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No one has properly explained the display and it took me hours and hours of trying to decided based on negative or lack of information, but I finally bought it anyways and here is my findings after having it for one month and using it regularly:

As many of the other reviews have said, this is a solid, well built treadmill. I find it quiet. Heavy! But I have no problem moving it within the area it is in, but I am a big guy. I would buy it again and again. I really like being able to watch my TV while working out.

1) Reviews: You will find this highly reviewed by those that reviewed it here, on Consumer Reports (highest rated for a folding treadmill), and other consumer sites or equipment sellers agree.

2) Fan - FUNNY to me, but some folks seem really ripped up over the weak fan. Well, it does work and on high it is nice to have but still weak. BUT non of the gym machines have a fan and it does help some, so I see it as a plus and at worse just not that useful. I setup my own fans - seems a simple solution to me.

3) Display - the two "bubble" displays are for only the incline and speed (For the modes I have tried which is manual, hill, speed, calorie countdown-I assume for all modes this is the case), which means you have access to these two items at all times. The display below is multi-use. Other reviewers complain that words are scrolled by 2 letters at a time for "action" messages and I agree this sucks(action messages are like: CO OL DO WN). BUT - those items will not matter as you use it since you brain will learn to read and remember what is what(at least my brain has no problems after a month). Also, the 2 letter scroll is mostly used at the beginning when you select the mode (manual, hill, custom, etc) and at the end when you get a summary (which by the time you get off it, I bet you are like me, you are counting the calories and time, so you already know those items). In this area (The multi-use) also you get your calories, time elapses or count down to zero, etc. You have to cycle through it, which is the same as the gym I go to. Anyways, it would have been better if they just displayed all the time, but they don't. But it isn't a major issue, just select the toggle button to cycle through to it.

4) Buttons - I copied this from another review and comment afterwards: "Several of the buttons on the display have "modes", and it is not always clear which mode you are in. For example, the "Enter" key doubles as the "Cool Down" key. When you enter your speed, it is not clear if you are to key in your speed and press the "Enter" key, or key it in and wait for the treadmill to speed up. If you are unsure of which mode you are in and you press the "Enter" key at the wrong time, you've just ruined your workout, and need to shut the machine off and reprogram it to continue your workout."

My response: This is true - this was a bad design, BUT there is an very easy work around I found as I had the same problem. You just need to use the up or down arrows under the SPEED section - problem solved!!! Now - I am a walker, I could see if you where on 7 and need to get to 2 fast, that this could be a factor, but the arrows speed down or up the treadmill fast. Also note this is only a problem as the "enter" key double for the "Cool Down" key, but for incline you can select the incline and hit it's enter key and not worry. Also, you can use the up and down arrows under the incline (Left side) label as well. Both Speed (On the Right side) and Incline (Left Side) on different sides of the console.

If you program it wrong for a work out, say 20 minutes instead of 40 minutes, you have to stop and reset the machine. The gym machines let you add time as you work out and this one does not. I just set it for 90 minutes and let it count backward, if I am done in an hour, so what that it has 30 minutes left. For me, this was not a big issue.

5) Instruction Manual - Not clear and screws not always label correctly. But if you take your time and count the screws and figure where each goes, you should be fine. BUT they should correct this. Also, no instructions on how to lubricate the deck when you need too and no pictures on where to adjust the belt (hint: at the back end of the deck are two holes with screws that you turn with the allen wrench - manual says something like on a hub which made me think it was on the front of the deck as there are two caps covers over the front of the deck - These do not get removed!!). It took me 2 hours to put together - but I stopped 10 times to do other things - I would guess an hour. Aside from the screw and bad labeling, the actual assemble was pretty easy for me - I use to be a PC tech, so I am tool inclined (good with tools).

6) Delivery - I buy more from Amazon then anywhere else and I buy a lot and Amazon is my favorite place since price and reviews are great! BUT, I did pay the extra $100.00 to one of the big chains to have it delivered inside the house and am glad I did with the reviews of others saying the delivery folks that contract with Amazon may just leave it in you driveway! How silly! Pay the extra $100.00 have it delivered inside and up or down two flights of steps. HINT: 3 of the chains use the same supplier even though the webpages are different, if you look, you will see that returns for all 3 go to the same place and BOX number!!! They all use the same supplier and I believe the same web developers as most of the text is the same on the webpages. OH - and, also not tax as well, at least in Maryland - so I pay a 100.00 more to get it delivered.

