Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle vs Nordictrack ACT 7 commercial elliptical
This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness GR3 Indoor cycle and the Nordictrack ACT 7 commercial elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview and review of the ACT commercial 7 1899
This is a review of the NordicTrack ACT 7 commercial including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview of the ACT commercial 7
The
ACT Commercial 7 elliptical is a center drive elliptical which is very compact for home use or having a fleet in a commercial gym. The main features are a 7 inch HD touchscreen, 22" stride, and an integrated tablet holder. The full list of features includes:
- 7" HD Touchscreen Display
- Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
- iFit Integrated
- Integrated Tablet Holder
- IPod Compatible Audio (2 - 2" Speakers)
- Center Drive
- 18" – 22" Adjustable Stride
- 24 Digital Resistance Levels
- OneTouch® Controls
- EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
- Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
- Max User Weight 135kg
- Adjustable Oversized Cushion Pedals
- AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
- Included Water Bottle Holder
- Transport Wheels
- Product Weight 107kg
- Boxed Weight 125kg
- Assembled Dimensions - 182L x 81W x 170H cm
- Boxed Dimensions - 131L x 75W x 64H cm
- Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase
The
ACT 7 commercial is a good option for anyone who wants an elliptical that does not eat up too much space. It is still a big machine but compared to rear- or front-drive ellipticals it is a lot smaller.
Pros of the ACT 7 commercial
The main point that the CT 7 commercial has going for it is that it is a space saver. The center flywheel makes it possible to bring the machine in a little. Compared to the newer elliptical models it is less error-prone as it has not the three in one design which makes the design more stable.
Cons of the ACT7 commercial
- Old model
- relatively high price
The
ACT models are relatively old and Nordictrack has renewed and modernized their center flywheel product range with models like the FS7i which use Free stride. Free Stride enables the elliptical to be used as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper. So if you can get your hand on one of the free stride models that might be money spend better. Just observe when they make their way from the US to the UK, if you can wait for your purchase.
Alternatives to the ACT 7 commercial
The
Nordictrack X7i is a good alternative to the
ACT 7 commercial in case you prefer a treadmill rather than an elliptical for your home gym. The
X7i provides a treadmill that can go up to a 40% incline and a 2.75 CHP motor. Best for home gym use. If you are a commercial buyer you might want to look for treadmill motors in the 3 - 4 CHP range to make sure that they will last longer, as they will have to take more miles.
The
Nordictrack FS5i is an alternative elliptical to the
ACT 7 commercial. It will take up more space, but comes in at a lower and provides a longer stride. You will also be able to use the Free stride technology which makes this a three in one machine. If you have space and want an elliptical, this might be the better option than the
ACT 7.
The
TrueForm Runner is a self-propelled treadmill that is targeted at high-performance athletes. This is a great option if you want to do sprints with abrupt starts and stops or very gradual acceleration. Commercial gym owners might be tempted by the savings in electricity, as this machine does not have a motor. The belt rests on bearing which makes it possible to propel it yourself. The
TrueForm runner i generally considered one of the best of this kind of treadmills, This is also a reason why it comes in at a high price.
The
Assault air runner is a cheaper alternative to the
TrueForm runner in the self-propelled treadmill space. While the cost is lower the reviews of this treadmill usually are not as positive as for the
TrueForm runner. Main reason being is that the
TrueForm runner seems to have a better calibration of the bearing. The
Assault air runner tends to make you faster than you actually are which can create a weird experience.
Last but not least I personally like the
Rogue Echo bike a lot. Especially for use in a home gym. It is compact, sturdy, and comes in at a reasonable price for what you are getting. It is space-efficient and ideal for doing a 20-minute workout which will burn the maximum of calories.
Summary for the ACT 7 commercial
The
ACT 7 commercial is a great compact elliptical for home use or in tight gym settings. It will also be less prone to error than the other free stride models of Nordictrack based on the design. Overall, the
ACT 7 commercial is not a focus design of Nordictrack's, but still available for purchase in the Uk market.
