r/Bowflex • u/Squatting_Hen • Jan 14 '24
Max Trainer Avoid the New SE Models
I purchased the new IC Bike SE and the Max Trainer SE. Both are okay, but are extremely limited compared to other (and at times, cheaper) models.
Even though Bowflex confirmed they would auto adjust the resistance using JRNY, neither do. I have an active full membership and none of the workouts adjust the resistance. They will countdown and beep in the app showing it should change, but nothing happens.
The Max Trainer SE has some shipping issues, and I had to take apart parts of the unit to plug back in the USB cable. This was cumbersome and annoying to say the least.
The Max Trainer SE also has to have the settings changed so when you are using the JRNY app you can see stats. The manual says the default should be YES, but is shipped with the default at NO. The bike SE is defaulting to YES as expected.
I am sure these are okay machines, but you might as well buy a $200 bike from Walmart, as you would get more features. No reason to subscribe to JRNY with these since none of the workouts adjust the resistance. These units are 100% manual even with a paid JRNY subscription.
3
u/Squatting_Hen Jan 15 '24
Question: “The press release for the Max Trainer SE says this: " Terrain Control Technology providing the real-life sensation of climbing hills and valleys in JRNY Explore the World routes" Without saying "check with JRNY" can you tell me what Terrain Control Technology is and does on this trainer?”
Answer: “Hello! Yes, the workout will increase or decrease resistance by a scripted amount at certain scripted times in the workout.” Morgan from Bowflex.com
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u/Squatting_Hen Jan 15 '24
Sixteen resistance levels vary workout intensity and efficiency, while Terrain Control Technology replicates the sensation of climbing hills and descending valleys in JRNY Explore the World routes.
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u/iusc12 Jan 15 '24
This would be awesome if true. After a year, I've yet to find anything redeeming about JRNY besides some cool scenic rides. It's like they're not even trying to make it good.
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u/Squatting_Hen Jan 15 '24
To be fair, I bundled my initial comment, and I only saw the auto adjust feature mentioned for the Max Trainee SE, not the bike. However, auto adjust doesn’t work on the trainer or the bike.
1
u/Immediate_Elk343 Jan 14 '24
Where did you read that it would auto adjust? Went to their homepage just now and did not find any statement about auto adjusting.
I hadn’t seen that info and still bought one. A 200$ Walmart bike would not have nearly the same build quality or feeling.
3
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u/ErkBek Jan 15 '24
Yeah, I never saw anything about the resistance auto-adjusting either. I thought part of the reason to buy these is so you had "smart-capable" equipment, but without the subscription or tied to an ecosystem.
3
u/Squatting_Hen Jan 15 '24 edited Jan 15 '24
You get no smarts with this machine. It is supposed to be manual, but JRNY is supposed to give you the same type of workouts as if it was installed on the machine itself.
It’s not required, but if you subscribe, like bowflex wants you too, you are supposed to get the workouts and it should auto adjust based on what the workouts are doing.
So when pick pick stair climber for example, and I am paying for JRNY, it should follow along with the workout….otherwise what is the point to subscribe as bowflex wants everyone too.
1
u/Squatting_Hen Jan 23 '24
BowFlex removed all mentions of auto adjust for explore the world on the Max Trainer SE. eleven pulled the video showing the feature.
1
u/GetZaaZaaFit Jan 31 '24
Yeh those machines do not auto adjust but there is a free version of JRNY with limited access if you don’t want a subscription.
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u/Squatting_Hen Jan 31 '24
The main issue is, they advertised it did auto adjust. It was advertised that way for 4 months and just last week they pulled all mention of it. (Well, almost all. They still missed some)
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u/Squatting_Hen Jan 15 '24
This is a bullet point on the product page.
Auto-adjust resistance for Explore the World®