Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought this about the middle of December 2009, so I've had it over three months now. I use this thing an hour a day, at least five days a week (can't run anymore because my knees won't take it). So this isn't a first impression kind of review.
While there are many things to recommend Precor for, this model has some problems that you should be aware of if you're thinking about buying one.
Pros:
-- overall excellent quality materials and build
-- machine motion is top notch, very smooth, no rough or jerky places within the range of travel -- which is important if you're actually going to spend even half an hour at stretch on it
-- excellent customer service and technical support from Precor, they left me with the definite impression that they care about their customers (and for the price they should)
Cons:
-- this unit has a couple of significant design flaws, see belowAmazon shipped the machine to my house with no problem, no complaints there. It came on a semi-tractor trailer, so be aware because they'll have to be able to get in front of your house with a truck that big. It's tail gate delivery. I had a couple of carts that the truck driver helped me set it on, and I rolled it into my garage. It's heavy, so one person it's going to pick it up and carry it around.
I'm a product design engineer, so I know something about what goes into the design and fabrication of this kind of product. I was also a technician for five years before I went to college, so I'm pretty handy. But I'm also busy, so I called Precor to get someone to assemble it. They gave me the name of their local rep, who I called -- and they called me back once, promised to show up in a week, but didn't. They also refused to answer my calls after that.
I called Precor twice more, who tried to contact the field rep. Nothing, no response from them. Precor apologized, but by now a month had gone by so I said I'd assemble it myself. They gave me their tech support number, which I did end up calling just to make sure I was doing everything right.
Note: getting a hold of people at Precor was easy, and I felt like they really went out of their way to help me. Their customer service and tech support get 5+ stars. I subtracted zero stars for the field rep not showing up. Hey, things like this can happen sometimes when you've got subcontractors.
Assembly was straight forward, no problem if you can use a wrench and a screw driver. There was one gummed up thread in one of the welded on nut plates, but I ran a tap through it and it was fine. At the end of assembly I was impressed, they really did use high quality materials and the component build quality is impressive. One gummed up thread is no big deal to me, it's very easy to happen and easy enough to fix
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So then I started using it. I've used Precor ellipticals in gyms for years and always been impressed with them. For the money I spent I was *really* expecting something pretty close to the same kind of controls and kinematics. Why else would anybody spend the money on a Precor elliptical? But this unit is quite different from what you find in gyms, in two ways:
1) The control panel. Unlike the commercial grade machines, you cannot get on this thing, set the resistance where you want, and just go. Instead you HAVE to push a sequence of buttons when you first get on. It reminds me of certain well known computer operating systems, which insist on getting in your way as you work. Because they know better than you do, how you should live your life.
They've got all the buttons already built into the control panel. It would have been a piece of cake to make it work just like a commercial machine, where default is "step onto machine, set resistance where you want, and just go for as long as you want". If somebody wants to use the programs they can just push one of those buttons and start the program.
Instead, if you just want to set the resistance and go for 45 to 60 minutes -- without the stinking thing stopping in the middle of your workout -- you've got to push about half a dozen buttons. I spent time with their tech support making sure it's not just me, not knowing how the thing works. This IS how the EFX 5.31 works.
Dumb, unnecessarily complicated user control panel: minus one star. Once you know the button sequences you can live with it. Which is good because by the time you've bought it, you'll have to. But for this much money it really shouldn't be like this.2) There was still room for a good rating until I learned about the kinematics of this elliptical. I've used probably every Precor model that's been in gyms (like Ballys) for the last ten years. There's never been one that I couldn't get on, and just stand up straight on while using it, without need to lean on the handle bars (and I go pretty fast, usually 45 to 60 minute work outs). The foot pedals and overall motion are such that it's comfortable to stand upright on their commercial machines. Note: I always use ellipticals with the ramp all the way at the bottom, lowest angle.
Precor has set up the kinematics of this machine quite different. I absolutely cannot stand up straight while using this machine, as it comes out of the box. It forces me to lean over on the hand rails. Which I may not mind when I'm 90 years old. I found this quite annoying. The kinematics of the EFX 5.31 are quite different from their commercial machines.
I'm six feet tall, and my wife is five feet tall. She can stand up straight while using this machine just fine. I've since had friends in to try it, and it seems that people on the shorter side can use it fine. But taller people generally have the same problem with it that I do, and find that they have to lean forward and grab onto the handle bars.So, being an engineer (and having spent lots of money on it), I started looking into why. We went and tried a couple of commercial Precors in gyms and sure enough, my wife and I both can use them standing up with no problems. I did some measuring and I'd estimate that the foot pedals on my machine at home (the EFX 5.31) need to be (about) 3 inches further back than they are, and also the foot pedal angle on the 5.31 is different. Whether the foot pedal angles would be right if located 3 inches back I'm not sure.
But I found from playing with my home machine, that if I let my feet hang off the back of the pedals about 3 inches (meaning, I'm standing on top of the backs of the pedals), then I can stand up on it without leaning over, and use it just like the commercial Precors. At this, the backs of my feet almost touch the rear housing on the unit. But "almost" I can live with.
