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Submitted by
Ross Craft
a Weekend Warrior
from Encinitas
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Del Dios | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came with used bike | | Strengths: | Looks Cool | | Weaknesses: | - Too many features.
- Too much time navigating through options
- Qiuts working at altitude and cold | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye | | Bike Setup: | Orbea Orca | | Bottom Line: | The best improvement on my bike so far has been to remove the Flight Deck and toss it in the trash. A piece of garbage. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from Lowell, MA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Controll buttons integrated on hoods, virtual cadence. Visual gears. | | Weaknesses: | Where to begin: No back light; functions are not logically connected to each other, the big three: distance, time and cadence, should all be in the same loop, (indeed, they should all be on the same screen.) No 12 hour clock! Come on Shimano this is the 20th and 21st century. Sender unit is hideous and its mount is awkward. There is only one fork mounting bracket. The supplied magnet sucks, I don't even use it, instead relying on aftermarket or custom set ups. There is no memory after battery death or change! I had to trim the handlebar mounting bracket so it would fit cleanly fore of my stem. (Although I admit, this was just me trying to keep a clean install). Many more... | | Similar Products Used: | Many | | Bike Setup: | Trek 5.2SL/Ultegra/numerous wheels and cassetts | | Bottom Line: | If broken, would I buy another one? No. Not until this unit is better designed for the rider. It is counter intuitive, awkward to use and often flakes out on a ride. The active part of the computer should be able to be stopped and started from any function. I often ride showning the RPM/cadence. I have to switch modes to the other side, then loop to the distance or time function just to stop the computer. This is about 5 button presses for something that should only take one or two.
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Submitted by
Jeb
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho Falls, ID
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | SC-6502 Computer and SM-SC70 harness
Great ideas and clean installation. Cool to see the gears on the display. Control buttons built into grips. Lots of functionality even though it is very poorly implemented. My setup instructions worked fine. Setup took a while, but I had no hitches. | | Weaknesses: | The unit stops accumulating time and mileage with one touch of the left button. You use the left button for several functions, but if you are in the wrong mode, one touch stops the computer. You should have to hit 2 buttons or hold one in for 2 sec to turn it on and off. The pace arrow does quit blinking when it is not accumulating mileage, but if you are concentrating on your ride and not the computer, you won't notice this for a while. It still shows your speed, so it is easy to ride along thinking it is working correctly when it isn't.
Touching both buttons at the same time resets your time, distance and mileage to 0. Since both buttons are used for normal functions, you should have to hold them both in for 2 sec to reset. It is way too easy to reset when you do not want to.
In stopwatch mode, you have to take your hands off the bars and find a tiny button on the back of the unit to see your distance, ave, and max speed for the stopwatch group.
The pace arrow is tiny.
The unit goes into "power saver" mode if you haven't ridden for 30 minutes. It is too stupid to wake up when you start riding, you have to press one of the little buttons on the back of the unit. That is 10 year old technology.
The implementation and the interface are so poor that the unit is not useful to me. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Cat Eye wireless and wired computers. Basic features, but well designed.
Performance Bike Axiom wireless. Again, simple but well designed. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Madone SL 5.2
My mtn bike is a Specialized Epic Comp | | Bottom Line: | I have yet to complete a ride where this unit measured all of my distance. I prefer to concentrate on the ride, not on the computer to know when I can touch one button or the other without shutting it off or resetting it.
A decent computer should track your riding parameters automatically and reliably and with little thought. You should reset, ride, and have complete results anytime you want to look at them. It should not quit accumulating mileage with a single touch of one button. It should always start up when the wheels stat turning.
I made a mistake buying this unit and will be replacing it soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Deeley
a Racer
from South Wales, UK
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything hot and fast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Rocky Mountain Cycles | | Strengths: | Integrated, with no sensor wires, has a gear indicator, which is great for my wife (who's bike it's on) as it can be hard to remember just which of the 9 cogs on the back you are in - you know what it's like when you're climbing, and you think you have 1 gear left, you push the lever and it's already on the stop - Argh - you just want to climb off don't you ? Well at least you know all the time exactly what you have left. | | Weaknesses: | It is quite complex to learn! Won't work when the Bike is on the Turbo.
