The 7 Best Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms of 2024, According to Experts

If you’re itching to get that cardio in, but your upper body’s starting to feel like the last kid picked in kickball, it might be time to browse some of the best exercise bikes with moving arms. While many of the best exercise bikes will find your hands glued to the handlebars, exercise bikes with moving arms incorporate a bit of pushing and pulling for your upper body. 

Traditional exercise bikes can help build muscle, manage weight, and prevent cardiovascular disease. (1) Incorporating your upper body into a cardio workout — as you may have seen CrossFit athletes do during air bike sprint intervals — can cut training time down while providing cardiorespiratory adaptations such as raised VO2 max and increased endurance. (2) Regardless of your level of ability or desired training intensity, we’re confident there’s a choice on our list of the best exercise bikes with arms that’ll fit your needs. Here are our top picks.

The 7 Best Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms of 2024

• Best Air Bike with Moving Arms Overall: Rogue Echo Bike 
• Best Air Bike with Moving Arms for Beginners: Assault Air Bike Classic 
• Best Premium Air Bike with Moving Arms: Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 
• Best Budget Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Titan Fan Bike 
• Best Heavy Duty Air Bike with Moving Arms: Schwinn Airdyne AD7 
• Best Exercise Bike with Hand Cycling: Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser 
• Best Exercise Bike with Upper Body Resistance Bands: FitNation Flex Bike Ultra 

How We Tested and Chose the Best Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms

From air bikes with sturdy frames to folding bikes with resistance bands to recumbent bikes with hand cycles, we’ve curated our selection built on years of experience testing out every at-home exercise bike we could get our hands on. The BarBend roster is filled with cyclists, CrossFit coaches, and lifelong fitness fanatics who have tried and tested over 20 exercise bikes to bring you our top exercise bikes with moving arms.

Our team of testers has pedaled thousands of miles on these bikes to provide you with our in-depth honest opinions on factors such as durability, adjustability, tech capabilities, and more. Because we’re so woozy from all of the miles spent in the saddle, our testing methodology is simple, with ratings in each category from 1 (boo, it’s bad) to 5 (huzzah, we love it). We’ve worked hard to give you an understanding of how some of the best cardio machines stack up. The following are some of the areas we considered when making our selection.

Upper Body Workout

“Cycling brings an impressive collection of health benefits to the table: cardiovascular health, endurance, stamina, muscular endurance are all improved with cycling, to name a few,” notes BarBend’s expert reviewer, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. If you’re looking for an exercise bike with moving arms, you’re likely interested in getting your upper body involved in your cycling routine for a full-body workout. 

We made sure that each of our offerings provided just that, with pushing and pulling work to propel the fan on air bikes, hand cycles for those looking to increase their mobility or rehab injuries, and exercise bikes with included resistance bands so you can bust out reps while spinning away.

Price

The bikes on our list range in price from $229.99 up to $1,099. From some of the best budget exercise bikes to more high-end purchases, this spread of pricing was to make sure we had an option that would suit your budget. Whether you’re looking to invest in premium fitness equipment with added features or you’re sticking your toes in the exercise-bike-water to see if you’re interested in spinning with incorporated upper body work, a choice on our list will have the price tag that suits what you’re looking for.

While our selections have a wide price range all told, you’ll find that a majority of options hover around $700 to $800 dollars. We made sure to highlight the pros and cons of each bike so you know where a model is overachieving and where it might be compromising. 

Inclusivity

Inclusivity can take on many forms. First, there’s the adjustability of the seat’s height and depth — comfort becomes that much more important once you throw arms in the mix. We also wanted to ensure each bike on our list had a wide range of resistance that could accommodate both beginners and experienced riders. Our goal was to highlight bikes that would suit users of varying heights and abilities, with options suited for CrossFit athletes and senior citizens looking to stay active in their golden years. The benefits of cycling should be accessible to as many people as possible.

