Fuel Fitness E5 Elliptical Trainer | Delivers a Smooth Elliptical Stride

Losing weight, building muscles, and maintaining a good shape is achievable using Fuel Fitness E5 Elliptical. It is one of the many elliptical machines available in the market that delivers effective workouts to reach your fitness targets. You can effectively burn calories with its six different preset workouts, and it allows you to create two custom programs that suit your goal.

The heavy-duty flywheel and high gear ratio guarantee smooth ellipse motion. With a quick touch of a button, you can adjust this machine’s incline level from 0-20 to focus on your lower body muscles. On the other hand, using fixed handlebars will help you work on your upper body. You are thus giving yourself a total body workout that can range from simple to intense.

To ensure an excellent user experience, Fuel Fitness designed the E5 with a 2-degree inward slope to the foot pedals to reduce stress on ankles and knees that occurs to most ellipticals. They are also adjustable with three different positions to prevent pain on the Achilles tendon and numbness of the toes.

The Fuel Fitness E5 Elliptical comes equipped with a 7.5″ backlit LCD screen display that tracks time, speed, RPM, pace, distance, calories, and pulse. There is also a 1/4 mile (400 m) track with a lap count function. It reads your pulse through the metallic pulse sensors integrated into the stationary grips. Additionally, it is also telemetric, which means it can read pulse using an HR chest strap.

Learn more in my complete review below!

Product: Fuel Fitness E5 Elliptical

Price: For a great deal on this elliptical, merely go here on Amazon

Warranty: Frame lifetime / Parts 5 years / Labor 2 years

My rating: 9.25/10

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate Program participant, I earn commissions on purchases made through links in this post. Full disclosure

Details and Specifications

• Assembled dimensions: 82L x 31W x 67H inches (208L x 79W x 170H cm)
• Assembled weight: 231 lbs (105 kg)
• Flywheel weight: 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
• Supported weight: 375 lbs (170 kg)
• Stride: 20 inches (51 cm)
• Pedals: Cushioned, adjustable (3 levels)
• Incline: Automatic, 20 levels
• Resistance: Eddy current, 20 levels
• Console: 10 programs, Bluetooth
• Extras: Bottle holder, tablet holder, sound system, cooling fan, HR chest strap
• Warranty: Frame lifetime / Parts 5 years / Labor 2 years

E5 Frame construction

The Fuel Fitness E5 elliptical machine features a heavy-duty frame made of steel tubing. The fully assembled unit is quite heavy; it weighs over 230 lbs (~105 kg), which provides exceptional stability. You can be sure that it won’t rock or wobble during your workouts. Plus, its base stabilizers come with adjustable, rubberized levelers.

All the steel tubes within the frame construction have a corrosion-resistant and abrasion-resistant paint finish. The color used is black. However, the incline system’s rail bars feature aluminum covers, which only have their natural polish.

Of course, the machine also integrates ABS parts. For example, the drive system covers, the incline system covers, and several other small covers are durable ABS materials.

The Fuel E5 elliptical is a relatively large machine. It is approximately 82″ (208 cm) long and 31″ (79 cm) wide. Plus, it is advisable to leave at least two feet of clearance on each machine’s side and at least one foot at the front and rear. Thus, the unit may not fit too well in a small room or apartment. And, of course, its frame does not fold.

This elliptical trainer comes with two sets of handlebars. The moving ones have a multi-grip design and integrate incline and resistance controls. They cannot be locked; they move for as long as the pedals are moving. The fixed handlebars have short grips. They integrate pulse sensors, and the console can monitor your heart rate.

The pedal system features a set of heavy-duty steel bars. Even though the pedal trays are ABS material, they support users up to 375 lbs (170 kg). In addition, they are relatively large, approx. 15″ (38 cm) so they can accommodate footwear of all sizes. They do not have extra gel cushioning, though, like the ProForm Endurance pedals 920 E.

Two last features that we must mention here are the rear lifting handle and the front transportation wheels. These considerably ease the relocation of the machine, if needed. Therefore, one person can move the machine despite its weight.

Incline system, stride, and step-up height

First of all, it is essential to mention here that the machine’s pedals are adjustable. Each pedal has a pin at the rear, which allows its front-to-back angle adjustment. There are three adjustment positions for each pedal, offering angles of 0°, 5°, and 10°.

This is quite a useful feature as some users may get foot numbness due to nerve compression, and adjusting the pedal angle can eliminate this problem. Plus, they also have a 2° inward tilt to promote a more natural foot positioning.

The Fuel E5 has an automatic incline system placed at the rear of the machine. It involves a motor connected to the console and a double rail system that lifts the pedals and changes its elliptical path.

Since the incline system is motorized, the unit’s incline is only adjustable from the console or the left-moving handgrip’s controls. There are 20 incline levels available; the slope can be adjusted gradually from the console or left grip controls, but the console also has quick selection buttons for the 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 levels.

The Fuel Fitness E5 elliptical machine offers a 20-inch long stride. Thus, it can accommodate users up to 6’5″ (196 cm), promoting a complete range of motion.

The pedal Q-Factor (spacing between the pedals) is relatively narrow. It is approx. 2″ (5 cm); thus, your feet’ positioning on the pedals is natural, without any lateral stress on the knees and ankles. Also, each pedal delivers an elevation of approximately 20″ (51 cm). Therefore, it’s best to use the machine in a room with a ceiling at least 25″ (64 cm) higher than your height.

