Submitted by
Sara
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2004
Strengths: This review is for Axiom A10W. As others have mentioned, the wireless connection is weak. During a race, the spedometer stopped working entirely, but the odometer continued to clock the miles.
Weaknesses: As was stated by other users, it's necessary to tip your computer away and toward the wheel in order to ensure connectivity. Of course, it's difficult to read, but it will save you time and money if your alternative is to buy a different computer instead.
Bottom Line:
Battery life is poor, and wireless connectivity is challenging. I wish I'd stuck with my wired computer.
Submitted by
Mike M
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2004
Strengths: Reliable, distance to 0.01 miles, does what it's supposed to do.
Weaknesses: Current speed only to nearest 0.5mph. Would be nice if it had a backlight for night rides.
Bottom Line:
This thing works great. I've had it for years, it has survived some major crashes (it's all scratched up but still works). The buttons have a quality feel, and the mounting bracket is also of good quality.
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2004
Strengths: Wireless (this is for the Axiom A10W)
Weaknesses: Inconsistent performance
Bottom Line:
Had wired on my old bike. Wanted to try wireless when I built my Turner. To get it to work at first, had to move the transmitter much closer to the display than the instructions say. Had to twist the display forward rather than facing me, but it worked ok for 6 months. Then it quit working. Replaced both batteries, but still nothing so I twisted the display even farther forward. It started working, but wouldn't register speeds below about 7mph, it just read 0. Twisted the display so far forward, I couldn't read it unless I leaned forward, but it at least gave accurate readings on the last ride. Bottom line: weak transmitter and unusable as it has to be mounted on the handlebar at an angle that I can't even read the display. I just got off the phone with Performance and it's going back and I'm exchanging for a wired mode.
Submitted by
RK
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington,NC USA
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2003
Strengths: Looks great, easy set-up. Easy to read even for an old fart like me.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
This is for the 2003 Axiom A10W
This has been mounted on my road bike and mountian bike. It has been a good performer at a great price (on sale). Problems with the sensor that others report may be solved by being sure the magnet passes the sensor at the embossed line on the sensor. Miss this critical mark and it won't work. I have "tested" the speed accuracy against those self-checking, guilt trip speed meters that the police put up and I was right on the money both times.
I have not subjected this computer to rough trail use. Why would I?
Submitted by
Stan
a Weekend Warrior
from Phillipsburg, NJ
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003
Strengths: Easy setup
Weaknesses: Only works "most" of the time. For example, I traveling at 15 mph and it reads 15MPH for about 70% of the time, then reads 0mph, then 35mph. If I travel 20 miles on a measured course, it was only registering about 16-17 miles since it read 0mph for a while. I played with the wheel sensor ensuring it was 1-3mm from the magnet but that didn't seem to help. It was VERY sensitive to the angle on the handlebar. If I tilted the display toward me (when I am seated on the bike), it would not register any readings. I needed to tilt it forward for the readings to register (and even then it didn't always register).
Bottom Line:
If there's one thing I want the computer to do it's to measure the distance traveled accurately. This product just didn't do it.
Submitted by
RandyP
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine CA
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002
Strengths: Easy setup, competitive price, ease of use, useful functions, easy to install, spare mounting kits are available, settings for two bikes, did I say proce?
Weaknesses: No backlight. That's it.
Bottom Line:
For the money, this computer is one of the best out there. I have them on all five bikes in the garage. We've crashed with them, washed them, soaked them in the rain, and never had a problem. I just did a century ride with three road bike friends that all have Shimano Flight Decks. Two of the three malfunctioned. The third guy's was new so he didn't know haow to navigate the menus. These guys with their $120 computers kept asking me for our average speed and total distance. I bought a spare mount and swap it back and forth to my road bike. Wish it had a light though. One last thing, if you use a Nite Rider HID you can sometimes get some interference with the display. The solution is to re-route the power cable away from the computer. Once done, no more interference. Five flamin' chilis here.
Strengths: simple design, works, does not slide or move around.
Weaknesses: None yet, accept maybe the distance needed for the computer. I have mine set at around 1'-10" with an Avid brake arm residing in transmitter site line and it still works perfect. I initially maxed out the distance to 2'-0" per instructions but at that distance (with the brake arm in the way), it was too far for the computer to register.
Bottom Line:
I have never written a review before but something extraordinary happend with my computer, actully two things.
I crashed my bike and the computer must have gotten bumped and disconected from it's snap in cradle. I got back up and continued riding, about 4 yards later down the concrete path I hear the computer fall off and bounce along the concrete. I thought to my self as I turn my bike around to go get it that it surly died, (based on other reviews here) But it didn't!