Best Air Bike with Moving Arms Overall: Rogue Echo Bike

Air bikes rely on users pedaling their feet and pumping their arms to provide resistance, which means you won’t need to plug your bike into a power source since you are the power source. The Rogue Echo Air Bike is one of the best air bikes we’ve gotten our hands and feet on, built with heavy-duty steel to provide stability and finished with a textured black powder coat that’ll keep corrosion and rust at bay. Overall this bike scored a 4.6 out of 5.

“The Rogue Echo 3.0 is definitely more sturdy than other air bikes I’ve tried,” noted our tester, who scored construction a 4.8 out of 5. With knurled 4.5-inch foot pegs on either side of the fan, users can rest their feet when they want to give their upper-body a dedicated workout. And the padded seat has eight height adjustments and five horizontal adjustments, so users of varying heights can find the right position to pump their arms or take off riding.

The 5-inch by 8-inch LCD screen, larger than the previous model’s 6.4-inch by 3.4-inch console, tracks training metrics like calories, distance, intervals, and heart rate. However, you’ll need your own heart rate monitor to connect with the bike. With Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, something the previous model didn’t have, you can pair your bike with heart rate monitors and fitness apps like Zwift, Strava, and Garmin.

“A belt drive, which the Rogue Echo Bike utilizes… requires less maintenance than chain drives, and they are quieter,” noted BarBend’s expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC.

Our tester is also a fan (no pun intended). “I’ve had this bike for four years and I’ve yet to have any problems or needed to do any maintenance to keep things running smoothly,” they said. Durability scored a 5 out of 5. They did, however, wish the bike had storage units for water bottles and phones.

This bike’s stability and durability comes at the price of footprint and portability, which scored a 2 out of 5. At 123 pounds, it’s 25 pounds heavier than the Assault Air Bike and one of the heaviest air bikes we’ve seen. It’s also longer and wider than the average air bike by several inches, so those tight on space may want to look elsewhere. 

Read our full Rogue Echo Bike Review.

Best Air Bike with Moving Arms for Beginners: AssaultBike Classic

Beginners looking for simplicity will appreciate the ease of use and setup of the AssaultBike Classic, a sturdy and straightforward air bike with a set of moving handles that you can push and pull on their own or in conjunction with your pedaling. “Putting this bike together was fairly easy. The frame and flywheel come pre-assembled, and all I had to do was attach the handles, seat post, pedals, and monitor,” said our tester, who rated setup and delivery a 4 out of 5. Once built, there’s no need to log in to an app or touchscreen — or even plug in to an outlet — to hop on and get your workout in. 

It offers six seat height adjustments and forward and backwards adjustability to find the right fit for your body. And with a powder-coated steel frame and 20 sealed cartridge bearings, this bike should last you for years. “Assault Fitness makes durable bikes, and with proper maintenance, I bet this could last a couple decades,” said our tester, who scored durability a 4 out of 5.

The AssaultBike Classic is popular in CrossFit gyms, as its self-powered design is ideal for busting out a quick Tabata training session or HIIT workout while also working out upper body muscles like your chest, back, biceps, and triceps. 

“This is a great way to simply hit a quick upper-body workout,” noted Jake Herod, BarBend’s expert product tester in his video review. “Because the arms are moveable, it’s going to allow you to burn some extra calories. And you can put your feet on the pegs completely to just focus on your upper body.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok34YSJqQgE&feature=youtu.be

While its utilitarian design makes it beginner-friendly, you may miss some of the features found on standard exercise bikes. You won’t find a water bottle holder or speakers to blast your jams during your workout, for example. 

And while the LCD screen provides basic training metrics, it isn’t a touchscreen, and there aren’t Bluetooth or ANT+ capabilities to connect to fitness apps. Tech capabilities scored a 3 out of 5. “However, there is some limited heart rate connectivity,” noted our tester.

Read our full Assault AirBike Classic Review.

Best Premium Air Bike with Moving Arms: Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike 2.0

The Bells of Steel Blitz Air Bike provides premium comfort, durability, and has impressive features to take your full-body conditioning to new heights. Unlike chain-drive bikes, the belt-drive on this air bike is more durable and provides for a quieter workout experience. Additionally, the 350-pound weight capacity is substantial, 50 pounds more than the AssaultBike Classic and 20 pounds more than the Rogue Echo. Our team gave an overall score of 4 out of 5.

