Biking is a improbable technique to keep match due to minimal affect in your joints. Being on a motorcycle additionally permits you to cowl extra floor, making it a enjoyable technique to discover. Bike computer systems, additionally referred to as head items, are extremely helpful instruments for all sorts of cyclists, starting from skilled athletes to informal cruisers. They function a substitute to your telephone with a cycling app and are available in quite a lot of codecs with completely different options, however broadly talking, these units connect to your bike’s handlebars to offer helpful data entrance and middle whilst you experience.
Even primary bike computer systems will track your rides and show key stats like time, pace, and distance. Plus, when you have further sensors like heart rate monitors or energy meters, you may see that knowledge entrance and middle as nicely. Most bike computer systems characteristic built-in GPS, offering correct distance data and navigation instruments, serving to you discover new areas. So whether or not you’re going on informal rides round city, tackling epic backcountry adventures, or amping up your health, the perfect bike computer systems will show you how to get essentially the most out of each experience.
See our course of
How we test and review products at Pocket-lint
We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and take a look at our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have really reviewed.
Greatest bike pc total
Garmin Edge 1050
A vivid show with a great deal of options
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a premium biking pc with a vivid, responsive touchscreen. It gives loads of security options like street hazard alerts and an digital bell, together with helpful navigation instruments and Garmin’s strong coaching platform.
- Street hazard alerts and different security options
- Very vivid, responsive show
- Constructed-in speaker with digital bell
- Very helpful navigation instruments
- Battery life could possibly be higher
- Costly
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a dear bike pc, but when cash isn’t any object, it’s completely the perfect you will get. Garmin lastly modernized the show on this newest gadget, and it’s now extremely vivid and vibrant. I’ve had no points studying it in full solar, and the ambient gentle sensor seamlessly adjusts the brightness once I go beneath bridges. It is also extremely quick and responsive, extra so than every other bike pc I’ve used.
The Edge 1050 contains a speaker that permits a bell to alert others on the path or street to your presence. It even appears like an actual bike bell, which is spectacular. It gives numerous navigation instruments and even makes it simple to sync Strava routes to check out new rides. The top unit will notify you of upcoming hazards like busy roads or tight turns, which I actually recognize when using in a brand new space. You will even have entry to Garmin Pay, which means you possibly can depart your pockets behind on rides.
In fact, as a Garmin gadget, you’ve gotten entry to its spectacular suite of coaching instruments and correct knowledge. It tracks tempo, distance, pace, and extra and might pair with quite a lot of completely different sensors for much more well-rounded knowledge. In case you additionally put on a Garmin watch, you’ll get a really complete view of your health and get guided coaching tricks to maximize your efficiency.
Greatest worth bike pc
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2
Numerous options for the worth
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 gives lots of worth for the worth. You will get loads of connectivity choices, an easy-to-read show, and helpful navigation instruments.
- Straightforward to make use of
- Loads of helpful metrics
- Distinctive programmable LEDs
- Good navigation instruments
- No activity-specific settings
- Battery life is barely okay
Wahoo is one other massive title within the health world, with its sensible indoor trainers amongst its most well-known objects. Its bike computer systems are nice, too, although, and the Elemnt Bolt V2 is one among its most interesting. In reality, we desire it in worth phrases to the extra feature-packed Roam.
Learn our overview
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt (v2/2021) cycling computer review: The Bolt is dead, long live the Bolt
The second-gen Wahoo Bolt makes quite a lot of adjustments – however can it earn a spot in your handlebars?
This unit has a transparent and easy-to-use display and tracks numerous metrics throughout your rides. One in every of its extra distinctive options is the programmable LED indicators, which may make it simpler to regulate efficiency metrics throughout your experience than studying numbers on the display. It additionally gives turn-by-turn instructions and robotically adjusts must you get off track or desire a new vacation spot. Plus, it has hundreds of pre-baked routes that will help you rapidly discover an important experience.
With ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi on board, you may additionally discover it simple to add your knowledge and sync it to all of your desired apps and platforms, equivalent to TrainingPeaks. There’s additionally GoPro connectivity, so you possibly can management your digital camera proper out of your bike pc to report your epic rides. All in all, the Elemnt Bolt V2 gives lots of options for an affordable value.
Greatest bike pc UI
Hammerhead Karoo
A smartphone-like gadget
The Hammerhead Karoo is a motorcycle pc with a phone-like UI for intuitive use. It gives a number of the most helpful navigation prompts and bodily buttons to be used within the rain or with gloves,
- Implausible touchscreen
- Intuitive use
- Glorious navigational prompts
It won’t have a model title as acquainted as Garmin or Wahoo, however the Hammerhead Karoo is just an important bike pc. That is largely due to its Android base, which leads to improbable useability. Utilizing it’s rather more intuitive than most of the different choices chosen because it feels somewhat like a smartphone with a responsive touchscreen.
Though the touchscreen is improbable, the Karoo additionally options loads of buttons for simpler use with gloves or within the rain. This bike pc additionally gives a number of the greatest navigational prompts, making it probably the greatest head items for navigation.
That is the third model of the Karoo, which gives 30% higher battery life and a smaller, extra light-weight design. It nonetheless would not provide as a lot battery life as the opposite choices on this record, however at 15 hours, it is greater than sufficient for most individuals. Plus, since Hammerhead is now owned by SRAM, it gives seamless connectivity with SRAM AXS merchandise if you would like all the info.
