Stamina Avari A150-335 Conversion II Rower & Recumbent Bike

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UnitSizeSupported
weight
ResistanceFitness
meter
Warranty
Avari A150-335

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L:74.5"
W:23.5"
H:34"
250 lbsMagnetic,
8 levels
Time,
Distance,
Odometer,
Speed,
Calories,
Pulse
Scan
Frame: 3 years
Parts: 90 days

The Stamina Avari A150-335 is a 2-in-1 fitness machine combining a rower with a recumbent exercise bike. It’s similar to the Stamina 15-9003 rower & bike combo that we’ve already reviewed here. However, it comes with a simpler fitness monitor (without goal functions and RPM) and it’s around $100 cheaper.

Key Features and Specifications

  • Assembled dimensions: 74.5L x 23.5W x 34H inches (189L x 60W x 86H cm)
  • Assembled weight: 96 lbs (43.5 kg)
  • Weight capacity: 250 lbs (113.3 kg)
  • Frame: Steel and aluminum
  • Footrests: Pivoting, with straps
  • Pedals: Weighted, with straps
  • Resistance type: Magnetic, 8 levels
  • Exercise meter: Time, speed, distance, odometer, calories burned, pulse, scan
  • Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 90 days

Frame construction

The Stamina Avari A150-335 rower & recumbent bike machine combines steel, aluminum, and thermoplastic parts in its construction. Its main rail is made of extruded aluminum. The front section of the frame that holds the drive system, the front upright post that holds the fitness monitor, the base stabilizers, and the folding device are made of steel. And finally, the covers of the drive and resistance elements are made of durable thermoplastic material.

All the steel parts in the machine’s construction are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used is black. The aluminum beam features its own natural finish, while the plastic covers are black and gray to match the rest of the unit.

The fully assembled machine is fairly large. It is approx. 74.5″ (189 cm) long, and 23.5″ (60 cm) wide. However, Stamina recommends an 8.5′ x 4′ (259 x 122 cm) usage area for it. Therefore, it may not fit too well in a small room or apartment. The exact length of the rail is not specified. However, the machine can accommodate comfortably users between 5’0″ and 6’5″ (153 – 196 cm) with no problem. Also, the rail and the seat are rated for a maximum user weight limit of 250 lbs (113.3 kg).

This Avari rower & recumbent bike trainer is foldable. The rail with the seat can be folded up to save space. With the rail folded up, the unit’s depth is reduced to 34″ (86 cm) while its height becomes 56.6″ (143.5 cm).

The machine is fairly heavy. Its net weight is 96 lbs (43.5 kg). Thus, its transport while packaged may require two people or at least a box carrier. But once it is assembled, it can easily be moved by only one person as its front stabilizer features a set of transport wheels.

Seat and other parts

The Stamina Avari Conversion II rower & recumbent bike machine is equipped with a seat designed for optimal comfort. Both the backrest and the bottom pad integrate approx. 2″ (5 cm) of foam padding. They are also contoured while their covers are made of durable synthetic mesh material, breathable and easy to maintain.

The seat frame is made of steel. It integrates a set of handlebars with pulse sensors. Its bottom section is equipped with three sets of wheels that slide through the grooves of the rail. They have built-in bearings and an outer rubber cover for a smooth motion.

The rail features 15 adjustment positions for the seat. The adjustment system uses a pull-pin that locks the seat in place so you can use the machine as a recumbent bike. Also, the rail is slanted forward. Therefore, the seat is lower at the front, and higher at the rear. Its highest position is approx. 18″ (45 cm) above the floor.

The rower is equipped with two standard footrests made of thermoplastic material. They have heel guards and adjustable straps in case you need to secure your feet in place. They also have a pivoting design. In other words, they can tilt back and forth on their axis so you can slightly adjust the angle of your feet for the most comfortable position during each rowing stroke. They also have base stoppers so they won’t tilt backward past an angle of approx. 60°.

The machine comes with a set of standard exercise bike pedals. They are made of a durable plastic material with a metallic core. They are weighted in order to self-level whenever you remove your feet from them. And just like the rower footrests, they have adjustable straps.

Last but not least, the pulling handle of the rower element is slightly curved towards the user to provide a more comfortable hand positioning. Its grips feature PVC foam sleeves. The handle is attached to a long nylon strap which is recovered on an internal wheel. Since the rower uses a strap, not a chain, it does not need any lubrication and the rowing motion is smoother and quieter.

