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Submitted by
HauntedMyst
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Big screen, backlit, lots of info displayed, main button easy to access. | | Weaknesses: | Bad battery time, a poor mount, odometer doesn't work, programming not intuitive. | | Similar Products Used: | other bike computers | | Bike Setup: | City MTB bike, a touring bike | | Bottom Line: | What seems like a great computer in theory is a turd in day to day use, thank goodness it's been discontinued. For starters, the mount is great in theory, but sucks in day to day use. A simple push of any button flexs the mount. Also, the mount has no stem attachment option, just handlebar. The battery doesn't last long if you use the backlight option. I ride a lot at night and so I burn through batteries. Typical Topeak quality - not up to par with my expectations. The odometer function on the bike doesn't work on mine so I have to estimate my annual mileage. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
philip hazouri
a
from englewood, colorado
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | North Platte | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Kelvin in Woodland Park, co | | Strengths: | large read out | | Weaknesses: | never has worked properly and accurately | | Similar Products Used: | Cat Eye | | Bike Setup: | Recumbent | | Bottom Line: | Have had it professionally adjusted on 4 different occasions without success. It's still on my bike, not working. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maria Mikulich
a Downhiller
from Marion, Michigan USA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | I liked the size of the screen. The numbers were easy to read and I liked the easy to reach mode button. | | Weaknesses: | The instructions are terrible. After unfolding the poster-size one sheet of instructions I eagerly looked for written instructions. Not much in that department, mostly pictures of screens. I could not figure out how to input wheel size so I recruited my husband who has always been able to figure these things out for me and he gave up. After 15 minutes each we both gave up. I have already packaged up the unit and am sending it back tomorrow. I am sure the computer works great but the set-up was frustrating. | | Similar Products Used: | Ascent V-12 | | Bike Setup: | Terry Symmetry | | Bottom Line: | They really need to update the instructions and make them user friendly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
peter
a Cross Country Rider
from hiroshima
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Big screen, nice pleasing design, easy set up mechanically, wireless, though the computer programming is a bit tedious. | | Weaknesses: | There are a couple of BIG problems. One, the screen reacts adversely to exposure to direct sunlight. In fact, such exposure will eventually result in the entire screen turning into what looks like an oil slick under glass, where all readings are impossible to see. So, obviously, don't leave your bike parked outside in the direct sun with the computer attached--however, there is nothing you can do about the sun exposure on a half century ride in the open country--this is a MAJOR problem. The other is that the glue that adheres the base piece (black) to the top shell (silver) easily looses its adherence, and if this happens, the digits on the display lose parts of their characters, making it impossible to read. This happens if they are dropped, or are knocked against something hard. Once this happens, they are dead in the water. Other problems are noted elsewhere in these reviews, such as fixed screen settings, usually not what you want, difficulty in swtiching from one bike tire setting to another with almost impossible to see tiny number designations separating one from the other, and a few other things. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye, Specialized, a few others | | Bike Setup: | 4 bikes: 3 carbon, 1 alum; STP 400, Giant MCM Team, Giant MCM Limited and Trek 8000 Superlight, 2 with disc, 2 with canti--all very light (the Team is a very quick and nasty 17.5 pounds!). All personally built from ground up. | | Bottom Line: | At first I loved these computers--so much so that I bought one for all four bikes (five actually as I have another carbon bike, an older but beautiful Giant Cadex that I use for the Portland Pedal during my summer visits to the NW), and replaced these as I went through the problems described below. I have had the sunlight problems with all of them, and one or two never fully recovered. I have had the loose case problem with two, meaning I had to throw them away. One other turns on, shows the display, but won't pick up the wheel revolutions, even though all others do in the same set up. Overall, I have gone through about 7 or 8 of them--pretty pricey even from eBay. I am going back to the cheap and reliable Cateyes (that is what led me back to these reviews). I strongly suggest you look elsewhere for your bike computers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a
from So. Cal