7)Heart monitors(hand and wireless) - Many folks have said that the hand grips don't work for them or it takes a long time. Mine works great and fast (I am a walker - so maybe those that run are the ones having problems with it with the pounding on it from running? Anyways, my works great and as well as the wireless band that fits around you chest. BOTH works great for me.

8)Build materials - Seems really well built. I am 260 guy and it has no problems working for me and doesn't shake when I run (occasionally only) The 20 x 60 deck is great. Deck is easy to fold up and has a weight system inside which helps make it easy and light to fold up and to fold down slowly. I also agree with other that these machine seems to be "commercial" quality. Time will tell.

9)Help line - I had to call to ask where you adjust the belt. They answered pretty quickly and was able to help me for whatever that experience may give you.

SPECIAL NOTES:

For incline to work, you apparently need to do the calibration sequence on page 28 before the incline feature and maybe other things too. No problem - just takes a minute and is easy.

NEVER USE WD-40: To lubricate your belt. According to Nautilus, this is something a lot of people do, and any consequential damage will NOT be covered by your warranty. Some posted a how to in their review.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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I bought this treadmill just over 2 years ago. Due to a back injury, it has had very limited use. Maybe, 30 sessions. I started using it again last week and after one session the unit stopped working and gave an error code that indicated something with a speed sensor. After searching on the internet it became apparant that this is a known issue. I called customer service who had me run a few tests and it looks like the mother board failed. The electronics are only covered for 1 year. The motherboard is $227 + tax and shipping. The customer service rep suggested that I first try to replace the speed sensor for a cost of $11 and if that doesnt work I will need to replace the mother board. The replaced motherboard will have a warranty of 30 days.

Needless to say, I am pretty disgusted with something that fails after only 30 or so uses. I paid $1500 for this 2 years ago and now will be investing another $250. I can't recommend this unit.

My advice is to try an find one that doesnt rely on some cheap mother board made in China.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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I bought this treadmill after months of reading reviews after reviews after reviews. I did my research! I am NOT dissappointed! I put this together (by myself), after my husband helped me move it into my workout room. It only took me an hour, the directions were VERY easy to follow, all tools provided. You do need to make sure to calibrate it though. I had read a review that told me to make sure to do that step - or else I might have not realized that you had to do that step. After the quick 1-2 min calibration step I was up and running. No problems yet. I love this treadmill. I will update the review in a few months and let you all know if anything changes.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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My treadmill has been collecting dust since Oct. 2008. It worked fine when it worked. It's been 6 months since it has stopped working (two months after the warranty ran out)and after replacing all of the electronics in the lower unit it is still not working. Bowflex has poor support they don't have replacement parts in stock and it takes months to deliver parts. I do not recommend this product.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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My Bowflex was delivered today. I'd just like to make some observations on what I've seen so far:

-First off, the box for this thing is huge! The delivery guy was surly about having the wrong side facing the back of his truck (I had to help him rotate it), but overall he did a good job lugging the thing up the driveway. It's very heavy, but I'm one guy (5'8'') and I was able to take all the packing apart and set the treadmill up in my garage without much trouble. Fitting it through a door threshold would be a pain (you'd have to do it while it was still disassembled), but sliding things across a concrete garage floor wasn't too much work for me (about 2 hours total setup.

-The assembly instructions are a bit unclear with things. One of the steps said to use the included "Philips head screws," but you're really supposed to use the silver hex bolts. This happened twice in the booklet, and I was left with 4 extra bolts when I was done. Nothing is hard to figure out, but it's still annoying when you're searching for the wrong parts (some of the bolts are black, why not point that out during the actual steps?). Also, early on you're supposed to push some cables through a side rail, which is a pain - have a pair of needle-nose pliars handy, and be sure to use the black twist-ties to secure them on either end.

-For the most part, things fit well (one bolt on the center bar is wedged between the bar hole and the hole on the side rail), though the instructions could have been more clear on a few steps. For instance, the prongs on the center console have to wrap around the tops of those round protrusions on the tops of the side rails (followed by shifting them down a bit to align the holes for the bolts), but the illustration didn't say anything about how it's supposed to fit on the rails.

