Bowflex BXE116

Quick Summary

The Bowflex Results BXE116 is a powerful elliptical machine with a long stride.

Introducing an especially results-oriented series of cross trainers, the BXE116 supports very smooth exercise with cushioned pedals and a 25-level resistance system, and it has Bluetooth for fitness data management.

Bowflex Results ellipticals also allow multiple workout positions for sculpting and strengthening your whole body.

On sale for $1,499 the BXE116 looks like an ideal find for many of our readers.

Specifications

Model	Bowflex BXE116
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	90.3%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,999
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$1499
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	25 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	N/A
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	22"
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Adjustable & Oversized
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	N/A
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	30 lbs
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	9
User Profiles For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.	4 Users
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	N/A
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	7.5" Color LCD
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	375 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	77"L x 31"W x 70"H
Upper Body Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.
Accessory Tray Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Folding? Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.	Frame: 10 Years Mechanical Parts: 5 Years Electronics: 5 Years Labor: 2 Years

Our Rating

Rating: 90.3/100. The black and red BX E116 is a front drive home elliptical from Bowflex Results (BFX Results). True to its name, BFX Results is highly results-oriented in terms of motion it supports and data it supplies. Here you’ll get above-average exercise quality and superior feedback. In our review the BXE116 is an ideal mid-priced cross trainer for many households.

With its drive stored up front, this cross-trainer is compact enough for most home workout areas. But it doesn’t skimp on range of motion: Here you can stretch out with a 22” elliptical stride. Other key specs are a 25-level resistance system; three handlebar grips and a max 10% pedal incline to recruit your muscles is different ways; 9 preset workout programs and a Bluetooth connection to mobile fitness apps. This elliptical machine can also charge a tablet computer, phone or MP3 player as you train.

On sale for $1499, the BXE116 is a top elliptical trainer under $1500. The larger BXE216 could be preferable in home gyms that serve especially advanced or heavyweight trainees.
Pros:

25 resistance settings
22” elliptical stride path
Pedal incline settings up to 10 percent
Multi-grip handlebars (3 positions)
9 built-in workout apps
Four user profiles
Speed and resistance controls built into the handgrips
Wireless heart rate monitoring (Chest strap included)
Bluetooth enabled for wireless stats sharing
Media shelf with charging port
Water bottle holder
375-pound user weight capacity

Cons:

Stride is fixed instead of adjustable; too long for shorter trainees
Bowflex customer service gets mixed reviews

Introduction

The BXE116 is a front drive elliptical machine from the Bowflex Results Series. Diversity of exercise is a big draw: To vary your lower body workout, you can choose from 25 levels of digital resistance and from zero to 10 percent pedal incline. To vary your upper-body training, BX Results ellipticals let you grip the handlebars in different ways. Workout data and attention to comfort are strong points too as detailed below.

Workout Programs

The Bowflex Results BXE116 is loaded with 11 elliptical cross training programs. These can take the guesswork out of setting up an efficient workout routine. Each program will automate the machine’s pedal resistance and incline, though you can choose to override the settings anytime. Bowflex elliptical workouts can help you exercise for weight loss, endurance, strength and other fitness goals.

Up to four users can save their profiles to quickly recall a workout program and get more customized data. A profile can also optimize the accuracy of calorie burn data.

Workout programming is shown on a large LED that displays multiple data points at once. A highlight in terms of “Bowflex Results” is the calorie burn feedback. Calorie burn is calculated per minute for extra motivation. A total calorie count is shown too.

Bowflex BXE116 Features

To make stats tracking easy, the Bowflex Results console is Bluetooth enabled. You can export your heart rate, calorie burn and other data to the Bowflex Results app and to popular third-party mobile apps for fitness and health.

The new Bowflex ellipticals have a front-drive frame design. This makes the machines more compact than rear-drive alternatives, which tend to cost more. The drive or resistance system is far superior to what most other fitness brands supply for the price. With 25 resistance levels, the machine is ready for exercise at all intensities.

The stride path is 22” long, which is a bit longer than the norm. This helps make the BXE116 one of the best elliptical machines for people of average and taller heights. If the stride is a bit longer than your usual gait — but not uncomfortably long — then it improves your calorie burn without making the exercise feel more difficult. With the new Bowflex elliptical you’ll get adjustable pedal cushioning too, which is a rare perk in any elliptical price range.

The stride length will shorten a bit as you engage the power incline. The maximum setting is 10 percent. Hiking on a flat plane you’ll especially target your calves… and as you shift the incline upward, the focus of exercise will shift upward to your quads, hamstrings and glutes. You can adjust the incline with convenient controls built into the handlebars. You can also use console buttons or let the machine be automated by an exercise program.

Three handlebar grip positions are supported on this entry-level BXE model. (Four are supported on the E216.) This feature lets you get more dynamic upper-body exercise. If you do elliptical comparisons you’ll see that most ellipticals under $1500 support just one handlebar gripping position.

The elliptical ships with a chest strap for wireless heart rate monitoring.

A media shelf is provided with a USB charging port for a mobile device.

Warranty & Guarantee

Nautilus provides a competitive warranty for the Bowflex Results ellipticals, especially if you get the $1499 sale price deal. We like how the electronics are clearly covered too; not every fitness equipment brand puts their consoles under warranty. The BXE116 elliptical gets the following coverage:

Frame: 10 years
Parts: 5 years
Electronics: 5 years
Labor: 2 years

This fitness machine also has a six-week money-back guarantee.

Conclusion

The BX E116 is engineered to be a worthy contender in the under-$1500 elliptical category. The new Bowflex Results console is more program-oriented than we’re accustomed to from this brand, and we like how it’s optimized for goal-setting and data tracking by multiple users. This fitness machine has a smooth drive system for any price class, features for varied total body fitness, and pedal cushioning to make cross training low-impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum ceiling height for the Bowflex BXE116?

User height +29″

Can I play music from my smart device through the speakers on the Bowflex BXE116?

You can play music through the speakers using the media cable that comes with the Bowflex BXE116. Just plug the cable into the console and then into your device’s headphone jack.

Is the Bowflex BXE116 easy to assemble?

The BXE116 comes with a descriptive manual with pictures and step-by-step instructions. It’s a good idea to have two or more people to move it around. However, if you have the strength, it is possible to assemble on your own. There is also an option for professional, in-home assembly for an extra charge.

How do I maintain the Bowflex BXE116?

Aside from wiping the machine down after each use, seasonal maintenance checks are advised. These should include lubrication according to your owner’s manual and tightening all nuts and screws. Furthermore, if you anticipate a prolonged period without use, it’s a good idea to unplug your Bowflex BXE116.

What are the major differences between the Bowflex BXE116 and the Bowflex BXE216?

While similar in many ways, the extra investment in the Bowflex BXE216 over the 116 gets you an extra five resistance levels, 25 more pounds of weight capacity, a flywheel weighing five extra pounds, and two extra workout programs.