naturally, this does not have to be your number one priority — especially if you’re starting to work out.
However, it is something most experienced fitness enthusiasts like to have.
The monitor should track a wide range of metrics, including watts generated, calories burned, distance, heart rate, and RPM.
Also, if you plan to use the air bike for HIIT or interval training, you’ll want a bike with pre-programmed workouts.
Air Bike FAQs
Are Air Bikes Good for Weight Loss?
One of the most frequently asked questions that people have about air bikes is — how useful are they when it comes to weight loss?
This is nothing weird, seeing as most people who get into cycling of any sort do it to lose weight.
If that’s the case with you, then you can rest easy. Or rather, keep working out because air bikes are one of the best kinds of cardio you can do without leaving your house.
And while combining cardio with the right strength training also matters, you want to have as much cardio as possible to lose weight at the end of the day. There’s no better way to burn away all of that nasty fat!
According to online studies, you can burn up to 80 calories per minute on an air bike.
How to Clean & Maintain your Air Bike?
As we’ve mentioned above, one of the advantages that belt air bikes have over their chain-driven counterparts is that you need to do a lot less maintenance on the former.
If you do happen to be dealing with a chain air bike — carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions on seasonal maintenance.
What is the Difference Between Air Bikes and Spin Bikes?
Air bikes are perfect for people who want a full-body workout or want to focus on interval training.
They’re also perfect for people who want to incorporate cardio into workout sessions. They’re not suited to people who live in a noise-conscious environment as they can be pretty loud.
Whereas, spin bikes are ideal for those who want to focus on weight loss or improve their outdoor road cycling performance.
They do an excellent job at mimicking the movement of a real road bike so you can improve your fitness and cycling performance.
Read our guide to Air Bike Vs. Spin Bike for more information.
Who Are Air Bikes Best Suited For?
Air bikes are perfect for people who want a full-body workout or want to focus on interval training.
They’re also perfect for people who want to incorporate cardio into workout sessions.
However, they’re not suited to people who live in a noise-conscious environment as they can be pretty loud.
What is an Air Bike?
Air bikes have been popularised by functional fitness and cross-training gyms.
An air bike also goes by many names – a fan bike, an upright, stationary bicycle, or assault bike. The latter is actually a brand.
If you haven’t seen one before, they might look a bit odd compared to a traditional bike. The air bike contains a large fan that is powered by pedals and long push/pull handles.
Since the handles contribute to the movement, the air bike is a great way to get your arms involved too. The resistance created depends on the amount of power you generate.
Put simply, the harder you work, the greater the resistance.
Key Features of Air Bikes include:
Large Air Wheel
Resistance Determined by Power Output
Large Padded Seat
Push/Pull Handles
Targets the Full Body
Are Air Bikes Good for Cardio?
Absolutely!
Air bikes are one of the best kinds of cardio you can do without leaving your house.
Air bikes provide a full-body workout. Everything from your heart to your lungs and arms to your legs will be worked on the air bike.
The air bike contains a large fan that is powered by pedals and long push/pull handles.
The resistance created depends on the amount of power you generate. Put simply, the harder you work, the greater the resistance.
Best of all, most air bikes nowadays come with preprogrammed HIIT and interval training workouts.
Is an Air Bike the same as an Assault Bike?
Yes, Assault Bike is a brand of air bikes.
Best Air Bike Workouts
There are a lot of great air bike workouts out there but here are 3 of our favorites.
Assault Bike Training for Endurance
Assault Bike Death Workout
15 Min Fan Bike HIIT Workout
Conclusion
As you can see, purchasing the best air bike for your home gym will require a certain degree of thinking and deliberation.
While a layperson may think that these machines are nothing but paddle-driven stationary bikes — in reality, there are plenty of factors that determine which one you should opt for.
All our options are great air bikes, but we know you won’t regret buying our top pick, the Rogue Echo Bike.