-Concerning the treadmill overall, there are some annoyances:
---The fan is really weak, and looks like the same cheap kind of fan I put in my computer a while back. Same (visible) power cables, etc. If you're just walking, you can feel a bit of the breeze, but while running I never feel anything, even on the highest setting.
---I'm not sure what height of person the treadmill was designed for. I have trouble reading the top part of the lowest display (there's a "track" that wraps around it) so I have to back up a bit, but then I can't reach the center bar (where the heart monitors are built in, unless you use the chest monitor that's included - and they don't tell you how to sync THAT up to the Bowflex, though it might be automatic...it's made by another company).
---I wish the buttons were actual click buttons rather than the kind covered with that plastic stuff, as sometimes it's difficult to know whether you're pressing them hard enough.
---Only the three stat screens light up. The buttons do not, so you pretty much have to work out with an external light on.
---There's no "cancel" button. When you end a workout, you have to press the power button off and on again to start a new workout.
---There are a few good workout programs, but I can't find one for "track" running. You know, walking the curves and jogging the straightaways...you can speed up and slow down manually though.
---I usually like the stats screen to be set to show miles elapsed and time elapsed/remaining. For some reason, it keeps randomly switching to the pulse rate display, UNLESS you're wearing the heart monitor strap or holding on to the bar. I've gotten into the habit of wearing the strap (which, btw, has to wrap around your skin, not just over a shirt), but it's annoying to have to tap the screen every few minutes just to get to the info you want if you're not wearing it.
---The stats screen only shows 2-3 pieces of info at a time. You can show one or cycle them, but I think it would have been nice to have a bigger screen with all the info at once.
----The displays are a little...freaky. Overall, the console kinda looks like a face, with circular "eyes" and a "mouth" for the stats. I know it's a childish observation, but it still bothers me that they couldn't just have one giant screen with more info displayed all at once. They could have put another screen in place of the fan too.
---Also, the console piece is the main "visual" part of the treadmill, and looks a bit cheap. It's hard plastic, but metal would have looked much better. Same goes for the parts that hide the tops of the rails.

-The operation manual says to lubricate the belt every few months (the package with the bolts and stuff also has a small bottle of silicone), but it doesn't tell you how or where to apply the silicone. I guess it goes on the underside of the rolling mat, but how do you coat the whole thing with a tube?

-Finally, there's a picture shown several times in the manuals of a model happily rolling the unit along. She's admittedly nice to look at, but it's just not plausible for someone her size to be able to tilt this monstrosity over and push it the way she's showing. I can barely get the bloody thing to tilt at all, and it's just too heavy to roll around on a regular basis. At around 33 inches wide, it won't fit through any of our doors, at least without taking it all apart again!

I know I've been nitpicking a lot, but as long as it lasts for a few years, I'll be happy I bought this machine. Whatever faults it has, the thing is sturdy and has a great motor. It's smooth enough to handle walking, and powerful enough when I run on it.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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Strong! My 6'6" husband can run on it! Extra long tread, goes up and down, has all the bells and whistles and....FREE SHIPPING on Amazon!Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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My husband and I are very happy with our recent purchase of this treadmill. It is fairly quiet, easy to use, and has a long enough belt that you can walk or run without worry. I especially like that the fan has different speeds. We would absolutely recommend this treadmill to anyone looking for a great treadmill for a decent price.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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Upon looking around the Bowflex seemed to be the best overall rated for home use. I was little skeptical on spending $1200 for a treadmill. However, I didn't want to waste money on an inferior one either.

The machine came in about three days. It was heavy for sure and you Will need help getting this thing in your home. As previous post have mentioned, decide what room you will have the Bowflex in. Once it is assembled, you will not be able to move through standard 32" doorways. Even unassembled you will have to turn the machine on its side to move as I experienced.

It took about 45 minutes to assemble from start to turning on and test running. There are just a few parts to assemble. The bulk is pre-assembled , so don't let assemble required scare you off.

On mine, some screws mention in the instructions and what came didn't jive; however, it was no biggie.

The treadmill itself is definitely of high quality. I would rate it just below gym quality, but gym quality would cost you 3K. Gym quality has to be able to be pounded on for 8-10 hours at a time. For home use, I think this one will last a good long while.

