REVIEW: Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer
August 20, 2008
I’ve been using the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer for about a week now. Here is my review!
About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers have several advantages over treadmills and stationary bikes. They are very low impact, quiet, offer almost a full body workout, and don’t take up a lot of room. These were the three biggest factors in my deciding to go with an elliptical over other exercise equipment. And so far, I’m very pleased with my choice.
How to Choose an Elliptical Trainer
OK, so you’ve decided to get an elliptical. Now what? There are several things you need to keep in mind when you shop around for an elliptical, as explained in a previous post of mine:
- stride length: a longer length is good, especially if the machine is going to be used at a fast rate. This will allow the user to maintain a more natural stride that isn’t cut short. I’m 5′9″, and the 18″ stride on the Schwinn 431 (measured from the front foot to the back foot at max length on the machine) is perfect. If you are much shorter or taller than you may prefer a different length.
- magnetic resistance vs. belt tension. Magnetic resistance is very very quiet! Try to avoid belt tension if your budget allows. All of the Schwinn ellipticals use magnetic resistance.
- heavy flywheel: Heavier flywheels give the machine a smoother feel when in use. Lighter flywheels are more jerky because they have less momentum as it spins. The 431 uses a 25 pound flywheel and is extremely smooth. If you don’t weigh much you can probably get away with a lighter flywheel.
- support for users that are 300 pounds or more. This implies the machine is sturdy and well constructed. The 431 has a max user weight of 300 pounds.
- a good console. More built in programs are better, as they make exercising everyday less monotonous. More on these programs later.
- size: if you live in an apartment or a small home then this is very important. I leaned towards the Schwinn 431 because of its small footprint: it is 4′9″ long and 2′2″ wide. It can be lifted from the rear and rolled to easily store in the corner. Schwinn’s top of the line elliptical, the 438, is a full 7 inches longer.
Schwinn’s Elliptical Lineup
At the moment, Schwinn has three elliptical trainers. The $549 (on Amazon) 430
As for the differences: the 430 has a 275 pound max user weight and eight workout programs. The 431, as explained above, has a 300 pound max user weight, a built in fan, and 16 workout programs. The top of the line 438 has a 300 pound max user weight, a built in fan, 21 workout programs, and a wireless heart monitor (more on the usefulness of this later). The 438 is also 7 inches longer than the other models. All three models have a 25 pound flywheel, an AC plug for the console, and a grip heart rate monitor. They can also all be used forwards and backwards to work different muscles.
I went with the 431 because I felt it gave the best bang for the buck among the three models. Without Amazon’s $100 discount I might have leaned towards the 438 since it has the useful wireless heart monitor.
Ordering
The best price I was able to find for the Schwinn 431 was on Amazon
Shipping
Shipping from Amazon was free, which is quite frankly incredible for a product of this size (click to enlarge):
Schwinn 431 Elliptical Box
This thing weighed a hefty 174 pounds (79 KG). The shipper called a few days before the delivery date, and notified me to expect the package between 1 and 5PM. On the day of delivery, they called again to make sure somebody would be there to receive the package. They arrived at 1PM, unloaded it from the overly massive big rig, and helped me bring it inside. I signed the receipt and off they went. It was about 1.5 weeks between the day I ordered and the day it ended up inside the house. Not bad for a package of this size.
Checking the Contents
The box, as pictured above, was pretty beat up. But the contents were well protected due to heavy use of Styrofoam. Here is a picture of the box with the top flaps open:
Schwinn 431 Packaging
I put all the pieces on the ground and made sure I wasn’t missing anything. By the way: unless you are an Olympic weight lifter it helps to have two people unpack the box. Here is a pic of the box contents:
Schwinn 431 Box Contents
One thing that threw me for a minute was the cup holder. The cup holder isn’t a separate piece, but is already attached to the console mast. The manual states it is a separate (but removable) piece.
At the top of the picture (click the pic to see it better) are 2 small white packages. These contain all the various bolts, washers, and tools required to build the machine. The different bolts and washers are labeled on the package and need to be kept separate from their similar looking siblings. One useful tool (that wasn’t included) to help build it is a mallet. I used a small hammer, covered with overlapping burlap fabric, to lightly hammer a few stubborn parts together.
Putting It All Together
It took a little over 2 hours to put the 431 together. I read the Assembly Manual carefully every step of the way but still found myself having to undo a bolt every now and then.
