Body-Solid G9S Home Gym Review
Home gyms by Body-Solid are well-known in the fitness world. The G9S Home Gym keeps up with their reputation.
Among the various reasons why fitness enthusiasts would want to have a home gym, G9S meets many. It’s interesting to take a closer look at the features of this versatile exercise equipment.
Published: November 8, 2022.
Body-Solid G9S Home Gym Specifications
- Dimensions: 89 x 76 x 84 inches (226 x 193 x 213 cm) (L x W x H)
- Weight: 972 lbs. (440 kg)
- Resistance: 420 lbs. (190 kg) (2:1 ratio)
- Warranty: Residential lifetime
Features of Body-Solid G9S Home Gym
Assembly
The G9S is shipped in 7 different packages. For the assembly, the user will have to spend an entire day if they do it themselves. However, even if 2 people take up the task of assembly, they’re going to spend at least 5 hours for it and sometimes even more. Users who have already used it, have the biggest complaint about its assembly. One may understand the reason when they receive the package.
The assembly instructions that come with the machine are often found in box number 4. However, this may not always be the case. So, one will have to open all the boxes and find the manual and instructions before they do anything else.
It’s better to read the instruction at least twice to make oneself aware of what to expect and plan to assemble where they will use it since moving it later is almost impossible, given its hefty weight.
However, it’s recommended to pay professionals for assembly as it makes it much more comfortable.
Construction
The Body-Solid G9S Home Gym has been designed for home as well as light commercial use, and hence its construction is commercial-grade, i.e., it comes with long life, a lot of reps, and a great warranty. Users can get commercial gym quality workouts, focusing on every major (and most minor) muscle group.
There is hardly anything the G9S cannot do for its user. A few things that it cannot do include the user having to buy some extras and add-ons to make it complete.
Its weight being more than 970 pounds, it clearly shows that it’s not cheaply constructed.
A home gym is often placed in a garage or basement where humidity and moisture tend to be an issue. The G9S, however, has been made of a 12-gauge steel commercial grade framework and precision instrumentation to offer a rock-solid housing that lasts almost forever.
Compact Size
The G9S measures 76″W X 89″L X 83.5″H and thus is fairly compact despite having multiple stations. Thus, it’s just the right exercise equipment for those having a small space but longing for bouncing health.
DuraFirm Cushioning
The G9S features a high-density, top-grade DuraFirm seat and back pads throughout the machine. DuraFirm pads are tear resistant and durable, double stitched and sewn, and will last for the lifetime of the machine.
Adjustable Seat and Back Pad
The seat and back pad of the G9S are fully adjustable to help accommodate users of most sizes.
Dual Use
In general, workout enthusiasts wonder whether they should go for muscle-building or strength training. However, with G9S, this question doesn’t arise. The G9S is a dual-use machine that gives users the best of both worlds and allows them to exercise according to their needs.
Users can even split the load and have a partner (or two) exercising alongside them, supporting up to 3 users with a dual-weight stack.
Accommodates Multiple Users
Although it’s a home-use workout machine, the G9S offers gym-quality strength training for up to 3 people at the same time (with optional GKR9).
Upper Body Workouts
When combined with the knee resistance attachment, the G9S allows 3 people to exercise on it at the same time, though only 2 of them can use the weight stacks.
The machine offers more than 125 exercises, which users can get from variations on the standard 50 or so routines anyone probably uses.
The upper body exercises include pec fly, push-ups, pullovers, and bench press rows.
Multi-press arms allow users to do chest, shoulder, and back exercises. It also offers users the ability to stand and perform shoulder presses.
Cable arm exercises are also included in it, such as bicep and hammer curls, shoulder shrugs, tricep pulldowns, and lat pulldowns.
Ab Workouts
Ab exercises include oblique bends, dips, ab crunches, and even standing knee and leg lifts.
Users can use the ab bar for additional resistance, too, adding to their results or routines as required. Thus, they can do many different ab workouts with just one machine.
Lower Body Workouts
Lower body exercises G9S offers include calf raises, leg lifts, rows, and so on. But to get a full leg day in, users will have to get accessories.
The inner and outer thigh attachment of the G series will unlock a lot more potential.
Another attractive feature of the G9S is the leg press and calf press attachments. With a 2:1 ratio which doubles the weight capacity, a fully adjustable back, and an ergonomically designed, pivoting footplate, any user can get effective leg exercise.
Adding to the glute kicks and standing leg curls, users can even perform inner and outer thigh abduction and also reverse fly movements.
All in all, it offers users a complete leg workout.
Optional Upgrades
Most Body-Solid home gyms offer users something more.
Users can upgrade their pulleys to all aluminum, which is smoother, sleeker, stronger, and sure to add a touch of class to the gym. This includes the right number of pulleys to replace the original set of nylon pulleys. If they wish, they can add a few plates to the weight stack or even add new handles, grips, and bars.
To commemorate Body Solid’s 25th anniversary, the company announces a brand-new high-end premium weight stack plate from which users can benefit. Also, with the SP50 50lb. Selectorized Weight Stack Upgrade, users can add 50 lbs. to their stack.
Users can add the optional Vertical Knee Raise/Dip Station (GKR9), so up to 3 people can exercise at the same time on the G9S.
Although the G9S is a well-inclusive unit, sometimes users may want more, and Body-Solid has the parts and pieces to match users’ needs.
Note: Either Vertical Knee Raise OR Inner/Outer Thigh Attachment can be added.
Workout Information Provided
The package of G9S includes decals and pamphlets. If a user wants to know how to use a certain part or perform a particular exercise, the Body-Solid library has got them covered.
From workout apps to placards to hang up to literature, there are numerous supplies to show users what to do with proper form.
