Where to buy Precor 9.27 Treadmill with Ground Effects Technology* Special discount only for limited timeList Price :
$2,799.00Price : Check on the StoreCode : B005W0PTOU
382 of 386 people found the following review helpful.
Precor vs Horizon vs Sole vs LifeFitness
By Melanie Arthur
I just purchased the Precor 9.27 Treadmill. You should read this review because there is not enough information on the Internet to make a good purchasing decision.
After owning a Horizon Fitness T30 treadmill for 7 years (lite usage), I became weary of purchasing and installing expensive parts: 2 motor control boards, belt, lots and lots of silicone lubrication, new motor, and the lift motor mechanism now has play in it. The last motor control board $300 just went out. The electrolytic capacitors on the controller board are soldered in place and some of the capacitor has been pulled off the leads. This is how it was new from the "factory" in China.
Johnson Health Tech makes Horizon, Merit, and several other brands. Usually all the same treadmill but different brand lines for different pricing levels. A $600 treadmill in one brand will be $1600 in another and $2600 in another. In reality their longevity will all be the same (terrible). So it was time to buy something that would hopefully last longer.
PRECOR
It is solid. Has that solid feel. The 9.23 and 9.27 are assembled in China while Precor's other more expensive models are assembled in USA. I ran on them all and they all feel very similar, with a slight bias towards liking the feel of the running deck on the models made in China. Precor uses a belt that does not require lubrication. This is a big deal. Treadmills that require lubrication such as the Sole F85 can damage the motor controller due to large current draws as the friction builds up on the running deck. The guts in the 9.23 and 9.27 are identical. For the $400 upgrade you get these features: aluminum trim alongside belt, wireless heart rate monitor with HR modulating program, couple other programs, console can remember weight and age of 2 preset users, and there is the addition of the side handle bars making i easier to grab if you loose balance. Otherwise the feel of running on both of these is identical. Of the brands mentioned in this review the PRECOR was the quietest and smoothest. I like a running deck with give and suspension due to my achilles tendonitis. The PRECOR has just the right amount of spring in the running board.
LANDICE
I tried out the most expensive and least expensive LANDICE models. Very smooth and well designed. However, compared to the Precor the "feel" of the running deck was not quite as good to me but very good. The machines were overall bulkier and not as quiet, but more expensive.
LIFEFITNESS
These had very very nice running decks. Great feel, good suspension. I almost bought one. However, the unit was stable, but didn't feel rock solid like the Precor and Landice. In the showroom the console had some electronic problems and had to be reset. When it did work, the control buttons were not that easy to navigate. These have a maintenance free belt also.
VISION
I didn't run on these because they looked like junk. I think they are made by Johnson Health Tech who also makes the Horizon brand.
SOLE
I ran on the Sole F80 and F85. The F85 has a 22" wide belt and full 60" long running deck. A nice luxury but not a necessity. Also had very good suspension but the overall feel not as good as the Precor. Machine had a LOT of plastic parts, but despite this seemed sturdy. Despite its fold up nature, it was as stable as any non-fold-up treadmill. The underside of the running deck somehow reminded me of the Horizon unit. Overall "good" unit, but for the money there is no competition between this and a Precor, Lifefitness or Landice which are all better. Although the deck seemed to have good cushion, I was at Sears and they had the units sitting on top of a 1" thick sound dampening rubber mat. So be ware of what the unit is sitting on when you try it out in the store.
TRUE
The True was very nice and solid machine. Nothing bad to say about it. The running deck did not have as much cushion as other brands and the overall "feel" of the deck was "lifeless."
NordicTrak
If you are looking at these you should know that until this year all NordicTrak models are considered sub-par in quality. They were getting behind in the market and up'd their game this year. The jury is still out as to whether they have the improved longevity/reliability. A good treadmill kept clean in a residential setting should be maintenance free for at least 5-7 years with average use.
HORIZON
I visited the T201 and T101 at the local Academy Sports store. Since I currently own a 7 year old T30 I am very familiar with the product. I will say they suspension has been improved somewhat. Other than that the overall quality of the product seems to have gotten WORSE since I purchased mine. I seriously considered going back home and buying another $300 motor controller for my current model after looking at these. Then I remembered how the entire motor controller is under rated for the huge surge currents the motor periodically draws and how it will eventually burn out also. The higher end treadmills all allow you to "set" any speed you desire, however, they have much slower speed ramp ups to reduce current load on the motor controllers. Simple protection which the cheaper products don't have.