Which means that to use my home unit comfortably, I needed to build some wedges to go inside the foot pedals. I got some modeling clay, laid plastic sheet inside the pedals, and made a pattern with the clay (note, right and left foot pedals are identical). Then got some plaster of paris and made a mold from the clay patterns. Then got some epoxy from a hobby store and cast that in the mold, and made myself a couple of custom foot pedal inserts.
At this, I can now use my EFX 5.31 just like the commercial models they put in the gyms. It's now a very smooth, very stable, very nice machine to work out on. But it took some effort to get there.
Messed up kinematics on the EFX 5.31 elliptical machine: minus 2 stars. I still cannot believe they did this........???? Hello, Precor? What did you think it was, that makes people willing to spend the money you charge for elliptical machines?
I'm a product design engineer so maybe I'm being harsh here. But I cannot forgive this basic design flaw in the EFX 5.31. Were they trying to save pennies by making this thing just a little shorter? I know what extruded aluminum costs -- they really didn't save enough pennies to make it worth screwing up the excellent kinematics of their commercial machines.This machine looks like it's kinematics and mechanics are about the same as their commercial models, but it's not (yet they charge big money for it anyway). Don't buy any elliptical machine that you haven't used for about half an hour continuously, to make sure it's going to be comfortable for you. I looked at many before I bought this one, and there's lots of machines out there with horrible kinematics. Fortunately I was able to fix this one so I can use it.
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Precor EFX 5.31 Premium Series Elliptical Fitness CrosstrainerThe Precor EFX 5.31 home elliptical offers a dynamic lower-body workout with CrossRamp technology for variable incline and stride length. A variety of programs let you tailor your workout and track your progress. Every aspect of the machine and console was designed to offer comfort and convenience as you pursue your fitness goals. The 5.31is compatible with heart rate telemetry reading using optional wireless Polar chest strap transmitters.
Features:
Adjustable CrossRamp targets key muscle groups. The ramp angle is fully adjustable from 15 to 30 degrees and moves up and down at the push of a button, allowing you to individually target and work all major lower body muscle groups. Different ramp positions engage different lower body muscle groups. When moving the ramp from the bottom to the top, you’ll feel various muscles engage and disengage--the lower positions activate all muscle groups, while the higher positions isolate glutes, quads, and calves. A variable stride length, from 21 to 23 inches, offers even greater diversity to your workout.
Equipped for heart rate monitoring with the use of optional wireless chest strap transmitter (available separately). SmartRate offers instant display of your heart rate to help you stay in your target zone for a more efficient cardio and weight-loss workout.
Designed with your home in mind. With subtle tones and clean lines, this Precor elliptical is designed to fit naturally with your home decor and your lifestyle. The display keeps your favorite things close at hand with areas for your water bottle, MP3 player and cell phone. A compartment on the front of the machine keeps your magazines in easy reach.
Intuitive console is easy to read and adjust. Access QuickStart, programs and User IDs at the touch of a button. "Quick keys" offer easy access to speed and incline adjustment--to help you get the most from your workout. Choose between calorie goals, distance goals, vertical feet climbed goals, and time goals.
Multi-grip handrails offer greater comfort. Stationary handrails provide multiple arm and hand positions to ensure comfortable posture and proper technique during every workout.
20 consistent levels of electromagnetic resistance to customize your workout, ranging from 10 watts at work level #1 at 20 RPM to 625 watts at work level #20 at 100 RPM
Direction of rotation is completely reversible from forward to backward to allow even greater use of different muscle groups
Optimized biomechanics combining low impact with smooth natural motion
Touch sensitive display makes it easy to monitor and customize workouts
Two User IDs allow two people to enter and store personal preference information, then quickly retrieve it for future workouts
Locking pin secures the pedals when not in use
Integrated storage shelf for water bottle, portable music player, etc.; magazine storage located in front plastic housing and reading rack on display
QuickStart lets you begin workout with the push of a single button
Specifications:
Resistance levels: 20
CrossRamp: 15 to 30 degrees
Stride: 21 to 23 inches
Upper body range of motion: n/a
Pedal dimensions: 7 x 15 inches
Pedal spacing: 3 inches
Programs: 10 total including 1 aerobic, 1 cross training, 1 gluteals, 2 heart rate, 1 hill climb, 1 interval, 1 manual, 2 weight loss
Dimensions: 84 x 31 x 63 inches (L x W x H)
Weight: 210 pounds
Manufacturer's Warranty Frame and welds - lifetime, parts and wear items - ten years; labor - one year
Note on AssemblyPrecor highly recommends that you consider a professional assembly and installation of your Precor exercise machine. If you would like to speak to someone about having your machine professionally installed, please contact Precor at askprecor@precor.com or by calling 1-866-593-5568.
About Precor Precor is passionate about fitness. It all started with a desire to create a better kind of exercise equipment, one that mirrored human movement: fluid, natural, and dynamic. Twenty-six years later the company's biomechanics and engineering experience have led to countless innovations that have captivated fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Precor has introduced many "firsts" to the fitness industry, including the Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer (EFX®) in 1995 and the revolutionary, award-winning Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT®) in 2007. Today, Precor is a celebrated top-tier brand preferred by fitness enthusiasts of all abilities and their machines are used every day in health clubs, hotels, facilities, and homes worldwide.
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