The Spirit Z8 Treadmill Review - Not enough bang for the buck

Nihango!

The Treadmill Sensei has returned from a very relaxing weekend with the family. Ok, more like a semi-relaxing weekend spent at a party with more than 60 of my wife's family. God, it's good to be back to work. I was even glad to see Hikaru's Fugly face gazing back at me as I entered the DOJO this morning...wow, who'd have thought I'd ever type that sentence?

As always, at these family gatherings, I have members of my beloved's extended family either trying to get advice on what treadmill or elliptical they should buy...or, I'm having the less intelligent members of her family trying to rub in how they went against my advice and bought a new Proform treadmill from Sears. To those, I just chuckle quietly to myself and wait for the repair calls to come in.

This week I must confess to some of my advice being taken and it not having been the best...at least, not how it was followed. My wife's cousin, based on what he'd read here on the Treadmill Sensei, went out and purchased a Spirit Treadmill. "Great," you say. "The Treadmill Sensei is continuing telling us how fantastic the Spirit treadmills are, so his cousin-in-law made out. Yay!"

Well, in this case, we've got a little bit of a problem. You see, the aforementioned cousin-in-law went out and purchased the little brother of the Spirit Z88: he bought the Spirit Z8 treadmill. Unfortunately, the Spirit Z8 just doesn't quite live up to the reputation of it's bigger brother.

I want to start off by saying the Spirit Z8 treadmill is by no means a bad or poorly made piece of equipment. Not at all. It is a well constructed and sturdy a treadmill. The problem is that it just doesn't quite stack up, features-wise, to everything else at its price point.

You see, at an average price of $999, the Spirit Z8 treadmill only comes with a 2 horsepower motor...and, while it is a well made, cool running 2 horsepower motor, the Spirit Z8 comes up lacking in a world of the Ironman 320t Treadmill with a 2.5 horsepower motor, the Horizon T63 with a 2.25 horsepower motor, the Fitnex T30 with a 2.2 or even the Ironman 220t with a 2.25. For almost a thousand dollars, a customer should expect a larger motor for his money.

Moving on to the side of the deck, the Spirit z8 treadmill comes up short here to with a tiny 50"x18" deck. This is just too small of a running surface (I'd call it a walking surface) for anything over about $599. It's not impressive at all.

Let's go over some of the other features of the Spirit Z8 treadmill: a 275 pound max capacity comes up short in an arena where 325-350 is standard; the 2.5" rollers are average for this price point, as are the 5 programs. The lack of wireless heartrate monitoring is a bit of a disappoint.

On the plus side, the unit does have a great Spirit warranty coming in at 5 years for parts and 1 year for labor.

All in all, the Spirit Z8 isn't bad, it's just not really all that great. For trying to scrape by using Spirit's good name, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit Z8 treadmill 2.5 golden buddahs out of 5.

The Z8 Treadmill from Spirit comes up average with a 2.5 out of 5.


Find out more about the Spirit Z8 Treadmill and get the lowest price online.

Spirit Z8 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.0 HP
Max Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Folding: Yes
Max Speed: 10 MPH
Max Incline: 11%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Pulse grip
Heart Rate Control: No
Programs: 5
Display Type: LCD
Roller Size: 2.5"
Deck Thickness: 1"
Running Area: 18" x 50"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag -- Sole E25 Elliptical Questions

Moshi Moshi!

Welcome again to the DOJO. I am your host, the Treadmill Sensei, and today we have another offering from our reader mailbag. This time we have a question from Hank who has been looking at the Sole E25. Let's hear from Hank:

"Treadmill Sensei, dig the blog, very helpful. So I'm about to pull the trigger on the elliptical Spirit XE150/Sole 35 based on all the good reviews I've read on it (including yours of course), but I've also heard good things about the Smooth brand (direct on-line only) ellipticals. Have you ever had any experience with them? About the same price range.

I'm short (5'5") so I'm actually wondering if the Smooth's 19" stride is better for me than the Spirit's 20" - you think a one inch difference would make much of a difference anyway?

Thanks, and keep up the great reviews!"
Hank from NY

Thanks for the note, Hank, and I'm glad you enjoy the blog. I am familiar with Smooth. They used to be a very good brand (and were actually made by Spirit at one point, as well as by Sportsart, I believe), but in the last year or two they're gone down hill. The new manufacturing company (whose name escapes me right now but I can look it up if you are interested) has dropped the quality of the parts quite a bit.

The Spirit XE150 / Sole E35 Ellipticals are definitely "A" quality and the Smooth is more "B-" or "C" quality from what I've seen. We get a couple of their ellipticals in a week to do repair work on. Oh, and so you know, I don't have any attachments to either company. I do repair work for every single manufacturer out there and would prefer if everyone bought a Smooth because it would mean more work for me!

The stride different shouldn't matter much at all -- I'd definiely avoid a 22 or 24 inch stride (I'm 5'7" myself) and keep away from anything less than 17-18 inches.

And we had a follow up question from Hank:

"If I can pick your brain one more time - would you happen to know what the big difference is between the cheaper Sole E25 and Sole E35 model, if any? According to the Sole site, the only real difference is the lcd size, pulse monitor and different warranty (E25 does not cover as many years). I don't really care for the bells and whistles, heart rate monitor and stuff, but I want to make sure the E25 has the same internal mechanics and parts - looks like it's got the same magnetic braking resistance, stride length the same, etc. Not many places selling the E25 (most are selling the E35) but Dick's Sporting Goods does have it on sale for $999."

Hank, ou listed exactly the differences between the Sole E25 and the Sole E35 Elliptical. The E25 is a stripped down version of the Sole E35 but is still a good machine. It also has a slightly smaller footprint, but from the couple I've worked on, they seem to be the exact same machine otherwise. I believe it was an exclusive model that could only be ordered through a select few retailers and through Sole itself. The Sole E25 ellipticals are very nice little machines that will last you for a good long time.

I hope that helps Hand and any of you out there interested in more information on Sole and Spirit in general or the Sole E25 elliptical in specific.

Until next time, take care!

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Horizon E70 Elliptical Review - A new downgrade unit

Moshi Moshi!

After a day away from the DOJO on Monday, the Treadmill Sensei has returned, relaxed and re-energized, ready to share his fitness wisdom with the internet masses. Yesterday we had a walk in customer here at the DOJO (well, they called before they walked in), which is a bit unusual. Normally we don't really work with the general public because our calls will come in from vendors, gyms or manufacturers about setting up services calls for myself or one of the younger Senseis to go out and perform. Even more out of the ordinary, the customer brought in a unit that I had never seen before...a fact which Hikaru had a lot of fun teasing me about. I told him that I leave knowing EVERYTHING to God....I just know ALMOST everything.

The unit the customer brought in was the Horizon E70 Elliptical which he bought at a Dick's Sporting Goods locally a month or so before. Upon putting the E70 Elliptical together once he got home, the customer quickly realized the rails were bent and his monitor wasn't working. As a service tech for more than 20 years I am very familiar with Horizon, so I was eager to get a chance to check out the Horizon E70.

Taking the Horizon E70 off of the truck, I quickly realize this tiny unit was probably the new version of Horizon's old E51 Elliptical from 2004/2005. This excited me because the Horizon e50 series was a great line of very good feeling, budget ellipticals. Luckily, we had an old E51 machine left in the warehouse and never picked up by a former client. With the help of our new "intern," Johnny, I put the machines together for some side by side comparisons...and this is what we found:

The Horizon E70 elliptical appears to be a downgraded or downsized version of the already low-end Horizon E51. The E70 is about 30 pounds lighter than its predecessor and has a very short stride of 14 inches (as compared to the 16 inch stride of the E51). It only has 10 levels of magnetic resistance versus 15 on the Horizon E51 (a note about resistance: the resistance range was the same on the two units, the E51 just had a higher incremental range than the Horizon E70 elliptical).

Both the Horizon E70 and the E51 both had pulse grip heart rate monitoring, LCD monitors, 1 year parts/labor warranties and articulating pedals (which assist in your circulation and comfort while working out). Neither one has programs, work out fans or very many extras at all.

The plus side is, in spite of the shorter stride, the Horizon E70 was still very smooth. So, if you're a shorter person you'd be very please with the natural motion of this machine.

All in all, the Horizon E70 elliptical was a very decent machine for the price (around $499). I was disappointed that it wasn't as robust as the machine it replaced and lost the longer stride length. If you're on a very strict budget and want to get an elliptical then the Horizon E70 might be a good choice. I would recommend the even better Horizon EX22 if you can. The longer stride and heavier unit will feel even better. The EX22 can be found for between $499 and $599 with free shipping if you shop around online.

My final word on the Horizon E70 Elliptical is that I am torn. I love that Horizon has released another budget level treadmill to the mass mark. I'm disappointed that it has lost some of the better features of the E51 and that seems to only be available at brick and mortar stores, which makes it harder to get a good deal (and get out of paying sales tax) by going online. The Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon E70 a very solid 3 our of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The word of the Sensei is: 3 out of 5 for the Horizon E70.


