Buying a Used Bowflex Elliptical: Models, Red Flags, and Fair Prices

A used Bowflex elliptical is one of the easier cardio machines to buy secondhand, as long as you know which of the three Bowflex designs you're looking at. The Max Trainer series dominates the used market, and the ones I've seen actually sell recently went for roughly $550 to $860 (an M6, an M3, a BXE216, and an M9 all landed in that window). Asking prices run higher, often $900 to $1,250 for a clean M6, so there's room to negotiate.

I help people buy and sell big fitness equipment for a living, and Bowflex ellipticals come through our pickups constantly. This guide covers which used Bowflex elliptical models are worth buying, how the Max Trainer motion differs from a regular elliptical, the exact things I check before I'd hand over money, what each model really sells for, the parts situation after Bowflex changed owners, and how much floor space you need.

Which Bowflex Elliptical Models Are Worth Buying Used?

The Max Trainer M6 is the best used Bowflex elliptical for most people. It has 16 resistance levels, Bluetooth, a solid frame, and enough of them on the market that you're never stuck overpaying for one.

Bowflex has made three different kinds of elliptical, and they are not interchangeable:

• Max Trainer (M3, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, SE, Max Total). A compact hybrid of an elliptical and a stair climber. Short, steep stride, moving arms, and a fan on the front.
• LateralX (LX3, LX5). Adds a side-to-side motion, so your feet move out and back in, a bit like a skating stride.
• Results Series and E-series (BXE116, BXE216, BXE226 and their later renames). Traditional long-stride ellipticals. These are the ones that feel like the machine at your gym.

Here's how I rank them for a used purchase:

Model family	Motion	What I see it sell for used	Who it's for	My take
Max Trainer M3	Short vertical stride, 8 resistance levels	About $500 to $750	Budget buyers who want short, hard sessions	Fine if cheap. Basic console.
Max Trainer M5 / M6	Short vertical stride, 16 levels on the M6	About $550 to $1,000	Most people	The sweet spot. Buy this one.
Max Trainer M7 / M8 / M9	Same motion, bigger consoles, 20 levels on the M7	About $750 to $1,250	People who want the JRNY screen and programs	Only worth it if you'll use the screen.
LateralX LX3 / LX5	Adjustable side-to-side stride	Asking prices I've seen top $1,500	Buyers who specifically want lateral work	Rare used. Inspect the linkage hard.
Results / E-series (BXE216 and similar)	Traditional long stride, adjustable on some	About $700 to $900	Taller users, longer steady sessions	Best for low-impact, easy-on-the-knees cardio.

The M6 wins because the jump to the M7 and up is mostly screen. Same motion. Same fan. Same basic frame. And a bigger console is also one more expensive part that can fail on a used machine.

Is a Bowflex Max Trainer an Elliptical?

A Bowflex Max Trainer is an elliptical in the mechanical sense, but it moves like a stair climber. Your feet travel in a short, steep oval rather than the long, flat glide of a traditional elliptical.

That difference matters more than any spec sheet. On a Max Trainer you're climbing. Sessions are short and hard, and the machine is built around interval workouts. On a long-stride Bowflex elliptical like the BXE216, you can settle in for 45 minutes and watch a show.

This is the most common mismatch I see with Bowflex buyers. Someone wants the gym-elliptical feel, buys the Bowflex elliptical with the best reviews, and finds out it feels like a StairMaster with handles. So my rule is simple. If you want steady, low-effort cardio, buy a traditional elliptical. If you want 15 hard minutes and done, the Max Trainer is excellent.

If you're still torn between machine types, I wrote a separate breakdown of treadmill vs elliptical that covers the joint-impact side of it. And if the Max Trainer is already your pick, my used Bowflex Max Trainer buying guide goes deeper on that line alone.

What to Check on a Used Bowflex Elliptical Before You Buy

The most important check on a used Bowflex elliptical is resistance: run it through every level and make sure it actually gets harder. A machine that looks perfect but has a dead resistance motor is a project, not a bargain.

Here's my inspection list, in the order I do it:

1. Console power-up. Plug it in (most Max Trainers need wall power) and confirm every segment of the display lights. Dead pixels and flickering screens are common on older units.
2. Resistance through every level. Pedal at level 1, then jump to the top. You should feel a clear difference. If the number changes but the effort doesn't, the resistance motor or its cable is the problem.
3. Pedal wobble. Grab each pedal and rock it side to side. A little play is normal. A visible clunk usually means worn pedal-arm bushings or bearings.
4. Stride noise. Pedal slowly and listen. A rhythmic click or squeak once per stroke points to a pivot bushing or a crank bearing. A grinding hum points to the flywheel or drive belt.
5. Arm linkage. On a Max Trainer or LateralX, push and pull the handles hard. Loose bolts at the arm pivots are the most common source of knocking.
6. Fan cage and housing. On Max Trainers, look for cracks in the fan shroud and anything rattling inside it.
7. Frame welds and rust. Machines stored in garages and basements show it at the rear stabilizer and the pedal rails first.
8. Heart-rate grips and Bluetooth. Nice to have. Not a dealbreaker if they don't work.

Ask the seller to send a short video of the machine running at low and high resistance. A seller who refuses usually knows something.

When you buy through Commonplace you skip most of this guesswork. Our drivers run an on-site inspection at pickup and text you photos and a video of the machine running before it ever reaches your house. Then you get time to test it at home before you're charged. That's covered in more detail on our how it works page.

What Does a Used Bowflex Elliptical Actually Sell For?

A used Bowflex Max Trainer M6 usually sells for $550 to $1,000, and most other models fall within a couple hundred dollars of that. Asking prices are higher than what changes hands, so treat the list price as the start of a conversation.

