I have the Sole F80. Have run on a bunch of other ones regularly (commercial ones at the gym), some of which actually have the same HP as the F80 and some more.

I suspect it would be fine to go with the less HP motor, but there will likely be more motor noise and definitely a higher risk of long-term motor failure, but again, motors for noncommercial are so solid nowadays that unless you are literally Lionel Sanders, they rarely fail. I say this because just look at the warrantees on the Sole TMs - last time I checked, the engine had a LIFETIME warrantee on it, whereas the deck was like 1-2 yrs and the console like 3-4 or something like that. Pretty much every TM in that price class seems to have lifetime warrantees when I checked, so the engine is one of the points of least failure (surprisingly).

My TM experience n=1 confirms this; I've replaced almost my whole F80 over 8 years, some under warrantee, some out. The engine and frame are the two pieces that haven't failed in my high-condensation garage which accelerates wear. They sent me a new engine after a console replacement at the 7 year point, but my original one was working fine, they just tossed it in for free saying I might as well swap it out since I was opening the whole thing up anyway.

I'd stick with the F80 at a minimum for a real runner just because of it's good reviews.

I'm likely buying a treadmill today.

Is the Sole F80 worth the extra $600 over the the F63?

Curious on why today? Did you find a deal? I have had my eye on a F80 for a while but have been looking for a deal. From what I have observed, their sales model is that their treadmills are always on sale. Right now it's the black Friday/cyber Mon deal, but a few weeks ago it was the winter sale. A few weeks before that it was fall savings. For all of those sales, the price was the same - about $1,500 and free shipping. In my mind, that makes the base price $1,500 so a deal would have to be anything less than that. After about 4 months, I am pretty sure it won't get any better, but my need for the deal still has me holding out.

---

"It's good enough for who it's for" - Grandpa Wayne

If you run on it for 5hrs/wk over a 5 year period, that's only an extra $.38/hour. Easily worth it to me for the added power and slightly wider platform.

Be sure to check-out current "Cyber Monday" deals on Sole - https://www.soletreadmills.com/treadmills.html

I bought the F85 last year and have been happy with it. IMO, it's the best combo of price, CHP and durability. Plus, I prefer the F85 console display over the others.

$1500 for the f80, yes standard pricing.

It's a gift for someone close, neither one of us is near 350 lbs

Nordic Trac has a sale on Amazon right now. I got a commercial 2450 for $1400 delivered and assembled.

---

_____________________________
David Gramer

So if they made a treadmill as big as a runway for a plane and that treadmill could match take off speed for a jet going in the opposite direction, would the plane be able to take off?

Off course because the jet would still be pushing the air , the only question would if the wheel bearings could handle the ‘take off speed x2’ with out adding too much friction. I suspect it would be negligible . Unless I’m wrong...?

No comparison, Sole is by far a better product and company than anything coming from Icon, who makes Proform, Norditrack, etc.

Thx, ordered an F80 earlier today :)