Buying used fitness equipment from a gym, a bad idea?

[dumpy]

The lady and I have been talking about buying an elliptical (save the jokes, I'm using it in conjunction with kettlebells and biting the heads off kittens).

I've found somebody selling a handful of used Precors presumably from a gym. $900, while this unit typically sells for ~$2500 reconditioned.

Are these units as durable as I've read? What to look at when checking these out? Other thoughts (other than ellipticals being gay and pointless)?

[Long duc dong]

As long as the room with the elliptical has a tv and dvd player, and you watch porn while on said elliptical, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

In all seriousness, I would be careful. Those things do require some maintenance. The gym at the apartment complex where I live has 3, and I have seen all 3 down at some point or another. There are a lot of little things that can go wrong. If you are pretty handy with fixing stuff, this would be less of a problem.

[Dantheman]

Buying an elliptical is definitely a bad idea*. For 900 bones you can practically buy a new quality spin bike or C2 Rower, either of which will:

-Be a hell of a lot better for increasing actual fitness
-Not be prone to break down
-Take up a lot less space and be much easier to move around



*Not a joke, a statement of fact [/grin]**

**WTF is up with the winkys lately?

[Tye 1on]

*Not a joke, a statement of fact [/grin]**

**WTF is up with the winkys lately?

we gotta winky issue?

edit: why yes, it appears there is. I'll alert the grand poobahs, can't be having winky probs...

[QuikR12]

I wouldn't buy any used electronic equipment from a gym, esp an ellip (well I wouldn't buy an elliptical regardless, cause I have male genitelia); but here's my logic. They replace it when they assume it's at the end of it's warranteed life, or around when it's expected to fail. You're spending nearly a grand for a piece of equipment that has been used as much or more than any other piece in their gym... Ellips are the craze of the weight watching fattyto the nutrient deprived bimbo. They get used, a lot. I'd say find something on CL that's been sitting in someone's home, getting used MAX 1 hr/ day. You're bound to have a much better equip life out of that than a piece that will more than likely become a $900 back-yard ornament.

[Crampedon]

I would compare it to a used rental bike, they get ten times the mileage of a private persons bike. Same with the used gym stuff. Check local Cl for similar gear or get a good trainer to put your bike on!

[mnskier]

I would compare it to a used rental bike, they get ten times the mileage of a private persons bike. Same with the used gym stuff. Check local Cl for similar gear or get a good trainer to put your bike on!

Agreed with Crampedon. Think about how often ellipticals and other exercise equipment get used at gyms. At our gym the ellipticals are almost used from the time the gym is opened to when it is closed. That is a ton of use compared to how much it would be used in an average home!

On a side note are the calories burned thing correct on bikes and ellipticals? And what is it basing those numbers off of?

[johngenx]

If you go the spin bike route, a good one can be had for $800-1000 and they're unbreakable. I was outfitting the fitness center for my high school (I teach phys ed) and I bought three spin bikes and in two years of use, the kids haven't managed to break them. They were the best thing I bought, by far.

With the right program, they're a hell of a work-out machine.

[Downbound Train]

Step up to the plate for one of these...

http://archshrk.com/wp-content/uploa...le-gazelle.jpg

I'd want to know the cost of repair for the machine you are considering. Call a service co for info.

If the average repair is $150, no problem. If it's $700 then it's a bad idea.

[G]

Biting the heads off of kittens is for little pantie wearing wussies. Grow some fucking balls and bite the heads off of a fucking herd of unicorns, bitch.

[Hugh Conway]

dumpy's already mastered the deep throat work the unicorns help with

[dumpy]

dumpy's already mastered the deep throat work the unicorns help with

Well, I am thinking about buying an elliptical...


So the $900 used Precor is out, she doesn't want to go over $600 total, which puts us more in the used NordicTrack range.
FWIW, I'm both mechanically handy (from wrenching bicycles) and electronically handy (by trade). I wouldn't exactly feel comfortable rebuilding a diesel engine or doing board level work on a cell phone, but I would have no issue swapping out a console or replacing some gears on an elliptical. Buying something with easily available parts is one of my priorities here.

[Nobody Famous]

I'd say it all depends on how well maintained the item was over it's lifetime. Some gyms practice 'run 'em into the ground' and some are ahead of the curve with on-staff maintenance people (like bigger Y's and gyms with multi sites).

It is true gym equipment gets heavy usage, but the equipment is appropriately designed for heavy, 16 hour a day usage. Some gyms (Planet Fitness is one example) buys the less expensive stuff, so it all depends. Ask about the maintenance history, or talk to the maintenance guy, if there is such a person, if no such person (say the front desk handles it), not a positive sign.

[gorms]

I saw a guy in the gym the other day on an elliptical wearing vibram 5 fingers.

If you get the spin bike remember you need to your full kit for maximum experience.

[L7]

FWIW, I'm both mechanically handy (from wrenching bicycles) and electronically handy (by trade). I wouldn't exactly feel comfortable rebuilding a diesel engine or doing board level work on a cell phone, but I would have no issue swapping out a console or replacing some gears on an elliptical. Buying something with easily available parts is one of my priorities here.

