Elliptical Cross Trainer - Precor EFX 5.33

Has moving arms for upper body workout but its motion is not that natural.

Always purchase the extended warranty package. It cost $329.99 more but gives you five years of repair service at home. Warranty with the 5.21i is life time for frame, ten years for parts and one year for labor.

200 pounds under attack usually means the body is moving sideways putting additional forces on the machine. The 5.21i does not rock when I do this. It is very stable.

Quiet - You can keep the volume to the TV down.

Resistance is by ramp (1-14) and resistance (1-20). Shows on display.

Two options to start your workout.
Quick start - goes with the manual course.
Select - input what type of workout you want to use.

Six courses
1. Manual – you change the resistance and ramp during the workout.
2. Cross Training Interval – alternating one-minute segments of forward and backward pedaling.
3. Gluteal – ramp course is preset, but you can change this and the resistance during the workout.
4.Interval – it will set the resistance and ramp after the first two minutes.
5.Weight Loss – set time of 28 minutes and resistance & ramp is preset. You can change resistance and ramp setting which the machine will remember.
6. Heart Rate – you need to buy the Precor Heart Rate Option package for this course. The workout will maintain your target rate during the workout.

Pros
Smooth-natural feel, quiet, solidly built, inclining ramp, good variety of programs, overall excellent workout!
Easy to put together

CONS

Expensive - regular cost is $3499.
Heavy and hard to relocate after assembly.
Display does not give you the distance travelled – only gives you strides
Heart rate monitor as an option on the EFX 5.17, and 5.21, and standard on the 5.23.
No option for adjusting the stride length.
Difficult to move (so find a good spot and leave it there!).

Amount Paid (US$): 2799 [700 sale discount]

User Exeperiences

Havent found adjusting the stride length impacts the workout. Its more important to check that the unit is made with the best stride length of 18 inches to start with. Some smaller cheaper models use 14 inches.

Precor unit include an inclining ramp. Most other units do not. Inclining ramps can significantly enhance the workout routine. Precor's pre-programmed routines include both variations in ramp angle and resistance. These variations keep the routines interesting and challenging!

The Precor display includes LED's indicating which muscle groups are targeted based on ramp incline. With the inclining ramp your workout can include even strengthening your lower back; an unexpected added plus! Realizing the value of the inclining ramp, it became a must-have feature for us. In retrospect I would not buy an elliptical without it.

Expensive – the Schwinn 4.18 is about $800.00 delivered, but is a very good basic unit for the price.

The Precor EFX 5.17 was okay

EFX 5.21 – the feel and stability worth the extra money.

Warranty - Precor offers the original owner a 10 yr parts warranty. A used unit will have parts availability for 5 years beyond the date of last manufacture, and 10 years for common replacement parts.

Best Recommendation

Introduction

Best Features

Quality -

Ride Performance -

Compact size –

Computer Programs -

Customisation -

Assembly –

Worst Features

Stride -

Size -

Weight - over

Features

Limits Of Use

User Tips

Issue -

NB: Known issues of elliptical trainers are only those experienced by individual users are are not necessarily and indication of poor quality on all units. They are included here purely as a guide as to likely problems with tips on how to remedy.

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