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Avocet 15

MSRP $
# of Reviews 25
Average Rating 3.52/5
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Submitted by Dylan a Weekend Warrior from Winterport, Maine
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003
Favorite Trail:Mt. Waldo Loop
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $25.00
Purchased At:Nashbar
Strengths:-Cheap
-Dual Display
-Accurate Readings
Weaknesses:-No Clock
Bike Setup:2001 Cannondale Super V 500
Bottom Line:This is a great computer if all you need to know is the essentials (speed, distance, average speed). Love the dual display. Kind of weird that a clock is not available on this model. Have had no problem when the unit has been completely soaked by rain and submersions in beaver bogs.

Did have problems with weird readings right out of the box. Corrected this by slightly bending the small metal strips that make contact with computer. Since then, no problems
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Scott a from Superior, CO
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Purchased At:24
Weaknesses:Sensor strap barely fits on suspension forks, the sensor is bulky. General poor quality.
Bottom Line:waste of $24
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Ethan T a Weekend Warrior from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Bottom Line:A simple but effective computer. Has enough features for most people and an insane battery life, but do yourself a favor and get the next model up. It has a clock which is the one feature that the Avocet 15 lacks.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by dennis folgal a Weekend Warrior from mew york
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $30.00
Purchased At:a shop
Strengths:easy to use if you are a rocket scienceist
Weaknesses:well it is very week when i hod it for 2 weeks it broke it also broke, the desplay went fuzzy when it got wet it was a waste of $30
Similar Products Used:none this is the first one i have had
Bike Setup:it is a y frame mountain bike (falcan)
Bottom Line:it is a waste of money it would be better warking out our spped your self, byworking out your distance and dividing it by how long it took you to do it. dont buy this product
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by bri a Cross Country Rider from Huntington Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Purchased At:N/A - got it with bike
Strengths:- easy to use
- good product support
- reliable
- inexpensive / good value
Weaknesses:- no memory - if you lose battery power everything is
reset and you cannot restore lost data manually
- no advanced features such as RPMs
Similar Products Used:N/A
Bike Setup:1998 Trek
Bottom Line:great entry level computer or for someone looking
for the basics on a budget. for a hard-wired computer,
this one works pretty well once everything is adjusted
properly. for a first time computer owner like myself,
this was fairly easy. have only had 2 small problems,
computer stops responding - this was due to a loose wire
and/or worn connectors where the computer snaps on.
pretty easily fixed, i just checked integrity of all
wiring and bent the male connectors to the computer up
slightly to insure firmer connection.

the other thing happened one time i did not have the
computer snapped in fully and took the bike out for
a test ride. hopped over the speed bump and thing
flew off and battery cover popped off on the pavement -
along with battery and all data stored since i got
the bike. also had to reset computer to miles rather
than kilometers but had to remember how (no idea why
the default is what it is), and also tire size. this
took a little remembering but that's what the manufacturer
is there for. big drawback was i couldn't manually reprogram the data i had accrued i.e. total mileage
into memory manually. kind of a bummer, but nothing
too terrible.

only extra features i would really use are RPMs and
heart rate but that's not available in any products
at this price level. i'd rather use an external HR
monitor anyway.

good product support via website.

4/4 flamin' hot chilis for value and overall.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Kevin Vaillant a Cross Country Rider from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $15.00
Purchased At:Revolution Cycle
Strengths:Light, Easy to use, Durable, Economical
Weaknesses:No clock function
Similar Products Used:Haven't tried any others this one had everything I needed except the clock funtion and was easy to set up.
Bike Setup:Trek 8500LT, Hayes disc brakes, XT Drivetrain, Titec Berserker saddle.
Bottom Line:Excellent computer, easy to set up, is very durable and easy to use, I haven't had any of the moisture problems the other people have had. The only problem I have had was after I dropped it and the battery came out. The computer didn't break so I just reinstalled the battery and it has been fine ever since, none of the moisture problems the other riders have experienced.

Would give it 5 flamin' Chilies overall if it had a clock function.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by bunyan a Weekend Warrior from Hartford, CT
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2001
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $25.00
Strengths:Was easy to install
Weaknesses:broke first time I used it
Bike Setup:'96 Gary Fischer X-Caliber
Bottom Line:The first time I used it I spilled into a small stream, getting the computer wet. The thing hasn't worked since. It should be more moisture resistent than that.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Jerry a Cross Country Rider from Mendota Heights, MN
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $20.00
Strengths:It did a fine job of recording speed and distance when in use.
Weaknesses:It bounced off the mount more than once.
It was subject to moisture problems.
Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher, Sigma Sport
Bike Setup:Touring
Bottom Line:I would never this model again. It allowed moisture into the case overnight, fogging up the display from the inside. It leaked moisture in a rain, requiring a plastic bag to cover it.