The very first piece that is built are the rails:
Schwinn 431 Rails
Once completed, the cross bar on the left of the picture is where the machine is lifted to roll around. This is a very handy feature.
There were only 2 difficult parts of the assembly process. The first was the installation of the arm pivot rod into the console mast. This was where a mallet would come in handy as it required a bit of pounding to get the rod into the console mast.
The second problem was with the lower right handlebar and the right leg assembly. These 2 pieces are attached using a cotter pin, a bolt, and a washer. The left side was no problem, but the right side would not line up. It took 10 minutes of twisting and pulling to get everything to line up properly. Here is a picture of the area in question:
A Pain in the *ss
One reviewer on Amazon claimed some pieces (the 4 large washers) are not used. This isn’t true: every piece is needed to complete the elliptical. If you aren’t very mechanically inclined get somebody else to do it for you.
1 Week Later
It’s been 1 week since I’ve put the Schwinn 431 together. The only issue I’ve run into is a small squeak where the lower right handlebar attaches to the leg assembly (the same pieces I struggled to attach together as described above.) I loosened the bolt about 1/8th of a turn and the squeak has not come back.
Overall, the best thing I can say about this elliptical is how quiet it is. I watch the TV at the exact same volume when I am using the elliptical as when I am not. A small amount of noise comes from the built in fan, which Schwinn should try to make quieter. The sound of the legs rolling on the rails makes a small sound as well, but nothing that wouldn’t be expected. Besides those two things, this elliptical is whisper quiet.
In addition to the quietness of the machine, the built in programs are also nice to have. There are 10 profile programs that mimic such things as riding in a park with small rolling hills or riding up a steep mountain. Another program is completely manual and allows the user to adjust the resistance on the fly. 3 programs allow the user to keep their heart rate within certain ranges. If you don’t know, keeping the pulse within a certain range supposedly helps the exerciser reach certain goals, such as weight loss or increased endurance. Here is a handy chart showing the different “exercise zones”.
Another program allows the user to work see how long it takes to cover a predetermined distance. I haven’t used this program, and I don’t see the usefulness of it. A fitness program is also included, and this measures the power output versus the heart rate. As your body becomes more efficient, you should be able to produce more power for a static heart rate. Lastly, there is an option to input the amount of calories you want to burn. As a side note, the calorie calculator shouldn’t be fully trusted on this machine or any other exercise machine.
After each exercise routine, the console displays a summary of the workout. You can see the average speed, the total amount of time for the workout, the “distance” covered, the approximate amount of calories burned, the average watts generated, and the average heart rate (if using the grip heart rate monitor.)
The only minor complaints I have are the placement of the water bottle holder and the usefulness of the grip heart rate monitor. The water bottle holder is a bit low on the console and makes it difficult to reach. And the grip heart rate monitor takes about 20-30 seconds to come up with an accurate pulse reading. I think this is normal for grip heart rate monitors, but it can still be frustrating. The wireless heart rate monitor included with the 438 and other higher end ellipticals would be much better if you’re trying to keep your pulse within a certain range. This will allow you to use the elliptical handlebars instead of keeping them stationary on the grips.
I’ll be posting again in the future with a longer term review of this elliptical. Stay tuned!
Conclusion
So, am I happy with my purchase? Absolutely! The awesome price of this elliptical combined with the quietness, size, and built in programs make it a great buy. I would recommend the Schwinn 431 Elliptical trainer to anybody who doesn’t have out of the ordinary requirements.
Useful Links
Schwinn’s Fitness Homepage
Schwinn 430 on Amazon
Schwinn 431 on Amazon
Schwinn 438 on Amazon
Sole, another good manufacturer of elliptical trainers
If you have any questions please post a comment!
That was a great review, very detailed. I ordered the same elliptical from Amazon and I’m expecting it today. I probably won’t have time to put it together until Saturday, but I can’t wait to get on it. It seems like a very good elliptical.
I just got my schwinn 431 and I’ve got to say it is a smooth riding elliptical. The only problem that I have is with the fan. It doesn’t work. It barely turned for a few minutes and then just stopped working. Do you have any problem with the fan on yours??? Another small inconvenience was that i was missing 3 of the M8 regular washers. The package was opened just a little and they must have fell out somewhere. I check the box good, but they were not there. I was able to find some other washers I had that worked though.
Ashley: I’ve had zero problems with my fan thus far. Maybe the connector for your fan is a little loose? It is easy to remove the console from the console mast (I had to do it when I realized I forgot to attach the back plate for the console!)
