Bowflex Reviews, Comparisons, and Tips

Getting in shape is as easy as literally stepping out and walking or running.  But sometimes the weather can get unpredictable; the path can get uncertain; your feet hit the floor and you feel a jolt that is just very uncomfortable, probably from taking too long a break from exercising; you don’t really like having people look at you when you are all sweating and breathy; or you could simply be just afraid of dogs or stray people you would prefer not to ever run into.  Before you know it, you find yourself wishing you could just do your running at home but, of course, jogging in place simply won’t cut it.  In all accounts, I speak from experience and I honestly believe no one could have been more grateful about the invention of the treadmill as I was.

Time has passed and companies have gotten better at making these treadmills too, giving you inclines nowadays, really comfortable paddings to run on. Heck, in the Bowflex treadmill, you even get a little breeze now, mimicking the breeze you get from running.  This is what never fails to amaze me with Bowflex and I’m not speaking from a promotional standpoint but as a consumer and someone who is really keen about doing her cardios on a daily, and if at all possible, convenient basis.

The Bowflex treadmill covers everything you would want a treadmill to have.  The 7 series in particular impressively leaves no stone unturned.  All the concerns I mentioned early on, the Bowflex treadmill has hit hard and good with its very well-thought out features.  Well, by its very nature, a treadmill for being a treadmill is a convenience in and of itself. It helps you run in a place you couldn’t have possibly done so without it. That of course gets a point from me.  The Bowflex treadmill (and from hereon when I mention Bowflex treadmill I will always be referring to the 7 series) goes beyond that, adding the following gadgets and really convenient features (and I won’t be listing all, just some of my favorites):

A massive running surface that’s padded with what Bowflex calls a “Strike Zone” deck cushioning.  It serves to give you both a soft landing and a firm lift off. Now, personally, all I really care about are soft landings than lift offs.  Although I love running outside (when it is quiet and there aren’t a lot of people looking), sometimes when I decide to couch it out for far too long, I instantly feel like my knee joints are going to shatter.  This Strike Zone cushioning really gets me back into shape and helps me get into marathon-ready condition for when I’m ready to give it a go outside.

This is where their incline feature steps in too.  It’s quick and very convenient to use.  I especially love the programs that go with the Series 7  (technically it’s just 13 programs as opposed to the 15 they advertise because the two slots are provided for your customization).

The 13 programs include: manual, cardio, running, fat burn, speed interval jogger, hill intervals, 5K run with 12 intervals, heart strength/recovery test, calorie goal, distance goal, fat burn heart rate calculation, cardio heart rate calculation, body mass index (BMI) test.  I’m fond of the fat burn and the speed interval jogger and dabble occasionally with my own customizations.  It kills off the boredom and the monotony and also surprises the body, making it more efficient when you change your routine up every now and then, including your cardio program.

I’m also a big fan of the Bowflex treadmill’s telemetric heart monitor. Although there’s also a heart monitor on the grips, I do not use that at all.  I’m not the gripping kind and you shouldn’t be too.  Gripping just completely distorts the natural balance in your body.  Just my two cents.  Anyway, the telemetric heart monitor already comes with a chest strap (that is plus hundreds of points on the scoreboard) so you don’t have to look for one to use it with.  Just remember to moisten the areas where it should touch your skin to ensure a really good reading.  The reading goes out to the display; I find that quite savvy.

Other features you would be probably more interested in are detailed as follows:

• It runs on a 3.0 horsepower motor.
• It’s speed range is 0.5-11 miles per hour/0.8-17.7 kilometers per hour and incline range is at 0-12%.
• The display is an LCD with skylight backlit and around it are quick incline and quick-speed keys to change settings easily.
• Its maximum user weight is 300 pounds/136 kilograms.
• Its running area measures 20 x 60 inches or 51 by 152 centimeters and under it is a two-ply belt and rollers that measure 2.5 inches or 6.4 centimeters.
• Bonus features are three-speed fan (don’t expect much from it) and two bottle or cup holders.

Dimensions are at  83 by 35 by 55.25 inches/211 by 89 by 140 centimeters.  Folded, it is 40.87 by 35 by 65.5 inches or 104 by 89 by 166 centimeters.  It is heavy at 298 pounds or 135 kilograms

In terms of mobility, the Bowflex treadmill doesn’t really have much to boast of.  But you’re getting a sturdy build, I think that is definitely worth the trade off.  You just don’t want to move it around so be sure that when you get one for your home, you put it in its most ideal place. In summary, the Bowflex treadmill is a steal for its price.  It’s not exactly very affordable but in terms of product features, there’s no wonder why it is (and it truly deserves) its “best-selling treadmill” title.

More Details on This Treadmill

For its price, it may quite possibly be the best buy out there. Understand that you can easily find commercial models offered by their competitors that sell for up to three times as much as the Series 7 sells for.

Even so, with a 3 horsepower motor that puts out a top speed of 11 mph, the Bowflex series 7 is no light weight machine by any means. Also before you get all excited about a far more expensive machine that delivers more mph, do go test yourself beside a vehicle. What you'll inevitably find is that 11 mph is a pretty good clip. It's adequate speed.

Also with so many features being offered on not just this machine but all of its competitors, it can be a little overwhelming. So just what are the features that you're more likely to make regular use of and which ones can be filed in the “whistles and bells” category? As it turns out the Bowlfex Series 7 has all the features that I like.

For instance, Strike Zone shock absorption technology is “a must” as far as I'm concerned. It just makes for a far more comfortable workout and over the long run you can't discount the lessened wear on the feet and lower joint of the legs and ankles. Then there's the calorie counting feature that I use every time. I love it! I can keep precise track of every calorie that I burn on my treadmill.