BELT LUBRICATON
You really need to ask if the belt is maintenance free, meaning never needs lubrication, or requires lubrication. When you get into the units that are maintenance free you have eliminated a big hassle, small expense, and most importantly if you forget to do it you won't blow up your motor controller. It's also not the easiest thing to figure out how to evenly spread a bottle of silicone lube under a tight running belt. They tell you to loosen the belt up which helps somewhat but then you have to tighten the belt, walk on it, distribute the lube, tweak the belt tension some more until you get it just right again. Mostly just a hassle.
REVIEWS
So like most I read everything on the internet. When I went to look at the units, most of the time what was on the Internet did not match up with what I was seeing first hand. Do not think for a second you can EVER spend enough time on the internet and make a truly informed decision on buying this stuff. This is because the factors which affect the treadmill longevity are simply not disclosed. Most of the "reviews" by individuals out there are either fake (hired by companies) or by people who simply don't use their treadmills on a regular basis and they eventually collect dust in their homes with the other exercise equipment.
I even checked consumerreports. They usually do a good job, but left me disappointed. They evaluate a very small number of treadmills, most of which are lower end to middle range models. They don't evaluate things that matter like running deck suspension, solid construction, quality of motor and motor controller electronics, and running belt maintenance.
I read the info on treadmill doctor's website also. They have a 1-10 scoring system which very very loosely correlates with the reality I observed. They did consistently give Precor a very high rating which I agree with, however, they had a huge range of ratings between the lower end Precor models (still very good) and the expensive Precor models. When I ran on these units they were all very very similar with only slight differences in features. Yet Treadmill Doctor gives the 9.23 a much lower score for noise than the more expensive models. I am here to tell you in general the Precors were the quietest brand I tried and all their models made the exact same noise level. I think Treadmill Doctor is just trying to drive sales towards the more expensive units. I checked their ratings for the Horizon T102 (a real piece of junk). The numbers should have been in the 1-3 range but were in the middle of the scale for many things.
One possibly good thing about the Treadmill Doctor website is the evaluation chart of treadmill motor ratings. Assuming they know what they are talking about this is a very revealing chart. Of course it is not the most prominent thing to find on their website but it is there, and you can select the various brands to see how their motors stack up. My thought was if they put a lower grade motor in the unit, they probably have put lower grade everything else in the unit. If you check out this chart, be sure to check out the Star Trac motor ratings.
In summary, trust no one online. Someone could really generate some web traffic if they had a truly "good" and "honest" evaluation of treadmills. One of the problems is the market is flooded with sub-standard quality product (i.e. disposable). The good products are priced at very high ($3500-9,000) prices and they get away with it because there is so much junk out there.
It is hard enough to exercise with discipline on a regular basis. If you have to do it on unpleasant hardware, you are even less likely to follow through and do it long term.
WARRANTIES:
The warranty was where I did see some correlation with quality and potentially overall longevity/reliability. Most manufacturers will give a long warranty on the frame and hardware and perhaps the motor. But only the best manufacturers will warranty the electronics for 5 or more years. Go for the longer warranty. It's all you will have. By the way the standard Precor warranty is 5 years for electronics, but extends to 7 years when you register the product.
TREADMILL MAT:
When you buy a treadmill at a local retailer they will try to upsell you a flimsy worthless thin black mat to place under the treadmill. Politely say no thank you. THE BEST mat for a treadmill will be found much cheaper (around $40) at a local Farmer's Supply store. It is called a horse stall mat and is made from shredded used tires compressed together. It is at least 1/2" thick and weighs almost 80 pounds!! When you place this under your treadmill, the noise of running is cut in half for most treadmills and there is much less vibration transmitted through the floor (an issue if you are on the second story).
Bottom line: Most treadmills are junk from a quality, solid build, low maintenance, and longevity standpoint. A few are good, and only a couple are probably excellent but over priced. So expect a very unsatisfying purchase.
Here are the only brands I would consider with EXCELLENT Products I have encountered. They usually have longer warranties.
Precor
Landice
Star Trac
Here are the Very Good Brands:
LifeFitness
True
Here are the Good Brands, meaning may still be worth buying for some people:
Sole
And here is the junk:
Horizon
Most NordiTrac
Merit
Vision
Proform
Happy Running!
63 of 66 people found the following review helpful.
Immediately Impressed
By James M. Osterhout
I had looked at various Sole models (F80 and F85), NordicTrack/Icon Commercial line, the Precor 9.23 and most of the Livestrong versions that run from 8.0 to the LS Pro 1. I checked out Dick's Sporting Goods, ran through a bunch of sites, checked reviews, scoured the message boards of runners worlds and looked at what Consumer Reports had to say.
