Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike Review

The Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike is among the most popular and highest-rated affordable stationary bikes on the market. This bike stands out from the other models we tested with a large, 35 lb weighted flywheel with an adjustable resistance pad that offers an enormous resistance range. This bike looks and feels a lot like a gym-quality spin bike in a simple, no-frills, durable package for use in the home. Whether for casual spinning or intense training, the Yosuda is a quality option at a reasonable price.

Since we tested this bike from Yosuda, they have introduced several more models. This model is now available with magnetic resistance for an additional thirty dollars, an upgrade we'd recommend. Models without magnetic resistance have improved tension control, but magnetic resistance is much smoother than a friction pad. The saddles on all bikes have been upgraded with additional padding, and the dual-sided pedals have also been upgraded.

Tested and Rated

At GearLab, we buy all of the equipment we test. This means we aren't beholden to someone for a free or discounted product we received. We purchased this bike from Amazon just like you can and had the same shipping, assembly, and customer service experience as anyone else. What I felt set the Yosuda apart is its simplicity; sure, many inexpensive stationary bikes are simple, but the Yosuda doesn't skimp on the exercise quality.

Performance Comparison

Exercise Quality

The Yosuda has an excellent exercise quality that resembles a spin bike you might find at the gym. Its upright style demands an athletic and serious approach with a belt-driven 35 lb flywheel and an adjustable pad to control the resistance level. Due to the manually adjusted resistance, this bike does not have fancy features like programmed workouts. Still, it does offer an infinite range of resistance to cater to all fitness levels and workout intensities.

The upright style of the Yosuda puts the rider in an athletic body position similar to a a regular road bike. This body position is more demanding than that of a recumbent model, for example, and it requires the rider to stay engaged through their core and with their attention. Once it is spinning, the 35-pound flywheel is impressively smooth and quiet, and the resistance is controlled by turning a small red knob on the mainframe of the bike. This control knob moves a felt pad up and down to increase or decrease the resistance on the flywheel. Unlike models with magnetic resistance, the Yosuda doesn't have preset levels. Instead, it can be adjusted infinitely from absolutely none to so much you can't even turn the pedals. This allows for many workout intensities, from an easy spin to hardcore interval training. Intense workouts and out-of-the-saddle efforts were no problem considering this bike's excellent stability and sturdy steel frame. The cage pedals are also a nice feature that helps to keep your feet on the pedals when you're cranking away the miles. It is worth mentioning that the belt-driven flywheel keeps the pedals turning even when you stop pedaling. The resistance adjustment knob is also a brake that the rider can push to stop the flywheel.

The console of the Yosuda is relatively simple, and it displays only basic workout information on its small LCD screen. It shows elapsed time, distance, current speed, calories burned, and odometer, but that is it. It does not feature any programmed workouts, courses, or other workout features to speak of. Controlling the resistance level and workout is entirely up to the user and is done by turning the resistance control knob.

Companion App/Connectivity

The Yosuda is a basic exercise bike compared to many of the high-end models we tested, and it does not have any connected features or a fancy screen. That said, it is easy enough to pull up a spin or cycling workout video online and follow along for a more structured workout, and the phone/tablet shelf makes it easy to position your device for viewing while you ride. However, you will follow along without any connectivity, as none of your workout data will transfer to your device through this bike.

Comfort

The Yosuda is a comfortable exercise bike. It doesn't match the comfort of the higher-end bikes or relaxed recumbent models, but we feel it is quite agreeable for an upright-style model. It has a comfortable seat and a large range of adjustments in both the seatpost and handlebars. On test rides up to 1.5 hours, I remained comfortable exercising on this bike.

The Yosuda feels similar to a spin bike you might ride at the gym or a standard road bike. You can ride it with no hands, but most of the time, the seated pedaling position has the rider breaking at the waist with some body weight resting on the handlebars. I found the seat fairly comfortable, with ample cushioning and an ergonomic pressure relief cutout. It isn't a massive seat by any means; it has a more performance-oriented and streamlined shape that doesn't conflict with the hip joints or the pedal stroke. Likewise, the large padded handlebar allows for a variety of hand positions.

