Schwinn 431 Elliptical Machine

Schwinn 431 Elliptical Machine

Welcome to the Elliptical Machines website. We feature real reviews and feedback from actual customers which allows you to make an informed buying decision.

Search our top picks and latest reviews on the left or at the bottom of each page you'll find a link to the sitemap for easy navigation and to view the rest of the Elliptical Machines reviews and ratings. Please browse the website and enjoy.

User Reviews Send this to a friend

Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer

Manufacturer: Schwinn
Customer Rating:
List Price: $999.00
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability

Buy Now

Product Description

Elliptical trainers provide an effective cardiovascular workout that combines upper and lower body flexibility and coordination into one impact-free motion. By emulating the natural motion of your foot while supporting your heel throughout the stride, elliptical trainers are much easier on your knees and joints. In addition to feeling more natural while working out, regular use on ellipticals will increase heart and lung capacity while improving your health and burning calories.

The Schwinn 431 accommodates a wide variety of users, with a full-sized 18-inch stride length and bi-directional pedaling action that lets the user pedal forward or backward depending on the targeted muscle groups. Users will also appreciate the variety of workout programs, including three heart-rate controlled programs, a calorie goal program, a time trial, a fitness test, 10 profile programs, two custom programs, and a manual option. And thanks to the Eddy Current magnetic brake resistance system, the Schwinn 431 is smooth and quiet. Other details include an backlit LCD display with such feedback programs as Recovery Mode, Results Mode, and BMI; hand-grip heart rate monitors; a water bottle holder; and bottom wheels for easy transport. The Schwinn 431 measures 59 by 26 by 68 inches (L x W x H), weighs 172 pounds, and carries the following warranties: 15 years on the frame, two years on the parts, one year on the electronics, and 6 months on the labor.

A blue backlit LCD display allows you to track your progress with feedback programs such as Recovery Mode, Results Mode, and BMI.

A built-in cup holder helps you stay well hydrated while exercising.

Key Features:

Schwinn BioFit console design includes an integrated MP3/portable media compartment, on-console towel hook, fan and oversized cushioned footplates
Schwinn BioDyne performance system includes a 25-pound (11.3 kg) steel flywheel and computer controlled drive system that provide high inertia for smooth strides
Transport wheels for convenience, and oversized stabilizer tubes for rock-solid steadiness; biomechanically designed linkages to provide a comfortable movement of the foot throughout the elliptical motion
Multi-program and feature-packed Schwinn BioConnect computer allows users to input data, measure a variety of workout results, and track progress
Oversized bottle holder fits most beverage containers and may be removed and cleaned separately

Specifications:

Dimensions: 59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall
Maximum User Weight: 300 pounds
Power Requirements: AC Adapter
Performance Features Resistance Levels: 16
Resistance System: ECB (Eddy Current Brake) Resistance
Drive system: Computer Controlled
Workout Programs: Manual, Profile, Calorie Goal, Time Trial, Heart Rate Control, Fitness Test, Custom
Feedback Programs: BMI (Body Mass Index), Recovery Mode, Results Mode
Heart Rate Monitor: Grip Heart Rate Monitor
Computer Features Display Type: Blue Backlit LCD
Display Readout: Time, Interval Time, RPM, Watts, Distance, Pulse, Speed, Calories, Resistance

Manufacturer's Warranty
Frame - 15 years, parts - 2 years, electronics - 1 year, labor - 6 months

What's in the Box?
Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer, user's manual, warranty information

Compare These Elliptical Trainers
	Schwinn 430	Schwinn 420	Schwinn 431	Nautilus E514	Schwinn 460
Style	Front Drive Dual Action	Front Drive Dual Action	Front Drive Dual Action	Front Drive Dual Action	Variable Stride Dual Action
Stride Length	18 inches	18 inches	18 inches	18 inches	2 to 26 inches
Motion	Forward/ Reverse	Forward/ Reverse	Forward/ Reverse	Forward/ Reverse	Forward/ Reverse
Resistance	Magnetic ECB	Magnetic ECB	Magnetic ECB	Magnetic ECB	Magnetic ECB
Resistance Levels	16	16	16	16	16
Dimensions (L x W x H)	59" x 26" x 68"	62" x 26" x 71"	59" x 26" x 68"	62" x 26" x 71"	54" x 34" x 73"
Product Weight	152 pounds	154 pounds	172 pounds	165 pounds	221 pounds
Maximum User Weight	275 pounds	300	300 pounds	300	300 pounds
Display	LCD	LCD	Backlit 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, course profile	Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval, time, resistance	Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance, course profile	Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance, course profile
Heart Rate	Grip	Grip	Grip	Chest strap with telemetry; grip on handlebars	Chest strap with telemetry; grip on handlebars
Programs	1 manual, 6 profile, 1 calorie goal, results mode, BMI test	1 manual, 8 profile	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	1 manual, 11 profile, 2 custom for two users
Warranty	Frame--15 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, labor--90 days	Frame--5 years, parts--1 year, 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	Frame--10 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, wear parts--90 days
Other Features	Transport wheels, water bottle holder	Transport wheels, water bottle holder, magazine rack	Transport wheels, water bottle holder, 3-speed fan, MP3/iPod holder	Transport wheels, oversized deluxe footpads, water bottle holder, magazine rack	Transport wheels, fixed and moving handlebars, articulating foot plates, cooling fan, water 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 sensitive joints.