Compare the Horizon E70 elliptical



Horizon E70 Elliptical Specifications
Front-drive design
Heavy-duty flywheel
Magnetic resistance
250-pound capacity
Pivoting pedals
14" stride
5 LCD windows
10 resistance levels
Contact HR

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Star Trac Pro Treadmill Review - Spectacular

Ohiyo Gozaimasu!

Yesterday was a very long day at the DOJO for the Treadmill Sensei and I do apologize for the lack of a review. We had a batch of Bowflex Treadclimbers come in from a local gym that needed a ton of work. Those things are easily one of the poorest implemented fitness products I've seen in a long time. However, my dislike of low quality fitness equipment from Nautilus is a story for another today because today we are going to look at one of the best treadmill manufacturers on the block, Star Trac.

Star Trac is one of the older treadmill manufacturers around, and they have been producing high quality, commercial equipment since the mid seventies. Although they've been around for 30+ years now, they've really come in to prominence within the last 4-5 years as they (along with Matrix) have started to nudge Life Fitness and Precor out of the top spots in a lot of fitness facilities and gyms. Their equipment, especially their treadmills, is easily at the top of everyone's list.

The unit I enjoy the most in the Star Trac line is the Star Trac Pro Treadmill. If the Matrix T5X is a sporty Lexus Treadmill, then the Star Trac Pro Treadmill is a beefy BMW four-door sedan. The Pro treadmills are big, beef and loaded to the brim with workout goodness.

The first thing I want to talk about is the motor, a 5 horsepower beast that will probably outlast its owner. In the 10+ years I've been working on Star Trac treadmills, I have never had one come in to the repair shop with a bad motor or a motor that's been worn out from normal use. Any that do come in with motor issues are always from misuse or improper care. The motors used in the Star Trac Pro treadmill are some of the best built and designed. They're big (did I mention 5 HP?), very low RPMs but high power, and they run cool. Star Trac built their motor for a great work out and a long life. You'll never feel speed slippage on a properly cared for Star Trac Pro.

There are two reasons why a lot of atheletes do their training on the Star Trac Pro Treadmill (and its bigger brother, the Star Trac Elite Treadmill): stability and running surface. The Star Trac Pro Treadmill comes with a 62x20 running area, one of the longest you can get without moving up to an ultra highend Fitnex Specialty Treadmill (you know, the ones that go up to 25 miles per hour and a 25 degree incline). If you're training for a marathon and need to do a high intensity, long running, variable work out, then you'll also be very happy with the stability of the machine. The Star Trac Pro Treadmill will not move, slide or shake during even the most intense of workouts. They weight approximately 350 pounds and every bit of the Pro Treadmill's aluminium frame is rock steady. Even the side runners are solid for standing on when you need to start or stop a routine quickly. From my experience the Star Trac Treadmills are some of the sturdiest short of one of the Noramco Super Tread Treadmills.

Some of the other features on the Star Trac Pro Treadmill are: a reversible 1 inch deck which does not require waxing; huge 3 inch rollers; a max 15 degree incline; top speed of 12.5 miles per hour, starting at .5 and moving up in .1 increments; integration with Palm OS devices; two personal fansl; 9 workout programs; a great neoprene rubber based belt; and, my favorite, is the warranty which is a fantastic 5 years on the parts and 5 years on the labor. For gym owners and home users alike, that is a great plus. When you're buying the best, you expect the best.

The only downside for a lot of home buyers is going to be the price...but, remember, you're buying a BMW so expect to pay for it. Prices on the Star Trac Pro Treadmills start at around $5500 and go up from there. On the plus side, you can generally get free delivery if you order these online.

The final word on the Star Trac Pro Treadmill is: Wow. For putting out a treadmill that doesn't give the Sensei a headache, I give the Star Trac Pro Treadmill 5 gold buddahs out of 5.

Thumbs up from the Sensei for the Star Trac Pro!



Star Trac Pro Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 5.0 HP
Max Weight Capacity: 500 lbs.
Reversible Deck: Yes
Maximum Speed: 12.5 MPH
Maximum Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip and wireless
Programs: 9 incliuding dynamic heart rate control, fitness test, and firefighter test
Special Features: Personal cooling fans, dedicated heart rate display, safety lockout control, entertainment ready, and FitLinxx certified
Grade: Commercial
Roller Size: 3"
Running Area: 20" x 62"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Taking the Night Off!

Moshi...yawn...Moshi!

It was a hard day at the DOJO today and the Treadmill Sensei needs to take a break and get some sleep. I'll be back tomorrow night with a review of the Star Trac Pro treadmill. Stay tuned! Later on in the week we'll have reviews of the New Balance 9.5e Elliptical, the Horizon E70 Elliptical, and the bad boy Noramco 4600C treadmill.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Keys HealthTrainer HT502T Treadmill Review - A Cheap Treadmill That Is Better Than Most

Nihango!

The Treadmill Sensei gets a lot of questions about cheap treadmills. I get asked about the best treadmill under $1000. I get asked about the best treadmill under $800. I even get asked about the best treadmill under $400! The problem with the lower end treadmills, especially as you get down in to the $500 and $400 treadmill range (and definitely once you get below $400) is that the quality just isn't there. Most of those treadmills just turn in to a huge waste of money as you begin to pile clothing on the unused machine, or as you begin to plan a yard sale just to get rid of the thing.

I would love to be able to tell you the name of a treadmill that is going to hold up as well as the higher priced once and still cost only a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, such miracle treadmills do not exist. As with anything, you get what you pay for. If you're just looking to spend as little as possible in order to get a treadmill, then it's not going to be something you'll actually use. When you put such a low price on something that you are supposedly buying to improve your health and lifestyle, then it's not something you are actually putting any effort in to and your results will echo that. You get what you pay for with a cheap treadmill and you'd be better off investing in some good shoes to go walking in.

On the bright side, when you move your price point up just a little bit, there are some decent options in the $599 range. One such product is the HealthTrainer HT502T by Keys. Now, in spite of their bad reputation amoung retailers (they tend to be a bit difficult to deal with) they do make some pretty darn equipment in the under $1000 fitness equipment arena. The HealthTrainer HT502T treadmill is no exception.

The reviews on these lower end units tend to be a bit difficult to right because I have to keep in mind what else is available for this price and what the features are in comparison to them...but I also need to rate the HealthTrainer HT502T honestly as a 20+ year service tech.

Let's start with the Pros:

The price on the HealthTrainer can't be beat. They run for about $599 with free shipping from most online retailers. For the features, this is definitely one of the most robust treadmills at this price point.

The Keys HealthTrainer HT502T is actually very sturdy as well. It weighs in at just under 200 pounds and have a 250 pound maximum weight capacity. The HT502T treadmills will hold up to moderate works up fairly well. If you do a lot of walking or light jogging, then you'll be pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Keys HealthTrainer.

The 2 horsepower motor is an average one for a low end treadmill. It's a tad too small and runs a tad high in the RPM department (meaning it runs hot and can be prone to more breakdowns than a larger, lower RPM treadmill), but, it has good power and you shouldn't have much in the way of slippage or unexpected speeds changes as long as you keep your workouts from getting too heavy.

The HealthTrainer HT502T treadmill has a top speed of 10 MPH and a 10 degree incline. It's also got a decent 9 different programs and includes heart rate monitor...something not found often in these lower priced units.

And now the Cons:

Even tho it is good for the price, the motor on the Keys HealthTrainer HT502T really is too small and too over accelerated. If they get a larger motor running at a lower RPM then the treadmill would last a lot longer. As it is, I'd estimate the average lifespan of a HealthTrainer HT502T motor to be around 3 years.

The belt size on the HT502t Treadmill is also a bit small (again, it's around average for this price range) at 51x18. It's going to be decent for walking or light jogging but, unless you work at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, you're not going to be able to run on it.

Going along with the belt, the roller size is pretty small at 1.8 inches. This will lead to a shortened life for both the treadmill's belt and deck.

Finally, the warranty. The 1 year parts, 90 days labor warranty is just plain sad. If you do buy a Keys HealthTrainer HT502T treadmill, I'd suggested getting an extended warranty to help keep the machine running for as long as possible. A 3 year warranty from most retailers will run you another $100 and might be worth looking in to.

Final thoughts on the HealthTrainer HT502T treadmill from Keys are: it's not a miracle machine that is going to solve all of your workout problems, but it is a solid machine that is worth the price. It shines at a price point where everything else tends to stink. For not completely sucking, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Keys HealthTrainer HT502T treadmill 3 golden buddahs out of 5.

The HealthTrainer HT502T gets a 3 out of 5 gold buddahs.



HealthTrainer Treadmill HT502t Specifications
Horsepower: 2.0
Motor Rating: Continuous Duty
Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 lbs.
Folding: Yes: shock assisted
Maximum Speed: 10 mph
Maximum Incline: 10%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
Programs: 9; 3 pre-set, 6 custom
Display Type: 4-window LCD
Display Readouts: Incline, calories, distance, time, interval time, speed
Grade: Residential
Roller Size: 1.8"
Running Area: 51"x18"

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Sole F83 Treadmill Review - High Quality Doesn't Mean High Price

Moshi Moshi!

