A Review of the Sunny Health and Fitness Indoor Cycling Bikes: Which One’s the Best for You?
Sunny Health & Fitness
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Exercise bikes provide a great low-impact cardio workout, and if you are looking to buy fitness equipment for your home gym, an exercise bike can be a great choice because they are generally more affordable and have a smaller footprint than other popular cardio machines like treadmills, rowing machines or elliptical trainers. Sunny Health and Fitness is one of the top manufacturers of home cardio exercise equipment and that includes several types of indoor cycling bikes.
Choosing the best Sunny Health and Fitness indoor bike for your needs involves considering your budget, fitness level, the type of workouts you plan to do and the features of the exercise bike that are most important to you. In this article, we provide a roundup of our picks for the best Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes for home use as well as a comprehensive buying guide for how to pick the best indoor cycle for your needs and how Sunny Health and Fitness bikes compare to other leading competitors.
The Best Sunny Health and Fitness Spin Bikes:
- Evolution Pro II Magnetic Cycle Exercise Bike
- Indoor Training Cycling Fitness Bike
- Magnetic Rear Belt Drive Stationary Bike
- Tornado LX Fan Bike - Air Assault Exercise
- Premium Indoor Cycling Smart Stationary Bike
- Training Cycle Performance Bike
- Kinetic Rear Flywheel Drive Indoor Cycling Bike
Evolution Pro II Magnetic Cycle Exercise Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Seat to handlebar distance: 16.5-23.5 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 29-39 inches
- Adjustability: Seat and handlebars both go up and down as well as forward and back
- Digital monitor display: Cadence, speed, calories, distance (in miles or kilometers), pulse, speed and time
- Dimensions: 49 inches long (front to back), 24 inches wide (side to side) and 50.5 inches high
- Machine weight: 136 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 330 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 40 pounds
- Resistance: Micro-adjustable magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Evolution Pro II Magnetic Indoor Cycle Exercise Bike is one of the best exercise bikes in the Sunny Health and Fitness lineup. This commercial-quality home gym bike is a performance-oriented indoor cycle with a 40-pound flywheel to maximize momentum and features a steel frame that can support up to 330 pounds. User reviews note that the bike stays stable without rocking or wobbling at high speeds, making it ideal for riders who want to engage in strenuous workouts at faster speeds.
You can use the built-in device holder to stream workouts or watch your favorite TV shows or movies while completing your cardio sessions. A solid design feature is that the tablet holder doesn’t block the LCD console, so you can still view all of your real-time workout metrics even if you’re streaming other content on your mobile device. Although there aren’t pre-programmed workouts on the console per se, you can set a target distance, time or number of calories and then the display will count down until you reach your goal. There’s also a “race“ function that allows you to try to beat your personal records for speed and distance.
This upgraded version of the original Evolution Pro Indoor Cycling Bike reportedly has a comfier seat and there are also dumbbell holders so that you can add upper-body strengthening moves to your rides for a more intense, full-body workout. Like many of the high-end Sunny exercise bikes, there are built-in pulse sensors next to the hand grips so that you can gauge the intensity of your cardio workout and try to hit target heart rate zones based on your training goals, along with other convenient features like a water bottle holder, transportation wheels and floor levelers in case you are using the exercise bike on a rug or other uneven surface.
Pros:
- Features useful device and dumbbell holders
- Heavy flywheel with belt drive mechanism for smooth operation
- Commercial-grade steel frame with high user weight capacity
Cons:
- No built-in touchscreen, wifi connectivity or Bluetooth
Indoor Training Cycling Fitness Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Seat to handlebar distance: 18-22 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 29-39 inches
- Adjustability: Seat and handlebars both go up and down as well as forward and back
- Digital monitor display: Cadence, speed, calories, distance (in miles or kilometers), pulse and time
- Dimensions: 42 inches long (front to back), 23.5 inches wide (side to side) and 48 inches high
- Machine weight: 139 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 44 pounds
- Resistance: Micro-adjustable magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Sunny Health and Fitness Indoor Training Cycling Fitness Bike (model SF-B1913) features a compact footprint with a sturdy steel frame. The bike has a micro adjustable tension knob that allows you to micro adjust the smooth magnetic resistance to the exact level of resistance you want. There are also dual-sided pedals with universal toe cages on one side or SPD-compatible clip-in cycling shoes on the other. Integrated pulse sensors on the handlebars measure your heart rate and a belt-drive mechanism engages the spin class-quality 44-pound flywheel. You can also track your workout stats with the LCD monitor, which shows your speed, cadence, distance, calories, workout time and pulse. The “race mode” lets you challenge your personal records and compare your progress over time.
