3i Indoor/Outdoor Elliptial Cross Trainer Color: Charcoal

BACKGROUND FOR THIS REVIEW: 12/21/15: I did file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau re: failure to adhere to their ad for free shipping. After several months of going through this process, the BBB finally shows StreetStrider's BBB entry as "REVOKED". I suggest that you go to the Better Business Bureau website and verify my claim. ( It takes a lot to have the BBB revoke your membership!) This company has several complaints listed, but mine is not included. (I don't know why.) But, of the complaints listed, you can see a strong similarity: no response from the company, no answering of emails, no returning phone calls, no answering of phones, no response to customer complaints, missing parts, etc.This was exactly my experience (all of these things), though my BBB complaint was for the deceptive advertising practices only. This is a very "creepy" company, and I strongly suggest avoiding it. There is no evidence of an "ethical core".Sideline note re: the company's lack of ethical integrity: the company lists "repair facilities" on its website (you can look up by zip code). I called my local "repair facility" listed. The bike shop had never heard of StreetStrider! It was unaware of being listed as an "official repair facility". So, it seems that StreetStrider has simply picked shops out of a phone book, and designated them as "official repair shops" for their products. This is not surprising to me.Finally, an amazing lack of ethical integrity is evidenced on the StreetStrider company website. If you look up "reviews" on their website for the several models, you will now find almost exclusively 5-star reviews. These are highly, HIGHLY edited. (My review, for example, does not appear.) They used to have other reviews, some of which were 1-star. These have all been culled. Same with the reviews that said "terrible customer service" but still had a 5-star rating. The reviews on their website are being outright manipulated, heavily edited and controlled.======A simple warning: do not buy a StreetStrider product. StreetStrider is a company that seems to be on the verge of closing up shop, its customer service is abysmal/ non-existent, its business ethics are atrocious, and its cash flow seems to be in severe jeapardy. For these reason, I DO NOT recommend purchasing any of the StreetStrider products.My experience is with the 8-speed 8r. But the 3-speed 3i is essentially identical, except for the gear shifter. The riding experience for both of these models will be identical. I purchased an 8r, refurbished, directly from StreetStrider (by phone). [NOTE the Amazon description for the 8r says "9-speed". This is wrong.] I only knew there was one available because I called the company and asked. It was $300 cheaper than a new one (which would sell at $1500). However, if you buy directly from StreetStrider, you will pay shipping costs (for me, $115). This fact is not stated anywhere on the Streetstrider website -- not even in its FAQ section.The summit 8r was not available on Amazon at the time when I purchased mine, or through anyone else, for that matter. The Streetstrider company had zero stock of 8r units for a long while -- even though StreetStrider's website says the 8r is their most popular model. But, it seems that the company was not able to supply these units for a long while (or any spare parts!) -- probably due to a poor financial situation and an inability to obtain credit. If you buy a 3i (the 3-speed version) or 8r through Amazon or a catalog company such as Brookstone, you will get FREE shipping. So, if you do want to buy a 3i or 8r, definitely get it through Amazon/Brookstone. The 3i is available through Hammacher Schlemmer also, but you will pay for shipping. These are the only sources for purchasing StreetStrider. StreetStrider's website sometimes sells the units cheaper than on Amazon -- but, you will have to pay for shipping (which is not made clear on their website.)Of the useful reviews that I have seen, users seem to agree that the 8-speed version is required if you have any hills in the area where you intend to ride. My experience bears this out: you will expend a lot of energy going up hills with only a 3-speed. The 8-speed will allow you to go up hills (still, this will be strenuous). The 3i seems to imply in the description that it collapses easier than the 8r -- which is a good feature (not sure if it is true.). The 8r requires you to remove 2 bolts using a hex wrench, and you must use a different hex wrench to remove the "pedal". So, there is some effort (and tools) required for you to transport this unit in a car. The 3i probably also requires a hex wrench to remove the "pedal" in order to collapse.The most important thing to consider when thinking about purchasing a StreetStrider is the likely possibility that your unit will very soon be an "orphan", with no customer support (not that there is any now, anyway), no spare parts, no warranty (there is barely one now, anyway.). The units come with only a 30-day warranty! This fact should tell you something. If you choose to return your unit, you are responsible for paying return shipping and also a 10% re-stocking fee. So, to try it out and then return it, you are in the neighborhood of $265 (cost to you). I do not know if Amazon would charge the re-stocking fee. You may want to verify with Amazon/Brookstone before purchasing. Amazon will charge you for shipping a return, unless the product is actually defective.StreetStrider's customer support is abysmal (at best). There are apparently only 3 or so people working at this company! One is "Sales", one is "Cust. Support", and one is the owner -- who is apparently never there.