Best Spin Bikes UK – Best Home Use Bikes Under £500, £300 & £200 Reviewed

We love cycling and we also love spinning.

It offers the same range of health benefits as cycling, but indoors in a safe and controlled environment and away from Britains rainy skies.

All of which makes it ideal for cyclists, would-be cyclists and non-cyclists alike

Spin bikes compared to cycling

Although cycling and spinning are essentially the same range of actions, in the real world, for most people spinning is going to have more fitness benefits.

This is simply because you can control your workout to make it as intense as you want and don’t have to worry about cycle craft and road safety.

In particular, you can ramp up the cardio as much as you want and really burn up those calories, hitting speeds which really would be impractical in cities even for cyclists.

Spinning and cycling are both low impact and spinning, in particular, has a very low risk of injury.

When it comes to muscle toning, you may automatically assume that cycling and spinning will both tone your legs - and you’d be right.

They also tone your core muscles.

You won’t get so much of an arm workout, but you can easily and affordably buy some weights and do separate exercises to tone your arms.

Overall, it has to be said that spinning resolves many of the issues which stop people from cycling on a regular basis.

You can do it safely whatever the weather, you don’t need any special clothes (just regular workout clothes) or a helmet or lights and you certainly don’t need to worry about finding a (reasonably) safe space to leave your bike and/or carrying heavy-duty locks.

Spin bikes compared to treadmills

Spin bikes and treadmills offer similar benefits and if you’re looking for a way to keep fit rather than to train for a specific sport, you could feasibly choose either depending on your preference.

If space is your main priority, then you might want to go for a treadmill for the simple reason that it’s usually really straightforward just to fold up the running deck after use, whereas folding up a spin bike can be a bit more work.

On the other hand, treadmills use motors whereas spin bikes don’t.  That means that even the quietest treadmills are going to make significantly more noise than any spin bike.

Why buy a spin bike for home use?

Probably every gym in the world has a whole row of spin bikes, together with a whole row of treadmillsSpin bikes are hugely popular, which is why gyms stock up on them.

It’s also why there’s still usually a queue to use them even when a gym is only moderately busy.

So the first and most obvious reason for buying a spin bike for home use is that it is yours and yours alone (unless you choose to share it with your nearest and dearest).

An added benefit to having your own spin bike is that you can leave it set up just as you like it or, if you do share it, you can mark it to show how each user has it set up.

Literally, just take a marker pen to the adjustable parts of your spin cycle to mark where each user wants them.

The marks will stay in place until you actively remove them with a cleaner such as nail polish remover.

Another key benefit of having a spin bike for home use is the long-term savings you will make compared to a gym membership.

This can add up to more than just the fees, there’s the cost of travel and the time you need to get there and back.

Points to look for when buying a spin bike for home use

Here’s a quick rundown of the key points you need to look for when buying a spin bike for home use.

Dimensions

While it’s true that most spin bikes are going to come in a similar range of dimensions, if space is tight we strongly recommend that you double-check the dimensions to make sure the spin bike you choose will actually fit.

There are some folding models out there and if you’re interested in one, make sure you check the open (working) dimensions rather than just the folded ones!

Weight limit

If you’re of a fairly common height and weight then you’re unlikely to have any problems finding a spin bike to suit your needs, but if you’re on the larger, heavier, side then it’s worth double-checking that a spin bike will definitely hold your weigh before you part with your cash.

LCD screen

These days many spin bikes come with some form of LCD screen, however these screens can vary not only in the quality of the actual display, but in the level of functionality it supports.

A lot of modern bikes now have apps or the ability to hook up a laptop to offer never before seen levels of tracking your progress.

Ergonomics

Let’s be realistic unless your spin bike is comfortable to use, you’re probably not actually going to use it all that much in the real world, no matter how good your intentions are.

The key features which determine how comfortable a spin bike is to use are the handlebars, seat and pedals.

All the spin bikes we’ve ever seen use a variation on drop handlebars, which has actually become known as spin bike handlebars.

They point away from the body of the bike and either stay parallel to the floor or rise up towards the ceiling rather than dropping towards the ground as drop handlebars do.

Spin bike handlebars are intended to be comfortable in any form of use and to provide support for when you get up out of the saddle.

