Author: Ihor Shymechko (26 years of Oly Lifting & Training experience)
Reviewed by: Oleksiy Torokhtiy (Olympian with 21 years of Oly Lifting experience)
I'll give my top pick and include a buyer's guide to help you choose the right air bike.
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the Rogue Echo Bike.
Starting our list of the best air bikes for functional fitness is Rogue Echo Bike. The high-quality bike is extremely durable and offers a smooth, consistent ride by using a belt-driven steel fan blade.
Air bikes are durable, compact, and very effective at improving your fitness and helping you to lose stubborn fat or build muscle.
If you're looking to improve your conditioning or just simply enjoy cycling, adding an air bike to your home gym is a great option.
Many bikes are available to buy, each with its uses. They can differ in the drive mechanism, adjustability, monitor, blade size, and price.
This makes choosing a suitable bike a hard choice to most people. A sport that commonly uses air bikes is functional fitness. Fitness is a high-intensity fitness program that combines whole body exercises with bouts of intense cardio.
In this article, I'll take you through the 5 best air bikes for fitness and give you my top pick.
Top 5 Best Air Bikes for Functional Fitness Reviewed
1. Rogue Echo Bike - Top Pick
Founded in 2006 in a small garage in America, Rogue is a world-leading supplier of strength and conditioning equipment. They manufacture and sell commercial and home gym equipment, including squat racks, dumbbells, barbells, weight plates, and cardio equipment such as the Rogue Echo Bike.
Rogue products have been extensively tested in many world events, including the fitness games. They aim to provide high-quality home workout equipment for athletes at all levels.
- Resistance Mechanism: Wind Resistance
- Fan Diameter: 27"
- Type of Drive System: Fan belt
- Dimensions: 58.9″ L x 29.9″ W x 52.8″ H
- Maximum Height: N/A
- Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
- Monitor: LCD
- Weight: 127 lbs
- Warranty: 2 years
Produced by a world-leading manufacturer, the Rogue Echo Bike is my top pick best fitness bike. The high-quality bike is extremely durable and offers a smooth, consistent ride by using a belt-driven steel fan blade.
The Echo bike is made from mostly steel, giving it a strong and sturdy feel. It weighs in at 127 lbs, making it one of the heavier bikes available on the market. The bike can support a weight of 350 lbs, catering to a range of athlete sizes. Despite its weight, it is easily portable with a 1" set of polyurethane front wheels included.
With its compact and durable design, the Echo bike can easily withstand intense workouts. The bike has almost no lateral movement due to its support base
The mounted LCD console measures 6.4x6.4" and features a clear, high-definition display. Athletes can track distance, intervals, calories, and their heart rate amongst other things.
The padded seat is easily adjustable, featuring 8 vertical and 5 horizontal hole positions meaning it can accommodate most users. The 1.5" diameter rubber-grip handles are welded directly to the bike arms.
The bike has 4.5" knurled rotating foot pegs and metal pedals, helping your feet to stay in during an intense ride. It comes with a steel step plate and can be easily customized with cell phone and water bottle holders.
Under each foot is a rubber casing that helps to protect your gym floor and provides added stability. The standard bike model is available at $845,00 and comes with a 2-year warranty.
Positives:
Durable, heavy bike frame
Belt driven
Interactive LCD monitor
Includes driving wheels
Could be better:
Accessories cost extra
Could be more adjustable
Assault Fitness believes in creating opportunities to improve your life through fitness. They aim to strengthen, support, and educate athletes at all levels by providing high quality fitness equipment.
- Resistance Mechanism: Wind resistance
- Fan Diameter: 25"
- Type of Drive System: Chain
- Dimensions: 50.9" L x 23.3" W x 48.4" H
- Maximum Height: N/A
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Monitor: LCD
- Weight: 98 lbs
- Warranty: 5-year frame, 2-year non-wear parts
The Assault Airbike used to be the official fitness exercise bike for the fitness games (now the Echo bike is number 1) and has a very small footprint, making it ideal for smaller home gym spaces.
