EDIT: Sole support was quick in sending me the 3 parts that usually are the LS1 issue and I was contacted twice by Sole (email and phone call) to let me know about the parts and to ask how things were going. When I initially called Sole I got to a live person almost instantly too. I contacted Citi Mastercard about the extended warranty and was told they extend the labor warranty that expired by a year. Once I received the parts from Sole I called the "Assembler Inc." company (They are the Sole repair folks in my area and I was given their number by Sole support) to come to my home and install the new parts. The service folks came within 3 days, installed the parts, tested the treadmill and left me wondering if they fixed it or not. I wondered if it was truly fixed because the issue was weight difference...if I ran on the treadmill there was no issue. If someone over 200lbs used it the LS1 Error would kick in within about 5 minutes. It wasn't until I had someone who weighed in the area of 200lbs run the treadmill TWICE for an hour that I was willing to accept the fix as good. I'm not happy that the LS1 error kicked in 2 months after the labor warranty expired but I can't complain about Sole support or the service company that fixed it. Hope it lasts but if it doesn't I still have 8 months of extended labor warranty and confidence that Sole will send me the parts without issue.
EDIT: Purchased November 2012. January 2015, LS1 Error that stops the treadmill from running after several minutes. Error kicks in just past the 2 year labor warranty expires. Tried all the maintenance and video suggestions I could find but finally had to call Sole support. They told me that since I've passed the point of the labor warranty they'll send me the parts that normally cause the LS1 issue (circuit board and speed sensor) and I can try to replace them myself or I could opt for labor service for $100 to $150 per visit and the only service guarantee I get is that I'm guaranteed to pay the service fee even if they can't get it to work. Guess I'll try to install the parts myself. I'd be happy to pay the service fee if I wouldn't have to pay if it doesn't get fixed. My last tread lasted over 6 years before a electrical surge took it out and it was nowhere near the reputation and price of this one. There are plenty of LS1 error stories out there and I'm hoping mine has a happy ending. I've knocked the review down to 2 stars until I know whether it gets fixed or I'm heading into the twilight zone. I'll update the review once I know more.
Original Review from 2012 - 4 stars:
I've been a runner for over 15 years, owned 2 treadmills and used plenty at gyms and hotels. My short run is an hour. I prefer running outside. My wife and kids like home based treads. I like the tread for weather challenged days or for must see TV.
My requirements: 3HP motor or better, 60 inch deck, good belt, incline, good warranty and fairly quiet. I say fairly because my running or the wife's "pounding" power walk is louder than most treads.
I'm not into bells and whistles. The more electronic gadgets the more points of failure. I need something to handle a long hard run/pounding. My wife wants something quiet that can handle her stomping for over an hour along with her need to change the incline and speed every 2 minutes.
We tried treads at Sears and local smaller stores. Our requirements would cost another $500 to $1000 more than the comparable Sole and wouldn't get near the Sole warranty. The quality and feel of the Sole was just plain better. The only issue I had with Sole was the abnormally long amount of time it takes to get to the speed requested. It's between 30 seconds to a minute and you're dependent on how hard you're working to know the speed because the display shows where you asked to be not where the speed is.
We've had it for two weeks and used it 10 times for an hour or more. Took 1.5 hours to put this beast together.
The good - Very Sturdy. The incline and motor are smooth and the belt is top quality. As for quietness I'd compare it to any tread I've ever been on. No rattles or squeaks.
The bad - Transition between speeds is slow but workable. More of an issue on the way down if you wear yourself out and need to get to a lower speed quickly. First time it was turned on I could hear a loud rhythmic thump, like a large drum - called Sole support, got straight through and was told that the thump is normal for a high end belt that has been sitting in one position for a year and it will stop after breaking in. This is stated in the newer manual for the 2013 treads. After two weeks the thump is about half as loud.
The new Sole's have my specs for some of their lower end treads so you may want to check them out. A new sub $1000 treadmill with my requirements, the warranty and the quality of these monsters is a tough find. So far I'm happy I found this one.
Shipping hint - ABF had to re-schedule the delivery because there wasn't a lift gate service requested. When they call you might want to remind them about the lift gate. I got the free Amazon shipping and they brought it into the house and let me inspect it before leaving.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 85 x 36 x 17 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 284 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 82 x 36 x 16.5 inches |
| Brand Name | SOLE |
| Color | White Back-lit |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Manufacturer | Sole |
| Part Number | F80-11 |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Sport Type | Excercise & Fitness |