Premium purchases require stability and durability. The Blitz Air Bike is forged from steel with a powder coat finish to help keep corrosion and rust at bay. Its high-quality construction, however, makes its 118-pound frame heavier than the AssaultBike Classic by more than 20 pounds, resulting in a 3 out of 5 for portability. 

That weight, though, has its benefits. “Even when I was pedaling and pumping the arms as fast as I could go, the bike didn’t move or wobble,” noted our tester. Durability scored a 4.5 out of 5.

While most air bikes provide a breeze due to the spinning of the fan, the Blitz comes with a wind guard to ensure you don’t catch cold or disrupt a good hair day. “This is great for the winter when I don’t want a breeze,” said our tester. 

Amenities include a phone and water bottle holder and an LCD screen to track your training. Additionally, the seat has 10 levels of height adjustments, as well as forward and backward adjustments, to accommodate riders of varying heights. Adjustability and ergonomics scored a 4 out of 5.

While this bike features premium rubber hand grips and knurled foot posts, you won’t find much in the way of tech capabilities. The LCD display provides basic user metrics and some built-in workout programs, but it isn’t backlit, which can make reading your stats difficult in darker rooms. Plus, you won’t find Bluetooth or ANT+ capabilities to pair your fitness apps to the bike. Conveniences scored a 3.75 out of 5.

[Related: The 8 Best Fitness Apps]

For overall value, our tester rated it a 4 out of 5. “I highly recommend this bike. It’s super similar to the Fringe Sports Raptor Bike, which costs $949, so you’re saving a good chunk of change with the Bells of Steel Blitz.”

Best Budget Exercise Bike with Moving Arms: Titan Fan Bike

We love a deal, and the best budget home gym equipment can often be every bit as effective as high-end options. Our choice for the best budget exercise bike with moving arms is the Titan Fan Bike due to its reasonable $699.99 price tag, which is around $100 to $200 less expensive than the average air bike we’ve tested. This bike came in with a 5 out of 5 score for value, higher than all of the other air bikes we’ve tested.

For being a budget model, it includes a few features we haven’t seen on many other air bikes, including 10-inch turf wheels that make transport a breeze and a removable fan guard that can help dampen the air blowing off the fan. These conveniences scored a 4 out of 5.

But what’s a great price without a sturdy build? Forged from powder-coated steel, which can help prevent corrosion and rust, this bike is durable. “You’ll find some rubber and plastic pieces, but a majority of the bike is built with heavy-duty steel,” noted our tester, who scored durability a 4.5 out of 5. “This bike will last through plenty of workouts.” 

However, this is a chain-driven bike, which, according to BarBend’s expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC, can be “noisier and require more frequent maintenance.” Users will need to lubricate their belts monthly and check for chain tension. While this can be a little tedious, belt-driven bikes tend to be more expensive, so you’ll be saving cost with this budget choice.

Tech capabilities on air bikes are often unimpressive, and such is the case with the Titan Fan Bike. Our tester, who rated its tech capabilities a 3.5 out of 5, noted, “The buttons on the LCD display are really small and worst of all, every time I turned the screen on it would ask me to input my weight. It was just annoying.” 

[Related: The 8 Best Exercise Bikes with Screens]

Best Heavy-Duty Air Bike with Moving Arms: Schwinn Airdyne AD7

The Schwinn Airdyne AD7 is our pick for the best heavy-duty air bike with moving arms due to its 350-pound weight capacity, which is 20 to 50 pounds higher than the average air bike. The bike’s frame is constructed with corrosion-resistant powder-coated steel with some plastic and aluminum parts. While we tend to prefer all-metal builds, we found the plastic on this bike helped keep the noise down. Construction, durability, and adjustability all scored a 4.8 out of 5 with our tester.

