LifeFitness Treadmills, TR9500 and TR9100, Classic VS. Next Gen Treadmills

Have you heard the terms Classic or Next Generation when dealing with your Life Fitness 9500 or 9100 treadmill? Ever wonder what is the difference in a Classic Vs. Next Gen treadmill?

LifeFitness made the treadmill models TR9500 and TR9100, which are 9500 and 9100 model treadmills. During the production of the 9500 and 9100 treadmill models, a new design emerged which was widely known as the Next Gen models.

The most noticeable difference in the Life Fitness Classic 9500 and 9100 models from the Next Gen 9500 and 9100 models is the display console. The classic models had a rectangle-shaped console. The next gen models had a large, round-top console that had cut-outs on each side to hold keys, remotes, and water bottles. See the examples below.

Classic Console Example

Next Gen Console Example

The Next Gen models were made when LifeFitness began issuing serial numbers with the three-letter prefix. If a 9100 or 9500 treadmill with a three-letter prefix to the serial number was being repaired, field service knew this was a Next Gen machine.

In the beginning, however, there were some Next Gen models produced and sold that did not have the three-letter prefix serial number. They had the classic six-digit serial number format. This was misleading and contributed to Next Gen machines being confused for Classic models.

To prevent confusion between a Life Fitness 9100 or 9500 Next Gen machine and a 9100 or 9500 Classic machine, we rely on the description of the display console. The design of the display console helps determine a Classic Vs. a Next Gen treadmill.

Does your treadmill have a console like the Next Gen console example above and a six-digit serial number without the three-letter prefix? If yes, you need to select the Next Gen or Next Generation option for your TR9100 or TR9500.

Many parts differ between the Classic Vs. Next Gen treadmills by Life Fitness. It is always important to locate the serial number to help you get the right parts. The serial number is on a label attached to the frame. This label can be at the lower front of the machine by the main power switch, or located at the rear of the machine behind the end cap or on the rear cross frame.