The big story is that about a three days later I go on a long muddy ride and get home to wash my bike. I take the computer off and stick it in my pocket just before I hose the bike down so as not to get the computer wet. I go about my business and completely forget that the computer is in my shorts. A day later I do laundry with the computer in the shorts pocket, not realizing, it goes through the cold water wash cycle. Well I pull out my clothes after the cycle completes and I hear a clang at the bottom of the washing machine. Thats when I find out I just washed my computer, and nothing happened to it! It works perfect and its a little cleaner too! I won't be doing that again, but I thought I would share my misshap and good furtune with this computer.
Similar Products Used: Acutlly this is my first based on reviews here at MTBR
Bike Setup: Yeti AS_R comp
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
pete
a Weekend Warrior
from boston, ma
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002
Strengths: easy to use, nice features, auto start is nice too.
Weaknesses: This unit has some problems with interference in city riding, like commuting. Often times it misreports max speed (Like it said I was doing 225 mph the other day!) so this knocks off average speed, total mileages etc.
Bottom Line:
What is the point of having this unit if it doesn't accurately measure speed and distance? Get a high end model if you want wireless. I'm going to suffer the "inconvenience" of a wired model for accurate measurements.
Great customer support from Performance though. They are going to refund my money even after using this model for almost one year!
Submitted by
joepah
a Weekend Warrior
from jensen beach, florida
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002
Strengths: Excellent display, quality buttons that are simple to operate, EZ to setup. Battery life over 2 years. Unit holds up to florida envir. (Rain, Voter fraud, Jeb Bush)
Weaknesses: The sensor button on the spokes is of marginal material and design... seems like it came from Japan in the late '40s.
Bottom Line:
I have only seen 3 or 4 others.. This Axiom has auto sleep, great display, no !@# wires, and lasts and lasts.. what else could you ask for?
Strengths: Hands down the best feature is the auto-wake sleep mode. I don't have to remember to reactivate the unit - it automatically wakes up when the bike moves even after the unit goes into "power save" mode, just the the wired units.
Weaknesses: Minimum affective measurable speed: 1.5 MPH. Smallest speed increment .5 MPH. Don't know if this is better or worse than others.
Bottom Line:
Need to test it more, but I have to give 5 chills for the auto-wake sleep mode. With my last wireless unit, it would go into sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity, where I would often forget to reactivate the computer when after I take a short break from cycling, hence rendering my trip data useless countless times. This puppy appears to wake up from "power save" mode after any duration (hours even)of inactivity. What interesting is that feature appears to only work when the unit is attached to bar mount. Also, this feature is undocumented - the instructions tell you to press buttons after 5 minute of no bike movement. Go figure.
Strengths: Good features and a great price for a wireless computer (if it would only work).
Weaknesses: The transmitter doesn't work as advertised (claims to work up to 24 inches away). I can only get the computer to work if I hold it right up to the transmitter. I tried swapping out the battery but that did not help. I can only assume that the transmitter is defective. This really sucks with a mail order product. I am sending it back and going with a reputable brand name.
Bottom Line:
I was excited about getting this computer becuase of all the good reviews on this site. I was soooooooooo disappointed when the thing didn't work. I was a little skeptical about going with a wireless based on various stories I have heard. I'm going to go purchase a name brand computer with good old reliable wires!
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Howell, NJ, US
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2001
Strengths: Reliable, accurate, and easy to read
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This is a well made computer. Simple to setup and operate. Using it on a road bike with no problems at over 850 miles. Wires are just don't work as well. I recommend it.
Submitted by
LOCOMAN
a Weekend Warrior
from PORTAGE MI USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Strengths: Looks good. Wireless. Easy to read display. Easy to install. Two tire function.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
Has worked great. Never have any problems with it. Installed it in about 20 minutes. I am able to get a reading holding the computer as far as 30 inches from the transmitter. I think this computer is made by VDO for performance. VDO has a reputation for making quality gauges for many top of the line cars and boats. I would recomend this computer to anyone.
Submitted by
Connor
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2000
Strengths: Price, wireless, ability to easily change over for different bikes/wheelsets.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Great product for any price. Mine has been totally reliable and rugged, doesn't fall off the bike on rough trails, and makes fork service a snap. I broke the wires several times on my previous wired unit with fatigue at wire bends and while trying to remove fork lowers for service. I also use 2 different wheelsets for commuting to work and off-road riding, and the unit is easily programmed and reset for each wheel size (has 2 memories). Highly recommended.
