The Bowflex Xceed is a wonderful workout machine thus far. I am reasonable And got this as a public gym replacement. 2020 had those closed a few months and this was less than the monthly membership.
Build: First let me say a friend is essential to put this monster together in a reasonable amount of time. The issue is there are tight tolerances so loose fitting all the screws then tightening them at counter points is a must. Also the parts are labeled in tiny print at each bolt is named by size, thread depth and not an easy alphabetical system. Seriously you will be squinting and thinking you are crazy. It will work out. The item is sturdy and fits me at 6'3". It will eventually rust as it is steel which is normal for home gym equipment (only perfectionists will care but they will). It is well made and built like good home gym equipment. Buy Rogue if you want nicer and hate your wallet. Nothing out of the norm. The bench can also be improved with more resistance rods. Ohhhh yea the box it came in was a total mess on delivery and I was shocked the machine inside was unscathed. I was shocked it lacked blemishes given how tenuous the box's existence was. Moving this box was the first workout this machine provided then assembly was the second.
Workouts: It does what cable pull machines, free weights and barbells can do. Basically replacing a bench press station, leg presses and putdown machines. It giving about 3 feet of travel on the wire. So you can do most actions excluding dead lifts. Again think bench press station. This is good for what it is. The Xceed allows most of what the higher end machines bow-flexes provide. However you will be using caravanserai to change from task to task. This is easy enough but quicker carbeaners can really speed things up. I also like to leave spare or additional grips on at the same time to speed up transitions. The X2SE does not require wire manipulation and thus is nicer but sorks humbrid vs shwift teen humbrid on the official bow-flex web page is a lot. Resellers are making a killing in 2020. Some reviews are fixated on comparing this to gravity workouts, they are not the exact same. Gravity can offer more resistance but is much more expensive and space consuming. Most people will never get to the point of outgrowing this machine. Those that have outgrown this machine flood the reviews with dumb but honest stuff. But this is a nice machine if you know it is easier than gravity. But a nice gravity bench and lat pull down, leg machine is some coin. Buying the wight plates puts you up at the X2SE price and not the Eceed. Basically if the price is good you get so much more for your money. People who bring up the discrepancy over resistance are not wrong, it is true. But they miss the point, this machine is inexpensive for what it provides the resistance is astonishing. two 50 lb barbells are currently half the price of the machine. Also the resistance rises the cooler the nylon rods are. Like a memory foam mattress.
Who should get this: Reasonable goals and working people with limited space/time/budget. My big advice on getting a bow flex is they are a great start point for working out. It is self contained, looks nice and holds up well. Also you can start with super low resistance and work up. Also the way it sits makes watching TV and working out easy. The gentle resistance is good for rehabbing injuries and allows you to move up in resistance as well as keep both sides of your body honest and balanced. The machine is also good if you are older as you can set it to what you need. The machine will get you pretty big if that is a goal. But reasonably so. 400+lbs resistance is more than most will ever get to. If you are a lifter/bodybuilder you will need a gym. As a former swimmer and martial artist, it will make you look good by those standards. Line backer..... probably not. Cross-fit.....Buy a box and an old truck tire then play on the local jungle gym.
Close: Again, for the real price this machine is hard to beat for a workout from beginner to advanced workouts. Expert and professional level is something else but this can get you to needing that next level. Which, again for the price is amazing.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 51 x 32 x 21.75 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 108.86 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 53 x 49 x 84 inches |
| Item Weight | 220 Pounds |
| Brand Name | Bowflex |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Color | Black/Red |
| Material | Other |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Nautilus, Inc. |
| Part Number | 100334 |
| Style | Bowflex Xtreme 2SE |
| Included Components | Home Gym |
| Sport Type | Weightlifting |
