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The Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE are similar home gym systems. Find out their differences and which one is the right choice for you.
The main difference between the Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE is that the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE has a quick change system where you can use other handles without having to change any cables.
On the other hand, the Bowflex Xceed is a lot more budget-friendly.
If you do not care about budget at all, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE could be the right choice.
That being said, you will likely prefer the Bowflex Xceed due to the big difference in investment requirements.
Most important differences Bowflex Xceed vs Xtreme 2 SE
The Bowflex Xceed and Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE are similar home gym systems but there are a few differences. These will influence what option is the best choice for you.
Some differences are more important than others. In the first table below, you can find the ones that will most likely influence your decision.
| Feature | Bowflex Xceed | Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Change System (No Cable Change) | No | Yes |
| Warranties* | 5 Years Power Rods Warranty, 1 Year Frame Warranty, 60 Days Parts Warranty | Not Specifically Mentioned** |
| Price Category*** | $$ | $$$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Many Bowflex home gyms have a 5 years power rods warranty, 1 year frame warranty, and 60 days parts warranty
***Price category at the time of writing
Other features Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE
Before choosing either the Bowflex Xceed or Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE you may also want to know about the smaller differences and common features.
| Feature | Bowflex Xceed | Bowflex Extreme 2 SE |
|---|---|---|
| User Weight Limit | 300 lbs (136.08 kg) | 300 lbs (136.08 kg) |
| Power Rod Resistance | 210 lbs (95.24 kg) | 210 lbs (95.24 kg) |
| Power Rod Upgradability | To 310 lbs (140.61 kg) or 410 lbs (185.97 kg) | To 310 lbs (140.61 kg) or 410 lbs (185.97 kg) |
| Product Dimensions | 53″ L x 49″ W x 82″ H | 53″ L x 49″ W x 82″ H |
| Recommended Workout Area | 96″ L x 78″ W | 96″ L x 78″ W |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Weight | 157 lb (71.21 kg) | 185 lbs (83.9 kg) |
| Transport Wheels | No | No |
| Chest Exercises | 4 | 6 |
| Shoulder Exercises | 15 | 16 |
| Back Exercises | 14 | 18 |
| Arm Exercises | 18 | 24 |
| Abdominal (Ab) Exercises | 1 | 3 |
| Leg Exercises | 11 | 12 |
| Bench Press | Vertical | Vertical |
| Number Of Exercises* | 65+ | 70+ |
| Squat Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Ab Training Strap | Yes | Yes |
| Lat Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Leg Extension/Curl | Yes | Yes |
| Media Rack | No | No |
| Instructional Placard | No | No |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Number of exercises mentioned in the user manual
Certain features explained in more detail
Most people will be able to choose between the Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE after taking a look at the table of differences and the prices.
However, you may still wonder about what the “quick change system” means and what the number of exercises mentioned in the manual is not important enough to appear in the first table.
Quick change system
One of the main ways these two Bowflex home gym systems vary is that the Xtreme 2 SE has a quick change system whereas the Xceed does not have this feature.
In essence, the quick change system means that you can just grab other handles and do other types of exercise without having to change any cables.
When using certain other Bowflex home gym systems like the Xceed, you sometimes have to clip off and clip on some cables before you can do this.
The quick change system can save you some time and is more convenient.
Winner: Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE
Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE exercises
You may have noticed that there is a difference in the “number of exercises” for the Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE. Something important to note is that these numbers are how many exercises each user manual mentions.
That does not mean you are necessarily limited to these exercises. There are often additional exercises and exercise variations you can do with each home gym system.
On top of that, having more exercise options does not necessarily result in more muscle growth and strength progress.
If you only do weighted squats, you can build more or less the same amount of leg muscle as someone who does weighted lunges and step-ups too.
So the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE may have 18 back exercises and the Bowflex Xceed “only” 14. However, the amount of back muscle you build will be about the same with both machines.
Price
If you would only look at the machine features, you would conclude that the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE is a better choice than the Bowflex Xceed. Even so, for most people price is at least somewhat of a factor in their decision.
Exactly how much these home gyms will vary in this area depends on where you get each machine and can change over time.
That being said, at the time of writing, the Bowflex Xceed is a lot more budget-friendly than the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE.
Winner: Bowflex Xceed
User reviews
When looking at the Bowflex Xceed and Xtreme 2 SE, the features and price differences should be able to tell you what option is the best for you since these machines are from the same brand.
Even so, customer reviews sometimes uncover unexpected downsides and trends in quality control issues. This is actually the case in this comparison. Customers tend to be happier with the Bowflex Xceed.
For both machines, customers mention that a home gym system does not completely replace free weight gym workouts. These can be effective anyway but it is something to keep in mind.
Additionally, the rods will not offer the same consistent resistance similar to cable machines. There are also a few exceptional cases where the rods lose resistance relatively early.
What things customers would like to see improved are similar for both machines. However, negative customer reviews definitely tend to be more common in the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE.
Customer reviews of the Bowflex Xceed are currently relatively positive overall.
Is the Bowflex Xceed or Xtreme 2 SE better?
In short, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE has a quick change system which makes it so you don’t have to adjust any cables before using other handles. In return, the Bowflex Xceed is a lot more budget-friendly.
Even individuals who are on a big budget will likely not find this extra feature worth the extra investment. That means most people will prefer the Bowflex Xceed.
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