The Assault bike is made from a thick-gauge chro-moly steel frame, with 1-2 sealed cartridge bearings at the pivots. This gives the functional fitness fan bike a solid foundation and means no wobbling side to side when pedaling at high intensities. The bike weighs just 98 lbs, making it one of the lighter bikes on my list. Despite this, it's still able to support up to 300lbs and features two front wheels making it easy to move around and store as needed.
The Assault bike uses a chain drive system which changes the resistance according to your output, giving you a very personal resistance bike for functional fitness.
The seat adjustability and comfort are both big positives. The seat has 11 vertical and 5 horizontal adjustments and features a cavity in the middle for maximum comfort.
The LCD monitor is easy to navigate and features multiple customization options. Users can track their heart rate, RPM, calories, time, speed, and watts.
The bike costs $749 and comes with free shipping if you buy it on the Rogue website. It has a 5-year frame warranty and a 2-year non-wear part warranty.
Positives:
Former official fitness bike
Lighter frame design
Solid foundation
Small footprint
Could be better:
Chain drive is louder than belt drives
Smaller weight limit
Founded in 1895, Schwinn fitness was originally known as ‘Arnold, Schwinn & Company’. Originally a racing bike company, Schwinn Fitness brought its technology indoors and started to manufacture home exercise bikes.
The brand now offers a big lineup of affordable and groundbreaking cardio solutions, mainly recumbent bikes, treadmills, and elliptical trainers. Their cardio equipment integrates the latest technology to provide high-quality and innovative products.
- Resistance Mechanism: Wind resistance
- Fan Diameter: N/A
- Type of Drive System: Single-stage belt
- Dimensions: 53" L x 26.5" W x 53" H
- Maximum Height: N/A
- Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
- Monitor: Multi-display LCD console
- Weight: 113 lbs
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year mechanical
The AD 7 Airdyne bike produced by Schwinn Fitness is a great airdyne bike for functional fitness. It uses an efficient single-stage belt drive system that's extremely quiet, perfect for home gyms that need to limit noise. The drive belt is made from rubber making it much quieter, more responsive and easier to maintain.
The AD 7 is constructed from powder-coated steel that's anti-rusting and easy to clean. The bike weighs 113 lbs and comes with front wheels to make moving and storing easier. It can support up to 350 lbs, making it suitable for a wide range of athletes.
The padded seat is easily adjustable vertically and horizontally and caters to a maximum height of 53". The multi-position handlebars give the user a variety of workout positions and are covered in a rubber coating to give the user more comfort.
The high-resolution LCD console tracks calories, time, distance, speed, RPM, and watts. Heart rate telemetry is also enabled whilst riding.
The AD 7 also comes with a cup holder and built-in storage, not always seen on most higher-end bikes. It costs $1,149,99 and comes with a 10-year frame and 2-year mechanical warranty.
Positives:
Virtually no noise when using
Multi-grip handle options
Bike cup holder and storage
Pre-loaded console programs
Could be better:
Console isn't backlit
May be some side to side rocking at higher intensities
As I stated above, Schwinn Fitness offers a wide range of affordable cardio equipment. They integrate the latest technology to provide high-quality, innovative products,
In the number 4 spot, we have the Schwinn Fitness AD 2 Airdyne bike.
- Resistance Mechanism: Wind resistance
- Fan Diameter: N/A
- Type of Drive System: Single-stage belt drive
- Dimensions: 50" L x 46" W x 25" H
- Maximum Height: 50"
- Weight Capacity: 250 lbs
- Monitor: Bio connect LCD console
- Weight: 93 lbs
- Warranty: 5-year frame, 2-year non-wear parts
Produced by Schwinn Fitness, the AD 2 is a much smaller, lightweight version of the AD 7 model that features much of the same technology but comes at half of the price of most other bikes.
The fitness stationary bike is made from steel and finished in black. It weighs just 93 lbs and features 2 front transport wheels, making it one of the more mobile bikes on my list. The AD 2 can support up to 250 lbs of weight which is smaller than the other bikes but still plenty for most athletes.
