If you talk to home fitness enthusiasts who have been in the scene for a while you will soon hear about BMI Home Gyms. BMI was one of the early companies in the home gym industry and while the company is no longer around, their reputation is still amazing. My only experience was with a BMI 9000 home gym and I loved it.
The great thing about the BMI home gyms is that they used actual multi-weight stacks, but still were very compact. Band-resistance machines are great, but there’s something old-school and awesome about lifting actual weights. The BMI home gym was all metal and even though there was definitely a log of clanging, the machine felt super-stable.
Unfortunately, I can find no trace of BMI on the internet. The company seems to have vanished and I don’t think anybody is making new BMI home gyms. The good news is that you can still find a lot of these on eBay and Craigslist at some pretty amazing prices. You don’t have to worry about these machines being run-down or in bad shape, because they are super well-built. The only thing you have to worry about are the cables because often these are worn or frayed on the older machines. That’s because the people who own BMI home gyms absolutely love them. However, there are several companies that will make custom cables for you. If the cables are in bad shape, you should be able to get the BMI Home Gym for really cheap – if not free. Replace the cables and you’ll have an amazing home gym.
The legacy of the BMI Home Gym is a lasting one. We have so much modern technology that it’s easy to forget that sometimes old-school is the best way to go.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Kyle,
If you read this, maybe you can help me. I got a BMI Home gym – 4 stations today. However, I do not have the manual with it. I tried to look anywhere with no luck. Do you have manual for yours? Help me out. Thanks.
hi, kyle i have the same problem you have or had, and i would like to know if you get the manual or if you get any help with it, let me know please, thanks.
who sells or makes the cables in san diego?
Chuck , Did you find out who makes the cables or sells them in San Diego? Mine just snapped and I’m searching. I would appreciate info. if you have any. Thank you.
..looking for 9800 cable and manual as well…in chicago area
Did you find a manual for the BMI 9800? If so, can you direct me to where I might find one?