Nordictrack VX550 vs C1650

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack VX550 and C1650 including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack C1650 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack C1650 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.

Overview of the C1650

The C1650 is a solid option in the Nordictrack portfolio. The main features are the 3.5 CHP motor, 10 HD touch display, and up to12% incline. This is a good option for walkers, joggers, and runners alike. The full list of features includes:

Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
iFit Integrated
10" HD Touch Screen Display
Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
Integrated Accessory Tray
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Flexselect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
Autobreeze™ Workout Fan

3.5 CHP Motor
0 – 12% Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
135kg Max User Weight
1.9" Roller

SpaceSaver® Design
Assembled Dimensions - 202 x 90 x 154 cm
Product Weight 92kg
Boxed Weight 115kg
Folded Dimensions - 90 x 107 x 181 cm
Boxed Dimensions - 213 x 77 x 35 cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase

The C1650 is a good upper range option from Nordictrack for the UK market, especially if you want a bigger touchscreen for your professional or home gym.

Pros of the Nordictrack C1650

The main advantages of this treadmill are:

3.5 CHP motor
10-inch monitor

This machine is good when you expect a lot of usage by people who want to be entertained while they are running. It is also a better value for money option from Nordictrack as a new buy than the S50 in my opinion. The 3.5 CHP motor gives it longevity while the 10inch touch monitor is an upgrade from most other options.

Cons of the Nordictrack C1650

The cons of the Nordictrack C1650 are:

No 40% incline
Relatively high price

The C1650 is still a machine that has quite a high price. If you do not expect to run a lot of miles in each session or expect multiple users per day the motor might be oversized. For the price tag, you will also not get a 40% incline which other models might offer you for the same budget. Here you can see how important it is to make a plan which features you are actually interested in.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack C1650

Some alternatives to the C1650 are:

The Nordictrack X7i is a good alternative for the home gym user who wants a 40% incline at the same price as the C1650. The motor is slightly smaller with 2.75 CHP and it has no touch screen, but in return, you get the 40% incline. So if you are not a marathon runner and preparing for long-distance races, but want to use a treadmill to use weight, the X7i might be a better option as the C1650.

The ACT Commercial 7 is a center drive elliptical which is very compact. If you want to save space in your home and do not like the pounding of a treadmill on your joints, the ACT 7 commercial is an alternative to the C1650 at roughly the same price. Definitely a good option for seniors or less ambitious fitness enthusiasts.

The TrueForm Runner is a self-propelled treadmill that is a great fit for anyone who wants to do starts and stops for sprints on a treadmill. If you are a short distance runner, football player, or any other kind of team sports-related athlete you want to look into this piece of equipment. The TrueForm Runner is hailed in many reviews as the best one of the self-propelled kind. This comes at a price, so be prepared to pay significantly more than for the Nordictrack C1650 for this model.

The Assault air runner is the other option in the self-propelled treadmill market. Compared to the True Form runner it comes in at a lower price. While this is a bonus, the reviews I have seen are slightly worse than for the TrueForm runner. The most common remark is that the bearing mechanics of the belt are calibrated better in the Trueform runner than in the Assault air runner. The Assault air runner seems to be unnaturally fast.

The öast aöternative to the C1650 is the Rogue Echo bike which is my personal favorite for home gyms. It is compact, affordable, and burns a lot of calories without being too hard on the joints. You will not get any multimedia options with it and the display is kept simple. This is the type of 20-minute maximum cardio machine which is ideal for the home. Yes, you can get cheaper bikes, but definitely not built like a tank like this one. With a price of around 700 - 800 it competes with competitor models in the 1200 - 1500 range.

Summary of the Nordictrack C1650

The Nordictrack C1650 is a good machine for anyone who expects to crunch more than 100 miles a week at home or in the gym. The big motor will make it long-lasting and a good buy. If you are not a long-distance runner you might want to look into other options which cost less but still provide a to of different features.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VX 550 599 (UK)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VX550.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The VX 550 is one of the lower budget bikes in the NordicTrack line up and is currently only available via the UK website. Its main features are a 9kg flywheel, 5-inch backlit display, and a maximum capacity of 125kg. This is the bike for you if you want a bigger flywheel for relatively little and you do not care about Ifit or other digital features to keep you engaged. The full list of features reads:

This item is NOT compatible with iFit.
5" Backlit Display
Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Upright Frame
9kg Flywheel
20 Digital Resistance Levels
Onetouch™ Controls
EKG Handgrips
125kg Max User Weight

Oversized Cushion Seat
Vertical and Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps
No AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan Included

Front-mounted Transport Wheels
Tablet Holder Included
20 Workouts Apps
Assembled Dimensions - 150L x 61W x 167H cm
Product Weight 44kg
Boxed Weight 56kg
Boxed Dimensions - 106L x 32W x 66H cm
Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is currently the cheapest 9kg flywheel you can get from Nordictrack. If you are an above-average cyclist who wants a bike that lasts to get a medium cycle in when it rains, the VX 550 can be a good option for you.

Pros of the VX 550

The pros of Nordictrack VX550 are:

Price
9kg flywheel

The VX550 has a great price point for a Nordictrack Cardio machine. In addition you will get a fairly big flywheel for what you are paying. The GX 4.7R is in the same price range but only has a 7kg flywheel. The combination of price and bigger flywheel makes this the durable low budget option in exchange for not being up to the times in the entertainment and engagement department.

Cons of the VX550

The cons of the VX 550 are:

No Ifit
No Touch screen

The VX550 is not compatible with the Ifit subscription from NordicTrack. This means that the number of days for the VX550 in the NordicTrack portfolio are very numbered. NordicTrack is pushing hard on catching up to Peloton in the entertainment and engagement segment to regain market share and establish recurring revenue. The VX550 does not fit anywhere in this strategy. If you are a commercial buyer who wants buy-in bulk, stay way clear from this one for your gym. Home users will have to make a conscious decision whether it is worth to get a 9kg instead of a 7kg flywheel while trading off Ifit. If you think you need the engagement features, go for the GX 4.7R instead of the VX550.

Alternatives to the VX550

Possible alternatives to the VX550 are:

The Nordictrack GX 4.7 is the better option if you are convinced that you need some instructors and entertainment to keep engaged with your workouts. You will get a smaller flywheel, but in return the GX 4.7 is Ifit compatible and therefore give you a big library of engaging content.

The Nordictrack C700 treadmill is a low budget alternative for anyone who prefers jogging or walking over cycling. The C700 is the cheapest treadmill in the Nordictrack line up that you can currently get. While it is a good option for joggers and walkers, it might be a bit too small for serious runners who put their treadmills through a lot of abuse.

The SE3i elliptical is the low budget elliptical option from Nordictrack. An elliptical can be a good compromise for the entire family or in a small gym to keep multiple happy, rather than just cyclists. The downside of an elliptical is that it needs more space and higher ceilings.

The concept 2 model D rower is the bread and butter machine in the rowing world. If you prefer rowing over cycling you can not go wrong with this model. You can also hang the rower on the wall to save space when you are not using it. The model D will be slightly more expensive than VX550.

My personal favorite is the Rogue echo bike for home gym use. It is slightly more expensive than the VX550 but is built more stable. In return you sacrifice any type of entertainment as it does not come with a screen. The Rogue echo bike is designed for serious athletes and might be a little intimidating for anyone who just wants to stay active and mobile, without pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion.

Summary for the Nordictrack VX550

The VX550 is a good option if you want a big flywheel at a low price from Nordictrack. In exchange for this, you will get a product which the Nordictrack management will care very little about so expect that it will be harder to get support and parts for it.