Octane xR4 Elliptical Review
$2,899.00
See ellipticals here:
Brief Overview
If you want an uncomfortable machine and really are not concerned about fitness, the xR4 is for you!
Overall Quality
2016 is the first year Treadmill Doctor will be rating some recumbent ellipticals. NU-Step, arguably the industry leader in the recumbent elliptical development, has been a staple in rehabs and geriatrics for many years, but at a hefty "full commercial" price. So if $5k is a little too much to drop on recumbent elliptical for the home, Octane offers a few options at a more reasonable price. The xR4 is the entry level at the sub 3k price point. Please do not buy this machine unless you receive a deep discount from either an online presence or a specialty fitness dealer near you. The perception is that these machines offer some sort of real fitness benefit. While that may be the case, it only applies to a very small part of the population. Meaning that most, even those of us in below average shape, will have kill it on these machines to get any cardio vascular benefit. As a result, these units will prematurely wear and fall apart even in a home. From a rehab and range of motion perspective these ellipticals are invaluable for those with arthritis and recovering from injuries. That being said, the range of movement or stride (if you want to call it that) on this machine is very up right in the leg movement almost like being on a "Big Wheel". Your knees will rise to a sharpe angle that hardly resembles an ellipse motion. It seems that the drive is not forward enough to offer a fluid ellipse motion. As such the abrupt angle of rotation makes the machine jerk and clunky at the apex. I would save the money and keep using the one at the gym and doctors office, or look into a good recumbent bike. You could get one hell of a good bike for that price.
Ratings
| Adjustability | 4 |
| Reliability | 5 |
| Noise Level | 5 |
| Value | 3 |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Quality | 5 |
| Ergonomics | 6 |