Run Faster, Lift stronger, Think deeper

Nordictrack GX 4.6 vs 12.9i

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Nov 2, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Nordictrack GX 4.6 vs 12.9i

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack GX4.6 and 12.9i including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

 

 

Overview and review of Nordictrack Elite 12.9i $1499

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 12.9 model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the Elite 12.9i

 
The Elite 12.9i elliptical is the mid-range front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are the 30-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and 10-inch TOuch screen. The full list of features includes:
 
  • 10” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • 1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
  • Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
  • Two 2” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
  • Front Drive
  • 30 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • Auto-Adjustable Stride
  • 0-20% Incline
  • Commercial Solid Steel Construction
  • Oversized Levelers
  • 350 Lb. User Capacity
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
  • Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • 68.5" L x 28.75" W x 68.25" H Footprint
  • 10-Year Frame Warranty
  • 2-Year Parts Warranty
  • 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is a good value for money elliptical for commercial buyers and home gym owners. You will get a larger touch screen compared to other Nordictrack ellipticals and a reasonably sized flywheel to make the machine last longer. 
 

Pros of the Elite 12.9i

 
The pros of the 12.9i elite are:
 
  • Biggest front-drive elliptical touch screen
  • Good value for money 
  • 20% incline
The 12.9i has the biggest touch screen which Nordictrack can put in their ellipticals to date. Compared to other front and rear drive models you get the most real estate in touch screens with this machine. 
 
For the $1499 you get a big flywheel, big screen, and a good warranty. This is the best value for money machine in the elliptical line up of NordicTrack. If you want a workhorse elliptical which becomes the backbone of your commercial fleet, this is a good option. Home gym owners who intend to put a lot of miles on their elliptical (read multiple users in the home) also want to consider this elliptical over cheaper options due to the bigger flywheel. 
 
With the 20% incline, you can work at any intensity levels to get a workout in and make you feel good about yourself after starting the day with a good workout.
 

Cons of the 12.9i elliptical

 
The cons of the 12.9i elliptical are:
 
  • No wow factor 
  • High price for doing everything moderately good
  • Low-calorie burn
 
If you are already forking out more than $1000 on an exercise machine, you might as well get a bit of wow-factor out of the machine. This is not the case with the 12.9i. There is no cool mechanics like with the FS7i or a massive screen like you get with the 14.9i. All you get as a solid elliptical, that's it. Good for buying in bulk when you do not need to impress that much. Most home gym owners should go for the 10.9i instead with the 20-pound flywheel to save some money. 
 
As with all ellipticals, you get a relatively low-calorie burn per minute compared to treadmills and bikes. If this is your main concern, go for a VersaClimber model or the Rogue echo bike.
 

Alternatives to the 12.9i elliptical

 
Alternatives to the 12.9 elliptical are:
 
 
The FS7i would be a good alternative for home gym owners with a little extra money to spend. This free stride model would provide a little bit more of a wow factor rather than just having an elliptical at home. If you are buying new and not used, I think this is the better option. If you buy a used elliptical and budget is your main concern, try to find a Nordictrack elite 10.9i on craigslist or eBay.
 
The NordicTrack 10.9i is the most affordable front-drive elliptical out of the Nordictrack line up. It has no touch screen and a smaller flywheel. This is a good option for the home gym owner who wants to occasionally train without having to go to the gym. In this scenario, you do not need a big flywheel to take the beating of several thousand miles.
 
The VersaClimber H/Hp model is the product that VersaClimber designed for home use. If you already run outdoors and want to maximize your warm-up when you workout at home, this is the machine for you. The calories burned per minute of this are not matched on a machine with that low a footprint. 
 
The concept 2 rower is the home gym variation for anyone who likes rowing or does not want to stand or sit on a bike while exercising. There a re two models available, the E and the D. If you are older and struggle to get very low, go for the model E.  Otherwise get the Model D to save some money. Commercial buyers might find it interesting that these machines can be hung on the wall, if you get multiple, to save space and make your gym more modular. Hard to do with an elliptical.
 
The Rogue echo bike is in my opinion one f the best options for a home gym to burn the most amount of calories with the smallest footprint at a competitive price. Unless you have reservations for airbikes, this is the one to get at about $700 apiece. 
 

Summary for the 12.9i

 
The 12.9i is a good elliptical to be bought in bulk by a commercial gym. It will please a lot of customers without breaking the bank like the 14.9i. Home gym owners might consider to either move up or down the Nordictrack portfolio as they do not have to take economies of scale into consideration. You will probably only buy one or two ellipticals in your life so you might as well either maximize your savings or maximize the wow factor.
 