This unit suffered some shifter flakyness last winter after a wet ride on our beloved salty roads, however, after flipping open the lever sensor interfaces and giving then a litle TLC with some Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and drying with a hair drier, it now behaves properly. I just resent spending 60quid ( a whole hundred bucks) and having to do this on a unit only just out of the warranty. I kinda expect it on my 6 year old Sigma's that cost a third of the price, but this should be better.
However, NEW problem, it now thinks its occasionally not fitted, so it looses all "real time" indications. I have cleaned the contact pads and wait to see if that's done the trick.
Also, it only fails during races, usually 300m after the start, and then starts working again when the problem is being described by the rider (Wife) to the Mechanic (Me)I'd like to hear from anyone else who's had the same problems and fixed them ! | | Similar Products Used: | Catey Astrale with Cadance, Sigma BC800, BC900, BC1100 (all with cadance) Cateye Mity 8 | | Bike Setup: | Giant OCR 2 with 9spd Tiagra Group, The only mod from purchased spec is the wireless Flightdeck (6501) and ttt bioarm Tribars | | Bottom Line: | A really good piece of kit when it's working properly, but I swear, if it fails in another race, it's going in the hedge. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Racer
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ohio Metro Parks | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | OK, there are a lot of reviews here that talk negatively about this product. First, the latest product is the SC-6501, not the SC-6500. Second, the product comes without instructions in the primary pacage. Instructions are in the wiring harness package which is required. I noticed that the instructions were for the discontinued SC-6500, but the latest instructions are on the Shimano Website www.shimano.com. Please beware that many of these reviews are for the older product, and improvements have been made.
Here is a list of positives:
- This product is easy to install for a person that services his/her own bicycle. Approximately one hour of installation time. Programming takes about 45 minutes. Most of this time is in checking cluster tooth count and wheel size. Incidently, the 6501 does have more standard wheel/tire sizes.
- Computer has four (4) memories for different bikes.
- The unit allows for a initial setting of the odometer. No longer do you loose your total miles. I changed computers just a week after purchasing a new bike. I just added the total miles from the old unit to the 6501.
- The gear selector works perfectly and is a great tool.
- the stopwatch function includes a seperate memory for Top Speed, Average Speed and Trip Distance.
- Speed is always displayed in large numbers unless cadence is selected.
- The unit is auto start. I believe averages and maximum speed are still tracked in sleep mode. I will have to test this feature.
- Buttons in brake handles are very positive and are not easily hit by accident.
- Display is large and clear and can be viewed at all reasonable angles.
- Lap counter
- Pace arrows indicate if you are above or below average speed. This only works in Trip Distance Mode "TIM". | | Weaknesses: | - No accumulated miles for all bikes in memory
- Bracket not designed for larger diameter Headsets
- Magnet for spokes is old fashion and heavy. Not designed for flat spokes or other wheel designs.
- The unit is really only designed for Shimano equipment. This is not a negative, but buyers should be aware of this fact.
- No option to use rear wheel for pick-up. Maybe if you use the wireless version.
- Wireless version may not work with HID headlights or LED headlights. Possible radio interference. This is true with many wireless computers.
- No backlight! Sigma makes a nice external light as an option.
- Only has a 24 hour clock, no 12 hour option. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye and Avenir | | Bike Setup: | Fuji Team Super Light (Road)
2.4lb. X-Fusion aluminum road frame with competition proven geometry.
Feather Carbon Road fork, 380g.
American Classic Sprint 350 wheelset.
FSA Carbon Pro Elite crankset with 34/50 compact drive chainrings.
Shimano Ultegra/Ritchey components.