(My guess: he probably has another full-time job.) So, really, there are only 2 office people. Maybe there is a shipping person, but I think that the 2 office people do the shipping/packing.. The response to any email inquiries is "iffy", and your phone call will most likely go to voice mail. Don't count on anyone returning your phone call if you leave a message. Don't believe me? Try it yourself. The # is 1-800-348-0998. If you ever do manage to get someone to answer, ask to speak to the owner, and you will be told he will not speak to customers, or that he is not there, and that they don't know when he will be in, and that you might want to contact him by email. (He will never answer your email.)My "refurbished" unit (I was told) was "totally repainted", and assembled and disassembled 3 times to assure everything works well. This was the sales pitch on the phone. I did receive the unit promptly after ordering. I thought there was "free shipping" , as was advertised in a paid online Google ad (that appeared at the tippy-top of my Google search and that I clicked on). Free shipping is also shown on Amazon or Brookstone websites. Amazingly, StreetStrider says they did not place the online ad for free shipping, or the ad was a mistake (the story changes). Clicking on the ad brought me directly to the StreetStrider website, which mentions nothing at all about shipping costs, leaving the impression that shipping is included in the large-size sale price listed. Thus, my complaint to the BBB. StreetStrider's owner apparently decided that it was not worth rectifying a valid customer complaint by giving me a refund (or merchandise credit) of $115, and instead chose to lose its BBB accreditation. In my opinion, that was a flamboyantly bad mistake. But, this is not a well-run company. So, go figure.My "refurbished" unit had several issues-- and it obviously was not "refurbished". It was not repainted or checked for functionality or parts. I personally don't care about the paint job, or minor issues that are no big deal. But, the gearshift mechanism on my unit was non-functional, and I had to view the online video to see how to repair the gearshift. Before I took matters into my own hands to repair the "bike", my online request for warranty service (filling out a form on the website) was submitted, but I never heard back from StreetStrider. I was concerned that my 30-day warranty was ticking away. After calling several times, leaving messages, etc., I finally connected with Cust. Service. Asking about my online request for service, he said that the online form submission doesn't work!!! "It's best to call." [Never-mind that they only rarely answer the phone.] And he told me to view the online tutorial. So, lesson # 1: you must call the company directly for any sort of support, and you must repeatedly call back until you manage to connect with a live person. Do not bother leaving any messages or sending emails or requests for support through their online form. If that support person is out for the day, the entire "support staff" is gone. Same with the sales guy: If he is out for the day, the entire "sales staff" is gone. The owner, apparently, does not even fill in when one of these 2 guys is out!My 8r was supposed to be all ready to go, with minor assembly req'd, when I got it -- but there was obviously no attempt to refurbish or QC the unit before shipping it out. The "how-to-repair the shifter cable" instructions are not given in the manual, so you must go online to see these details. This means that the Owner's Guide is really just a brief summary of the assembly. It does not include any "advanced" information that is really required for operating and repairing the unit. So, you really, REALLY need to view the online videos-- even if just for future reference. Who knows how long this website will be up and running?I figured that a refurbished unit would have a high degree of QC attention paid to it before sending it out. I am a big believer in buying "refurbs" for most mechanical items -- but, not for any electronic items. So, I was very surprised that my unit did not even have an Owner's Guide included. (I immediately sent an email requesting an Owner's Guide -- but, got no reply. I had to call several times, and eventually got one. Again, I was fully aware that my 30-day warranty was ticking away, and I couldn't even try out the