Anyone else fall down the “bowflex xtreme 2 se accessories” rabbit hole and emerge broke, jacked-ish, and still confused? I’m trying to separate “genuinely improves training” from “shiny trinket that makes my wallet lighter (which is technically resistance training, I guess).” Looking for experiments and hacks, not just “get a rope handle, bro.”
What I’m trying to figure out
- Which accessories actually change the resistance curve, joint comfort, or setup speed in a meaningful way?
- Any aftermarket pulley/swivel upgrades that reduce friction enough to feel like a new machine?
- Smart ways to get iso-lateral work from a single Bowflex cable path without making the machine angry.
Stuff I’ve tried (with honest results)
- Rotating stirrup handles: Big win for elbows on rows/presses. Cheap ones squeak; spend a tiny bit more for ball-bearing cores.
- Long triceps rope: Great for pressdowns/face pulls, but mine binds and twists the main cable. A swivel solved 90% of it.
- Belt squat via lower pulleys + dip belt: Surprisingly good. You need a short chain and a couple of 10 kN+ rated carabiners so you’re not playing “Human Pinata.”
Ideas I want the hive mind to roast or refine
- Splitter for iso-lateral pulls: Y-strap or equalizer strap from the upper pulley down to two rotating handles for single-arm lat work. Plan is matched-length straps and a centered swivel to keep the tension even. Anyone done this without the cable sawing itself to death?
- Pulley upgrade kit: Replace stock pulleys with ball-bearing or ceramic-bearing sheaves and add a climbing-grade swivel at the handle end. Did your resistance feel smoother, or did you just invent a squeak in a new location?
- Microloading the rods: Since rod jumps can feel chunky at certain ROM, has anyone added a tiny loop band in parallel to get +2-3 lb increments? Parallel, not series, so it doesn’t spike at end range. I’m trying to avoid the “surprise catapult” effect.
- Load cell/luggage scale mapping: Clip a scale between handle and cable, then measure force every 2 inches through ROM with different accessories (rope vs bar vs handles, with/without swivel). Post your plots and let’s pretend we’re scientists in a garage gym.
- DIY row footplate: Stable platform + grippy surface for seated rows from the low pulley. Did you mount a plate or just wedge a board like a respectable gremlin?
- Cable management and quick-change: A parking panel with labeled carabiner spots for each cable path. Worth it, or does the Xtreme 2 SE already solve that enough?
Safety sanity check (because gravity is undefeated)
- Use climbing or lifting hardware with real load ratings (kN or lbs), not craft-store carabiners that fear commitment.
- Check cable diameter and pulley groove match; too tight = premature cable wear, too loose = edge loading.
- Keep line of pull straight when possible; add a swivel if you’re using ropes or anything that loves to twist.
Requests for the data nerds
- Pulley dimensions you used (OD, groove width, axle diameter) that fit the Xtreme 2 SE without reengineering the universe.
- Cable diameter and any successful replacement part specs.
- Best ankle cuffs for comfort that don’t stretch the cable housing when doing hip work.
- Favorite belt squat belt that doesn’t ride your spleen like a toboggan.
If you’ve modded your Xtreme 2 SE to be smoother, faster to set up, or more joint-friendly, drop what you used, the setup, and the “was it worth it?” score. Bonus points for photos, double bonus for force curves. Triple bonus if your wallet survived.