Smooth Agile DMT Elliptical

"Just received this baby about a week ago. Decided to assemble myself along with my son. This is not hard at all...as a matter of fact it was easier than I thought. I would however watch the video. Upon assembly we ran immediately into a problem thou. The console would not turn on at all. After I called Smooth Fitness I was sent a knew transformer and power board. Received it in less than 24 hr's. As it turned out it was a power wire that was being pinched by an assembly bolt. This is what caused the problem to begin with. So all was fine and I was sent a new wire assembly. Anyway the customer service was GREAT. I spoke to Matt & Roland on two different occasions and they both were very professional and helpful. This type of quality service is unfortunately rare in some instances. I will post as soon as I have run this baby thru it's motions. Both me and my wife are looking forward to it. DLuna SA-Tex 12/8/09"

"My initial reaction after opening the product is that the amount of plastic makes the machine seem cheap. I think the company could have used a better quality material for the shroud. The metal was heavy and of good quality. The instructions for assembly were easy to follow. The machine went together nicely and all parts fit. The test came when I got on the machine and started using it. This machine provides for a great workout. It is smooth and quiet. It does everything it is advertised to do. It is very stable and the programs work well. The adjustable motion adds to the ability/agility of the machine over a standard elliptical. The instructions for use and care are lacking. Even with the shortcomings of plastic and poor instructions for use and care, I would buy the machine again. It will challege most people wishing for a great wrokout."

"I got my Agile DMT and was a little leery because it seemed inexpensive for what it allegedly does. Well I am here to tell you that I am an ex football player and a big guy. This machine is bullet proof. It is very quiet and very smooth, dont be scared of this one it is of great value."

"We purchased this directly from Smooth Fitness on January 20 and received it on February 4. I had a problem with the ordering process and Keith, their VP of Sales knocked another 5 % off and threw in an extra heart monitor strap. We opted to set the unit up ourselves which was not very difficult; here are some tips that made installation easy for us: Be prepared to have a large space for assembly as there are three large boxes and parts need to be staged. Use your own tools Have an extra pair of hands Have Smooth mail you the installation video on DVD prior to delivery (they do this free of charge) and watch it 2-3 times before opening anything. It took us close two hours to assemble the unit. It goes to together relatively easily if you've watched the assembly video prior to doing anything. Most of the bolts are hex heads and the tolerances when fitting two or more pieces together was great. I did not have to push or pull to get any holes to line up. We did have one problem though - several of the outer panels were broke in transit, but that did not prevent us from continuing as these were cosmetic pieces. A call to Smooth and they had them in my hands in two days. Once the unit was together I was amazed at the size of this thing, it takes up much more room than I anticipated even when I outlined the footprint for the wife with a chalk line. The unit is very stable, we have been using it for two weeks and there is no wobble in this thing at all. My dislikes about the Agile DMT: * Too much plastic for my liking. Everything that is cosmetic on this unit is plastic (outer panels, motion panels, console's outer shell, foot pedal covers). * At this price point I expected stamped aluminum but when I called about the broken push pins on the outer panels I was told the units are manufactured in Taiwan then shipped around the world. More reason than ever to get away from plastic but then again there is the weight issue when it comes to shipping. In any event Smooth sent out new panels at no cost to me. * I don't like the feel of the buttons on the console * The water bottle holder is useless based on the angle the console sits at and its length, the bottle points toward your stomach and is too close to you while on the machine * Don't care for the shrouded covers on the pedals that conceal your toes * Requires you to use an on/off switch at the back of the unit, not a self powered unit As far as the unit's ability to deliver a great workout, this machine does just that, it can make your life miserable during the time you are on it depending on how hard you want to push yourself. The motion arms are what really delivers a unique workout experience. As you increase the motion, the pedal rotates to a higher position which is akin to climbing steep terrain and the stride length shortens. If you really want an extreme workout, use the Endurance program and set the intensity level = 5 motion =4 at startup. I go 45 minutes on this program and at the peak of the workout the intensity level is at 12, motion=10 and my legs and lungs are screaming - it is not the type of workout you can get from the standard elliptical trainer. The handlebars have built in pulse monitors that are pretty accurate. In addition, at the top of each handlebar is the resistance setting (left) and motion setting (right). You use your thumb to increase or decrease either setting and it is a very nice feature. I don't have to take my eyes off anything to change either setting, unlike some elliptical where you have to find the buttons then press them. The contour of these controllers makes finding and adjusting them a snap. I am not sure why but I get a very good upper body workout with this machine compared to the Star Trac machines I use at the gym. My chest and back muscles really get worked and I can feel it for a period of time after my workout. The console is fine; it serves it purpose although I do not like the feel of the buttons. There are plenty of programs although I wish you could save your favorite settings. There is a scroll feature which is a must for me. There is not a numeric keypad so you have to adjust your time, weight, age, etc. using the intensity buttons which means you go up or down one unit at a time. The units move fast but I would rather see a numeric keypad where I can punch in what I want rather than fiddle and hear all those beeps. There is a place for the water bottle they send you but the angle of the console is so steep that it makes it very cumbersome to use. On each side of the water bottle placeholder are two compartments that will hold your IPod, keys or anything else you would like to put in there. The pedals take time to get use to. They articulate (forward and back) so your feet stay in constant contact with the pedal. I find my feet don't lift off the pedal because of this feature but for some reason - not sure if it is the pedal design or what - I can't get going as fast as I could on other units. On the Star Trac I could get the RPMs up to 206, on the Agile, the fastest I've been able to go is 188. I wish you had the option of removing the shrouded covers that conceal your toes. I like to raise my toes and put more force on my heels now and then but these shrouds get in the way of me doing that. As mentioned earlier, the unit is heavy and very stable. I am 6'1" tall and weigh 215 lbs and there is no wobble at all. I have no balance problems when I use this without my hands placed on the unit. Going backwards - be prepared, it's harder than other units, especially if you have the motion setting > 5. I have not tried the heart monitor yet with the heart pacing program so I can't say anything about that other than one exists. All in all, we really enjoy this unit, it looks mean and delivers an awesome workout. It is flexible enough to give my wife a controlled workout and I can really beat myself up with it when I want to. I cannot place all settings at maximum and work out on the thing, it is just too tough and that's what I like about this machine the most. It has a lot a reserve so as you increase your fitness level, there is plenty of space in the upper end of this machine to accommodate those of us who really like to take things to the next level. If you are considering a fitness machine I would give this one serious consideration, even with all the plastic components. Most of the complaints I have are minor and don't impact functionality. We have a treadmill by Smooth and they stand behind their products. They go above and beyond to make things right contrary to a previous review. This machine is built strong where it counts and it has a wide range to accommodate the fitness level of almost anyone or this I give it 5 stars. The only reason this overall review gets four stars is for the plastic components at this price point."