Recumbent bikes don’t come much more basic than the JeeKee Recumbent Exercise Bike. There are no HD color screens, Subscription apps, VR, or workout programs. This is a no-frills recumbent. It does away with all the techy stuff, which keeps the price low.

No Bells and Whistles Sturdy Recumbent Bike

And this is what JeeKee are known for; they love to make no bells and whistles fitness equipment. I’ve reviewed a load of their gear, and while it is all basic, their equipment is well-made, which is why I like this company. They specialize in low-cost gear and keep the quality high. If your budget is tight and you don’t mind going without a few advanced features, the JeeKee recumbent bike might be your best choice.

It’s definitely one of the best I’ve come across for under $300, and in today’s review, we’ll take a close look at everything it offers, including any drawbacks.

First, let’s take a quick look at the product specs!

Product Specifications

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Product dimensions –  53.5″D x 19.3″W x 39″H

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Weight – 70lb

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Resistance Type – Magnetic

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Resistance levels – 8

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Frame – Steel tubing

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Adjustable Seat – Yes

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Weight Capacity – 300lb

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User Height Range – 4’10” to 6’5″

Why Do We Like The JeeKee Exercise Recumbent Bike?

One of the first things you’ll notice about this recumbent bike is how sturdy it feels, which is surprising for a low-cost recumbent.

The low profile design and those wide front and rear stabilizer bars really help keep the JeeKee recumbent bike stable. It doesn’t feel cheap, it’s a well-made, sturdy machine, and many users have praised how good this thing feels when exercising on it.

Easy To Use

But perhaps what’s most appealing about this recumbent bike is just how easy it is to use, and that’s one of the best things about the no-frills recumb; there’s nothing complicated about them.

There are no subscription apps to deal with or tons of menus to scroll through. It’s the type of bike you can just get on and start exercising.

And the step-through frame design is a handy feature as it removes the awkward horizontal bar you’ll find on many exercise bikes. The walk through design of the JeeKee makes it very easy to get on and off the bike.

If you have arthritis and have trouble lifting your legs, always look for a recumbent bike with a walk through frame.

jeekee recumbent bike

Impressive 9-Position Adjustable Seat

The seat is one of the most important features of a recumbent bike; it needs to be comfy and adjustable. There are so many recumbents under $300 without adjustable seats, so it was a nice surprise to find the JeeKee Recumbent bike includes an adjustable seat. With 9 positions in total, you will easily find the perfect position for your size. With a max height limit of 6’5″

And the seat is wide and padded well. It doesn’t use high-density foam, but the padding isn’t too soft or too hard. It’s good enough for the price point.

Still, because this is a low-cost recumbent bike, you don’t have an adjustable backrest. You need to spend at least twice the price of the JeeKee to find recumbents with adjustable backrests, and the backrest isn’t vented, so after long cardio sessions, you may feel your back is a little sweaty.

jeekee adjustable recumbent seat

8 Levels of Frictionless Resistance

The JeeKee Recumbent bike comes with eight levels of magnetic resistance. This is the best type of resistance system for a recumbent bike because it’s frictionless. The magnets don’t make any contact with the flywheel. Thus, it’s whisper quiet, and most importantly, it’s nice and smooth.

You get eight resistance levels with the JeeKee bike and a 10lb flywheel. This is a relatively light flywheel, so resistance isn’t going to be that strong in the upper levels. This is a recumbent bike designed for beginners and intermediates. Not for serious athletes or anything like that.

Cheap bikes don’t come with digital resistance settings, which means you can’t adjust resistance strength from the monitor; instead, you have to manually adjust from the tension knob under the monitor, which only takes a few seconds.

Also, because you are manually adjusting resistance, the recumbent bike doesn’t need a mains supply which is always a good thing.

Belt Drive System

You also have a belt drive system with the JeeKee recumbent bike. Belt drives are much quieter than the noisy chain drives that many exercise bikes use.