Ultimately, the moisture leakage led to very early failure. No other brand has ever performed worse for me.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by John a Weekend Warrior from Middletown
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $30.00
Purchased At:Peddler
Strengths:Small, light, Ease of use.
Weaknesses:No clock
Bottom Line:This is a really good basic computer. It's really small and very light. I've used it for almost 2 years now and nothing has gone wrong. I didn't even have to replace the battey. It is very easy to use, and easy to read. If it had a clock it would be perfect.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:4

Submitted by ANTHONY a Weekend Warrior from Westfield,Indiana
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $20.00
Strengths:Cheap, reliable, easy to use.
Weaknesses:Display is smaller than most of the newer computers.
Bottom Line:I've been using this thing for 4 years and have never even replaced the batteries. It is easy to operate and has all of the basic functions you really need. It's also been subjected to all kinds of conditions and has never missed a beat. For most people, this computer has all the functions you would ever need. A great value.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Westy a Racer from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2000
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $20.00
Purchased At:Cyclepath Peterborough
Strengths:Cheap, gives the right numbers, can be used in wet weather until the battey is changed, one battery lasted 2 years. Reasonably light weight.
Weaknesses:Some times it goes nuts and the speedo reads what ever it wants, sometimes it just reads random crap, not even numbers after it gets wet.
Bike Setup:Wheeler XC race setup, XTR and Race Face drivetrain. Shwinn Super Sport road bike
Bottom Line:Not a bad unit for the money. Mine has never worked as well since I changed the battery though. The one on my road bike that never sees worse than rain is great. My mountain bike one tends to screw up when it gets wet and muddy. Buy it if you're looking for a cheap/disposible(?) unit.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

Submitted by JakeR a Cross Country Rider from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:cheap, slick and compact design, accurate readings and you get readings for the numbers that really count
Weaknesses:cheap craftsmanship, un-waterproofed, once battery compartment has been opened the circuitry is blown
Similar Products Used:DBR AC-17 (wireless)
Bike Setup:Schwinn Mesa GSX with Bomber Z2 BAM fork
Bottom Line:This computer is good for what it's worth. However once the battery died and replaced, the readings were all over the place. The real-time spd would fluctuate a lot, with very inconsistent functioning. The computer would reset on its own sometimes during a ride. ALso, the comp is waterproof before the battery compartment is opened. Water can't stay out though once the battery is changed and manufacture seal is broken.

This computer definitely turns into a disposable one after battery is changed since most of the functions are ruined.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Romeo a Cross-Country Rider from Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
All the trails here!!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Cheap
Weaknesses:
Cheap, broke while riding.
Similar Products Used:
Avocet 30
Vetta C20
Timex watch/cyclocomputer
Bike Setup:
Custom 1998 Klein Pulse Pro with 1999 9spd Shimano XT/Kooka cranks/FSA Ti BB/Avid brakes/Thudbuster post/ GT wheels/Sram Plasma shifters/Ti handlebar/Titec cockpit/Flite saddle/97 Manitou Pro fork
Bottom Line:It was a great computer for the short time that it lived. I tried to replace the battery, but to no avail. I'm going to try the Supergo Wireless next.
Overall Rating:1

Submitted by shane hastings a Weekend Warrior from healdsburg CA
Date Reviewed: November 19, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Cheap and styleish
Weaknesses:
none what so ever
Bottom Line:I work at a bike shop and get great deals and everything. But for a price so good and a product that's basic and perfect, I could'nt pass it up.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dave a Cross-Country Rider from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1999
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
cheap,
all the functions you need,
works in wet weather
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:I got mine for $19 2 years ago. It worked the entire time on the same battery, and always read accurately. When I switched it to my new bike, I didnt think about the suspension, and the slack in the wire due to my weight on the fork got it caught in the spokes. The wire ripped out, and the 2 computers I have bought since then did not work at all, I dont understand why all computers suck, when for under $20 you can get a good one by avocet. Ohh, and my favorite time to ride is during a big storm, I have also dumped my bike in a river or two, and the computer kept going.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jimbeau a Cross-Country Rider from California
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Any in North Lake Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Inexpensive
Weaknesses:
Not waterproof...not even water resistant.
Similar Products Used:
Avocet 40/45; G.Fisher Axiom; Cateye Enduro
Bike Setup:
Mantra
Bottom Line:Limited functions; ruined first time it got wet. Hard to believe anyone would produce an item designed for use on a bike that isn't at least water resistant.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Reid Swick a weekend warrior from Seattle WA
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1998
Bottom Line:

