Best folding exercise bike 2024 for big cardio workouts in small spaces

You’ll need the best folding exercise bike if you lack space at home or want a kit that you can easily stash out of the way when not in use. Like a regular exercise bike, folding exercise bikes are an excellent way to lose weight and keep your cardio health in check for little money – making them one of the most accessible pieces of home gym equipment overall. Cycling is gentle on the joints too, so it's ideal for those who want to keep fit and strengthen their muscles, in a low-impact way.

If this sounds like the kind of thing that would work well in your house or apartment, we have rounded up the best folding exercise bikes below so you can see what’s out there and what rates well in testing. Also, if you’re looking for more compact cardio equipment, don’t forget to check out the best folding treadmills and best rowing machines too.

Bryony Firth-Bernard

As someone who spends 95% of their time in the gym, I've been able to test and trial a variety of strength, functional and cardio equipment, so I know exactly what to look (and not to) when it comes to choosing your very own foldable exercise bike for your home; ideal for improving your aerobic fitness levels and strengthening your leg muscles.

T3's top 3

Best folding exercise bikes to buy right now

Best overall

This is a popular bike due to its low price, and it is sold specifically for “gentle endurance training”, so avoid this if you aim to push yourself in your workouts. The F-Bike looks like it might not be sturdy but feels robust even though the maximum user weight is 100kg and height is 200cm. The eight resistance levels can be altered via a knob just below the handlebars, making it as easy or as hard a workout as you wish. 

It features an LCD screen that can read out calories burned, time, distance, speed and heart rate via the sensors on the handle (the screen requires batteries to work). In terms of folding, the F-Bike collapses via a hinge in the centre of the frame to take up very little space when not in use. You’ll find a range of colourways available, with some bright pops of colour, which is unusual in the sea of grey or black bikes on the market.

Read our full Ultrasport F-Bike review

Best workout

This sturdy and dependable folding bike from the German brand SportPlus has a few features that make it stand out from other folding bikes. It has 24 electronic resistance levels, perfect for those who are looking for a more challenging workout (although this does mean it requires mains power so you’ll need to be near a plug socket). It also comes pre-programmed with six training workouts, so you can jump on and get straight to work and has app support, which can help take your cycling sessions to the next level. Through the app, you can analyse your workout data, access coaching videos and even see how you stack up against other users. 

There's also a large comfortable seat and the pedal straps can be adjusted, so you'll remain comfy and secure. The LCD screen displays also displays all the health metrics you could need, from calories burned to heart rate, distance, speed, and training duration. Need more back support? the SportPlus S Bike is exactly the same but has a seat with a backrest.

Best affordable

The Viavito Onyx Folding Exercise Bike provides a convenient, practical, and affordable solution for those who want to get fit at home but are short on space. The star of the show is the lightweight, compact, and collapsible x-frame, which folds away simply and easily when you want to reclaim your space but is also safe, sturdy, and reliable when you want to work up a sweat.

The eight levels of resistance alongside the basic metrics displayed on the LCD monitor – including accurate heart rate readings - make it a great choice for new and casual exercisers wanting to understand the effects of exercise on their body. But those wanting a more strenuous workout or greater scope for progression should look elsewhere. 

Read our full Viavito Onyx Folding Exercise Bike review

Best mid-range

Former 400m Olympic silver medallist Roger Black sells his own-name branded fitness equipment, including this folding exercise bike. An 8-level tension knob controls the 3kg flywheel, meaning there’s a range of levels to push yourself harder or adjust as your fitness levels increase. Another handy feature is the self-levelling pedals, so you don’t have to spin them around with your toes to find the side with the strap. Also, expect a personal thank you from Roger himself for purchasing the bike…

Best built

Exerpeutic’s folding bike has two big plus points – it’s sturdy and built to hold more weight, so whereas most bikes on this list have a maximum user weight of 100kg, this goes up to 137kg. It also features a wide and flat saddle which most users will find comfortable, and it folds down to half its original size. The LCD screen provides data for you to track, and the resistance is controlled via an 8-level magnetic tension system, which you alter via a dial.

Best supportive

One user review said, “Better than a Peloton” – that’s glowing praise, but we’re not sure we’d go that far. The ProFitness FEB2000 is a sturdy machine that offers a backrest, so if you suffer from lower back problems, this will help provide some helpful extra support. Like most others, it features a battery-powered LCD console that reads out the usual data. It’s worth noting that the seat is high, and you cannot lower it, so if you measure less than 5ft 4in, you may struggle to reach the pedals.  

How to choose the best folding exercise bike for you

Folding exercise bikes are designed for light workouts of around 30-60 minutes at a time. Due to their construction and limited resistance levels, folding exercise bikes are aimed at those who are new or returning to exercise or are coming back from injury. Due to the fact that they collapse, they are perfect for anyone short on space or who doesn’t want a full-size stationary bike taking up room in the spare room or garage.

You’ll find that their design means you’ll be cycling in a more upright position than other stationary bikes (you can find out the difference between a folding exercise bike and a stationary exercise bike here), with your body in a neutral position and your feet on the pedals slightly in front of you. This is perfect for those suffering from back problems who tend to find a regular cycling position painful.

The type of fold can vary from bike to bike. The most common fold you’ll see is with the ‘x’ shape bikes – the two sides close up together when it’s not in use. Due to the more lightweight construction of these bikes and the fact that the frames are made of thinner metal, many have a low user weight limit, often around 100kg. Most also recommend that you don’t use them for more than around 3-4 hours a week.

The usual pedal type you will find on these bikes is flat with a foot strap that you tighten over your forefoot. The gentler nature of these bikes means that the provided flat pedals will suit the level of cardiovascular expenditure. Most of these bikes feature a heavy flywheel that provides magnetic resistance. This also means they’re quiet – you won’t have problems disturbing neighbours, sleeping family members, or flatmates, and you can also watch TV or a tablet while you work out.

How we test the best folding exercise bikes

Folding exercise bikes are not performance home gym equipment, and we take this into account when reviewing them. All folding exercise bikes are tested in a home environment. We test the following: build quality, workout performance, utility and ergonomics. We also test the features of the bikes and how convenient it is to fold and unfold them. For more info on how we test at T3, click on the link now.

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