The Best Recumbent Exercise Bike for Obese People

Last Updated on October 29, 2021 by Jeff

A recumbent exercise bike for obese people is the perfect exercise machine to get fit without any discomfort.

Purchasing the right recumbent bike is an important step to begin your weight loss journey from obesity. You need to consider several different factors before deciding which recumbent bike to purchase.

Comfort, weight limit, price, and warranty are things you need to take into account when looking at different recumbent exercise bikes. Obese people need to keep their weight in mind when making a recumbent bike purchase.

In this article, we have put recumbent bikes to the test so you can find the best recumbent exercise bike for overweight people. Most of the following products are examples of a recumbent bike for over 350 lbs.

Best Recumbent Bike for Obese People (Our Review)

HCI Fitness PhysioStep LXT-700 (Best Overall)

This bike is designed to be incredibly user-friendly. The seat is capable of full 360-degree rotation. This means that it can swivel to face the machine and then back to the other side so you can easily step off of it.

It is a great all-rounder as it is a recumbent bicycle for big and tall users. Not only does it cater for tall persons up to 6’4”, but it is also a 400 lb weight capacity recumbent bike,

The seat is designed to support the lower back even through a long workout. You can be comfortable while you exercise. It is a good recumbent bike for elderly people as it has a large display screen that is easy to use.

If you are looking for something with more advanced features, this is probably not your best bet. It is simple and gets the job done but it has a very basic screen display.

Pros

Caters for those up to 6’4” and 400 lbs
Swivel seat is easy to get on and off of
Large display screen
Back support
Great warranty

Cons

Basic screen display

Exerpeutic 575 XLS Folding Exercise Bike (Best Budget Buy)

This recumbent bike is a great option for you if you do not have a lot of space for an exercise machine. It is also a great option if you are thinking about transporting your bike often. It is compact in the sense that it folds easily into itself for storage purposes.

This option is also a lot more budget-friendly than the other bikes available. It is a great recumbent exercise bike for tall persons as it caters to those up to 6’5”. It has an uncomplicated and unfussy design.

But, if you are looking for a long-term investment, this is probably not your best bet. The warranty on this bike is not as long as other, more expensive options. It also does not offer back support which may be a deal-breaker for some.

Pros

Caters for those up to 6’5” and 400 lbs
Doesn’t take up much space
Affordable
Easily transportable

Cons

No back support
Only 1-year warranty

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Desk Exercise Bike (Best for Productivity)

The days of being bored during your workout are over. This bike offers a built-in flat desk underneath the screen. You can use this to rest a book on or even a laptop.

This is the perfect recumbent exercise bike for you if you like to multi-task. Whether you want to do some work or even watch a movie while you burn some calories, this bike is a great choice. The desk height is adjustable to avoid hitting your knees as you pedal.

This is also a great recumbent bike for short people as the seat is easily adjustable to be closer or further from the pedals.

Pros

Caters for those up to 350 lbs
Comfortable seat that offers back support
Built-in workstation for productivity
Good warranty

Cons

Takes up a lot of room
Some taller users with long legs complain about their knees touching the desk as they pedal

NordicTrack Commercial VR25 (Best Modern Bike)

This high-end bike has a very modern look and is great for those who want something sleek in their home. It offers a comfortable seat with a backrest. It also has built-in speakers if you like playing music for extra motivation.

There are 35 programmed workouts and a free 1-year iFit family membership. This membership allows you to access extra workouts to follow and a live leaderboard. This encourages you to get competitive with friends and family.

It has a touch screen which is either a pro or con depending on your preference. It is probably not the best option for elderly persons who struggle with technology.

This bike is more on the expensive side but a great purchase if it falls within your budget.

Pros

Caters for those up to 350 lbs
Modern design
Touch screen
Comfortable seat with backrest
1-year iFit family membership

Cons

Expensive

LifeSpan R5i Recumbent Exercise Bike (Best for Comfort)

This is a great heavy-duty recumbent bike that was designed specifically for overweight people. As a result, you can expect an extremely well-cushioned seat with armrests on the side. The seat is fully supportive of the lower back and neck.

The seat is easily adjustable so it caters to short and tall users. Its screen display is simple and easy to use. It does not need to be plugged in and it does not require batteries.

The self-generating power system is a convenient way to ensure you do not have to worry about cords or low batteries. It also means it is an eco-friendly way of exercising at home. You could even take it outside to exercise in some fresh air if you wanted to.

Pros

Caters for those up to 400 lbs
Comfortable seat with backrest
Self-generating power
Impressive warranty
Eco-friendly

Cons

Screen display is basic

ProForm Hybrid Trainer (Best Value for Money)

This option is great value for money. It functions as a recumbent bike as well as an elliptical machine. You can either sit and use it like a bike or stand and use it like a regular elliptical. You are essentially getting two machines for the price of one.