Try removing the console and make sure the fan wire (the wire that goes to the connection on top inside the groove) is snug. These connections are on page 11 of the Assembly Manual. Also make sure the wire isn’t pinched somewhere . . . it sounds like the fan is getting some electricity but not enough. Or maybe the fan isn’t free to spin for some reason.
Good luck, Ashley!
I will try your suggestion later today. I had one other question for you about your elliptical. I’ve just noticed that when I do a quick start and go for a minute or so and then press stop and results, it isn’t giving me my average speed, it just gives me the speed that I was last at on the screen before I pressed stop. Would you check yours out sometime and see if it is doing this? I’m not sure, but maybe you have to go for a longer period of time for it to give you an average for the speed. I’ll try this tonight. However, I did notice that it did give me the average for my watts produced. Thanks for the info.
Ashley
Ashley: OK, I just tried it . . . I used the elliptical for about a minute under quick start and then checked my results as I sped up towards the end. Under ‘results’, the speed indicated my final, not average, speed. Just as you mentioned!
You’re probably right about it requiring a longer amount of usage (maybe 5 continuous minutes?) before it gives an average. I’ll try it later tonight for a few more minutes. And if you can, let me know what you find out when you test it.
Vijay
Vijay,
I tried it last night. I did the strength interval program for 30min and it did the same thing. It gave me the speed that I was at when it finished the 30min, not the average. I called Schwinn and spoke to a woman that didn’t seem to know very much, she was just reading the same manual that I have. She told me useless things to do like pressing the speed/calorie button after pressing results. They must think that everyone that calls in is completely stupid when it comes to electronics and reading a user’s manual. I also sent an email to Schwinn customer service, but haven’t gotten a response yet. I’m not sure what could be wrong, but I know it is not anything that I’m doing. I also told them about my fan not working and supposedly it’s the console connection that is defective on some of the units, not the fan itself. So, they are going to send me a new console. When I get that I’ll check to see if the speed will average on the new one. The machine is under warranty for a while, so I plan on calling Schwinn until everything is resolved. I paid $689 and I would like everything to work like it should. If you would like to email me at my hotmail account feel free to.
Vijay,
I know dimensions can vary slightly, but the exact size of machine is critical to the space I have.I plan to order this today on Amazon to get the amazing deal. Is it actually 59″L vs. 62″L as listed on the Amazon website? Is the width btn. the handles 26″? If so, is the width of the base less wide? I had looked at a ProForm 500 Ellip.that was 18″ across base & 22″ btn. handles at top. For me, the less width the better so I wondered if the width differed btn. base, which is hopefully less wide, and btn.the top of the handles. I also live in 2nd floor condo with cranky neighbors below. Is the machine quiet relative to the up/down noise factor vs. generalized noise in the room itself? Thanks!!!
Eileen: Unfortunately, I’m out of town until September 1 so I cannot measure the elliptical for you. I can tell you that the width between the handles is wider than the base, and that my guess is that the 26″ width refers to the base. The handles are probably a couple inches longer, maybe 29″ or so.
As far as noise, this elliptical is very quiet once tweaked a bit. I had a bit of noise on the right handlebar and later on squeaking towards the base. Both went away after I loosened the respective bolt a tiny bit. The up/down sound within the room itself is now less than the sound a small fan set to a low speed would make.
Ellipticals do shift weight from left to right as you use them. If your floors are *really* problematic this might be bad. Try standing in the place where you are planning on locating the machine, legs slightly apart, and shift your weight quickly from left to right without taking your feet off the ground. This should mimic the shifting nature of the elliptical.
Vijay
Thanks for your quick response. Do you think an elliptical is more quiet than, for ex., a treadmill would be? Or, put another way, if walking and moving around the condo is already a noise problem, would the noise of this elliptical be any worse than normal movement? Will it sound like I’m “pounding” my weight from one side to the next?
Hey Vijay,
Did you ever try out your elliptical to see if it would ever give you an average speed?? I’ve tried many times, but every time it just give me the last speed I was at. I’ve contacted Schwinn about this and I’m waiting for a response. I’ll let you know what they say.
Thanks.
Ashley: I did try it, and mine also gives the last speed instead of an average speed. I’m betting this is a fault with the circuitry in the console itself (instead of, say, a mechanical issue), and therefore isn’t fixable without a firmware update, if that is even possible.
