Re: Need opinions on ProForm treadmills

I had a ProForm 725 TL (or something similar) from around 1998 through 2001 
>that performed well and had no problems.

Why don't you still have it?  A "good" treadmill will last 8-12 years.  

>I'm in the market for a treadmill but I am surprised, when I read the 
>newsgroups, to see that most people trash ProForm (and other brands from 
>ICON) treadmills as being low-end and prone to defects.

ICON makes junk.  ICON makes Weslo, Proform, Nordic Track, Reebok, etc.  The
majority of their treadmills are what is considered as "disposable".  Meaning
once you have a problem with them they will cost more to repair than buying a
new one...which sounds like you case.  

>Has their quality deteriorated of late or is it that maybe what I look for 
>in a treadmill (2 hours walking every day) can be handled by a ProForm ?

Proform has continued to produce crap.  However, they do make some treadmills
that will hold up better.  

Here is what a junk treadmill has.  

1)  A 2 to 2.5 horsepower Treadmill Duty motor.  This means it is peak horse
power. Motors this size are too small and won't hold up.  

The quality of the motor dictates the quality of the belt, deck and
rollers...the guts of the treadmill.  A bad motor = a bad belt, deck and
rollers.  

2) A 90 Day Warranty on Parts and Labor. This tell you it is junk.  

Here is what a good treadmill has.

1) A 1.5 horsepower CONTINUEOUS DUTY MOTOR, or larger.  This means that the
peak power is about 3 hp, twice that of the bad treadmills.  

Think of it like this.  If you car has peak power of 70 mph and you drive it at
70 mph, you are going to overheat the motor and burn it out at some point. This
is an example of a bad treadmill motor.

If you car has a CONTINUES DUTY MOTOR of 70 mph, that means it's top end is
120-140 mph.  So, it only has to operate at 60% of it's capacity.  It won't
overhead or burn out.  

Again, the belt, deck and rollers have to be compatable with the motor...same
quality. Thus, you are getting a better treadmill.  

Think of it like this.  You can't put a Corvette 8 cylinder into a Volkswagen
that had a 4 cylinder motor.  The Corvette motor will tear the rest of the
drive train up. It's more power than the Volkswagen drive train can handle.  

2) A Warranty on a good treadmill will be at least 3 year motor, 2 years parts
and 1 year labor.  

These two things will tell you a lot about the quality of the treadmill.  If
you get a treadmill with a 3 horsepower continueous duty motor...you have a
tank.  Bigger is better when it comes to treadmills.

Kenny Croxdale

   
>
>Thanks for your opinions.