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Repeat after us: I will never neglect a muscle group. That means no skipping leg day, and for you cyclists out there, it means making sure you maintain upper-body strength. But how does one work their chest and arms while riding an indoor stationary bike?
Well, you could curl some dumbbells or you could check out our recommendations for the best exercise bike with moving arms. Personally, we’d go with the latter idea for a few reasons, one of the top ones being it’s a total-body workout—legs, shoulders, knees, and cardio.
Write Trustworthy Gym Equipment Reviews? You Don’t Have to Twist Our Arms
We’re a group of competitive weightlifters, certified personal trainers, and CrossFit Level 1 Trainers who want to see people get excited about fitness. That’s why we only recommend cardio machines that we know will deliver results and be fun to use. Because what’s the point of having an exercise machine if it’s just going to be used as a coat hanger and never fulfill its actual purpose?
Nope, we’ll make sure you find the best fitness equipment that will never have an article of clothing thrown over it.
Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms
- Best Overall Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike
- Best Compact Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: AssaultBike Classic
- Best Air Bike with Moving Arms: Rogue Echo Bike
- Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms for Beginners: Schwinn Airdyne AD7
- Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms for Upper-Body Workouts: Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser
- Best Budget Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Marcy NS-1000 Fan Bike
Best Overall Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike
Good for: Those who want a great indoor cycling bike with moving arms at a great value
Home Gym Blitz
Air bikes are possibly one of the best full-body conditioning tools ever to grace a garage or commercial gym. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable, feature-rich, and high-quality one for your gym, take a good look at the Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0. Constructed mostly from metal components, the Blitz Bike has a heavy-duty frame weighing 118 pounds. While it is one of the heavier bikes on the market, this frame is durable and sturdy yet maintains a compact footprint.The Blitz Bike boasts premium specs including a large adjustable seat, a belt drive system, removable wind guard, bottle holder, and phone holder. Typically, less expensive air bikes have smaller fans which offer less resistance. However, the Blitz is equipped with a large, 25-inch fan more often seen on commercial products. The console displays key fitness metrics to monitor your workout: RPM, speed, interval times, distance, calories, watts, and heart rate. The adjustable seat can be moved up, down, fore, and aft so you can customize your bike fit to prevent unnecessary pressure on your knees. This seat has an ergonomic design with a center cavity to take pressure off some of your more delicate areas. Besides the price tag, one of the most noteworthy aspects of the Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0 is the belt drive rather than a chain drive. A belt drive offers a few advantages including less maintenance, a longer life expectancy, and a quieter ride. Additionally, belt drives are generally easier to replace than are chain drives.The Blitz Air Bike 2.0 comes with adjustable feet, which ensures an even and level riding experience even if placed on a sloped floor. It also comes with transport wheels intended to make moving it out of the way when not in use easy. However, users report these wheels are small and catch on the floor. Additionally, there is no rear handle to make it a smooth transporting experience.
Pros:
- Low-maintenance belt-drive system
- Knurled foot pegs
- Included water bottle and phone holders
Cons:
- Only comes with a 2-year warranty
- Larger frame may not be best for shorter riders
- Not the easiest upright bike to move around the home gym
The Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0 is our top pick for an exercise bike with moving arms simply because it’s the best value for most home gym owners. With a super-comfy adjustable seat, grippy handlebars, and a removable wind guard, it has everything you need to get a sweat-inducing full-body workout.
The wind guard is a huge value-add because similar models sell their’s separately, not to mention the fact that Bells of Steel’s bike is cheaper to begin with. But we use “cheaper” only in the monetary sense here—nothing about this bike feels “cheap.” There are a few plastic and rubber parts, but not enough that we’re worried about the overall durability.
We noticed during testing that this bike doesn’t wobble at all, even when we went all out on it. That’s not too much of a surprise given the mostly metal construction and the fact that it weighs 118 pounds.
Plus, it uses a belt-drive system that will produce challenging resistance and requires little to no maintenance over the bike’s lifetime. And you get a water bottle holder and phone holder, which aren’t too common in air bikes.
Although not quite as wide as the Rogue Echo Bike, the Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike has a wide frame that smaller riders may find difficult to master, even with the adjustable seat. It’s also pretty heavy at 118 pounds, and though it has front-facing transport wheels it’s not the easiest to move around the home gym.
There’s also a short two-year warranty, but again we think this is pretty durable and should last for many years.
If you want to check out a similar bike, the Fringe Sport Raptor Air Bike is very similar to this but at a higher price tag.
