Speediance Safety Start: What I Observed in V3.1

What I tested

This is about the software and firmware on my Gym Monster 2S in the February 2026 V3.1 demonstration. My original Speediance downstairs behaved differently. It is not a test of every machine or a statement that today’s firmware has the same behavior.

The cable stop and the retraction issue

In the video I pull the cable to a chosen position and confirm Safety Start. It then stops retracting at that position. That is a minimum retraction point, not a maximum cable-extension limit.

I also demonstrate slack when returning the cable quickly, and explain why I dislike the changed retraction behavior. The video establishes what I observed on my machine. It does not establish the engineering cause or prove that Safety Start required that firmware change.

Why I usually did not use it

I prefer a controlled return through the range appropriate to the movement. In some setups, the chosen stop position can interfere with the return I want. That is an exercise- and setup-dependent objection, not evidence that every use reduces range of motion by a fixed percentage.

My personal workflow is not a substitute for the current operating instructions. Use the manufacturer’s guidance for your machine, and stop a set if cable behavior is unpredictable rather than relying on an old video as a safety guarantee.

Keep the broader review separate

The full V3.1 review also covers overload prompts, interface changes and other software observations. This page focuses on the cable demonstration so those different questions remain easy to find.