Overview and review of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle
This is an overview of the Horizon fitness GR3 Indoor cycle including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness bike to get?
For the most up to date information and asking direct questions you can follow me on Instagram.
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Overview of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle $499
The
GR3 is the cheapest option to join the Horizon Fitness family. This is a no non-sense spinning bike that provides resistance via a flywheel and mechanical brake system. If you ever have attended a spinning class in your local gym, then this is exactly what you can expect with the
GR3. The full specifications are:
Frame Type: Indoor Cycle
Adjustable Pedal straps: Yes
Pedal Type: Pedal Cage with toe strap
Seat Type: Road-Style Saddle
Seat adjustment: Horizontal, Vertical
Resistance System: Friction Brake
Resistance levels: Control knob
Heart Rate: Polar wireless Receiver
Extras: Transport Wheels, Water Bottle Holder
Max User Weight: 286
Weight: 97 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 49 x 19 x46
Home Warranty Frame: 10 years
Home Warranty Parts: 1 year
Home Warranty Labor: 1 year
Pros of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle
This is a compact and light bike for indoor cycling if you want to keep it professional and not put the bike you already own on a stand. It is easy to move around and is not as bulky as other cardio options you might have for the home.
The price is great for professional home equipment or pragmatic commercial equipment. In a commercial setting, $500 is not a big loss on the books even if you have troubles with the warranty. In a home gym scenario you get a robust too you are unlikely to break. This is a very low price bar to step over to take your home training seriously.
This is a good quality bike compared to just getting the cheapest option of Amazon or eBay. Go ahead with this bike if you do not need any fancy digital dials and just want to go after it.
Cons of the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle
Compared to more modern bikes like the Peloton series, this bike has no fancy internet access and group functions to keep you motivated. So you have to bring that on your own and for a simple spinning bike, you might think it is overpriced. Still stripping things to essentials is often a good thing.
This bike operates at the lower end of the maximum weight of the user as the frame is rather small compared to other machines. If you weigh more than 100kg and go hard at your equipment you might want to choose something with a heavier frame. It will work, but it won’t be fun.
The resistance setup on this machine is completely mechanical which means it is more likely to break. Be prepared that if you use this hard that you will have to swap the flywheel and break at least once in its lifetime. These are not the most expensive items to replace and especially in a commercial setting you just can have a spare bike, but at home, you will have to wait with training until the repair is done.
Alternatives to the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle
The
Horizon IC 7.9 indoor cycle follows a very similar design to the
GR3. The big differences are the more convenient resistance lever, the sturdier frame, and the professional pedals with a clip-in mechanism. If you want a spinning bike that feels a little more like a professional racer or if you weigh more than 100kg, then the
Horizon IC 7.9 is the better choice.
The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level bike from this brand. If you are looking for something a bit smoother and less wild, this is a good alternative. It also might be an option if stock is running low for Horizon Fitness and you need something fast.
The
Rogue echo bike is a great alternative to the
GR3 Indoor cycle if you want to step your game up a little. It has a sturdier frame and the resistance is regulated by the big fan and the air that circulates through, rather than a brake pedal. This makes it better for interval training and heavier athletes. For me, the
Rogue echo bike is the best cardio machine you can get for a home gym in terms of value for money. The only downsides are that you will have to invest more than for the
GR3 and that it is considerably heavier.
The
TITAN fan bike is a copycat of the
Rogue echo bike with bigger wheels for transport at a smaller price tag. It will do the job, but the overall design and finish are not as on point as with the
Rogue echo bike. However, you will save some money that you can put against more equipment.
The
concept 2 skierg is one of the most compact cardio machines you can find out there. If you have very limited space, but still do not want to take your cardio outside, the
concept 2 skierg is a great option that is also ready ably priced.
Conclusion for the Horizon GR3 Indoor cycle
I personally like a simple design that focuses on the essentials. That is why I own a
Rogue echo bike as I weigh more than 100kg. If I would weigh 80kg, the
GR3 would be a serious contender to make it into my garage gym.