Multiple Stations
The G9S comes with 7 stations and is one of the most compacts yet complete home-gym systems in the fitness industry. Users can sit, lay, squat, stand and crouch their way to a new personality.
Offering over 50 workouts along the way, the 3-tier setup offers users a total of 7 different workout stations to hone their pulls and lifts.
The stations include multi-press arms, leg press, the Pec Dec, low row, and main press stations.
All G9 series gyms feature a multi-function Press Arm Station for bench press, shoulder press, incline press, and chest-supported mid-row workouts.
The Perfect Pec Station, with a fully adjustable range of motion, enables users to achieve deeper muscle penetration for quicker, more defined results.
The Leg Press/Calf Press Station works on its own separate weight stack, with a 2 to 1 weight ratio, giving the G9 gyms the excellent capacity of a 420 lb leg press.
Users can even optionally include the vertical knee raise/Dip Station (GKR9) and inner/outer thigh stations for a total of 7.
Pec Dec
The G9S includes a Pec Dec Station that offers computer-designed, dual-overhead variable resistance cams that let each arm operate independently providing unilateral and bilateral chest, shoulder, and back conditioning.
Pop-pin adjustable seat elevates vertically to properly align the user’s hands and elbows with the swiveling hand grips for proper alignment. For back and shoulder development, users should perform one-arm reverse flys.
Multi-Press Arms
Body-Solid has used advanced engineering to make an exceptional range of motion and full adjustability possible for any size user in G9S. the multi-grip press arm system delivers deep and effective muscle interaction for chest, incline, and shoulder press movements.
Users don’t need to sit on the floor to perform rowing exercises with the G9S, they can just grasp the mid-row handles for an exhilarating mid and lower back workout that will add to the flexibility, build strength and relieve lower back stress.
Leg Press
The G9S features a powerful leg press and Calf Press attachment that operates on a 2:1 ratio turning the 210 lbs. weight stack into 420 pounds of leg-blasting workouts.
Advanced design reduces spinal compression while allowing a full range of motion in a natural, biomechanical movement. A fully adjustable back pad and an ergonomically designed, pivoting foot plate accommodate all-size users for a complete leg and calf workout.
Tech Specs of G9S
The specialty of G9S is that it not only comes with a lot of features but also with impressive technological advancements. Here are a few.
- Its traditional press bar is biomechanically designed for maximum chest concentration and outstanding muscle development.
- The leg developer station of G9S features the SmoothGlide Bearing System with a biomechanically precise pivot point and integrated CAM to prevent resistance drop-off at the end of the exercise movement. This provides consistent resistance throughout a full range of motion.
- The leg extension cuffs are self-aligning and contoured and, thus, automatically adjust throughout the exercise movement.
- Perfect Pec station features a range of motion adjustment that allows beginning stretch preference.
- Seats have been made adjustable, telescoping, chrome plated, and gas-assist for quick, smooth adjustment and proper body positioning.
- Two 210 lbs (95 kg) selectorized weight stacks.
- High-density, top-grade DualFirm pads with lumbar support offer optimum comfort and protection from lower back strain.
- 2,200 lb. tension strength, military spec, steel aircraft cables with swiveling ends offer durability and low maintenance.
- 4 ½” pulleys are impact-resistant fiberglass-reinforced nylon with precision machined steel ball bearings.
- 2 4” 11-gauge mainframe construction guarantees maximum strength, durability, and functionality.
- Heavy-duty, durable, electrostatically applied powder coat finish.
- Leg Press / Calf Press station with 2:1 ratio for maximum resistance of 420 lbs. included
- Revolving lat bar, revolving straight bar, ab/triceps strap, ankle strap, Total Body Workout DVD, full-size exercise chart, and convenient water bottle holder and towel holder included.
Excellent Warranty
The G9S offers one of the best warranties in the industry. Many other brands offer a limited lifetime warranty, which doesn’t match the warranty offered by Body-Solid G9S.
The lifetime warranty of G9S covers everything, for life, from the seats and benches to the frame, welds, and weight plates. Pulleys, bushings, bearings, plates, guide rods, and hardware are backed by 3 years of warranty, and cables, grips, and upholstery have a 1-year warranty.
Maintenance
Fortunately, the maintenance of the G9S is very easy. The user just has to clean the machine regularly, lubricate cables and pulleys annually, and make sure the floor space around the weight stacks is kept tidy. After making these things sure, the user just has to use the unit.
Pros of Body-Solid G9S Home Gym
- Commercial-grade construction
- Commercial rated; can be used in homes and light commercial facilities
- Able to offer training for a lifetime
- Multiple stations that offer numerous exercise variations
- More than 125 exercises
- Works upper as well as lower body muscles
- Accommodates 3 users at the same time
- Exceptional technical features
- Water bottle holder included
- Napkin holder included
- Excellent warranty
- Easy maintenance
Cons of Body-Solid G9S Home Gym
- Assembly is time-consuming and not so easy
- High cost
Bottom Line
Although the Body-Solid G9S Home Gym comes with a hefty price tag if the buyer considers its commercial-grade construction, which offers users excellent durability and, thus, training for a lifetime, and multiple stations that in turn open up a possibility of numerous variations in exercises and ability to target most muscles of the upper as well as lower body, and an ability to accommodate 3 users for exercising at the same time, they’ll certainly find this unit worth the high price.
The G9S offers users so many exercises in the same place in one gym. Moreover, it’s a compact-sized machine that makes users with a small space able to follow a powerful exercise routine. All in all, every fitness enthusiast capable of spending a little more should consider buying this machine, whereas only those who cannot afford the price should look for other options.
For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Body-Solid G9S Home Gym Amazon link (the link opens in the new window).
