Bowflex 7 Series

January 2009. The Bowflex 7-Series review at TreadmillSensei.com has a very important edge over Consumer Reports' expert test: The Treadmill Sensei (who, unlike many other treadmill reviewers, does not sell treadmills) takes customer service and repair history into account. A review at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com reports that the Bowflex 7-Series has problems in these areas. The About.com review is shallow by contrast, including neither test results nor long-term insight into this treadmill's durability. Owners who post reviews at Amazon.com report problems with the Bowflex 7-Series that didn't surface in expert tests.

Breakdowns and customer service complaints keep some reputable reviewers from recommending the Bowflex 7-Series, even though they say it performs well -- for a while. The 7-Series is a top pick at one expert testing organization, and other reviews acknowledge its initial quality. However, they worry about the 7-Series' anemic warranty (15 years frame, 10 years motor, one year parts/electronics/labor). Indeed, a reviewer who repairs exercise equipment for a living reports that he spends a lot of time fixing Bowflex treadmills -- often just after the one-year warranty expires. Some owners report getting a runaround from Bowflex when they call about repairs; a complaint echoed by more than one professional reviewer. Weak fans are another recurring complaint, and some users say the Bowflex 7-Series gave them an electric shock. Reviews recommend the Sole F80 (*est. $1,500) instead; for just a bit more money, they say the F80 offers similar features, a stout warranty and good customer service.