Vijay
Eileen: This elliptical is was quieter than any treadmill . . . there is no “stomp stomp stomp” sound from running. It is instead a very quiet constant sound from the spinning flywheel.
The elliptical shouldn’t be more noisy than normal movement. I think putting a layer of thick carpeting or one of those exercise machine mats to spread the weight out and to absorb any shifting weight would help with the downstairs neighbors. I use an extra carpet and it is very quiet for those in the same room, but I don’t have a downstairs to see how much noise goes through.
Vijay
Again, thanks so much. I couldn’t believe when I came upon your website from a google search. Those photos of the shipping box, contents and info. on set up are “priceless.” I’ve got to place the order now. I just hope I use the thing once I get it…yeah, I’m one of those….
hey, I contacted Schwinn about the average speed problem and they were able to reproduce this on one of their Schwinn 431 ellipticals. The woman told me that she was going to report the problem and get back with me on the solution (which there probably isn’t one). I also received a new console for my eliptical because my fan didn’t work. Now my fan works, but it still isn’t much to talk about. I believe the fan is just there for looks and to help sell the machine. I believe that this elliptical is one of the best I’ve tried and I really like it. I also tested out the results on this new console and I still didn’t get an average speed. The only other thing that I would recommend to others buying this machine is to get some grease to put on the moving parts. It comes with some grease on the parts, but not enough. I took mine apart and put some grease on it and it is silent and smooth. It would be better to do this the first time you are putting it together. How are you liking yours Vijay?
Ashley: That is too bad about the average speed issue. I agree the fan isn’t much to talk about, but I do find that little extra breeze helps a bit.
Your grease idea sounds good; it will prolong the life of the machine if nothing else. What grease did you use? I’m thinking of putting some on the bolts that hold the foot pads since they support a lot of weight and also have to deal with constant motion.
So far I’m loving my elliptical. I worried that I would grow tired of it and stop altogether, but I actually find that it has become part of my daily routine. My blood pressure has dropped a tiny bit too, and though I haven’t lost weight, I look thinner. I believe some of my excess weight has turned into leg muscle. So far so good!
So far, I’ve been able to only complete a total of 12 minutes on this machine without huffing, puffing, and quitting. I usually hit quickstart and start moving, but it is so difficult. I’m out of shape but not that out of shape. I used to be able to do an hour plus on the gym ellipticals. What am I doing wrong? Can I adjust resistance any lesser than the quickstart?
Thanks,
Jia
Hi, Just purchased a 431. Wanted to know if the noise I hear when changing the resistance level
normal? When it is increased or decreased there is a kinda loud whirling noise, I guess a motor of some sort which moves something to create the more or less resistance.? I did not notice this noise from the display I tried in the store, but there may have been more surrounding nose in the store that I did not notice it. But wanted to know if anyone else has noticed this. Also my fan is noisy to. I also had a problem when plugging in the adapter the console would beep then the console would not come on..But I found out that the blades on the adapter was not apart far enough for the plug. So after making them wider by pushing them apart some it comes on like it is supposed to. But Again is it normal to hear that motor sound when changing the resistance level?
Thanks!!
Lee
Jia: First I want to say I *am not* a personal trainer. With that said, I also had a tough time adjusting to the elliptical at first. I could barely do 10 minutes before having to quit. But now I can go 45 minutes and have to maintain a resistance at 3 or 4 to keep my pulse from dropping too low (133 BPM is my calculated minimum for my age and fitness goals.)
To answer your second question, the resistance doesn’t go lower than 1, at that point it is just the inertia of the flywheel that is providing resistance. You can see on the screen what the current resistance is set at, and it can be adjusted on the fly using the up and down arrows on the console.
Vijay
Lee: There should be no extra noise when changing the resistance level. The only indication of a change in resistance should be the readout on the console and what you physically feel while using the machine. Just out of curiosity, does the sound occur while the resistance is changing automatically through the use of a program?
Either way it sounds like there is a mechanical problem with your elliptical, and this issue should be covered by the warranty.
Vijay
Hi Vijay, and thanks for the reply. Yes the noise is heard when changing automatically through the use of a program and manually.
I will contact Schwinn to see if they can have someome come out and look at it..It has good resistance but it just makes that noise, I guess it is when the gears or what ever is adjusting in there is moving,
Thanks!!
Lee
Lee, did you ever contact Schwinn about the noise? My eliptical also makes a noise if I increase or decrease the resistance level. It’s not very loud and sounds normal. I wouldn’t think that is a defect.