YOSUDA Pro Magnetic Rowing Machine Review – Is It Worth the Upgrade?

What I like most about Yosuda is that they’ve been around a long time, they’re not another one of these companies that show up on Amazon and disappear the following year.

Over a Decade of Experience

Yosuda has a history, their fitness gear has been around for over a decade. As long as I’ve been reviewing rowers, Yosuda has been one of the top companies building quality budget gear.

The Yosuda Pro Magnetic Rowing Machine is one of their most impressive rowers yet, it’s a step up from the original H-181 rower, which was Yosuda’s best seller until now.

No Longer Just For Beginners

Sales of the Pro have overtaken the H-181 original, and there’s a good reason why. The Pro has a more heavy-duty feel to it, resistance is stronger, and what I like most about the Pro is the rail, it’s longer, and the seat glides more smoothly.

I’m happy to see that Yosuda kept the price of the Pro version down.

It’s still well under $300, so affordable for most, and best of all, it takes everything that was so good about their standard rower and adds a little extra for more intense, serious workouts.

It’s certainly a rowing machine that I feel is worth a much closer look, and in today’s Yosuda Pro Magnetic Rowing Machine review, I want to take a close look at everything this impressive machine has to offer, including its drawbacks.

Also, at the end of the review, I think it would be interesting to compare the Yosuda Pro side by side with the original H-181 Yosuda Rowing Machine, so you’ll be able to see if it really is worth spending the extra bucks for the Pro.

First, let’s take a quick look at the specs, pros, and cons of the Yosuda Pro Rower!

Specs

Why Do We Like The Yosuda Pro Magnetic Rowing Machine?

What I like most about the Pro rower is the flywheel weight. It’s been upgraded to 14lb, which is excellent for a sub $300 rowing machine.

The weight of the flywheel is important, and the heavier the better with rowers, because a heavier flywheel typically produces a smoother rowing action.

Also, a heavier flywheel will give you more resistance in those all-important upper levels. This is where most budget rowers fail: even when the tension knob is on the highest resistance level, budget rowers lack enough resistance for more serious, intense workouts. And that’s because most budget rowers have light flywheels rarely exceeding 10lb.

Belt Drive

So yeah, a big thumbs up to Yosuda for flywheel weight. Also, I love the belt drive system Yosuda has used with this rower, it’s a lot smoother than the noisy chain drives you’ll find on a lot of low-cost rowing machines.

Whisper Quiet & Smooth

When you combine a belt drive system with a heavy-duty wheel and magnetic resistance system, it creates one of the smoothest and quietest rowing experiences possible.

And there’s 16 levels for resistance with the pro rower, which is more than enough for most people’s needs, and what you’ll like most about the Yosuda’s resistance system is just how quiet it is, only 25dB, it’s one of the quietest rowers I’ve reviewed.

Frictionless

The reason this rower is so quiet is that it uses a frictionless resistance system: the magnets never have to make contact with the flywheel, so no noise is created.

It’s the perfect whisper-quiet system for indoor rowers. If you dont want to disturb people around you with the sound of your workouts, a magnetic rowing machine is always the way to go.

Click here to check price of the Yosuda Pro Rower on Amazon

No Movement When Rowing

Something else I like about this rower is how stable it is. Many users have praised this rower for its stability, which is always a good thing. The last thing you want when rowing is for the machine to slide around or wobble. It’s off-putting and can affect your form.

The Yosuda Pro has wide front and rear stabilizing feet that really help keep the rower stable. They’re also rubber-capped, which prevents the rower from slipping on hard, polished floors. This is a really handy feature.

Contoured Seat

Also, the seat is contoured. A contoured seat is more important than many people think. It stops your butt from sliding back on the push phase of the rowing stroke. A contoured seat is a must for a rowing machine, and it’s a feature that sadly many rowers don’t use.

Weighs Over 50lb

Lastly, the Yosuda Pro rowing machine weighs over 50lb, and this is a good thing. That extra weight keeps it planted to the floor.

The heavier, the better; also, a rower’s weight is a telling sign of the overall quality of the parts used. Most budget rowers weigh between 30-40lb, so at 50lb you have a bit of extra weight, giving the rower a sturdier, premium feel. Exactly what you want.

Basic Monitor With Bluetooth

You won’t find a high-end monitor with a 20″ HD touchscreen on a sub $300 rowing machine; it’s just not going to happen. At this price point, the best we can hope for is a monitor that tracks all the essential workout data, because really, that’s all you need.

What I like about basic monitors like the Yosuda one is that they’re easy to use, there’s no messing around with complicated apps, it doesn’t take an hour to set up, and you can just get on this rower and row.

The LCD monitor tracks all that you need, including SPM, distance, Time, calories, etc.

And if you need more, the monitor is Bluetooth-enabled, so you can connect to apps like Kinomap or any other app you like. Also, there’s a tablet holder.

You can’t adjust the resistance level from the monitor; to do that, turn the tension knob on the flywheel housing just under the monitor.

