Bowflex Power Pro – Avoiding Risk of Injury with a Used Bowflex
The Bowflex is a popular home fitness machine that provides a variety of strength training exercises using plastic rods for resistance instead of weight plates. Long a staple of late night infomercials, Bowflex is a reputable brand made by Nautilus, who are the creators of many innovative commercial gym machines. Their machines are known for quality and durability, and thus remain popular in the used fitness market.
In 2004, however, Nautilus was forced to recall 680,000 Power Pro units and 102,000 Ultimate units in order to repair a problem that had caused a number of injuries, including two serious ones. The problem was seat pin which holds the incline bench in place was breaking, causing the bench to suddenly shift violently. The problem only affected units built before September 2002, and Bowflex immediately issued a recall and sent free repair kits to all known customers.
Doing a search online for Bowflex Power Pro will bring up many results in online classifieds such as Craigslist. Many of these machines are a great deal because, as mentioned earlier, the overall construction is quite sturdy and other than the failing pin problem Nautilus has not had any problems with the Bowflex line. Often used fitness equipment is lightly used, as many people start out with the best intentions but find that their discipline is lacking after awhile. Also, the machines are generally not moved once setup, so they are usually not knocked about in any manner.
If you are considering buying a used Power Pro from an ad or otherwise, ask the owner when he or she purchased the unit originally. Anything sold after the January 2004 recall date will be safe, but if the unit was purchased earlier ask the owner about the history of the machine, and whether or not the pin was replaced. It may still be possible to get a repair kit from Bowflex, but the hassle may not be worth the effort. Better to simply look for a unit that was either repaired of purchased after the recall date.
If you are uncertain of the history of the machine, it is best to stay away. The seat pin is the central device to holding the bench in position, particularly when it is in the incline position. While working out, quite a bit of force is exerted onto the bench, particularly if you are doing bench presses. To have the bench collapse on you at that point could result in a serious injury. It is simply not worth the risk to save a few dollars.
The Bowflex Power Pro is one of the older models made by Bowflex, but still a great piece of gear. There are so many new models available now, with the Bowflex Revolution the latest innovation in this line of gear. Consider the cost of a brand new unit if you are serious about working out; the monthly financing can be comparable to a gym membership. If you are looking for a bargain, however, buying used is the way to go. Just make sure to check the pedigree of the unit you are considering, and stay away from anything that may not have been repaired, or that looks to be in poor shape. The risk of injury is not worth the savings of a few dollars.
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