• AIR+MAGNETIC Resistance: 32 levels for a realistic rowing experience.
• Advanced LCD Monitor: Tracks time, distance, calories, SPM, & more.
• Ergonomic: Handlebar with controls, contoured seat, & adjustable footrests.
• Heavy-Duty Construction: T13 aluminum Mono-Rail & precision steel legs.
• Space-Saving Storage: Easy fold-and-roll system with a safety child lock.
*Some Images Shown w/ Optional Add Ons. See Add Ons
Connect-22 Compatible
Ant+ & Bluetooth
Commercially Warranted
Magnetic Resistance
$1,999.00
Track your performance effortlessly with the black mask LCD display featuring LED backlighting. Monitor essential metrics like time, distance, calories, strokes per minute, and more, all while benefiting from 12 preset programs and 4 user profiles.
Resistance: 32 Levels of Resistance Utilizing BODYCRAFT Air+Magnetic Eddy Current Technology
Travel: 38.5″ of Travel Will Accommodate Users Up to 6’8″
Drive: Zero Maintenance Premium Nylon Belt Tested at 580lb load with 500,000 Repetitions
Bluetooth: FTMS Protocol Compatible
Power Source: Plug-in
Handlebar: Ergonomically Correct Comfort Grip Aluminum Handlebar with Wireless Remote Control
Seat: Contoured Comfort Seat with Heavy Duty Roller Bearings
Foot Hold: Deluxe Adjustable Heel Rest with Quick Adjust Foot Straps
Support Legs: Precision Formed Laser Cut High Strength Steel
Storage: Easy Fold and Roll System with Safety Child Lock
BLACK MASK LCD DISPLAY
Display: Time/500M, Calories, Pulse, Strokes Per Minute (SPM), Watts, Strokes, Meters, Time, Level, Profile
User Profiles: 4 Users
Manual Mode: Quick Start or Set Countdown Goals.
Program Profiles: 12 Auto Resistance Change Profiles
Programs: 6 Race, 4 HRC, 3 Interval, User Mode, 1 Custom Definable & Manual
Pause/Power Off: Can Pause Workout for 5 Minutes and Will Auto Shutdown After 5 Minutes of No Use
Finish: Powder Coated Steel with Anodized Aluminum Beam
Track: Heavy Duty I-Beam Mono-Rail – High Strength T13 aluminum
Click HERE to see dimensions PDF
Dimensions: 98.5″L x 20″W x 38.5″H
Folded Dimensions: 58.5″L x 20″W x 77″H
Box Dimensions: 71.5″L x 30″W x 10″H – Ships LTL
Max User Weight: 350 LBS
Weight: 101 LBS (116 LBS boxed)
-RESIDENTIAL-
Frame: Lifetime
Parts: 7 Years
Labor: 2 Years
Wear Items: 1 Year
– COMMERCIAL –
Usage: 5 Hrs/Day
Facilities: Non Paying
Frame: 10 Years
Parts: 3 Years
Labor: 1 Year
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I love my VR500, but it frustrates me...I bought it 3 years ago, and it uses a Polar heart rate transmitter that is no longer officially supported by Polar. The same topline model today uses the same antiquated heartrate technology. The rower would get an easy 5 if I could use an updated sensor with it.
REPLY:
Hi Carl, we are very happy to hear you love your VR500 rower! As for the heart receiver built into the VR500 computer it will receive any 5 kHz transmission (the most common) heart rate belt or strap. We currently offer the POLAR T34 heart rate strap on our website with uses 5 kHz transmission. Polar also offers 2 new heart rate straps that use both 5 kHz and Bluetooth/ANT+ technology. See below. I hope this helps and we hope you enjoy your VR500 for years to come! Thank you for being part of the Bodycraft Family!
https://www.polar.com/us-en/products/accessories/h10_heart_rate_sensor
https://www.polar.com/us-en/products/accessories/H9_heart_rate_sensor
Carl Willis-Ford
I bought this Bodycraft VR500 rowing machine at a local retailer a couple of weeks ago and I could not be happier with my purchase. After giving up my club membership (tired of the rat race) I decided to take my workouts to the house. I wanted to have a low impact type of machine that would get my blood pumping and get me sweating. Having decided that the $4000 elliptical was not in my budget the sales person asked me if I have ever rowed before. I told him I had used the rower at the club but since they only had 1 it was hard to get on it much. He suggested I take a look at this Bodycraft and assured me it was every bit the quality of the one at the club. I tried it out in the store and he was not lying. This rower is awesome!!! It has a ton of programs and the resistance is no joke. After like 100 strokes on half resistance I am already beading with sweat. It is very quite and just as smooth as the one at the gym. I would definitely recommend this product for anyone looking to burn some calories at home.
Buckeye Guy
My wife and I had been thinking about purchasing a rower for a while.
After purchasing the Bodycraft HFT Functional Trainer and being incredibly impressed by the design, packaging, quality and ease of use with the HFT; we decided that we wanted to look closer at Bodycraft’s rower options.
We settled on the VR500 because we liked the 3 points of contact with the floor when it is folderd, the magnetic resistance and the other additional features on the VR500.
We ordered the VR500 on a Sunday and we it was delivered on Wednesday! It shipped with the same great packaging that we experienced with the HFT.
Bodycraft didn’t disappoint with the VR500. While unboxing it was obvious that we purchased a high quality piece of equipment.
