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(More customer reviews)This Precor EFX 5.23 replaces my 4 year old Schwinn 438 - a well rated unit.
At the time I reviewed the Schwinn (see link in my comment below), I was afraid it would end up as "an expensive clothes horse". And, though I thought it might be our "starter elliptical" that would eventually end up sold, I never had the heart to get rid of it. Back then, I'd also suggested that those who knew what they wanted, might prefer to go straight to a Precor instead.
Well, fast forward to today, and that Schwinn is my favorite machine in our home gym and I've logged hundreds of hours on it. It still works, and works well. Of course, it isn't in the same league as this Precor, but I paid about half of what the 5.23 retails for. Proving that there is such a thing as "good enough" quality.
Delivery and unpacking:
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The EFX 5.23 arrived at our curb in one very large box that was both heavy and unwieldy, at 7' long, 3' wide, and 2' high, and weighing north of 200 lbs. I was barely able to maneuver it into its first stop within the garage. However, with the help of our Shoulder Dolly LD1000 2-Person Lifting and Moving System and a couple of helpers, we were able to get it to its final location in the basement.
Opening up the box, I was very impressed with the care that went into the packaging of this machine. The main unit rests on a 2x4 glued to the bottom of the box; each part is wrapped in plastic and encased generously in thermocol; and the box's corner supports are made of extra-strength cardboard. It would take a force of nature to get at this equipment within its protective cocoon. The box arrived with a couple of punctures on its sides, but because of this extraordinary packaging, there was no damage to the unit - nary a scratch!
Assembly:
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Despite my legendary mechanical ineptitude, it only took us about 90 minutes to set this up. That says a lot about the quality of the spare but functional instructions. Assembly mainly consisted of securing the stabilizer bars, handlebars, and the console onto the main unit.
A few points to note:
1. All tools needed are included - except for a rubber mallet, which as it turned out, we didn't need.
2. Some screw holes are very low to the ground. Using some packaging material to raise the front of the elliptical makes access easier.
3. Assembly is a lot easier with two people.
4. Remember to affix the rubber feet before moving the elliptical to its final location. The illustrations show these feet already in place - so we didn't even notice it until the very end.
The awesome:
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1. The construction quality is to be seen to be believed. My Schwinn is anemic by comparison.
2. Mechanically, the 5.23 compares favorably to its more expensive siblings, which mostly add an anodized aluminum frame and an automatic CrossRamp.
3. This is one smooth ride - a very tangible and noticeable difference from the Schwinn. The pedals adjust to my feet very naturally.
4. Its support for reverse pedaling really changes my workout substantially.
5. The console has great contrast, and has a generous amount of simultaneously displayed telemetry (so no multiple clicks to setup the display).
6. The platform is very stable - especially once you adjust the stabilizer's levelers.
7. The resistance range is great. At the max of 16, I can barely move the pedals, so I'm not going to outgrow this anytime soon.
8. Manually adjusting the CrossRamp only takes a couple of seconds.
9. SmartRate gives you clear indication when you are exceeding your heart's safety threshold.
The "not so good":
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1. The EFX 5.23 has no user memory. Worse - it has no "last use" memory. At each start up, you must enter your age, weight, and program duration.
2. It does not turn on automatically when used, and neither does it sleep automatically when left alone. Worse - the power switch is tiny and not easily accessible ... at the bottom of the flywheel.
3. It cannot record a custom program.
4. QuickStart mode uses its defaults (age:35, weight:150 lbs); making the calorie readouts meaningless.
5. The hand grip heart monitor really only works well once your palms are moist. I don't favor chest straps - but a Polar-compatible strap might work better here.
Conclusion:
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The Precor EFX series is the gold standard when it comes to ellipticals (after all, Precor invented them), and so I had very high expectations going in. And, YES, the EFX 5.23 met all my requirements for a solid machine - with headroom to spare! It simply oozes quality, and everything about it screams of attention to detail. Every aspect of it feels solid. The pedal motion is a dream. The foot rests are generous, comfortable, and provide good support across the motion. The display is clear. The handlebars are comfortable. In short, once you are up on this elliptical, time absolutely flies.
This is one classy workout machine.
In order to keep costs down in their lower end models, Precor chose to trade off controls/programming, rather than sacrifice build quality. I applaud this decision. The drawbacks listed above are eclipsed by the sheer joy of working out on such a splendid machine.
So in one corner, I have my trusty Schwinn 438 - with decent electronics and an average build; and in the other, I have the Precor 5.23 with jaw dropping build quality but average controls/programming. Which do I prefer? It's really no contest - the Precor wins hands down. It is truly hard to describe just how much fun it is to use once your workout starts. I've been a big fan of ellipticals for a while now, but this unit has won me all over again.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely and unreservedly!
Happy exercising!
~Damodar
NOTE: If you are using the manual to aid your purchase decision, note that its console image incorrectly displays "CrossRamp" instead of "Calories/min"; and that there is no "User key" (page 19).
NOTE: This elliptical is not designed to be moved once assembled.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Precor EFX 5.23 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer (Latest Generation)
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