This is fine but just leaves the one issue of getting parts for a non commercial entity. I agree the things are used and abused to near the end of their life cycle.... getting close to a grand is just gravy for the gym and masks why they are selling it.

[dumpy]

Buying something with easily available parts is one of my priorities here.

This is fine but just leaves the one issue of getting parts for a non commercial entity. I agree the things are used and abused to near the end of their life cycle....

Reading comprehension isn't one of your strong points is it?

I'm starting to think I might be better off finding a lightly used consumer level unit for less $, but again only one that I know I can find parts for. I've been checking for parts on any unit before even contacting the seller.

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Instead of the elliptical crap shoot why not get a road bike and one of these?

http://www.cxmagazine.com/review-lem...lution-trainer

Also, if you end up getting an erg like Dantheman suggested please learn to row properly!

[dumpy]

Instead of the elliptical crap shoot why not get a road bike and one of these?

http://www.cxmagazine.com/review-lem...lution-trainer

Also, if you end up getting an erg like Dantheman suggested please learn to row properly!

Ha ha, I've got a road bike and would love to just get a trainer, but I'm not the one who's ass is getting flabby here!!

I also want something to hop on in between kettlebell sets for "active recovery", when the weather permits this means jogging outside. When I'm doing my work outs inside, I need something else. The jumping jacks are getting stale and I'm sure that I'm driving my down stairs neighbor nuts.

[QuikR12]

Ha ha, I've got a road bike and would love to just get a trainer, but I'm not the one who's ass is getting flabby here!!
The jumping jacks are getting stale and I'm sure that I'm driving my down stairs neighbor nuts.

Dumpy, is that you?!?

[shroom]

so much elliptical bashing on this board. yeah, most don't know how to use one, but they are adjustable. if calories burned/time is in question, i know i burn more on an elliptical than a bike.

my parents own an elliptical, of the consumer variety. only had a problem with the gears (i believe) once, and my dad (not awesome hands on) could fix it on his own. It sees ~1-1.5 hours of use a day, and has for about the last 6 years.

safest bet is definitely the stationary bike.

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Ha ha, I've got a road bike and would love to just get a trainer, but I'm not the one who's ass is getting flabby here!!

Well shit, why didn't you just say that originally, we could have cut out all these bullshit responses. It's now obvious you've got 'elliptical machine' and 'divorce lawyer' confused!

[Crass3000]

One of my ex-gals had a precore elliptical. I loved it. I also have a stairmaster and a stationary bike. I liked the elliptical the best. If you're going for a good cardio workout they seem to get the heart rate up with the least amount of effort. That being said, I'm sure you get a better all-around workout from the bike or the stairmaster. Don't buy shit equipment. You will end up wishing you spent the extra money. Used on Craigslist is a good idea.

[Kai]

If you're going to buy an elliptical, make sure you get one with magnetic resistance as opposed to friction resistance. Magnetic resistance mechanism has nothing to wear out, where as a friction plate will wear out eventually.

[L7]

Reading comprehension isn't one of your strong points is it?

I'm starting to think I might be better off finding a lightly used consumer level unit for less $, but again only one that I know I can find parts for. I've been checking for parts on any unit before even contacting the seller.

Man one more jackass asking for advice but doesn't like it when he gets it. For the record I am reaffirming your supposed handiness leaving you the problem of getting parts. Essentially pointing out it will be difficult to fulfill that need as YOU are not a commercial entity and the parts will likely be hard to find. (A requisite you mentioned.) Why could you not comprehend that?

Lets go back to ellipticals are gay and a kettleball will not make it or you core. With that in mind you should definitely fucking buy one and best bet is a $1000 used one from a gym you fucking twat.

[dumpy]

Man one more jackass asking for advice but doesn't like it when he gets it. For the record I am reaffirming your supposed handiness leaving you the problem of getting parts. Essentially pointing out it will be difficult to fulfill that need as YOU are not a commercial entity and the parts will likely be hard to find. (A requisite you mentioned.) Why could you not comprehend that?

Lets go back to ellipticals are gay and a kettleball will not make it or you core. With that in mind you should definitely fucking buy one and best bet is a $1000 used one from a gym you fucking twat.

DUde, what I am trying to say that I thought/still think you are not catching is that I will not buy a unit that I (me, myself) cannot order parts for. I'm searching every unit before I e-mail back. If I don't find a store openly selling parts out on Al Gore's intertubes, I move on. Yes, I've been mostly successful in my search for parts. Not an issue of not liking the advice I'm getting, more of an issue of getting sick of repeating myself, now that it's spelled out a bit better, I hope I don't have to do that again.

Interesting trend I noticed, the pricier the elliptical, the cheaper the parts and vice versa. One unit actually uses a Shimano crank arm bolt somewhere in it, not sure why.

I don't need any fitness equipment or any exercises to make me core, thats what I post on here for.