The seat post and the handlebars offer a broad range of height adjustments. Yosuda claims an inseam height range of 25 to 35 inches, and there are eight indexed seat post positions. Our primary tester is 6 feet tall with a 32-inch inseam. He had the seat post height maxed out and had perfect leg extension. There seems to be enough adjustment range for this bike to work for riders between 5 and 6 feet tall, depending on your inseam length. There is also about two inches of fore and aft adjustment for the seat where it attaches at the top of the seat post. The handlebars can also be raised or lowered to suit your preferences, with five indexed positions and 6.5 inches of vertical height adjustment.

User Interface

Yosuda didn't go out of their way to impress anyone with the display and controls on this exercise bike. It earned a below-average score for this metric. The battery-powered console is attached to a bracket in the center of the handlebars with a single button to scroll through data fields and a small LCD screen. The resistance is adjusted by turning a little red knob on the mainframe of the bike.

The interface of the Yosuda is quite basic compared to the more advanced displays and features found on the competition. That said, it is simple, intuitive, and effective. The console powers up as soon as the pedals start turning and powers itself off after the bike has been idle for a few minutes. The single button scrolls through the data fields and can display your elapsed time, current speed, distance, calories burned, odometer, or scan (which scrolls through all other options). The LCD screen is 1" tall by 2" wide and easy to read while riding. The red knob on the mainframe of the bike is used to control the resistance manually and also serves as a brake for the flywheel.

Features

The Yosuda is a relatively simple and no-frills exercise bike. Not many bells or whistles, but it does have a few features that enhance its user-friendliness.

While exercising, the feature I liked the most was the bottle cage. Attached to the main frame just below the resistance adjustment knob, the bottle cage ensured we always had water within arm's reach. A small device shelf is attached to the handlebar that is big enough to hold your phone or a tablet while riding. This shelf makes listening to music or watching a video during your workout easier. I enjoyed the cage-style pedals, which helped to keep my feet secure, and they can be tightened around the foot to maximize the pedal stroke. At the front of the bike are two transport wheels that make it easy to roll the bike across most surfaces. The feet of the bike have integrated levelers to improve stability on uneven surfaces. The Yosuda also comes with an extra console mounting bracket and resistance pad should you ever need to replace them.

Ease of Setup/Portability

The Yosuda exercise bike was relatively easy to assemble, especially compared to the heavier high-end models with screens. The assembly process was straightforward, and it came with detailed instructions and all of the hardware and tools required to complete the task. It is certainly a bit heavy, so moving it around can be a bit of a chore, but it has a reasonably small footprint that isn't too obtrusive in your home workout space.

The Yosuda arrived in a large box weighing approximately 75 lbs. Moving the box around can be done by one but is easier with two people, as is removing the bike from the box. Due to the weight and shape of the bike, pulling it out of the box is undoubtedly a bit awkward. Once out of the box, the assembly was relatively straightforward and took about 40 minutes to complete. Standard steps like attaching the front and rear stabilizers, pedals, seat post, handlebar, and console were easy to do by following the included instructions and using the included tools. Yosuda even included extra bolts and washers in case you lose one.

Once assembled, the Yosuda weighs 68.8 lbs. Moving it around is relatively easy using the integrated transport wheels that roll well on firm surfaces. Getting it up or down a flight of stairs isn't advised. With a 40.5" long x 21.5" wide footprint, it doesn't take up much room in your home exercise space. It's certainly not ideal for stuffing into a closet, but it doesn't dominate the room the way that bigger bikes can.

Should You Buy the Yosuda Indoor Cycling Bike?

The Yosuda offers a near gym-quality workout with a massive bandwidth that should be suitable for riders of all fitness levels. This is one of our favorite exercise bikes. It is also built to last with a durable steel frame and construction that we feel will stand the test of time. We recommend this bike to riders who prioritize a comfortable and quality workout experience but aren't ready to commit to the larger price tag of most high-end models and don't mind missing out on connected features.

What Other Exercise Bikes Should You Consider?