I'm 220 lbs and this thing held up wonderfully. Not just in walking, but running at an 8 minute mile clip. The fan doesn't do much for you walking, but when you start ramping up and breaking a sweat, the light breeze does help.

I won't give this a 5 only due to the price. I would like to see the price at about $975. However, I didn't see one for less than the Bowflex that I felt comfortable would hold up and last like I think the Bowflex will.
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We bought this machine for use in our home in May 2007. So far we have not had any problems with the machine at all. Neither one of us are avid runners so I can't rate the product on that aspect, but I use it 5 times a week 1 hour a night, and so far we have not had any problems. I like that when you unfold the running deck it slowly lowers and does not just release. The only complaint that I can really find is that without a mat, the treadmill left a fine dusting of black powder on my carpet. Like others have commented the machine is not light weight and heavy to move (the wheels do help though), so make of that what you will. Overall I would rate this treadmill right on the money, just make sure to have a mat underneath it. And as for all of the complaints about not receiving front door service, not only did the delivery men bring it to my front door, they also put the treadmill in the room for me! Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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After much research, we decided upon the Bowflex treadmill, originally we were not going to order it from Amazon because the delivery on Amazon didn't indicate anything other than "threshold" drop off, and the unit weighs about 300 pounds. I called Amazon and they told me that there were full service delivery options available for a price. Well, after dropping $1299. for the treadmill, not being able to get it in the house and upstairs made no sense. We were going to order from a national sporting goods chain, and they were charging for delivery and the treadmill was $200 more - Since the standard shipping was free from Amazon, we figured that as long as the upgraded delivery didn't cost more than $250 we were still $150 - $200 ahead of the game. Well, it was only $57.00 more for the "white glove delivery" from CEVA (awesome delivery company too). So we got the treadmill for $200 less than the other guys, $200 more in savings for the free delivery, and that's not counting sales tax. So it was far better to get it from Amazon, enjoy the savings and get the upgraded delivery service.

It took 3 guys to get it upstairs and the box was big enough to be a coffin for a pro basketball player. There was no way my husband and I and several of our friends could have done the job. They helped with some assembly too. We gave the delivery guys $60 in tip because it was done so well and we were so thankful for this service offering that Amazon doesn't tell you about - YOU HAVE TO CALL AND ASK! It is so worth it! So don't let delivery concerns drive you away from buying from Amazon.

How to arrange the upgraded delivery: Once you get your order from Amazon processed, you see a tracking number on your order and the delivery company name. Call the delivery company direct (google the phone number) and ask them for the upgraded service. They call Amazon for you, Amazon sends you an email asking if you authorize the additional charge to your credit card and then it is all done! Brainless. They say they are charging just to bring it to the room of your choice and haul away the boxes, but sometimes they will do more for you.

Now for the treadmill - it was easy to assemble, the instructions were great. You do need two people to do the job right. It worked fine right out of the box and the fold up is very easy and very stable. I was afraid that it would be like a guillotine on the way down, but it does have a buffer of some sort to make the unfolding very smooth and gravity-defying. The controls are easy to figure out - didn't need to read the manual. The fan is good - but I wasn't used to having a fan at the gym, so I am not sure I will use it. No bells or whistles regarding entertainment, but do you want to work out or watch TV? Plus the simplicity makes me feel like there is less that can go wrong with it.

We are so thrilled to get this treadmill, and so thrilled that we didn't rupture something getting it upstairs thanks to the enhanced delivery service.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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The Bowflex we purchased 4 or 5 weeks ago has not been operable due to the machine sensor. Therefore, we can not rate this machine.
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Works as advertised. No problems so far after two weeks and forty miles.
I bought it because Consumer Reports liked it.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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I bought this treadmill because of it's high rating in Consumer Reports. I'll admit that, so far, I'm happy with it. However, I was dissapointed to learn that it was made in China. My experience with Chinese products has not been a positive one. Poison in dog food, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, and sheetrock are just a few examples of why I am so lerry of Chinese products. Low quality and cheap components seem to be synonymous with "Made in China".

I know it's unthinkable for America to build our own treadmills, but I would feel a lot more confident about my investment if it had been made in Japan or Germany. Time will tell.