Pros:
- Compact footprint makes this bike good for small spaces
- Console displays lots of stats to help you stay on track with your fitness goals
- Heavy flywheel provides a smooth and stable ride
- Micro adjustable resistance for maximal customization
Cons:
- No integrated touchscreen or Bluetooth
Magnetic Rear Belt Drive Stationary Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features
- Seat to handlebar distance: 25.5-30 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 28-39 inches
- Adjustability: Seat and handlebars both go up and down as well as forward and back
- Digital monitor display: Cadence, calories, distance (in miles of kilometers), speed, pulse and time
- Dimensions: 53.2 inches long (front to back), 23.6 inches wide (side to side) and 54.3 inches high
- Machine weight: 89.3 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 7.36 pounds
- Resistance: 13 magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Rear Belt Drive Stationary Bike (model SF-B1709) has a sleek cutting-edge design with a slim flywheel in the back of the bike. It’s a super lightweight bike and flywheel, which is optimal for maneuverability but it should be noted that this bike might not be as stable for heavier users or riders who want to hit harder resistance levels at faster speeds, especially at high intensities. Although the aluminum flywheel weighs just over seven pounds, user reviews note that the bike feels smooth and operates quietly.
There are 13 levels of belt drive magnetic resistance, which is enough for most beginners, though advanced cyclists might not be challenged enough by the hardest level. Although this bike is streamlined in many ways and may seem like a no-frills budget model, it does feature a robust multifunctional digital display and handlebars with integrated pulse sensors to capture your exercise heart rate. The padded seat and handlebars are both four-way adjustable to help riders find a comfortable fit. This bike also features a water bottle holder, transportation wheels, floor stabilizers and dual-sided pedals that have clips on one side and are compatible with regular sneakers on the opposite side.
Pros:
- Lightweight exercise bike is easy to move around
- Features a sleek design
- Comes with floor stabilizers
- Offers a quiet ride according to some reviews
Cons:
- Very light flywheel might not be as stable, especially at high speeds
- Limited number of resistance levels
Tornado LX Fan Bike - Air Assault Exercise
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 28-41 inches
- Adjustability: Seat adjusts up and down as well as forward and back but handlebars do not adjust
- Digital monitor display: Calories, distance, pulse, RPM, speed, time, watts
- Dimensions: 55 inches long (front to back), 23.5 inches wide (side to side) and 49 inches high
- Machine weight: 98.6 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 330 pounds
- Flywheel weight: N/A
- Resistance: Fan or air resistance with a chain-drive mechanism
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
Unlike most of the Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes, the Sunny Tornado LX Fan Bike Air Assault Exercise Bike (model SF-B2729 LX) is a fan resistance bike like the traditional Schwinn Airdyne bikes rather than a traditional indoor cycling bike. When using a bike with air resistance or wind resistance generated by a fan, there is an infinite amount of potential resistance and no tension knob—the faster and harder you pedal, the more resistance you generate. Because the levels of resistance are created by your output, you can moderate the amount of resistance in the most minute way by adjusting your speed. Another benefit of the Tornado LX Fan Bike compared to regular stationary bikes, spin bikes or recumbent bikes is that there are pivoting handlebars so that you can simultaneously work your upper body in addition to your legs. This Fan Bike uses a chain drive rather than a belt drive which is typically a bit louder but also provides more of a “real feel” similar to riding a bike outdoors.
Pros:
- Fan resistance provides infinite resistance levels
- Seat adjustability accommodates a wide range of heights
- Movable handlebars provide a full-body, low-impact workout like an elliptical machine
- Higher maximum user weight capacity
Cons:
- May not appeal to competitive cyclists because the style doesn’t replicate road cycling
- No heart rate monitoring
- Limited metrics displayed on the LCD console
Premium Indoor Cycling Smart Stationary Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Seat to handlebar distance: 17-21 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 29.9-40 inches
- Adjustability: Seat and handlebars both go up and down as well as forward and back
- Digital monitor display: Calories, distance, pulse, speed and time
- Dimensions: 50.8 inches long (front to back), 23.4 inches wide (side to side) and 47.6 inches high
- Machine weight: 139 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 44 pounds
- Resistance: Micro-adjustable magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Sunny Health and Fitness Premium Indoor Cycling Smart Stationary Bike (model SF-B1805SMART) features smooth, quiet magnetic resistance with tons of resistance levels due to the micro adjustability of the resistance knob. There is a heavy-duty, 44-pound high-inertia flywheel located at the front of the bike. The flywheel is on par with the weight and quality of most commercial spin bikes found at boutique cycling studios and high-end commercial gyms, meaning that you can get the feel and performance of a commercial-grade indoor cycle without needing a gym membership.