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Wide view Display & wireless | | Weaknesses: | Handle bar mount | | Bike Setup: | who wants to know? | | Bottom Line: | The set-up went just fine connecting to the fork sensor no problem the first time.....I was able to imput the proper wheel dimensions / Mph & time no problem......I run the 31.8 mm bar & the mount would not fit around the fat part of the bar (The supplied bolt is too F*****g short).....I ran to the hardware store & bought a longer size 3 metric bolt & got the mount to fit just perfecto......It look greats & the mount feels somewhat solid sitting directly over the stem.....I agree w/ the reviews so far....The mount should have been revised a long time ago......Over all I give it a Good rating
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Everett
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Since I couldn't get it to work I'd have to say none. | | Weaknesses: | This review is for the 'V12' version, not the unit pictured here. First off the unit packaging hides a lot. 2nd the two mounts it comes with don't fit on my mountain bike, or my road bike. 3rd whoever came up with what can be displayed on the screen at one time has never used a bicycle computer before. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Enduro 2 (the grand master to compair all computers to), Cateye cordless 7 (so-so, doesn't work very well on a road bike, would probably be better on a mountain due to fork mounting issues) Supergo Wireless (price was cheap, unfortunately mfg quality and performance followed suit) | | Bike Setup: | Old school GT steel hardtail LX (never say die) 8-speed components (these things have outlasted every mtn 9-speed thing I've ever used, in some cases 2X or more lifespan, and they hardly ever need tweaking or adjustment) | | Bottom Line: | Again this is for the V12 unit, not the other Topeak Panoram shown here.
First I'll go into the mount, as mentioned above it doesn't fit my mountain or road bikes, I've got standard handlebars. The computer itself is very slim profiled and the packaging it came in accented this, what the packaging hid was the wireless receiver that is thicker than the computer and make mounting even more difficult. The mount is one of those sticks out and screws into a single bolt from the side deals. There is a ratchet pattern on at one joint, but not the floating pivot joint so I certain that even if it could go on your bike, it wouldn't stay put.
Now onto the computer itself. With this HUGE screen you'd think that you can see all sorts of things, nope that's not the case. Screen 1, current speed, current distance and 'time of day', not ride time, that's right 'time of day'. Screen 2, average ride speed, current distance, total ride time for wheels spinning or wheels still. Screen 3, Max speed, odometer, ride time for wheels spinning. When I bought this I wanted to see current speed current distance and ride time for wheels spinning without pressing buttons. I know that there are a lot of perferences for what people want to see, but come on. These screens are static and cannot be modified to show other data. What a waste of money.
Again this is for the V12 unit, not the other Topeak Panoram shown here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Brooklyn, New York, USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$48.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling.com | | Strengths: | Tons of Info...easy to read....and VERY easy to install. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Bell | | Bike Setup: | It's my first bike so don't laugh at me----Raleigh Mojave with some after market stuff. | | Bottom Line: | I originally borrowed my dad's bike to see if riding was something that I really wanted to do. I bought a Bell cyclocomputer and it was a piece of crap....it didnt really give enough info and the overall quality was really bad. So I followed some reviews about this item...and boy am I glad I did!!!! This thing puts exactly the information that matters to me right there in front of you...without having to press any buttons. I will admit, setting the thing up is a bit confusing, but once you get it the first time...its a cake walk after that. Also, people complained about the mounting bracket being cheap---what did you expect??? a welding kit??? I mounted it using the supplied hardware and also added a very thick rubber band as a shim to avoid any rotation on the handle bars. My father in law took a header over the handlebars (and blamed it on my brakes being "too good") and the thing didnt even get a scratch. Also, some people complained about the screen scratching easily, so I left the protective plastic film on the screen and have not yet encountered that problem....BOTTOM LINE---GET THIS COMP!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Hill
a Racer
from Grayson, Ga., USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | AT | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | on line | | Strengths: | accurate mph, clock, lots of info, very durable until recently | | Weaknesses: | small clock display
| | Bike Setup: | Triumph Daytona 1200 | | Bottom Line: | Installed on my motorcycle to have more exact mph reading as most motorcycle speedos are patheticlly inaccurate. Also wanted additional tripmeters for calculating travel distances while motorcycle touring and a clock.