Giant NRS (Mountain)
fork Mantiou Skareb Elite, 80mm travel
derailleur Front: Shimano Deore LX, Rear: Shimano Deore XT
derailleurshifters Shimano Deore 9-speed
cranks RaceFace Ride XC ISIS Splined, 22/32/44T
pedals Shimano PD-MD505 Clipless
handlebar Easton EA50 low riser
stem Easton EA50
headset integrated, 1 1/8"
levers Avid Fr-1
brakes Avid CPS disc
saddle WTB Rocket V
seatpost Easton EA50, 27.2
rims Mavic XM117 Disc, 32H
hubs Alloy Disc, 32H, QR, cassette
tires Hutchinson Python AirLight, 26x2.0
rearshock Fox Float AVA Air, 3.75" rear travel
cassette SRAM PG950 11-34T, 9-speed
spokes Stainless Steel 14/15 G butted
| | Bottom Line: | Great Product, easy to use, nice fuctionabilty. The gear indicator is a the best feature especially in night riding when I cannot see the rear cluster. I will only upgrade if Shimano offers a new product with a backlight. As far as other fuctions such as Altimeter and Heart Rate Monitor, I prefer to use a wrist computer. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Glen Rock, NJ USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Road cyclist | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | The Flight Deck is a brilliant idea with a sometimes not-too-brilliant execution. The strength of this unit lies in its visual gear display and the virtual cadence. I use it on a tandem so I can tell which gear I am in; and the cadence function is quite helpful when you have a stoker on the back who may be used to a slightly different cadence pace. There are better(more logical and intuitive) computers out there if you just need the basic speed and time functions. | | Weaknesses: | If you don't really need the gear display and cadence features, look elsewhere. The menu is exasperating to use and the contents of each menu don't necessarily relate to one another. The auto-start feature is a misnomer. When first starting on your ride, you have to push a wobbly rubber button on the back of the unit to wake it up. Once you do that, the unit then becomes auto start/stop as long as you don't stop for more than 30 minutes, in which case you have to "wake it up" again. Try that with cool weather gloves on! I have the older unit(6500) on another bike and the wake-up works perfectly whenever you rotate the wheel or move a lever. Other problems: The mounting bracket is fragile when cold(don't try to mount it unless the temperature is above 65 F.-it may break). The mounting bracket cannot be centered above the stem unless you have a very thin ahead stem or an older one-piece stem. The advertising claims it can be set for 4 different bikes, but the manual does not include instructions. In fact, the manual I got with my 6501 was for the discontinued 6500. | | Similar Products Used: | Sigma Sport BC800 and 400. Very easy to set up and operate. I used two wireless versions on a tandem and it worked fine in the front and rear. | | Bike Setup: | Co-Motion Supremo with Dura-Ace. | | Bottom Line: | A well made computer with nifty gear display and virtual cadence. Otherwise, it is just a fair cyclocomputer with no notable feature to recommend it. For tandem use, this device is wonderful to have because trying to see which gears you are in while steering a long bike is quite tricky and possibly dangerous. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Addison, IL
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any long smooth road, any bumpy trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$95.00 | | Purchased At: | Summit City in Fort Wayne, IN | | Strengths: | View gear selection
Virtual cadence w/o extra wires or transmitters
Control display w/o taking hands off the handlebars | | Weaknesses: | No Avg or Max Cadence feature (however it may not be accurate due to it being virtual cadence) | | Similar Products Used: | Various Cateye's | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Allez Sport 27 | | Bottom Line: | This product is a great way to see your gear selection without taking your eyes off the road. Also, allows you to switch display from either the low or high positions on the handlebars. Great for road bikers. Not all that useful if you have gear indicators on your shift lines or elsewhere on your handlebar.
I have not had problems with the buttons or reliability. I have used this product in the rain as well as replaced the cork tape with no issue. I think the majority of these type of problems can be solved by taking care in the install and securing the wires and buttons properly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bonjing
a Weekend Warrior
from Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Easy to install. convenient buttons and information retrieval. | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Bike Setup: | Giant hardtail, full shimano group, avid ballbearing disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | It sure is expensive, but it's worth every cent. You have easy access to a lot of information without taking your eyes off the road. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from baltimore
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | work | | Strengths: | gear indicator
integrated clean look
virtual cadence | | Weaknesses: | price
tempermental and sometimes defective button sensors
no rear mount sensor option (trainers) | | Similar Products Used: | cateye everything | | Bike Setup: | too many road and MTB | | Bottom Line: | its a hit or miss...make sure you deal w/a shop when buyin this....gettin it online is only recipe for disaster if somethin is wrong. and if you have to deal w/shimano...good luck. i'm a dealer and i hate dealin w/em. in response to the rear sensor mount option or a lack thereof....its met w/a typical shimano answer when i called up from the shop......'rollers.' , typical shimano. trust us, dealers avoid any dealings directly w/shimano at all possible.
nice computer, lots of features...but w/anythin highend cut-above...there's bound to be nigglin' issues that cost more to fix and the manufacturer will think its your fault b/c they make a high class product that has no issues (mavic-lezze faire to the end for example).
