Last Updated on January 7, 2023 by Jeff
A new introduction to the fitness equipment market is the recumbent exercise bike with the additional upper body workout, known as dual action recumbent trainers.
If you are a gym enthusiast, then it will be quite tricky to choose between the range of dual-action recumbent bikes out there.
Top Pick: The Body Power 3-in-1 Trio Trainer Recumbent-Elliptical Bike
- Hybrid machine functions as an elliptical trainer, upright stationary cycle, and a recumbent bike
- Trio Trainer variable workouts - a perfect addition to your home gym
- Quiet and smooth magnetic resistance - workout while everyone is sleeping
We did some thorough research on dual-action recumbent bikes and hope to give a detailed explanation of what a dual-action recumbent exercise bike is.
What Is A Dual Action Recumbent Bicycle?
Dual-action bikes are also referred to as recumbent elliptical bikes. When it comes to recumbent exercise bikes, you can work both the upper and lower body simultaneously through the dual-action recumbent bikes.
When doing the arm motion on a recumbent bike, you will notice that the movement is easy on your back and gentle on joint muscles, such as your hips, lower spine, and knee joints.
This is due to the low-impact nature of the reclining bike. For these reasons, the dual-action recumbent bicycle is used by rehabilitation centers to aid those with injuries.
On that account, a dual-action trainer is a good option for those who struggle with joint aches.
The dual action bicycle’s arm motion mimics that of an elliptical machine. This is due to the fact that both a dual-action recumbent bike and an elliptical have moveable handlebars. They only differ in the way that you work out your lower body.
The Best Dual Action Recumbent Exercise Bikes (Our Review)
The Schwinn AD6 AirDyne Bike Dual Action Recumbent Exercise Bike [Best Dual Action Bike]
The Schwinn Airdyne AD6 ($599 – $699) is a budget-friendly upright bike that has a massive padded seat and foot straps. It gives you comfort, balance, and support.
The warranty is quite good for its affordable price. You get a 15 year-long warranty for the frame and a 3 year-long warranty for parts.
This recumbent cross trainer offers an impressive range of features while giving you a full-body workout with its movable handlebars.
The Airdyne is the best pick due to its ability to keep you cool during a cardio workout, with its fan being between the foot pedals.
The upright position puts more pressure on your muscles to work than a reclining position that a recumbent bike would offer. Some will not enjoy the upright position because it requires more power.
So, the upright position will keep your blood flowing, while it offers you nine workouts to choose from.
The large screen interface allows you to monitor your vitals and progress. For example, it shows your heart rate. You can monitor your heart rate through the AD6’s chest strap. It is a great way to stay safe and make certain that you are not overtraining yourself.
In addition to data tracking, the AD6 Airdyne allows add-on accessories to let you customize your workout experience according to your preferences and needs.
It should be noted that there is a possibility that you will encounter issues with the maintenance of the fans.
So, is the Schwinn Airdyne a good exercise bike?
It is a fantastic bike to purchase if you are looking to do light to moderate cardio workouts. In terms of weight capacity, it can support up to 300 pounds.
Pros
- Low cost
- You can cool down with the in-built fan
- Added cardio benefit from being in an upright position
- 9 pre-set workout programs
- Let you track data
Cons
- Some will not enjoy the upright position
- You can face issues with the fans
The ProForm Hybrid Trainer Pro [Best Technologically Advanced Hybrid Recumbent Bike]
Priced at around $599 if you buy online, this hybrid recumbent bike is a professional-grade fitness machine that gives you the option to switch between an elliptical and a recumbent bike.
It includes smart device compatibility with its Bluetooth feature and provides you with 20 magnetic resistance levels.
You can also track your time, calories burned, and distance to see if you have made progress.
This bike also has an impressive weight capacity of 350 pounds.
The negatives are that the bike has a warranty period of 90 days and the assembly of the bike can take up to four hours.
Pros
- Has a Bluetooth feature
- Maximum 20 resistance levels
- Tracks your data
- Supports weight of 350 pounds
Cons
- Short warranty period
- Lengthy assembly time
The Folding Stamina Recumbent Exercise Bike With Upper Body Arm Exerciser [Best Dual Semi-recumbent Bike]
If you are looking for a folding dual recumbent bike, then have a look at Stamina’s recumbent bike. This machine, priced at around $249 to $300, is super-compact and perfect for anyone who has limited room space.
The addition of arm exercises adds a level of intensity to the workout, although you do not have to use it like an elliptical. The arm and lower body exercisers have separate resistance modification knobs, making them separate from each other.
Its seat can be easily adjusted and handlebars are designed to be ergonomic-friendly. The seat and grip can be customized which gives you more comfort when working out.
This bike is a great fitness machine for those who are going through rehabilitation, beginners, or users who want the option of a low-impact exercise to burn some calories.
Its foldable design also makes the bike very easy to move around.
However, this bike has no pre-set programs or pulse sensors that monitor your heart rate.
Pros
- Folding frame
- Easily adjustable seat
- Ergonomic moving handlebars
- Can be maneuvered easily
Cons
- No pre-set training programs
- No heart rate monitor
The Stamina Conversion Recumbent Bike/Rower [Most Unique Dual Action Bike]
This hybrid recumbent bike ($850-$1000) offers an additional rowing mechanism that will most certainly give you a great full-body and cardiovascular workout in one. You will be doing a full-body workout with this rock-solid machine.
The only two downsides to this bike are that the warranty is short and the resistance is limited to 8 levels.