Yes, my students, the Treadmill Sensei emerges once more from the depths of the DOJO to share his wisdom of all things fitness.

Today I want to discuss a very fine treadmill from Sole, the Sole F83 Treadmill -- a version of which used to be called the Spirit Z300 treadmill. These units are almost identical, the only differences between the F83 and the Spirit Z300 is the upgrade fan attachment on the Sole F83 treadmill and the better warranty Sole gives its units over the one from Spirit direct. By almost identical, I mean the base Sole F83 is actually just a Spirit Z300 with the fan attachments added and a better warranty tacked on to it.

These Sole Units are arguably some of the finest treadmills under about $2500. The Sole F83s in particular are incredibly sturdy and durable. The machines themselves weight over 260 pounds and have a maximum weight capacity up over 350 pounds. If you want a treadmill which feels as good and solid as the ones your work out at your gym on, then the F83 treadmill by Sole may be the answer to your prayers. It is easy to see why the Hilton Hotels have adopted the Sole equipment for use in their workout centers. Heavy duty and low maintenance? It's an easy sell.

Our experience with Sole here at the DOJO has always been excellent. We get 10-20 of the Sole F83 treadmills in each month to take out and set up for customers. As a testament to their high quality production, we might get a call to do service on an F83 treadmill once every 3-4 months. The Sole F83 stacks up to the best of the best, especially when you consider the price you're paying for one -- $1800 or there abouts with free shipping.

The 3 horsepower motor that Sole puts in to the Sole F83 treadmills is a monster. It is large, runs at lower RPMs, runs very cool and lasts forever. We joke here at the DOJO that after a nuclear the only thing left running around will be cockroaches and the Sole F83 treadmill motors. Surprisingly, the motor on the F83 treadmill runs very quiet in spite of its size.

For speed and incline, the Sole F83 goes 12 miles per hour and up to a 15 degree incline, well beyond anything else at this price point or below. If you've ever done a workout at a 15 degree incline then you know the intense workout it is. Talk about feeling the burn!

The running area is 58x20. That should be more than enough for even heavy duty runners.

As with all of the Sole units, the Sole F83 comes with a great console which breaks down every bit of information you could possibly need into its own window. If you've worked out on a Life Fitness machine at your local gym, then you'll appreciate the ease of access on all of that info. No more stumbling around trying to keep running while your try to scroll through information on a treadmill's console.

The final word on the Sole F83 treadmills is: if you're looking to step up from a residential grade treadmill into something beefier and on par with the quality of a gym unit, then you'll want to check out the F83 treadmill. Your happiness will be immeasurable.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Sole F83 a very happy 4.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

Sole and Spirit produce another winner with the Sole F83 treadmill.





Get more information on the Sole F83 Treadmill. Find the best price online and save more with FREE SHIPPING and pay NO TAX.


Sole F83 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 3.0
Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
Folding: Yes
Maximum Speed: 12 MPH
Maximum Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, Pulse grip and chest strap
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 10: Standard, User Defined, and Heart Rate

Dimensions
Folded Size: 33" x 33"
Product Weight: 262 lbs.
Deck Thickness: 1"

Warranty
Frame Warranty: Lifetime
Motor Warranty: 30 Years
Parts Warranty: 5 Years
Labor Warranty: 2 years

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Elliptical Review Index

The Treadmill Sensei's Elliptical Review Index

BLADEZ:

• BladeZ 7.9 Elliptical
• Bladez 850e Elliptical - 5 out of 5 golden buddahs!

BODYGUARD

• Bodyguard E230x Elliptical

ECLIPSE:

• Eclipse 2100HRA Elliptical

FITNEX:

• Fitnex E70 Elliptical

FUEL:

• Fuel FE44 Elliptical
• Fuell FE46 Elliptical

HORIZON: Click to get more information on Horizon Fitness.

• Horizon CSE4.6 Elliptical
• Horizon E30 Elliptical
• Horizon E70 Elliptical
• Horizon E900 Incline Elliptical
• Horizon E1200 Elliptical with Incline
• Horizon EX22 Elliptical - discontinued
• Horizon EX33 Elliptical - discontinued
• Horizon EX55 Elliptical
• Horizon EX56 Elliptical
• Horizon EX65 Elliptical
• Horizon EX66 Elliptical
• Horizon EX75 Elliptical
• Horizon EX75 Elliptical with Incline and Adjustable stride

HUDSON FITNESS:

• Hudson EL3300 Elliptical

KETTLER:

• Kettler Verso CT2000 Elliptical
• Kettler Vito XL Elliptical

KEYS FITNESS:

• Ironman CDT Elliptical (aka CardioZone Center D)
• Ironman 230e Elliptical
• Ironman 250e Elliptical
• Ironman 530e Elliptical
• Ironman 600e Elliptical (aka Alliance A7e or Ironman Evolution

LAMAR FITNESS:

• Lamar A 4200 Elliptical
• Lamar A 4400 Elliptical
• Lamar Ignite 436 Elliptical
• Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical
• Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical

LIFECORE:

• LifeCore LC985z Elliptical
• LifeCore LC990 Elliptical
• Lifecore LC1000z Elliptical
• LifeCore LC-21 Elliptical

LIFESPAN:

• Lifespan EX3 Elliptical

MERIT:

• Merit 710E Elliptical
• Merit 720e Elliptical

MATRIX:

• Matrix Ascent Trainer
• Matrix E5Xc Elliptical

MULTISPORTS:

• MultiSports ECT-3000 Elliptical
• MultiSports ECT-6600 Elliptical

NEW BALANCE

• New Balance 9.5e Elliptical
• New Balance 9000 Elliptical

NORDIC TRACK:

• Nordic Track Commercial 1300 Elliptical Review

PRECOR:

• Precor 544 Elliptical Review
• Precor 546 Elliptical (AKA Precor EFX 546)

PROFORM

• Proform 160 Elliptical
• Proform Epic 1200 Pro Incline Elliptical
• Proform 20.0 Elliptical

QUANTUM FITNESS

• Quantum Q210H Elliptical

REEBOK:

• Reebok RL 545 Elliptical Review
• Reebok RL 900 Elliptical Review

SCHWINN: Click for more information on Schwinn Fitness.

• Schwinn 418 Elliptical
• Schwinn 430 Elliptical
• Schiwnn 431 Elliptical
• Schwinn 438 Elliptical

SMOOTH FITNESS:

• Smooth CE 2.1 Elliptical
• Smooth CE3.2 Elliptical
• Smooth CE7.4 Elliptical

SOLE: Click to get more information on Sole Fitness.

• 2007 Sole E25 Elliptical
• 2008 Sole E25 Elliptical - Best Buy Award Winner Elliptical under $1000 for 2007/2008
• 2007 Sole E35 Elliptical
• 2008 Sole E35 Elliptical - Best Buy Award Winner Under $1500 for 2007-2008
• 2007 Sole E55 Elliptical
• 2008 Sole E55 Elliptical
• Sole E95 Elliptical
• 2008 Sole E95 Elliptical - Best Buy Award Runner Up for under $2000 for 2007/2008.

SPIRIT / SOLE: Click to get more information on Spirit Fitness.

• Esprit EL3 Elliptical - formerly the 2006 Sole E35.
• Esprit EL5 Elliptical - formerly the 2006 Sole E55 with new paint
• Spirit XE100 Elliptical
• Spirit XE125 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model now under recall by manufacturer.
• Spirit XE150 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model.
• Spirit XE200 Elliptical
• Spirit XE300 Elliptical
• Spirit XE350 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model.
• Spirit XE550 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model.
• Spirit XE700 Elliptical
• Spirit XE850 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model.
• Spirit ZE110 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model now discontinued.
• Spirit ZE120 Elliptical - 2006/2007 model.

SPORTSART:

• SportsArt 803 Elliptical
• SportsArt E80 Elliptical
• SportsArt E81 Elliptical
• SportsArt E83 Elliptical

STAR TRAC:

• Star Trac Elite Elliptical
• Star Trac Pro Elliptical

TONY LITTLE:

• Tony Little Gazelle

TUNTURI:

• Tunturi C20 Elliptical
• Tunturi C60 Elliptical
• Tunturi CF35 Elliptical

The Horizon T64 Treadmill (AKA Horizon T64) Review - Top of the home treadmill heap

Moshi Moshi!

The golden doors of the DOJO open up once more to allow the wisdom of the Treadmill Sensei to flow freely to all on the internet.

My job as a service / repair tech who works on treadmills and ellipticals puts me in a bit of a strange position. On one hand I absolutely love elliptical and treadmill units which are poorly made and give me lots of work. On the other hand, I can stand crappy workmanship and wish all fitness equipment could be well made...perhaps then I could finally move on to my life long dream of building and racing gas powered miniature boats and planes.

Luckily, Horizon Fitness is putting out a lot of fine treadmills which may not increase the size of my pocketbook from repair jobs, but do allow me the peace of my plane building. At the highest end of the Horizon treadmill line is the Horizon T64 treadmill, priced at around $1299 (which should get you free inside deliver from any respectable internet dealer).