Check out our full Bells of Steel Blitz Bike 2.0 review for more of our thoughts.
| Footprint | 53” L x 23” W x 51” H |
| Weight | 118 lbs |
| Max user weight | 350 lbs |
| Drive system | Belt |
| Console | LCD monitor |
| Conveniences | Water bottle holder, phone holder |
Best Compact Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: AssaultBike Classic
Good for: Those who want a sturdy, but compact exercise bike with moving arms
Pros:
- Simple and sturdy
- Almost made of all metal, giving it incredible durability
- Has a relatively good monitor for an air bike
Cons:
- Uses a chain-drive system, though Assault’s is the best chain drive you can find
- Not as stable as heavier bikes
- Requires routine maintenance
The fact that the low-tech AssaultBike Classic is still a go-to for many home and commercial gym owners during a time when smart home gym equipment is all the rage is a testament to how good this exercise bike is.
There are no special bike features, hardly any conveniences (not even a water bottle holder), no Bluetooth connectivity to pair it with fitness apps, and it has a simple LCD monitor instead of a touchscreen.
So why would we recommend it? Simply because of its functionality. In other words, you’ll get some of the best workouts of your life on this compact piece of equipment, no matter your fitness goals.
At 95 pounds and just under 51 inches in length, this bike is lightweight and easy to move but is still incredibly stable as you put pedal to the metal and rock the handlebars back and forth. It might not be as stable as heavier air bikes, but it’s great at remaining level for riders up to 300 pounds.
Normally we’d also knock the use of the chain-drive system—which are louder and require more maintenance than a belt-drive system—but Assault’s chains are top-of-the-line and aside from some routine greasing there’s not much you’ll have to do with it.
The chain drive also makes it easier to pedal, which is a plus if your goal is to work both halves of your body (anything tougher would zap you of the energy you need for your upper-body movements).
At under $800, this is one of the best value exercise bikes on the market. Most of the parts are metal, aside from the rubber grips, seat, and the monitor, so you know it’ll last quite a while in your home gym.
Check out our AssaultBike reviews for more on this bike and other AssaultBike models.
| Footprint | 50.95” L x 23.34” W x 50” H |
| Weight | 95.6 lbs |
| Max user weight | 300 lbs |
| Drive system | Chain |
| Console | LCD |
| Conveniences | None |
Best Air Bike with Moving Arms: Rogue Echo Bike
Good for: Home gym owners looking for the best air bike for total-body workouts
Hello? Echo!
The Rogue Echo Bike is durable due to its heavy-duty steel, high quality engineering, and customization that drives it to be stronger than the average fan bike. It is under warranty for up to two years from the date of purchase, assuming that the product is used under normal conditions per the User Guide. Since it is overbuilt, it creates a smoother ride. The Rogue Echo Bike is 127 pounds and has a 350-pound weight limit, which allows it to provide a sturdy foundation for max-outs and outbursts. The Echo Bike is quiet yet consistent due to its belt-driven steel fan blade. It is easily portable and has a battery powered LCD console that lets athletes track everything from distance to calories burned. Due to its weight, the Echo Bike stands sturdy and is not prone to wobbling. Its construct lends itself to balance even when pushed to max output bursts. To add to the stability, there are rubber leveling feet under each base tube that adapt to the ground and create balance even if the floor is not level. The 6.375-inch by 6.37-inch LCD console provides the athlete with a variety of modes. These include different types of intervals, target, and heart rate tracking. The crystal clear console uses two AA batteries, which come with the purchase of the bike. The Echo Bike is finished in a black powdercoat and the steel tubing is 2-by-3 inches, 1.25-by-3 inches, and 1.625-by-3.12 inches. The seat is easily adjustable and padded. It locks into eight different heights and five different front-to-back settings. The grip handles, which are made of rubber and are 1.5 inches in diameter, are a part of the bike’s arms. There is a plate that is provided along with 4.5 inches long rating foot pegs and pedals. You do have to assemble the Echo Bike, but the tools you need are included with your order and align with easy to follow instructions. The fully constructed bike may sound overbearing, but Rouge has included a 1-inch wide set of wheels at the front of the unit, which allows it to easily be rolled around the gym.
Pros:
- Low-maintenance belt-drive system
- It’s the official air bike of the CrossFit Games
- Overbuilt transport wheels for easy portability
Cons:
- Doesn’t have the best handles
- Not the best for shorter people
- Beefy frame makes it a poor choice for compact home gym spaces
If you’re unfamiliar with the controversy with the Rogue Echo Bike, the long story short is that it took the place of the official CrossFit Games air bike away from the Assault AirBike and not everyone was pleased with that decision.
