Submitted by
Roy Low
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
The great outdoors!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Strengths:
Easy setup and intuitive. Have it on two bikes and it works really well. No complaints there.
Weaknesses:
Perhaps more colours? And bigger buttons.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye Enduro 8
Bike Setup:
Lemond Chambery, Kona Jake The Snake
Bottom Line:
Get it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Seeley,Ca Date Reviewed: April 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Doneaway
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$45.00
Strengths:
Ease of set up
Weaknesses:
Auto start , the package say's it has,the website say's it has ,the manual simi clearly says it dose not. If it dose have auto start mine dose not work I,m still waiting on an E-mail reply from Vetta to clairify this.
Similar Products Used:
Vetta RT33 and Bell both wired and worked great.
Bike Setup:
Mountain bike
Bottom Line:
If I find that the RT 88 should have auto start and can get it to work I should be happy if not I probably will not.There is no way I will be able to remember to push the button every time I start rideing after a stop.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
Easy to set up and very accurate. Good indicator both size and information. Handlebar mount is the best I've used, the computer is held solid.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Turbo
Bottom Line:
Best value computer I've used.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike M
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO Date Reviewed: May 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Colorado Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Precision to 0.1 mph, works with Performance Axiom transmitter.
Weaknesses:
Delayed display, trip odometer could have 0.01 mile precision, could not get the Vetta transmitter to work.
Similar Products Used:
Performance Axiom 8.0W.
Bottom Line:
I don't like it. The speedo seems to tell you how fast you were going about 2-3 seconds ago. This is really annoying... I would start a downhill and look down and it would say I was still going 8mph... Or after I would stop it would say I was still going 15mph, then 9mph, then finally to 0. I never noticed such a delay on my Axiom.
I was using it with my old Axiom transmitter. I figured maybe if I put the Vetta transmitter on, somehow that would solve the problem. I couldn't even get the Vetta transmitter to work. I returned it and am back to using my old, scratched up, reliable Axiom.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA USA Date Reviewed: February 11, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Strawberry Peak
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Stronger reading than some other wireless computers I have used (Cat Eye 7) - even without a direct line of sight. Very solid bar mount compared to others (not just zip ties). Other computers have flown off my handle bars from crappy mounts.
Weaknesses:
It says on the box that it has auto start/stop . . . not true! I you sit for five minutes the thing will stop reading until you press a button.
Similar Products Used:
several Cat Eye products
Bottom Line:
Would love this thing if it actually had the auto start/stop. I can't be relied upon to always press that button - especially if I use the bike for adventure racing where the measurements are really important and you may be starting/stopping all the time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003
Favorite Trail:
John wayne Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$32.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Great price!! very accurate and reliable. Wireless!!!!
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Cateye
Bike Setup:
2002 Specialized FSR xc disc
Bottom Line:
It does the job!! The buttons are NOT hard to press?? Very easy to set up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joe
a
from kingwood Texas U.S.A Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
gunsmoke ranch
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
bikesource
Strengths:
very accurate and reliable
Weaknesses:
the sender will not stay put. had to epoxy it to the fork
Bike Setup:
2000 giant xtc se2
Bottom Line:
very accurate and reliable. matched my dad high dollar wir system. Just tape of glue the sender
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Damn Yankee
a Weekend Warrior
from Edison NJ Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Chimney rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Clean design. Easy to set up.