This fitness equipment is made to operate as a rower and recumbent, but you can use it as a resistance strength machine for a full upper body workout. The top handle can be retracted to do arm and shoulder exercises, such as bicep curls and tricep kickbacks.
The frame is sturdy, as it is made of steel and aluminum.
It had a padded rowing handle, padded seat, rowing footplates, and pedal foot straps to keep your feet in place.
The machine has 8 modifiable magnetic resistance levels that are very smooth. You can increase resistance by adjusting the level.
It also offers a built-in monitor and tracks data, such as speed, calories burned, time, and distance.
Pros
- Can work as a rower and a recumbent bike
- Full-body cardio workout
- Strong frame
- 8 levels of magnetic resistance
- Built-in monitor and tracks your data
Cons
- Short warranty period
- Limited to 8 resistance levels
A Buyer’s Guide
The Dual Action Recumbent Exercise Bike: How To Choose The Right One
When shopping for a stationary bike, you need to be aware that these dual bikes come in many different shapes and sizes. If you know what you are looking for, then it makes choosing one a bit more doable.
Take a further read to gain insight into the features that you need to consider before buying a dual stationary bike.
Weight limitation
The recumbent bike’s weight capacity is an important feature to consider, especially for persons that are overweight. Lightweight recumbent bicycles are not recommended for those who weigh 300 pounds or more.
If you are unaware of the bike’s weight limit, then you might face some undesirable consequences. For example, you might find that you are not fitting comfortably on the bike.
One rule of thumb is to buy a recumbent exercise bike with moving arms that have a weight limit that is about 10 to 20 pounds more than your bodyweight.
Compact construction
Size is also a very important feature to take into consideration when shopping. Think about the amount of space that you have in your house or apartment when you search for the best dual recumbent bike with moving arms.
If your home setting lacks space then you most definitely need to pay attention to the bike’s compact design.
Look at possible folding dual-action recumbent bikes to save some space. These types of recumbent bikes can be folded into half their size after being used. You can place it behind a door or inside a closet.
You can also look at semi-recumbent exercise bikes as an alternative.
Flywheels
A flywheel’s quality is another important feature to consider when purchasing a dual recumbent bike.
A poor-quality flywheel will make some noise when being used. In more extreme scenarios, a poor-quality flywheel can have a negative effect on your balance when riding.
Pay attention to the functionality of the flywheel. Does it run smoothly and silently when in use?
Resistance
Many stationary bikes utilize a felt pad resistance to control the intensity of a workout, but the preferred choice of resistance is magnetic resistance. A magnetic resistance bike gives more options in terms of tension levels and its resistance knob can be reached easily, compared to other resistance types.
How does magnetic resistance operate?
Magnetic resistance bikes gain their resistance through the utilization of the flywheel and two magnets. The flywheel works as a magnetic guide.
As you pedal, the flywheels rotate. As the flywheels continue to rotate, it interferes with the magnetic field generated by the two magnets. This results in resistance occurring.
Why choose a magnetic resistance bike? It operates quietly and smoothly. You also only need to do minimal maintenance with these types of recumbent bikes since they can go for a few years with no problems.
The only downside to magnetic resistance bikes is that they tend to be more costly.
Comfort and support
Three things stand out when looking at comfort and support: padding, sitting position, and freedom to alter the seat’s position.
Firstly, a comfortable and supporting dual bike will have good-quality padding.
Secondly, a supporting bike’s backrest will be easy on your back muscles. If you have back problems, take note of dual recumbent bikes with an ergonomic design.
Thirdly, a comfortable bike will allow you to easily modify the position of the seat to fit your body height.
Taking all this information into consideration, see why the following dual action bikes are our picks for the best recumbent bikes with moving arms.
What are the differences between a Recumbent bike and a Dual action bike?
It is good to know the differences and similarities between the recumbent bike and the dual-action bicycle so that you can understand which one will serve your needs the best.
With a recumbent exercise bike, you have a large seat with a backrest and the pedals are placed out in front of you. It comes with handgrips on either side of the seat, as well as another set of handgrips placed on top of the console.
With a dual-action bike, the pedals will be beneath your seat and there are moveable handlebars that you can grip with your hands.
A recumbent stationary bike’s seat can be modified to move backward and forward, whereas the dual-action stationary bike’s seat can be modified to move upwards and downwards.
A commercial recumbent bike operates from a reclining position, where you sit back on the seat and put your feet on the pedals. You then grasp the hand grips while pedaling.
The dual action does not operate from this horizontal position. Instead, you sit in a more upright position and grasp the set of moving handles while you pedal.
The similarity between the two is how you have to sit with your knees. For both cases, you need to alter your seat to a point where your knees are straight, but not completely locked out while pedaling.
However, some dual bikes give you the option of either just moving your arms, or just moving your legs. So, if you do not wish to, you do not have to move both your arms and legs simultaneously.
The dual riders are a great alternative to the regular stationary bike if you are aiming for an upper-body workout too.
Dual-action bikes are also tailored to those who want to work on their endurance, power, or cardio.
For those wondering whether a recumbent bike with moveable handlebars can tone your legs too, take a read.
Conclusion
If your goal is weight loss, cardio conditioning, lessening arthritis pain, the ease of working out at home, or a sweaty workout, then a dual-action recumbent exercise bike is ideal for you.
They are the perfect alternative to the stationary bike and make working out a bit less boring.
What matters the most is that you choose a bicycle that will meet your fitness and health needs. Knowing what you need will make choosing a bike very easy.
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