The Marcy NS-652 is a folding upright bike with eight levels of magnetic resistance, a 14-gauge steel frame and a 250 lb weight limit. Garage Gym Reviews tested it and gave it an Editor's Rating of 4.3 out of 5, praising how steady it stayed even when pedaled hard and calling it one it would highly recommend for casual exercisers and small spaces. It is not built for hard training: GGR found the resistance too light for high-intensity work, and the console shows only basic stats with no heart-rate monitoring.
Full review
A folding upright for small spaces
The NS-652 is Marcy's folding upright bike. Garage Gym Reviews lists it at 34 by 19 by 44 inches set up and 18.5 by 18.5 by 51.5 inches folded, weighing 37 pounds with a 250 lb user capacity. Resistance is magnetic with eight levels, and a basic LCD powered by two AA batteries shows speed, time, calories, distance and an odometer, so the bike does not need an outlet. GGR notes the batteries are not included.
How it rode in GGR's testing
GGR editor and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto tested the bike and said it changed her otherwise low opinion of folding exercise bikes; it became the bike she uses for warmups and cooldowns. She credits the 14-gauge steel frame for stability and did not experience rocking even when pedaling hard. GGR's testers found the padded seat comfortable, and the transport wheels made the light frame easy to steer around.
The limit is intensity. GGR says the eight levels do not deliver enough resistance for a high-intensity workout, so the bike suits casual exercisers and beginners rather than cyclists who want to train hard.
Fit, features and ownership
The seat adjusts from 26 to 30 inches off the ground, which GGR says should fit most people under 6 feet. The foam-covered handlebars do not adjust, and the flat pedals have a single strap that GGR recommends using at higher speeds. There is no heart-rate monitoring, tablet holder or water bottle.
GGR's tester first ordered from Marcy directly and gave up after a week of phone tag over her address, then ordered through Amazon without trouble; assembly took about 45 minutes. The bike carries a two-year warranty, which GGR says falls short of what it typically sees in the industry. GGR's verdict is that it would highly recommend the bike for casual exercise or cardio in a small space.
Strengths
- +Garage Gym Reviews found it incredibly sturdy for a folding bike, with no rocking even when pedaling hard
- +14-gauge steel frame that GGR says is more durable than competitors use
- +Padded seat that GGR's testers found comfortable
- +Light at 37 lb, with transport wheels GGR's tester found easy to steer, and it folds to 18.5 by 18.5 inches
- +GGR's tester assembled it in about 45 minutes without problems
Watch-outs
- −Not enough resistance for high-intensity workouts, per GGR
- −Basic LCD only, with no heart-rate monitoring, tablet holder or programs
- −Seat height tops out at 30 inches, which GGR says may not suit riders over about 6 feet
- −Two-year warranty, which GGR says falls far short of what it typically sees
How it compares
The NS-652 is the only folding bike on this page. It shares the Marcy ME-709 Recumbent's eight magnetic resistance levels but puts the rider upright instead of back-supported, and its 250 lb limit is lower than the ME-709's and Schwinn 130's 300 lb. It has no programs or Bluetooth, unlike the Schwinn 130 Upright Bike, and no heavy flywheel like the JOROTO X2 Magnetic and YOSUDA YB001R Magnetic spin bikes.
Rating sources
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