50″ Rail

One of the major step ups you get with the Pro version is the longer rail. The Pro has a 50″ rail, which is impressive for the price point. It now allows users up to 6’2″ to use the rower comfortably.

Storage (vertical)

Home rowing machines can take up a lot of room, especially those with long rails, so it’s always a good idea to look for a rowing machine with either a folding system or one that can be stored vertically.

The Yosuda rower is a machine that can be sorted vertically. It’s very easy to store, you can move it on the built-in transport wheels, and then tilt and store it against a wall. Once stored, the overall footprint is reduced by 80%, so it’s a great choice for anyone tight on space.

Drawbacks of the Yosuda Pro Rowing Machine

For the price point, this thing is impressive, and I couldn’t find any major drawbacks.

The only minor drawback I’d mention is that, because it’s a magnetic rowing machine, it doesn’t mimic the feel of rowing on water. Magnetic resistance is constant, meaning you can only change the resistance strength by adjusting the tension knob.

If you want the more realistic feel of rowing on water, you need an air or water rower because they use dynamic resistance, the harder you row, the stronger the resistance gets, just like rowing on water.

Still, constant resistance (magnetic) has its own benefits; you can row at a slower pace on a high resistance level, something that’s impossible with air rowers or water rowers. Also, magnetic resistance is much quieter than noisy air rowers, so it’s much better for home use.

So while there’s no major drawback I can find with the Yosuda Pro rower, some people may prefer an air or water rower, if they really want to mimic that rowing on water feel.

Assembly – under an hour

Rowing machines are always a little trickier to assemble than bikes or treadmills. Sadly, none arrive fully assembled at your doorstep. You need to attach the rail to the flywheel housing and the stabilizers to the rail, but it shouldn’t take you too long. Clear instructions are provied and all the parts bags are numbered, which is a big help.

I’ll leave the official assembly video below in case you run into any problems.

Will You Need a Rowing Mat?

The only time you really need a rowing mat is to protect your floors from scratches. The Yosuda Pro comes with the rubber caps. Not only do these prevent your rower from sliding around, but they also protect your floors from scratches. So you shouldn’t need to purchase a mat for this reason.

Another time a mat can be really useful is if you live in an apartment or shared housing, as it is an excellent way to absorb the vibrations from your workouts, which certainly helps keep your neighbors happy.

Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best low-cost mats for rowers, bikes, and treadmills. Here’s the link in case you need one. Sunny Fitness Equipment Mat

Final Verdict

Yosuda has built another winner with their Pro rowing machine, it was difficult to find a fault with this rower for the price.

Yeah, it’s still a long way off the high-end rowing machines, but it’s also much more impressive than any of the budget rowers I’ve reviewed over the last decade.

It does have its faults: the seat is a little on the hard side, and the monitor is very basic, but nothing serious.

What’s impressive about Yosuda is that they got all the essentials right with the Pro. The resistance is strong in the upper levels thanks to the improved flywheel, the rowing stroke is smooth, and most importantly, the Yosuda Pro Rowing Machine is sturdy. No wobbles, no sliding around, none of the issues you get with budget rowers.

For under $300, you have a rowing machine that can grow with you. You won’t have to replace it in a year or two because it’s become too easy. It’s a rower that’s suited to both beginners and intermediates. And with a rail length of 50″ it is also a good low cost choice for taller users as well.

How Does The Yosuda Pro Compare to The Original?

Yosuda Rowing Machine H-181 Standard

Let’s talk a little about Yosuda’s H-181. This is their original magnetic rower. I first reviewed it well over 5 years ago, and it was at that time that Yosuda was really starting to make a name for themselves. Since then, this rower has been one of the most popular budget rowers on the market.

And it still is an impressive machine when compared to other budget rowers. It’s been one of my top 3 for under $200 since it was released.

And the reason I like it so much is that just like the Pro, it’s a well-made machine, it’s sturdy, the rowing stroke is smooth for a budget rower, and its users love it.

The H-181 is still praised by users years after owning it, it’s a rowing machine that’s stood the test of time, and there’s not many budget rowers that can boast that sort of positive feedback.

So yes, for a budget rower, it’s still one of the best out there, and if you dont want to spend over $200, then I highly reccomend it.

When compared to the Pro version, there’s not a huge difference. The Pro has a heavier flywheel, so its resistance is stronger at higher levels. Also, the rowing stroke is even smoother with the Pro.

Also, the Pro weighs a little more, which gives it a more premium feel, and lastly, the rail length of the Pro is longer, so it’s much better suited for taller users.

If you’re a beginner, this is your first rower, and you just want to lose some weight and increase your cardio fitness, the Yosuda H-181 standard rowing machine is more than enough.

However, if you’re someone who takes your rowing a little more seriously and needs a rower that can grow with you as your training progresses, go for the Pro.

Still comparing rowing machines? Read Next: Best Magnetic Rowing Machines

Yosuda Pro Rowing Machine FAQs