ATX® FID Bench 520 2.0

The ATX FID Bench 520 2.0 (ATX-MBX-520) is your German-engineered mate, packing a 400kg load capacity and 9 backrest angles (-10° to 83°) into a compact, no-frills design. This entry-level FID (Flat, Incline, Decline) with wheels for easy moving and compatibility with ATX’s pro-grade attachments like leg extensions and preacher curls

Why You Need This:

Versatile & Affordable: 9 backrest and 4 seat adjustments for flat, incline, and decline exercises

Attachment-Ready: Accepts ATX leg extension, preacher curl, ab crunch, and pec fly attachments, letting you build a multi-gym down the track.

Compact & Mobile: Lightweight 30kg frame with wheels and a 128cm x 50cm footprint, perfect for tight spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brissy.

Key Features:

400kg Load Capacity: 10mm-thick steel housing brackets and 8mm adjustment lever ensure rock-solid stability for heavy lifts.

9 Backrest Angles: Adjust from -10° decline to 83° incline (0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 83°) via a simple pull-pin system.

4 Seat Positions: Pinless sabretooth adjustment for quick, secure seat tweaks, keeping you comfy during presses or rows.

Quality Upholstery: 5.5cm-thick faux leather pads for comfort and durability, with reinforcement plates at pivot points.

Easy Maneuverability: Built-in wheels and handle for effortless moving, even in crowded gyms.

Redesigned for Strength: Newer ATX benches like the 520 2.0 aren’t compatible with older attachments, ensuring robust support for 100kg-rated add-ons.

Sam’s Review

Although the ATX-MBX-520 might not be the most popular bench in the ATX range, it may be the best value. It features a very basic design which is extremely robust. Best of all it accepts the ATX bench attachments which adds so much functionality to your gym

Recently the ATX bench range was redesigned and re-released. Naturally we have had many requests to review these upgraded versions. The MBX-520 is probably the least requested for review. Its bigger and more flashier brothers attract most of the attention. However this humble bench has impressed me the most.

Original ATX-MBX-520

As a man with simple tastes, and a tight ass with money, a great minimalist design really impresses me. Especially in these times were everyone is feeling the pinch with a struggling economy. Don’t get me wrong, the more expensive benches are mind blowing in terms of features and quality. But this little battler can do nearly all the others can do, but at a more affordable price.

SMART & SOLID

To deliver a such a quality bench at this price point ATX has done two things. They have made several improvements on the previous model. Plus borrowed some design elements from the other benches in the range.

In terms of the actual bench pad section, it has nearly the same structure as the MBX-650, 660 & 750 benches. The bench pads are all the same across these models. They pivot with the same mechanism so they share the same narrow bench gap. One day we might even do a Pepsi style challenge to see whether you can tell the difference between the benches when blindfolded.

The frame is made from 50 x 50 steel tube. It has re-enforcement plates at the pivot point. The front support is made from 60 x 60mm and has a support welded in.

The backrest is adjusted using this 8mm thick plate steel arc. It has the angles etched in to take the guess work out of setting up for each exercise. The pop pin is commercial quality and the same that is used on the more expensive MBX-650.

It is housed in a bracket made from 10mm thick steel.

The seat adjustment system is also the same as you see on the MBX-650. It is laser cut 8mm plate steel.

At the front you have docking section for the attachment. Once again it is the same as what you get on the MBX-650 & 660 including the new ATX adjustment knobs.

Finally it has a handle to compliment the wheels at the rear. So it is dead easy to move around your gym.

MAXIMIZE YOUR BENCH

Don’t get me wrong this is a great bench if it didn’t have the ability to use attachments. We are currently selling these for $665 which for a FID bench with these quality parts is great value. If you saw the similarly priced benches side by side with this one you would get a greater appreciation of the quality.

But what makes this bench unbeatable value is that you can use all the ATX bench attachments. Even if you cant afford or don’t think you need bench attachments at the moment, the ability to add these later is a massive bonus. So many people end up selling their original benches and upgrading to a bench that accepts attachment.

ATX have really stepped up the quality and design of their bench attachments. They have been improved in many ways, but they are not cheap. The MBX-520 is the most cost effective way of accessing these.

A $665 bench and $440 leg attachment may sound steep. But together you are getting practically a dedicated leg extension leg curl machine. The ATX stand alone machine is $1,400. This bench and attachment combo will give you 80 to 90% of that experience. That is excellent value and the way you should judge this investment.

FINAL WORD

If you are on a budget, my two recommendations for adjustable benches would be the ATX-MBX-520 or base model Ironmaster Super Bench. You might be looking at benches around the $400 mark and if you can squeeze an extra few dollars now it will be well worth it in the long run.

Both these benches offer the same quality as their more expensive counterparts but at a more affordable price. Most importantly both allow you to expand your training later with quality attachments. I can safely say that no other benches come close to these in that  price range.