-R | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braveheart
a Racer
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Fully integrated computer that tells you what gear ratios you're using and works out your cadence without a cadence sensor. | | Weaknesses: | Maybe a little expensive for the cordless option, but I'm nit picking really. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Cateye computers. | | Bike Setup: | Two road bikes, a tandem, and an MTB, all fitted with flight decks. | | Bottom Line: | I don't know where all these negative comments have come from. The setup is a cinch, provided you have half a clue about bike maintenance, and provided you take the time and trouble to read the manual. Very slick operation, works flawlessly and stands up to all weathers. Even my wife finds hers a breeze to use. Suerbly executed, very innovative technology. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RandyP
a Weekend Warrior
from Irvine CA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | San Juan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | "Virtual" cadence, gear indicator, large primary display, integrates with shifters, clean installation. | | Weaknesses: | Small secondary display; Pace Arrow, data labels way too small to see when riding; digital clock is 24 hour format only; when setting up, wheel circumferences can only be entered in multiples of 5 mm; documentation could be better. | | Similar Products Used: | Performance Axiom, Cateye, Sigma | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R2000 road | | Bottom Line: | Several of the guys I ride with have Flight Deck computers. I liked the cadence function and the way they integrated with the STI shifters.
Personally, the installation went smoothly, no real hassles. Took less than an hour. It probably took me more time to unwrap and re-wrap my bars than it did to install the unit. The initial setup wasn't too difficult once I had all the cog sizes.
It took me a bit of learning to understand the various modes and how to turn on the trip odometer function, but once I understood the logic, no problem moving between screens.
The Pace Arrow is way too small as are the data labels. My $30 Performance Axiom has a better display. At least I can read it on the move. I have found myself staring at the display on the Shimano and nearly losing control of the bike on a few occasions. IMHO, a cycle computer display should give you all the info you need with just a quick glance and not require you to stare at it.
When entering wheel size during setup, the computer only accepts tire circumference measurements in multiples of 5 mm. My Performance allows for 1 mm increments. Minor annoyance, but one of the trails I ride is hashed off each 1/2 mile and I cannot get my Flight Deck spot-on over an 8-mile measured distance like I could with my Performance.
The virtual cadence is a nice feature. Basically, it calculates cadence by comparing your road speed to the gear combination. So the downside is that it will give you a RPM reading even if the pedals are not spinning. Not really an issue, although the cadence feature will not work with the bike mounted on a trainer as will most pedal-mounted units.
My original plan was to get a second mounting system for my mountain bike, but I can see big $$$ if I endo with the way the Flight Deck mounts to the bars.
I'd have given it 4 chilis if the display was a bit easier to read and it's still a ways off from getting five. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Ippolito
a Cross Country Rider
from Frederick MD USA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Hills Regional Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | All American Bicycles | | Strengths: | Inegrates well with Shimano Road and ATB components. | | Weaknesses: | Pricey | | Similar Products Used: | Axiom and Catey (great for the price) | | Bike Setup: | LX and XT components on the ATB and Ultegra on the Road Bike | | Bottom Line: | Good computer if you like somewhat hands-free operation. This computer integrates well with the Shimano group and if i had a do-over i would! ... i might NOT go for the wireless though! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vic
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Cheeseboro | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | Helen's Cycles | | Strengths: | Cadence and chain sprocket displays. | | Weaknesses: | Set-up, and scrolling through menus. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R1000 Road
Shimano Ultegra/105 | | Bottom Line: | I had the wired FlightDeck installed at Helen's when I bought the bike. I'm glad they did the installation as it was very difficult for them and they had to fix it twice. Since then it has been reliable.
I leave it on the Cadence display all the time as it is damn near impossible to switch to different displays while riding. The combination of two menus and switch timing are tough to master. Once I found I toggled into Program Mode and screwed-up two gear rations, a real pain to correct.
The Cadence display is a great feature alowing me to concentrate on RPMs, which really improves my riding. If it weren't for this feature, I'd remove it from the bike.
