New Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine First Look

The Schwinn 430 elliptical is a truly solid machine that allows users a great upper and lower body workout without major impact to the joints. It has a very natural feel and is a great choice in the price range, under $600 when it’s on sale..

The great thing about this machine is the fact that is made by Schwinn, a company that has been in the fitness industry forever. The 430 is a solid machine that has received a complete face lift for the new model year.Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer

Let’s take a closer look at some of the special features you’ll find on the 430 elliptical:

The console features two new proprietary items: Schwinn DualTrack with two LCD readouts and SchwinnConnect which allows you to track your progress and meet your fitness goals.

There are 22 different workout programs to choose from and the ability to input 2 different users. Would be nice to be able to log in the whole family but that’s not a deal breaker.

The new Schwinn 430 elliptical now offers a 20″ Precision Path stride, up from 18″ which is a step in the right direction (no pun intended), incline capability and cushioned footplates that can articulate to ease pressure on the joints.

Check out this popular new elliptical trainer on sale at the company site right now!

They also upped the resistance to 20 different levels from about 8, utilizing the quiet ECB, or eddy current brake system that you find on more expensive ellipticals.

If you compare it to previous models you’ll notice how much more solid it looks now. Previous models looked quite cheap but it looks like they’ve put some thought, as well as money, into better construction. It has nice sturdy handlebars, a good fan and the speaker system has been enhanced.

Max user weight is now 300 lbs rather than 250, which shows that it is sturdier than it was. Warranty still isn’t so great…10 years on the frame, 2 years on mechanics, 1 on the electrical and only 90 days labor. You’ll definitely find better warranties out there.

What do users think thus far? Most have given very positive reviews, but there have been some complaints about some squeaking and other noises coming from the machine, as well as some construction issues. But on the whole, especially given the low price tag, users have been satisfied with their purchases.

The Schwinn 430 – Pros and Cons

So as far as the pros, we’ve covered most of them in our synopsis above. But just to reiterate, the best parts about the new Schwinn 430 elliptical are:

  • 20 Resistance Levels
  • 22 Built in Workout Programs
  • 20″ Stride Length
  • 10 degrees of incline
  • Large sized, articulating pedals
  • Sound system

But of course, there are always some cons. Here is what we don’t love about the Schwinn 430″

  • Warranty isn’t Great
  • No Workout Tracking
  • No Wireless Heart Rate

Although all of the Schwinn ellipticals have subpar warranties, you do get workout tracking and wireless heart rate monitoring on the up-level Schwinn 470, so that one is definitely worth considering for just $100 or so more.

Let’s get right into our test drive, where we hop on the machine and take it for a ride…

The Schwinn 430 Elliptical Test Drive

We have to say that Schwinn has definitely stepped up their game with this new version of the 430 elliptical trainer. Previous models have had us asking “What happened to the bike company we used to love so much?” but it looks like they have heeded customer complaints and started making some better machines.

The workout was very solid. Machine felt pretty good throughout…very quiet, no shaking. Resistance levels were good, integration with Schwinn Connect was seamless. Articulating foot pedals were very comfortable and handlebars had a nice sturdy grip to them.

Only complaints we have is that you have to change the ramp manually and the warranty really isn’t ideal. But for the price you really can’t ask for everything.

They sell the Schwinn ellipticals in a number of different places, including Walmart and Sears, but your best bet is to pick one up from Amazon as they usually have the best prices and you can also add an extended warranty to give you peace of mind. You can find the Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer for a few hundred dollars less than elsewhere online.

Take a look at the specs and make sure it’s the right choice for your needs. Read through all of the Schwinn 430 elliptical reviews there and see what people had to say about it. There is enough there to get a pretty good idea of what the machine is all about.

Also take a look at the Schwinn 470, which was recently redesigned and includes a lot of upgraded features and capabilities, including features that the 430 does not have.