The integrated tablet holder is located right between the grippy handlebars to maximize security of your device and make it more comfortable to view whatever media you decide to stream, be it a workout class or your favorite show on Netflix. You can use the SunnyFit app to access on-demand workout classes and virtually tour the world with real location maps all while seeing your metrics in real-time within the app. Note that there is a small built-in LCD console that will also display basic workout metrics if you opt not to use the app.
Pros:
- Short seat-to-handlebar distance is good for shorter riders
- Bluetooth-enabled to be used with the SunnyFit app
- Can be used as an economical Peloton alternative by supplying your own tablet as a touchscreen
- Nearly infinite number of magnetic resistance levels
Cons:
- Upright posture may be uncomfortable for some
- No integrated touchscreen
Training Cycle Performance Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Seat to handlebar distance: 22.8-28.1 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 29.5-39.5 inches
- Adjustability: Seat and handlebars both go up and down as well as forward and back
- Digital monitor display: cadence, speed, calories, distance (in miles or kilometers), pulse and time
- Dimensions: 51 inches long (front to back), 23 inches wide (side to side) and 48 inches high
- Machine weight: 125.7 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 44 pounds
- Resistance: Micro-adjustable magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Sunny Health and Fitness Training Cycle Performance Bike (model SF-B121021) is a high-performance fitness bike designed to bring the features and performance specs of a commercial spin bike found at a cycling studio or a gym into the comfort and convenience of your own home. It features smooth magnetic resistance with micro adjustable levels, which means that even the slightest turn is capable of gradually decreasing and increasing the resistance, but you aren’t locked into a set number of limited levels. The built-in monitor displays many workout metrics, giving you advanced tracking capabilities of your stats such as current speed, average speed, max speed and current cadence (RPM).
To customize the perfect fit, the bike features four-way adjustable seat and handlebars, enabling you to both raise and lower each individually and move them forward and back for maximum adjustability. In fact, the four-way seat offers 25 vertical and six horizontal level settings, and the handlebar provides six levels or vertical and 1.5-inches of horizontal adjustability. Another solid feature is that this high-end model is most like a commercial studio spin bike because it features a 44-pound chrome flywheel that user reviews report provides a smooth, silent, fluid and steady ride that replicates the authentic feel of outdoor cycling on the road.
The rear of the bike has an integrated dumbbell holder, each of which can hold a 16-pound dumbbell, enabling you to incorporate exercises for your arms, shoulders and back muscles for a full-body workout. This is a great way to burn more calories during your indoor cycling workouts and transform an otherwise exclusively lower-body exercise into a total body workout. Plus many of the Peloton and iFIT cycling classes use dumbbells in the workouts, so if you plan to get a subscription to either of these apps and stream on-demand or live spin classes on your own tablet while you use your Sunny Health and Fitness Bike, you will be able to create a budget-friendly Peloton alternative while still replicating the workouts as dictated by the instructors and personal trainers.
Pros:
- Nearly infinite number of resistance levels
- Heavy flywheel and belt drive makes for a smooth ride
- Has built-in dumbbell holders and a tablet holder
- User reviews note that it has a comfortable seat
- Adjustable handlebars
Cons:
- Seat and handlebar distance may not be the most comfortable for shorter riders
Kinetic Rear Flywheel Drive Indoor Cycling Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
Key features:
- Seat to handlebar distance: 18-22.5 inches
- Height requirements: Inseam length of 28-41 inches
- Adjustability: Seat goes up and down as well as forward and back, handlebars go up and down
- Digital monitor display: Cadence, speed, calories, distance (in miles or kilometers), pulse and time
- Dimensions: 56.3 inches long (front to back), 21.9 inches wide (side to side) and 50 inches high
- Machine weight: 144 pounds
- Max recommended user weight: 350 pounds
- Flywheel weight: 40 pounds
- Resistance: Seven magnetic resistance levels
- Warranty: Three-year structural frame warranty and 180-day parts and components warranty
The Kinetic Rear Flywheel Drive Indoor Cycling Bike (Model SF-B1852) is one of the premium indoor cycling bikes in the brand’s lineup. It features a rear flywheel, which is thought to improve the durability and reduce the maintenance on the bike because the flywheel is more protected from sweat and moisture, reducing the likelihood of corrosion over time. The heavy, 40-pound high-inertia flywheel is designed to provide a super smooth and steady ride, even at high intensities or if you climb up and out of the saddle during interval workouts. Featuring magnetic resistance that user reviews note is extremely smooth and quiet, this indoor bike is limited to seven resistance levels, which is one of the very few, but potentially significant, drawbacks of this particular stationary cycle.
