Mtn bike computer for gift, ~$100

B

Bob W

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Dec 31, 2000
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Can anyone recommend a bicycle computer, given these requirements:
- no more than $100
- suitable for mountain biking, durable and with appropiate features
- good quality, dependable brand name

This is to be a gift; I had one years and years ago, but don't know what's currently available, or which ones are good. Nor is there anyplace local to shop for them.

-Bob
 
Cateye has been around for awhile and seem fairly durable.

For mountain biking check out the enduro 8. It has the standard features and the wire is thicker so it is more durable (in theory).

That being said I'm not sure I've ever had one last for more than a few years and I've had probably 6 or 7 of them.

Normally, for me, it is the wire that gets broken somewhere when they quit working. So I guess something to think about would be a wireless model. Not sure if it would be any more durable since you are now throwing more delicate electronics into the equation.

Not sure how much help that is but you can get the enduro 8 for about 30 bucks if you shop around. Good luck!

Ryan
 
Your comments are most appreciated, particularly the info about the heavier cables. It seems that most units in the $100 range are all wireless though. I've been window shopping online today, but don't know much about what I was seeing.

Too bad the Garmin bike units are so expensive...

I think my old computer was a Vetta. Know anything about the quality of their current products?

-Bob
 
I recommend Cateye as well, I've had a Cateye HRM/computer for about 12 years; it's been on a number of different bikes.

For MTBs, wireless is nice, but price....Check out Nashbar. They have lots of computers and always have a ton of sales this time of year.
 
To be honest I have been out of mountain biking for a couple years now due to health issues.

I have had a Vette before but I dont remember much about it. I have also had a specialized which was pretty good from what I remember. The last few I had were the enduro that I mentioned and they seemed to last longer. I think this was due to the thicker wire because the other ones I had were more for road bikes and had very thin wires.

Other than that I don't have much more experience with them. You might want to check out www.mtbr.com

It is a site similar to this one but for mountain bikes. It has a review section where there are user reviews of different products. I looked and there is no review of the enduro 8. I actually have not used that model I just figured it was the newest incarnation of the enduro. I think I had the enduro 2 and it seems kinda hard to believe they have gone thru 6 more revisions in the past couple years so I dont know what the deal is with that.

Good luck!

Ryan
 
I've got quite a few years of shop experience, and have seen more computers than I can shake a stick at. I would probably do an Enduro as well. Someone who is a little bit detail oriented (you or if you've got some mechanics at your local shop who care about their work) can route the wire up the back and/or inside of the fork leg in a manner that isn't likely to get snagged by the local flora. If you'd like something that's a little bit easier and cleaner installation (as well as a little more cool factor) the new Cateye cordless computers have come a LONG way from the finicky wireless computers of even a few years back. No wires to get snagged, and I run my sensor on the back/inside of the fork leg and have never gotten it ripped off by anything.

For mountain biking, there's not really much reason to do anything more full-featured/expensive, and most anything up the scale price wise will be less durable, with the exception of something like the Garmin Edge GPS products. The two I listed will be the most robust; more money gets you things like cadence, which in a MTB application is typically not very useful.

BTW, if anyone ever needs anything bike (MTB or road) related, send me an email/PM and I'd be more than happy to help with whatever I can.
 
Also, depending on a few different factors, it may be less expensive to go to the local bike shop. If you're having them install it, many places will install for free if you buy it from them, but charge $10-$15 if you bring in an internet purchase for installation. The prices sometimes aren't even that different to begin with. Sometimes they are. Definitely check around though.

edit: just re-read your original post, so this doesn't apply to you, but for anyone else reading, I think I'll leave the post.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

OT for Eric1115: What do you hear about Monument Cycles frames?

-Bob
 
Honestly, I've not heard a lot about them. They don't have any dealers within 700 or so miles of me, so that could be why. Next time I'm in Leadville, I'll definitely have to stop by and check them out. They look great, though if I were buying a small-production, high cool-factor hardtail for myself, I'd probably be looking more at steel.

It sounds from the reviews that they have worked some magic with their aluminum. I had a Klein hardtail a few years back that was a super smooth (for aluminum) ride, so I know they exist... It sounds like Monument has gotten the Klein ride quality with a little more relaxed geometry. That Klein was a dream in tight, twisty singletrack, but when you opened it up on fast, loose stuff, it was kind of a handfull. Those slack head tube and seat tube angles should make for a pretty mellow ride, not too twitchy.

It sounds like a pretty sweet ride, and you can't beat the price.
 
Actually, the correct name was Vetta . They were an Italian company that imported mostly Italian made components and accessories. But soon after, starting using Taiwan companies to make their stuff. IME, their quality was not that good. The old standby Cateye computers are the most popular. They are quite durable and are all currently still made in Japan. The Enduro 8 is a great deal. Keep in mind that if the mountain bike in question is not going off road nor on single track, then the wiring should not be an issue. Most wires I' ve seen that are broken were due to clumsy handling of the bike itself. Whether it is dropped, stored stacked against each other, or thrown in a vehicle without minimum caution.

N.
 
Thanks for the info on Vetta. I realized my spelling mistake as soon as I started browsing the online bike stores. I was too darned lazy to fix it though. :)

Cateye sounds like the way to go.

How 'bout Polar computers?

-Bob
 
Most of the Polar computers are more road bike oriented. Their big advantage is that you can get a HRM on the same display as your cycling info (speed, cadence, etc). They tend to be a little more delicate than I would recommend for off-road use.
 
I have a Cateye Enduro 8, and it's pretty good, but was a real pain to setup.

However, I also have a cheapo cyclocomputer I bought at Walmart for like 5.99, and it works just as well. I put them both on the same bike, and there was no difference in the data.

I got my Cateye for free from Amazon, by signing up for their credit card and getting an instant $30 credit.
 
mike_mck2 said:
I have a Cateye Enduro 8, and it's pretty good, but was a real pain to setup.

However, I also have a cheapo cyclocomputer I bought at Walmart for like 5.99, and it works just as well. I put them both on the same bike, and there was no difference in the data.

I got my Cateye for free from Amazon, by signing up for their credit card and getting an instant $30 credit.
Click to expand...

The Enduro isn't any easier or harder than any other wired computers, and they are all only as accurate as you calibrate them to be. The WalMart computer is not sealed as well (if at all) against water, dirt, dust, etc. I had an Enduro on my bike, on top of my car, driving in the pouring rain at 65 MPH. No ill effects (I've done that with all my computers, by the way, all cateye's). I've seen cheap department store computers crap out in a couple of months of normal use, one ride in the rain, or from riding in muddy or dusty conditions. You get what you pay for.
 
I don't have a computer on my mountain bike, but my Cateye's have survived on the others for years.

As for where to buy, I like Nashbar and Jensen Elite (they have more MTB stuff). If you buy from Nashbar, you might stop by bikeforums coupon code forum and see if there are any active discount codes.
 
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