After much haranguing and researching treadmills, I decided to settle on the Precor 9.27 as it met most of the demands that I was looking for in a middle-of-the-road unit..
My budget was around $2,000 at the high-end and didn't want to go over it. I was looking for a brand that had a known quantity with decent support. The Livestrong Brand, which is manufactured by Johnson Health Tech, has only been around a few years. While most of the reviews were favorable, I was leery to try it as no one has truly seen what the overall reliability break down would be over a 5 year span. The NordicTracks had great reviews in some areas but it seemed like people were most upset with the level of service they received when the product broke. Sole had decent reviews and had good recommendations around the board, despite some issues here and there.
I went with the Precor because it seemed more focused on stability and durability opposed to trying to wow me with an array of features and gadgets. I have owned a NordictTrack elliptical which featured a fan and an MP3 player. To those who have worked with those machines, the fans are typically terrible and the sound pouring from the on-board speaker systems are laughable. Beyond that, the majority of Precor's line is manufactured in the US. The 9.23 and the 9.27, however are not and are made in China. From what I gather, Precor decided to move the manufacturing to China so that they could compete with similar models from Sole. Despite this, Precor seems to have a decent track record with service and the overall reviews on the 9.23 and 9.27 have been positive despite the fact they are still a bit pricier.
Now to be fair, I will let you know that the machines overall level of use has been two days. I will continue to add updates to this post in regards to stability and durability. I am giving it a five star review initially based on other home treadmills that I have used. I feel that it would be unfair to put this unit up against commercial gym units that cost thousands of dollars more as it is not marketed as a commercial treadmill but one intended for light/medium home use.
Also, I did order this from Amazon and the delivery team that was dispatched for this was great. They brought it all the way down to the basement without a problem. I'm glad I didn't have to do this because the box is massive and heavy as hell. I managed to push it the area where it was going to be set up. After I got the unit out of the box and placed it in it's appropriate location, installation was a breeze. I would highly recommend that you have a second person help you with this. I'm a fairly strong guy and I managed to handle moving this around by myself but it would have been much easier with another set of hands.
That said, if you can follow directions and screw things into the correct holes then you shouldn't have a problem with set-up.
Onto the running ...
Over the past two days I managed to put about 8 miles onto the machine. To let you understand my body type, I am 5 foot 10 inches at 205 lbs. During my two sessions the treadmill performed very well. It managed to hold my excess weight without violently shaking or bucking. The entire construction seemed very solid. When I ran hard the screen didn't shake like it was in an earthquake. The belt looked, sounded and felt good and it best of all the 3.0 horsepower motor didn't sound like it was straining itself. The incline worked without a hitch and the control screen provided minimal but useful data the entire way through.
I have not had a chance to test the wireless heart rate strap. I will get to this as time goes on.
Finally, the 9.27 comes with 10 preset running programs and 2 user profiles. It also has the ability to handle heart rate monitoring via telemetry and comes with a strap. These features are not available in the 9.23 - there are preset running programs but only 6 instead of 10. Also, the 9.27 has metal arm rails, which I thought were a nice addition for safety. Is the 9.27 worth more than the 9.23? I can't say just yet. The delta is $400 between two machines that are essentially the same base unit, it's just that the 9.27 has some extra niceties. My current inkling is no but as I have another user in the house, I may find that having the 2nd profile might be helpful. Also, who knows if those rails just might save me from killing myself (probably not as I am assuming the heart attack will kill me first.)
Anyway, thanks for the read and I will continue to update as I use the machine. So far, so good!
**** UPDATE ****
Here is my 5 month product update. The truth is that nothing has changed - I'm still very happy with the product itself. The construction still seems solid, however I will say that as a heavier guy I do wish that I may have pushed to get one of the bigger models. I'm pretty hard on most equipment and when I boost the device beyond the 8 mph spectrum you can begin to feel it shake. Again, I honestly don't blame the Precor but more myself and my sloppy T-Rex running style.
Regardless, it has managed to hold up this long and I haven't had an issue with the belt, the electronics, etc. It does get light to moderate use - my girlfriend will typically walk on it and I'll do 2 to 3 runs a week after work at about 3 miles a piece. So no complaints. I'll continue to update as I go along.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Beware, the warranty does not cover diagnosis of problems.
