Review on York (Magnetic and Air) Rowing Machine - Written by Dominic L
The product
I would like to clarify the actual name of the current York (Magnetic and Air) rower as there seems to be some confusion. The current York (Magnetic and Air) rower is the York R700 or York R700 Platinum, be in no doubts these are both the same rower. This is often confused with the York MagAir also referred to as the York MagAir 3000, this is the previous model which according to internet sources was York’s most popular product ever. To all appearances the R700 and MagAir are identical, apart from some small branding which can not be distinguished in any pictures I have seen. For this reason be sure of what you are buying to avoid been overcharged and possible disappointment or returns. I accidently brought the MagAir as the retailer (simplyfitnessequipment.co.uk) stated in their questions and answers section that the York MagAir is the same as the York R700, not knowing any different at the time I believed I was getting a bargain. Due to this mistake, this review is based upon the now less common York MagAir 3000, although I do not doubt many of my comments will be relevant to the York R700 (Platinum).
Unpacking & assembly
Upon delivery of the rower you may notice the weight, at 35kg it is technically a two man lift, but thanks to the wedged shape box one (averagely fit) man will not struggle to manoeuvre it. Once opened you will find everything nicely packed and individually wrapped inside, so have a pair of scissors to hand (I don’t recommend using a blade due to the obvious risk of damaging the contents). The fastest way to assemble the rower is to follow the supplied instructions, which are clear and well thought out. By following these and only opening what you need at the time you won’t loose anything such as small screws. Unpacking and assembly only took about ten minutes, as with most flat pack equipment the rower comes supplied with all the tools required for the assembly.
Note: In some reviews I read that a few people were having issues with the self tapping screws been too big, I found no such problem. The only issue I had was all the adhesive labels and grip tapes were pealing off and curing at the corners. This could have been due to the extreme cold the unit had clearly been stored in, or perhaps the amount of time it could have been in the box considering it is the older model.
The rower
Soon after the assembly I was understandably keen to try out the rower and after a quick 15 minute burst I found the rower to be of good quality, comfortable and extremely stable. If you are unsure of the correct posture or the various ways you can use the rower, then the internet is a great source of advice. Incorrect use could actually lead to physical damage.
The LCD
The LCD is well laid out, easily read when using the rower. The supplied instruction manual clearly explains the full range of features and how to use them. A back light would have been a nice feature but this would have increased costs and reduced battery life, which thanks to an auto off feature battery life should be more than sufficient.
Note: In some reviews I read that a few people were having issues with the LCD randomly resetting mid workout. As I understand this is not a fault with the LCD but due to interference generated by the flywheels magnetic resistance. I have not encountered such problems, however should I in the future I would try moving the LCD further away from the flywheel, easily achieved as it attaches to the adjustable handle bracket.
- Comfort
I found the seat and handle to be a good shape and size with adequate padding. Been just over 6 foot tall I had wondered if I would reach the limits of the rower, but found there to be plenty of room to extend my legs, enough should I grow another half a foot! The foot pedals and adjustable straps are also faultless, supporting adult feet of all shapes and sizes, with or without shoes.
Note: Although the rower feels extremely solid, it is only deigned for people weighing up to 110kg.
- Noise
I found the rower to be reasonably and unexpectedly quiet, any noise from the flywheel became unnoticeable while playing some motivational music, even with the rower on a hard laminate floor. This is due to the dual action braking system, which uses a combination of magnets and air resistance.
- Quality
I found the quality to be generally good, much better than some other fitness equipment I have experienced. As previously stated I found the rower to be very stable, smooth to use and generally a solid build. The cost has been kept down by using affordable materials, such as the LCD and other plastics, these are not detrimental to the operation of the rower but could give a false first impression if compared to professional gym equipment.
- Storage
A consideration has clearly been given to the design in terms of space saving, as the rower easily stands up vertically and at the twist of a knob the seat rail slides down reducing height, requiring no more space than a vacuum cleaner. For those who wish to use and store the rower in a bed or living room this is an ideal feature and possible selling point.
Conclusion
After further use I am still very satisfied with the York rower. It exceeds all the criteria I would hope for from a product in this price range, I can see why it is reportedly one of York’s most popular pieces of equipment. After just a few sessions I could feel the physical effects, generally a great all over workout particularly felt it in the upper back and shoulders. One comment I will make is that with in the first few days I found I had to set the resistance to 7 (for “burst” sessions), as the scale only ranges from 1 to 8 (8 been the hardest) this obviously does not leave much room for future adjustments. As time goes on and I can not increase resistance I will have to go for longer to achieve noticeable results. This is a little disappointing as I would consider myself to be in average shape for a 28 year old and would have liked to start at a much lower resistance. Not knowing the improvements made on the York R700 model, I can not comment if it is worth the extra £100+, but as they appear identical in looks and features I am glad I got the York MagAir 3000, due to the cost saving and the popularity I have read about. Overall I can not fault York and would defiantly recommend this piece of fitness equipment.