I've had trouble free service with mine for over two years 'till last week when it fried for no apparent reason. I've decided to buy another one from ebay ($37.00 with shipping) since I already have everything set up on the bike. Hope for at least two more years from the new one.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Oxford, UK
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Arbitrary cycle shop | | Strengths: | Reasonably easy to use. Dual cycle capability is great. | | Weaknesses: | Does not switch on automatically, should have come with two sensors. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta VT12? | | Bike Setup: | Simple. | | Bottom Line: | Keep batteries in good charge, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Racine
a Weekend Warrior
from Estero FL
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Gift | | Strengths: | Auto On - OFF = Hands Free
Wireless | | Weaknesses: | Strap on fork means this should be used for road bikes ( or you can adjust yourself as required if you actually buy for MTN bike)
No Cadence Count if you are looking for that feature. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye | | Bike Setup: | Takes a little patience ( < 1/2 HOUR) to install & adjust for the mechanically inclined. Conveniently centered on handle bars. | | Bottom Line: | VERY Convenient to read.
Auto ON/ OFF + Up /Down arrow to show more / less than average speed are Great Features.
FANTASTIC Product - Thanks TOPEAK. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GeeJay
a Cross Country Rider
from Bacliff, Texas
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$47.00 | | Purchased At: | BeyondBikes.com | | Strengths: | Good and solid. Lots of info. Very clear to read while riding. | | Weaknesses: | It is not so easy to setup because instructions are pathetic. | | Bottom Line: | The PANORAM computer from Topeak is a nice device. In my view, some of the features it provides are meant to satisfy curiousity. Once you have read them few times they become irrelevant. Speed, maximum speed, and other fewer pieces of information are the only ones you really want to know about every time you ride.
The installation was not easy. You will find the way just I did, but it is not "a piece of cake" as you may assume. Specially so if you have a mountain bike. The model I bought is wireless. The sensor attached to the fork is meant for road or race bikes. However, there is a way to make it work just fine if you can live with a black plastic strap attached to your fork.
The instructions were written by someone who barely speaks English, and whose intellect rides an elevator that does not make it to the top floor. You will have to make a lot of deciphering of your own. Very specially so on how to initially set up the computer, and how "thousands" of miles are entered once you have riden those many miles. The digits for "thousands of miles" are not easy to decipher on how milage is displayed.
Once you invested a good chunck of your life and some aggravation, you will have a very nice and reliable computer that works as it was meant to. I do not regret my purchase, but I was not expecting to confront a number of situations that did not make my life easy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Colchester, Essex, UK
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | CoastGuard Kites | | Strengths: | Lots of features. Durable. It's a gadget! | | Weaknesses: | Usual bracket probs. Size. | | Bike Setup: | 04 Marin Wolf Ridge | | Bottom Line: | I orginally got this for a Peter Lynn kite buggy. Wanted something to mount on a flat tube of the buggy so size was not a problem. The computer and sensor suffered several hundred miles of abuse, mainly beach related, without a problem, I even butchered the mount to fit flush. When I got back into cycling was uncertain about using the panoram but mounted it, despite half the mount missing! Being mounted at the bottom of the riser bars near the stem sort of protects it and it doesn't look so big. The functions are quite simple to use once you remember which combo of buttons to press for what.
In all a good product that has been punished in a situation it wasn't designed for and still works great in the situation it was! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pritch
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the next one | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | chainreaction.co.uk (the best) | | Strengths: | Great display - all the info, at once, genuinely. It's also actually very easy to use once you get the hang of it. It's at knock-down prices now too. | | Weaknesses: | The bracket is a little poor, although it is genuinely adjustable. Some display and functionality quirks which can be annoying. Takes up a LOT of handlebar space. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Cateye Cordless | | Bike Setup: | Marin Nail Trail '99, Saracen Havoc '01 (both highly customised) | | Bottom Line: | I'd always wanted to give this computer a try but could never justify the price. However, as they are now being heavily discounted I got one, and got a spare kit so I could use it on my other bike as well.
