The Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike Review (2024): Compact Capabilities for Your Cardio Routine

If you’re considering bringing an indoor bike into your home, but don’t have the space to dedicate to one of the larger best exercise bikes, a folding model like the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike may be a good fit for you. This lightweight and portable Marcy model can provide you with the ability to increase your cardio capacity, then fold up so you can stow it in the closet, under a bed, maybe even in the tub — who are we to tell you how to live your life?

While folding bikes tend to be less sturdy than non-folding bikes, this one provided our tester with a wobble-free ride. We’re big fans of the affordable price tag, 14-gauge steel frame, and portable 37-pound weight, all of which contribute to the casual and reliable cardio experience it can provide. Whether you’re short on floor space or are just looking for a hassle-free way to add some indoor cycling to your day, keep reading to see if this bike is the right bike for you.

Main Takeaways

• This is one of the rare folding exercise bikes, transforming from 33.5 inches to 18.5 inches long when folded.
• The attached transportation wheels make transport and storage much easier. 
• The 14-gauge steel frame provides a durable and sturdy ride.

Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike Highlights

• Price: $189.99
• Resistance: 8 levels of magnetic resistance
• Dimensions Assembled: 43.75” H x 33.5” L x 18.25” W
• Dimensions Folded: 51.5” H x 18.25” L x 18.25” W
• Weight Capacity: 250lbs
• Bike Weight: 37lbs
• Warranty: 2-year manufacturer

While budget buys tend to be light on tech, integrated programming, and resistance, we like the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike for its utilitarian, lightweight design, sturdy frame, and, obviously, its folding capabilities. Our team rated its durability and warranty a 5 out of 5, the highest scores in these categories out of the nine folding exercise bikes we’ve tested.

Small but mighty, this magnetic upright bike weighs just 37 pounds, roughly 60 to 100 pounds lighter than the average exercise bike. When folded, it shrinks from 33.5 inches in length to just 18.5 inches, making it possible to stow it away in closets, corners, and even the back seats of some cars. 

Surprisingly, this size doesn’t come at the cost of the bike’s build. “This is without a doubt the most durable folding bike I’ve tested,” noted our tester, a certified personal trainer, who scored durability a 5 out of 5.

[Related: The 6 Best Folding Exercise Bikes]

We also love the affordable $189.99 price tag, which is on the lower end of the $175 to $300 average we’ve seen for other folding exercise bikes. For that price, you get 8 levels of magnetic resistance and an LCD display that can track your speed, time, distance, and calories burned. Eight levels of resistance likely won’t be enough for seasoned riders, but we think it’s plenty for those who want a portable bike that can help them stay active throughout the week. 

“Naturally, less expensive equipment won’t stand up to its more expensive counterpart in terms of quality, durability, versatility, and longevity,” notes BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. But this is still a worthwhile consideration for those wanting to add a bit of low-impact cardio to their routine but are tight on space.

Pros

• At $189.99, this bike is less expensive than comparable folding bikes that come in around $200 to $300.
• When folded, users save 15 inches of floor space.
• At 37 pounds, folding and transporting this bike is fairly easy.

Cons

• This bike is light on tech, with only an LCD display capable of delivering basic metrics.
• This bike’s seat height can only adjust 4 inches, so users may struggle to find a comfortable position.
• The 8 levels of magnetic resistance aren’t likely to provide enough of a challenge for seasoned cyclists.

Training With the Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike

Folding exercise bikes are great for those who want the benefits of cardio at home, but live in apartments, shared spaces, or small houses. Our team here at BarBend is filled with cyclists, CrossFit athletes, and certified personal trainers who have peddled hundreds of miles on over 30 stationary exercise bikes. We got in multiple workouts on the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike and scored 12 different categories — including durability, portability, and workout experience — on a scale from 1 (meh) to 5 (great!). 

Durability

The durability of this bike is where our tester gave high marks. We found the 14-gauge steel frame to feel as sturdy as that of a non-folding exercise bike, providing us some peace of mind regarding its longevity. “The steel frame makes this bike much more heavy-duty than other folding bikes, I can tell it’s going to last longer than other similar models I’ve tried,” noted our tester. 

[Related: The 8 Best Exercise Bikes with Screens]

While this build creates a more durable product, it’ll also provide for a more stable workout. “The ride is sturdy and smooth, and provided a better workout experience than I’ve had on other folding bikes,” said our tester.

Resistance

This bike provides 8 levels of magnetic resistance. However, our tester noted, “This might not be enough resistance for serious cyclists or those looking to do high-intensity training.” And while this amount of resistance pales in comparison to bikes like Peloton or NordicTrack — with resistance levels ranging from 22 up to 100 — this amount is typical for folding exercise bikes.

If you’re interested in a high-intensity ride and willing to splurge on a higher-priced bike, you’ll want to look for magnetic resistance levels starting around 20 or friction resistance bikes with a heavy, 20 to 50 pound, flywheel. This will provide you with the ability to set your resistance high enough to stand up out of your saddle to mimic uphill rides.

Adjustability

Marcy recommends this bike for users between 5-foot-1 and 6-foot-3, but the seat can only be adjusted up to 4 inches, meaning it may not provide the most ergonomic fit for every rider. When it comes to standard spin bikes, we tend to look for models with four-way seat adjustability and adjustable handlebars. That said, our tester noted that the limited adjustment on this bike is standard for folding bikes at this price point. Customizations scored a 4 out of 5.

We also like the counterbalanced foot pedals, which were designed to stay upright so users won’t have to struggle with flipping the pedal over to get their shoe into the foot strap. These foot straps have eight adjustable notches so you can customize the fit based on the size of your shoe. 