The quality of the handlebars can make a surprisingly big difference to your overall experience of using a spin bike and ideally you want your spin bike handlebars to be adjustable, mostly so you can tailor your spin bike to your body and partly so that it’s easy for someone else to do the same if you want to share your spin bike (or sell it on if you decide to upgrade).

Likewise the saddle also has to be robust and comfortable - and ideally height-adjustable.

Do not assume that you’re going to be up on your pedals and over your handlebars all the time, like a racing cyclist.

A spin bike is not a racing bike and for most workouts, you’re going to be dividing your time between being on your saddle and being up out of it.

Because of this, it’s important to make sure you get a spin bike with a decent saddle.

Pedals are definitely a case of “last but by no means least”.  You're going to divide your time between having your weight over your spin bike handlebars and having it over the saddle, but your feet are (hopefully) always going to be on the pedals.

It may sound like stating the obvious, but you need the pedals to be easy to access and secure in use.

All of the spin bikes we recommend have to clips, which form a cradle around the pedals to help keep your foot in place.

Flywheel

The flywheel is the weighted wheel at the front of the bike.

It’s linked to the pedals by some form of drive, which we’ll explain in more detail below.  There are two, key aspects to the flywheel itself.

The first is the weight and the second is the quality of the movement.

In basic terms the heavier a flywheel is, the harder a workout you will get, but we wouldn’t get too hung up on getting a super-heavy flywheel for maximum training impact.

We think it’s far more important to have adjustable resistance, which we’ll discuss shortly.

What is very important is that you get a spin bike where the flywheel moves freely (given the level of resistance) and also cleanly.

If you think about it, you really wouldn’t want to ride a road bike with a dodgy front wheel so, for much the same reasons, you don’t want to ride a spin bike with a low-quality flywheel.

Drive

Spin bikes are essentially fixed-wheel bikes which stay in one place.  Depending on the model you choose, they may be driven by a chain (as on a standard road bike) or a belt (which would be highly impractical on a road bike).

There’s no “better or worse” here, just different strokes for different folks.

Chain drives tend to be cheaper and last longer, provided that you give them a weekly drop of lubricant and tighten them when necessary.  If you’ve never maintained a bike, trust us, this is really easy.

A chain driven spin bike will give you a similar riding experience to a road bike, but that includes the “chink, chink, chink” sound you typically get when cycling on a standard bike.

Basically, it’s up to you to decide if that bothers you (or those around you).

Belt drives tend to be more expensive and while they don’t actually require maintenance as such, you should expect to have to replace them about once a year.

Again this is pretty easy. The experience of riding a belt-driven spin bike is much smoother than the experience of riding a chain-driven one.

It’s also a whole lot quieter, as in silent.  This may be a major plus point for some people.

Resistance adjustment

Resistance adjustment on a spin bike works much the same way as gearing on a road bike (or a car).

Basically, the higher the resistance the less (theoretical) distance your flywheel covers per turn of the pedals and vice versa.

On road bikes, this allows you to adapt to different types of terrain.

On spin bikes, it allows you to adjust the intensity of your workout even though your spin bike only has one flywheel.

Access to water

This may seem like a minor point to raise, but it’s important to keep hydrated during exercise, so a water-bottle holder is a distinct plus.

Warranty

In our experience (and not just with spin bikes) a good warranty is a sign of a manufacturer which has confidence in its products.  One year is the minimum we’d expect.

Performance

This is the only element of a spin bike we can’t really quantify effectively and yet it’s the most important.

Basically, it’s how all the individual elements come together to make a great bike at your given price point.

In the real world, either test out a bike and see how it feels to you or look for reliable reviews.

Best Spin Bikes For Home Use In The UK

So here is our list of what, in our opinion, are the four best spin bikes for home use in the UK.  Basically, the “in the UK” bit means that we’ve checked that they’re actually for sale in this market rather than just being in the U.S.

Content Quick Jump

Best Spin Bike For Under £500

JLL IC400 PRO Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike

The JLL IC400 PRO sets out its intentions with a 22Kg belt-driven flywheel. This is perfectly balanced, which is vital when you’re dealing with a hefty weight.

The frame is nicely solid. We haven’t been able to test this, but we’re happy that it could comfortably support people up to the stated maximum weight of 150Kg. There’s plenty of scope to adjust the seat and handlebars to your liking. We were impressed by the quality of the saddle and the SPD-compatible pedals will please the people who want to use cleats.

