The Marcy Recumbent ME-709’s high-backed seat is padded with high-density foam, making it a comfortable option for home cardio workouts. This affordable recumbent bike also has foam-covered handlebars and counter-balanced pedals, but, unlike many of the best exercise bikes, it’s the only machine we reviewed with no pulse grips.
If heart rate monitoring is important to you, you’ll need to consider a different option. Alternatively, consider using one of the best fitness trackers to monitor your heart rate during exercise, as well as your calories burned and distance covered. For a tracker for less, see our round-up of the best Amazon Prime Day Fitbit deals.
The Recumbent ME-709 has an MSRP of $179.99, making it the least expensive recumbent bike we considered. The most expensive recumbent model, the Schwinn 270 Recumbent, is priced at $549 and has many more features such as a workout fan, speakers and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Schwinn also has 29 workout presets and 25 resistance levels. The Marcy doesn’t provide any preprogrammed workouts and has only eight resistance levels. These are delivered by eddy current and can be adjusted with a tension control knob.
This exercise bike has a maximum user weight of 300 pounds, and its recommended height range is 5’2” to 6’. Its console screen is easy to read and displays speed, distance, time and calories burned. You can also store one user profile.
The Marcy Recumbent ME-709 is the most compact recumbent exercise bike we reviewed, with dimensions of 55.5 x 25 x 37.5 inches (length, width, height.) The machine weighs 60 pounds and has transport wheels for convenience in moving and storage. We also reviewed the XTERRA Fitness FB350, which folds for storage.
Marcy guarantees the Recumbent ME-709 with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. Customer service is available by phone and email, and we received a quick, helpful response when we asked questions. If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, be aware that Marcy currently ships only within the contiguous United States.
