Good Quality and Value: ProForm 920 S EKG
Written: Jun 17 '02 (Updated Jun 17 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Inexpensive and durable
Cons: Not very comfortable at first
The Bottom Line: The pros of the 920 far outweigh the cons, so I absolutely recommend this bike. The price is good for the quality.
|
|
|
| urwiller's Full Review: ProForm 920 S EKG Stationary Bikes PFEX1791 |
If you're looking for a fairly inexpensive stationary bike that is of decent quality, the ProForm 920 S EKG is a good pick. I've owned mine for about 2 months and so far, I've had virtually no problems with it except that one of the pedal straps constantly slips off.
Why I Chose the ProForm 920
After having my second child (and I firmly state "my last"), admittedly, I still have some excess baggage hanging on. Yes, it's time to dust off the spandex...
...with one problem-- I uphold the belief that my sweat is my business. What I really mean is that I don't care to exercise in public.
For the record, I'm never been an extremely active person. Jobs (and nicotine) have kept me in decent shape for the majority of my life. I'm not proud of that. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm not what you'd call a couch potato, but it would be a cold day in hell before anyone caught me hitting the gym or climbing Mt. Fallfiftythousandfeettomydeath. I admire those who are publicly active, but at this point in my life, it ain't my cup of Gatorade. I'm what you'd call a closet exerciser-- for me, it's a private matter. So, I had to find something I could do in the privacy of my own home with the blinds closed and the lights dimmed.
I willfully resisted the "As Seen On TV" mechanisms and contraptions and decided I wanted a stationary bike. Now, you dare not ask me why that aerobic rider apparatus-thing is sitting outside under a tarp, or why my 4-in-1 home gym is a glorified clothes hanger... this time would be different. I was going to actually use this equipment.
I spent a few weeks browsing the local stores for a stationary bike. I looked at a lot of different bikes and weeded through quite a few of them based on the features. I already knew I didn't want a fan-type stationary bike because they're noisy. I also ruled out all bikes that have those arm levers to move because I'm not a very coordinated person, therefore it would take far too much concentration to get a good sweat going. I tried a friction-type bike out on the showroom floor but it felt all wrong and seemed cheap and flawed...not to mention it was rather noisy, as well. I finally found the perfect bike for me: the ProForm 920 S EKG with SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance).
The ProForm 920 was moderately priced at about $200 and it comes with a 90-day full warranty for defective material or workmanship. I don't normally purchase add-on warranties for goods that are inexpensive to begin with but the helpful Sears associate coerced me to add a 1-year in-shop warranty for $20. I was pretty hesitant when he offered but he made a snide remark along the lines of: "If the bike is just going to turn into a clothes hanger, then don't worry about a warranty." Talk about hitting below the belt! How did he know about my 4-in-1 home gym?
Features
As I mentioned earlier, the ProForm 920 S EKG runs on magnetic resistance. Don't ask me how it works, but I do know that it seems to work smoothly, accurately and most importantly, quietly. The 920 is an upright stationary bike and is somewhat compact due to the fact that runs tall but doesn't take up a lot of horizontal space in length or width. (Approximate overall measurements: 5' high, 2' wide, and 3' long)
The 920 has an abundance of features for a simple stationary bike. The console runs on four D batteries (which seem to last quite awhile) and sports 5 large buttons which control the following:
• On/Reset: Obviously, this button is used to turn the display on or reset it if it's already on. You can also switch measurements to kilometers if you prefer with this button.
• Display Mode: This button lets you choose to view modes such as "scan" (which toggles through all of the different modes) or you can select one single mode (speed, time, distance, resistance, calories, fat calories, or heart rate).
• + (Plus) and - (Minus): These two buttons allow you to control the resistance of the cycle.
• Program: With this button, you can select one of the 4 pre-programmed workouts.
Also, the ProForm has a unique feature that sets it apart from other stationary bikes. It has an EKG™ grip pulse sensor on the handgrips so that you can check your heart rate. All you have to do is put your hands around the metal part of the bars and wait for it to take your pulse.
One of the more swanky features is the water bottle holder on the console (picture a car's cup holder). It's positioned nicely at the top and holds my 16-24 oz. bottles of water nicely. I tried putting a liter bottle in it but that size doesn't seem to fit properly. I should mention one another thing about the water bottle holder, though. In the manual, it states to keep all liquids away from the console to avoid damage. I don't know about you, but doesn't that seem a bit contradictory? I wouldn't worry about what the manual says, though. I've spilled quite a few drops of water on the console with no negative consequences.
ProForm did an excellent job of making the 920 remarkably adjustable. Not only can you adjust the seat height, but you can also adjust the positioning of the seat (by 'positioning,' I mean how close or far away you sit from the console), and you can adjust the height of the upright (the post that holds the console and handlebars up).
A Few Cons
I could probably praise the 920 up and down but I also have a couple of negative things to point out, as well. I'm just picky like that, okay?
The biggest factor when deciding on a piece of exercise equipment is longevity-- whether or not you are going to get long term use out of it. I have no doubt that the 920 will hold up for around 4-5+ years, but my main concern is the comfort. Let's face it, if you don't like the equipment you buy because it's uncomfortable, it's definitely going to turn into a clothes hanger. Upon first sitting down on the "oversized seat," I was not extremely impressed with what I like to call, "the cush factor." I found myself pulling myself upright often to avoid getting wedgies or a sore bum. After continual use, though, I found that the seat wasn't as uncomfortable as it was initially. Maybe there's some sort of acclimatization period to get through when you're not a regular rider. Give it a few days (before you start hanging jackets there) and I'm sure you'll find it becomes less unpleasant.
Another gripe I have, although minor, is that the right side pedal strap keeps coming off. This isn't a big problem for me since I seem to be able to keep my feet on the pedals easily without the strap, but it's still a gripe I feel worth mentioning. This problem may just be user-related, though. I'm wondering if I force my right foot outward while I pedal and that's what's causing it to slip off.
With all the adjustment capabilities the 920 sports, there is a downfall that comes with them. Just like most exercise equipment, the adjustments are made by using the "knob and pin" system. Loosen the knob, and then pull until the pin drops into the desired position. I have no problem with this per se, but you have to make sure that you check the tightness of the knob every so often to make sure that the pin doesn't slide out of the hole. I find that the easiest thing to do is to get in a routine of tightening the knobs before getting on every time.
Wrapping It Up
I'm not a professional... just an average exerciser. I use the 920 for about 30-40 minutes 5 times a week, which works out to about 40-50 miles per week. So far, two months later, everything seems to run smoothly and I'm happy with my purchase.
The pros of the 920 far outweigh the cons, so I absolutely recommend this bike. The price is good for the quality and I'm determined to prove the salesman wrong about the whole clothes hanger comment. Hence, I'll be putting the ProForm 920 S EKG to use for quite awhile.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
urwiller
|
|
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 171 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.