Weaknesses:
Heavy magnet, transmitter secured with brittle wire ties. wireless frequency is the same as the wheel speed sensor in my car. It will clock the milage and speed of my car when the bike is on top being transported
Similar Products Used:
Cateye
Bike Setup:
2002 Klein Adept race disc
Bottom Line:
It does the job but I was really disappointed about the computer clocking milage of my car. It seems the frequency of the wheel speed sensor (I assume) is the same as the computer. I went on a trip 200 miles away with my bike and when I got home I was impressed that I was clocked at a top speed of 86 MPH on the computer! Not too bad for a rookie mountain biker. I admit that I was bit by the clean look of the wireless setup but I think I have to go with the wired cateye from now on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA USA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Blanchard Mtn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Easy set up, durable
Weaknesses:
Buttons are difficult to press, USPS logo and stars look goofy
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Giant AC Air
Bottom Line:
At first I was concerned about the line of sight issue between the sender unit and the receiver and the positioning of the sender unit. I tried different positions for the sender unit, and even when I mounted it on the opposite side fork from the receiver-just for experimentation- it still worked fine (even though there was no apparent line of sight). On a suspension fork, the sender unit sticks out quite a bit towards the spokes, so I was concerned about dammage from rocks, sticks, mud, etc. This also has not been a problem. All in all it does exactly what it is supposed to do and has taken quite a bit of mud, heavy rain, puddles, and rocks with no problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charles
a Weekend Warrior
from Lund Sweden Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
anywhere without cars
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Sleek unobtrusive design passes well with retro road bikes of the aero era.
Weaknesses:
No one seems to mention what I feel is a MAJOR problem with this computer, namely the magnet. It is in a steel housing with a clumsy set screw and it weighs a ton (well maybe not quite) which causes a pounding imbalance at high speed. I made my own magnet unit with a plastic housing that weighs about half as much and when mounted opposite the valve stem it almost balances out.
Similar Products Used:
I have other computers, Cat eye and Sigma but this is my only wireless.
Bike Setup:
The Vetta Rt88 is mounted on a1988 OLMO Corsa
Bottom Line:
I have really only just gotten it all installed so I can't really comment on its reliability. Aside from the stupid magnet design the computer itself seems very nice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brandon
a Weekend Warrior
from Lincoln NE Date Reviewed: September 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Scheels
Strengths:
good features for the price, no wires to break or wind around your bike
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
vetta 55 wired
Bike Setup:
'02 gary fisher tassajara
Bottom Line:
if you want a descent wireless then this is the way to go. Mine set up in about 15 minutes, no problems since.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BadHabit
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Wirelessness
Weaknesses:
Wirelessness
Similar Products Used:
Previous Vetta
Bike Setup:
Lodestar, SC90
Bottom Line:
I finally figured out that line of sight between sensor and head unit must be preserved for proper function. In my case, this means mounting the sensor behind the fork leg (unorthodox). I can look down over the bar and through the v-brakes and fork leg and see the sensor directly below the head unit with an unbroken sightline. Sensor must be high on the fork leg. Also, I notice that quality of signal varies with magnet used--some are apparently more powerful than others (in fact, my RT88 will not work at all with lesser magnets). This product can be frustrating to get up and running reliably but is satisfying when operable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Butcher
a Cross Country Rider
from England Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Woburn Sands
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
streetlife
Strengths:
Wireless, easy to use
Weaknesses:
Chunky fork mount that catches all the dirt
Similar Products Used:
cateye, halfords own
Bike Setup:
Pace RC300 team issue, XTR, Pace RC38 forks
Bottom Line:
Now that ive changed the batteries I cant get the b****y thing to work!! + ive lost my instructions so guess that doesnt help
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Azza
a
from Auckland, New Zealand Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Previous owner sent it back to shop under warranty because he couldn't get it working right.
Strengths:
Wireless! Easy to read display.
Weaknesses:
Computer mount can break if tightened a fraction too much. Button a bit still
Bike Setup:
Diamondback Response MTB
Bottom Line:
Not sure what the first owner was doing but the computer worked perfectly. Easy to setup and hasn't given me any trouble at all.
Only suggestion is don't leave it on your work desk next to a computer monitor or else according to the unit you will find yourself speeding along while sitting sitting in your chair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KOOZ
a Weekend Warrior
from Dayton, Ohio Date Reviewed: August 15, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
The box was easy to open and I did get the box for my $50 bucks.
Weaknesses:
This computer is the biggest piece of junk I have ever used. The buttons were stiff and I could never feel if they were depressed and the truth is it only worked my first ride until it rained. Ever since then, it has been out. I had a CATEYE wireless and never had a problem until I crashed and broke the transmitter so I tried a new product...What a mistake. I WILL be going back to the CATEYE...!