It was easy to fit both kits. Although I hate zip ties, you can at least remove the one on the sensor if you have to. You have to pretty strong though if you want to tighten it properly. The bracket is genuinely multi-adjustable, if you're having problems with crookedness like I did at first I recommend you adjust the third screw; the one right next to the bracket itself. I promise you it is possible to find an angle where it isn't crooked if you mess around with all three screws, and thank god I did find it, because it's just horrbile when it's crooked. The bracket is flexible, which to a certain extent is a good thing, but it does mean that it can weaken in time, and it also means that you get tremendous flex when pushing buttons, as they are very firm and clunky. The main unit has a nice quality feel about it however. If you have lights on your bars, especially ones that take up a bit of space, you may have to mess around for a while before you can find a place for the Panoram to reside. Myself, I went for right over the stem, absolutely central, it's so big that anything else seemed to catch my eye all the time. I had to move my lights either side of it, and needed extra shims to move them along. If you have riser bars you might be screwed though. This thing does hog space!
Why why WHY won't someone, Cateye or especially Topeak given this thing's width, come up with a stem bracket? It would be secure, guaranteed to be straight, and out of the way of the handlebars. It's one of those things that I just can't figure out why no-one ever develops. It's not like we all ride with DH stems, most of us could mount a Panoram perfectly there, with a really strong bracket!
Anyway, as per functionality, this thing is pretty spot-on. It's the one to get if you're a bit of an info jukie like me, more so than the new V12 and V9 which are a bit disappointing. This really is the daddy within the price-range, you have to get three figure sums out before you'll get a unit offering more.
I mentioned the button-pressing thing - it's necessary I find to put your fingers behind the unit and thumb the buttons to support it which is a bit annoying. Luckily, you seldom have to press buttons when riding as info you want is displayed. One thing that does annoy me though is that when in motion the unit automatically switches back to speed/trip distance display. What if I want to continue in odometer/maximum speed mode? It won't let you. Kind-of annoying, I like to make these choices myself!
It's good that you can program your accumalted data back in if you have to change the battery, something I regard as pretty essential in a decent computer.
By the way I have the wireless version, which I can say works absolutely fine even when about 18 inches away from transmitter on my Saracen. Not only that, but if you take the time to actually measure one of your wheels, and multiply the number of mm by 3.14, you can get super-accurate measurements when you program that in. I recommend this over simply using the provided chart, as your tyres will always be different. For example, my Marin is 2088 and my Saracen is 2135, yet on the chart they would be 2100 and 2130.
I know people moan about this computer being tricky to use and the instruction sheet being complicated but actually it's really very simple if you just spend a bit of time familiarising yourself with it. If you can't hack it maybe a simpler computer is for you. It doesn't make this a bad product, indeed, I am in general very pleased with this computer - there are weak spots - but I think if you can get a good price it's worth a very good look. The mode system is fluid and it's easy to program.