unit.) Several other parts were missing. There was no rear rack included, for example. You might think, that's no big deal. But, remember that there is no seat on these units, and a normal bike rear rack will not work. You need someplace to strap those pesky tools, etc. There are many specialty parts on this contraption that are not available at your local bike repair shop. So, the future longevity of this machine depends on the availability of these specialty parts.The major flaw for MY unit, tho, was the shifter. I think I have it working now, but it may not be working like it is really supposed to be working: There are 8 positions that should click into place. It seems that the shifter will click into positions 1 thru 8, but going back down to 1, there are missed clicks-- so, it's essentially hit and miss going in that direction. Is it still usable? Yes, but I will continue to work on it. No help is forthcoming from Customer Service.The assembly instructions are very complicated -- needlessly so, in my opinion. The entire document reads like this: "Install the shifter cable by inserting a 2mm hex wrench into the hole on the rear edge shifter cassette pulley at the 9 o'clock position (Fig 3-11A). Rotate the cassette pulley counter-clockwise by moving the inserted 2 mm hex wrench to the 6 o'clock position (Fig 11B)...." The ENTIRE document continues in this fashion.You can see the manuals online at the StreetStrider website. There are several different ones, for different years/models. See if you think the manual is something you can follow, before purchasing. Only very mechanically-minded people will be able to follow it, in my opinion. In reality, tho, it's not that complicated. It just seems complicated because of the poorly-written manual. The manual needs a total re-write from someone who knows how to write simple instructions. This product is not ready for prime-time general use if only because of these terribly obtuse instructions. ( I have a background in engineering, and I had trouble following the instructions. But I did it. Others who are not of that ilk will want to hire someone to assemble the unit.)There are no brick and mortar shops selling these units -- most likely, because the company has such poor customer service and has no ability to borrow cash to support any sort of distribution/support network. The track record for the units is too "iffy". There is little or "spotty" (at best) inventory -- probably because of the lack of funds thru cash flow or borrowing. What bike shop/ fitness shop wants to deal with servicing a unit that has no spare parts or customer support? It's very risky, and will not win any customer goodwill when the selling bike shop can't deal with service or repair of the unit. If you one day see these distributed through regular bike or fitness shops, then that is the time to purchase.Now, as to a review of the actual machine:Surprisingly enough, I generally like it (if I can get the shifter to work properly). It is fun to use, and it gives a lot of exercise in the meantime (which is why I got mine). I did not find it difficult to get the hang of it. Obviously, practice helps -- a lot. But, after a half hour or so, I think most people can get the hang of it. For those who are less coordinated, it will take longer. But it is do-able. The steering (by leaning) is the thing that takes getting used to. There are 2 hand-break levers, exactly like on a bicycle. But, your arms are constantly in motion and you are gripping the handles tightly, which is a bit different from riding a standard bike. The assembly is a pain in the ass due to the poor instructions, but once assembled, the collapse for transport is not difficult. The 8r requires tools to collapse, but I think the 3i may be a bit easier. You definitely have to carry some tools with you, though. So, you need to strap them onto the unit or have a backpack or waistpack. It is fairly heavy (50 lbs), but will fit into a hatchback vehicle (such as a Prius, with seats folded down) when collapsed. You do have to be able to lift about 50 pounds, though, and you need to wrap the Velcro strap (comes with it) around the collapsed sections to lift it without having it flop around. It is a bit ungainly, and if you are not capable of doing this, then you must be content with riding it near your home base.The machine definitely gives you more of a workout than you would get riding a bicycle. Several reasons: 1) the tire diameter is much smaller than for a bike. This means that you must do a lot of work to go the same distance as on a standard 15-speed bike. One revolution of the tires of the StreetStrider will take you only a short distance. So, one mile on the Streetstrider is a lot more work than one mile on your 15-speed. 2) Your shoulders and arms are also working when using the Streetstrider, unlike when using a bicycle. 