The single-stage belt drive keeps the bike running quietly, with the bio-fit comfort system generating a smooth flow of air to keep you cool when riding. The bike is designed for the rider to move their arms and legs in sync, stimulating natural human movement.
The stationary foot pegs allow the user to target their upper body if they wish. The seat allows multiple vertical adjustments and the padded handles give the user a comfortable experience.
The bio connect LCD console tracks speed, distance, RPM, time, and calories burned. It costs just $617.13 and comes with a 5-year frame and 2-year parts warranty.
Positives:
Quiet Single-stage belt drive
Payment plan options
Much lower price point
Synchronized body movement
Could be better:
Limited LCD display
Accessories not included
Rounding out my top 5 list of the best air bikes for fitness is the Concept 2 Bikeerg.
- Resistance Mechanism: Wind resistance
- Fan Diameter: N/A
- Type of Drive System: Self-tension belt
- Dimensions: 48" L x 24" W
- Maximum Height: N/A
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
- Monitor: LCD
- Weight: 65 lbs
- Warranty: 5-year frame, 2-year non-wear parts
Produced by Concept2, the BikeErg features a unique design similar to the Concept 2 Rower and SkiErg. The bike uses a flywheel and damper with 10 settings. The higher the number, the greater the resistance. In this sense, it gives the user much more control compared to some of the other bike choices. The user can control both the amount of air and the intensity.
The bike is made from a lightweight welded aluminum frame and set of caster wheels, making it super lightweight at only 65 lbs and easy to move around. Despite the light frame, the Concept 2 can support up to 300 lbs. The bike uses a self-tensioning poly groove belt that greatly reduces the noise when pedaling, making it suitable for quiet gym environments
The saddle and handlebars can both be freely adjusted vertically and horizontally, giving the user a wide range of ride options. The bike allows users to fit their saddle, handlebars, and pedals if they wish, giving the ultimate custom experience.
The monitor on the BikeErg is the PM5, the same one found on the rower and the SkiErg. It offers a wide range of data feedback, including speed, RPM, watts, and calories burned. In addition to this, the PM5 has a memory function that allows the user to store their stats on a USB stick. The monitor can also be connected to Bluetooth and wifi devices, giving the user a huge range of possible options.
The bike is available for $1,100 and comes with a 5-year frame and 2-year parts warranty.
Positives:
Flywheel and damper
Lightweight Aluminum frame
PM5 monitor
Could be better:
High price point
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What are the benefits of using an Air Bike for fitness?
Air Bikes are excellent to use for fitness conditioning for a variety of reasons. With an air bike, you're able to control the resistance allowing you to change the workout as you need.
Interval training
A popular part of fitness is interval training. Interval training consists of bursts of high-intensity effort combined with periods of rest. Athletes can perform as many rounds as they wish or until they can’t go anymore.
Air bikes are ideal for High intensity Interval Training (HIIT). With full control over your intensity, you can accelerate and decelerate as needed. Most air bikes also come with pre-set interval programs and allow you to custom design your own.
Weight Loss
Air bikes are amazing for calorie burning. To burn fat, you need to burn more calories than you consume. If you're into fitness to lose weight or you're simply just trying to get into better shape, air bikes are great.
Interval training is one of the most effective calorie burners. With a few sessions on the air bike, you'll be hitting your goals in no time at all.
Tips From the Champ
Olympic Weightlifting Champion
Mental Toughness
Air bikes are hard work. If you're able to control the resistance using the speed at which you pedal, you're constantly battling your mind to keep going and put in the hard work.
When performing brutal HIIT workouts, the battle against your mind will help to develop mental toughness.
What to look for in an Air Bike for fitness?
When looking to purchase an air bike for fitness, consider these main factors before buying.
Stability
When you're cycling at a high intensity, the last thing you want is for the bike to fall over or swing side to side. Whilst heavier bikes are generally more stable, features such as floor pads and the type of drive system all contribute to the amount of movement when riding.