As with it's smaller, high ranking brother, the Horizon T62 treadmill, the T64 treadmill comes with a very large Johnson Tech 2.5 horsepower motor. And when Johnson Tech puts a motor in a Horizon T64 treadmill, you can be assured that it big, has low RPMs and will last for a long time without hassle.

One of the things I would like to mention in regards to the T64 Treadmill by Horizon is how amazingly sturdy it is for a home treadmill. These things are solid and feel more like light commercial treadmills than the flimsy home versions that come from other manufacturers at this price point (Icon Fitness, once more, I'm pointing my finger at you). The Horizon T64 has a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds and will hold up well to larger users and longer workouts. The T64 treadmill comes ready to work.

The features of the Horizon T64 treadmill are: 12 mph speed, 12 degree incline, heart rate monitoring and control (meaning: you can set your heart rate and the machine will adjust your programs to keep you at that rate), 10 programs, a built in fan, hydraulically assistated folding (very well done) and Horizon's patented Gel Cell shock absorption system to reduce the impact on your knees and ankles while running.

The only minor quibbles I have with the Horizon T64 are the size of the deck (an average 55x20) and the lesser warranty. At only 1 year for parts and labor, I wish Horizon would pump it up to be a bit more comparable with its competition. Luckily, the T64 treadmill by Horizon will last a good 4-5 years without any trouble and most of the very few problems that do pop up will be in the control board, which is easily and cheaply replaced.

If you're comparing the Horizon T64 with the brick and mortar-only Horizon Elite series, then the T64 is going to be slightly better than the Elite 4.2t and just shy of the Elite 5.2t. If you're looking at the Horizon Elite series then make sure to check out the T64 and its online brethren because you can get the same quality treadmills for a pretty large savings.

For putting out a very solid treadmill in the Horizon T64, I give the unit 4 Golden Buddahs out of 5 and a very hearty recommendation.

A fine machine at a fine price, the T64 Treadmill by Horizon gets 4 out of 5!




Horizon Fitness T64HR Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 2.5 HP
Frame Construction: Heavy gauge steel
Shock Absorption: Yes, 60 durometer, GelCell
Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 lbs.
Folding: YesMaximum Speed: 12 MPH
Maximum Incline: 12%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip and wireless telemetric
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 10: (6) preset: manual, intervals, golf course, weight loss, race, rolling, (2) custom, and (2) heart rate control programs
Display Readouts: RPM, watts, time, calories, heart rate, distance, and resistance level
Special Features: Built in personal fan and speed and incline toggle switches built into handles

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Precor 546 Elliptical Review (AKA the Precor EFX 546 ) - Still the Best

Ohiyo!

Welcome again to the DOJO, home of the wisdom of the Treadmill Sensei. Yes, yes, I know I haven't reviewed a treadmill for a few days and that today is another one of those non treadmill days. That's right, for you see, tonight I am going to review one of the longest standing foundations of the elliptical side of the fitness industry -- the Precor 546 Elliptical. You might also have seen this listed as the Precor EFX 546, but it is indeed the same unit with or without the EFX attached to the 546.

Although most of you will be familiar with the Precor Ellipticals and fitness equipment, very few are familiar with the story of the company behind some of the finest equipment on the market. So let's start there!

Precor was founded back in 1980 as a producer of a pretty spiffy little device called the Amerec Rowing Machine. In the mid-80s, Precor became a top producer of treadmills, rowers and stationary bikes. Continuing their reputation of excellence in production, Precor revolutionized the fitness industry by releasing what can be argued as the first true elliptical crosstrainer, the Precor EFX 544. Precor also introduces their patented Cross Ramp technology which allows a user to manipulate workout incline on their Precor elliptical.

Since then, Precor's innovation and adherance to a strict level of quality has cemented their position as one of the leaders in the industry. Since 1995 the company has released a number of variations on their original Precor 544, including the Precor 5.19, the Precor 556, the Precor 576 and, my favorite, the Precor 546. Almost anyone who has worked out on an elliptical machine at a gym has probably worked out on a Precor elliptical.

The Precor EFX 546 Elliptical comes with an adjustable Cross Ramp with a range of 10 to 40 degrees. What this does is let you add an additional level of difficulty to your workout. The ramp does take a bit of getting used to as the higher degree angles can place your feet/pedals at a bit of an awkward angle -- imagine skiing uphill. I really wish the pedals remained more parallel to the floor, but it's a minor gripe.

All Precor 546 units come with some of the best constructed frames in the industry. Precor rates the EFX 546 maximum user capacity at about 400 pounds, but I've seen larger individuals work out on them with no problem in the machine or degredation of performance. The Precor 546 Ellipticals are built solid.

Other features include 8 programs, 20 levels of resistance and a very comfortable 18 inch stride. A final winning feature is how rugged the Precor 546 ellipticals are while still being very low maintenance. Even the remanufactured units can live another 10+ years of use with a tiny amount of care. The only problems I've seen in older models are ones which can be fixed for a very low price -- a burned out control board or worn bearings. Either one of those problems are easily fixable for almost no cost.

If you've bee a bit confused by the differences between the Precor Ellipticals, here is a quick cheat sheat: The Precor 5.19 is the home version, the Precor 544 is the oldest version, the Precor 546 is the stanard unit now with an adjustable ramp, the Precor 556 has a non-adjustable ramp but comes with the crosstraining arms, and the 576 comes with the crosstraining arms and the adjustable ramp. Whew!

To make things a little confusing, there are a number of styles you can get the Precor 546 Elliptical in:

1) The Original 546
2) The Precor 546 with Soft Touch Monitor
3) The Precor EFX 546 with Soft Touch and Heart Rate Monitoring
4) The fully loaded Precor 546 Elliptical, cordless

There may be a few more, but those are the ones which stand out most in my head. The original Precor 546 units tend to be a bit cheaper, so if you want to save a few hundred bucks but still want a spectacular Precor Elliptical, then pick up a remanufactured original style 546 Elliptical. The Precor units are well worth the price. Depending upon your style of choice, the Precor 546 Ellipticals can be purchased new for under $5000.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Grand Daddy of Ellipticals 4.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

Thumbs up for a fine job on the Precor 546 Elliptical Trainer.




Compare the Precor 546 Elliptical and get more information. Save an additional 3% with Coupon Code TMSENSEI

Precor EFX 546 Specifications
Max User Weight: 400 lbs.
CrossRamp Range: 10-40 degrees
Resistance: 20 levels of intensity
Stride Length: 18"
Power: 120V or 240V; 50/60 Hz
Folding: No
Programs: 8
Heart Rate Control: Yes (with optional HRC installed - includes wireless chest strap)

Dimensions
Product: 78" x 30" x 61.5" (assembled)
Product Weight: 220 lbs.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Treadmill Review Index

Below you will find ready links to all of our Treadmill Reviews to date. Check them out!

The First Annual Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards!

BLADEZ FITNESS

• BladeZ 710ME TV Treadmill
• BladeZ Ion 2007T TV Treadmill

BODYCRAFT

• BodyCraft 1120 Treadmill
• BodyCraft 1140 Treadmill
• BodyCraft 1160 Treadmill
• BodyCraft 1180 Treadmill

BODYGUARD FITNESS

• Bodyguard T240 Treadmill
• Bodyguard T460x Treadmill

BOWFLEX: The main line of equipment owned by Nautilus.

• Bowflex Series 3 Treadmill
• Bowflex Series 5 Treadmill
• Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill

ENDURANCE: Made by Body Solid, a leader in strength equipment.

• Endurance T3 Treadmill

FUEL FITNESS:

• Fuel FT94 Treadmill
• Fuel FT96 Treadmill

HORIZON: Owned by Johnson Tech, Horizon manufacturers some solid residential grade equipment at good prices. Click to get more information on Horizon Fitness.

• Horizon T61 Treadmill - discontinued
• Horizon T62 Treadmill - discontinued
• Horizon T63 Treadmill - discontinued
• Horizon T64 Treadmill - discontinued
• Horizon T71 Treadmill
• Horizon T72 Treadmill
• Horizon T73 Treadmill
• Horizon T74 Treadmill
• Horizon T81 Treadmill - 2007/2008 treadmill with 4 gold buddahs. Best Buy Award winner.
• Horizon T82 Treadmill - 2007/2008 treadmill with 4.5 gold buddahs. Best Buy Award runner up.
• Horizon T83 Treadmill - 2007/2008 treadmill with 4 gold buddahs.

IRONMAN

• Ironman Triad / 320t Treadmill

KEYS: The manufacturer of Ironman, Alliance, HealthTrainer and Keys equipment.

• HealthTrainer HT502T Treadmill

LAMAR FITNESS:

• Lamar Ignite I905 Treadmill
• Lamar L1200 Treadmill

LANDICE: The oldest treadmill company with more than 40 years in the business. The BMW of the treadmill world.

• Landice L7 Cardio Trainer Treadmill
• Landice L7 Executive Treadmill
• Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill

LEISURE WORKS:

• Leisure Works 539 Treadmill

LIFESPAN FITNESS:

• Lifespan TR1000HRC Treadmill
• Lifespan TR2000HRC Treadmill

MATRIX: Owned by Johnson Tech, Matrix produces some of the highest quality commercial equipment around today.