 

Overview and review of the Nordictrack GX 4.6 Pro 999 (UK)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack GX 4.6.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

 
The NordicTrack GX4.6 is one of the first bike models from Norictrack that you can get under 1000. At the time of writing it is only available for purchase in the UK and not in the US which points towards that this model might go end of life soon.  In the states, this line of bikes has been rebranded to the "Grand Tour" line. The main features of the GX4.6 are its 7-inch touchscreen display, 11kg flywheel, and a maximum capacity of 130kg. The full list of features reads as followed:
 
  • 7" HD Touchscreen Display
  • iFit Integrated
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
  • Dual 2" Speakers
  • Upright Frame
  • 11kg Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • Max User Weight 130kg
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • BLE Chestbelt Compatible
  • Oversized Cushion Seat
  • Vertical & Horizontal Seat Adjustment
  • Extra-wide, Ergonomic Foot Pedals with Adjustable Strap
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Front-mounted Transport Wheels
  • Product Weight 47kg
  • Boxed Weight 51kg
  • Assembled Dimensions - 94L x 63W x 156H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 107L x 36W x 64H cm
  • Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase
Overall the GX 4.6 is a solid bike that ticks all of the boxes. You will get a heart rate monitor, in build screen to surf the internet or use Ifit and a bigger flywheel. All of this not at a crazy price tag as for the S line of upright bikes from Nordictrack.
 

Pros of the GX 4.6

 
The pros of the GX 4.6 are:
 
  • Inbuilt screen 7-inch screen
  • Heart rate monitor included
  • Good value for money
This upright bike comes with everything you need in the box. Especially for home gym owners this is a good option without breaking the bank. You have everything in one place and do not need to buy extra things which then come later in the post and mess up the experience. For 1000 this is a solid bike which borders between home and commercial use without breaking the bank. Commercial gyms might want to consider that some members might expect more from you in times of 32inch touchscreens and mega rigs. Still, if you run a no-nonsense gym this bike will do its work for the members who want to use one. 
 

Cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.6

 
The cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.6 are:
 
  • No Bluetooth
  • No Incline
  • No massive screen
The lack of Bluetooth is an oversight in most of the Nordictrack bike line up. If you want to use your bose earphones with your new purchase you will be disappointed. That might be reason enough for some buyers to turn towards a different brand or model. No Bluetooth will also make it harder to pair your data from your polar or another device which you use for outdoor cycles with the data from The GX 4.6. Of course, this is only relevant if you are already an avid outdoor cyclist.
 
Compared to the Nordictrack S series you will also get no incline with this model. The gap to the S10i is 700 pounds. For this amount of money, you can get a second bike without an incline. So if you want a touchscreen under 1000 you will have to bite the bullet in the Nordictrack portfolio and not get an incline function. 
 
Since Peloton entered the market there has been a shift of cardio equipment to attach bigger and bigger screens. If you buy into this trend than the GX 4.6 is quite far behind the curve with a 7-inch touch screen. However, big screens are costly and you will be hard-pressed to find models under 2000 with a 22-inch or even 32-inch screens
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack GX 4.6

 
Alternatives to the Nordictrack GX 4.6 are:
 
The SE5i is in the same price range as the GX 4.6 and is a rear-drive elliptical. The console is very similar to the GX 4.6. The SE5i can be a good compromise for gyms with very limited space or home gyms. Not everyone likes the pounding of a treadmill or sitting in a saddle to get their cardio in. A rear-drive elliptical can be a compromise to cover all your members of the gym or family. 
 
The GX 4.4 is the little brother of the Nordictrack GX 4.6. IT has no integrated touchscreen and comes without a heart rate monitor at a slightly lower price. If you are torn between the GX 4.4 and the GX 4.6 I would recommend getting the GX 4.6. You are spending minimally more money on cardio equipment terms and get a better value for money options.  With the GX 4.4 you will have to invest in a heart monitor and attach your iPad to the machine to get to the same level of convenience. If you drop your iPad in the process and it breaks it already does not justify the money you saved for buying the GX 4.4 instead of the 4.6.
 
The concept 2 model D is the classic rower and the industry-standard for this fitness segment worldwide. If you prefer to row instead of biking to burn your calories than the concept 2 model D is probably your best bet. In addition to a similar price tag you can also hang the rower on the wall to save space. This is usually not a good option with upright cardio bikes.
 
My personal favorite for use in a home gym is the Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, has been stripped of most unnecessary entertainment and build like a tank. The Echo bike will give you everything you need to push yourself and last a lifetime. Still, if you prefer something less beefy and with some entertainment, the GX 4.6 is the better choice. 
 

Summary for the Nordictrack GX 4.6

 
The Nordictrack GX 4.6 is situated in the middöe of the Nordic track portfolio and covers all bases. You will not get the best of the best but also not break the bank. If you just want a solid bike and not out too much thought into your purchase, this is the model to get. 
View full post