Bowflex

I have a few questions on the Bowflex:

Does anyone here own one?
Where and how much did you pay?
Would you recommend it? Which Model?

My wife and I bought an elliptical trainer 6 months ago – we’ve only used it TWICE!
We find that it’s better to go for a walk, jog or cycling than use the machine. We bought the machine for $1840 (incl. tax) and want to sell it now and get the Bowflex instead. What do you think? How much can we get for it?

Here are the specs for the Elliptical. It’s practically BRAND NEW (I have the receipt – it was bought from Fitness Source).

Kettler Ergometer CTR1

http://www.kettler.net/articles/2004...226/index.html

http://www.fitnesssource.ca/product_...products_id=66

KETTLER CTR1 ELLIPTICAL / CROSSTRAINER (Made in Germany)
The CTR1 Elliptical/Crosstrainer is a highly effective form of exercise for the entire body as it makes use of all the main groups of muscles and stimulates the metabolism. Through their innovative elliptical movement of the footplates, the KETTLER cross trainers give a unique and enjoyable feeling of weightlessness during training. The evenly balanced movement strengthens the legs, seat and hips without putting unnecessary strain on the joints. The movement of the upper torso is linked to that of the legs and strengthens arms, shoulders, chest and back.
Enjoy the silent smooth ride.

Key Features:

Electronic pulse ear clip, hand sensors or cardio-pulse kit
PC interface for exchangeable training programs
Electromagnetic Eddy-Current brake system.
22kg Flywheel
Transport castors at front, height adjustment at rear

Product Specs:

Programs:
Seven resident training programs; Possible settings: Performance, time, calorie consumption, distance, optimum training pulse range, upper pulse limit, and choice of programs.

Console Features:
High-resolution LCD with graphic display of load profile, performance in Watts, number of cycles, timer, calorie consumption, training distance, total km, speed, room temperature, pulse, and average values at the end of training.

Dimensions:
Length 59.30", Width 22.05", Height 59.82"

Warranty:
Residential: Lifetime Frame, 3 Year Parts, 1 Year Labour; Light Institutional: 1 Year Parts

(Since the machine is only 6 months old, the warranty is still valid.)

Anyone??

Are you trying to sell this IF so.. this belongs to BST // j/k

try the fitness forum..

The Bowflex Elite is available at Costco. Next week they have a $200 off instant coupon. I think the orginal price is $1399 or maybe $1299.

I found a forum on the internet (called At fit Home or something like that) that discusses just Bowflexs. If you search for Bowflex and costco in google it is one of the top matches.

You can get a brand new Bowflex hardly used for cheap cheap if you check your local bargin finder. People continuously buy these things in the hopes of looking like Chuck Norris and then never use them.

If you haven't at least researched the Crossbow from Weider, you should do so. It's considerably cheaper, and some people claim its even better. I think it at least is the better value.

I bought a Bowflex maybe around 4 years ago so I could cancel my gym membership. I paid $1795.46 which included the tax and shipping. I bought it by calling the number on the website.

Nowadays, you can check it out at places like Fitness Depot before you buy it.

I recommend testing it out and ALSO testing out the Weider Crossbow. The Crossbow looks like a much better deal although my ex-boss didn't like it (I recommended he get one after he kept wanting me to sell him my bowflex for cheap). I've never used the crossbow but here are some things I would check out about it:

- It looks wider than the bowflex which may be a factor.
- Check out the resistance throughout the range of motion. It doesn't have to be constant, but ideally you don't want it too light at the start or end of the motion.

Originally Posted by shaker

You can get a brand new Bowflex hardly used for cheap cheap if you check your local bargin finder. People continuously buy these things in the hopes of looking like Chuck Norris and then never use them.

I believe Chuck Norris is the "Total Gym" guy...him and Christie Brinkley.

My view is you always need a workout partner to spot you so you can push those extra few reps at the end. If you're just looking to tone up a bit, this should be fine, but don't expect to start looking like the models they have in the commercials.

Originally Posted by Gdog

I believe Chuck Norris is the "Total Gym" guy...him and Christie Brinkley.

LMAO my mistake you're right

Personally, I wouldn't get one of these things. I went to Sears to look at the Crossbow with a buddy who was interested in buying it. After testing it out (we gave it a fair chance, doing all the excercises shown on their poster), we both felt it didn't give a good work out. The first thing we noticed is that the resistance is not consistent through-out the motion, whether pushing, pulling, etc. For example, if you're doing a lat pull-down, you will not feel anything pulling 2/3rds of the way down. Only the last 3rd, did I feel a good pull, but that's because the resistance bars were already bent to their full potential. We both felt that even a universal gym with weights would be more beneficial, because of constant & consistant weight through the range of motion. In the end, he didn't buy it, and just bought a pass to the local gym.

Thanks guys! Most of you seem to say to stay away from the bowflex and that's what my research on google says too! The infomercials are very deceiving to say the least.

If I posted my Elliptical machine in the BST forum would it sell? How much do you think I would get for it?

If you need a lot of motivation, I don't think anything is going to help until you rework your mindset.

B40, I actually believe you can have a modeleque physique using the bowflex and a good diet. Just based off my own results and I only use my bowflex once a week.

I don't know if I'd recommend the bowflex, but in its defence:

- it will work a lot more stabilizer muscles than with universals, which only have one fixed motion per exercise. When I first started working out, I used universals, then I moved to freeweights and had to drop down in lifting weight so that my stabilizers could catch up. The same thing when I moved onto using the bowflex.
- you can do ballistic/plyometric movements without fear of injury and do it all without a spotter.
- the bowflex rods start out preflexed so you have resistance all the way through, and in fact it gets harder the more the rods get bent.

But the bowflex is friggin expensive. I'd take it over a gym membership in a heartbeat but otherwise if it's just going to collect dust in your house, you should save your money.

I've tried the bowflex and the Total gym...the only reason I would ever ever consider buying them was if the gym closest to me was too far. I always asked myself one question even before trying out all these home gym equipment. If they work as well the company claims they do, why haven't commercial gyms stocked up on them? I mean, as a business owner, it would probably cost me half a quarter million to get all the equipment needed to perform all the exercises the bowflex claims it can do. Why not just buy like 100 bowflexes in bulk price and save yourself some money, space and chances of getting sued?

I actually asked someone at Fitness Depot about that.

The person said that the equipment at gyms are much more expensive than anything they carry and that they have to be durable enough to sustain constant abuse.

Home gym equipment aren't built for that kind of abuse and are therefore cheaper.