• Matrix T3X Treadmill

MERIT: The budget fitness lined produced by Johnson Tech.

• Merit 710t Treadmill
• Merit 720t Treadmill
• Merit 730t Treadmill

MILEAGE:

• Mileage ST 7100 Treadmill

MOTUS:

• Motus 995TL Treadmill

NEW BALANCE:

• New Balance 1200 Treadmill
• New Balance 1400 Treadmill
• New Balance 1600 Treadmill
• New Balance 1800 Treadmill

NORAMCO: The heavy duty Big Boy of the Treadmill Industry.

• Noramco SuperTread Classic Club Treadmill

NORDIC TRACK:

• Nordic Track C1800 Treadmill
• Nordic Track X5 Incline Trainer Treadmill

PROFORM: Another ICON Fitness company. Perhaps the lowest end equipment on the market.

• ProForm Perspective ES TV Treadmill
• ProForm Power Series 1500 TV Treadmill
• ProForm XP 650 E Treadmill
• Proform 350 Treadmill
• Proform 495PI Treadmill
• Proform 860 Competitor Treadmill
• Proform 1000s Treadmill

QUANTUM:

• Quantum 2.5s Treadmill
• Quantum 3.0s Treadmill

SCHWINN: Owned and operated by Nautilus. Schwinn makes treadmills and ellipticals. Click to get more information on Schwinn Fitness.

• Schwinn 820p Treadmill

SMOOTH FITNESS: A quality, internet-only fitness company specializing in treadmills and ellipticals.

• Smooth 4.25 Treadmill
• Smooth 5.25 Treadmill
• Smooth 6.25 Treadmill
• Smooth 7.1 HR Treadmill
• Smooth 7.1HR Pro Treadmill
• Smooth 9.25HR Treadmill
• Smooth 9.25x Treadmill

SOLE: Click to get more information on Sole Fitness.

• Sole F63 Treadmill
• 2008 Sole F63 Treadmill
• Sole F80 Treadmill
• 2008 Sole F80 Treadmill
• Sole F83 Treadmill
• Sole F85 Treadmill
• Sole S73 Treadmill
• Sole S77 Treadmill
• Sole TT8 Treadmill

SPIRIT: Spirit has been making top quality equipment since the early 80s. Spirit's equipment is relabeled by a number of companies, including Sole, Inspire, Cardiostrength and, at one time, Smooth. Click to find out more about Spirit Fitness.

• Esprit ET2 Treadmill
• Esprit ET4 Treadmill
• Spirit XT10 Treadmill
• Spirit XT175 Treadmill
• Spirit XT600 Treadmill
• Spirit Z8 Treadmill
• Spirit Z88 Treadmill
• Spirit Z9 Treadmill / AKA Inspire IN400

SPORTSART FITNESS

• SportsArt TR31 Treadmill
• SportsArt TR32 Treadmill

STAR TRAC: A top treadmill manufacturer for over 30 years.

• Star Trac Pro Treadmill
• Star Trac Elite Treadmill

TUNTURI: Bringing a bit of European flavor to the American Fitness market. Tunturi produces solid units without a lot of frills.

• Tunturi T20 Treadmill
• Tunturi T30 Treadmill

VISION FITNESS:

• Vision T9200 Simple Treadmill

WESLO: Another Icon Health & Fitness brand.

• Weslo Cadence C22 Treadmill
• Weslo Cadence C44 Treadmill

YORK BARBELLS:

• York T780 Treadmill

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com/

How to replace your treadmill belt

Nihango!

A question I get asked a lot here at the DOJO (and by my wife's pesky relatives) is: How the heck do I replace a damaged treadmill belt?

If you find your belt slipping, or your deck slowing down and stop, or if the edges of your treadmill belt look worn, frayed or curls up, then you may need to have your treadmill belt replaced. Luckily, replacing the belt isn't as hard as you'd think.

The very first thing you're going to want to do is take a look at your treadmill deck. If the deck looks to be in good shape then there is a good chance it just needs to be lubricated (or waxed). If you see signs of wear such as scratches or grooves then both the deck and belt are probably going to need to be replaced.

If the deck appears fine but your belt is torn, curling or frayed, it's time to replace the treadmill belt. Thankfully, treadmill manufacturers have made it pretty easy to replace a belt even if you're not the Treadmill Sensei.

Most important: Turn your treadmill off and remove the power cord! This way you don't get shocked and you'll guarantee the treadmill doesn't turn on while you're working on it. That would be bad. If your treadmill inclines (which most do), adjusting it a few degrees may make the operation a little easier for you.

You loosen the belt adjustment screws in the back of your treadmill's deck and then slide the rear roller forward and away from the belt. Remove the front roller and then the rear roller. There will be a number of screws along the sides of the deck which attach the deck to the rest of the treadmill. Remove those and you'll be able to remove your deck.

At this point you can slide your belt off. Now is a perfect time to go ahead and lubricate your deck as well. From there, put on your new belt and reassemble your deck.

Taking the time to wax your treadmill deck while the belt is off may be a good idea. It'll keep you from having to do it all over again later on.

Finally, once you have it all back together you're going to want to test the adjustment. Start your treadmill at a slow speed and walk on it firmly. If the belt stops, hesitates or changes speed then you're going to need to adjst the rear screws. Adjust as needed until you are sure the belt isn't slipping or changing speed.

And there you have it, how to replace a treadmill belt.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Schwinn 418 Elliptical Review -- A Good Solid Elliptical for under $1000

Moshi Moshi!

Every so often, something catastrophic happens in the world and the Sensei must admit he was wro...um...wron...er...wr...maybe not completely right about something. Tonight, much to the glee of some of the younger senseis, is one of those nights.

After coming down pretty hard on Consumer Reports in the past I have to admit one of their choices was dead on. During their last review of elliptical trainers, about two years ago now, the fine folks at Consumer Reports placed the Schwinn 418 Elliptical near the top of their list. As unlikely as it seems they made a good call. Even more unlikely, a decent unit has actually been produced by Nautilus.

The Scwhinn 418 Elliptical is a surprisingly sturdy, well built machine with a decent stride length of 18 inches. It has a solid, heavy flywheel, 12 workout programs, a welded steel frame to keep the creeping shakes from working their way in, and pulse grip heart rate monitoring.

The only real down side to the Schwinn 418 Elliptical would be the lower end warranty on the unit. The 418 Elliptical only has a 6th month labor warranty. Even with the light weight warranty, the Schwinn 418 is a good buy at it's under $1000 price point.

For being a surprise and proving no company can completely suck, the Schwinn 418 Elliptical gets 3.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5 from the Sensei.

The Treadmill Sensei hads over a 3.5 gold buddahs out of 5 for the Schwinn 418.

Schwinn 418 Elliptical Specifications
Stride Length: 18"
Maximum Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Resistance Levels: 8
Heart Rate Monitoring: Pulse Grip
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 12
Display Readouts: Time, speed, distance, RPM, resistance level, calories, calories per hour, load, heart rate, and course profile readouts

Warranty
Frame Warranty: 15 years
Electronics Warranty: 1 year
Parts Warranty: 2 years
Labor Warranty: 6 months

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Schwinn 820p Treadmill Review -- Highly Overrated

Moshi Moshi!

Whenever a new Consumer Reports magazine comes out with a feature on treadmills or ellipticals, the members here at the DOJO gather around for a lot of good laughs at what the "experts" have to say. As you may or may not know, our friends at CR put out another magazine with treadmill reviews this past February. And boy did it cause some laughs.

One of the "top rated" treadmills in particular was worth a good chuckle: the Schwinn 820p treadmill from Nautilus. I'm not completely sure what the reviewers were smoking but I think they need to share it with the rest of us.

If Nautilus had priced the Schwinn 820p at about $699 it would have been an excellent buy, but at the $1000 or more the treadmill sells for, the unit is simply outclassed by the opposition.

The Schwinn 820p Treadmill comes with a sorely underpowered 2 horsepower motor. It's not a bad motor, it just isn't quite up to what the top treadmills in its class are offering. When other brands are offering 2.2 or beefy 2.5 hp motors, it's hard to step down to the Schwinn 820p treadmill's smaller 2 horsepower one.

Another pretty significant problem with the Schwinn 820p treadmill is the stability. Unfortunately, poor design choices have taken what are normally thick support beams towards the front of the machine and replaced them with much thinner ones further back. What this does is take away from the sturdiness of the front of the machine. As you work out you're going to be throwing your weight forward and larger owners will definitely be uncomfortable by the lack of support in the machine...even smaller owners who perform harder workouts will have problems. When most other $1000 treadmills have 300+ weight capacities the Schwinn 820p treadmill feels a little flimsy at a max capacity of 275 pounds.

Following the stability problem, the Schwinn 820 treadmill has a lot of plastic in it and overall the machine suffers from lower quality parts. Although most fitness equipment is produced overseas the Schwinn 820p is a victim of poor production standards.

