York Perform 230 Front Drive Elliptical Review

We check out the very top of the range Crosstrainer in York’s line up of 5 ‘Perform’ machines. With the other models being rear-wheel driven, we were eager to see what you can expect from the extra investment of this front wheel driven Elliptical.

First things first, the machine obviously needs assembling, but this shouldn’t be too daunting a prospect for anyone with the patience to follow the instructions! York has been rather helpful in segmenting the bolts and bits into areas within the blister packet that are clearly labelled and coded to their corresponding ‘steps’ of the assembly process. There are 8 steps to work through in all, so it’s really just a matter of patience and concentration! There is not much that can be more frustrating and time-wasting than bolts that don’t line up due to poor engineering, thankfully York seem to have manufactured the 230 Model with the same high-quality components and precision that we have come to expect from them in past tests. The bolts, screws and holes aligned correctly and tightened securely.

When you climb aboard and begin to pedal, there are two things that instantly impress. Firstly, the Perform 230 is self-generating so there’s no plug, no messy cables and no need to site the machine by a mains socket. Secondly, it’s built to cope with users weighing close to 23 and a half stone (150kg) which is indicative of how sturdy and well constructed the ‘230’ is.

So what’s it like in use? We’ve obviously tested countless ellipticals over time, to share our reviews with you, so we’re no strangers to the usual feel of a front-driven machine…. However, the Perform 230, has a ‘motion’ that came as quite a surprise! The elliptical arc is exceptionally shallow (about 6″ of vertical travel over the 19″ stride length). This means that unlike the typical oval motion you’d expect, the Perform 230 action is rather like ice-skating! The shallow stride may not appeal to traditionalists, but we really liked the sensation, and it’s certainly a cut above many ‘bouncy’ rear-drive ellipticals you’d experience at this price point.

The combination of chunky rollers gliding up and down 40 mm thick tubular steel guide rails and a 7kg flywheel and quality drive components make for a smooth action. The dynamic handles have a rubberized grip bulking them up to 40 mm in diameter and although the crank arms aren’t over-kill in their construction, they still feel substantial and there’s not too much flexing as you pull and push to work the upper body.

The console itself is rather typical of the Perform range, although unlike the mains powered models, this doesn’t have a very vibrant, colourful display. That said, the light blue LCD digits against the black 125 mm x 55 mm stand out with crystal clarity. The main concern here is that all rechargeable batteries eventually reach the point where they’ll no longer hold a charge. The screen is clearly divided up with all of the important training feedback being allocated its own area in a row along the bottom of the screen. The top section is made up of a program menu, which is easy to navigate through by using the shuttle dial in the centre of the console. The console itself is intuitive to use and it doesn’t take a minute before you familiarize yourself with the layout and settings.

Aside from the Shuttle dial, there are only 4 other buttons on the console, 2 of which are rather unique to York machines. The ‘Body Fat’ program allows a user to monitor their body fat percentage and B.M.I by entering their personal details (gender, weight etc) and holding onto the pulse-grip sensors on the static handles until the figures are displayed on the screen. Alternatively, the sensors can be used to monitor how efficiently your pulse rate returns to normal during a 6o second period after exercise. The computer then gives you a score from 1 (Outstanding!) to 6 (Poor!).

There’s the provision to create and store up to 4 user-defined programs. Plus 4 users can also enter and save their personal data such as gender, height, age etc to give more accurate feedback to calories, body fat and heart rate programs.

Speaking of heart rate, we were disappointed to see that there is no inbuilt receiver for wireless monitoring so it must be noted that by using the pulse sensors, the readings will be fairly inaccurate. This also means that 4 heart rate controlled programs can only be utilized by grasping the sensors. This, in turn, means that you can’t use the moving arms when using the heart rate control programmes. In reality, this means that at best the heart rate control programmes are seriously limited AND inaccurate and at worst, unusable to all intents and purposes. In our opinion, there’s really no point in including HRC workouts if you don’t include a wireless heart rate receiver.

To sum it up, aside from the noticeable absence of an inbuilt heart rate receiver, this isn’t a bad machine in its own right. Though we’ll save you the trouble of looking online and tell you that while this isn’t a bad machine, there’s more value to be had out there from just about every direction.

Best Price

The York Perform 230 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Review Summary - In Brief

With the Perform 230, York has delivered a good front-drive elliptical cross trainer here but there is better value out there. So if you're in the market for an elliptical at this kind of budget we'd suggest you'll be making your money work harder buy taking considering the Proform 525 CSE, which boasts a 10kg flywheel making it a good deal smoother, a Bluetooth wireless receiver, and iFit compatibility for interactive training yet costs just a little more making it well worth the extra initial outlay.

York Perform 230 Specifications

  • 7kg/15.5lbs flywheel weight
  • 32 levels of magnetic resistance
  • Dimensions (L x W x H): 187cm (73.6”) x 67cm (26.4”) x 178cm (70”)
  • 19” (48cm) stride length
  • Maximum User Weight: 150kg (330lbs)
  • Self-generating drive system
  • 5.5″ Console with LCD display
  • Feedback: Time, speed, RPM, distance, calories, pulse, watts
  • 23  workout programmes (12 Pre-set, 1 Manual, 4 User, 1 Watt, 4 HRC, 1 Body Fat)
  • Pulse measurement via hand grip sensors
  • Conveniences: transportation wheels, bottle holder,
  • Warranty: 2 years

York Perform 230 Front Drive Elliptical - Console / Display Unit

York Perform 230 Front Drive Elliptical - User Reviews

The Pros

  • 150kg Max. User Weight – Ideal for heavier users
  • Solid construction and good internal components

The Cons

  • No wireless receiver
  • Price
York Perform 230 Front Drive Elliptical Reviewer Ratings

Ease Of Installation - 6
Appearance - 6
Smoothness - 6
Comfort - 7
Reliability - 7
Noise - 7
Ease Of Use - 6
Controls - 5
Warranty - 8
Value for Money - 3
Best Price

The York Perform 230 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Also see our Elliptical Cross Trainer Comparison Table

Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the above review. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer

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