Strengths: I guess it would be good - IF I COULD SET ANYTHING.
Weaknesses: This did not have any kind of manual, and i have no idea how you could change the settings. Mine one has set button on the back, and 2 buttons for changing 'bike'.
Because of I can't change the tire size or anything, this gives me wrong numbers. This one is just 1200, not 1200plus.
Exactly same as the picture, but not the plus.
Bottom Line:
Don't know how to change settings. Tried that hole on the back - still can't change anything Tried every combination of numbers, but only thing i was able to was to change language from english to (?) spanish and back. Cost 25 euros, but as long as i can't do anything, this was waste of money.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Watervliet ny
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2012
Strengths: Easy to use. Easy to read when riding. I liked the size of the unit and thought it was a good looking unit.
Weaknesses: The tire size chart in the manual was wrong but they provided an updated sheet with the right numbers for the tire sizes. I would have liked a regular on/off switch.
Bottom Line:
For my 1 st wireless bike computer I was impressed with the unit. Would recommend it to the average rider.
Submitted by
Brenman2640
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2010
Strengths: Have only owned product for one Day, No comment as of now!
Weaknesses: Extremely off in mileage
Bottom Line:
The set up manuel say that for Wheel size 700x40c tires, the set up code would be 2224. This is not even close to being correct. Can anyone advise me on how to find the correct set up code or tell me the code. Instruction Book is terrible and there isn't a manuel to explain the operation functions.If it wasn't for a UTube video I wound not even have known how to put the wheel size code in, however it is the wrong code anyway so that did not matter. Please help thanks
Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Marion IA USA
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2010
Strengths: Display is easy to read. Unit it simple to install.
Weaknesses: Instruction manual could be better. The chart for wheel size input is WAY off. Using the chart, my five mile jaunt to the market netted me eight miles.
Bottom Line:
Now that I have the unit properly calibrated I really like it. Easy to read display, lots of information, and easy to operate. Not bad for the price. Buy it if you are a weekend warrior, a commuter, even an avid cyclist. Not suitable for racers and the hardcore.
Bike Setup: Trek 930 used for light trail riding and commuting.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Loveland, OH
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2010
Strengths: Easy to install, easy to program
Weaknesses: Doesn't read accurately or chart is WAY off
Bottom Line:
Purchased this unit to keep track of my rides, and was shocked after the first night when it said I had gone much further and faster than I had calculated with GPS during the day.
The chart for my tire size says to plug in the value of 2070 for my wheel size, which is the correct number ( 26" X 25.4 X 3.14 = 2073mm ). So, I'm getting a reading that is higher by a factor of 1.67. In other words, if I'm going 10mph, the unit shows me going 16.7mph. If I ride for 1 mile it shows I rode for 1.67 miles.
I ended up mapping out the route I took on GPS again, calculated the correct distance, and reverse engineered the correct wheel size value... and it came to 1239. When I put this number into the computer, it came out measuring my speed and distance correctly, within .1% of my GPS value.
What gives? At first I was thinking I had it in km.hour mode but it's showing output in mph, not km/hr. I find this very odd, since there are 1.6 kilometers in a mile, so the numbers are very close if it was in the wrong mode.
The output when I set the mode is at "M". Any ideas?
Submitted by
Geoff Duncanson
a Cross Country Rider
from STRATFORD, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2006
Strengths: Setup is pretty good, I agree with other reviewers that the instructions could be better translated; but with a simple computer like this one doesn't need to refer to them once you have the basics.
I like the simplicity of the rubber o-rings, granted I'm not thrashing through the woods or careening downhill where they might be alot of harms way but I've never had a problem with them.
I tend to like trail riding in the rain, and these haven't fogged up or quit working.
Weaknesses: this computer has two buttons, fore and aft of the display area. I sometimes have trouble cycling through the menus to get to the one I want and also resetting the trip time and mileage while I'm riding becuase you have to hold the secondary button in for several seconds to do so. It's probably me, but that's my only complaint.
Bottom Line:
clear large display-shows all the important data in one screen. very reliable, I've used it now for over seven years without a problem. price is low for it's longevity.
Strengths: Simple to use - simple to set up - clear and legible under any conditions - no fiddling necessary to pull out all useful functions. A great first unit (so I thought) that will not detract from the pleasure of riding.
Weaknesses: O-rings to hold the sensor? That's a bit bold (almost lost it on day 1 because of that)
Bottom Line:
This unit could deserve top rating - if only they had thought about another way of holding the sensor. I see some reviewers mentioning they fixed their units with zip ties - and I'd love to understand how since there is no holes drilled-in for that. The o-ring that was provided with mine (42 diameter) broke on the first day of use. Pretty disappointing. Might upgrade that review when I figure out how to mount the sensor safely (if I have not changed product before that).
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Smith, AR
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2006
Strengths: Easy install. Instructions weren't perfect English but close enough. I bought the wireless model - didn't take a lot of fiddling to get things working.
Weaknesses: Mounts to bike with rubber gasket or rubber-band type things. Looks cheap but does the job & should be easy to replace if necessary.
Bottom Line:
Works for me. Pretty easy to install & callibrate. So far so good . . .
Submitted by
Abel Lopez
a Weekend Warrior
from Fontana, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006
Strengths: Simple, Easy to use, full featured computer. The 1600 has two-bike features, but I didn't need them, so the 1200 was the best choice for me.