It isn't as durable as a Cateye. If you're a hardcore rider I'd stick with a smaller computer that's less easy to damage, but if you're a commuter or gentle-ish XC rider this could offer you as much as you'll ever need from a computer... if you're wiling to get accustommed to it and make the effort required to unlock its potential. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Haessly Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Marquette, Michigan trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | E-bay | | Strengths: | I love all of the functions of this computer and the fact that they can be seen all at one time. I also switch it over to my road bike (with extra wireless mounting kit only $20) so this dual-functionality can't be beat! Buttons function well for me and mileage seems to be dead-on. For all of this functionality, I think the display is nice and small. The setup was fairly easy as well. | | Weaknesses: | The mount seems weak, although I haven't broken it after a lot of rough riding (and falling). I mounted it down in the drop section of my 2" Easton drop-handlebar, so it sort of protects the unit if you end up flipping the bike over. The display sits rather crooked on the mounting bracket, but not a big deal unless you suffer from OCD. The display does scratch easily as well, so I hope it doesn't get to the point where I have trouble reading it since I have used it for only one year. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetter C-500 Wireless | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Klein Attitude (mostly stock) | | Bottom Line: | I think this computer does a good job for the money and after spending $20 for the extra wireless mounting bracket is worth it since I use if for my road and mountain bikes. Better than buying another computer. I agree with everyone that the mounting bracket is rather flimsy, but it does allow lots of different mounting positions, so try to mount it so that it is out of harms way when/if you take a header on the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Deadhead Archer
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa, USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Large display, backlit, seems accurate enough. Functions are easy enough to remember. Maintenance reminder based upon riding distance is helpful for the type of riding I do. | | Weaknesses: | Rain/wetness appears to affect the sensors to some degree. I was riding after going through a cloudburst when I suddenly was going 130 MPH. The adjusted speed also affected my ride distance. No problems with humidity, just when the product was saturated. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Trek cyclocomputer...lasted me 10 years cept wouldn't fit on my new bike's forks. I loved that 'computer... :( | | Bike Setup: | '01 Gary Fisher HKEK, Hutchinson Python and Mosquito tires, LX components and SRAM drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | I'd buy another. The strengths of the product outweigh the weaknesses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Snyder
a Weekend Warrior
from New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | e-Bay | | Strengths: | Large functional display shows frequently monitored information at all times in large readable digits. Choice of wired or wireless. Wireless Mount can be removed and re-installed(No "once and done" wireless mounting bracket) Indiglo backlite screen. Maintenance reminders (Good if your someone who needs reminders) Exotic looking. People think you have on-board GPS or something. | | Weaknesses: | COMPUTER MOUNT!!! This is "BY FAR" the absolute weakness of the product. I can live with the usual "quirks" found in 99.9% of all products, but the mount..... Buttons require slightly more pressure than I would consider acceptable. Pressure should be equal to a tv remote. Backlite duration cannot be adjusted. Wheel magnet will not work with Mavic Crossmax wheels. (must by Mavic magnet) | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar, Cateye. | | Bike Setup: | Does it matter? Ok..ok.. Intense Spider XVP with all the trimmings. | | Bottom Line: | Wanting a means to determine actual ride time & distance traveled (training) in singletrack conditions, I decided to "try" a computer on my mountain bike. I followed the MTBR thread for this product, and decided to buy against my better judgement. What can I say, the display said (BUY ME!). And while I do really like the computer itself, the mount turned out to be a much bigger disappointment than I expected. After all, how bad could it be?? The disappointment started after I mounted the computer and noticed it was crooked. Figuring I did something wrong, I remounted the unit 3 times, 3 different ways in 3 different places. Same crooked angle. Perfect example of "more" is "less". Being a single track rider, I tried to mount it in as safe a place as the mount will allow. My expectations of survival are low.
I also contacted Topeak to inquire about the flimsy mount. They indicated the mount is fine and have not heard any complaints to date. Guess their customer service rep is either deaf, or complaints are not communicated beyond Customer Service.
Bottom line: Topeak really had something going here, but must have run out of R&D money. Unless you "must have" the large display, look elsewhere. Three Chilis overall because the computer is cool and durable enough for roadies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Pelletier
a Weekend Warrior
from London, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them (BuckWallow in Bracebridge) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | To Wheels | | Strengths: | Excellent visibility - everything you need at one glance. | | Weaknesses: | Display got scratched on my first fall - mounting bracket shattered with over the handlebar spill... | | Similar Products Used: | Cat Eye cordless - Bell cordless. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS2 - pretty stock. | | Bottom Line: | I was completely in love with this product when I first got it - thinking that some of the negative reviews I read were just fluke situations...then, my display scratched up pretty bad with a small fall (I could live with it), but then the mounting bracket shattered with an over the handlebar spill...now I have to MacGiver up some sort of mount for the computer...pretty cheesy. Seems pretty flimsy for the cash I dished out.