If I was forced to find something nice to say about the Schwinn 820p treadmill the only things I could come up with would be: decent sized rollers on the deck. That and some good marketing people.

Hopefully both CR and Schwinn will get their acts together next year. This time around, however, the Treadmill Sensei can only give the 820p Treadmill by Schwinn 2 Golden Buddahs out of 5...and he thinks that's being generous.

The Treadmill Sensei says, "These are not the treadmills you are looking for."



Schwinn 820P Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 2.0 HP
Maximum Weight Capacity: 275 lbs
Folding: No
Reversible Deck: Yes
Maximum Speed: 10 mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Polar wireless strap included & pulse grip
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 5 preset, 2 custom
Display Type: LED
Display Readouts: Time, speed, distance, grade and calories.
Roller Size: 2.5"/6.4 cm

Warranty
Frame Warranty: 30 years
Motor Warranty: 30 years
Electronics Warranty: 2 years
Parts Warranty: 2 years
Labor Warranty: 1 year

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Cateye Game Bike Review -- An Exercise in Fun

Ohiyo Gozaimasu!

Every so often we get to take a bit of a break here at the DOJO and do something really fun. Today that fun was in the form of a shipment of GB300 Game Bikes from Cateye Fitness which came in. We'll be setting these up at a local YMCA later in the week, but we got to set them up and play with...er...test them out all day long. In fact, as I write this, Hikaru is leading a number of the younger senseis in a tournament of Motocross. They can have their mountain bike games because later on I plan to reclaim one of the Cateye Recumbent Game Bikes for a few laps of Nascar!

If you haven't seen the Cateye Game Bikes, which have been floating around for a few years now, the units are upright (and now recumbent) bikes which are linked to a video game controller. You can plug these things in to your Xbox, Gamecube, Playstation 2 or even PC and use them to control your games (last count was somewhere around 100 games I believe..but don't quote the Sensei on that). You steer with the handle bars and speed up or slow down by pedalling.

What the game bikes by Cateye allow you to do is to add a fully interactive fitness element to most racing games -- dirt bike, motorcycle, atv, auto and even water-based racing games all work very well with the Cateye Game bikes.

And the best part is, thanks to perceived exertion, you won't even realize how much of a work out you are getting while you play! For the layperson, "perceived exertion" basically amounts to your mind tricking your body in to not realizing how much it is working out because of the fun it's having. That's right, the Game Bikes distract your brain and you get more exercise out of it.

When it comes to the Cateye Gamebikes, there are basically three varieties: the home Cateye Game Bike, the Cateye Game Bike Pro (or commercial Game Bike) and the Commercial Cateye Recumbent Game Bike. The differences are all pretty obvious. The two upright versions come in a large and small version -- one for smaller children, the other for larger ones and adults.

From my experience, the commercial versions are head and shoulders about the home version, but the cost is almost 4 times as much! However, if you've got a child who enjoys biking or one you want to get a little more exercise, then the home versions are excellent purchases. In no time flat you'll see your child spending hours and hours in front of the TV riding hard on his or her Cateye Game Bike. The things are addicting as heck and don't be surprised if a lot of your child's friends are coming over to play with the new addition to your home.

The bikes come with 8 levels of manually controlled resistance and optional heart rate monitoring. The commercial Cateye Game Bikes also come with 9 workout programs.

Overall, the bikes are a great buy for a family or even a child oriented fitness facility. Grown-ups won't get as much out of the home versions because they are fairly light weight in their manufacture. The commercial Cateye Game Bikes and their Recumbent Game Bike cousins, however, will hold up to even the most rigorous of workouts. Personally, the Cateye Recumbent Game Bike is my favorite of the bunch. Sitting down and using it in conjunction with an auto racing game is one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. The only thing better would be to take one of the Sci Fit Ellipticals and modify it to work with a Mechwarrior style game -- yeah....a Mechwarrior Elliptical would be worth just about any price. Cateye, if you're reading this, make the concept check payable to "The Treadmill Sensei."

For being ultra cool, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Cateye Game Bike 5 Golden Buddahs out of 5. What are you waiting for? Go out and get one today!!

Didn't I just say go get a Cateye Game Bike? Now get going!



Cateye Game bike GB200 Specifications
Frame Construction: Steel
Weight Capacity: 250 lbs.
System Requirents: Requires a Sony Play Station, PS2, X-Box or Gamecube
Power Requirements: 4 D batteries
Adjustable Seat: Yes, 9 seat settings with locking safety pin
Resistance Levels: 8
Resistance Control: Manual
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Heart Rate Monitoring: Optional
Programs: None
Display Type: Optional LCD / video game display
Display Feedback: Time, speed, distance, and calories
Special Features: Connect the Cateye Gambike to a Gamecube, XBox, PC, Playstation or PS2 and race your way to fitness
Users: Play with up to 4 people simultaneously (Each user requires a gamebike.)

Warranty
Frame Warranty: 1 year
Parts Warranty: 1 year
Labor Warranty: None

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Matrix E5Xc Elliptical Review -- Simply the Best

Ohiyo!

Today the holy grail was delivered to us here at the DOJO. A Matrix E5Xc Elliptical was brought in for us to set up and deliver to a client near our workshop. I'd seen and gotten a chance to work out on one of these at a recent trade show and was highly impressed by it. Getting to review one up close confirmed everything I've expected to see in an Elliptical from Matrix. I've worked on the full sized Matrix E5X Ellipticals in the past (and have owned one with much pride) and the more compact E5Xc Elliptical lives up to the legacy of its big brother. Johnson Tech and Matrix continue their award-winning streak with their latest elliptical offering.

If you are looking for the smoothest elliptical ride on the market, then you need look no further than the Matrix E5Xc. With the same 21" stride and feel of the E5X, the Matrix E5Xc Elliptical is the smoothest, most comfortable and lowest impact elliptical workout you'll find on any elliptical at any price. If you've ever been on an elliptical from Matrix you already know what I'm talking about.

With the highly cushioned, articulating footpads on the E5XC Elliptical, even someone with knee and ankle problems will be able to exercise on it.

Let's run down the other features of the Matrix E5Xc Elliptical: forward & reverse resistance, 20 levels of resistance, contact and wireless heart rate monitoring, 7 programs, a great LCD screen, quick keys for controlling your workout on the handlebars, a solid 285 pounds and an optional TV screen add on. Add to that being about 13 inches shorter than the old E5X and you've got easily the most impressive commercial elliptical available on the market today.

Finally, the Matrix E5Xc Elliptical is just plain cool looking. These things are built and designed for the 21st Century and beyond -- it's functional modern art at its finest.

If you've got the budget for the best, make sure to check out the Matrix E5Xc. You won't be disappointed. The Matrix E5Xc Elliptical sells for about $4795 which generally includes free delivery.

For being the best there is, the Treadmill Sensei gives the E5Xc Elliptical from Matrix 5 Golden Buddahs out of 5. Keep up the good work!

Top honors from the Treadmill Sensei go to the Matrix E5X.



Matrix MX E5x Elliptical Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Dual Action: Yes
Stride Length: 21"
Bi-Directional: Yes
Maximum Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
Resistance Control: Electronic
Resistance Type: Electro Magnetic
Resistance Levels: 20
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse Grip & Polar Compatible (Polar Strap Optional)
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Display Type: LCD
Display Feedback: Time, Speed, Distance, Calories, Watts, Level, Heart Rate, Profile, Stride Rate Programs: 7: Manual, Intervals, Rolling, Fat Burn, Random, Target Heart Rate, and Constant Watts.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Endurance T3 Treadmill Review -- An Average Treadmill with a Great Warranty

Moshi Moshi, loyal visitors to the DOJO!

In response to a couple of reader emails saying, "For someone called the TREADMILL Sensei, you haven't reviewed a treadmill for a while...when are you going to get back to them?" Well, fear not, true believers, tonight I'm reviewing a new treadmill for your buying pleasure.

For this installment I want to talk about the Endurance T3 Treadmill from Body Solid. Many of you who have home gym equipment of your own are probably already familiar with the name Body Solid. They've been producing solid home gyms and strength equipment for more than 25 years now. Chances are, if you've ever bought a home gym unit, you've owned a piece of Body Solid equipment.

And, like a lot of companies, a few years ago Body Solid decided to move in to the realm of cardio equipment with a line of treadmills and ellipticals. The unit I'm focusing on tonight is the Endurance T3 treadmill (and the Endurance T3fi treadmill, which is the folding version of the Endurance T3).

In spite of being a leader in the home gym arena, the Endurance T3 treadmill doesn't shine as much as its competitors at this price range. Let's start off with the problems.

For the price, the Endurance T3 treadmill offers one of the smallest running areas out there -- a tiny 50" x 18" deck. If you're a serious running, or even a jogger, then the T3 treadmill comes up well short of the competition.

The motor on the Endurance T3 treadmill comes with is well built...large and cool running at low RPMs. Unfortunately, the size is a bit small for the price: a mere 2.2 horse power. Endurance tries to hide their tiny motor by also giving you the mysterious "peak" rating, but don't be fooled. For the $1299 price tag you should be getting 2.5 horsepower or more like you'll find in a Horizon, Fitnex, Spirit, New Balance or Sole.