Scoring
Cost 8/10
Design 9/10
Features 9/10
Quality 9/10
Ease of use 10/10
Written by Domonic L - Huge Thanks from www.ufc-mma.weebly.com
I would like to clarify the actual name of the current York (Magnetic and Air) rower as there seems to be some confusion. The current York (Magnetic and Air) rower is the York R700 or York R700 Platinum, be in no doubts these are both the same rower. This is often confused with the York MagAir also referred to as the York MagAir 3000, this is the previous model which according to internet sources was York’s most popular product ever. To all appearances the R700 and MagAir are identical, apart from some small branding which can not be distinguished in any pictures I have seen. For this reason be sure of what you are buying to avoid been overcharged and possible disappointment or returns. I accidently brought the MagAir as the retailer (simplyfitnessequipment.co.uk) stated in their questions and answers section that the York MagAir is the same as the York R700, not knowing any different at the time I believed I was getting a bargain. Due to this mistake, this review is based upon the now less common York MagAir 3000, although I do not doubt many of my comments will be relevant to the York R700 (Platinum).
Unpacking & assembly
Upon delivery of the rower you may notice the weight, at 35kg it is technically a two man lift, but thanks to the wedged shape box one (averagely fit) man will not struggle to manoeuvre it. Once opened you will find everything nicely packed and individually wrapped inside, so have a pair of scissors to hand (I don’t recommend using a blade due to the obvious risk of damaging the contents). The fastest way to assemble the rower is to follow the supplied instructions, which are clear and well thought out. By following these and only opening what you need at the time you won’t loose anything such as small screws. Unpacking and assembly only took about ten minutes, as with most flat pack equipment the rower comes supplied with all the tools required for the assembly.
Note: In some reviews I read that a few people were having issues with the self tapping screws been too big, I found no such problem. The only issue I had was all the adhesive labels and grip tapes were pealing off and curing at the corners. This could have been due to the extreme cold the unit had clearly been stored in, or perhaps the amount of time it could have been in the box considering it is the older model.
The rower
Soon after the assembly I was understandably keen to try out the rower and after a quick 15 minute burst I found the rower to be of good quality, comfortable and extremely stable. If you are unsure of the correct posture or the various ways you can use the rower, then the internet is a great source of advice. Incorrect use could actually lead to physical damage.
The LCD
The LCD is well laid out, easily read when using the rower. The supplied instruction manual clearly explains the full range of features and how to use them. A back light would have been a nice feature but this would have increased costs and reduced battery life, which thanks to an auto off feature battery life should be more than sufficient.
Note: In some reviews I read that a few people were having issues with the LCD randomly resetting mid workout. As I understand this is not a fault with the LCD but due to interference generated by the flywheels magnetic resistance. I have not encountered such problems, however should I in the future I would try moving the LCD further away from the flywheel, easily achieved as it attaches to the adjustable handle bracket.
- Comfort
I found the seat and handle to be a good shape and size with adequate padding. Been just over 6 foot tall I had wondered if I would reach the limits of the rower, but found there to be plenty of room to extend my legs, enough should I grow another half a foot! The foot pedals and adjustable straps are also faultless, supporting adult feet of all shapes and sizes, with or without shoes.
Note: Although the rower feels extremely solid, it is only deigned for people weighing up to 110kg.
- Noise
I found the rower to be reasonably and unexpectedly quiet, any noise from the flywheel became unnoticeable while playing some motivational music, even with the rower on a hard laminate floor. This is due to the dual action braking system, which uses a combination of magnets and air resistance.
- Quality
I found the quality to be generally good, much better than some other fitness equipment I have experienced. As previously stated I found the rower to be very stable, smooth to use and generally a solid build. The cost has been kept down by using affordable materials, such as the LCD and other plastics, these are not detrimental to the operation of the rower but could give a false first impression if compared to professional gym equipment.
- Storage
A consideration has clearly been given to the design in terms of space saving, as the rower easily stands up vertically and at the twist of a knob the seat rail slides down reducing height, requiring no more space than a vacuum cleaner. For those who wish to use and store the rower in a bed or living room this is an ideal feature and possible selling point.
Conclusion
After further use I am still very satisfied with the York rower. It exceeds all the criteria I would hope for from a product in this price range, I can see why it is reportedly one of York’s most popular pieces of equipment. After just a few sessions I could feel the physical effects, generally a great all over workout particularly felt it in the upper back and shoulders. One comment I will make is that with in the first few days I found I had to set the resistance to 7 (for “burst” sessions), as the scale only ranges from 1 to 8 (8 been the hardest) this obviously does not leave much room for future adjustments. As time goes on and I can not increase resistance I will have to go for longer to achieve noticeable results. This is a little disappointing as I would consider myself to be in average shape for a 28 year old and would have liked to start at a much lower resistance. Not knowing the improvements made on the York R700 model, I can not comment if it is worth the extra £100+, but as they appear identical in looks and features I am glad I got the York MagAir 3000, due to the cost saving and the popularity I have read about. Overall I can not fault York and would defiantly recommend this piece of fitness equipment.
Scoring
Cost 8/10
Design 9/10
Features 9/10
Quality 9/10
Ease of use 10/10
Written by Domonic L - Huge Thanks from www.ufc-mma.weebly.com