But, in our opinion, if you’re looking for an air bike, this is the one to go for with limited exceptions (which we’ll get to in a minute). And before you ask us, “Well why not make the Rogue Echo Bike best overall?” allow us to explain.
Related: Read our full Rogue Echo Bike vs Assault AirBike review for a full comparison of these two bikes.
An air bike is meant to be a total-body workout and that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Echo. You’ll also get a quiet workout, thanks to the belt-drive system, all-metal frame, and the size of the fan blades (you’ll hear a slight whooshing sound as you pedal, but it’s nothing that’ll disturb anyone in your house).
Like the AssaultBike, the Rogue Echo doesn’t come with a bottle cage, though you can purchase it separately and it’s pretty easy to install.
The frame is also much bigger than other air bikes, which helps it remain stable while in use but it does mean it’s not a great choice for those in compact home gyms.
Check out our full Rogue Echo Bike review for more information.
| Footprint | 58.8” L x 29.8 W x 52.75 H (to top of handles) |
| Weight | 127 lbs. |
| Max user weight | 350 lbs |
| Drive system | Belt |
| Console | LCD |
| Conveniences | None |
Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms for Beginners: Schwinn Airdyne AD7
Good for: Fitness beginners who want a high-quality exercise bike
Beginners’ Luck
SCHWINN AIRDYNE PROSchwinn has been manufacturing quality bikes for over a century, and in the fitness world, they've been a leading innovator in air resistance technology. With the Airdyne AD Pro, Schwinn has developed its most complete all-purpose stationary bike to date–with a perimeter-weighted flywheel design, powerful solid steel cranks, and doubled-coated steel body construction. Multi-position handles allow the rider to use a vertical or horizontal grip, redesigned foot platforms reduce slip and improve push-off, and a larger, padded seat offers optimal comfort. The universal rail and clamp system even lets users swap in their own customized seats if they choose.Not all fitness bikes are built the same. The Schwinn Airdyne AD Pro is uniquely designed to increase resistance to match the force you're exerting, and its drive belt system is not only durable and up to the task, but far quieter than most air bikes on the market. No matter your goals or the pace you want to set, the bike allows you to establish a program that works for you, tracking watts, time, calories burned, distance, and more. SPECIFICATIONS:Single stage belt drive air resistance system Dimensions: 42" L x 20" W x 52" H (106CM x 50CM x 132CM) 26 Blade Performance Fan + Progressive Wind Resistance Moisture-repellent steel construction 9 programmable workout options Multi-Grip Handle Bars LCD display screen with metrics for time, distance, calories, RPM, watts, pulse, and speed Oversized, padded seat for greater comfort Maximum user weight: 350LB (160KG) Warranty Info: Frame (10 years), Parts (2 years), Labor (6 months)
Pros:
- Heavy-duty pedals and rubber grips
- Belt-drive system
- Best monitor of any air bike
Cons:
- Costs more than $1,000
- Has some plastic parts, which is bad for durability
- Some customer complaints of the seat moving while in use
If you’ve never tried an exercise bike with moving arms before, the Schwinn Airdyne AD7 might be a good place to start. For one, it has the best LCD monitor we’ve seen on any such bike. It’s well-lit so you can easily see all your metrics even as sweat continues to pour down your face like a summertime thunderstorm.
Another reason is that it’s solid. Even with some plastic parts, which isn’t the best for durability, this bike manages to remain stable no matter how hard you’re pushing, and it boasts a maximum user weight capacity of 350 pounds.
Although not as large as the Rogue Echo Bike, the Schwinn Airdyne AD7 does have a pretty wide steel frame (26.5 inches), but that also helps with the stability.
The pedals are also metal instead of plastic, as you see on many other bikes, and the rubber grips are heavy-duty and take chalk well. As Garage Gym Reviews founder and gym equipment guru Cooper Mitchell put it, it’s clear that Schwinn thought everything through with this bike.