This is a product with a great concept and poor execution. If you need a nice Cadence display, the FlightDeck works, but do not expect much joy from having it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pieter Thole
a Racer
from Amsterdam
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Fietsplezier | | Strengths: | All the things we know; integrated, can store info from 4 different bikes or sprockets, and most important:the cadance. Maybe not necissary for the pro but the amateur can't live without.Huh? you might think, well probably you never had an rpm meter.No wires to your crank! Installation within 20 min. | | Weaknesses: | No back light( I don't care). In one menu you want and rpm and tripdistance. Now you need to hold one button for 2 sec. Not really a problem. | | Similar Products Used: | cateye astrale( great with cadance) | | Bike Setup: | Santos 02 7005 T6 frame, ultegra, Ritchey WCS,Rigida DPX | | Bottom Line: | Ultimate cool. All the people complaining about installation and set up is quite remarkable. If a shifter doesn't give the right signal, just place a tiny piece of paper/plastic under the flat cable from your shifter and there it goes(99of 100 times that's the case). Installation must be done within 30 min the first time and after that within 15 min. Otherwise you shouldn't work on your bike at all. About setting up the sprockets: Give me a flightdeck and it's done in 60 sec. I'm serious, after you have done it once it's a breeze. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Strengths: | Covered in detail in previous reviews. I purchased the 6501 model with wireless transmitter. I was attracted to the total integration the system provides. Final result was a clean installation and performance as advertised. All shifting indicators were dead-on accurate and I've never gotten a false indication. The 6500 model clearly had problems, but the 6501 coupled to 6510 STI shifters has performed flawlessly for the past month. Time will tell if it continues to be reliable. Also, as much as I hate to admit it, the coolness factor is one of its greatest strengths - Purists may scoff, but us regular folks like cool. | | Weaknesses: | Installation was pretty straight-forward, but requires a lengthy setup process. However, if you want total integration, the computer must know all of your bike's specifications. It also lacks a backlight which is a problem for many. These are fairly minor issues. However, these problems are not suffered by the Campagnolo ErgoBrain (their Flight Deck equivalent). The ErgoBrain self-learns, self-calibrates, and has an electro-luminescent backlight (plus it retains data during battery changes). I know virtually nothing about the performance or quality of the Campy computer beyond the advertised features, but I mention it because Campy has clearly addressed the problems still plaguing the Flight Deck. Shimano may have finally worked out the performance problems in the 6501, but the next version needs to have these additional features in order to stay competitive. | | Similar Products Used: | Avocet 45 and Cateye Mity 3. Both great computers, but as long as the Flight Deck continues to operate as well as it has, I won't be switching back anytime soon. | | Bottom Line: | Buy it! But with several stipulations. Based on past reviews, it seems that there were many problems with the 6500 Flight Deck coupled to the 6500 STI shifters. My opinion is that many of these problems were in the micro-circuitry of the shifters themselves. Therefore, ONLY get the 6501 Flight Deck and ONLY couple it to the 6510 shifters. If you use any of the 6500 series, be prepared for problems (then again, it may fine - but I wouldn't chance it). Don't be dissuaded by previous negative reviews. Almost all of them were based on 6500 series equipment. So, if you're interested in the total integration provided by the Flight Deck and you've got 6510 shifters, I highly recommend the 6501 computer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Plantation, Florida
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$38.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Good design, functions as promissed | | Weaknesses: | mount hieght worries me | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale SuperV 500, | | Bottom Line: | It was a little tricky to get to function but once all the gear sizes were entered, everything performed as promissed. It starts and stops, shows all gear settings like advertised. I even installed it myself. The only thing that I worry about is the mounting bracket sets it high above my bar and in a crash might be an issue. I don't know if they make a specific off road mount but they should. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeroen
a Racer
from holland, ulft
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | euhhhhhhhhh.............Nice colr and easy to get to functions, a lot in a small package | | Weaknesses: | Wires,wires,wires and wires, i hate the wires, they to fragile, had a lot of problems with the gear inicator, because when it doesn't notice that you have shifted the cadans will also be false. | | Similar Products Used: | non, i'm gona buy A Polar S710, is a hartrate monitor, with casans and poweroutpute, much much better | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900, will be a Scalpel 2000 in a week :-) | | Bottom Line: | Nice if you like problems with it, it's given me problems from the fisrt day i bought it, i got a new one two times. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Fruita, CO USA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Still Looking | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Integration, virtual cadence, gear indicators, button location. | | Weaknesses: | Cost | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye, various models. Avocet. Sigma. | | Bike Setup: | #1 Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel Ultegra
#2 Moots YBB XTR | | Bottom Line: | #1 I've had a Flight deck on my Road bike since 1998. Dealer installed, not a single problem, survived some good rainstorms. It's completely sealed. I like the location of the selection buttons, don't have to take my hands off the levers, haven't had a problem with inadvertant mode selection. I like the gear indicators and virtual cadence. The autostart-stop feature is nice, I don't know why it doesn't work for other people, and has worked since day one. Painless, dependable, well thought out computer.