A belt drive and magnetic resistance system is the quietest and smoothest combination you’ll find for a recumbent bike. With a noise level of just 20DB, you’ll be able to watch TV or listen to music without being disturbed by the sound of the recumbent bike.

jeekee monitor

Disappointing Monitor

Monitors in this price bracket are always very basic, and the JeeKee Recumbent bike monitor is no exception. There’s no workout programs or anything advanced. All this monitor does is track your vital workout stats, like distance, time, speed, calories, and pulse.

Basic can be good; as I mentioned in the intro, it keeps the price of the recumbent bike down. And also because the monitor is so basic it’s easy to use. 

Lastly, there are built-in handlebar pulse sensors, so at least you can monitor your pulse rate while you pedal. And there’s a tablet holder, so you can download a few free fitness apps to help keep you entertained and challenged.

How Many Calories Can I burn on the JeeKee Recumbent Bike?

A recumbent bike is very similar to an upright exercise bike in that they work those same large posterior leg muscles like the hamstrings and the glutes. These muscles have a high caloric output requirement meaning you’ll burn just as many as you would on an upright exercise bike.

Of course, how many calories you burn per session also depends on how long you pedal for and what resistance setting you choose. An average-weight person can burn 200 calories in a 30-minute session on a medium resistance setting.

JeeKee Recumbent Bike Assembly Video – 1 Hour

It’s a mixed bag; some people find the JeeKee recumbent bike hard to assemble, while others are breezing through the build in 45 minutes. I find recumbent bikes tricky to assemble because there are so many parts. They take a little longer than a regular exercise bike and much longer than a treadmill to assemble. So it’s always a good idea to set aside a few hours to assemble your recumbent bike.

The JeeKee bike does come with all the tools for a job and illustrated assembly manual. But just in case you do get stuck, here’s an assembly video that should help speed things up

The Good

Sturdy build for price point

Walk though frame design makes it easy to get on and off of the bike

8 levels of quiet magnetic resistance – can watch TV or listen to music without being disturbed by the sound of the machine

Compact design – smaller footprint than most recumbent bikes 

Comfy wide adjustable seat

Easy to use

Built-in transport wheel, tablet holder, and handlebar pulse sensors

The Bad

No workout programs

Backrest isn’t adjustable

Flywheel is fairly light – only suitable for beginners and intermediates

                                                                                         

Alternative

side view of the marcy recumbent bike

Marcy ME-709 (Best Under $200)

Marcy are another company that specializes in low-cost fitness gear. They’ve been around for over 20 years, and I’ve always liked this company because they somehow manage to deliver quality at the lowest of prices.

The Marcy ME-709 is the most popular recumbent bike ever made. It’s a cheap, no-frills recumbent bike very similar to the JeeKee, except this bike costs $100 less.

Build quality is decent with the Marcy bike. It weighs nearly 70lb, so it feels sturdy when pedaling, and like the JeeKee recumbent bike, it boasts a low profile design and rear and front stabilizers, so stability isn’t an issue.

Also, like the JeeKee, you have the eight levels of magnetic resistance, the belt drive system, walk through frame, a monitor, and a wide comfy, padded adjustable seat. All this for under $200, you can understand why the Marcy is the most popular recumbent bike on the market.

The quality isn’t quite as good as the JeeKee. Also, there are no built-in pulse sensors with the Marcy, and you won’t get a tablet holder, but for under $200, the Marcy 709 still offers more bang for your buck than any other recumbent bike.

Another well-made recumbent bike for beginners on a tight budget.

                                                                                         

To Sum Up

When I reviewed the JeeKee elliptical, I was really impressed with the quality on offer for the price point, and I’m just as impressed with their recumbent bike. The JeeKee recumbent bike punches above its price tag on quality. It’s a sturdy machine with a low-profile compact design. The walk through frame makes it easy to get on and off of, and the smooth, frictionless resistance system provides enough resistance for beginners as well as intermediates.

If you’re okay with the fuss-free design and can go without features like workout programs etc., then a budget recumbent bike like the JeeKee saves a lot of cash while still providing an excellent low-impact workout.