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It took some time before the treadmill was delivered however I cannot complain because the delivery was free. This machine is of very good quality and construction. I had no trouble assembling it but would recommend a helper when it comes to putting on the top part of the treadmill control unit. Also put it together in the room you intend to use it in.

I have not used it long but it works fine and will if possible address this again after I have used it for a few monthsGet more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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1. Delivery man (there was only 1) said he would not have delivered the box upstairs if I had needed that. Unless I paid extra. Freight company was ABF in Houston TX. They called me in advance before the delivery and asked me where I wanted it. So I had an opportunity to request a delivery upstairs but wanted to make this point here, don't assume you can have this option.

2. The packages is quite large and quite heavy. I don't see how one person could have moved this anywhere but then I'm a woman. The delivery man using special equipment did deliver the box to our garage which was a straight shot on a driveway with no incline (they asked about this on the phone).

3. First problem I ran into was the wires that needed to be threaded up thru the left column holding up the console. A black wire is provided to pull the wire thru but it kept getting clogged up. Once I got some duct tape and taped the end so there was nothing to catch on whatever it was that caused the column to become more narrow, the problem was solved.

4. Once the column on the left and one on the right were attached (pretty easy), the console was attached also very easily although my husband had to be there holding it while I was guiding it. There was no way I could have done this without him. He's a big guy. Though the console was bulky, I don't think holding it for this part of the installation required someone of extra strength.

5. The next problem was the most frustrating. There are two arm pieces, one on the left and one on the right. Each piece is composed of a couple of parts that needed to be screwed in. Difficult to describe but the main point is that the screws need to be screwed from the inside (near the cross bar) pointing out, i.e. in a somewhat difficult position for maneuvering. I found it impossible to screw these hex screws using the hex screwdriver provided. (the allen screwdriver was okay for the allen screws). There were a couple of reasons the hex screwdriver was so difficult. But bottom line, I went to the hardware store and bought a very long hex screwdriver with a very nice grip that made it much much easier. (because of the length, the interference from the cross bar was minimized...)

6. finished the rest of the arm pieces and powered it on and it works during our short demonstration. It does seem to be very very sturdy and because of the heaviness, I'm hoping it will be long lasting.

7. Last complaint, the documentation has nothing about the "KEY" and where it goes. We figured it out but how difficult would it have been to provide this info? Other questions we figured out that were not documented. Guess I'm used to clearer info from my previous experience with assembling furniture and what not. I definitely got the impression that the manufacturers were assuming that people with experience in mechanical installations would be putting this together. Not the case with us.

Whew! I was really nervous about this. Thank goodness it seems to have gone okay at this point. I have the name of a repair person for exercise equipment that will come to your home that I've used before and found highly competent. If we do have any problems, I don't plan to try to fix it myself or even call the company. Sounds like that would be a real frustrating experience. I plan to just call her. Let's hope I don't have to.

(Note- I don't remember it being documented here but for anyone not aware, the machine can only handle 300 pounds (did I say my husband was big? but luckily not 300. The bowflex 3 is only for maximum of 275 pounds - just so you know...)Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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A good friend recommended the Bowflex Series 7. He has been using his for over 3 months, and he and his wife love it. I bought one for my wife and she enjoys the workout very much. I also started using it, and the workout is intense. There are different workout profiles for every level of conditioning. From hill climbing to flat out running the Series 7 is up to the task.Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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1: It's HEAVY. Assemble it where you plan on using it.
2: Stays steady and solid when 220lbs is bouncin around on it.
3: Your kids will love the box. It's just as long and 1/2 the height of a sofa.
4: Delivered by ABF Freight. Burned 1/2 my day waiting on those idiots to show up. 2 days prior to delivery they called me to schedule a drop of time (9:30am to 10:30am). Finally showed up at 3:15 PM. At least there was stuff on TV to watch while I waited. Plus, I got to run off most of that aggrivation once I got the thing assembled :)Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

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The GOOD - SO FAR, it appears to be a quality piece of merchandise. It works as expected. I bought it BECAUSE of the Bowflex name.

The BAD - Not exactly packed to the level it should have been. The box was especially poor and not up to the task. Poor packing could result in damage. In this case, it did not.

