Purchasing a used Model D rower

[bobcobb]

Hi all,

I've been looking into purchasing a rower and all roads seem to lead to the pricey Concept 2.

Thing is a new one is a bit out of my budget and there are hardly any used ones for sale in my area. I cannot at the moment justify spending $1300+ CAD on a new one. However, I have come across a used Concept 2 Model D rower for sale in my price range, but after contacting the seller I was told it is 15 years old but in excellent condition.

I have yet to see this rower in person, but my question are:

• Should the 15 years be an automatic no or are Concept 2 rowers REALLY that durable?
• If the 15 years are a non issue, is there anything specific I should be looking for when I go to test it?
• Would I be better spending 4-500 on this used rower or buying a new one of a lesser brand for ~$350 ex https://www amazon ca Magnetic-Machine-Sunny-Health-Fitness/dp/B017HSNIEW

Appreciate any feedback. I just want to get rowing!

Thanks!

[Citroen]

Fifteen years is nothing to worry about except you may need to replace the PM3 monitor on it with a PM5.

Spending CAD$500 then adding the cost of a brand new PM5 will get you a rower that's good for another 15 years (with periodic maintenance, new bungees and replacement of a few worn parts). In most cases it will be better than any low priced Brand-X rower.

[MPx]

Concept2 is still very much "the" rower to have, not least because of the community around it and enormous data history, so you can see how you're doing compared to people in the similar position to you as well as the best in the world and learn from them all. That positive feedback potential is worth more than most newbies would credit in keeping you going through the inevitable plateaus in your training.

The machines themselves are incredibly robust and spares are available for all models right back to the model A. I bought my model C in 1997 and its still going strong. I've upgraded the monitor twice (running a PM3 now which is still fine!). Put two new handles on it, and a couple of seat pads...but otherwise its as it arrived from the factory. Its had 3 lengthy periods of no use (18months, 3 years, 3 years) but in the other periods has covered about 12 million meters.

Not surprising that most (not all!) on this forum are fanboys (and girls) of the C2 so maybe not the best place for unbiased advice...but there's plenty of evidence that a reasonably looked after 15 yo C2 Model D will still be in fine fettle. Having said that there were a couple of changes made to early Ds - cant remember what they were or the cut off date for when the upgrades entered production - maybe someone will be along in a minute who could say. But even these were easily updated at low cost, so shouldn't put you off.

I say go for it and enjoy your journey towards improved fitness.

[Dangerscouse]

100% go for the C2, and 15 years isn't an issue imo.

I don't know of anything that can't be replaced at a reasonable price so if it looks good and feels good, go for it.

[MPx]

Here's the link to the notified issue on early Model Ds. Quite a short period when they were affected, and easily corrected if the one you're after happens to fall in the range.
https://www.concept2.co.uk/service/indo ... uct-notice

[Arower]

We initially bought a used Model D with PM3, replaced it after a month with a new Model D with PM5. We sold the original rower for more than what we paid for it. The backlight on the PM5 was the main reason for the upgrade, it was cheaper to buy a new rower than retrofit the PM5, other than that both rowers were identical.

[Carl Watts]

There are actually quite a few subtle improvements made to the Model D2 made after mid 2006.

The general public are unaware of the differences between the Older "D1" rower and the newer "D2".

https://www.concept2.co.uk/service/indoor-rowers

A newer version of the PM3 and PM4 also came out from mid 2008, it was a much more reliable, faster and lower battery consumption version.

If you factor in all the changes and the silly prices asked second hand, you generally just end up purchasing a new rower.