We also like its belt-drive system, which our tester compared to “a heavy duty rubber belt — it’s the sort of thing you see used in cars.” When compared to less-expensive chain-drive bikes, it requires less maintenance and should last longer. “The belt drive also makes for a quieter ride,” our tester said. “The only noise I heard when I took a ride was the wind fighting against the spinning fan.” 

[Related: The 7 Best Treadmills for Heavy People]

That quality comes at a price, though. At $1,099, the AirDyne AD7 is roughly $100 to $200 more expensive than the average air bike. And, in terms of tech, it doesn’t offer much more than its competitors. While you can pair a heart rate monitor with the console to track your Tabata training, there aren’t any Bluetooth or ANT+ capabilities to help connect it to a fitness app. 

That said, our tester thought the LCD display was the best console they’d seen out of all of the air bikes they’d tested, scoring it a 4.3 out of 5. The display provides basic workout stats and comes with preset workout programming like time, heart rate, and interval training. “When compared to the AssaultBike, this screen is larger and brighter, which makes reading my metrics easier,” mentioned our tester.

Best Exercise Bike with Hand Cycling: Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser

The Sunny Health & Fitness Recumbent Bike with Arm Exerciser provides users with the ability to cycle in a supportive recumbent position and exercise their upper body with the attached hand cycle. This way, you can tone your biceps and shoulders while working your quads, hamstrings, and calves. Recumbent exercise bikes with hand cycles are often seen in physical therapy and rehab offices, allowing users a low-impact means of increasing arm and leg strength through LISS cardio exercise.

We haven’t gotten the chance to test out this bike, but once we do, we’ll update this review accordingly. However, I’ve owned many Sunny Health & Fitness pieces of workout equipment, and they’re great buys when you’re on a budget. In place of our hands-on experience, we’ve combed through the 1,293 reviews on Amazon, which resulted in an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5. 

We’d primarily recommend this bike for seniors or those recovering from an injury. It works to accommodate those with limited mobility with handlebars that can be tilted up to make getting on and off the bike easier. Also, its 8 levels of resistance aren’t likely to satisfy seasoned cyclists or those looking to take their training to the next level. 

We also like that it has Bluetooth connectivity so you can pair your bike with the SunnyFit app, which provides over 100 on-demand workouts, audio coaching for outdoor runs, and a social feature where you can follow your friends. “It’s cool that I can take classes through the Sunny app,” mentioned one customer review. The digital display provides training metrics such as time, speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate via the handlebar’s pulse sensors.

We did notice several customers taking issue with the comfort of the seat. “The seat is very uncomfortable, and I ended up buying a seat cushion to compensate for it,” mentioned one review.

Also, its max user weight capacity of 265 pounds is nearly 100 pounds less than other recumbent bikes we’ve tested. However, this bike is often on sale for around $360, so this lessened durability and max user weight is to be expected for such a budget price.

[Related: The 7 Best Budget Exercise Bikes]

Best Exercise Bike with Upper Body Resistance Bands: FitNation Flex Bike Ultra

We love multitasking. I’m currently strolling on a walking treadmill and sternly asking my cat to get off my keyboard as I write thisdsjoipdfs. The FitNation Flex Bike Ultra, one of the best folding exercise bikes we’ve tried, comes with attached resistance bands so you can work your legs and arms at the same time. The positioning of the resistance bands helps facilitate bicep curls and upright rows while you’re in the saddle. Our tester gave it an overall score of 4.45 out of 5, higher than the nine other folding bikes we tested.

When folded, this bike shrinks from 42.5 inches to 17 inches in length, making it easy to tuck away when not in use. We also like the versatility of the seat, even if it can be a bit tough to get into place. “You can adjust this bike from riding in a more upright position to sitting further back in a more recumbent style, which is great, but I struggled a little figuring out how to make these adjustments,” said our tester. Customizations scored a 4.25 out of 5. 

[Related: Best Exercise Bikes Under $500]

Your purchase gets you a free month of Echelon’s FitPass app, providing you with a library of classes and workouts you can take on or off your bike. After your 30-day trial, membership will cost $39.99 a month, though an $11.99 option is also available for those who only want to take classes off of the bike. Tech capabilities scored a 4 out of 5. 

