Bowflex Xtreme SE

This model is the outgoing model and is replaced by the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE. This does not mean that you should not get this model as the new one and this share so many parts that there is really no difference between them.

You can purchase the Xtreme SE online for about $50 less than the newer Xtreme 2 SE and although any difference is a difference, it is our goal to find out if this model is better value for money than the newer one, especially as spares should not be an issue at all.

>>> Click here to Shop for a Bowflex® Xtreme SE Home Gym <<<

Bowflex Extreme SE Description and Features

The Bowflex Xtreme SE is very similar to all the other models in the Bowflex line with the only difference being in the ergonomics and looks. This is why while the PR1000 costs only $450 it also gives you only around 27 exercises that you can do on it. As you go up the price line, you can get much more, until when you reach the Revolution models you can pretty much do anything that you can do at the gym.

The only problem is that the Revolution models cost more than $2500.

The Extreme SE is therefore a compromise buy. You get to do as many as 60 or 70 exercises which is more than sufficient for most of us, and you get a much better looking machine than the PR series. The seat is multi configurable and you can even do the rowing exercises on it. They all use the trademark power rods that Bowflex uses to provide the resistance, and the addition of the crossbar on top for the pull down exercises is a big asset.

The Pros

It is a very simple machine that incorporates all the good from the PR series, but in a much better package. You don’t have cables all over the place, and the seats are much more ergonomic.

You also get colors other than black in this model. The power rod’s really work and are guaranteed for life which means that you will not have to replace them at all.

The Cons

The only thing that anyone can say about the Bowflex Extreme SE is that it is just a spruced up PR3000. In fact they both are so similar that apart from the cross bar on top, there is basically nothing functionally different between them.

Considering that the PR3000 costs only around $900 it seems like a lot extra money for very little extra functionality.

My Recommendation

The Xtreme SE suffers from two problems. One is that functionally it is very similar to the PR3000 which means that you might as well save yourself some money by going for the cheaper model. The other is that the newer one, the Xtreme 2 SE, although basically the same, looks so much better, and costs only $50 more that no one would opt for this model.

There is really no compelling reason to go with the Xtreme except if you are not able to purchase a Xtreme 2 for some reason.

>>> Click here to Shop for a Bowflex® Xtreme SE Home Gym <<<