I e-mailed Topeak, and they were nice enough, but offered no real support.
Also, resetting the lubrication reminder and the maintenance reminder is plain stupid. You have to change the setting for the distance every time you hit the previous setting (Eg. if it reminds you at 100km, once you hit hat, you have to change the distance reminder setting to 200km, then 300km..etc).
Bottom line - loved the computer when I got it - found lots of flaws with it during use. I wouldn't buy another one unless Topeak comes up with a better mount and scratch resistent face. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | last one I rode | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | rei.com | | Strengths: | You can see all the information you need to at one time, or by clicking one button. It really helps keep you focused on the trail, not on your computer. | | Weaknesses: | I haven't found any | | Similar Products Used: | Trek | | Bottom Line: | A great product. I would recommend it to anybody, no matter what kind of riding you're doing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fran
a Weekend Warrior
from Nelson, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Good visibility and no pushing buttons for the different functions.
If you think the mount is flimsy then get one of these...
http://www.trailtech.net/images/computer/top_mount_protector_lg.jpg
Question.
Were these speedos designed for cycles or motorbikes first? | | Weaknesses: | None but would like a revcounter in there as well. | | Bike Setup: | Gilera Nordwest 558cc SuperMoto | | Bottom Line: | Excellent product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR, US
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mounthood & city streets | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay | | Strengths: | This bike computer has very easy to read display and ergonomically perfect design. It looks like a mini cockpit dash in a flight simulator.
Its weather protection is superb. I ride a lot in the wet, rainy conditions.
No leaks or electric shorts so far. I really appreciate its back lite and clock features.
Periodic maintenance and oiling reminder features are also very useful.
ART (Accumulated Riding Time) and ODO (Odometer) features allow to calculate mean average speed per total distance and longevity of bike components in hours and covered distance.
RT (Riding Time) and TT (Travel Time) features allow to compare total travel time and active riding time. It is very useful when you determine best route with less stops and traffic lights. MS (Maximum Speed) AS (Average Speed), SP (Speed) and DST (Distance) features give you a full picture of dynamics of your riding within covered distance.
This bike computer can be precisely programmed for any size of the wheel.
It has two independant set ups for all features in case if you're using it with two different bikes or two people are using the same one bike.
I like its wireless versions since there is no wire to snap accidentally.
I wish it had additional features for measuring cadence and air temperature.
| | Weaknesses: | Flimsy plastic mount. It flexes a bit. I fixed it by glueing two small rubber bumps on the bottom of adapter-transponder.
So there is no gap in between center of the stem and the adapter-transponder.
Flex and vibrations are gone. | | Similar Products Used: | Cat Eye Mity-2, Mity-3 | | Bike Setup: | Rigid commuter all weather rig. Leader LD-515 aluminium frame, Surly rigid fork, Pazzaz threadless stem and handle bar, all Shimano XT Mega-9 drivetrain, Shimano LX cantilever center pull brakes, Bontrager wheelset, SRAM-9 grip shifters, GT stem, CD bike seat, Topeak Expedition sturdy rear rack with clip on bags, Planet Bike wide carbon fenders. Dream commuter bike!
| | Bottom Line: | I don't believe that this Topeak Panoram computer was designed for bone head DH or stunt addicted MTB riders.
It rather was designed with normal racers or every day commuters in mind.
MTBers and DHers, why do you whine about this computer weakness (plastic mount) if you're damadging your bike components after every ride anyway?
Why do you need such a sophisticated computer for short rides with your stupid jumps, drops, hops and rocks? What is a point?