Product Details

High-quality elliptical trainer with comfortable and compact design
Multiple workout programs, including heart-rate controlled, custom, and fitness test
16 computer-controlled resistance levels; upgraded foot pedals for comfort
BioFit design creates more comfortable stride; backlit LCD console
Measures 59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall; 15-year frame warranty

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

After much research, I bought this one

Review Date: December 2, 2007

Reviewer: Mike M., California

***Update 12/21/2007***
Well, I've had this machine for about two weeks now and it works great. I am completely satisfied with this purchase. I was a little concerned about shipping, but mine came in perfect condition. Like others, it took me little under 3 hours to put it together. If you can put a screw in and follow directions, you'll be able to put this together. The machine is so smooth and quiet. It's no problem for others in the room to watch TV at the same time. After a week, I started to notice a clicking sound and it turned out I had tightened the screw that connects the handle bar to the foot pedal bar too tight. Loosening it a little fixed the problem.

***Original review***

- I should start by saying I just bought the Schwinn 431 from Amazon, but haven't received it yet so my total usage of it is only the 15 minutes or so I spent trying a demo model at a store. However, I spent a lot of time demoing various brands and some of my research may help you decide what's best for you. My price point was also under $1000. You can definitely find better, but you'll pay for it. First, just some general things I found while demoing ellipticals.

* Machines with the wheel in the front seemed to have a better, more natural feeling movement than those in the rear.
* Stride length of 18" worked best for me (I'm 5'5"). Some low end models had 16" stride, but I found this to be too short. Others had 20" or 21" but these were too big for me.
* I don't think you'd want to buy an elliptical for less than $500. They're just too cheap feeling.

I narrowed my search to three brands, based on the reviews I read on Amazon and also on a website that has lots of reviews of treadmills and ellipticals ("treadmill sensei").

Horizon
Most chain stores carry the Horizon brand. I looked at two models: Horizon Ex56 (Horizon EX55 seems to be the older model) and Horizon EX66. These two are basically the same, with the EX66 just having a few more bells and whistles (i.e. more programs, etc.). I believe the internal mechanisms to be pretty much the same. These were well sized to fit into my smaller house. $600-$800. Overall, these seemed like a nice machine, and I almost bought the ex56, as I didn't think the extra $200 really gave me much more. The EX66 does look a bit more sleek and has 2 extra support legs that could provide better stability.

Sole
I wanted to try the Sole 25, but the store I looked at only had the next model up, the 35. These machines are a bit pricier, actually the 25 was "on sale" for $999 with a MSRP of $1999 (I don't think anyone every pays the MSRP though) and the 35 is more. Both have a 20" stride length, and this was just too big for me. For a taller person, this might be fine. The machine itself is bigger and I would have a harder time fitting it into my house. In general, the motion was very smooth. This seems like a well built machine if you have the space and money. Sole seems to have a pretty good warranty too.

Schwinn
I didn't expect Schwinn to make ellipticals. Actually, they don't. This brand falls under the Nautilus brand, which also makes bowflex, nautilus and stairmaster. I looked at the 430 and 431, (431 seems to be the later model and has more bells and whistles, like more programs, a fan and rubber pads on the foot pedals instead of just hard plastic ones on the 430, a bigger cup holder!). Consumer reports actually recommended the 418. The model numbering is strange, the 418 and 438 go together, and the 430 and 431 are similar. The 431 is smaller in size, about the same as the Horizon EX56. The price for the 430 is $600 and the 431 $800. I ended up going with the 431 (there is a promotion going on for a $100 gift card so that brings the price closer). In general both the 430 and 431 felt the same, except the rubber pads on the pedals did feel nicer with better grip for your shoes. This machine actually feels better than the horizon line due to the 25lb flywheel, vs. only 14lbs for the Horizon. This really makes the stride feel smoother. This machine also felt more solid than Horizon. The only problem with this brand is that it was hard to find a demo machine. Another potential drawback is the warranty, which is 15 year frame, 1 year parts, and 6 months labor.

Your best bet is to actually get on the machine and try them out before you buy! Good Luck!

A great elliptical trainer for the price!