I had to return this item for replacement 3 times. Once because it would not go into calibration mode as described on the manual. And twice because it became locked in some kind of freakout mode - displaying gibberish and not responding to any button presses. Only removing and replacing the battery would reset in the latter case.
The last unit I received again froze up, but I just kept it and resigned myself to periodically losing my total distance when I removed and replaced the battery to reset this condition.
Also, there are apparently two distinctly different models of the '15' and a different set of operating instructions for each. The one I got originally had a scan function that would cycle through the functions. The current replacement apparently does not. Instructions for reaching calibration mode differ also, so maybe there's something I missed.
Another minor complaint is that my tire size is not listed in their calibration chart (26X1.6), so I had to extrapolate.
Having said all that. I also have the '25' model, which I have had no trouble with. And I like the '15' because I already know how to work it (sort of).
It has worked to show me basic functions.
Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Randall a racer from Trabuco Canyon, CA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1998
Bottom Line:

Between my brother and I, we own 4 of these things. Can't beat the $24 price tag. Batteries tend to last a couple thousand miles w/o needing replacements. Would be great if these things had backlights or something so we could see where we were going hunting down varmint and shit... other than that, pretty great.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Retroman a cross-country rider from Buffalo
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1998
Bottom Line:

What can I say, These are the best value speedometers I've seen around. They're simple,
cheap, last forever, and even look cool (well as cool as a speedometer can look.) I run
them on both of my bikes; 1200+ miles and still like new. 50 words I need yes indeed. 53
words I have uh...
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Biff a weekend warrior from Columbia, MO
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1998
Bottom Line:

Over 1200 miles and lots of neurotic button pushing, and this thing still works flawlessly. The screw-on spoke magnet has not budged and the head unit has survived a couple of edos. The mode button does not seem to have the postive click it once had, but still works fine. Great value.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by jeremy a cross-country rider from tn
Date Reviewed: January 19, 1998
Bottom Line:

this computer is my first. i got it as a gift, but it is the one that i would have picked myself! it has all the functions that an ordinary rider needs, and at the price (15-20) who could ask for more? it is easy to install, altough you really must push the computer into the bracket for it to stick. it will click when it is in, and if it isn't in all the way, it might get jolted loose ( which happened to me until i found my mistake). a great buy! five chile peppers for a great product.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Bboy a cross-country rider from Florida
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1998
Bottom Line:

i got this computer as a gift-and what a great gift it has turned out to be. It was easy to install (15 minutes tops, and I had never installed one before). It works great. The buttons are easy to punch, the numbers are easy to read. At
first I was bummed because it didn't have a clock (one model up does), but now I'm happy cause I'm never riding and clock watching. I've crashed with it a few times, and every still works (computer, too) Five Hot Wings!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Dr. Miquelito Loveless a cross-country rider from Wild Wild West
Date Reviewed: October 11, 1997
Bottom Line:

I've got the Avocet 15 for $20 from BikeWorld. Its got everything I need an , so far, it works well. I just don't want all that fancy stuff like cadence or altimeter and if I need to know the time I'll wear a watch.
The zip-ties they supply are too short for my Manitou forks so I used waxed flat string for now. The buttons need to be pushed way in to make contact which makes you think they are not working at first.
The setup looks and works well for the money.
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jimbeau a cross-country rider from California
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1996
Bottom Line:

Avocet Model 15 --- I bought this via the MTB market place (my first such purchase). So far it works without a hitch. It was easy to install and the display is easy to read...although I wish I'd gotten a model 25 or higher so I'd have the clock feature -- but hey, what can ya expect for $15.00? My only concern is the attachment method (a magnet is screwed onto a spoke).
Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Paul Wilson a weekend warrior from Boston
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1996
Bottom Line:

I have the model 15 cycle computer and only paid 20 bucks for it.

It has speed, trip distance, total distance, trip time and a few other things I
don't really care about. It also has two displays, one of which always shows speed.
Personally, I can't think of any other info that would be needed. For $20, how
can you go wrong?
Overall Rating:5






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