Resistance and drive

The Avari A150-335 rower & recumbent bike fitness machine is equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system. This being said, you don’t need a power adapter for it, and you don’t need to connect it to a power source. But on the other hand, the machine cannot adjust the resistance automatically.

The machine’s resistance system consists of a magnetic brake integrated into a large flywheel. The brake is connected to the tension knob on the front unit of the machine through a steel cable. Therefore, when you turn the knob, the brake moves closer to the flywheel or away from it which results in more or less rowing or pedaling difficulty.

There are 8 resistance levels available on the tension knob. The first two levels provide a light workout, while the 7-8 settings deliver considerably more resistance, great for anyone who wants to improve strength and stamina.

The weight of the internal flywheel is not specified. It is perimeter weighted, though, which enables it to generate a consistent momentum and a steady motion. Since the resistance is full-magnetic without any air or water resistance elements, the flywheel doesn’t generate a dynamic response when rowing. In other words, the resistance doesn’t increase if you stroke at a faster rate. It only depends on the selected tension level.

The internal drive system uses a poly-v belt. This type of transmission comes with several advantages. First of all, it generates slightly less vibration than a chain which contributes to the overall smoothness of the ride. Second of all, it does not require lubrication.

Fitness monitor

The Avari A150-335 Conversion II trainer features a basic fitness meter with an LCD display. It tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, calories, and pulse. Speed and distance are shown in English units (MPH and miles); there is no option for setting them to metric units. The pulse reading function is grip only. The unit can only monitor your pulse if you hold on to the sensors integrated into the seat handlebars. It is not telemetric and cannot read your pulse from a wireless heart rate chest strap. Also, the monitor does not have a split-time or stroke count function.

The fitness monitor is easy to operate. It has only one (MODE) button. By pressing the button repeatedly, you can scroll through the metrics and select the one that you want to view on the display. This way, you can also select the Scan Mode which automatically rotates all the metrics, showing each one for 6 seconds. The MODE button also covers the unit’s reset function. By pressing and holding it for several seconds, all the values on the unit will be cleared to zero.

The monitor unit is battery-powered. It requires two AA batteries which are not included. It starts when you begin rowing or pedaling, or when you press the MODE button. It also has a sleep mode which activates if the unit does not detect any activity on the machine for more than 4 minutes.

Assembly and Maintenance

The machine’s front unit with all the drive and resistance elements comes pre-assembled. However, the rest of the parts require user assembly. You will have to connect the front stabilizer, the footrests, the pedals, the rail, the folding mechanism, the rear stabilizer, the seat, and the fitness monitor. This shouldn’t take more than one hour of your time, the task is fairly simple, and the manual provides all the necessary instructions. All the tools for the task are also included.

For maintenance, it is recommended to keep the machine clean, wipe the sweat that may fall onto the frame, and make sure there aren’t any textile fibers or debris on the rail to prevent any damage to the wheels of the seat. The internal parts of the rower do not require any lubrication.

The Pros

  • 2-in-1 fitness machine – rower and recumbent bike;
  • Folding design;
  • Long rail – applicable inseam of 40″;
  • Transport wheels integrated into the front base;
  • Padded and contoured seat for improved comfort;
  • Durable rail and seat – can support users up to 250 lbs;
  • Pivoting footrests for a perfect foot position with each stroke;
  • Weighted pedals with straps;
  • Smooth magnetic resistance system;
  • 8 levels of resistance, for light to medium workouts;
  • Exercise meter included – it can track time, distance, odometer, speed, calories, and pulse;
  • Pulse sensors integrated into the seat handlebars;
  • Quiet operation;
  • Easy to assemble;
  • Little maintenance required;
  • Decent warranty.

The Cons

  • No backlight on the fitness monitor;
  • No split-time function;
  • No stroke count function;
  • No online connectivity.

Summary

The Stamina Avari A150-335 Conversion II is a rower and recumbent bike hybrid trainer. It is equipped with a long aluminum rail, a generously padded seat with a large backrest, an 8-level magnetic resistance system, and a fitness monitor that tracks time, distance, speed, calories, and pulse. It’s a machine made for light to high-intensity cardio workouts, stamina development, muscle toning, and weight loss. It’s a bit more expensive than a standard rower in this feature range, but does offer a fairly decent quality for the price.

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