The monitor is a decent size and tracks time, speed, distance, calories, pulse and RPM. There’s also a tablet holder so you can follow along with workouts or pretend you’re cycling in an exotic location. We actually really like the fact that this spin bike has bottle holders on the left- and right-hand sides of the bike.

In short, there’s absolutely nothing to fault about this spin bike itself. We do, however, have to warn you that the accompanying app is, currently, nowhere near the same quality (in our opinion). 

We sincerely hope that JLL will update it. In fact, it might even be fixed by the time you read this. Try checking the reviews for the app, not the bike, and seeing what people are saying. Just make sure you check the recent ones. Speaking of apps, this spin bike can be rigged to work with Peloton, but you will have to buy extra sensors.

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JLL IC400 PRO Indoor Cycling Exercise Bike, Direct Belt Driven 22kg Flywheel,...

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Nero Sports Bluetooth Upright Exercise Bike

The Nero Sport spin bike only has a 12kg flywheel, but this will probably be ample to keep most people happy. It’s balanced and smooth and essentially everything you could want from a flywheel.

In terms of quality, we’re happy with the frame. We think it’s solid enough to support the stated maximum user weight of 120kg. If you’re near (or over) the 6’ mark then you’ll definitely want the extension pole for the seat. This is sold as a separate accessory.

This spin bike is very easy to put together and the seat and handlebars are both nicely adjustable. Sadly, the seat isn’t as comfortable as it could be. That said, you can add some extra padding or even swap out the saddle completely.

The monitor is easy to read. It tracks time, speed, distance, calories, odometer and pulse rate. There’s also a tablet holder. The reason there’s a tablet holder is that this bike is designed to get you onto Zwift, hence the Bluetooth. We suspect it would work with Peloton, but we haven’t tried this.

Overall, our only gripe about this spin bike is the quality of the saddle, which can be easily fixed. If you’re looking for a way to get onto Zwift then this is the most affordable option we’ve found. If you’re not, this is still an excellent spin cycle at a very reasonable price.

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Nero Sports Bluetooth Upright Exercise Bike Indoor Studio Cycles Aerobic Training Fitness...

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£139.99 £179.99

WeRSports® Exercise Bike Aerobic Training Cycle

The We R Sports spin bike has a 13kg flywheel. We were slightly surprised to see that this is chain driven, so it does make a noise. It’s not hugely loud. It’s certainly way quieter than a treadmill. We would, however, think twice about using this bike in an upstairs room or a flat with downstairs neighbours (or around people working from home).

The frame is sturdy and the handlebars and saddle are easy to adjust. In all honesty, the saddle is pretty horrendous. You’re definitely going to need some sort of padding or cover, or a new saddle. On the plus side, the pedals are very nice. They’re not SPD-capable but they do have decent toe cages. Maximum user weight is given as 125Kg.

Slightly surprisingly, the monitor doesn’t track pulse-rate. It does, however, track time, speed, distance, calories and odometer. To be honest, we don’t see this as a great loss. We don’t like to rely on pulse readings from hand-grips. If tracking your pulse is really important to you, you can always use an external pulse monitor.

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Best spin bike for under £300

Dripex Upright Exercise Bike

This Dripex spin bike has a 6kg flywheel. It’s belt-driven so the spin bike itself really is silent in use. The frame is fairly solid. We’re not, however, remotely convinced that it’s up to holding the stated maximum weight of 150kg. We think that 120Kg is far more reasonable. We also think that, realistically, you want to be a maximum of 5’8” or so to use this spin bike.

The saddle and handlebars are decently adjustable, at least for smaller people. The saddle doesn’t fill us with joy but it’s not too bad. If you wear proper cycling shorts, you’ll probably be fine.  Alternatively, you could add extra padding or use a cover. You could even swap it out if you really wanted.

There’s nothing particularly special about the monitor. Officially, it tracks time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse. Unofficially, we never put much faith in hand-grip pulse readings. Our one gripe about this spin bike is that there’s no water bottle holder. We admit this is a minor issue, but it would have been a nice touch.

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Dripex Upright Exercise Bikes (Indoor Studio Cycles) - Studio Quality with Heart...

