Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine Review
Schwinn 411 is the newest addition to the elliptical series of the company. It’s a compact elliptical trainer equipped with an array of features. It’s a model between the Schwinn 430 and Schwinn A40, and is built for home use with a space-saving design i.e. a vertical arrangement for the internal parts.
Additionally, in spite of its small footprint, it offers a quite impressive stride which facilitates an optimal range of movement.
Published: May 6, 2019.
Specifications of Schwinn 411
- Dimensions when Assembled: 137cm L x 61cm W x 150cm H (53.8” L x 24” W x 62.5” H)
- Weight when Assembled: 45.4 kg (110 lbs.)
- Stride: 46 cm (18 inches)
- Console: 13 programs, RunSocial compatible, Bluetooth
- Resistance: Eddy current, 16 levels
- Drive: Belt
- Supported Weight: 136 kg (300 lbs.)
- Extras: Bottle holder, tablet holder
- Warranty: Frame 10 years, parts 2 years, electronics 1 year, labor 90 days
Features of Schwinn 411
Assembly
The main vertical body of Schwinn 411 comes pre-assembled and the base frame is already in one piece too. Hence for assembly, users need to attach the adjustable stabilizers on the base frame, attach the main body to the base frame, and attach the moving arms, the console mast, the console and the pedals.
This may take longer than an hour. However, the process should not be difficult at all, thanks to the very clear schematics and assembly instructions provided in the manual. Moreover, all the required tools for assembly are included.
Construction
Compared to other front drive elliptical machines, the Schwinn 411 comes with a very compact design so as to create a small footprint. When the frame is completely assembled, it’s just 54” long and 24” wide. However, an area with a clearance of at least 24” (61 cm) should be left all around the machine as advised by Schwinn.
Obviously, the structural frame of 411 is made from steel tubing which is sturdy enough to support users up to 300 lbs. This is fairly decent for a unit made for home use. All the steel parts have a coating of a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The unit is painted in black color, except the crank arms which are painted in red color.
Although the 411 is not particularly a heavy machine, it does weigh around 100 lbs. which guarantees excellent stability. In addition, the front and rear base bars feature large adjustable stabilizers.
Schwinn 411 doesn’t feature a folding design. However, it has a set of transport wheels to the front base bar due to which users can move it easily to a new location.
Schwinn 411 is equipped with two sets of handlebars, one of which is fixed and the other is mobile. The fixed handlebars are welded directly to the front mast of the machine. They are curved up towards the user and are equipped with rubberized grips and also have integrated pulse sensors. The mobile handlebars feature long, upward grips which are rounded at the top. They are attached to the console mast and pedals, and hence they keep moving as long as users are pedaling. They cannot move independently from pedals.
Console
The Schwinn 411 features a mid-range console that has a 5.5” LCD display split into multiple subsections so as to show all the exercise metrics at a time. It features touch control buttons and tracks distance, time, speed, calories, pulse and RPM. The speed and distance are displayed in both imperial and metric units. It’s also telemetric which means it’s able to track users’ pulse rate through a Bluetooth HR chest strap transmitter.
However, this accessory is not included. But even if users don’t opt for the chest strap, they can still track their pulse rate via the sensors included into the handlebars of the unit.
The console offers 13 workout programs. There are also buttons on the keypad for the Manual and Interval programs. The remaining programs are preset and can be found under the Challenge button.
The Manual program offers the possibility to workout freely, adjusting the resistance as users like during the exercise.
The Interval program is preset at 30/90. The “Sprint” interval is 30 sec, whereas the “Rest” interval is 90 sec. Its default duration is set at 12 minutes and users can increase it in the increments of 12 minutes.
There are 11 Challenge Programs, 10 preset and 1 for Heart Rate Control. The 10 preset programs are Ride in the Park, Rolling Hills, Mount Hood, Stream Crossing, Pyramids, Easy Tour, Cross Training, Summit Pass, Uphill Finish and Pike’s Peak. For each of these, users can choose a goal for distance, time and calories.
The Heart Rate Program is built to help uses keep their heart rate at a particular level. The preset level is 125 BPM, but this can be adjusted. The machine will auto-adjust the resistance for the duration of their program, to keep users’ heart rate always near the chosen base value.
The console features Bluetooth connectivity. Hence it can communicate with different fitness apps.
It can also be synced wit RunSocial which is a mixed-reality app that provides virtual trails as per various locations in the world. It offers the possibility to run in 19 locations with 27 available routes. This can certainly make the experience enjoyable for the user. RunSocial enables users to share their results with family and friends and measure their heart rate more accurately during training.
But it should be remembered that RunSocial and other apps may need a separate paid subscription which doesn’t come included with the machine.
It’s also worth noting that the console comes with a tablet holder. It’s located under the main display and is large enough to accommodate a tablet of any size.
Resistance and Drive
The Schwinn 411 features a motorized magnetic resistance system. Hence users can adjust the resistance only from the console and the unit should be connected to a power source. There is a power adapter with cable included with the unit.
