Get Motivated for only $600.
Written: Mar 20 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A lot of machine for the money. The bows are forever under warranty.
Cons: You have to stand up to change the resistance.
The Bottom Line: I like the Motivator 2. You get everything you need for $600. Just realize the weight limitation is 210 pounds.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Bowflex Motivator 2 Home Gym with Lat Station & Le... |
To the person who requested that I review the Bowflex Motivator 2 I am sorry that it has taken me so long. But here it is! There are many models of Bowflex machines out there. I’ve been working out for over 25 years and am a Personal Trainer. I am spending considerable time using these various models. I was curious about the Motivator 2. I wondered how it differed from the many other models. I learned that although Bowflex makes the Motivator 2 they do not sell it. QVC is one store that has the rights to the machine. It is also sold elsewhere but not by Bowflex! (It is very confusing but the bottom line is that Bowflex has essentially sold the Motivator 2 to others.)
Details about the Bowflex Motivator 2 and how it is used:
Some of the material in this review is a repeat of the information I’ve given in many of my reviews. If I think it necessary to the review and to you, the consumer who is buying the machine, I will include it.
There are many different types of machines. The ones you may be most used to use stacks. That means the weights are stacked one on top of the other. A pin goes into the amount of weight you want whether it is 20 pounds or 200. You may also have experience with machines that use resistance digitally or benches where you put on plates to give you the amount of weight you want.
Bowflex uses what they call Power Rods. These power rods are made in the USA and are specifically engineered for strength and long life. They are made using a proprietary (meaning we do not know nor do they have to disclose it) process that is tested to ensure quality, durability and strength. My experience with the Bowflex brand is a positive one. I do not love the rod concept which I will get into. However they seem durable in spite of my speculation initially that they could not be. That is not to say that I have not heard of bows breaking. I have. That is not the reason I do not particularly love bows since there can be problems with any machine.
Like the XTLU the Bowflex Motivator comes standard with 210 pounds of power rod resistance. Unlike the XTLU though you cannot upgrade to 310 or 410 pounds of resistance. My husband is 57 and has been weight training for years. He can bench press 200 pounds. This machine would not work for him. However it would work for me and at $600 I get a lot of machine.
The way the rods work is that they are hooked to a cable pulley system. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of the Power Rods to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 or the upgraded resistance. This cable system is different from that of Weider and Crossbow if you are comparing the two.
When I wrote my review of the Crossbow I mentioned that you had to twist a bit which for people with shoulder problems or who are large may not be a comfortable way of changing resistance. Bowflex Motivator 2 works like the Xtreme XTLU. You have to stand up to change resistances. You do not just reach around. This has its pros and cons. On the one hand I think it is a safer to use machine for anyone over 40 years old who may be more prone to injury. On the other hand it takes longer than any machine I have seen to change resistance weights.
What you get:
You will get an upholstered bench made of polyurethane and then fused to a high grade PVC. This is used in the car industry and resists moisture, cracks and tears. The benches seem identical in the two models I am looking at here and in the whole Bowflex line. The seat slides so you can have the padding behind your back and the lower portion of the bench as a seat or it slides down to become flat.
The bows are flexible. In my opinion though, I would prefer to do a chest press with dumbbells or a bar with plates on it. I do not feel the same kind of workout with many of the exercises on the Bowflex that I do using a more traditional piece of equipment. Each bow has a loop on it which attaches to a cable. Essentially that is all there is to the Bowflex. It is simple to use; requires no knowledge of programming and you get the ability to do 50 exercises on the Motivator. The XTLU boasts 65 exercises.
You will get the all important lat tower on the Motivator like you do on the XTLU. The lat tower is the tall pole in the middle made of carbon steel. It is used primarily to work the back. On some Bowflex models this lat tower is a $200 option.