Seat Comfort
An overlooking and very important consideration when choosing a bike is seat comfort. If you're on the bike for a long period, you want the seat to be comfortable against your body and easily adjustable if needed.
If you're having to focus on pain in the glue area or constantly adjusting the seat, you're taking away from the workout and ruining the ride experience.
Monitor Type
When purchasing your bike, make sure to consider the type of monitor and the various features that it can perform. Speed, time, RPM, distance, and calories burned are just some of the useful measures that should be displayed on a monitor.
Think about what you want when exercising and go from there.
Space
Most of us only have a limited amount of home gym space that can be used for an air bike. Make sure your air bike can fit comfortably in the space and that you have room for moving as you exercise. Look for mobile air bikes that can be easily moved when needed.
Drive system
Make sure to consider the drive system the air bike uses when purchasing. Different drive systems require different maintenance and make a big volume difference when exercising.
Some drive systems have a built-in cooling mechanism or a damper, where you can physically change the resistance as you wish.
Air Bike FAQ
Are Air Bikes good for weight loss?
Simply put, air bikes are calorie-burning machines. Air bikes are extremely well suited to HIIT, a form of training that combines periods of high-intensity exercise with rest.
Air bikes allow you to control the resistance as needed and tailor your workout to your level, making the weight loss experience much more enjoyable.
What muscles does an Air Bike work?
Air bikes are great at working the full lower body musculature, including the quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and core.
Some air bikes include moving arms allowing you to work your lower and upper body together or specifically target one region.
Should I get a Rower or Air Bike?
Both an air bike and a rower are great pieces of cardio equipment that have their places. It all depends on what you enjoy, what type of workout you want, and what muscles you want to work.
A rower will generally work more of your upper body alongside your core whilst an air bike works mainly your lower body with the option to work your upper body separately or together as well.
Which Air Bike is the best for fitness?
Air bikes make a great addition to any home gym setup. The unique resistance mechanisms make them a great fit for fitness, particularly HIIT.
Factors you need to consider include the drive system, amount of gym space, seat comfort and adjustability, monitor type, and bike stability.
The Rogue Echo Bike is my top pick best air bike for functional fitness, scoring the highest total out of my top 5 choices.
Have you used the bikes I've reviewed above? Which bike do you want for your home gym? Let me know in the comments section.
Also read:
References:
- Air Bikes – What They Are, How They Work, And What To Look For When Buying // Bike vs Bike:
https://bikevsbike.com/air-bikes-what-to-look-for-when-buying/ - HIIT // Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
Why Trust Us?
- Author
- Reviewer
Experience: 26 years
Best Results: Snatch - 208 kg,
C&J - 240 kg
My name is Ihor and I have been a professional weightlifter since 1996. With over 20 years of competition experience, my resume includes European Champion in 2009 and the silver medalist at 2011's Senior World Championships – 105kg division.
I competed at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
After hanging up my own competitive lifting shoes, I decided to share my huge background as a coach. I am currently coaching multiple athletes who are competing at national and international competitions.
If you have any questions/suggestions/any other inquiry, you can reach out to us via email - reviews@torokhtiy.com
Experience: 21 years
Best Results: Snatch – 200 kg,
C&J - 240 kg
My name is Oleksiy Torokhtiy. I am a professional athlete with 20 years of experience in Olympic weightlifting. I have won multiple European, and World titles and have taken part in two Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012).
After finishing my career, I have committed myself to coach, and as of 2022, I’ve hosted 200+ weightlifting seminars all over the globe. I’m the founder of an international sportswear and accessories brand, Warm Body Cold Mind (my motto), author, and creator of a series of training programs and eBooks.
If you have any questions/suggestions/any other inquiry, you can reach out to us via email - reviews@torokhtiy.com
This article was written by our qualified author and proofread by an expert with proven experience. When writing the article we've used our expertise and data from authoritative, scientific, and evidence-based sources. The list of references is provided at the end of the article.
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