E5 Drive and resistance

The Fuel E5 is a front-drive elliptical machine, so its flywheel integrates into the front unit. It is a mid-range 25 lbs (11.3 kg) flywheel and has a balanced structure designed to provide consistent momentum and a steady pedaling motion. It also permits back-pedaling.

The unit’s drive system uses a belt transmission. This type of drivetrain comes with several advantages. First of all, you don’t have to worry about its lubrication. Second, it generates considerably less vibration than a chain drive, and third, it promotes a noise-free operation.

In terms of resistance, the Fuel Fitness E5 elliptical comes with an eddy current braking system. It consists of a magnetic brake and a servo motor. Therefore, you have to connect the machine to a power source to adjust its resistance.

The unit can also change its resistance automatically. For example, if one of the preset programs is in use, the elliptical will adjust the resistance throughout the workout, depending on the program’s current segment.

The machine makes available 20 levels of resistance. The resistance is adjustable from the controls incorporated into the right mobile grip or the console’s bottom right corner. Just as for the incline, the console offers quick resistance controls for the 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 levels.

Console

Although the console of the E5 doesn’t have online connectivity, it does provide plenty of programs and other features to keep you motivated and entertained. First, it has a 7.5-inch LCD with an LED backlight and significant digits, easy to read. Second, it tracks time, speed, RPM, pace, distance, calories, and pulse. There is also a 1/4 mile (400 m) track with a lap count function.

The console can either be English or Metric units; however, English units (miles, MPH, lbs) are default. Also, it can read your pulse through the metallic sensors integrated into the stationary grips. Additionally, it is also telemetric. Therefore, it scans your pulse through a wireless HR chest strap, and this accessory is (included).

The console makes available ten workout programs. The first one is the manual program. This allows you to adjust the resistance freely and incline during your workout and monitors your workout stats. The following five programs are preset. In addition, they offer various grid layouts, including Hill, Fat Burn, Cardio, Interval, and Calories.

The 7th and 8th programs are user-defined programs. They allow you to input your data, such as weight or age, for better data analysis and create a custom workout layout. Finally, the 9th and 10th programs are heart rate programs. The first one is set to 60% of the maximum HR, while the second is 80% of the maximum HR.

Of course, the console offers several other extra features. First, it has a built-in sound system that consists of two speakers. Second, it is compatible with most MP3 players of smartphones. Third, it is also Bluetooth compatible, so you can sync your device with the console to play your music through without an AUX cable.

A workout fan is between the two speakers. It is pretty significant in diameter, providing a pretty decent cooling during a more intense workout. A media shelf is under the LCD; you can place your phone or tablet on it to use during your workouts. And finally, the console assembly also integrates an accessory/bottle holder.

E5 Assembly and Maintenance

The machine’s drive and resistance elements are pre-assembled, attached to the front part of the frame, and concealed by the ABS covers. The incline mechanism is also pre-assembled and attached to the rear section.

Therefore, you only need to connect the two main parts (front and rear), the console mast, the console, the moving arms, the pedals, and several small covers. This may take more than an hour. However, the manual provides clear assembly instructions and schematics. An essential toolkit is also (included).

For maintenance, it’s advisable to keep the rails of the machine clean to prevent any damage to them. It’s also advisable to periodically check for loose or broken parts, remove the dust and the sweat that may fall onto the frame or console. The machine’s internal components don’t require any lubrication or maintenance, at least not for a very long time.

Pros

• Sturdy frame, with a weight capacity of 375 lbs;

  

• Aesthetic design;
• Adjustable stabilizers on all bases;
• Transport wheels;
• Lifting handle at the rear;
• Ergonomic, oversized pedals with three levels of adjustment;
• 2° inward tilt for the pedals to provide a natural, stress-free foot positioning;
• 2″ narrow Q-Factor allowing a biomechanically correct stride;
• Smooth and quiet belt drive;
• Automatic incline, 20 levels;
• 20 levels of eddy current resistance;
• Multi-grip mobile handlebars;
• Incline and resistance controls integrated into the moving handlebars;
• Pulse sensors;
• The large LCD, LED-backlit, offering excellent readability;
• One manual program;
• Five preset workout programs;
• Two custom workout programs;
• Two heart rate programs;
• Wireless HR chest strap transmitter included;
• Sound system included, Bluetooth capable;
• Cooling fan included;
• Tablet holder included;
• Bottle/accessory holder included;
• Little maintenance required;
• Excellent warranty.

Cons

• No online connectivity;
• A tablet placed on the tablet holder will cover the LCD;
• There is no USB port for data transfer or tablet recharging.

Fuel Fitness E5 Elliptical Summary

The Fuel Fitness E5 is a heavy-duty elliptical trainer, offering 20 levels of eddy current resistance and 20 automatic incline levels, various workout programs, and multiple extras such as a sound system, cooling fan, etc. In addition, it has an impressive 375 lbs maximum user weight capacity and adjustable pedals, a feature that many other ellipticals don’t have.

Moreover, it’s perfect for light to intense cardio workouts, interval training, stamina training, and weight loss. And finally, it’s not exactly one of the most affordable trainers, but it offers excellent value for the price.

I hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have anything you’d like to share or any opinions about my website, please speak up. I look forward to your comments, questions, and the sharing of ideas.