You’re building a serious home gym and want one cardio machine that actually gets used. For most people it comes down to a treadmill or an exercise bike. Both can drive fitness, fat loss and recovery. The right choice depends on your joints, your space, your neighbours, and the kind of training you’ll stick to.

Below you’ll get a clear verdict first, then a no-nonsense comparison of impact, calories, space, noise, programming, and upkeep. We’ll finish with simple training templates and Melbourne-specific pickup/delivery notes.

Explore options as you read:
Treadmills (site results)
Exercise bikes (site results)

SHUA collection
Curved vs Motorised Treadmills (deep dive blog)

The short answer

• Choose a treadmill if you enjoy walking/running, want weight-bearing conditioning, and value hill work, pace control and step count. It’s unbeatable for outdoor-like movement when weather or time says “train inside.”

• Choose an exercise bike if you need low-impact training that’s easy on knees/hips, want the quietest option for apartments, and prefer seated intervals or steady rides you can do daily.

If your budget and space allow, the dream pairing is a foldable motorised treadmill for steps and hills plus a spin/upright bike for low-impact volume and recovery days. But if you’re picking one, the sections below will make the call obvious.

How they actually feel (and why it matters)

• Treadmill: weight-bearing, full-body rhythm; balance and posture play a larger role. Curved models reward natural cadence and powerful hip extension; motorised models give precise speed and incline control.

• Bike: seated and supported; minimal skill barrier; you can go hard without impact. Resistance and cadence provide the “gears.”

What sticks gets results. If you naturally like walking or running, the treadmill wins adherence. If your joints prefer seated power or you hate the idea of running, the bike wins.

Impact, joints and recovery

• Treadmill (motorised or curved): still impact, but deck cushioning reduces peak forces compared to road running. Great for bone density and gait patterning.

• Bike: ultra-low impact. Excellent for sore knees/hips, post-leg-day flush rides, and high frequency training blocks.

Verdict: If joint friendliness is priority one, start with the bike. If you want the benefits of weight-bearing movement and step count, choose the treadmill.

Calories and conditioning

Both can burn a lot of calories; it’s more about intensity and consistency:

• Treadmill: incline walking and intervals raise heart rate quickly; curved running can feel brutally effective for short efforts.

• Bike: you can push very hard with low injury risk; long steady rides are easier to sustain while watching a screen or working through calls.

Verdict: Tie on calorie potential. Pick the machine you’ll use 4–6 days a week.

Space and noise (apartment vs garage)

• Treadmill: larger footprint; motorised units can be foldable (handy for studios). Some motor hum and footfall noise. Curved models are quiet (no motor) but not foldable and need more open floor.

• Bike: compact, rollable and quiet. Easiest choice for apartments and shared spaces.

If you’re upstairs with neighbours, the bike is usually smarter. If you have a garage or spare room, a treadmill’s footprint is rarely an issue.

Programming you’ll actually follow

Treadmill templates

1) 20-minute incline walk (all levels)
5 min easy, 10 min brisk at 6-10% incline, 5 min easy. Heart rate up without pounding the joints.

2) Classic 30/30s (speed or incline)
10 rounds of 30s steady hard / 30s easy. Walk recovery if running. Finish with a 5-minute cool-down.

3) Rolling hills (30-40 min)
Alternate 2 min flat / 2 min 4–8% incline. Keep pace steady; let the hill drive intensity.

Bike templates

1) Low-impact fat-loss ride (30 min)
5 min easy spin, then 20 min at a conversational pace, finish with 5 min easy. Add 2–5 min each week.

2) 15 x 40/20 (power)
40s hard / 20s easy for 15 rounds. Keep cadence consistent; increase resistance slightly halfway.

3) Recovery flush (20–30 min)
Very light resistance, high cadence (85–95 RPM). Perfect the day after heavy squats.

Pro tip: schedule two “default” sessions you can start without thinking-one short, one longer. Consistency beats complicated.

Maintenance & longevity

• Treadmill: keep the deck clean, check belt alignment/tension occasionally; motorised units benefit from periodic servicing. Curved belts are simpler (no motor) but still appreciate wiping and checking slats/track.

• Bike: minimal-wipe down, keep bolts snug, occasionally check drive system if it’s belt-driven.

If you prefer zero-fuss, bikes nudge ahead. If you value feature-rich training (incline, pace metrics, programs), modern treadmills make it easy.

The SHUA options (quality you won’t outgrow)

• For motorised treadmills and compact, foldable choices, start here: SHUA collection

• Want to compare curved vs motorised first?

• Browsing everything treadmill

• Browsing everything bike

All models we recommend are chosen for build quality, stability and serviceability-that premium feel you notice on day one and still appreciate in year five.

Apartment vs garage: quick setups that work

Apartment (quiet & compact)

• Spin or upright bike positioned on a rubber mat

• Small fan in front; headphones and timer within reach

• Foldable motorised treadmill only if downstairs or on solid slab

Garage (feature-rich)

• Motorised or curved treadmill with clear room behind/around

• Upright or spin bike as your low-impact option (ideal pairing)

• Mount a wall clock and keep a towel/hydration station nearby

Melbourne pickup vs delivery

Many customers choose same-day warehouse pickup to save on freight and train sooner. If you prefer delivery, plan the path from truck to room (door widths, stairs, flooring) and allow space for assembly.

Warehouse address (open in Maps)

Questions, stock checks or a quick recommendation? Email us any time: info@brixxfitness.com.au

So…treadmill or bike?

• Pick the treadmill if you want steps, hills and outdoor-like movement with precise control.

• Pick the bike if you want quiet, low-impact conditioning you can repeat daily without beating up your joints.

Either way, choose equipment that feels stable, smooth and enjoyable. When the machine invites you to train, you’ll use it more-results follow.

• Explore now:
  Treadmills
• Exercise bikes
• SHUA collection

FAQ (late placement for richer SERP snippets)

Which burns more calories-treadmill or bike?
Both can; it depends on intensity and duration. Incline walking or intervals on a treadmill and resistance intervals on a bike are equally potent. Choose the one you’ll do 4-6 days/week.

Which is better for bad knees?
Generally the bike. It’s seated and low-impact, letting you hit high heart rates without pounding the joints. Treadmill walking on an incline can also be knee-friendly if you avoid long bouts of hard running.

What’s quieter in an apartment?
Usually the bike. Treadmills add footfall noise and (for motorised) a small motor hum. Curved treadmills are quieter than motorised but still transmit foot strike.

Is walking on a treadmill “enough” for fat loss?
Yes - especially incline walking with progressive time or pace. Combine with consistent strength work and nutrition.

Curved or motorised treadmill?
Curved is self-powered and great for sprints/HIIT; motorised is best for precise pace and incline and often folds. Read our guide:
https://www.brixxfitness.com.au/blogs/news/curved-vs-motorised-treadmills-which-one-s-right-for-your-home-gym