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FIT4HOME TF-S760 Intense Exercise Bike

This Fit4Home spin bike has an 18Kg flywheel, which is pretty impressive for this price point. What’s more, it’s belt-driven, so it’s nicely quiet. We do have to point out that this spin bike uses physical resistance. This feels fine at low speeds, but as you ramp up the effort you do notice its limitations. It doesn’t feel like cycling uphill so much as pedalling while you’re braking. 

The maximum user weight is given as 110kg which we think is pretty reasonable given the frame. We would say that if you’re over 5’5” or so, you might have an issue getting the saddle to go up high enough to give you a decent range of motion. 

If you’re smaller, however, you’ll find the saddle has plenty of adjustability as do the handlebars. This is another spin bike which could do with improving the comfort of the saddle. Again, use a cover or swap it out. 

The monitor tracks time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse. As always, we wouldn’t rely on the pulse. Oddly there’s a phone holder but no water bottle holder. 

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FIT4HOME TF-S760 Intense Exercise Bike Adjustable Resistance, 18kg Flywheel, Adjustable Seat Black

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Fnova Exercise Bike

This Fnova spin bike has a 6kg, belt-driven flywheel. According to the description, the maximum user weight is 180kg. We haven’t been able to try this out but we can say that the frame is impressively sturdy. It looks like it’s been designed to support obese people who’re trying to lose weight in the comfort of their own homes.

We think that people over 5’10” might find the saddle doesn’t go up quite high enough for them. Assuming that you are 5’10 or smaller, however, the saddle and handlebars can both be adjusted easily. The saddle gets bonus points for actually being reasonably comfortable.

The monitor tracks time, speed, distance, calories, and pulse. Again, usual warnings about relying on hand-grip pulse readings. Extra bonus points for the fact that this spin bike actually has a water bottle holder.

XS Sports SB500 Aerobic Indoor Training Exercise Bike

The basic specs of the XS Sports SB500 are that it has a 15kg chain-driven flywheel and is suitable for users up to 125Kg.  We’d also suggest under 6’ although this isn’t stated.  We’re not doing a full review because this spin bike is out of stock and we’ve no idea when, or even if, it’ll be back.  We will, however, say, that if it does come back for under £300 it’s worth a good look.

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Best spin bike for under £200

Naspaluro Exercise Bike

This naspaluro spin bike has an 8kg belt-driven flywheel and a maximum user weight of 150kg. It’s easy to set up, even by yourself. What’s more, the saddle and handlebars have enough adjustability to suit even taller users. We’re not sure about people over 6’ but anyone up to that height should be fine.

We’re pleased to say that the saddle is actually pretty decent, especially for this price point. The monitor could do with being a bit bigger. It tracks time, speed, distance, calories burned, odometer and heart rate. As always, we take heart rate with a pinch of salt.

There is a phone holder although it’s horizontal, which may limit the apps you can run while you’re pedalling. We’re guessing it’s meant for music. There’s also a water bottle holder on the central column.

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naspaluro Exercise Bikes, Stationary Infinite Resistance Spin Bike with Phone Holder/Heart Moniter/LCD...

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Fitnessclub Indoor Exercise Bike

This Fitnessclub spin cycle has a 13Kg flywheel. That’s extremely impressive at this price point. What’s more, it’s belt-driven so it’s nicely quiet in use. The maximum user weight is given as 150Kg. We haven’t been able to test this but the frame does seem solid.

We have to say that putting this spin bike together is probably not going to be a whole load of fun. The user guide could do with some improvement, to put it mildly. It is, however, perfectly feasible, especially if you have two people. Once you get the spin bike together, it’s easy enough to adjust the saddle and handlebars.

There’s no maximum height given for using this spin bike. Honestly, we’d say if you were over 5’6” then you might want to look at another option. Under that, however, and this spin bike is fine. What’s more, the saddle is decently comfortable although we suspect it may not last very long. If it doesn’t, it should be easy enough to swap out.

The monitor is easy to read. It tracks speed, time, distance, calories, total distance and heart rate. There’s a holder which can take a phone vertically and a tablet horizontally. There’s also a water bottle holder on the central column. To be honest, the bottle it holds isn’t very big, but it’s a lot better than nothing.

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Fitnessclub Indoor Exercise Bike Cardio Workout W/Belt Driven Flywheel Cycling Adjustable Handlebars...

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1 Comment
  1. Very wonderful visual appeal on this site, I’d rate it 10.

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