Even the maximum weight capacity falls a bit short of the top rated treadmills in this class at a weak 275lbs. For a machine that boasts "robotic welded" frames, a 275 pound max capacity is a bit sad. And the 4 basic programs and lack of heart rate control found on the Endurance T3 treadmill don't do much to shine it up all pretty like.

Now, even with all of those faults, I'd recommend the Endurance T3 Treadmill if you can find it at a lower price. At $899 or so, the the T3 Treadmill would be a killer buy. It's welded frame really does stand up to a lot of punishment and you won't find a lot of the "wobbles" you get in lesser built treadmills. The Endurance T3 is solidly built.

The only point where the Endurance T3 Treadmill really shines is in the warranty. Outside of the Fitnex units which come out of the same factory overseas, the Endurance units all come with the lifetime parts warranty Body Solid has become famous for over the past 2 decades. That's right, a lifetime warranty on all parts. That alone kicks up the rating of this treadmill quite a bit. If nothing else, Endurance has a lot of faith in the T3 Treadmill.

In conclusion, the Endurance T3 Treadmill is a nice, average, mid range treadmill. The price could be lower but it redeems itself with the best warranty in the industry. For that reason alone, the Treadmill Sensei gives the T3 Treadmill by Endurance 3 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

A lifetime warranty gets the Endurance T3 3 out of 5 Gold Buddahs.


Compare the Endurance T3 Treadmill



Endurance T3 Treadmill Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Horsepower: 2.2 HP
Frame Construction: Heavy gauge welded steel with powder coat finish
Shock Absorption: 6 point deck suspension system
Maximum Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Folding: Yes
Maximum Speed: 10 MPH
Maximum Incline: 12%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, pulse grip
Heart Rate Control: No
Programs: 5
Display Type: 3 window LED display
Display Readouts: Elevation, time, distance, speed, and calories
Grade: Residential

Dimensions
Roller Size: 2"
Running Area: 18" x 50"

Warranty
Frame Warranty: Lifetime
Motor Warranty: Lifetime
Electronics Warranty: Lifetime
Parts Warranty: Lifetime
Labor Warranty: 1 year

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Treadmill Sensei Forum

Ohiyo!

I've just set up a new Forum / Bulletin Board for posting, chatting, and buying/selling equipment. If you have any questions for the sensei or just want to yak with other fitness fans, then check out the new message board:

http://www.treadmillsensei.com/forum/

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Ironman 600e Elliptical Review -- A great elliptical with a lot of different names

Moshi Moshi!

Manufacturers do a lot of sneaky things in order to wrangle the dollars out of your wallet. One of the things they do is rename their product for different retailers so that you, the innocent consumer, cannot price match between vendors. TV manufacturers do it. Computer manufacturers do it. And, unfortunately, elliptical manufacturers do it.

One of the best feeling ellipticals priced at around $1100 is a victim of such clandestine dealers by its maker, Keys Fitness. The unit in question (and one owned by 3 different members here at the DOJO) is the Ironman 600e Elliptical from Keys. If you've been researching elliptical trainers then you may have come across this great little machine under the names of the Ironman Evolution Elliptical (sold at places like Costco) or the Alliance A7E Elltiptical. In spite of color and name changes, these are all in fact the exact same machine.

Whatever name you want to call it the Ironman 600e is a sturdy, smooth moving machine based on the old Reebok Bodytrek technology which Keys has licensed from Reebok. Don't let it's faux stepper appearance fool you, the Ironman 600e elliptical has a fantastic 19 inch stride and is every bit a full size, natural feeling workout. The long 19 inch stride makes it one of the smoothest machines under about $2000.

Another great feature is the weight and sturdiness of the machine. These things are built well and are heavy enough for even larger people to work out on them without the machine shaking or feeling uneasy.

The other features include pulse grip heart rate monitor (but no integration with wireless heart rate monitors and no heart rate control programs), an easy to read 5 window LCD console, 16 levels of resistance and 6 workout programs.

In the course of our work repairing and servicing the Keys Ellipticals, we have found a couple of problems and both deal with damage done in shipping. First off, a large number of the units show up with the front wheels bent a bit. This is easily fixed with a new bolt and remounting the wheels, but it is an annoying problem that could be solved by better crating procedures at the manufacturer's warehouse. The second problem, also from poor shipping methods, is cracked shrouds. From what I've seen around 50% of the Ironman 600e Ellipticals show up with some sort of damage done to the shrouds -- anything from a small crack to a shroud being split in half. In Keys' defense, they do replace damaged parts very quickly and their customer service is very helpful. It's a pity their shipping department isn't as competent.

In spite of the problems, if you're looking for a great feeling elliptical, then you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking out the Ironman 600e Elliptical..or the Alliance A7E elliptical...or the Ironman Evolution Elliptical..or the...well, you get my point. The Ironman 600e Elliptical is a great buy at around $1200 no matter what name it goes by.

UPDATE: This unit is now know as the Ironman EVO-1 Elliptica...I wish they'd make up their mind on the name!

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Ironman 600e and its other namesakes (the Ironman Evolution Elliptical and the A7E Elliptical by Alliance) 4 Golden Buddahs out of 5. Check it out already!

By any name, the Sensei awards the Ironman 600e Elliptical from Keys Fitness a 4 out of 5.

Compare the Ironman Evo-1 Elliptical.

Ironman 600e Elliptical Trainer Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes, front-positioned
Frame Construction: Heavy gauge steel construction
Dual Action: Yes
Stride Length: 19"
Step Up Height: 10.5" at lowest point
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
Belt Drive: Poly V belt
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Resistance Levels: 16
Resistance Control: Manual, button adjusted
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, EKG grip pulse monitoring system
Programs: 6 preset; interval, hill, mountain, weight loss, random, and manual
Display Type: 5-window LCD display w/ matrix
Display Readouts: Time, speed, distance strides, calories, pulse, level, and watts
Power Requirements: AC Adaptor

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Horizon EX33 Elliptical Review -- A pretty darn good elliptical for a great price

Nihango, DOJO visitors!

When people find out I work in the fitness industry in general, and do treadmill / elliptical repair and service in specific, I get asked a lot of questions. One of the most common is "what is the best elliptical to buy under $1000?" Since there is no hard and fast rule or guideline for what exactly is "the best," I can just go on my own opinion and experience. Hmmm...scratch that last statement because the Treadmill Sensei knows all and sees all, and his word is now Law.

For those of you who have done any sort of research in to quality equipment, Horizon Fitness should be a very familiar name. As the residential arm of Johnson Tech, Horizon Fitness has been making high quality treadmills and ellipticals for quite a few years now. I believe we've been servicing Horizon equipment for about 3 years now and I'd say 90% of it comes from moving damage -- you just don't see a lot of issues on these machines as the result of working out on them. In fact, the majority of the problems come from cracked shrouds.

This past year, Horizon has updated their old Horizon E53 Elliptical with the new Horizon EX33 Elliptical. I was a bit skeptical at first because of the great feel of the old Horizon E53 units, but the Horizon EX33 has won me over with great performance and a smooth feel. Don't be fooled with the smaller footprint of the Horizon EX33 Elliptical as compared to some of the larger home units, such as the New Balance 9.5e. The stride is a full 18 inches and the shorter EX33 allows for easy rear entry for those of you who dislike the unsteadiness of the side mounting machines.

With the solid upfront weight and heavy, 14 pound flywheel, the Horizon EX33 Elliptical is very solid and sturdy and will hold up to even the hardest of workouts.

The unit has 7 preset programs, 10 resistance levels, heart rate monitoring and control, and a spiffy little bright blue LCD screen which makes all your necessary workout information available at a quick glance.

With a great track record and solid engineering, the Horizon EX33 Elliptical Trainer gives you some of the best performance from an elliptical priced at under $1000. I rate the EX33 Elliptical as a better buy than Horizon's EX44 elliptical because, for about $200 less, you're not losing much at all over the Horizon EX33 Elliptical's bigger brother. Look to pay around $750-800 for the Horizon EX33 Elliptical online...Oh, and one of the online ordering benefits is that most retailers offer free inside delivery on Horizon units.

I give the Horizon EX33 Elliptical a well deserved 4.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon EX33 Elliptical a 4.5 out of 5!

Horizon EX33 Elliptical Specifications
Transport Wheels: Yes
Dual Action: Yes
Stride Length: 18"
Step Up Height: 23cm
Maximum Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Resistance Type: Electronic
Resistance Control: Magnetic
Resistance Levels: 10
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 7 preset; 6 interval and 1 heart rate
Display Type: Blue backlit LCD screen
Power Requirements: 12V
Special Features: Single touch resistance controls and a built in personal cooling fan, 2 compartments to store a water bottle and mp3 player
Grade: Residential

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Landice L7 Executive Treadmill Review -- The BMW of Treadmills

Ohiyo!

Welcome to the DOJO once more! Now that the loooong holiday weekend is over, the Treadmill Sensei has returned once more to hand out his pearls of wisdom and knowledge. This week I want to extoll on the virtues of one of the finest treadmills out there, the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill.