“While you can’t use the LCD screen to stream these classes, you can stream them from your phone or tablet and prop it up on the bike’s media shelf,” noted our tester, a certified CrossFit Level 1 coach.

Noting its $229.99 price tag, our tester said the FitNation Flex Bike Ultra costs roughly $100 more than other folding exercise bikes, but that the resistance bands give it some added value. They rated its value a 4 out of 5. 

Though this bike has a 300-pound user weight capacity — about 50 pounds more than the average folding exercise bike — our tester still rated durability a 3.5 out of 5. “It was a little shaky when I was riding,” they noted.

What to Consider Before Buying an Exercise Bike with Moving Arms

Before you take the plunge, you’ll want to take stock of a few key items. How much space do you have available? How often will you need to move your bike around? And what are your fitness goals? With these questions in mind, here is what to look for when buying an indoor cycle with moving arms.

Adjustability

An adjustable seat is key to finding the most comfortable and ergonomic riding position, especially since you’ll be pulling and pushing with your arms on many of these bikes. Most seats can be adjusted in one direction — up and down — but some models can also be adjusted forward and backward. If you’re shorter or taller than the average of 5 foot 3 inches to 5 foot 9 inches, you’ll want a bike with four-way adjustability to ensure a comfy ride. 

Training Intensity

Adding upper-body work to your spin session is sure to up your training intensity, though we understand that no two users are alike. While some of the bikes on our list are designed to kick your butt via high-intensity sessions, we’ve also provided options more suited to low-impact cardio and rehab work. Consider what you’re looking to accomplish to help you narrow down your search.

Though air bikes can also help with recovery, they are often used by CrossFit athletes during full-body HIIT sessions. If you’re looking for low-impact cardio exercise that incorporates your upper body, you may be better suited for models that utilize hand cycles or resistance bands. 

Maintenance

The majority of the bikes on our list are bikes that have either a belt- or chain-drive system that works to propel the fan as your feet (and oftentimes hands) push and pull. “Belt drives are more durable and don’t require as much or as frequent maintenance as chain drives,” says BarBend’s expert reviewer, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC.

While a chain-drive system is often less expensive than a belt-drive system, it will require more maintenance from you, with regular monthly lubrication and inspections to make sure the chain has remained tight. Belt-drive systems tend to be more expensive, make less noise, and require less upkeep.

Benefits of Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms

The benefits of cycling include improved cardiovascular health, increased endurance, and low-impact cardio. (3) However, if you fear pedaling your legs and moving your arms is as difficult as patting your head and rubbing your tummy, here are some other key benefits of bringing an exercise bike with moving arms into your home.

Full-Body Workout

Your legs are working. Your arms are working. Your heart is hammering in your chest. While a stationary bike can provide you with heart-strengthening cardio and help build strength in your legs and core, an exercise bike with moving arms brings your upper body into the equation to help target your chest, back, delts, biceps, and triceps. Additionally, studies have shown that workouts incorporating your arms or legs — or both in conjunction — can benefit cognitive function. (4)  

Time Efficient

Exercise bikes with moving arms provide you with the ability to double up your workload by putting your arms and legs to work simultaneously. Due to this, you’re using more muscle mass than cycling alone, resulting in a higher calorie burn in a shorter amount of time. (5)

Low-Impact Cardio

If you’re someone who struggles with running on a treadmill due to joint pain, back problems, and persistent knee annoyances, low-impact cardio is the best way to continue giving your heart the training it needs while avoiding the high-impact workload that makes you go, “owiee.” (6) Riding on a stationary bike is a low-impact exercise that’s useful for athletes of all levels and especially beneficial for those recovering from injury.

[Related: The 9 Best Tried and Tested Treadmill Alternatives]

How Much Do Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms Cost?

Exercise bikes can cost anywhere from a few hundred bucks to well over $3,000 for connected machines. This price is impacted by the intensity of training you’d like to do, the available technology, and the construction of the bike. See how our picks stack up against each other in terms of price. 

