With life getting busier life and people still uncomfortable about spending much time at the gym as the world recovers from the pandemic, it is quite natural to seek a great home gym machine which could help one get the best of both worlds.
It is not easy to find something that meets all your requirements, and with multiple types of gyms available in the market, choosing one can be quite tedious. That is why I hope that this review about the Valor Fitness Be 11 Smith Machine can be helpful to you.
Valor Fitness BE-11 Smith Machine
What’s a Smith machine? A Smith machine is a weightlifting machine that allows you to perform exercises that involve the barbell, like squats and bench presses, while remaining in a fixed position.
Smith machines are popular because they allow you to work out safely without having to worry about balancing the weight of the barbell as you would when using free weights.
They also allow you to easily switch between exercises, which can be helpful if you’re trying to build muscle in different parts of your body or if you have injuries that prevent certain movements.
The Valor Fitness BE-11 Smith Machine is a strength training machine that allows you to do many different exercises with ease. The machine itself is made of steel, which makes it very durable. It is also very easy to assemble and disassemble. This means that you can move the machine around with ease, so it can be stored away when not in use.
The machine has several different positions where you can do your exercises. There are also two different weight stacks that allow you to do more than just one exercise at a time. The weight stack will allow you to lift up to a total of 1,000 pounds, which means that you can do some pretty intense workouts on this machine!
Product Features
At first, I recommend deciding if you need just a Smith machine, or perhaps a machine which can work as a fully functional home gym system. This will greatly assist you in narrowing your search.
Simple or complicated home smith machines are available for your choosing. The Smith mechanism is the most basic model. More complicated machines may have accessories such as pulley systems, pull up bars, attached weight stacks, dip stations, and etc. Let’s have a look at some of the other features:
Weight Capacity
The overall weight capacity of the Smith machine is something that you should really examine. However, not every machine tells you this right away, and this information can be difficult to obtain. If you are unsure, contact the company directly.
Economical machines may well have a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds. Heavy-duty frames may sustain 1,000-2,000 lb. Consider your lifting requirements and try to select a machine that can handle them securely.
Bearings (Linear)
Smith machines with linear bearing systems run far more smoothly than those without bushing. The linear bearings are essentially ball bearings that let the barbell to slide up and down the posts with ease.
Linear bearing systems are not standard on all home Smith machines. The fancier, more expensive ones should, but you should always double-check. If you would like a machine that feels like a commercial quality Smith machine, you should look for something with linear bearings.
Warranty
Regardless of what you’re buying, I always recommend considering a product’s warranty. The warranty is your insurance, and the longer the warranty, the better.
Home Smith machine warranties might vary substantially. Some may offer a two-year warranty on the frame, while others offer a lifetime guarantee on everything.
The pricier racks typically come with extended warranties.
Safety Features
One of the primary benefits of purchasing a valor fitness Smith machine is its capacity to safely sustain you during your workout without the use of a spotter. To accomplish this efficiently, the Valor Athletics BE-11 contains a number of critical safety measures.
- The racking pins are the first of them. There are racking pins along the inside edge of the major uprights which offer safety limits for you to secure the bar. Simply spin the bar until the latches are set above the pins, then lower to a safe racking position. With 14 racking spots to choose from, you are protected as you complete a series of exercises, if you are unable to complete the rep.
- The set of safety catches, on either side of the Smith machine, is the next safety element. Although these have a single purpose, they will enhance your exercises in a variety of ways. You can turn the catches and then slide them up or down the rail, until you reach the desired position before beginning your set. Rotating the catch so it rests on the racking pins would keep the bar from falling below that point.
In addition to preventing you from being pinned beneath the bar during exercises like the bench press, this could limit your range of motion, allowing you to execute half reps. Adjusting the safety catches so that the bar only travels through the upper half of the bench press flexion and extension is an example of a more advanced training approach.
This would assist overburden your triceps and go over any stumbling blocks that may be causing a standstill in your bench press power.
Assembly
Valor fitness BE-11 smith machine assembly is quite intuitive, but it comes in several boxes, so expect your deliveries to also come in batches:
- Box no. 1 – 80 inches length x 12 inches width x 4 inches height (51 pounds)
- Box no. 2 – 80 inches length x 12 inches width x 4 inches height (51 pounds)
- Box no. 3 – 59 inches length x 11 inches width x 10 inches height (66 pounds)
- Box no. 4 – 50 inches length x 7 inches width x 6 inches height (44 pounds)
- Box no. 5 – 26 inches length x 9 inches width x 8 inches height (46 pounds)
You’ll need a nice socket set as well as a wrench to finish the work. Although several customers complained that the instructions were vague, the actual assembling is simple. On the average, the assembly of the system takes just a few hours.
Product Warranty
The best smith machine, like any of the popular machines, comes with a warranty. For this system, the manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty for the frame, and a 1-year warranty for parts.
Price
The current price if a Valor Fitness Smith machine BE-11 is at $1,125.98.
Pros
- Very easy to assemble
- Compact and space-saving
- Frame is solid steel, heavy-duty
- Weight capacity: 1,000 pounds
- Includes a system for linear bearing
- Has four (4) Olympic weight storage pegs
- Comprehensive warranty
- Reasonable price
Cons
- You need to purchase the counter balance system separately
Is It Worth Buying? Plus Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Valor BE-11 dimensions?
The item dimensions are: 80 x 12 x 10 inches.
Valor Fitness BE-11 Is Made Of What?
The Valor Fitness BE-11 is made of gauge steel. The bar rotation, latch support, and the linear bearings are also made of solid steel.
What Bench Works Well With the Valor Fitness Smith Machine Be-11?
The Valor Fitness Smith Machine Be-11 works well with any standard bench. However, I recommend using a flat bench with this machine to ensure that there is plenty of room for your shoulders and back to lie flat. This will help you avoid injury and get the most out of your workout.
Should You Get the Counter Balance Upgrade?
It depends. The counter balance upgrade is a great way to add extra resistance to your workout, but it isn’t necessary for everyone. If you can already perform the exercises on the BE-11 Smith Machine with ease and feel like you’re not getting enough of a challenge from them, then upgrading to the counter balance upgrade may not be worth it.
However, if you have trouble performing certain exercises (particularly squats) because of the weight distribution, then this upgrade can make those exercises much easier for you.
Conclusion
The Valor Fitness Be 11 Smith Machine is a decent overall option when it comes to this niche of home gyms. The price tag is fair for the value, and the design offers a lot of features for home users with small spaces or limited budgets.
There are plenty of excellent reviews online that detail its benefits and shortcomings in greater detail than we could go here.
For those who like to keep things simple and are looking for an exercise machine that they can use to get a full-body workout quickly and easily, the valor athletics smith machine can be a great choice.
Overall, though, I still recommend taking a look at some of the other home gym options on my list before making a decision, check out the body-solid Smith machine as a possible option for you.
I’m a triathlete and life coach, with a focus on holistic health, fitness & women’s issues.
I also write about my gastronomic adventures and my love for the outdoors.