All that planning and execution comes at a price, and in the case of this bike, it’s more than $1,000. Normally we wouldn’t recommend such a pricey machine for beginners, but we truly believe this is the best way to learn how to properly ride an exercise bike with moving arms while remaining comfortable and stable.
| Footprint | 53” L x 26.5 W x 53 H |
| Weight | 113 lbs. |
| Max user weight | 350 lbs |
| Drive system | Belt |
| Console | LCD |
| Conveniences | Water bottle holder |
Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms for Upper-Body Workouts: Sunny Health and Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser
Good for: Anyone who wants to make sure their upper body stays in good shape
Stay Sunny
The Sunny Health and Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser is an easy, effective, and budget-friendly way to get a total-body workout. In addition to the recumbent exercise bike with eight levels of resistance, you also get an arm exerciser with adjustable tension. Many of the customer reviews for this product state it's a perfect way for senior citizens, those with mobility issues, and people recovering from surgery to remain active.And at under $400, it's a great value for a cardio machine. Taller riders may experience issues with their arms bumping into their knees if they use the arm exercisers and pedals simultaneously. There's also a short 180-day warranty for the product.
Pros:
- Adjustable arm tension on upper-body exercisers
- 8 levels of resistance
- Recumbent-style design is easier on the joints
- Costs less than $400
Cons:
- Basic LCD monitor
- Only comes with a 180-day warranty
- Taller users may experience their arms hitting their knees
The customer reviews for the Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser are a great example of just how life-changing this cardio machine can be. People with Parkinson’s disease, those struggling with obesity, senior citizens, and many more have raved about how the eight levels of magnetic resistance coupled with the adjustable arm exercisers have allowed them to stay in shape in a fun, and effective way.
And that’s what we love to see. This machine is pretty simple—you pedal with your feet as you move the arm exercisers up and down. Will it give you the most strenuous workout? No, but the movement can help with endurance and build some lean muscle mass in those who may not have another way to work their upper-body muscles.
This recumbent exercise bike is also great for getting on and off the bike, as well providing a low-impact workout for the lower-body muscles.
In all honesty, this is one of those times when we haven’t tested out a specific machine but we’ve tried many exercise bikes from Sunny Health & Fitness and we know they’re a reputable brand.
They’re also an affordable brand, and this particular model comes in at under $400. There’s only a 180-day warranty on this machine but on the bright side you do have free returns with Amazon Prime.
The only major callout we saw in the customer reviews is that riders 5 feet, 11 inches and taller may experience their arms hitting their knees if they use the arm exercisers and pedals simultaneously.
To find the best recumbent bike for you, check out our best recumbent exercise bike roundup.
| Footprint | 51” L x 25” W x 52.5” H |
| Weight | 91.1 lbs |
| Max user weight | 350 lbs |
| Drive system | Belt |
| Console | LCD |
| Conveniences | Pulse sensors, heart rate monitor |
Best Budget Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Marcy NS-1000 Fan Bike
Good for: Anyone who is looking for a good machine that doesn’t cost much
Budget Biking
Experience a complete cardio workout without leaving the comfort of your home with the Marcy Fan Exercise Bike! This stationary bike allows you to burn calories and strengthen your whole body at the same time. It features dual-action arms that will increase your upper body endurances as you pedal to strengthen your thighs and legs. This powerful exercise bike possesses a unique air resistance system that keeps your body cool while you exercise. It also has a resistance knob that allows you to regulate your workout intensity to a variety of levels. It is ergonomically designed for comfortable seating and exercise. It features an adjustable seat and handlebars with high-density foam. This helps your body from getting strains, back pains, and other muscle aches. Additionally, the Marcy Fan Stationary Bike comes with an easy-to-use tracker LCD panel. This allows you to scan modes and track your time, distance, speed, and calories burned as you exercise. This piece of gym equipment is easy to assemble and it is made of 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder-coated finish, assuring you of its excellent durability and sturdiness. You can also move it anywhere around your house with convenience because of its transport wheels. This fan bike is 250 pounds in weight. Its dimensions are 45" (L) x 26.75" (W) x 48.75" (H). Customized Resistance Bring your home gym cardio routine to the next level with the Marcy NS-1000 Body Cycle. This powerful exercise bike offers a unique and customizable air resistance system with tension adjustment that let's you feel the burn at a variety of different intensity levels. Full Body Workout Dual action handles offer the ability to train both your upper and lower body for an invigorating full body workout you won't get on any standard stationary bike. Adjustable Seat, Track Metrics, Transportable A seven-position adjustable seat offers the ability to train in the most comfortable position for you. An easy to read computer display allows you to track time, distance, calories burned, speed and scan mode while you train. But that's not all! A compact design and conveniently placed set of transport wheels allow you to easily store this Marcy exercise bike between workouts.FULL-BODY WORKOUT – The Marcy Fan Exercise Bike is a stationary bike that also offers a full-body workout. This exercise bike will strengthen your lower body while its dual-action arms feature will increase your upper body endurance as you pedal.UNIQUE AIR RESISTANCE SYSTEM – This exercise bike possesses a unique air resistance system that keeps your body cool while you're working out. What's more, its tension level is adjustable through the resistance knob, allowing you to regulate your workout intensity to a variety of levels.EASY INTERFACE – This stationary bike comes with a user-friendly tracker and an LCD that allows you to scan modes and track your time, distance, speed, and calories burned as you exercise.ERGONOMIC SEATING –The Marcy Fan Exercise Bike is ergonomically designed for comfortable seating. Its adjustable seat and handlebars are packed with high-density foam, which will prevent you from experiencing stiffness of the back, strains, and muscle aches as you work out.GYM AT HOME – This exercise bike will let you experience a complete cardio routine without leaving the comfort of your home. It is easy to assemble and to move around the house since it has transport wheels for convenient mobility. The Marcy Fan Exercise Bike is made of 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder-coated finish. It has dimensions of 45" (L) x 26.75" (W) x 48.75" (H) and a weight of 250 pounds.
