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 On: 2008-05-14
This replaced a wired unit from another manufacturer that still worked, but became unreadable after getting a crack in the glass. I could not believe how much better the bike looked with the wireless installation.
All lines are easy for my antique eyes to read while riding, and just pushing the unit forward instead of searching via the Braille method for a button could be viewed as both a convenience and safety feature. I got this unit as I decided I wanted the temp readout. There are less expensive versions with fewer readouts. Its all very accurate and overall I am delighted with the unit. It would be nice to have a lighted readout, as I ride at night a lot, but I knew it did not and I find it very readable whenever I pass under a street lamp.
Unlike my earlier unit, you dont lose the tenths of a mile when you reset the trip meter, which actually reads out to a 100th a mile [52.8 feet]. The odometer reads in tenths, not just miles, and will track total miles for two separate bikes. It may seem silly, but its kind of cool to see the miles in nearly constant motion. Im 60 years old. Ill take any motivation I can get!
I only have two little nits to pick:
1. Unlike my other unit the top three lines are fixed. Everything else rotates through the bottom line. I would not usually choose ride time as a constant display, but I expect most riders would, so no issue for most folks. Ride time stops when the bike stops, as at a light or stop sign, which is nice for exercise purposes, but doesnt give you the actual time a trip takes. You have to note your actual start time and end time and do the math for that. Fortunately, I went to school before the invention of the calculator, so Im ok with that!
2. The LCD display, as is the case with all of these units, is not well protected by the glass. A nice thick piece of Lexan that didnt flex would make the display all but bulletproof. But that would cut into sales, I suppose. I suppose I could try being less of a klutz, but whats the fun in that?
By the way, two things to be aware of when you install. Their installation sheet makes no mention of the fact that the battery cover moves only a quarter turn to the left and then needs to be tapped out by rapping the unit on the desk. Once there is a battery inside it comes off more easily. The cover is fairly soft plastic and its pretty easy to strip out the groove, especially if you use a screwdriver instead of a coin.
Not to worry about rapping the unit on the desk. This unit [other than the glass over the display] is extremely durable. The first time I tried to remove it after installing it on my bike, it would not budge. When I finally managed to apply enough pressure to get it off, it shot six feet across the room, whacked into the wall and fell to the floor. No worries, and not so much as a scratch! After that, it came off with only modest effort. I dont know if I got it misaligned, or its just very tight the first time. :-p
Overall this is a great unit, and the only thing I might trade it for is the same unit but with a light.
 On: 2008-01-20
I bought this because I wanted a single display that included speed, time, and temperature. It is mostly working well, albeit a little finicky.
First the weaknesses:
* The sensor really does need to be aligned very closely (2mm) with the wheel magnet. It seems much less tolerant than my previous sensor, which worked well with a much bigger gap.
* The supplied cable ties werent adequate to keep the sensor accurately positioned on my fork arm. It tended to slide around a little, thus falling out of alignment with the magnet. However that was easily solved by using a little electrical tape to fix the sensor in position.
* It requires a lot of force to "snap out" the computer head from its mount. (A squeeze clip might have helped there.)
* It took me a few days to get used to the mode button, which requires you to nudge the whole head forward a little. I was initially cursing it, but I now find it easy.
Now the good:
* Its great to be able to see speed, distance, time, and temperature at a single glance.
* The thermometer seems accurate. (Or at least it agrees with my other thermometers.)
* The display is easy to read, even with quick glances.
* Once installed, it has been sturdy and reliable.
Overall this is a big improvement over my previous cycle computer.
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