The Motivator 2 comes with a leg extension/leg curl attachment. This is also a $200 option on other models. This attachment works your quadriceps with leg extension exercises and your hamstrings with hamstring curls. The areas that will hit your ankles are comfortable, as is the bench. I have no problem with the comfort of the machine. The leg attachment is easily put on and off with pins. It will have to be taken off to do some exercises.
You will get hand grips and ankle straps. Rather than handles made of metal which I have reviewed by Cap, these are made of material. These handles are used for many exercises such as bicep curls and flyes for your chest area. The ankle straps are used for working the legs and butt areas. Most commonly women use ankle straps. In fact in my 30 years of weight training I have never seen a man use an ankle strap!
The Motivator comes with a fitness guide for step-by-step instructions. You do not get a video. Please be careful. This is not your typical machine. Make sure you are familiar with the equipment before using it.
Like many of the new machines the Motivator has the capability to allow you to do aerobic rowing because the seat slides. When I first started looking at these machines I thought it unique. It is not unique any more.
This comes unassembled. I have never assembled the machine but I have heard it is easier to assemble than the Crossbow which is supposed to be a nightmare.
The Motivator measures 84 inches long by 39.5 inches wide by 83.5 inches high. This is a larger machine than many. Just as a comparison you will need a space of 100 inches by 78 inches for the Motivator; the XTLU needs 84 inches by 72 inches and the Crossbow needs 84 inches by 84 inches. The machine folds and becomes 48 inches long by 39 inches wide.
It has wheels and rolls like the XTLU does though I would not call it a portable piece of equipment.
There is a 3 year limited warranty versus seven years on the XTLU. The rods have a lifetime warranty.
Some examples of exercises that can be done include biceps curls, seated rows (for your back), the shoulder press (I hate that exercise if you are over 40 and/or have had any shoulder problems), seated ab crunch, leg press, hamstring curls, bicep curls, bench presses and chest flyes.
My Final Thoughts:
As I said bows are not my favorite kind of machine but the price is certainly right. Again as a comparison the XTLU costs $1200. The Motivator is one half the price.
If you need more than 210 pounds then it is obvious the Motivator is not for you and you will have to spend the money if you want a Bowflex. I would buy the Motivator in spite of the bows not being my favorite method of weight training.
If you have not exercised, are a women over 50 or a man over 40 or have a medical condition please talk with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
Please feel free to leave me a comment or question.
Related reviews in which you may be interested:
What you should know about the Bowflex Brand • Bowflex Xtreme XTLU • Bowflex UltimateCrossbow • Weider CrossBar
How to Choose a Health Club • World Gym • Curves for Women • PowerHouse Gym
6 Second Abs Program • Precise Ab Trainer Club Pro • Stamina AB Hyper Extension Bench • Thane AB-DOer Pro • Ab Lounge • Ab Lounge 2 • Yukon Ab Crunch Machine
Total Gym 3000 •
Total Gym 1500 • Nordic Track Futura 2600
• Yukon Competitor Lat Pull Down Machine • Yukon Economy Lat Pull Down Machine • Fitness Quest Air Rower • ProForm Treadmill • StairMaster 4600PT Stepper • Cybex Pro Teadmill • Cybex 900T treadmill • Cybex Arc Trainer • Precor EFX546 Elliptical Trainer • Concept II rower • Precor C846 Recumbent • NordicTrack Classic Pro skier • LifeFitness LifeCycle" • Yukon Seated Calf Machine
Cap Barbell Handle•
Cap Olympic Weights • Cap Double D Handle • Cap Barbell Chromed Hollow 48-Inch Lat Pull Machine Bar • Cap Barbell Chromed Hollow 18-Inch Low Row T Bar • Cap Barbell Pull Down Rope
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FitAbs Plus •
Ab Revolutionizer • Stamina AB Hyper Extension Bench • Thane AB-DOer Pro • Ab Lounger • Yukon Ab Crunch Machine
Phoenix Bench • WAI Yoga Ball Kit 151 • Precor StretchTrainer
Butt Blaster • Pilates Magic Circle • Yoga & Pilates Circle
Recommended:
Yes
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