The seat offers back support while being comfortably well cushioned. But, if you are on the taller side with long legs, this will not be the best option for you. The height range that this bike offers is not as broad as the other options.

The screen display and features are more basic compared to the more modern bikes. This is great if you prefer something simple. But, if you are looking for something modern with additional features, this is not the option for you.

Pros

Caters for those up to 350 lbs
Comfortable seat with backrest
Also functions as an elliptical machine

Cons

Does not cater well to taller people
Screen display is basic

Schwinn 270 Recumbent Exercise Bike (Best for a Comfortable Ride)

This affordable bike does not sacrifice comfort or other features. It provides a seat with a backrest that is ventilated to avoid sweat build-up. It is not the strongest bike on the market but if you fall within its weight range, you will not be disappointed with its features.

It has a three-speed cooling fan built into it to keep you feeling great throughout your workout. The bike also comes with built-in speakers for music and a USB port to charge your phone.

Pros

Affordable
Comfortable seat with ventilated backrest
Built-in fan
Built-in speakers
USB port

Cons

Only caters for those up to 300 lbs

Sole Fitness LCR Light Commercial Recumbent Bike (Best Commercial Grade Bike)

This recumbent bike is of commercial standard. The reason for this is that it has more resistance levels and features than many other bikes. It caters to all fitness levels as it has 40 ECB resistance levels.

It also comes with a chest strap to give you an accurate reading of your heart rate. This is perfect for obese or injured people as it ensures they are not overdoing their workouts.

The screen display is large and easy to use. There is also a built-in fan to keep you feeling fresh and an MP3-compatible sound system. It is also self-generated so it does not require external power sources.

As it is a bike you would likely see in a commercial gym, it is more on the expensive side. But, it does come with a great warranty. There is a lifetime warranty on the frame, 3 years on electronics and parts, and 1 year on labor.

Pros

Caters for those up to 350 lbs
Comfortable seat with backrest
Built-in fan
MP3 compatible sound system
Self-generating
Great warranty

Cons

Expensive
Basic screen display

ProGear 555 LXT Magnetic Recumbent Bike (Best Entry-Level Bike)

This is a great entry-level recumbent bike if you are looking for something simple and effective. It is not one of the stronger bikes on the market as it only caters to those 250 lbs and under. It has 14 magnetic resistance settings to cater to all fitness levels.

The bike has a built-in tablet holder so you can be entertained while you work out. The warranty is not impressive but you may want to sacrifice that for the low price.

This is great for people who need a recumbent bike for a short-term period or those who are on a tight budget.

Pros

Affordable
Comfortable seat with backrest
Built-in tablet holder

Cons

Only caters for those up to 250 lbs
Only 1-year warranty

Exerpeutic 4000 Magnetic Recumbent Bike (Best Mid-range Bike)

This is a good mid-range option for someone who wants more than the bare minimum but does not require a lot of extra fancy features. The seat is thickly padded, soft, and ventilated at the back.

It is not one of the strongest bikes on the market but it is still a great option for those 325 lbs and under. It has a large display screen and 4 resistance settings to challenge yourself on. There is also a holder for your smartphone or tablet.

The warranty is not impressive so this bike is not a great option for those looking to invest in a long-term exercise option.

Pros

Can accommodate those up to 6’3” and 325 lbs
Comfortable seat with ventilated backrest
Padded elbow rests
Built-in smartphone and tablet holder
Affordable

Cons

Must be plugged in
1-year warranty

Recumbent Bike for Obese People FAQs

Is a recumbent exercise bike weight-bearing?

If you need to avoid putting weight on the lower part of your body, you are probably wondering, ‘is a recumbent bike non-weight-bearing?’ The good news is that an exercise recumbent bike is non-weight-bearing.

A non-weight-bearing exercise does not put weight on the lower part of your body.

If you have suffered from injuries or issues with your bones or joints, you have probably been advised to stick to non-weight-bearing exercises.

This is why a recumbent bike is a great option for those who have been injured or who carry a lot of extra weight.

Is a recumbent stationary bike good for weight loss?

Using a recumbent bike allows you to burn off extra calories in the day which is great for weight loss. The more calories you burn, the more weight you can lose.

To increase the number of calories you burn, you can increase the length of your session, the speed of your pedaling, or the resistance setting.

Is a recumbent bike better than an upright bike?

A recumbent bike is more inclusive of all physical conditions and slightly easier on the joints than an upright bike. But, both recumbent bikes and upright bikes are non-weight-bearing.

The essential difference is that an upright bike places the pedals underneath the seat, while a recumbent bike places the pedals in a more horizontal position to the seat.

Recumbent stationary bikes are typically more comfortable as most of them offer back support. But, upright bikes do tend to take up less space than recumbent bikes.

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