We’re really glad that we purchased the VR500. It’s super quiet, being able to adjust the resistance from the handle is excellent and it’s very comfortable to sit on.
The computer is really easy to use. Has a ton of workout profiles to mix up your rowing workouts and the magnetic resistance has the perfect amount of increments.
It’s really simple to fold/unfold and his a nice foot lever for disengaging/engaging the locking mechanism.
I can’t think of a single thing that I don’t like or would want changed on the rower.
We’re very pleased with our new rower.
Don
Purchased the VR500 from a local exercise machine store after loads of research on this and similar machines. I also own a Bodycraft spin bike SPT so I knew the build and quality would be superior. After getting a fair price from the salesman the machine arrived about a week later. Assembly went well and within an hour I was ready to begin rowing. Using proper form is the key to overall success when using a rowing machine. I suggest watching a few videos on YouTube to perfect your stroke. The machine is very quite and smooth. The seat is comfortable for about 20 minutes then some soreness occurs like any exercise would of you are in one position for a long time. The handle is large and semi soft enough for a long comfortable row. I have tried a Concept 2 machine at a hotel gym. The seat and rowing handle on the VR500 are much more comfortable than the Concept 2. So far I have only used the heart rate program. This is a game changer for me and the most important reason I bought this machine. You just set the heart rate to you target # and start rowing. The machine automatically increases the magnetic tension to higher levels and gets you to you target rate very fast. Then it adjusts up and down so you can maintain your programmed target heart rate. The Concept 2 simply cannot do this as it has no way to adjust tension. I am currently working out at 77% of my maximum HR and predict raising this number even higher. For me this is the best way to exercise on aerobic-type machines. As as an added bonus my back, chest, legs and core get a fantastic workout as well. I highly recommend this machine.
Scott Barton
I've been a runner for over 10 years, and have always struggled with a reliable cross-training exercise. I've been on and off with gym memberships and toyed with P90X. My new running partner mentioned rowing. He has a Concept II, so I started researching and read through countless reviews for weeks. While the Concept II is a little less expensive, I finally opted for the VR500. Haven't looked back since.
the biggest reasons I chose the VR500 over the Concept rowers: high quality with plenty of training programs, seat comfort, and resistance adjustment from the handle. A friend of mine said the Concept's seat is uncomfortable and can be painful after rowing sessions. I haven't had any problems with the VR500. I also don't have to stop rowing if I want to change resistance using the manual option, which is nice.
The rower came in a long, flat box-mine was delivered by an 18-wheeler so I had to meet them in a shopping center parking lot because he couldn't get the truck back into my neighborhood, but it fit snugly in my Toyota Highlander. I spent about an hour or so putting it together by myself with no problems.
The thing is solid, and well-built. It is pretty long, so it takes up some space in my basement, but it folds up and you can wheel it to a corner if needed.
I run 4 days a week with long runs on Saturdays, so right now I am only rowing 2 days a week, about 20-25 minutes in the mornings. The workout is excellent and perfectly compliments my running routine. There are a variety of programs to choose from to keep things interesting. I can tell a difference in just a month-i'm slowly increasing program resistance each week. If you run, rowing is the exercise for your off days. And I couldn't be happier with the VR500. Great product!
Donald J. Mote
I have terrible arthritic knees. And, swimming and rowing are two of the best exercises to do. So, I would love to win this wonderful rowing machine.
Debbie R.
Just purchased the VR500. Did the installation myself. Really a strong, well built rower!
Kenneth L Blake
My wife often chides me on how I tend to be over zealous in researching products before purchase. With that said, we decided on getting a rower due to rowing's incredible health
benefits without impact. Cardio and strength in one unit.
I looked at Concept 2, water rowers, and finally BodyCraft VR500. After spending an hour at the store (which sold several brands), the VR500 stood out over all others.
*Construction quality is superb.
*Long rail for use with wide range of folks.
*Great electronics
*Quality on every component.
I could go on, but suffice it to say that the VR500 exceeded the others in every parameter.
If I had any complaint it would be that the process to set up individual training programs can be a challenge. But not more so than others.
Bottom line: High quality, great customer service, in a rower that will likely last a lifetime.
Bruce Nyquist
After researching many, many rowers we made the decision to buy the Bodycraft VR550, and couldn’t be happier. Every morning we use it, it performs well and is such a great no impact workout. It is very user-friendly with many great settings. The assembly took about 1 hour.
Kelly Gallagher
I have always liked rowing machines - if I could find one in whatever gym we happened to be a part of (my husband is military and we move around a lot). Usually, if I was lucky, there would be one stuck somewhere in the back, rickety and old, but there was never a line :)
When my husband suggested that we start putting together our own home gym with the pieces we really liked using, I began looking into rowing machines and Bodycraft soon made it's way to the top of the list. I researched and pulled the trigger on the VR500 (go big or go home!) and have not looked back.
It was delivered in less than a week, took my husband less than 30 minutes to put together, and I use it religiously every day (it's set up in our pseudo-gym, a large extra room with a tv in it). Within the first week I was up to 60 minutes of pretty hard core sweating, never noticing the time flying by as I watched television. It's comfortable, monitors everything, is easy to use and gives you a total body work out if used properly - what more could you ask for? I especially love the contoured (and large enough for my big behind) seat - gone are the days of getting off the rowing machine with a sore tushy (this is why I hate biking). Try it, you won't regret it for a second.
Best purchase of the year.
Carla Groves
