Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 Treadmill Review

Motive Fitness has been around for a long time and is one of the more established brands in the industry. We took a look at their Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 treadmill to see how it performs and what you get for your money. Here’s what we found….

The Run Fit 3.0 comes flat-packed as most machines do, but unlike most models, it’s also partially assembled. The assembly process is nice and straight-forward involving little more than unfolding the console and locking it into position with bolts, then lifting the font posts and locking them into position with some bolts and attaching the rear wheels. And that’s it apart from some aesthetic plastic parts. So, in terms of assembly at least, Motive has definitely got this right.

Now, with the caveat that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the Run Fit 3.0 isn’t the prettiest of running machines. Perhaps it’s the particular shade of silver/grey metal or the particular shade of splashes of red, or perhaps it’s the patterning or maybe it’s just the finish, but there’s something about the design of this treadmill that’s just not all that pretty to look at. There’s nothing about it that says “high quality” as it sits there on the floor waiting to be used. That’s fine if we’re talking about a cheap treadmill, but the Run Fit 3.0 is priced at the premium end of the domestic market and compared to similarly priced models, the external parts of this model look a little ropey. The other thing that’s immediately noticeable, though less aesthetic, is the lack of a crossbar between the front posts. All but a handful of models we’ve tested that do not have a crossbar are less stable than those that do have one. So, as a rule, a crossbar between those posts really makes a difference to the sturdiness of a treadmill.

With a footprint of 190cm x W85cm (75″ x 33.5″) this is a medium-size treadmill yet Motive has managed to squeeze into that modest footprint a very substantial 150cm x 54cm (59″ x 21″) running deck. This is not quite as large a running area as some of its competitors but it’s certainly wider than most of them. As such, this treadmill has plenty of space for even the tallest runners. That spacious deck sits on a cushioning system that does a good job of absorbing the impact of landing. The whole front of the deck is on a suspension system which results in good shock absorption and a solid launch too. This set up works well albeit a little noisily and while there’s quite a bit of lateral movement of the console during a run the overall feel of the run is pretty good.

The console display is a back-lit two-colour LCD screen with the main feature being a large speed dial in the middle of the display, while training data including speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse is displayed using large easy-to-read characters. For control, there are buttons for speed and incline on the console and on the handlebars which is a nice touch. On the console, there are also one-touch keys for various speed and incline settings as well as the controls for the menus and cooling fan. There’s also a 3mm audio jack so you can plug in your MP3 player and there are also SD card and USB slots so that you can plug in a data card with your MP3 tracks on it. While a 3mm audio jack is to be welcomed the SD and USB slots feel antiquated compared with a Bluetooth connection which could easily have been used here instead.

In terms of programmes, we don’t think we’ve ever actually seen as many pre-programmed traditional workouts on a treadmill before. There are 91 of them! 91 programmes plus 3 heart rate control workouts, a range of target based workouts (time, distance, calorie etc), and there’s also a body fat measuring program. Now, having ninety-one workouts does sound amazing but a closer inspection of the workouts starts to raise suspicions that someone, somewhere has taken a somewhat random approach in the belief that as long as one programme is different from another, then it’s “all good”. So we’ll say this. Yes, there are lots of them, and there’s lots of variety. We’ll also say that to access them you need to press one button repeatedly until you reach the workout you want (great fun getting to P91). But on the question of whether these really are well thought-through workouts designed by a personal trainer, we’re going to stay silent.

Other features include dual water bottle holders, tablet holder, single-speed cooling fan, wireless receiver. The Run Fit 3.0 is covered by a 12-month manufacturers warranty which, at this price, is a bit mean!

Best Price

The Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 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 Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 has its plus sides. The deck is a good size, the motor is large and the run it delivers is pretty good. On the downside, the build quality is OK but not by any means great (especially for this sort of money) and while there are lots of programmes there's a definite suspicion that the manufacturer has opted for quantity over quality.  So, this is a basic treadmill that's well proportioned but not one that makes up for the lack of training options by way of build quality. An example of a treadmill that's also basic in function, but one that does make up for the relative lack of training options through sheer build quality is the DKN EnduRun which has a commercial-grade AC motor, the same top speed, a similar-sized deck (to within 1 cm) and a steeper incline. The EnduRun sports a commercial grade A.C drive motor and is superior, full stop and in our opinion well worth the extra.

Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 Specifications

  • 3.0 HP Continuous  DC Motor
  • 1-22kph (0.6-13.7mph) speed range with Safe-T-Key™
  • 0.8% – 16% electronically incline
  • 54cm (21.3″) x 150cm (59″) running deck with Vibration-dampened Treadmill System
  • Blue-Backlight, multi-function LCD display
  • The console includes keys for instant adjustment of speed and incline
  • Feedback: Speed, incline, time, distance, calories, hand pulse
  • Programs: 99 Pre-programmed training profiles, 3 manual, 3 Heart Rate Programs, Time Countdown Mode, Distance Countdown Mode, Calorie Countdown Mode, and Body Fat Measurement
  • Heart Rate Measurement via hand pulse sensors with the receiver (strap available optionally)
  • Conveniences: Bookshelf, bottle holder, Elastic Anti-shock System, transport wheels,  USB port, SD card slot, headphone jack, volume control, Fan, Soft-drop easy folding system
  • Dimensions in Use (L x W x H): 190cm (74.8″) x 85cm (33.5″) x 150cm (59″)
  • Folded Dimensions (L x W x H): 115cm (45.3″) x 85cm (33.5″) x 170cm (67″)
  • Max. user weight: 150kg (330.7lbs)
  • Product weight: 92kg (202.8lbs)
  • Easy self-assembly

Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 Treadmill - Console / Display Unit

Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 Treadmill - User Reviews

The Pros

  • Wide deck
  • Lots of programs
  • Easy assembly

The Cons

  • Quality of the programs is questionable
  • Some of the technology such SD card slot, instead of a Bluetooth connection, feels old
  • No crossbar means more unwanted lateral movement
  • No interactive training
  • The price
Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 Treadmill Reviewer Ratings

Power - 8.5
Appearance - 4
Running Area - 8
Comfort - 7.5
Reliability - 7.5
Noise - 6
Ease Of Use - 8
Controls - 8
Warranty - 2
Value for Money - 4
Best Price

The Motive Fitness Run Fit 3.0 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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