Weaknesses: No backlight
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike computer. If you want the most bang for your buck, the 1200 is your best bet. It's got every feature you need, none you don't
Submitted by
Louise LABORTE
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey Hills - UK
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Strengths: Sigma make the most advanced, affordable cycle computers I have ever owned. In the last 20 years I have used Avocet, Cateye, VDO, Specialized, wired and wireless. I was so impressed I have three of them, all RDS wirelss. MTB, Road + 1600 Cadence on my trainer. All are still on the original long life CR2023 cells. I particularly like the dual read out with an indicator tp show if you are + or _ average speed. Great for enduro's or 12 hour races. 2 tyre sizes can be stored for summer + winter. At last the ability to manually set the Total distance of the Odometer (so when the battery does need to be swapped you can punch in your lifetime mileage ... sweeet. No tools required, screwless design is fitted to fork and bars with large O rings
Tip+ Put a small dab of BP petroluem jelly on both terminals of the head unit and you could ride under water. No probs even in the worst driving rain. Tip* Take the head unit off the bike when not in use which seems to prolong the Cell life. Tip# The EMF from bar mount HID lights interfere with Wireless reciever. Follow these tips and Sigma will NOT let you newbies down. That's a promise ...
Weaknesses: Buttons can be a bit sticky + fiddly at speed.
Bottom Line:
Tip+ Put a small dab of BP petroluem jelly on both terminals of the head unit and you could ride under water. No probs even in the worst driving rain. Tip* Take the head unit off the bike when not in use which seems to prolong the Cell life. Tip# The EMF from bar mount HID lights interfere with Wireless reciever. Follow these tips and Sigma will NOT let you newbies down. That's a promise ...
Similar Products Used: Cate eye, VDO, Avocet, Specialized
Bike Setup: Sworks epic, Fox Fx, Mavic X-max, Conti double fighters
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Tustin, CA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2006
Strengths: Excellent display, easy to use, good price
Weaknesses: Handlebar bracket has cracked twice
Bottom Line:
I decided to try out a computer when I bought my new bike and went with the Sigma 1200. As for the computer itself, it has worked flawlessly. I like the display better than the Cateye computers. It's easy to read and moving between modes is no problem. The rubber O-rings that hold the handlebar bracket and the fork sensor have given me no problems at all.
My only problem has been with the handlebar mounting bracket. I like the fact that it's small and has a low profile on the bar, but I've cracked it twice on crashes. I also tore the wire once; it must have snagged on a branch. Each time it broke, however, I was given a free replacement bracket, either by Sigma or REI.
Despite the bracket problems, the computer itself has worked just fine and I've been happy with the product overall.
Submitted by
Alex Tourangeau
a Cross Country Rider
from Gatineau
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2005
Strengths: Simple design, good interface, availability of wireless upgrade
Weaknesses: Strange instruction manual, but well detailed
Bottom Line:
I had been using a Cateye computer on my Rocky Mountain, and I couldn't stand it's strange interface. I picked up this computer after comparing the various models on display (love the display, by the way, with a small wheel mounted. It allows the user to spin the wheel to see how well each function is accessed and displayed by the computer.)
I was also tired of cables getting torn, pulled out, twisted and so forth and sprang for the wireless upgrade kit. I like how the wireless kit integrates, and although I ran into a couple issues during the installation (for a while, I couldn't undertand why the computer would not pick up the signal from my spinning wheel, until out of frustration, I gave the wheel a spin in the opposite direction and the computer registered. I had the wireless received backwards...) Finally got everything mounted correctly (with the wireless receiver mounted facing the front of my fork). And so far, I have found this computer to be very accurate.
I have read a few reviews that indicated that some issues were encountered with rain and humidity, and I can state that I have had no problems so far in this regard. Great computer, with a very straightforward interface and controls.
Weaknesses: Can't store unique data for multiple wheel sizes
Bottom Line:
I actually bought this to replace the failed digital speedometer on my motorcycle. At $23 it was a lot cheaper than the Triumph parts. Contrary to claims by the "experts" at the local bicycle shop, I've found the BC1200 to be accurate up into triple-digit (MPH) speeds (closed course only; professional rider shown; don't try this at home; read your owners manual; don't drink and ride; etc. ;-). Supposedly most bicycle computers aren't accurate above ~40mph or so, but that's not the case with the BC1200.
The unit can be programmed for two wheel sizes, and since I have an extra mounting kit I was hoping that I could easily use it on both my motorcycle and mountain bike. I can, and the BC1200 can store two wheel sizes so switching back and forth takes mere seconds. However, all of the riding data (max speed, avg. speed, trip meter, total odometer, etc.) is shared by both wheel sizes. I was hoping that on Wheel 1 I could keep the running odo total accurate for the motorcycle, while running a unique odo total on Wheel 2 for my bicycle. Alas, it doesn't work this way.
Other than this admittedly obscure problem, it's been great so far.
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005
Strengths: Cost me a mere $20/CAN back in 1997. It still works and only needs new batteries once a year.
Weaknesses: The comp. itself nothing, I got the wireless upgrade for it and it died a few Km's into my 2nd ride with it.
Bottom Line:
After 8yrs of useage, changing the batteries only six times from 1997-2005(1 pair/yr.) and 1 cordless upgrade that didn't work on the 2nd ride it was well worth the $20. Bottom Line: Best money spent on a bike comp. to date.