The UGLY - SHIPPING. While the shipping was "free", with a carton this size, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONALLY FOR "PREMIUM SHIPPING" to get help getting the package to its final destination. The shipper "allowed" me to use a handtruck to get the box from the road to my doorstep (no help provided and it's a BIG, BULKY and HEAVY unit. I had to "scrounge" two neighbors to help me to get it indoors. If shipping is included, IT SHOULD INCLUDE PREMIUM SHIPPING AS WELL. MOST SHIPPERS WOULD RATHER JUST DROP IT AT THE CURB AND RUN. THAT'S SIMPLY A SIGN OF THE TIMES (LAZY)... THEY WANT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR EVERY "ERG" OF ENERGY THEY EXPEND. THE TRUTH IS, HAD THE SHIPPER HELPED ME GET IT IN THE DOOR, I WOULD HAVE TIPPED HIM W/A $20. INSTEAD, HE WENT AWAY EMPTY HANDED BECAUSE HE WAS ONLY TOO HAPPY TO GET AWAY W/O HAVING TO DO ANYTHING BESIDES "PUSHING" IT OUT THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

DOCUMENTATION - VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRY POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR. MESSAGE TO BOWFLEX, NEXT TIME DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND GIVE MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE DETAILED MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY THE SILICONE LUBE.

ASSEMBLY - WHILE IT WENT WELL AND TOOK LESS THAN AN HOUR (YOU REALLY DON'T NEED A 2ND PERSON), YOU'D BEST PUT THIS THING IN ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE AS YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO MOVE IT AFTER THE FACT. WHY? I'D RECOMMEND TO BOWFLEX THAT THEY "FIRE" ALL OF THE OUTSOURCED ENGINEERS WHO DESIGNED THE PRODUCTS UNDERCARRIAGE AND WHEELS SYSTEMS... NOT TO MENTION THE BEAN COUNTERS WHO AUTHORIZED THE WAY-TOO-SMALL, JUNK WHEELS FOR ROLLING THIS TREADMILL. VERY POOR DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. KIND OF LIKE WHEN GM DELIVERS A NEW CAR WITH POOR HEADLIGHTS SO THAT YOU (THE CUSTOMER/CONSUMER) HAVE TO GO INTO THE AFTERMARKET FOR HID HEADLIGHTS.

All told, the basic product is fine, it's just the "execution" phase of delivering the product to market where Bowflex falls on its face. BTW... I also have a Bowflex machine. While it's quality isn't bad... the WEIDER CROSSBOW is much less expensive and is also a FAR SUPERIOR UNIT.
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I've had my series 7 for about 6 months. First, it is sturdy as everyone says, but there is a good bit more noise/vibration when i'm running on an incline. Not so much to be worrisome, but it's not nearly as quiet when level running. I did have some problems when it was delivered as well. Not only did it take me about a month to get someone to help me move it upstairs (it took 4 of us), but then I found out that the fan was broken inside the head. I called support, they weren't as bad as others have reported (my lucky day), and they sent me the new part. It was up to me to open it up and replace it. No biggie for me, but may be for others. Then I couldn't calibrate it because it wouldn't register the speed. Called support again (again no big hassel) and they sent me a new speed sensor that I had to replace. In the process of trying to get to it, I broke one of the plastic (cosmetic) pieces on the outside, they sent me a replacement for that too (no charge). Finally, i was able to use it and it has lived up to its reputation. I got one of those surf shelfs (?) that attaches to various treadmills, a slingbox to attach to my office media center, and now I can run while I watch tv on my laptop. That's a testament to the stability. The vibration from me running is insignificant enough for me to strap on a laptop and watch TV. Even while running uphill.

Now my only problem is the heart rate monitor. That screen at the bottom is supposed to cycle through (or stay put on one) of numerous measurements such as time, distance, heart rate, etc. The problem is that I don't use the heart rate monitor strap that came with it. I use my own. So now it always stays on the heart rate monitor reading, trying to pick up a signal (i guess). If I set the Select/Scan to Scan, it will scan the various measurements until it reaches hear rate, then the scan disengages and it stays there. If I use the Select/Scan button to select a different measurement and stay there, say distance, it will stay there for a few seconds and then revert to the heart rate monitor. I'm hoping it's a something I can configure or fix with a call to support. If so, I'd add a star or probably two to my review. If not, then that entire screen is completely useless to me and the product has a serious flaw.



