Recumbent Bikes, Ellipticals & Steppers: A Real Buyer's Guide

Why recumbents deserve a second look

A good recumbent is the most comfortable serious workout you can own, and almost nobody takes it seriously. Despite huge advantages in terms of the workout and huge demographic utility.

At ConnectFit we sell four recumbents for every upright bike. Big-box stores treat recumbents as the "easy" machine, and online review sites rank them by price. The buyers we see in our Newton showroom have wanted something different, they want a machine that fits their body, is comfortable, feels solid every day, and is still running well in ten years.

This guide covers the three recumbent machines worth knowing (the recumbent bike, the elliptical and the stepper) and the four things that actually separate a good one from a disappointing one: comfort, biomechanics, build quality and warranty.

The three kinds of recumbent

All three seat you in a supported, chair-like position. They differ in how your arms and legs move.

If you just want to know where to start: try all three. Most people know within five minutes which one their body prefers.

Comfort: what to check in the showroom

Comfort decides whether a recumbent gets used or becomes a coat rack. Check these five things in person.

• Getting on and off. Look for a low step-through frame or a swivel seat. You should never have to swing a leg over anything.
• Seat adjustment. Better machines offer many seat positions. The True Performance Recumbent bike, for example, has 25 seat settings plus an infinitely reclining back. More settings means two very different people can both fit properly.
• Back support. The backrest should meet your lower back without a huge gap. A reclining back lets you choose an upright or relaxed posture. And your back angle is your hip angle.
• Seat surface. A ventilated or well-contoured seat stays comfortable past the 20-minute mark, which is where cheap seats start to hurt.
• Smoothness and noise. A quality drive feels steady at every resistance level and is quiet enough to watch television over.

Sit on it for longer than feels necessary. Five minutes on a machine tells you more than any spec sheet.

Biomechanics: how each machine moves you

The seat changes everything. With your back supported and your weight on the seat, your legs do the work without carrying your body weight, and there is no impact at all.

• Recumbent bike. Your legs push forward in front of you instead of down beneath you, which brings more of the lower body into the work: glutes and hamstrings as well as the quads. The detail that separates better bikes is an adjustable back angle. Reclining the back changes your hip angle, so you can open the hip for comfort or close it to work the glutes harder. Seat distance still matters: at the far point of each stroke, your knee should keep a slight bend, never lock straight.
• Recumbent elliptical. This is the total-body machine. Your legs glide through a long stroke while your arms push and pull, and you choose the mix: arms only, legs only, or both together, going forward or backward. Octane's xRide uses a 16-inch stroke that extends the leg further than a bike does. Octane cites a St. Cloud State University study finding 343% more glute activity and 23% more calories burned than a recumbent bike at the same perceived effort (Octane). As we've written before, elliptical machines are different: the motion depends on the patents behind it, not just the build quality.
• Recumbent stepper. Your legs press forward in a straight line and your arms move with them, linked one to one. Because the arms help drive the legs, the motion is easy to start and very controlled. The Spirit CRS800S adjusts its step from 1 to 12.5 inches to match a limited range of motion, which is why rehab clinics use it.

If you have had a joint replaced or are working through an injury, bring your surgeon's or physical therapist's guidance with you. We will help you find the machine and seat setup that matches it.

Commercial quality, now built for home

The best home recumbents are health-club machines in all but name. They share the frames, drives and engineering that run eight hours a day in fitness centers.

• Frames. TRUE's recumbent bikes use the same robotically welded, heavy-gauge steel frame across its line, from home models to club models (TRUE).
• Design lineage. TRUE states that its residential models match the standards of its commercial equipment (TRUE). Octane's home xRide uses the same 16-inch PowerStroke motion as its health-club version (Octane).
• No plug needed. Many commercial-grade recumbent bikes generate their own power as you pedal, so they can go anywhere in the house.
• Swivel seats for higher level machines, easier to get on and off.

Why this matters at home: a machine designed to survive a busy club barely notices daily use in your house. It stays smooth and quiet for years, which a $600 machine built to a price cannot do. It's the same reason the commercial brands are the real brands.

Warranty: how to read one

A warranty tells you how long the manufacturer expects the machine to last. Read it in three parts, because "lifetime warranty" usually means only one of them.

Sources: Spirit recumbent warranty, TRUE, Octane xRide.

The best value in the category is Spirit. Spirit's recumbents carry a 10-year parts warranty for home use at an entry price point, and the same machines are built for physical therapy clinics, with step-through frames, rehab programs and a recumbent stepper designed for limited mobility. For more on reading the fine print, see our post on maintenance and warranty.

Three things most buyers miss:

• Home use often earns a longer warranty. The same commercial machine can carry a longer frame warranty in a home than in a club. TRUE's Gravity recumbent, for example, has a 7-year frame warranty in commercial use and 12 years in home use.
• A warranty is only as good as the service behind it. Ask who actually shows up when something needs fixing. ConnectFit delivers and installs with our own crews, and service is handled in-house, not passed to a third party.
• The entire parts warranty is what is important! Not just the frame.

Frequently asked questions

Is a recumbent a real workout, or just for rehab? It is a real workout. You can reach the same heart rate on a recumbent as on an upright machine, without the strain on your back and joints. A recumbent elliptical or stepper adds your upper body as well.

Recumbent bike or upright bike: which is better? An upright bike is closer to riding outdoors. A recumbent supports your back and puts no weight on your wrists, so most people can ride it longer and more comfortably.

What's the difference between a recumbent elliptical and a recumbent stepper? Both work arms and legs while you sit. The elliptical moves your legs through a long, gliding stroke. The stepper presses them forward in a straight line, with arms and legs linked, and usually has a swivel seat for the easiest entry.

Can I work just my arms, or just my legs? On a recumbent elliptical, yes. You can use arms only, legs only, or both, and pedal forward or backward. That makes it the most flexible machine in the category, and a good choice when one part of the body needs a rest.

What should I look for if I'm recovering from surgery or an injury? Look for a step-through frame, a swivel seat, retractable armrests and an adjustable range of motion. Spirit's recumbents are built for physical therapy clinics and have all of these. Bring your therapist's guidance and we'll match the setup to it.

Can two people of very different heights share one machine? Yes, if the seat adjusts enough. Check that both of you can set the seat so your knee stays slightly bent at full extension.

Why does a $4,000 recumbent cost so much more than a $600 one? You are paying for a commercial-grade frame and drive, more seat adjustment, a smoother and quieter ride, and a much longer warranty. The cheaper machine is built to a price; the better one is built to last a decade or more.

Do I need commercial-grade equipment at home? You don't need it, but it is the surest way to get a machine that stays smooth and quiet for many years, and home use often earns a longer warranty.

How much space does it need? Plan for roughly 6 feet long by 3 feet wide. The Octane xR6, for example, is 71 by 35 inches (Octane).

Does it need an outlet? Many commercial-grade recumbent bikes power themselves as you pedal. Machines with large touchscreens usually need a standard outlet.

Who delivers, assembles and services it? At ConnectFit, our own crews deliver, assemble and place your machine, and our own technicians service it.

Can I try one before I buy? Yes. Visit our Newton showroom and try the recumbent bike, elliptical and stepper side by side.

Try them side by side in Newton

The right recumbent is the one your body likes, and the only way to know is to sit on them. Visit ConnectFit at 84 Needham Street in Newton to try recumbent bikes, ellipticals and steppers side by side.

Our own crews deliver and install every machine. Ask us about a free consultation and removal of your old equipment.