The resistance system comprises of a servo motor and a magnetic brake. When a certain level of resistance is selected from the console, the position of the brake is adjusted by the servo motor in relation to the internal flywheel, which causes more or less pedaling difficulty.
There are 16 levels of resistance in Schwinn 411.
The first few of them provide a light pedaling tension which is great for users suffering from injuries or who want to perform a light exercise. However, some users find the first resistance level too high and therefore exhausting.
The 16th level enables users to apply more focus on their leg muscles and attain a high cardiovascular rate within a short time.
The internal flywheel’s weight is not specified. However, it’s perimeter-weighted. This offers stability to the pedaling motion along with a more consistent momentum.
Like most other exercise machines featuring and eddy current resistance system, the Schwinn 411 contains a belt drivetrain. It has a durable, polygroove belt that delivers a very quiet motion free of vibrations. Unlike a chain drive, it doesn’t need lubrication. It also offers reverse pedaling. Thus users can alternate between normal and reverse sessions so as to diversify their workouts.
Step-up Height, Elliptical Path and Stride
The pedal step-up height of Schwinn 411 is around 9” (23cm). At their highest position, the pedals attain the height of around 17” (43cm) above floor level. Hence, it’s advisable to use this unit in a room with a ceiling minimum 20-22 inches (51-56cm) higher than the users’ height.
Schwinn 411 is equipped with a set of large pedals made from heavy-duty ABS material and is attached to durable steel bars. They don’t feature extra articulation or adjustable parts but do feature non-slip rubberized inserts which provide more cushioning. The pedal bars feature industrial-grade rollers with included sealed ball bearings that provide a smooth travel over the rails.
The elliptical path of the machine is horizontal. It offers a natural motion without the sense of going up or downhill.
An important point to note is that the unit has no incline system. Hence users cannot change the angle of the elliptical path.
In spite of having a compact design, the Schwinn 411 provides a quite long stride of 18 inches which is pretty impressive for a machine of that size, because other similar models offer stride of just 13-16 inches. That being said, the machine must offer a satisfactory range of motion for 6’ tall users. Taller uses can use this model but they may find this stride length a little restrictive. In that case, they can check out the 430 or 470 in the same series which offer a larger 20” stride.
Maintenance
It’s recommended to lubricate the base frame’s rails to ensure a quiet and smooth travel of the pedal rollers. Apart from this, users should keep the machine clean and keep checking for loose bolts and parts often.
Pros of Schwinn 411 Elliptical
- Excellent stability
- Sturdy construction
- Adjustable stabilizers
- Fixed as well as mobile handlebars
- EKG pulse sensors incorporated in the fixed handlebars
- 16 levels of eddy current resistance
- Multi-windows 5.5” LCD display
- 13 workout programs
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Transport wheel on the front base
- Rounded grips on top of the moving arms
- Extra-large pedals having rubberized inserts that provide extra cushioning
- Compatible with RunSocial and other fitness apps
- Integrated tablet holder and bottle holder
- Quiet operation
- Pretty easy assembly
- Very little maintenance needed
- Solid warranty
Cons of Schwinn 411 Elliptical
- When a tablet is placed in the tablet holder, it covers the console display
- A chest strap for pulse monitoring is not included
- No fan and sound system included
Schwinn Ellipticals Comparison Chart
Schwinn manufactures several similar ellipticals, differing in number of programs, display size and type, heart rate monitoring, stride length etc.
Comparison of most popular Schwinn ellipticals is given in the following chart:
| Model | Schwinn 470 Elliptical | Schwinn 430 Elliptical | Schwinn 411 Elliptical | Schwinn A40 Elliptical |
| Photo |  |
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| Number of Programs | 29 | 22 | 13 | 7 |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Mixed Reality Training | RunSocial App | No | RunSocial App | No |
| Performance Tracking | Schwinn Trainer App | Goal Track | No | No |
| Stride Length | 20 inches | 20 inches | 18 inches | 17.5 inches |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Contact & Telemetry Enabled | Contact | Contact & Telemetry Enabled | Contact |
| Display | 2 DualTrack Blue Backlit LCD Displays | 2 DualTrack LCD Displays | 5.5" High Contrast LCD | 5” x 3” LCD |
| Resistance Levels | 25 | 20 | 16 | 8 |
| Media Rack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Maximum User Weight | 300 pounds | 300 pounds | 300 pounds | 275 pounds |
| Amazon Link | Schwinn 470 Elliptical Machine |
Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine |
Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine |
Schwinn A40 Elliptical Machine |
Note: Amazon links open in the new windows, feel free to check them for most up-to-date offers and prices.
Compare the prices:
Bottom Line
The Schwinn 411 is an excellent elliptical trainer for home use with its compact and durable design, and hoards of features. With its 16 levels of resistance system, 13 workout programs, RunSocial compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity, it’s a perfect machine for interval training, light to intense cardio workouts and weight loss. It is an affordable machine, though not the most affordable, for home use; but it offers remarkable quality for the price.
For more reviews and recommendations, check Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine Amazon link (link opens in the new window).