The handlebars have built-in heart rate sensors or heart rate monitoring, allowing you to easily gauge the intensity of your workout without needing to wear an external heart rate monitor if you do not own one. One of the top benefits of this particular Sunny Health and Fitness spin bike model is that it has a high maximum user weight, supporting riders up to 350 pounds. To help you customize your fit, this bike features a four-way adjustable seat, enabling you to both raise and lower and move the seat forward and back for maximum comfort. The handlebars also move up and down.
Adding to your ability to easily use this indoor cycle with streaming cycling workouts is the integrated device holder designed so that you can easily see the screen. Other convenient features include a built-in water bottle holder and transport wheels so that you can move the bike around your home or garage gym more easily.
Pros:
- High maximum weight capacity
- Smooth belt drive mechanism and rear-positioned flywheel
- Console displays tons of workout metrics
- Heavy high-inertia flywheel
Cons:
- Only seven levels of resistance
Sunny Health and Fitness Spin Bikes vs Competitors
Sunny Health and Fitness is one of the most popular manufacturers of home spin bikes and indoor cycling bikes due to the value of the products based on their features and reasonable price points. Here is how the lineup of these exercise bikes stack up to some of the other top home gym spin bikes and indoor cycling bikes.
Sunny Spin Bikes vs the Peloton Bike+
The Sunny Health and Fitness bikes are significantly cheaper than the Peloton Bike+—this includes the premium models, making them a good budget-friendly Peloton alternative. However, the Sunny Health and Fitness bikes do not include a touchscreen which may be a dealbreaker for those who want a bike with an integrated HD touchscreen display. Like the Peloton Bike+, most Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes use magnetic resistance, a quiet belt drive and have a solid steel frame. The flywheel weight on the Peloton indoor cycling bike is about 35 pounds which is less than some Sunny Health and Fitness spin bikes on this list.
Sunny Health and Fitness indoor cycling bikes have dual-sided pedals, allowing you to ride in sneakers or cycling shoes, whereas Peloton bikes require cleats. You also must pay for the Peloton All-Access Membership, which is $44 per month and you cannot stream alternative content (such as other workout apps or Netflix, Hulu or Disney+) on the integrated touchscreen. Sunny Health and Fitness bikes are open access, meaning that there are no ongoing subscription fees. You can use your own mobile device to stream whatever content you want. If you choose to pay for a Peloton digital membership, which is only $12.99 per month rather than $44, you can create an inexpensive Peloton alternative.
Sunny Spin Bikes vs the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle
The NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle is a smart indoor cycle with an integrated touchscreen that you can use to stream on-demand and live workout classes with personal trainers through the iFIT platform. With a price point of nearly $2,000, the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle is more than twice as expensive as some of the top-rated Sunny Health and Fitness bikes. Additionally, when training with iFIT on the S22i, the bike will automatically adjust in accordance to the instructors specifications or the topography of the virtual course that you are riding along with, which are advanced features that the budget-friendly Sunny Health and Fitness spin bikes lack. The flywheel on the NordicTrack cycle is actually lighter than many of the Sunny models, weighing in at 32 pounds as opposed to some of the heavier flywheels featured in certain Sunny Health and Fitness models.
How to Choose the Right Sunny Health and Fitness Spin Bike for You
There are several important factors to consider when buying a Sunny Health and Fitness bike to do cardio workouts at home.
Type of bike
Sunny Health and Fitness makes a variety of types of exercise bikes, but they mainly make indoor cycling bikes, commonly called spin bikes. These bikes are great for high-intensity interval training workouts (HIIT) as well as regular low-impact cardio workouts. There are also fan bikes that use air resistance like the original Schwinn Airdyne bikes. The resistance is created by rotating blades (that look like a fan) attached to the bike’s flywheel. When you pedal, this complex of the flywheel and attached fan blades spins. These bikes are often used in CrossFit workouts and other types of high intensity training more so than for endurance cardio workouts.
However, if you are looking to stream indoor cycling workouts, from cycling apps and platforms such as Peloton Digital or iFIT, you will probably prefer to get a regular spin bike rather than a fan bike so that you can better replicate the indoor cycling workout videos with similar exercise equipment.
