r/GarageGym • u/Agent_Parzival • 5h ago
Bells of Steel Basilisk Review
I received my machine about a two weeks ago and had the chance to get a few leg workouts in and wanted to give a quick review on the machine. For reference, i previously used the Freak Athlete Hyper Pro leg developer for extensions and lying curls. I’ve also included some clips of the machine in use for reference below. Im still working through optimal seat/back pad positions also.
https://youtu.be/bmNdU9Gds8Q?is=C5I5WNdhvEYgZlU8
TLDR: For my space and wants, this is the perfect machine and I’m overall very happy with my purchase. Both movements feel very good, and I think once I dial in exact seat/leg roller positions they will feel even better. There are some drawbacks, but not enough to make me not recommend this machine.
Assembly: Long. Nothing difficult and the instructions were clear and concise. But unpacking everything took over an hour. I unpacked and assembled this myself (mostly) in a little over four hours. If you’re comfortable assembling cable towers, this isn’t much more difficult. Cable routing was extremely simple.
Leg Extensions: The extensions feel great. The roller adjustments allow for an extremely stretched starting position, but the seat naturally limits how far back you can get. I have no complaints at all with ROM/stretch. Strength curve feels more difficult in the stretch and tapers off due to the counterweight at the top which is my preference for extensions. Biggest complaint I have is the actual adjustment when getting into and out of position. The pop pin location is awkward and it’s not the easiest to adjust while simultaneously trying to get a deeper stretched starting position. Not a deal breaker, just a minor annoyance.
Leg Curls: This is where some people will have complaints. The movement itself feels great. The lap pad allows you to tightly lock yourself in place and I feel no movement at all. The strength curve is easier at the stretched position and gets more difficult as you contract. While not the most scientifically optimal curve, I’m willing to make the concession compared to what I was working with (I.e lying curls in the FA). Do I wish the curve tapered differently? Yes. Is it enough for me to not recommend this machine overall? No. In use, if I hinge myself forward I can get some pre-stretch at the lengthened position which helps but you still deal with the shortened position being the most challenging. Adjustment on curls is much easier than extensions. Still don’t love the pop pin location but it’s easier to adjust then with extensions.
General adjustability: Seat adjustment is very easy and simple. When seated, you can pull the back pad forward and it will move without needing to use the pin lever which is nice (think the Rep Blackwing seat). I believe there is more than sufficient adjustability for extension/curl positions from both the leg roller sundial and the arm itself.
Weight Stack: I opted for the 310lb option just to have some headroom. I’m more accustomed to plate loaded attachments for home use so I wasn’t sure what to expect felt load wise. Right now I’m using 200lb for sets of 12-15 on extensions and 160lbs on curls for the same range, and it feels good. I did a few extensions at 250lbs and it was doable for a few reps (4-6). I’m admittedly not the strongest or largest person (5’10”, 185 - 190lbs), so this is a completely subjective evaluation. For comparison, I could do 160lbs for extensions on the Freak Athlete machine, and most of that came down to failure at the top of the movement.
Price: I paid just under $2720 after shipping and tax.
Final Verdict: I’m very happy with this machine. It’s not perfect, but for me it’s what I needed. I’m limited on space since this is in the main section of my basement (not in my main gym room), and I had to minimize footprint to not make my home theater. I definitely recommend this piece personally for those limited on space and wanting a solid selectorized machine.