Greatest bike pc for lengthy rides
Coros Dura
Epic battery life for epic rides
The Coros Dura bike pc gives a whopping 120 hours of battery life with an additional two hours for every hour of photo voltaic charging. It is a perfect alternative for lengthy adventures on the bike.
- Very good battery life
- Distinctive design
- Inexpensive for what you get
- Easy UI
- Many options require the Coros app or Coros net platform
- Bugs to exercise
Those that prefer to sort out epic adventures want battery life to match, and the Coros Dura is up for the problem. That is Coros’ first foray into bike computer systems, and whereas they do have some issues to refine, it has quite a bit to supply.
Learn our overview
The Coros Dura is a worthy companion for my long bike rides
The primary bike pc from Coros guarantees lengthy battery life however has some kinks to work out.
Probably the most notable profit is the lengthy battery life. Coros guarantees as much as 120 hours of battery life. To increase that much more, Coros says the built-in photo voltaic panel will add as much as two hours of juice with an hour within the solar. I have not been capable of take a look at if these numbers are correct but, however the battery life is extraordinarily spectacular and much better than every other head unit I’ve used to date. Because of this, it will be an important alternative for bikepacking journeys or lengthy adventures.
The Dura gives a really simplified, paired-down UI that makes utilizing it very simple, even in the event you’ve by no means used a head unit earlier than. It gives navigation (albeit with out street names), pairs with sensors, and options customizable knowledge screens for a personalised expertise. The Dura can be fairly inexpensive for what you get, so long as you’re okay with Coros figuring out the kinks whilst you use it.
Greatest funds bike pc
Cateye Fast Wi-fi Cycle Pc
Easy and inexpensive
Cateye’s easy bike pc delivers a easy interface. The glossy, minimal design options an easy-to-read show and gives primary metrics for newcomers.
- Quite simple and intuitive
- Straightforward to connect
- Has all the important thing metrics
- Compact and minimal design
- No navigation instruments
- No built-in GPS
- Cannot hook up with different sensors
Not everybody wants (or needs) a high-end bike pc with all of the bells and whistles. In case you do not need to break the financial institution and do not thoughts shedding some options, this Cateye possibility is the best way to go. It is an important, useless easy bike pc with one of many cleanest designs in the marketplace.
The CatEye Fast is sweet and easy, offering a minimalistic look in your handlebars. Regardless of that, it nonetheless tracks distance, pace (present, common, and most), transferring time, and time. Although that record is primary, it is an important set of metrics for these beginning out or solely utilizing the bike for commutes.
This funds head unit is de facto intuitive to make use of and examine whilst you’re using. The show is straightforward to learn at a look, and it robotically begins and stops. In case you’re in search of a easy intro to the biking pc world, this could possibly be an outstanding first possibility.
The underside line: What’s the perfect bike pc?
There is not essentially one bike pc that’s the greatest since everybody has completely different wants and preferences. Nevertheless, in the event you’re prepared to spend the cash, the Garmin Edge 1050 is our favourite possibility accessible. It gives a well-rounded characteristic set, a vivid and intensely responsive touchscreen, a built-in speaker, and strong coaching and health options. The excessive price ticket definitely will get you numerous, particularly if you’re already invested within the Garmin ecosystem.
How we selected the perfect bike computer systems
Bike computer systems are available in a variety of sizes and styles, catering to differing ranges of enthusiasm and experience. We have tried to symbolize that with the record above. Some choices are extra targeted on navigation and will not monitor fairly so many stats, whereas others do all the things to present you a complete answer. Usability and sturdiness have been key variables in making our choices. We evaluated the options and capabilities of every, selecting units that offered essentially the most helpful options and instruments useful for all types of cyclists.
FAQ
Q: Do I would like a motorcycle pc?
You definitely don’t want a motorcycle pc to exit for bike rides. Nevertheless, a motorcycle pc can tremendously improve your experience relying in your objectives and the place you’re using. Many bike computer systems present navigation instruments that will help you discover your manner round new routes and even recommend new routes to get you out of a rut. They monitor numerous helpful knowledge, making them important instruments if you’re severe about your biking health. Lastly, bike computer systems additionally usually present security options to inform emergency contacts in the event you’re in a crash or offer you a heads-up to hazards on the street.
Q: What are the options to a motorcycle pc?
If you don’t need or want a standalone bike pc, you possibly can nonetheless get numerous head unit options together with your telephone. With a telephone mount and a cycling app, you will get issues like navigation, security options, and primary knowledge assortment with no bike pc.
Q: How a lot battery life ought to I search for in a motorcycle pc?
How a lot battery you want is determined by how lengthy your rides are, how usually you experience, and the way often you need to cost the gadget. Naturally, lengthy rides require lengthy battery life. Likewise, in the event you’re on a visit with out entry to energy, you may want an extended battery life. However, in the event you’re sticking near residence and solely tackling quick rides, you possibly can go for a tool that is cheaper and would not have in depth battery life.
Most bike computer systems will provide roughly 15 to twenty hours of life, relying on how you utilize the gadget. When evaluating battery life, remember to choose a tool that a minimum of guarantees extra battery life than the longest rides you assume you may sort out.
Q: Does a biking pc want Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity?
Bluetooth and ANT+ connections will help you pair further sensors like coronary heart fee displays, pace and cadence sensors, and energy meters. The Bluetooth connection may also help you pair your telephone to the gadget. If you wish to gather as a lot knowledge as doable with further sensors, remember to get an possibility with Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. You will a minimum of desire a Bluetooth connection if you would like your telephone linked for notifications throughout your rides and simpler setting adjustment.
Trending Merchandise
