Friday, April 10, 2009

Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer

schwinn 460

Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer
From Schwinn

List Price: $1,599.00
Sale Price: $899.00
Eligible for FREE Shipping


Click To Buy The Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average customer review: 4 Stars

Product Details

  • Brand: Schwinn
  • Model: 100145
  • Released on: 2008-10-01
  • Dimensions: 73.00" h x 34.00" w x 54.00" l, 221.00 pounds

Features

  • V-Stride technology to let you change stride lengths without manual adjustments or machine modifications
  • Features 16 total programs, including 11 workout profiles with instructional messages on how to maximize your workout benefits
  • Schwinn Advantage workout system tracks results and programming for up to two users; articulating foot plates minimize heel impact, cooling fan, removable water bottle holder
  • Backlit touchscreen console displays workout and interval time, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance level, and course profile
  • Measures 54 inches long by 34 inches wide by 73 inches tall; 300-pound maximum user weight; assembly is required

Editorial Reviews

Maximize your home workouts with the Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer, which features Schwinn's exclusive V-Stride Technology that allows you to change stride lengths without manual adjustments or machine modifications. The 460 provides a complete lower-body workout: step to target calves and quads; walk to work your thighs and glutes, and run to lengthen your strides and engage all muscle groups.

Featuring a high-tech design, the Schwinn 460 includes 11 workout profiles built by the Nautilus Institute with instructional messages on utilizing stride lengths and foot/leg motions for maximized results. And the Schwinn Advantage workout system tracks results and programming for up to two users. You'll get heart rate feedback via the HR grips on the static handlebars, and heart rate telemetry using the included chest strap.

The dynamic backlit touchscreen console displays workout and interval time, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance level, and course profile. Other features include an oversized water bottle holder (accommodates 4-inch bottle), adjustable cooling fan, and transport handle and non-skid wheels for easy storage.


The Schwinn 460 combines dynamic workout programs, an intuitive touch screen console, and Schwinn V-Stride technology to let you change stride lengths without manual adjustments or machine modifications.

Features and Specifications

  • V-Stride technology, integrated in the cam/footplate, enables strides from 2 to 26 inches
  • Independent footplates let users target core muscles while engaging both sides of the body
  • 16 total programs: 1 Manual, 11 Profile, 2 Custom for two users
  • Quiet, magnetic ECB (Eddy current brake) resistance with 16 levels
  • Fly wheel: 25 pounds, steel
  • Drive system: Computer controlled
  • Fixed and moving handlebars
  • Chest strap with telemetric and grip heart rate monitoring
  • Heart rate grip on padded static handlebars
  • Transport handle and non-skid wheels
  • Articulating foot plates minimize heel impact
  • Schwinn Advantage workout system tracks results and programming for two users
  • Dynamic backlit LCD touchscreen console
  • Display Readout: Time, Interval Time, RPM, Watts, Distance, Pulse, Speed, Calories, Resistance Level, Course Profile
  • 11 workout profiles contain embedded fitness prompts to maximize results
  • Oversized water bottle holder and angle-adjustable fan
  • Maximum user weight: 300 pounds
  • Dimensions: 54 x 34 x 73 inches (L x W x H)
  • Unit weight: 221 pounds
  • Power requirements: AC adapter

Manufacturer's Warranty
Frame - 10 years, parts - 2 years, electronics - 1 year, wear parts: 90 days






Compare these Schwinn Elliptical Trainers


Schwinn 430 Schwinn 431 Schwinn 460
Style Front Drive Dual Action Front Drive Dual Action Variable Stride Dual Action
Stride Length 18 inches 18 inches 2 to 26 inches
Drive Train Poly V-belt Poly V-belt Poly V-belt
Motion Forward/
Reverse
Forward/
Reverse
Forward/
Reverse
Resistance Magnetic ECB Magnetic ECB Magnetic ECB
Resistance Levels 16 16 16
Dimensions (L x W x H) 59" x 26" x 68" 59" x 26" x 68" 54" x 34" x 73"
Product Weight 152 pounds 172 pounds 221 pounds
Maximum User Weight 275 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds
Display LCD Backlit LCD Touch screen, backlit LCD
Display Features Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval, time, resistance Time, interval time, RPM, watts, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance, course profile
Heart Rate Grip Grip Chest strap with telemetry; grip on handlebars
Programs 1 manual, 6 profile, 1 calorie goal, results mode, BMI test 1 manual, 10 profile, 2 heart rate control, 2 custom, time trial, calorie goal, fitness test, BMI test, recovery mode, results, mode 1 manual, 11 profile, 2 custom for two users
Warranty Frame--15 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, labor--90 days Frame--15 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, labor--6 months Frame--10 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, wear parts--90 days
Other Features Transport wheels, bottle holder Transport wheels, bottle holder, 3-speed fan, MP3/iPod holder Fixed and moving handlebars, articulating foot plates, cooling fan, transport wheels, bottle holder

About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.

Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain your sensitive joints.


Customer Reviews

Happy With My Decision...
I bought the 460 here on Amazon and just got it delivered yesterday by ABF. Delivery went smoothly, and ABF said that Amazon had approved "inside delivery" which meant that they'd put it in my ground-level garage. Even though he didn't have to, the driver was nice helped me move the box into my basement (up one set of stairs and down another) which is where I set up the elliptical.