Type of resistance
Most indoor cycles use either friction resistance or magnetic resistance. Indoor cycles with friction resistance have felt or rubber pads that press on the flywheel to resist its motion while you pedal. Indoor cycles with magnetic resistance typically have discrete levels of resistance like upright bikes or traditional stationary bikes found in gyms. Exercise bikes with magnetic resistance tend to feel smoother, operate more quietly and provide more consistent tension. They usually cost more but require less maintenance than exercise bikes that rely on friction. Moreover, a bike with magnetic resistance offers a quantifiable workout with discrete levels of resistance whereas a friction bike just uses a tension knob and arrows to indicate more or less tension, whereas many magnetic resistance bikes have levels you can lock into.
Flywheel weight
Most exercise bikes have a flywheel, which is a weighted disk typically located in the front where the front wheel of a regular bike would be, though it can also be found on the back or some indoor stationary bikes.
The heavier the flywheel, the smoother the exercise bike will feel, especially at faster speeds, when you stand up in the saddle or if you’re a heavier person. The weight of the flywheel on Sunny Health and Fitness bikes ranges from under 10 pounds for the inexpensive models to 40+ pounds for premium bikes. If you plan to do vigorous workouts or want the pedal stroke to feel as smooth and steady as possible, choosing a heavier flywheel is ideal.
Console metrics
Most, but not all, Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes have a built-in console that displays workout metrics. The no-frills spin bikes and fan bikes often have a very basic console with limited information, such as total workout time and distance.
On the other hand, Sunny Health and Fitness premium indoor cycles or smart spin bikes have more robust displays with detailed in-workout metrics like pulse (heart rate), average speed, distance and cadence. Unlike the Peloton Bike, Echelon bikes and NordicTrack indoor cycles, the Sunny Health and Fitness bikes don’t have full-feature consoles or integrated HD touchscreens with all sorts of workout metrics, or with the ability to stream media and connect to various apps. If this is important to you, the good news is that several Sunny Health and Fitness apps do offer a device holder so you can open the SunnyFit app and see your metrics on your phone or tablet as you progress through each workout.
Resistance levels
Advanced athletes and avid cyclists likely want as many levels as possible, so that they don’t feel limited to the workouts they can complete in the saddle. If you’re new to indoor cycling, you may not require as many resistance levels right away and may prefer to focus on building your endurance and strength first. This is an important consideration to think about as you prepare to purchase an indoor cycling bike. It’s also worth noting that if you’re interested in a fan bike, these don’t have levels. Instead, the faster you pedal, the more resistance you will experience because the blades are creating more drag—fan bikes provide as much resistance as you’re able to generate.
Sunny Health and Fitness Spin Bike FAQs
Is indoor cycling good for losing weight?
Indoor cycling can be a great form of exercise for losing weight. Depending on your body weight, and the intensity and duration of your workouts, you can burn upwards of 500 to 600 calories more per hour during a moderate intensity stationary bike workout. Additionally, research suggests that HIIT workouts are particularly efficient at burning fat in less time, and this style of training can boost your metabolic rate for up to 14 hours after your workout is over, potentially helping you lose even more weight.
What is a flywheel?
A flywheel is a weighted disk on an indoor cycle that is usually where the front wheel would go, though it can be in the back. It is connected to the pedals via a belt or chain so that when you pedal, the flywheel spins like a bike wheel. Generally, the heavier the flywheel, the smoother the ride will feel.
Do I need cycling cleats to use an indoor bike?
Some indoor cycling bikes and spin bikes do require the use of specialized cycling shoes with cleats that can clip into the pedals. For example, you must use cycling cleats with the Peloton Bike because it only includes clipless pedals.
However, cycling shoes and cleats are not required for any of the Sunny Health and Fitness bikes. Most of the bikes feature tool pedals, which means that one side has a toe cage so that you can wear normal sneakers while riding the bike and the other side of the pedal has a clip in system so you can use cycling shoes with cleats. Some of the entry level Sunny Health and Fitness bikes only have the toe cages on the pedals, which means that you can wear any type of sneaker or shoe but cannot clip in with a cycling cleat.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are quite a few Sunny Health and Fitness exercise bikes to choose from. Picking the best Sunny exercise bike involves considering the type of resistance you prefer, your budget, the types of workouts you plan to do, your height and weight, the workout metrics that matter most to you and the desired features and functions you’re looking for in an indoor bike. Almost all of the Sunny Health and Fitness indoor cycling bikes and spin bikes are highly rated with positive product reviews and are considered to be a solid value compared to competitors in the same price range.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