By Tracey
One of the major reasons I purchased the Precor was because of the warranty. Initially the unit appeared to be working properly. After using it for a few months I discovered that the magnetic safety key button frequently does not release. Therefore an important safety feature of the treadmill is not working. I contacted Precor to obtain repair under the warranty. The repair company they referred me to said they would have to charge me a labor charge to diagnose the issue. I can not find this anywhere in the warranty in the manual. I contacted Precor again, their response is below:
Dear Tracey,
I apologize for any frustrations you have experience with the diagnosis cost. Unfortunately, the warranty does not cover diagnosis of equipment failures. However, in most cases the servicer will be able to repair the unit on the first visit. Base on the description of the issue, this repair may be completed in one visit.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Precor Support
I have not seen this anywhere else, or somehow missed it so I thought I should make sure potential purchasers are aware of this. It sure was a nasty surprise. Essentially they are saying that they'll fix your treadmill but only after you pay to figure out what is wrong with it. What kind of warranty is that??
Product Feature
- Club-quality, low-impact treadmill for your home with aluminum running boards and full length handlebars
- Patented Ground Effects Impact Control Technology to cushion impact at the front, and provide a firm surfacefor push-off at the back
- 10 pre-programmed workouts including 5k track, (2) heart rate control, hill climb, interval, manual, and weight loss
- Touch and telemetry heart rate monitoring, .5 to 12 mph speed, 0 to 15% incline, maintenance-free belt, 3.0 HP continuous duty motor
- Warranty: Lifetime frame and welds; 5 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor
Product Description
The 9.27 treadmill provides a comfortable foundation for your cardio fitness or weight loss goals. With our patented shock absorption, a smaller size, and just the right combination of features, the 9.27 fits into your home and healthy lifestyle with ease. Full length handlebars, aluminum side rails. Patented Ground Effects Impact Control Technology reduces joint stress, minimizes fatigue and helps prevent injuries. Shock absorbers at the front of the deck offer extra cushioning to absorb impact, while a pivot point in the back supports a full range-of-motion and provides a solid surface, but with some give, for an easy push off. Stride Support technology senses the changes in your stride velocity and adjusts the belt speed up to 57 times a second at 12 mph. Telemetry (wireless) and touch heart rate monitoring with SmartRate® helps to keep you in your in your fat burn, cardio or peak target zone. Chest strap transmitter included. Speed levels of 0.5 to 12 mph, with 0% to 15% incline. 2 User IDs allow you to get moving quickly at the touch of a button. 10 preset programs include Manual, Interval, Heart Rate, Weight Loss, Fat Burner, Hill Climb, (2) Walk, 5K Track and 10K. The easy-to-use console includes readouts for calories, distance, heart rate, incline, pace, program profile, SmartRate and time. Quiet, responsive 3.0 HP continuous duty motor. Maintenance-free 20” W x 57” L belt is the same size used on our commercial treadmills. Fully welded, powder coated steel frame, 1-inch deck, multi-ply belt has a PVC non-slip surface. Integrated reading rack, accessories holder and 2 water bottle holders. Magnetic safety clip immediately turns off power with a gentle stop. Warm brown color palette complements your décor. Warranty: Lifetime frame and welds; 5 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor. Power 120 VAC 50/60 Hz Equipment dimensions 81” L x 31” W x 54” H, 238 lbs. Shipping box dimensions 85” L x 33” W x 18” H, 290 lbs. Assembly required.
Compare These Precor Treadmills
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| | | Ground Effects® Impact Control | | | Ground Effects® Impact Control | | | Ground Effects® Impact Control | | | Ground Effects® Impact Control | | | Ground Effects® Impact Control | |
| | | | | Integrated Footplant Technology™ | | | Integrated Footplant Technology™ | | | Integrated Footplant Technology™ | |
| | | | Touch and telemetry, chest strap included | | | Touch and telemetry, chest strap included | | | Touch and telemetry, chest strap included | | | Touch and telemetry, chest strap included | |
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| | | Lifetime frame and welds; 5 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor | | | Lifetime frame and welds; 5 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor | | | Lifetime frame and welds; 10 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor | | | Lifetime frame and welds; 10 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor | | | Lifetime frame and welds; 10 years parts and wear items; 1 year labor | |
Product Detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #63091 in Sports & Outdoors
- Brand: Precor
- Model: PHFRT1250211EN
- Released on: 2011-10-13
Club-quality, low-impact treadmill for your home with aluminum running boards and full length handlebars; Patented Ground Effects Impact Control Technology to cushion
Club-quality, low-impact treadmill for your home with short handlebars; Patented Ground Effects Impact Control Technology to cushion impact at the front, and provide
The TRM 885 is the top-of-the-line treadmill for commercial facilities, renowned for its performance and durability, and its smooth and natural feel. Read about
Shock Absorption: Our patented Ground Effects Impact Control is the same technology used on our commercial treadmills in health clubs the world over.
Find great deals on eBay for Precor Treadmill in Treadmills. Shop with confidence.
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