It comes with a 15 year warranty on the frame, 2 year warranty on parts and one year on labor. Now I've had mine for three years now and it hasn't given me a lick of trouble. Even so, I do wonder sometimes why Bowflex can't up their warranties a bit. Thats really my only gripe I have about my Series 7.

In this post, you will find:

• Links to various Bowflex Motivator 2 reviews.
• A guide to where you can download copies of both the Bowflex Motivator 2 Owner's Manual and Fitness Guide, and the Bowflex Motivator 2 Assembly Instructions.
• List of the Bowflex Motivator 2 specifications.

Your Next Best Gym Equipment

One of the more well-loved home gym equipment there is is the Bowflex Motivator 2.  For a fraction of a cost, you can get just as much workout as you would from your average Bowflex equipment.  If you’re looking for something that would keep your body in shape and tone you up just right, with no heavy muscle building in mind, this is the home gym for you.

• More than 50 available exercises
• 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance
• Lat pull-down station
• Leg curl/leg extensions station
• Sliding seat rail for aerobic rowing
• Triple-function hand grip/ankle cuff for a variety of exercises
• Includes training manual
• Dimensions: 34 by 84 by 78 inches
• Workout area: 100 by 78 inches
• Folds to a compact size (28 by 34 by 6.5 inches) and includes transport wheels for easy storage
• 300-pound maximum weight capacity

The Bowflex Motivator II employs the Power Rods as resistance just like all the other Bowflex equipment.  If you don’t have a background on these power rods, these are simply Bowflex’s version of weight plates.  Bowflex gives a lifetime warranty on all their Power Rods and while they usually give a 5-to 7-year warranty on most of their equipment, the Bowflex Motivator 2 gets just 3 years.

In any case, all Bowflex equipment are sturdily made and continue to be in demand, even the discontinued ones.  These make for a pretty reasonable market value if and IF you should want to sell in the future.

In terms of compactness and mobility, the Bowflex Motivator 2 wouldn’t be on the top of the list, although it still does have a fold-up feature and wheels that would come in handy eventually.  It is 34 inches wide, 78 inches long, and 84 inches high that folds up to a 34 by 84 by 78 inches.  It comes unassembled but it is very easy to put together.  It can go to as high as 210 in terms of resistance but isn’t upgradeable like most Bowflex equipment and this is why it isn’t an ideal tool in body building.

The Equipment That Motivates

The Bowflex Motivator 2 can help you build just enough muscle to make you look and feel good.  Your body will be in shape and you get to burn calories even when you’re not working out, because we all know that’s what muscle does.

Kick start a 30 day bowflex workout with the Bowflex Motivator II Home Gym now.  If you’re just beginning to find your way around establishing a workout routine, it’s best to start slow and steady.  20 minutes a day with the Bowflex Motivator 2 should be enough for the next 30 days. 

Do the following exercises in 10 to 15 repetitions, with 30-45 seconds of rest in between, and you should be able to get a full body workout that will keep you motivated: bench press, seated lateral rows, standing lateral shoulder raise, standing biceps curl, lying triceps extension, leg extension, leg curl, seated calf press, low back extension and resisted abdominal crunch.  The Bowflex Motivator 2 Home Gym lets you do about 50 exercises, so remember to vary your routine and increase your resistance as you progress and as your body requires.  Also, be sure check out videos on using the equipment for better execution.

Bowflex Motivator 2 Specs

Bowflex Motivator 2, like any other Bowflex home gym equipment, has a lot to offer when it comes to getting fit and strengthening your muscles. Though it is not recommended for heavy body building purposes, you can still get the body that you want with the help of the Bowflex Motivator 2.

The following are the Bowflex Motivator specifications:

• Brand: Bowflex
• Fitness Type: Weight Training Equipment
• Sports Type: Personal Fitness
• Weight Training Equipment Type: Home Gyms · Leg Presses and Machines · Weight Training Accessories
• Resistance Type: Resistance Rods
• Target Muscles: Back · Arms · Shoulders · Legs · Chest
• Number of Exercises: 50 Exercises
• Max Resistance Weight: 210 lbs.

What's the Difference Between the Motivator 2 and 1?

Bowflex Motivator 2 is a more enhanced version of the Bowflex Motivator 1. Both home gym equipment are suited for people who only want to tone up and stay in shape. These home gym equipment cannot live up to your expectations if you want to perform heavy body building routines. While the Bowflex Motivator 2 is equipped only with 210 resistance, the Bowflex Motivator 1 can be adjusted to 310 and 410 resistances.

There aren't much differences between these two Bowflex home gym equipment, they in fact have more similarities. However, with Bowflex Motivator 2's more enhanced features such as the leg press and leg extension/curl, triple function hand grips, and mobility, exercising with this home gym equipment feels a lot better.

Bowflex Motivator Reviews

For a more in depth knowledge about the Bowflex Motivator 2, and to help you determine if the Bowflex Motivator 2 is a right home gym choice, check out some of this review by Eddie Lovelace and another review by Travis Dockweiler.

Download the Manual

To help you assemble your Bowflex Motivator 2, make sure you get the right information from this official Bowflex Motivator 2 Assembly Instructions. It pays to follow everything written in this manual to avoid injuries and accidents from using the Bowflex Motivator 2.

Aside from this, there is also this Bowflex Motivator 2 Owner's Manual and Fitness Guide, which will help you perform all the exercises available with this home gym equipment.