While all of these bikes provide moving arms, not all moving arms are created equal. The more affordable options are exercise bikes with recumbent capabilities and attached hand cycles or resistance bands.

Options in the middle to high range are sturdier air bikes with moving handlebars that aid in controlling the bike’s fan resistance. 

Types of Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms

From air bikes, recumbent rides, and your standard upright cycles, each of these indoor cycling bikes comes with varied training, specific resistance systems, seat settings, and accessibility.

Air Bike

Air bikes have taken over the fitness world with their inclusion in the CrossFit games. These bikes utilize air resistance, so as you pedal or pump the handles, air pushes against the fan blades creating resistance. Many of these bikes have moveable arms that can be used in tandem with pedaling feet or even on their own for a dedicated upper-body burn.

Recumbent

Recumbent bikes operate similarly to upright bikes but include a reclined seat with a backrest that can help those dealing with back pain or achy joints. “Recumbent bikes allow people with mobility limitations or injuries to enjoy cycling, as they are reclined and take pressure off of the hips and back,” says BarBend’s expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC.

You can often find these bikes in physical therapy offices, as they tend to be good tools for those recovering from injury or individuals with limited mobility. The recumbent bikes we’ve seen with moving arms utilize resistance bands or hand cycles.

[Related: Best Recumbent Bikes for Small Spaces, Streaming, Seniors, and More]

Upright

Upright bikes most closely mirror outdoor road bikes. “Upright bikes are your typical stationary bikes, which are excellent for high-intensity exercise and tech-savvy cyclists who love to take fitness classes,” says Capritto.

With friction or magnetic resistance, the rider maintains a more upright position where the core is required to maintain positioning. These bikes also tend to use a weighted flywheel from 20 to 50 pounds to provide resistance. 

Final Word

Exercise bikes with moving arms can aid in recovery, support increased training intensity, and provide variety to your workload that’ll get your entire body in on the fun. These full-body bikes recruit more muscle mass than cycling alone, providing users with increased calorie burn, reduced risk of heart disease, and an arm, chest, and back, and bicep workout. (6)

No matter your level or ability — whether you’re training for the next CrossFit games or just trying to keep up with the grandkids — there’s an exercise bike with moving arms that can help you reach your goals. While there’s many options out there, we hope this list helps you nail down exactly what you’re looking for.

FAQs

References

1. Chen, H., Chen, C., Spanos, M., Li, G., Lu, R., Bei, Y., & Xiao, J. (2022). Exercise training maintains cardiovascular health: signaling pathways involved and potential therapeutics. Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 7(1), 306. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-01153-1
2. Moghaddam, M., Cervantes, M., Cheshier, B., & Jacobson, B. H. (2023). Sprint Interval Training on Stationary Air Bike Elicits Cardiorespiratory Adaptations While Being Time-Efficient. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 37(9), 1795–1801. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004483
3. Chavarrias, M., Carlos-Vivas, J., Collado-Mateo, D., & Pérez-Gómez, J. (2019). Health Benefits of Indoor Cycling: A Systematic Review. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(8), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55080452
4. Hill, M., Walsh, S., Talbot, C., Price, M., & Duncan, M. (2019). Exercise intensity-dependent effects of arm and leg-cycling on cognitive performance. PloS one, 14(10), e0224092. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224092
5. Astorino, T. A., Oriente, C., Peterson, J., Alberto, G., Castillo, E. E., Vasquez-Soto, U., Ibarra, E., Guise, V., Castaneda, I., Marroquin, J. R., Dargis, R., & Thum, J. S. (2021). Higher Peak Fat Oxidation During Rowing vs. Cycling in Active Men and Women. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 35(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003888
6. Sandmeier R. H. (2000). Osteoarthritis and Exercise: Does Increased Activity Wear Out Joints?. The Permanente Journal, 4(4), 26–28.
7. Mersy D. J. (1991). Health benefits of aerobic exercise. Postgraduate medicine, 90(1), 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.1991.11700983

The post The 7 Best Exercise Bikes with Moving Arms of 2024, According to Experts appeared first on BarBend.