The first thing you're going to want to know about the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill is the manufacturer. Landice is the oldest treadmill manufacturer still in business. They've been making some of the highest quality treadmills for almost 40 years now and it shows in the quality of their product. The Landice L7 Executive Treadmill in particular was top rated by RUNNER'S WORLD magazine.

Next, let's move on to the heart of the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill, the deck and belt. The L7 comes with a 4 ply belt and Landice's patented VFX shock absorption system. With perhaps the best shock system on the market, the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill is going to be the closest thing you find to running on air. The larger size rollers also contribute to consistant speed, non-slip treads and less wear on the motor.

The feature exclusive to the Landice Exectuve treamills is the amazing console which runs some pretty spiffy high end computer applications and entertains you with an animated runner who works out with you in the center of the screen. It comes with seven standard programs and six user defined ones. You'll also be able to program in up to six different workouts for multiple members of the family to store their own work out schedules.

Another interesting feature found in all of the Landice treadmills is the aluminium frame. Instead of opting for the standard steel construction, Landice uses aluminium to up the stability and sturdiness quotent. You don't get much more solid than a Landice L7 Executive Treadmill.

Like the Matrix T3X Treadmill, the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill features a powerful 3 horsepower motor. And, like the Matrix unit, with the Landice L7 you are actually getting a large, low RPM motor that actually is a 3 horsepower motor. And, the fact the motor is made here in the USA doesn't hurt at all. These motors run strong, they run quiet and they run cool. All that adds up to a long lasting, high quality motor for a high quality treadmill.

Now, after all those great features and an overall great treadmill, my rating is going to seem a bit strange to you. I am giving the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill a lower grade because of the high cost for the fancy console. For about $800 less you can get the same treadmill with a less fancy console in the Landice L7 LTD Cardio Trainer Treadmill. If you like the Executive console and can afford it, you'll be pleased, but I'd save the $800 and get the L7 LTD Cardio Trainer instead...you definitely won't be disappointed.

The Treadmill Senseive gives the Landice L7 Executive Treadmill 4 golden buddahs out of 5.

The Treadmill Sensei gives the Landice L7 Executive 4 out of 5!

Get more information on the top of the line treadmill from Landice, and find the lowest price online.

Landice L7 Club Executive Trainer Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3.0 HP
Max User Weight: 400 lbs.
Folding: No
Reversible Deck: Yes
Max Speed: 11 MPH
Max Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitor : Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: Built in, user, HRC.
Display Type: Animated video display!
Made In: USA
Running Area: 20" x 58"
Flywheel Weight: 14 lbs.
Roller Size: 2.5"
Deck Thickness: 1"
Motor Warranty: 5 years
Parts Warranty: 1 year

Price: $4600

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Landice Treadmill Mystery Solved -- Which unit is right for you

Moshi Moshi!

I had planned to do a detailed review of the Landice L7 Executive treadmill today, but Mrs. Sensei has laid down the law and I only have a few minutes to post a review on this fine July 4th holiday -- the DOJO itself is empty and all of the other senseis are off work and at home enjoying their families. Look for the full review tomorrow, but for today enjoy a quick rundown of the differences between the numerous models of Landice treadmills out on the market.

If you'vee spent time looking at Landice treadmills then you've probably noticed they have a large number of units available and the differences between them aren't always as obvious as they should be. Here is a guide to comparing the different models, full commercial and light commercial.

At each level (L7, L8 and L9), the only difference between a Pro Sports Trainer, a Cardio Trainer and an Executive trainer is going to be the console. The Landice Pro Sports Trainer Treadmill has the lowest end, basic display, and the Landice Executive treadmills have the highest end (really spiffy, if you ask me) displays. The difference in the consoles is very obvious upon viewing.

The differences of each Landice treadmill level (L7, L8 and L9) is going to be the size of the rollers and the length of the deck. The higher the number, the heaver and larger the rollers and the longer the treadmill deck.

The LTD versus the Club style is an easy one as well. LTD means the unit is light commercial and Club means the unit is full commercial -- meaning it is rated to run for a higher number of hours per week (full commercial usually means 100+ hours of use per week). The LTDs come in 110v and the Clubs in 220v or 110v. If you're using a Landice Club treadmill in your home, make sure to request 110v or you may not be able to run it properly.

And there you go, the mystery of the Landice treadmills is solved!

Landice L7 LTD Treadmill - Summary
3-HP continuous duty motor
20” x 58” four-ply treadbelt
2 -1/2” diameter, 14-pound steel rollers
400-pound user weight capacity
Reading / Accessory Rack
L7 Footprint 32" x 77"
Weight 300 lbs.

Landice L7 Club Treadmill - Summary
3-HP continuous duty motor
20” x 58” four-ply treadbelt
2 -1/2” diameter, 14-pound steel rollers
400-pound user weight capacity
Reading / Accessory Rack
L7 Footprint 32" x 77"
Weight 300 lbs.

Landice L8 LTD Treadmill - Summary
3-HP continuous duty motor
20” x 63” four-ply treadbelt
3 -1/2” diameter, 22-pound steel rollers
500-pound user weight capacity
Reading / Accessory Rack
L8 Footprint 32" x 82"
Weight 415 lbs.

Landice L9 Club Treadmill - Summary
3-HP continuous duty motor
20” x 63” four-ply treadbelt
3 -1/2” diameter, 22-pound steel rollers
500-pound user weight capacity
Reading / Accessory Rack
L9 Footprint 32" x 82"
Weight 425 lbs.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: Problems with Life Fitness 9500 treadmills and Star Trac Pro Treadmills

Ohiyo again, faithful students of the DOJO!

I hope the holiday weekend is treating you all well. Tonight we dip back in to the reader mailbag to try and help out a reader who is having problems with the treadmills at his gym. Let's see what we can do to assist him.

Dear Treadmill Sensei,

I came across your website from a google search on the topic of treadmill belt slippage. I recently joined a new gym that has two types of treadmills, Life Fitness 9500 HR & Life Fitness 9700 HR treadmills, and Star Trac Pro treadmills. This gym is much more expensive than the other one I used to go to that had the exact same equipment. At the previous gym I had no problems using either type of treadmill.

My problem is that about 90% of their Life Fitness treadmills have belts that slip when you run faster than 6.0 MPH. I'm not a small guy, about 260 lbs, but I believe this should be well within the specifications of that model. The Star Trac Pro treadmills don't slip but they make horrible vibrations and pounding noises if you run faster than about 5.5 MPH. Obviously, lighter/smaller users (women) that walk or jog do not exhibit these symptoms, and that does comprise the vast majority of their users. I have complained to the gym about these problems and they seem to think I'm either nuts for implying all their treadmills don't work, or just too heavy for all of them.

I have a few questions for you:

- Am I being unrealistic? Can 260 lb guys not run faster than 6.0 MPH on this class of treadmill?
- The gym uses Durabelt brand belts on their treadmills. I suspect this is a cost saving measure, do you know this to cause problems?
- How does a treadmill repair expert verify that the belt won't slip for heavier users if the repairman is a small person?
- Could the problem with the startrac treadmills be that they don't have them on a soft floor?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I understand you're running a business, and you're under no obligation to reply to my email with any kind of response without compensation. I'm just frustrated, and you seem very knowledgeable on the topic, so I thought it was worth a try.

Many thanks, Jim

* * * * *

Nihango, Jim!

Thanks for your note. From you description it doesn't sound like you are crazy at all. It does sound like there are problems with your gym's Life Fitness 9500 treadmills and Star Trac Pro treadmills. Life Fitness and Star Trac both produce some of the highest end commercial treadmills out on the market. Both should have no problems with a 260-300 pound user running even at their max speeds without the slipping you've described.

Without actually seeing the treadmills myself, it sounds like either the belts aren't properly aligned and adjusted or the decks are older and worn down. If the belt adjustment is off it could be from high usage (and would just need a couple of quick adjustments at the rear of the machine) or the rollers might be damaged or defective. If that's the case it's a little tougher to fix, but still pretty simple. If the decks are worn down and need replacement, then it could be a major issue for the gym. If they're smaller and are short on their repair/replacement budget, then the higher expense of obtaining a new deck might be keeping them from maintaining their machines. It doesn't really sound like a problem with the motors because then you'd be feeling changes in speed more than belt slippage.

As for the loud noises on the Star Trac Pro treadmills, I'd say there is definitely an issue there. Even on a hardwood style floor, the Star Trac Pro treadmills should still be fairly quiet machines.

From my experience it sounds like the gym has machines that are older and no longer under manufacturer warranty -- either they've had the machines for a long period or they've purchased remanufactured equipment to save cash -- and they are not able or willing to keep the units up to fighting shape. It sounds like most of their users are smaller and they figuring risking the annoyance of a couple of larger clients is worth it to avoid paying to have their equipment repaired properly.

My suggestion would be to see if you can have the gym manager or owner watch you during a treadmill workout to see the problem. If they see the problem and don't fix it, I'd say get the heck out of there and move on to a more responsible gym.

Please let me know how things work out for you and don't hesitate to email me again with any questions or comments you might have.

Take care.

The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com