Review Date: November 21, 2007

Reviewer: Mojoski, Acworth, GA United States

I just bought one of these from a local "Play It Again Sports" location and I must say I'm impressed with the sturdy manufacturing. (I'd recommend you ask your local store for a price. I saved $100 over Amazon's price!) It has a very smooth ride and feels very sturdy even when I ride it at a quick rate. I'm 215 lbs and I have it set up on Berber carpet and it still feels very sturdy!

The assembly took me about 2 hours and it wasn't very difficult. Schwinn (er, Nautilus) did a good job of packing all of the nuts and washers in a very organized way where there is no doubt what is what. The instructions were very easy to follow and didn't require any tools other than the ones included in the box.

I'm very happy with this unit. It has a wonderful selection of 20 different programs built in and has 16 levels of resistance as well. The heart rate monitor is well placed and seems to work well for me. The lack of a chest strap compatibility feature wasn't a big deal for me since I don't use a chest strap and have never liked them, but be aware of this short-coming if that option matters to you.

Overall, I think this is a good deal and a solid machine. Now I just need to start getting up and using it every morning!

Great Elliptical Trainer

Review Date: January 14, 2008

Reviewer: Brenda L. Kupchick, Fairfield, CT

I started looking at the Schwinn product through Consumer Reports, which gave the 418 model their best buy label. After reviewing all the Schwinn Elliptical's, you find they are all made basically the same; some have additional bells and whistles.

I read every review on each of the four models, the 418, 430, 431 and the 438. The reviews were so helpful in making a good decision. We should all appreciate the reviewers who take the time to give lots of details for products. I decided to go with the 431 for several reasons. I originally was interested in the 438 model but after the New Year when I went to purchase the price jumped up to $100.00 more than it had been before Christmas. So, I decided on the 431. It was 799.00 and free super saver shipping from Amazon.

It was delivered ahead of schedule like other reviews said it might be, but the delivery company called and we set up the date and time for delivery. It was a local company. I had them deliver it into the attached garage. My husband opened the box in garage and brought parts into the den as he needed them, much easier that way. They usually will only deliver ground level or a few steps. It actually comes in a small box.

My husband put it together while he was watching a football game, 3 1/2 hours. He said it was easy, everything was clearly marked and they give you the tools you need. We were worried about the height issue that other reviewers commented on. However, we have no problems. My husband is 5'11 and the ceiling in our den is 7'4" and it's perfect. There's room above his head.

This model has the back light which is very nice and multiple programs which are great for me because I like to mix it up. There are also multiple user modes so we can both track our progress. The 431 is more compact than the others and fits perfectly in our den. We used an extra piece of carpet from when new carpet was installed in the den and put it under the machine instead of buying a mat and it works great and matches the carpet.

We have both used the machine for two weeks now and we both really love this machine. It's smooth, quiet, and gives a good work out. My legs were sore after my first use. The programs are fun and easy to use. It gives read outs like the gym model which I like. My husband is a big guy, weights over 200lbs and the machine is very sturdy.

If this machine holds up like most of the reviewers said, we will be a very happy and slimmer couple.

Silent & smooth

Review Date: December 20, 2007

Reviewer: R. Mcneil, USA

I am so glad that I finally made a decision about which elliptical to purchase. After pratically ruining my ocular nerves from the hours and hours of internet searching, I bought the Schwinn 431. I normally will shy away from brand new models- however, the heavier flywheel is what really sold me. And what a difference it makes! Like many others, I've tried various other ellipticals, and I actually bought this one sight unseen. At $799 a pop, I think one word my wife used to describe me was, "Crazy!". It arrived within the time-frame quoted, and the box was not damaged. The only damage occured with the shroud covering the flywheel. It's made of plastic and must have cracked sometime between China and my house in CA. (I'll let you know how replacing it was once I'm finished with that.) I had that thing built in just under 3 hours, alone. I added white-grease on all the points that move. My wife and I have yet to put it through hours of work, however, based upon what use it has had, this is one smooth, solid piece of equipment. The frame is thick and feels solid. The only time I felt a bit uneasy was when I tried it backwards. Nothing huge, but something to be noted. Lastly, the stride length of 18" is great for both my wife and I. I'm 5'11", and she's 5'5". Both of us are comfortable and confident we made the right decision. More to come once we use it more.

Finnette52

Review Date: January 8, 2008

Reviewer: Frank Finney, Texas

I have just recently purchased the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer. I did quite a bit of research on the various models before making my decision. I can only say that this Elliptical Trainer is the very best for its' price range. In fact, it is better than many of the higher priced machines that are available. One of the deciding factors is that this model has the 25 lb. flywheel, which makes the operation very smooth and helps to stabilize the machine. It is very well constructed, very smooth, and very quiet. I put it together in an hour and a half. It was money well spent! I would definitely recommend this model for in-home use. Best of all, it's made in the U.S.A.

Comments are closed.