Assembly took me about 2 hours, taking my time without rushing. All of the parts seem very sturdy and went together as intended with no problems (i.e., no parts that "didn't fit" or had to be forced for any reason).

One surprise that's not clarified anywhere online is that there is *no* labor warranty. I assumed it would be 90 days labor. As some other online reviews have stated, warranty coverage is one of Schwinn's weak points. But the machine seems well-built and sturdy, so I don't anticipate needing any warranty work done (I'll keep my fingers crossed).

Getting on this for the first time, I do have to say that it's different than anything else I've tried and the range of motions is impressive. I was very hesistant to buy this online because I wanted to try it out first, but no stores in my area have any floor models to try. So, for others in my same situation who want to learn as much as possible about a machine they can't try out, I'll try to give some detailed first impressions. Here's what I think so far, after using it for only about 20 minutes last night:

(1) The base is very sturdy and easily holds my 160 pounds.
(2) I can use the 460 in various positions (moving grips, upper or lower fixed grips, laning forward or not, etc.) and use different combinations of arm/leg force to get a different feel in each position.
(3) Some positions and stride lengths feel more like stepping and some are more like gliding. It does take forward/backward force on the moving arms or the foot pedals to extend the pedals out to the longer stride lengths.
(4) Some positions and stride lengths are comfortable, some not. After a few minutes I found a few comfortable positions that I like. My wife got on it too, she's shorter than me and was able to find some positions that she liked too.
(5) The description of "articulating foot pedals" made me think that the small foot-plate that you step on could rotate back and forth for comfortc (and to minimize your heel coming up). This isn't the case, the angle of the foot-plate is solidly fixed to the metal below it. My heels do sometimes come up on the backs of my strides.
(6) Some reviews made me worry that I wouldn't feel like my arms are working at all, but I did one of the 10-minute pre-programmed courses and definitely found my arms getting tired from pushing/pulling. It's a bit of a trade-off between pushing/pulling with your arms or pushing/pulling with your legs, but I found that both the arm and leg motions had enough resistance for me.
(7) The machine felt a bit jerky at first, but felt much smoother once I got used to it and found positions and stride lengths that worked for me. It's nice and quiet...the loudest thing on it is the fan (if you turn it on).
(8) Since the left/right stride lengths are independent, I feel like it works my weaker side harder than my stronger side. I'm not sure but I feel like it may help bring my left/right endurance into balance after longer-term use.
(9) Quality seems very good in this price range.

I'll try to post more once I've used this for a few weeks. So far it looks like this was a good decision for me.

Well Built, a little different, works you out
It's unfortunate to see some other reviews with issues.
I for one am quite happy with the machine. First of all its heavy, the parts are very solid, this is not a flimsy machine.

It took me 2 hours to put together (It would have been faster if I didnt have to lug each piece up 2 sets of stairs one by one).

Once its setup, its pretty much jump on and workout.
The first time I tried the machine I noticed that I was sweating w/in 5 mins. I felt like it was harder than a gym elliptical. I also noticed that the difference in resistance settings (1-16) are very small. So that kind of makes sense that the machine seems harder than a regular elliptical but the resistance settings are very sensitive...going from level 3 to level 4 wont make you feel like there is a huge jump in difficulty.

The first 2 times I used the machine the left side seemed to make a little rubbing sound..but that has since gone away..so it is no longer an issue.

I am not using a rubber mat under the machine since we have a very low pile carpet (I might get a mat later just for more sound dampening since I am above the garage and there is some vibration transfer). However the machine is very stable even without the rubber mat.

Build/Material Quality:
Again, I want to emphasize that this is a well built machine with very thick heavy metal. Im glad I invested more money for this machine, many of the machines I've seen in the store even in the $600-$800 range were not built this well.

Variable stride:
Now for the variable stride. Honestly its a little different. It's definitely not the same as a regular elliptical. However it is kind of neat, I like the fact that I can push a little harder and stretch my stride a little longer when I get that extra burst of energy, and I can slow down and take smaller "steps" when I get tired. You'll quickly find a "normal" range for yourself and will probably stay within that range most of the time. I dont know what it is about this machine but it does work you out pretty well. And its quite fun.

Display/computer:
I also noticed that the screen is a little hard to see, I guess due to the height, angle and type of display. It did bother me at first, but I've become used to it now. The touchscreen is very simple to use. The general workouts are simple and nice, you can also create 2 custom workouts per user (2 users). I also like the fact that it keeps track of your total usage per user, for example it will say 4 workouts, 2 hours.
The programs guide you to change up your stride (as others have mentioned)...it will tell you "short stride", "long stride", faster pace, normal pace...reverse, forward...stuff like that to change up your workout. My only complaint is I wish it would beep when it displays these messages...because sometimes Im watching tv while working out and I miss the messages. Maybe this is a setting somewhere that I havent run across yet.

Heart Rate:
The hand grip heart rate seems to always start at 72bpm and then work its way up to your real heart rate w/in 30 seconds. I'll try the chest strap another day and update this review. I wish it did have heart rate controlled programs..that seems only natural for a product with a chest strap.

Overall, I enjoy the workouts this machine provides, I like the fact that the parts are heavy and solid, and the machine stays put (and I weight 240lbs) and I have not had any noise issues.

I will update this review when I have put some more use into the product.