Display

You won’t find fancy tech on this bike — no touchscreens or heart rate monitors — but the LCD screen does provide basic training metrics. Situated between the handlebars, the display can track your speed, distance, time, and calories burned. It also has an odometer reading to let you know how many miles you’ve put on this bike throughout its lifetime.

Comfort

You can’t reap the benefits of exercise bikes if you can’t sit in the seat long enough to get your workout in. Bike seats, in general, aren’t the most comfortable place to park your rear. I like to wear padded bike shorts when I hop onto my Sunny Health & Fitness bike because the added cushioning just feels better.

That said, our tester found the high-density foam padded seat on the Marcy Folding Exercise Bike to be fairly comfortable. However, some customer reviews online disagree, and suggested adding a gel or foam seat cover to assist with longer rides.

What to Consider Before Buying the Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike

“Making a list of exercise equipment priorities may help you stretch your dollar a bit further,” notes BarBend’s expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. Investing in the best budget home gym equipment to get your cardio workout in can be nerve-wracking, but we’ve put together some key points to consider when deciding if the Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike is a good choice for you. 

Fitness Goals

If you’re searching for an indoor cycling bike to help you stay active throughout the day, the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike is a solid choice. Low-intensity cardio can improve your aerobic capacity, strengthening your heart and improving oxygen delivery throughout your body. (1) This type of cycling can be good for seniors or those new to fitness. If you’re looking for a bike to support high-intensity rides, however, you’ll want to look elsewhere. 

From weight loss to building a stronger heart, figuring out exactly what your fitness goals are will help you understand what sort of training capabilities you want in your bike.

Price

The Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike is a budget cardio machine that costs $189.99. When compared to other folding exercise bikes, this is about $30 to $80 less expensive. For this price, don’t expect much in the way of impressive tech features or added conveniences. 

For those looking for a simple and reliable means to add some LISS cardio to their day, however, this bike is priced to sell. “I think a lot of people would find that they can find lower-cost options to meet their needs rather than spending big bucks on luxury equipment they won’t use all of the features on,” notes Capritto.

Footprint and Foldability

This exercise bike measures 33.5 inches long, 18.25 inches wide, and 43.74 inches tall when set up. That’s about 4.25 square feet. When folded, this bike’s length shrinks down to 18.25 inches, nearly halving the square footage down to 2.3 square feet. To give you a visual, that’s a square with sides about the length of four single dollar bills laid out end to end. 

Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike Vs. The Competition

It can be hard to navigate your choices, clicking from one online review to the next, wondering, “Which option is right for me?” and then getting distracted by a video on social media of the cutest Norwegian Lundehund. You should see this dog. His ears? That nose. The cutest — sorry! 

Here is a comparison chart that gives you the hard facts between the Marcy Foldable Exercise Bike and its competitors. No distractions, no dogs.

The Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike has one of the lowest user weight limits — 250 pounds — when compared to the 300- and 330-pound weight capacities seen on the FitNation and LEIKE bikes, respectively. It is, however, one of the most affordable at $189.99 (and often on sale for closer to $160). That’s almost half the cost of the Sharper Image Space Saving Stationary Bike, which retails for $349.99. 

Eight levels of resistance are standard for stationary bikes with folding capabilities, as seen in three of the four bikes we’ve compared, but for those looking for a little more of a challenge, the LEIKE’s 10 levels might be more suitable.

The largest consideration when perusing folding exercise bikes is making sure it will fit in your space — both when in use and when folded. The setup dimensions of these bikes are all fairly comparable, but when folded, the Sharper Image Space Saving Stationary Bike’s width shrinks down to an impressive 7 inches — more than 11 inches smaller than the Marcy. 

Places to Buy the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike

You can buy the Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike directly from the MarcyPro website, as well as via online retailers like Amazon, Target, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Walmart.

Warranty

IMPEX Inc. provides a 2-year warranty on the frame of the bike. To register your purchase, go to www.marcypro.com.

Replacement parts can be ordered by contacting the customer service department by calling 1-800-999-8899. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. 

Company Information

Marcy is owned by an American company called IMPEX which manufactures fitness equipment for brands like Steelbody and Bionic Body. The Marcy brand provides affordable fitness equipment such as dumbbells, barbells, treadmills, ellipticals, smith machines, and accessories. You can contact them for questions regarding your warranty or to purchase new parts through their website, www.marcypro.com.

To reach Marcy’s customer support, you can call 1-800-999-8899 or email support@impex-fitness.com. However, it’s worth noting that some customer reviews have complained about an inability to reach customer service representatives on the phone.

Final Words

The Marcy Foldable Upright Exercise Bike is a budget bike for users tight on space or who aren’t ready to invest in a more high-end exercise bike. Those looking for a bike they can pull out of their closet, pop open, and take for a ride to get their legs moving may find the 8 levels of resistance suitable for their needs. The most impressive aspect of this bike is its sturdiness and durability. We didn’t experience any wobble during rides and, when compared to other folding exercise bikes, we think it may last much longer.

After reviewing this bike, we’d recommend it for those who are just starting a fitness routine, those with limited floor space, and individuals who are looking to add some cardio to their day, but aren’t trying to win any speed trials. This is not a bike suitable for experienced cyclists and those looking to take their training seriously. 

FAQs

References

1. Patel, H., Alkhawam, H., Madanieh, R., Shah, N., Kosmas, C. E., & Vittorio, T. J. (2017). Aerobic vs anaerobic exercise training effects on the cardiovascular system. World journal of cardiology, 9(2), 134–138. https://doi.org/10.4330/wjc.v9.i2.134

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