Here's what I see on our own marketplace, without the noise:

• Max Trainer M3: sold examples around $745 for a low-use 2015 unit. Older, heavier-used M3s are listed near $525.
• Max Trainer M6: sold between $550 and $725 recently. Clean, recent M6 listings ask $925 to $1,250.
• Max Trainer M7: asking $760 to $1,325 depending on year and condition.
• Max Trainer M9: one sold at $856. Others ask $775 to $1,670.
• BXE216: sold at $722. Listings ask $870 to $930.

Three things move the price more than the model number. Age of the console (newer JRNY-era consoles hold value better). Whether it includes a mat and the original power supply. And whether it needs to be carried up or down stairs, because that changes what the buyer has to spend getting it home.

Is a used Bowflex elliptical worth it at those prices? Usually yes. A new M6 has carried a list price well above what used ones trade for, and the machine itself doesn't wear out quickly when it's been treated reasonably. The trap is paying near-new money for an older unit with a basic console. If a 2015 M3 is listed above $800, keep scrolling.

Can You Still Get Parts for a Discontinued Bowflex Elliptical?

Mostly yes, but older consoles are the weak spot. Mechanical parts like pedals, bushings, belts, and resistance motors are widely available from Bowflex and third-party fitness parts sellers. Original consoles for older models get harder to find every year.

Some context helps here. BowFlex Inc. went through bankruptcy in 2024 and its brands were bought by Johnson Health Tech, which also makes Horizon and Matrix equipment. Bowflex support still exists, and you can look up parts by serial number, but I wouldn't count on every discontinued console being in stock forever.

So before you buy any used Bowflex elliptical, do two things:

• Get the serial number from the seller (usually on a sticker near the base or on the frame under the console) and search for the model's parts list.
• Treat a working console as non-negotiable on older machines. A bad pedal is a $40 fix. A dead console on a discontinued model can end the machine.

How Much Space Does a Bowflex Elliptical Need?

A Bowflex Max Trainer needs roughly 4 feet of length and a little over 2 feet of width, plus clearance around it. That compact footprint is a big part of why it's so popular in apartments and spare bedrooms.

Traditional long-stride models are a different story. A BXE-style Bowflex elliptical takes noticeably more floor length because of the longer pedal path, so measure your room and check the spec sheet for the exact model before you commit. LateralX machines are wider than a Max Trainer because of the side-to-side motion.

Ceiling height catches people too. On a Max Trainer you're standing on pedals that rise as you climb, so a tall user in a basement with a low ceiling can end up ducking. Stand on the pedal at its highest point and check before the seller's driveway becomes your problem.

Moving one is manageable but not a one-person job. Max Trainers weigh well over 100 pounds and are top-heavy, with transport wheels on the front. Stairs are where things go wrong. A top-heavy machine on a narrow basement staircase is how walls get gouged and wrists get hurt, so wrap it, strap it, and use two strong people at minimum.

Used Bowflex Elliptical vs Other Brands

A Bowflex Max Trainer is the best used option if you want short, intense workouts in a small space. If you want a traditional long-stride machine, a used Sole or NordicTrack elliptical is often the better buy.

Sole builds heavier, simpler traditional ellipticals that hold up well used. NordicTrack offers more screens and incline. Bowflex is the one brand where the most common used model, the Max Trainer, is a genuinely different machine rather than a variation on the same thing. And if knees are the main concern, a long-stride elliptical is usually gentler than a Max Trainer because the motion is flatter.

My Recommendation: Which Used Bowflex Elliptical to Buy

The right used Bowflex elliptical depends on how you like to work out. Here's how I'd decide:

1. You want short, hard sessions and have limited space: Max Trainer M6. Pay $550 to $1,000.
2. You're on a tight budget: Max Trainer M3 at $600 or under, with a working console.
3. You want the big screen and guided programs: M7, M8, or M9, and budget for a JRNY subscription.
4. You want long, easy cardio sessions: a BXE216 or similar long-stride Bowflex elliptical.
5. You specifically want lateral movement: LateralX, but only after a hard look at the linkage.
6. You're tall or training in a low basement: check ceiling height before you buy any Max Trainer.

Whatever you pick, buy the cleanest unit with a working console, not the cheapest one. Most mechanical parts are cheap. Consoles aren't.

Bowflex Elliptical FAQ

Is a used Bowflex elliptical worth buying?

Yes, if the resistance and console work. Bowflex ellipticals are mechanically simple, parts are available for most models, and used prices sit well below new. Check every resistance level before buying.

What's the difference between the Bowflex M6 and M7?

Mostly the console. The M7 adds more resistance levels (20 vs 16) and more programs, but the motion and frame feel very similar. Used, the M6 is the better value.

How long does a Bowflex elliptical last?

A well-kept Bowflex elliptical often runs many years. The parts that wear first are pedal bushings, belts, and the resistance motor, and all of those can be replaced. Consoles are the part that can retire an older machine.

Does a Bowflex Max Trainer need to be plugged in?

Most models do. The console and the resistance system need wall power, so plan for an outlet near where it'll live.

Can I use a Bowflex elliptical without JRNY?

Yes. Every model works without a subscription for basic workouts. You lose some guided programs and adaptive features on the touchscreen models.

Got a Bowflex elliptical you've stopped using? See what yours is worth and where to sell it, or list it on Commonplace and our drivers handle the pickup, so you never have to drag it out to a stranger's car.

Shopping instead? Browse used Bowflex equipment or all used ellipticals. Every machine is inspected at pickup, delivered into the room you want it in, and you get to test it before you pay.