Quick Answer: The Concept2 RowErg costs $990 with standard legs or $1,155 with tall legs, per Concept2’s current pricing, and includes the PM5 monitor with no required subscription. The one thing that trips up buyers researching it in 2026: “RowErg” is not a new or different machine from the Model D and Model E you’ll see referenced on forums and used listings — Concept2 renamed them in May 2021, with the standard-legs RowErg replacing the Model D and the tall-legs RowErg replacing the Model E. The hardware itself didn’t change, only the name.
Search “Concept2 Model D vs RowErg” and you’ll find years of forum threads asking whether one is better than the other, whether the Model D is discontinued, or whether the RowErg is a cheaper redesign. It isn’t a redesign at all — it’s the same rower Concept2 has sold since the 1990s under a simplified naming scheme that also covers its BikeErg and SkiErg.
By the numbers: The RowErg with Standard Legs runs $990 and the Tall Legs version $1,155, per Concept2’s own site — both include the PM5 monitor, so there’s no separate hardware purchase required the way there is on some competitors. Concept2 backs the frame with a 5-year warranty and other parts for 2 years, per the company’s published warranty terms. The machine is rated for up to 500 lb under Concept2’s own testing, though it carries a lower 300 lb rating under the EN 20957-7 European standard used for CE certification — two legitimate figures from two different test methods, not a contradiction.
Concept2 RowErg
- Standard legs give a 14" seat height (the former Model D spec); tall legs raise it to 20" (the former Model E spec) — same frame and flywheel either way, per Concept2's product listing.
- Damper lever adjustable 1-10 changes stroke feel, not raw difficulty; Concept2 suggests most rowers train around 3-5.
- Splits into two pieces for storage, weighing 57 lb (standard legs) or 68 lb (tall legs); needs roughly a 9 ft x 4 ft footprint assembled.
There’s no screen or class library to keep you company on the RowErg, so Make every workout fly by — start a free Audible trial and get your first audiobook free, then queue one up for the next time it’s just you and the flywheel.
Why the “Model D” name still shows up everywhere
Concept2 sold the Model D and Model E for over a decade before simplifying its lineup in May 2021: the Model D became the RowErg with Standard Legs, the Model E became the RowErg with Tall Legs, and the naming brought the rower in line with Concept2’s other machines, the BikeErg and SkiErg. Nothing about the frame, flywheel, damper, or monitor changed in that switch — it was a rebrand, not a redesign, which is exactly why used listings, gym equipment inventories, and years of forum posts still say “Model D” interchangeably with “RowErg.” If you’re shopping secondhand and see a Model D for sale, you’re looking at today’s standard-legs RowErg, full stop — there’s no version gap to worry about the way there sometimes is with a genuine hardware refresh.
Standard legs vs. tall legs
| Spec | RowErg — Standard Legs (formerly Model D) | RowErg — Tall Legs (formerly Model E) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $990 | $1,155 |
| Seat height | 14" | 20" |
| Machine weight | 57 lb | 68 lb |
| Best for | Most users | Taller users, or anyone who finds a low seat hard on the knees/hips |
The $165 gap buys a higher seat and slightly more frame, not a functional upgrade — the resistance system, damper, and PM5 monitor are identical. Most buyers should default to standard legs unless getting down to a 14” seat is a genuine physical obstacle.
What you don’t get, and why that’s not automatically a downside
The RowErg has no touchscreen, no camera, and no coached class library — the entire experience is the PM5’s numbers and whatever you bring to the workout yourself. That’s a real trade-off against machines we’ve reviewed like the Hydrow and Peloton Row+, both of which lean on a subscription and a screen to keep rowing interesting. It also means there’s nothing to fail. In October 2025, the CPSC and iFIT recalled roughly 44,800 NordicTrack rowing machines in the US after their screen consoles were found to overheat and pose a fire hazard, per the CPSC’s recall notice — a risk that simply doesn’t exist on a machine with no powered console at all. The RowErg’s PM5 runs on AA batteries or a wall adapter and displays nothing more exciting than your split time.
Who should buy the Concept2 RowErg
Buy the RowErg if you want a rowing machine that will outlast the warranty by a decade, care more about accurate performance data than entertainment, or simply don’t want another subscription. It’s the standard erg at the CrossFit Games and World Rowing Indoor Championships for a reason — see our best rowing machine picks for how it stacks up against the field. Skip it if guided classes and a big touchscreen are what will actually get you rowing consistently; our Concept2 vs Hydrow comparison lays out exactly what you’d be trading a screen and a monthly fee for.
The bottom line
The Concept2 RowErg hasn’t meaningfully changed in years — only its name has, and that 2021 rebrand is still confusing buyers who assume “Model D” and “RowErg” are two different products to choose between. At $990 (or $1,155 for the tall-legs version), backed by a 5-year frame warranty and requiring nothing after purchase, it remains one of the simplest, longest-lasting pieces of cardio equipment you can put in a home gym. If you want the same rowing motion with a screen and a subscription layered on top, see our Hydrow review or Peloton Row+ review for what that extra cost buys.