Customer Reviews

Horizon T71 Treadmill

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Agreeing with the previous reviewer, this is a great machine once you get it together. It took my husband and I both to line up bolts and openings correctly to get parts together. Nothing lined up, and we ended up shaving some rubber coating off the handles to get the bolts to even catch and tighten. Took us over an hour to get it together. That said, it has been a great machine to work out on for the price. Easy-to-use programming, cooling fan, cushioned support, etc. The power switch is in an awkward place on the bottom front of the treadmill.

The concerns about the assembly process of the T71 and T72 treadmill have been noted and your satisfaction is important to us. We have examined the issues closely and have made adjustments to the owner's manual to correct the problem and make the process much easier for you.
* If there is an alignment issue encountered in Assembly Step 3, Part C Insert BOLT (F) into HANDLEBAR EXTENSION; please note that the right and left support bars can be reversed to improve alignment. For example, the right support bar can be used on the left side and vice versa.

Our thorough testing has shown that this modification has resolved the alignment issue in assembly these treadmills. If you continue to experience any problems, please contact the customer tech support team at Horizon Fitness by calling 1-800-244-4192 and one of our representatives will be happy to walk you through the process of resolving any issues.

If I wern't so handy Horizon would have had to send a represenatative to my home in order to put this unit together. All bolts were very hard to secure and felt as though they were cross threaded. Some bolt holes did not line up and in two instasnces I had to drill through the steel to make them .And when I finally got it together it would not operate as a connector in the circuit board was not pluggerd in.Also the wrong parts were sent in one of the hardware packages.Do yourself a big favor DON'T buy this product!!!!!

UPDATE from 2010: Several times the motor on this has "conked out." I discovered that the problem was not a burned out motor, but something as simple as dust/lint/hair getting into the motor brushes and contacts. The repair was relatively simple - the normal motor brushes are accessible through holes in the case - but what I didn't realize was the third ground contact on the end of the motor axle. This was the last item I needed to locate and clean for the motor to run again "like new."

ORIGINAL REVIEW: We've had this now for over a month. Although many reviews I read led me to believe it would be the best I could get in its price-range, I'm still not ready to agree. However, it is at least adequate.

First off, the T71 is much the same as the more expensive T72 (uses essentially the same deck, just a bit smaller belt and motor - a few less programs). In fact, the T72 and T71 both have the same owners manual. It folds very well, and in the folded position can easily be wheeled around on two built-in wheels, like a dolly. That is something rare in the market, and could be the deciding factor if you want to put it away between workouts.

However, I needed a 1/2" industrial drill to reposition some of the assembly holes so the bolts would even work. (You'll need a minor miracle to get it together with the tools provided.) The motor vibration becomes annoying at about 6 mph. The Pro-Form had very similar features and price - but was "assembled in USA" while the Horizon unit was clearly from China. (If you're looking at the Pro-Form, notice that it even has a few nicer touches - like a magnetic safety key, instead of the plastic insert the T71 uses.)

At slow speeds the T71 is quiet - moreso than others. The running deck is composition board, like others in this price range - but the surfacing may be slightly better - plasticized overlay instead of just smooth paint. It does seem to contribute to the quietness of the belt travel. I guess if you have someone with good tools and patience to put it together for you, and all you plan to do is walk at 5mph or less, you might find it everything you hoped for. But then, if that's all you're planning on, you might also be happy with one of the American models for hundreds of $ less.

The assembly was not that easy since the parts don't really fit firmly. I didn't even put all the parts (you have to cut and make new holes so the screws can even fit too) The design sucks. I was aware of the assembly, but I still bought it since the warranty was good and it had good features for this price at that time. I only wished they designed it different. It's a good machine, but there are better ones (and this one it seems they discontinued)

The T71 is a great treadmill under $700, but assembly was a nightmare. Can you say Quality Control? None of the holes lined up properly. The instructions were so-so, and it was a nightmare all together. Once we got it together it was golden.

I think for the money this treadmill is a great value. It works good
and you get a really decent workout on it.

Based on the above reviews I did not buy the Horizon product because I did not want to hassle with the problems of putting it together. We went and bought a ProForm and the assembly was easy and the bolts fit!!

So did not know if we would have had trouble with the Horizon but did not take time or effort to find out. The Proform XP works great and was about $100 less (on sale) than the Horizon T71.