The best air bike for your home or garage gym can be tricky to find as knowing how much to spend, what seating position is right, and what features to look out for isn't necessarily straightforward.
While recumbent bikes more or less remain in a laid-back seating position, air bikes can either adopt the laid-back approach or resemble something more akin to some of the best spin bikes around.
The good news is that our list of top picks, based on features, price, and reviews, should be the ideal place to begin your search and find the right exercise bike for your fitness needs.
Whether it's something relatively compact, like this JLL Sonic, you're after, or something a little cheaper but still a great exercise bike, we've got everything you need right here.
We've also answered some of the most commonly asked queries surrounding air bikes to help you learn a little bit more about them before you make a purchase. So, without further delay, let's get into our list...
Best air bike
1. Schwinn Fitness AD7 Airdyne
Best air bike overall
Max Weight: 350lbs
In our opinion, this Schwinn Fitness AD7 Airdyne fan-driven bike is one of the best exercise machines for weight loss due to some of its impressive features that are designed to help you progress.
For example, it comes with a 26-blade fan to create increased resistance as you gain momentum to ensure your workouts remain challenging.
Moreover, you get a console display that includes a tachometer to visually signal how hard you're exercising, thus acting as a motivational tool to push yourself to achieve your fitness goals.
All in all, we feel this particular air bike is well worth considering if you're after a well-rounded cardio machine packed with tech.
Read More: Best home gym equipment
2. Leikefitness Fan Exercise Bike
Best budget air bike
Max Weight: 280lbs
As a slightly cheaper alternative, we feel it's hard to look past this Leikefitness Fan Exercise Bike which we feel is up there as one of the best exercise bikes under 500 dollars.
It offers you unlimited resistance from the air-driven fan to help you achieve a killer full-body workout.
On the construction front, it is made from heavy-duty steel which, Leikefitness boasts, can support up to 280 lbs, so it should remain sturdy and still whilst you exercise.
Ultimately, this bit of kit from Likefitness looks to be a great pick to take your cardio setup to the next level.
Read More: Best rowing machines under 500
3. Marcy AIR-1
Best upright air bike
Max Weight: 300lbs
We've previously highlighted Marcy in our selection of the best multi-gyms under 500, but for this list, we're turning our attention to the brand's air bike offering.
The Marcy AIR-1 is designed with dual arms, meticulously crafted to deliver an efficient and effective workout. Constructed from robust 14-gauge steel, it boasts a scratch-resistant and powder-coated finish, ensuring its durability and longevity.
To top it off, there's an LCD screen that serves as an odometer, providing clear, easy-to-read feedback on your time, speed, distance, and calorie burn. This feature keeps you well-informed during your intense workout sessions.
On paper, the Marcy AIR-1 air bike seems like an excellent choice for enhancing your home gym setup.
Read More: Best ellipticals under 500
4. JLL Sonic
Best compact air bike
Max Weight: 130kg
The JLL Sonic is specifically designed to provide a comfortable workout experience within the confines of your home. With this exercise bike, you can engage in high-intensity workouts without the need to step outside.
Driven by a rubber belt connected to the fan, the JLL Sonic offers a smoother and quieter ride compared to traditional chain-driven machines. This ensures that you can focus on your workout without any unnecessary distractions.
Equipped with a monitor as well, the bike allows you to keep track of essential workout metrics such as time, distance, speed, calories burned, wattage, and RPM. This feature enables you to monitor your progress and gauge the intensity of your exercise sessions. Additionally, the JLL Sonic is compatible with iConsole+, enhancing your workout experience even further.
Considering its space-saving design, the JLL Sonic proves to be an excellent choice for those with limited room for a home gym setup. Without compromising on quality and functionality, this exercise bike emerges as one of the top options available in the market.
Read More: Best treadmills under 500
5. Rogue Echo
Best premium air bike
Max Weight: 350lbs
The Rogue Echo is unquestionably one of the top air bikes on the market today, showcasing Rogue's remarkable expertise in its design and performance.
Crafted from exceptionally durable, heavy-duty steel, this bike carries a weight of 127 lbs, providing an unshakeable foundation for explosive bursts of energy. However, it's portable thanks to the inclusion of front wheels, allowing you to move it around with ease when not in use.
Moreover, the bike is equipped with a whisper-quiet steel fan blade, ensuring a smooth and consistent riding experience. It also features a user-friendly LCD console that enables you to effortlessly monitor crucial metrics such as intervals, distance covered, calories burned, and heart rate.
The Rogue Echo bike is positioned as a slightly more premium choice, but its undeniable effectiveness in helping you achieve your fitness objectives makes it a standout investment.
Read More: Best weight benches
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Buying an air bike can be tricky at times, often leading to a ton of questions. No need to panic though as we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions below.
How do you use an air bike?
Unlike a regular stationary bike, an air bike incorporates both your upper and lower body during its movement.
As a result, the key to using an air bike is coordination, much as it is with some of the best cross trainers around as well.
To begin the movement, sit upright on the seat and secure your feet on the peddles. Then, begin peddling whilst simultaneously moving the arms back and forth to drive the fan through the air.
The arms will move if you're only peddling, so make sure you're engaging your upper body whilst using an air bike to reap the maximum benefit.
Also, make sure your knees stay in a straight line whilst peddling. This is particularly important once you start to fatigue as you may notice your knees flaring out. Flared knees can result in injury as it places more strain on your joints and muscles.
What muscles does an air bike use?
The biggest benefit of choosing an air bike over a standard exercise bike is that it not only works your lower body, but also activates your upper body through the dual arms system.
In fact, while pedaling builds your calves, hamstrings, and quads, the coordinated movement of the handlebars can work your back, shoulders, and biceps.
As a result, an air bike can offer a highly effective and efficient way of training your entire body whilst also greatly improving your cardiovascular fitness.
Is an air bike worth it?
As stated above, an air bike has the advantage over a standard exercise bike as it can deliver an effective full-body workout rather than just focusing on your legs and glutes.
Therefore, we feel an air bike is well worth the investment, particularly if you're limited to space and only have room for one piece of cardio equipment in your home gym.
Furthermore, a fan bike can also work well if you're looking to complete a fast-paced HIIT workout as they are typically more challenging than normal bikes due to activating a greater number of muscles across your whole body.
A number hasn't really been established for how many calories you can burn on an air bike (although it's estimated around 80 per minute), but as they incorporate both your legs and upper body, we feel they're definitely worth the money.
How do you maintain an air bike?
The two main things you should do regularly to maintain your air bike include cleaning the frame and fan from any dust and wiping away any sweat, particularly around the drive train.
Although not required as regularly, it's also recommended you check each component is tightened and lubricate the chain to ensure a smooth ride.