[Dennis Kalma]

I have a Life Fitness for about 3 years, paid a moderate fortune for it (about $2800) but I would not replace it with another - if you can get one used as is suggested it is an awfully nice machine. A few things to look for...first of all, I found a lot of the cheaper units had fairly low weight capabilities...I am 117kg and most of them were good to only about that weight, so it'd put me right at the limit of the design, even though I suspect there is a safety margin put into it. I suspect that the life of the machine is lower if you are big like me.

Second of all, watch the stride, mine is 19 inches, which is a good fit for my height (190 cm) and any shorter just felt choppy and less comfortable.

Lastly, I have the heart rate monitor and it is great. On those days when you really do not want to work out but feel you have to, just set the thing for your desired heart rate (for me that is about 150 bpm) and then put in your 45 minutes or whatever you want. Don't have to think....just listen to the music (I have it all on a laptop and use bluetooth headphones) and just sweat....

Dennis