Carl Lewis MOTY5 Treadmill Review

The Carl Lewis MOTY5 treadmill, nicknamed the Silver Machine by one of our team, is quite a looker – it also has a few features to prove its beauty isn’t skin deep.

The first and most noticable is the motion control function which allows you to change speed at a wave of your hand over the console. To our knowledge this is the cheapest machine on the market to offer this feature and whilst some may think it’s a gimic we believe it’s very useful.

If you using a manual programme or feel you need to change speed on a pre-set one you can quickly and easily alter it to suit your needs with minimal disruption to your running – very handy in our view.

The Carl Lewis MOTY5 comes with a good selection of 12 pre-set programmes that should provide the novice runner with enough variation to
keep them motivated and challenged for some time to come.

With a top speed of 10 mph and maximum incline of 10% there’s enough scope for calorie-burning workouts to help you achieve your fitness targets without spending a small fortune on a treadmill.

However, at this price there is plenty of competition out there offering more for less. It’s two main rivals we’ve reviewed are from Proform with its iFit software and the Horizon T707 offering excellent value for money.

The MOTY5 does have more programmes that the Horizon but doesn’t have a heart controlled option that’s become popular in recent years. The heart controlled programmes alter the speed of the belt to keep you in the fat-burning zone thus optimizing the benefits from your time on the machine.

Its 2 HP motor is more powerful than most treadmills costing under £500 and is pretty quiet even at top speed – something you need to consider if you’ll be using it in a small space or have the neighbours to think about. It easily handles the running belt but although it has a good width it’s about 20 cm short of a good length in our view – just like some of England’s bowlers at the moment :0)

The LCD display shows the usual speed, pulse, calories (estimated), incline and distance and it easy enough to read although looks a bit dull compared to its rivals.

It comes with a one year on site warranty on parts and labour which is below average for a machine costing this much – you’d expect around two years but so far none of our reviewers have had any problems with it.

Best Price

The Carl Lewis MOTY5 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

The Carl Lewis MOTY5 treadmill is a fabulous looking machine and would grace any room - it would actually be a shame to keep it in your garage. It has enough programmes to get you fit and keep you coming back for more for some time to come. The motion control function works well in its favour, but still, it doesn't have nearly enough to offer compared to the direct competition. For instance, for £40 less the TrimMaster T310 is a much better machine with a far superior warranty.

Carl Lewis MOTY5 Specifications

  • 2.0 horsepower (HP) continuous
  • 0 – 16 km/H speed range (0 – 10 mph)
  • Powered incline up to 10%
  • LCD display
  • Quick speed key operation – one touch to change speed
  • Motion control for changing speed
  • 12 pre-set programmes
  • Hand grip heart rate monitor
  • 44 x 121 cm walking/running surface
  • Cushioned deck to reduce impact
  • Foldable for easy storage
  • Maximum user weight 125kg (19st 6lbs)

Carl Lewis MOTY5 Treadmill - Console / Display Unit

Carl Lewis MOTY5 Treadmill - User Reviews

The Pros

  • It looks great.
  • We like the motion control facility to alter speed without breaking your stride.
  • Easy to move, good portablilty.
  • The deck has a good feel for a machine costing under £500.
  • The display is uncomplicated and easy to read.
  • The handles are well designed and well placed.
  • It feels quite sturdy at top speed.

The Cons

  • Whilst the running deck is a good width the 121 cm can feel short for the novice treadmill user.
  • A few more programmes would be nice.
  • When comparing to other machines in the same price range it can look a bit limited in the features department.
Carl Lewis MOTY5 Treadmill Reviewer Ratings

Power - 7.5
Appearance - 8.5
Running Area - 6.5
Comfort - 7.5
Reliability - 7.5
Noise - 7.5
Ease Of Use - 7
Controls - 7.5
Warranty - 6.5
Value for Money - 7
Best Price

The Carl Lewis MOTY5 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 Treadmill 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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