Whatever, I'm giving five flaming bananas to this revolutionary cycling computer and hope that this trend will go on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Imperial Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Coastal | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Looks great and a marvel idea. | | Weaknesses: | Flexy mount which is very poor for mountain bike use. Backlight is a good idea but will eat batteries. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye CL200LR | | Bike Setup: | Titus Switchblade | | Bottom Line: | I returned this unit due to a very unstable mount. the unit fell out of the docking bay while riding and attempting to push a button at the same time. Great looking product but they need one more shot at the drawing board before making it good for MTB. Went back to good ole' Cateye until they perfect this great idea of a unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
VM
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern California
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | Information is available without having to press any buttons. If you do have to press a button, it's normally only one or two strokes away. Shows speed tendency so you know if you are above or below your average. One of the few computers priced on the low end that has a back light. Computer mounts solidly to mount. | | Weaknesses: | Mount is flimsy. Size is on the large size, though the convience more than makes up for it. Very slightly on the heavy side. Backlight times out and turns off too quickly. Mount feels flimsy. I have the NEXT version and backlight is on the dim side. Pressing buttons on the computer while on the mount flexes the mount. | | Similar Products Used: | Avocet, Cateye. | | Bottom Line: | I have the NEXT version, and though the backlight is dim, at least it has one! Originally didn't think I was going to like it because of it's size. However, after using it, I would definitely buy another one if I had to, and the only other computer I would possibly try is the Planet Bike 8.0 or 9.0, which also displays a lot of information all at once. It's nice being able to look down and know your speed, distance traveled, and see the time all at once. The speed tendency which compares current speed to average speed is nice as well. Setup is on the intense side, though once you get it right, that's all you need. Also I always forget what the three buttons do. Good thing you normally don't need to use any of the buttons!
A better mount, brighter and longer backlight, and slightly less stiff buttons would give it 5 chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York)
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tokyo Bay to Ibaraki, along the Hanami River | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Seo Cycle | | Strengths: | Big numbers
No messing with buttons while I ride because of the three big displays showing speed, distance, riding time, and clock all at the same time. I only need to hit the light button when it gets dark--that's it.
Big center button makes it easy to cycle the displays while I ride if I need to see my max speed, average speed, and odometer, but I usually never feel the need to do this. If I do, I can just leave it alone and it will automatically turn back to the speed and distance display.
The bottons are all on the top, and fairly large, which makes them easy to push even over the roughest terrain--again, not that you really need to do this.
Lastly, mounting the computer right over the center of the stem is great. I have two light mounts for my CatEye Daylights II lighting system and a compass mounted on my handlebar, but thanks to the unique mount I still have plenty of room on either side.
Outstanding accuracy.
Wheel sizes programmable to the hundredth of a centimeter.
The odometer is also programmable, so you don't have to add old readings to fresh readings when you record your miles if you change the battery.
It's wonderful, it's fabulous, . . . | | Weaknesses: | . . . it broke! Aaaah!! What a monsterous disappointment. After over 1000 miles I saw the left side display disappear and it stopped taking data. On closer inspection, there were stress fractures in the back of the computer body causing the upper and lower halves to separate just a bit, but enough to make it unreliable even if I managed to glue it back together.
Topeak has a 5-year warranty on their cycling computers, and I believe they would honor it, but when I went to my LBS I was told they wouldn't. I contacted Topeak in my native US and they said they were sorry because they only handle customers in the US--because they're importers/distributers--so I wrote to the Japanese reps of Topeak by e-mail, but didn't get a response.
I started shopping around for a different make and model, but after using the Panoram for six months I liked it so much more than any other design that I thought I'd give it another chance and bought another one.
The mount needs to be more rigid. It's not really stiff enought to be pressing buttons alot while it's mounted, but then again you don't really need to do that anyway because of the displays. | | Similar Products Used: | CatEye Enduro 2, which is a great computer, but no backlighting and I have to push the buttons while I ride to see the different information--which is fine on a road bike, but not on a mountain bike ride. | |
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$ 59.95