Ok, I now see the problem others have noted about support. I called about the HR monitor reading mentioned above and got Jesse. She proceeded to tell me that's just the way it is and there was nothing I could do about it. She said it kept going back to the HR reading because "that's what most people want". No joke. Oh, so the Select/Scan button is just there for looks? If I *Select* distance, it's always going to go back to HR because that's what I really want and the machine knows better??? She just said there's no way to override it. It's amazing how she was so willing to suspend logic, common sense, and spread incorrect information because she didn't know the answer. SO, I hung up and called back and got Debbie this time. She was wonderful and spent about 5 minutes max troubleshooting this and we figured out it was because the chest strap was still in the room. The machine was picking up a signal, but no heart rate, so it kept trying. As soon as I moved the chest strap out of the room, problem solved. Give Debbie a raise and fire Jesse.

I can't change the rating now, but if I did add stars it would only be 1 since service is so drastically inconsistent. But now I'm 100% happy with my treadmill.

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I wish I could rate this product with negative stars. I bought the series 7 treadmill back in 2006 for $1500, and ever since it has consistently proved to not be worth the money. Upon delivery, we noticed that the fan in the console was broken. About a year-and-a-half later, the machine froze during a routine workout and gave a "safe out" error code. After several painful tests, customer service diagnosed it as a failed motherboard. Then they charged $250 to replace this part, but it took them several MONTHS to ship the replacement. Less than a year after that, the same thing happened and they again gave us the same diagnosis. I find it ridiculous that I have spent nearly $1800 on this machine and gotten less than 3 solid years out of it. Worse yet, their customer service is horrible!Get more detail about Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill

Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill

Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill Description
Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill, motorized, computer-programmed and ready to go the distance in getting you fit! Get the low-impact, high-cardio workout benefits of a gym-quality motorized Treadmill, right at home! Deluxe model, with incline adjustment, telemetric heart reading capability and 15 programs. Here’s how Bowflex will have you flexing all your fitness muscles: Strike Zone deck suspension offers a comfortable surface that’s easy on feet, ankles, knees and hips. You get a soft landing and a firm lift-off on the big 20 x 60″ surface, a deluxe 2-ply belt; 15 programs for variety, including 2 user-defined, 2 heart rate control, and a body mass index. Quick keys for 0-9 speed and incline. Speed range from .5-11 mph; Sky-lite backlit LCD display for setting and workout readouts; Durable 3 HP continuous duty motor, made to last; 2 1/2″ precision rollers for smooth operation; Contact grip and wireless heart rate telemetry for heart rate workouts; Fold-up treadmill with soft-drop declining, so it’s portable and easy to store; 3-speed fan to cool you as you exercise. 2 bottle / cup holders; Measures 85 x 35 x 55 1/4″h. open. Folded it’s 41 x 35 x 65 1/2″h. Weighs approx. 300 lbs. Some assembly required. Maximum user weight 300 lbs.

Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill Features
* Selected as a top fitness product by a leading consumer magazine
* Grip and telemetric heart rate monitors help you measure your fitness level; large 20 by 60 inch walking/running surface area
* Quick incline and quick-speed keys offer easy access to desired settings; 3-speed fan cools you while exercising
* Warranty: frame – 15 years, motor – 10 years, parts – 2 years, electronics and labor – 1 year
* 15 programs, including two heart rate calculation, two user-defined, and a body mass index test offer maximum workout variety

Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill Reviews

Very Happy with this Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
I have had this Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill for a few weeks now and have been very happy with it. It’s very sturdy and has a lot of features for a home treadmill. The comments I list below fall into the category of “just be prepared for” and mainly involve the delivery process.

One caveat I have is that this machine is *heavy*. My delivery guy brought it into my garage and despite my attempts to have him put it just inside a room off the garage, no dice. I had to have the help of a very strong guy to move the treadmill where I wanted it. The good news is that after that, it was a piece of cake to put together, involving about 30 big screws and took exactly an hour (probably could have taken even less time).

This Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill is supposed to fold up, but I can’t imagine ever using that feature — for one, it’s too heavy and two, it’s so big it’s not like you could really hide it anywhere. These are not complaints — the fact that the machine is big and heavy translates into sturdiness and a larger running surface.

Finally, there’s no instant gratification when you click the Purchase button online. Be prepared for this item to take up to a month to be delivered. It’s worth the wait, though!

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