The XTL and Sport are discontinued Bowflex home gym models, which means that you cannot buy either model new, although you may be able to find used units for sale. The XTL and Sport gyms have similar designs and features. Bowflex introduced the Sport after it stopped making the XTL due to a safety recall.
Identification
Bowflex introduced the XTL in 2003 as part of the Power Pro line. It was the middle model, having more features than the XL, but fewer features than the XTLU. The XTL has a sleek, black frame with silver accents.
Bowflex began producing the Sport model in 2006. It has many of the same features of the XTL. The Sport has a silver frame with black accents.
Design
The XTL and Sport home gyms feature the Bowflex power rod progressive resistance -- the resistance increases as you bend the rod farther. An exercise is easier at the beginning, more difficult in the middle and easier again at the end. Both home gyms include a lat tower and leg developer attachment. The Sport model has a squat bar and platform -- you place the bar across your upper back and stand on the platform to do the squat exercise. You can do over 60 exercises on the Bowflex XTL and Sport home gym.
Features
The Bowflex XTL and Sport have the same adjustable weight bench that you can set in a flat position or at a 45-degree incline. Pull the bench off the machine to do standing exercises, or remove only the back of the bench to use the seat in the free-sliding position for rowing. Both gyms include 210 lbs. of resistance: two 50-lb. bars, two 30-lb. bars, four 10-lb. bars and two 5-lb. bars. You can also upgrade either model to 310 or 410 lbs. of resistance.
Recall
In January 2004, Bowflex recalled over 400,000 of its home gyms -- including the XTL -- due to safety concerns. Specifically, there were concerns that the incline bracket on the weight bench could fail, causing the incline bench to crash down, and the lat tower could rotate forward and fall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, consumers reported over 70 injuries due to these defects. Nautilus, the maker of Bowflex, created a free repair kit that reinforces these weak parts.
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