3) The gear ratios are not likely to be comparable to those available on your 15-speed. You will likely have to work harder on the StreetStrider, even when in its highest gear, vs your bike in its highest gear 5) It is much heavier than your standard bike, so you must expend more energy to propel it. This is not a good "commuting" machine, because it requires too much effort. You will be exhausted if you try to commute somewhere. You must build up your stamina if you want to go several miles. If you want to commute somewhere, stick to a bicycle. If you want to expend a lot of energy and try to lose weight, this is a good workout. But, don't buy one of these with the intent of commuting to your daily job (unless it is very close by.)You must watch out for potholes when riding this machine, as it is easily thrown out of whack by a big jarring thump. Repairing this machine will be difficult, since the company is not responsive to its customers' requests for service or parts. Bike repair shops will have the same issue of non-response from the company. So, be prepared to be on your own.The unit is wider than a normal bike, so it can be dangerous riding on a narrow country road. A busy city street would be a definite NO! A lightly traveled small-town or suburban street is a "MAYBE". A bike path (paved) is perfect, but be aware that the StreetStrider takes up almost twice the width of a normal 2-wheeeler.There are some apparent knock-offs or similar contraptions on the market which are much, much cheaper than the Streetstrider. If you Google StreetStrider, these contraptions come up in ads, etc. They appear to be from China. StreetStrider is manufactured in Taiwan. So, in no case are you purchasing an American-made product. If you buy a StreetStrider or one of these knock-offs, you are taking a chance that you will have little or no customer support, in either case. But the Chinese versions are cheaper. Forget about any warranty. "You pays your money and you takes your chances". A 30-day warranty is quite pointless. No local shop will be able to obtain specialty parts for these. But, some items may be repairable or replaceable by your local shop.There are very few reviews of StreetStrider online -- which is why I posted this. The StreetStrider website has only highly-edited reviews where the customers say they love their StreetStriders. (These are only one- or two-sentence "reviews".) They used to have "reviews" where many complained about the terrible customer service, "free shipping" that wasn't, missing parts, inability to contact customer service, etc., and the reviewers had placed 5-stars in the review!! There were many of these sort of reviews. I was wondering: how could all these people not understand that "5-stars" means "good" and "1-star" means "bad"? Postings appeared such as: "Horrible!" (5-stars). Now, I understand that the many "anomalies" (where the star-rating is high, but the review is actually very negative) were due to the attempt by reviewers to "get around" StreetStrider's editing process. StreetStrider will allow posting only of 4 and 5-star reviews, so the only way a reviewer could get a negatively-worded review posted was to give it a 5-star review. This worked for a while. As of this writing, StreetStrider has removed all these anomalies, and they have removed all negative reviews. (My review, of course, was removed.) These reviews were very enlightening and it is too bad that they are no longer available for the public to view. BOTTOM LINE: StreetStrider is fixing/manipulating the "reviews" on its website.Another website quirk that you will find: StreetStrider sometimes does not allow access to its reviews, probably due to its ongoing editing process. It may say that there are 42 reviews (for example), but, when you click on the link to see the reviews, nothing happens. (This is the case with the refurbs that are currently shown online (but zero stock)). There is a link for "Write a Review", but this link does not work and never has worked. You can only be given an opportunity to post a review if you are invited (by email) to post a review (after purchase), and click on the provided email link. Then, your review will only be posted if the company likes your review. The tampering of the review process tells you something about the ethics of this company.In summary: I like the actual "invention". It is fun. It is NOT ready-for-prime-time, however. Largely, the problem with the StreetStrider is the company that makes/sells it. If they manage to sell the company to a better-run, larger manufacturer -- with good ethical customer service, warranty, distribution, instructions, and QC, then I would recommend purchasing one. In the meantime, I would suggest going with a less expensive Chinese brand that seems to be similar (though, I don't know for sure). I do not believe StreetStrider (the company) will be around much longer, unless it gets sold. If you really still want to buy a StreetStrider, buy through Amazon or Brookstone. It will be cheaper, and you may have some additional recourse for warranty issues or returns. Hammacher Schlemmer offers a Lifetime Guarantee on all their products, so that might also be a good route to go (even though you will be paying for shipping).