#2 Installed it myself this year, took all of 20 minutes. Works well, easy to install. At first I thought I would not like removing the visual gear indicators on the XTR pods, (required), but I like the gear indicators on the flightdeck better, they are certainly more specific. Love the virtual cadence on my road bike, not very important for my needs on a Mountain Bike. Autostart-stop works flawlessly.
I haven't had a single problem with either computer. Have replaced only one battery, they are lithium and cost about $3.50, certainly cheaper and last longer than other brands batteries.
Wire harness and head end up costing about $70.00, a little more than some computers, less than others. It does have virtual cadence, but I don't have any problem telling the difference between when I am spinning and when I am coasting. It's only a computer but it's painless, dependable, and works as advertized. what more do you want. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zelig
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Condor Cycles | | Strengths: | This covers a 6501 head unit and 6501 (wireless) sending unit. Very neat integration with, easy mechanical set-up, excellent choice of information and modes. Also, separate information for up to 4 bikes can be stored and accomodation is made for triple chainsets. If you use a double, accomodation is made so that only two chain rings show on the display although the manual must be read carefully on how this is done. | | Weaknesses: | The instruction manual (6501) is poor, both as it relates to the mechanical installation and the setup of base level information into the head unit. The former is covered in a complete lack of detail and primarily rely on a few skimpy diagrams. Instructions for a gas barbeque from KMart provide more. Instructions for the input of information into the unit are in the same sequence as the display, however the set button hold down times are not in the corresponding sequence. The result is a few failed attempts followed by a complete reread of the directions. Nothing fatal, just frustrating. Auto-start feature does not seem to function either. The sending unit bracket/strap works fine but for the price, they should have included 3 of these so one could have a couple of spares. They also should include a bracket for mounting on the left side of the bars for those that have equipment such as lights already mounted on the right. Secondary information display could be a bit larger. | | Similar Products Used: | 1980's Cateye with cadence, original Avocet, Avocet 30 & 40 | | Bike Setup: | Vortex road bike, DA STI- new model with single buttons on each lever for Flightdeck actuation. | | Bottom Line: | I became interested in this product after noting a number of racers in the year's TDF using the Flightdeck. After reading these reviews and making a couple of posts on the messageboard, I decided to get one of these. The features I liked were the gear indicator (plus on the 6501 the teeth for the front chainring and cogs is displayed versus gearing in inches on the 6500 and this only stays up for a couple of seconds after a shift) and the virtual cadence. In the days of 5spd clusters, who cared but know with 9, it's easier than peaking at the cluster. The virtual cadence works well as does the gear indicator. I've had no false shift displays even though I tried to make this occur. No issue with resetting trip time or distance by accident either although I could see how that would happen if you were in that display mode. It's easy enough to avoid as trip time and distance aren't a mode I tend to stay in while riding. The transmitter location, size and mounting strap are a bit awkward although I'm not sure you could improve on the design unless you could make a physically smaller unit. Also, I'd use a Cateye wheel magnet rather than the heavy unit provided. I bought a Cateye for use on a set of Ksyrium's and will get another for my conventionally spoked wheels.
I think the product is a good one and installation, including retaping the bars took less than 45 minutes. Based on what I've read and having installed and used the 6501, I would not bother with the 6500 but would recommend the 6501 head unit and transmitter if the information provided in the various modes fits your needs. If you're satisfied with the normal speed, distance and time information, definitely pass. We shall see if this product passes the test of time in terms of reliability and the stability of the transmitter mount. As for the pricing, that's a function of being in the UK and I would imagine the cost is less in the States. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Coffee
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Integrated with levers, wireless cadence | | Weaknesses: | Difficult set-up, rear gear indicator does not work | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R800, Shimano Ultegra gruppo, Mavic Ksyrium wheels | | Bottom Line: | I've had this computer for just over a year. The initial set-up (programming the computer) was difficult, especially having to unwrap my handlebars to install the buttons. As mentioned in a previous review, knowing the number of teeth in the chainrings/cassette could be difficult for the novice rider. The rear gear indicator has never worked - it always shows the wrong cog, if it shows at all. Now, after a year, the computer stops working in the middle of my ride. The speedometer will indicate "0" and the odometer will quit whether I'm climbing hills, descending or on the flats. Even though the low battery indicator is not displayed, I'm going to try a new battery. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Bloomington, IN
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with long, steep climbs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | |
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$ 105.00
