Since Bowflex home gyms were invented in 1979 by Ethiopian-born immigrant Tessema Dosho Shifferaw, the company has thrived and created many different gym designs. The Bowflex Power Pro series of gyms was one of the earliest in the company's history and therefore is one of the more simple models. More advanced models like the Bowflex Sport came later and offered a wider variety of exercise types.
Exercises
You can use the Bowflex Power Pro to accomplish around 30 different exercises. The base model of the machine has a workout station with an adjustable bench and rowing capabilities. You can update the Power Pro with an additional leg developer, lat tower and "Purvis" pectoral bar to accomplish around 50 exercises total. The Bowflex Sport is more advanced, featuring more than 70 exercises with the base model and all of the workout stations of the fully upgraded Power Pro, plus a low pulley station for squats.
Resistance
Both the Bowflex Power Pro and Sport models come with 210 lbs. of resistance standard, which is achieved by hooking the machine cables to pliable rods, called power rods. However, the Sport model has extra spaces on its power rod system for additional rods. This allows you to upgrade the machine to a total of 410 lbs. of resistance. The rods are available in pairs directly from Bowflex for $99 per 50 lb. pair, as of February 2011.
Size Specifications
The Bowflex Power Pro is slightly smaller than the Sport model when fully assembled, measuring 92 inches long by 23 inches wide by 72 inches tall. The Sport is 90 inches long by 38 inches wide by 83 inches tall. Both machines require a workout area that measures roughly 100 inches by 78 inches and can support a user weighing up to 300 lbs. As of February 2011, the Power Pro is available for just over $500 from online retailers. The Bowflex Sport has been discontinued, so resale prices of the machine may be varied.
Power Pro Recall
In 2004, Bowflex issued a massive voluntary recall of all Power Pro home gyms due to a structural weakness in the lat tower and bench seat. The U.S. Consumer Product Saftey Commission announced that year that roughly 420,000 machines needed to be recalled. Bowflex issued a repair kit to consumers that reinforced these components to make them stable during operation.
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