York Active 120 Treadmill Review

Treadmills are typically large and expensive pieces of fitness equipment. Frustratingly, those seeking a machine with compact dimensions have in the past often been forced to compromise heavily on features and specification. However times are changing and there are a number of manufacturers producing very good compact machines with decent specs. York are one of the oldest fitness brands in the world and you don’t get that old without being good at something! So we took a closer look at their Active 120 treadmill to see how it stacks up against the competition……

Assembling our review model of the Active 120 was a doddle as the machine is almost completely pre-built in the box (folded flat). It’s just a few bolts to secure the uprights into place that’s pretty much it.

The running belt is a reasonable size for a compact form factor treadmill, measuring 41cm in width and 120cm in length. With a continuous duty rating of 1.25 horsepower, the motor on the ZR8 has ample power to drive the running belt up to 10mph though running at that speed on a treadmill of this size isn’t something we’d recommend.

The deck feels nicely cushioned, without being too soft, although the 12 levels of incline represent in reality only about 7-8% actual incline. This is important to note as most people buying a compact sized treadmill such as this will be using it for general fitness and weight loss and jogging at an incline burns more calories than running on a flat surface.

In terms of ease of use and controls, this running machine is pretty good. In manual mode, you simply set the speed and desired incline by using the buttons on the console (which also include 4 speed and 4 incline shortcut keys) or alternatively the speed and incline can be adjusted using the controls on the handlebars.

The console itself has a simple and logical layout. At its center is a clear, blue back-lit that provides all the necessary exercise feedback such as speed, incline, calorie consumption and exercise time. In terms of programmes, there’s a selection of 12 programs and the profiles of each is printed on the console itself – making it simple to select the desired one. The programmes control both the speed and incline of the treadmill and each one can have its duration set between 5 minutes and an hour and a half.

Heart rate measurement is possible using the pulse grip sensors on the handlebars and the same sensors are also used to provide a body fat test, which takes your age, gender and weight and height into account to calculate your body fat percentage. As increasing amounts of exercise are carried out, this number should reduce over time and as such, it’s a useful motivational tool. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless heart rate receiver here which is disappointing as we’d expect to see one here and the lack of one impacts on your ability to get the most out of a training session..

The York Active 120 has a folding deck (with soft-drop) and transport wheels so that it can be moved out of the way when not in use. Finally, in the unlikely event of anything going wrong, the machine is covered by a 1 year warranty. That’s short, well short, of what more or less all the other main manufacturers are offering.

Best Price

The York Active 120 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 Active 120 is a decent enough machine from York Fitness. It covers all of the basics, but there's definitely better value out there such as the Proform 205 CST which has a larger running deck, a true 10% incline which is a good deal steeper and a larger motor. It also has features not found on the Active 120 such as adjustable cushioning, interactive training, speakers and a tablet holder and comes with a year's additional warranty cover. The thing is that theĀ  205 CST costs less than the Active 120!

York Active 120 Specifications

  • Speed Range – 1.0-16km/h (0.5- 10mph)
  • Incline – 12 levels powered incline
  • Motor – 1.25HP (2.5hp Peak)
  • Max. User Weight – 110kg /242lbs
  • Foldable – Yes
  • Transporting Wheels – Yes
  • Running Deck – 120 x 41cm, cushioned
  • Computer – Large blue backlit LCD display
  • Feedback – pulse/calories/distance/time/speed
  • Programmes in total – 13
  • Manual – 1
  • Pre-set – 12
  • Pulse Measurement – Yes, grip sensors
  • Conveniences – Quick speed and incline keys
  • Assembled Dimensions (LxWxH) – 164 x 73 x 129cm
  • Folded Dimensions (LxWxH) – 105 x 73 x 137cm
  • Warranty – 1 year

York Active 120 - Console / Display Unit

York Active 120 - User Reviews

The Pros

  • Quiet operation
  • Handlebar controls
  • Sturdy

The Cons

  • Warranty just 12 months
  • Top incline only about 7-8%
  • Not much for the money compared with other models
York Active 120 Reviewer Ratings

Power - 8
Appearance - 6
Running Area - 5
Comfort - 7
Reliability - 7
Noise - 8
Ease Of Use - 8
Controls - 6
Warranty - 7
Value for Money - 6
Best Price

The York Active 120 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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