Pros:
- Costs under $100
- Compact footprint
- Adjustable ergonomic seat supports users of all heights
Cons:
- Max user weight capacity of 250 lbs
- LCD display may be difficult to read for some
- Rubber grips don’t take chalk well
We normally wouldn’t recommend a cardio machine that’s under $100 because there’s a fine line between being cheap and being cheap (you know exactly what we mean). But the Marcy NS-1000 Fan Bike is an exception because the company has proven that it can develop a good exercise bike at a great cost.
We use good here because in all honesty, this bike is not meant for the serious athlete. If you’re someone who’s just looking to maintain their lower- and upper-body strength and doesn’t want to spend a lot of money, this will do the job perfectly. If you’re training for the CrossFit Games, this simply doesn’t have the durability or capacity to prepare you for that.
Let’s get back to the positives—unlimited resistance (it goes as fast as you can), a wide and comfy seat, tension control, and a compact footprint. Users also pointed out that while the assembly can be a bit time-consuming, it’s not difficult.
The handlebars are covered in a rubber that will provide an alright grip, but we wouldn’t use chalk on these the same way we would the Rogue Echo Bike.
| Footprint | 45.5” L x 27.5” W x 49.5” H |
| Weight | 58 lbs |
| Max user weight | 250 lbs |
| Drive system | Belt |
| Console | LCD |
| Conveniences | None |
How We Picked and Tested the Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms
Want to know how we landed on determining the best exercise bikes with moving arms? Here’s a look at our itinerary.
- Durability: Is the bike built well and do we expect it to last a while in people’s home gyms?
- Versatility: It goes without saying, but we wanted to make sure each bike could work the lower and upper body effectively.
- Price: We wanted to give options for those on a budget, and those who just want the best-of-the-best at home.
- Footprint: How big is the bike, and could it realistically fit in most people’s home gyms?
Why You Should Have an Exercise Bike with Moving Arms
As certified personal trainer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Amanda Capritto puts it, exercise bikes with moving arms are essentially the ultimate exercise machine.
“While all types of exercise bikes are great for getting in some cardio workouts, exercise bikes with moving arms will always add a little extra oomph to your workout,” she says. “Instead of just working out your legs, your upper body will feel the burn, too—even your core will work harder on an exercise bike with moving arms than on a stationary bike with typical handles.
“I particularly recommend this type of bike to people who are short on time because this ain’t your average pedaling: In less than 30 (or even 20, if you’re a HIIT fanatic) minutes, you can get a phenomenal workout for all of your major muscle groups,” she adds.
Best Exercise Bike with Moving Arms FAQs
What are exercise bikes with moving arms called?
They can be called lots of things, but most exercise bikes with moving arms are known as air bikes, due to the air resistance system (instead of a weighted flywheel like you find on most exercise bikes). These are a specific type of bike that has a fan on the front or the back that produces the tension. Other types of exercise bikes, however, can have moving arms also.
Do recumbent bikes work arms?
Not unless they have an arm exerciser, as can be found on the Sunny Health andFitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser.
Does an exercise bike tone your arms?
It depends on what type of exercise bike you use. Air bikes, sometimes known as fan bikes, can give you an arm workout thanks to the moving arms on the bikes. A Peloton bike, however, won’t unless you start curling some dumbbells.
Further reading
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