Best BudgetRank #5 in Exercise Bikes
Marcy ME-709 Recumbent Exercise Bike
by Marcy
Amazon rating pooled with the upright Marcy variant on the same listing (read 2026-10-21).
Score
The budget pick and the only recumbent here: a back-supported seat and a step-through frame for riders who want low-impact cardio without perching on a spin-bike saddle. Eight magnetic resistance levels and a basic LCD, per Marcy. No app, no screen, and that is the point at this price.
Best price at
Amazon
$159.99
Sold by Amazon. Amazon listed it as usually shipping within 3 to 5 days on 2026-10-21.
Buy on AmazonPrice checked Oct 22, 2026
- Low-impact riders who want back support
- Older buyers or anyone who finds a spin saddle uncomfortable
- A first bike on a tight budget
- You want Zwift, Peloton or any app connection
- You train hard enough to need more than 8 resistance levels
Strengths
- ↑Back-supported recumbent seat
- ↑Step-through frame for easy mounting, per Marcy
- ↑8 magnetic resistance levels
Weaknesses
- ↓Basic LCD only, no Bluetooth or app
- ↓Only 8 resistance levels; fit riders will outgrow it
- ↓Owners call the seat firm
Full specs
- Type
- Recumbent
- Resistance
- Magnetic, 8 levels (Marcy)
- Frame
- 14-gauge steel, step-through (Marcy)
- Display
- LCD: time, speed, distance, calories
Common questions
Is a recumbent bike easier on the back?
A recumbent seat supports your back and puts your legs out in front, which many low-impact riders find more comfortable than an upright saddle. The ME-709 also has a step-through frame for easier mounting.
Does the Marcy ME-709 connect to apps?
No. It has a basic LCD showing time, speed, distance and calories, and no Bluetooth.
Sources & references
Full buying guide
Best Exercise Bikes for Home Gym Use
Read the full ranking →Related Exercise Bikes guides
Other exercise bikes we rate
Ranked alternatives from the same category, with our score and the current price.
The Peloton alternative. Bluetooth FTMS broadcasting, dual-sided SPD pedals, magnetic resistance — rides along with the Peloton app, and pairs with Zwift or any app that reads Bluetooth FTMS. Schwinn launched it in 2019 and has not replaced it; it is still Schwinn's current spin bike (checked 2026-10-21).
Peloton's classes on Peloton hardware without paying for the Bike+. The October 2025 Cross Training Bike has a 21.5-inch HD swivel touchscreen and a manual resistance knob, per Peloton; the Bike+ adds auto-resistance and the movement-tracking camera. Classes need the All-Access membership.
The value spin bike: magnetic resistance, a heavy flywheel and Bluetooth that pairs with Zwift and Kinomap, for under half the price of the Schwinn IC4. Sold by JOROTO itself. JOROTO's Amazon listing states a 40 lb flywheel and a 350 lb capacity; JOROTO's own site lists the X2PRO at 300 lb, so plan on the lower figure.
Peloton's October 2025 Cross Training Bike+: a 23.8-inch HD swivel touchscreen, auto-resistance that follows instructor cues, a movement-tracking camera that counts reps and Sonos-tuned speakers, per Peloton. The classes are the reason to buy it, and they need the All-Access membership. The November 2025 CPSC seat-post recall covers the Original Series Bike+ (model PL02, sold 2020 to April 2025), not this model.
The bike that folds away. Exerpeutic states it folds to half its size, weighs 39 lb, rolls on transport wheels and carries a 300 lb capacity, with 8 magnetic resistance levels. Sold by XPlus Outdoor, the company behind Exerpeutic. A casual upright bike for small apartments, not a training tool.