Similar Products Used:
Cateye 2 wireless.
Bike Setup:
Trek 2200 Road
Bottom Line:
JUNK!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Racer
from Carmel, IN Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Bike Line
Strengths:
It does what it's supposed to do, and mine is wireless.
Weaknesses:
I'm a little surprised that the higher-level RT88 does not come with a cadence sensor...but it's not advertised as coming with one. If you want cadence, you'll have to get another model.
Similar Products Used:
First computer.
Bike Setup:
Road.
Bottom Line:
Some of you guys are...you amaze me. You'll spend $50 or more on something, and if it doesn't work, you'll just suck it up and throw it away! And buy something else! Stupid.
The first computer I got didn't work very well--the transmission would fade in and out, and not work for very long. So I called the customer service number and had them send me another one. And I sent the bad one back to them. The new one works. It's not that difficult, folks. If a product you buy doesn't work, send it back for another!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil Hill
a Weekend Warrior
from San Carlos, CA, USA Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Page Mill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Performance
Strengths:
Wireless.
Weaknesses:
Wireless. Not a good value for the money. Worked fine for about 3 rides. On rides 4 through 10, transmission would go in and out--but was mostly out. Tried infinite number of positions, new batteries, angles, etc. I would not recommend this product. Find it hard to believe the US Postal Service team would use something like this... Maybe theirs has a secret transmitter or something.
Similar Products Used:
Cateye Enduro 2 (which has been great!)
Bike Setup:
2001 LeMond Zurich with Mavic Ksyrium wheels
Bottom Line:
I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT! Having a wire and about $40 bucks leftover is much better than looking down at your computer every other time and seeing 0 mph when you're doing at least 25 mph...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nik
a Cross Country Rider
from Kunsan, ROK Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Bullards Bar (sigh...so far away now)
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Performance, Citrus Heights, CA
Strengths:
Cordless. Tired of busting wires. And then it's cordless. No wires to break. Did I mention that it's cordless?
Weaknesses:
Cordless. Can't get the thing to read while it's attached to the bar. I bet the cables, brake lever, or brake arm blocks the signal. Short of taping to the transmitter on the side of the fork, I can't figure out how to get it to read.
'96 C'dale F400 with enough $$ sunk into it that I feel guilty that I don't ride more. 'Nuf said.
Bottom Line:
This thing would be swank if it worked! HOWEVER, it seems to be designed for a road bike (ie. no wires or bulky levers getting in the way, fork/bar geometry permits better transmission path). I just can't convince myself to pitch it or sell because I WANT IT TO WORK. Frustrated? Yes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
All over Marin
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
Lombardi's
Strengths:
Sleek, compact design. Intuitive set up and functions. Reading instructions and installation were 30 minutes; figuring out the set up and functions took another 10 or so. First wireless I've used; it worked on the first try, including the auto start and stop. It has so far served reliably through the moisture, dirt and meaningful jarring suffered by a weekend rider.
Weaknesses:
The buttons do not have a top quality feel.
Similar Products Used:
Sigma
Bike Setup:
Marin medium quality mtn bike
Bottom Line:
Pleased with the purchase.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh Timberman
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, Colorado Date Reviewed: April 19, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bikes
Strengths:
Has a lot of features listed...
Weaknesses:
But I couldn't get the thing installed very easily, let alone test or even use it.
Similar Products Used:
Older, wired Vetta computer a few years ago.
Bike Setup:
Schwinn Rocket 88, Stage 4 (all standard components)
Bottom Line:
- The screw to mount the head unit to the handlebar had an irregularly shaped slotting that my normal screwdrivers didn't fit properly; I found a new way to strip a screw.
- The product comes with two rubber strips for padding... one was a bit too small for a tight fit, the other was too large to even fasten the mounting to the bar.
- After getting the head unit lined up with the sensor, spinning the wheel didn't register anything on the display. Due to having an angled style handlebar, it wasn't easy to get the unit lined up easily, so it might be extremely sensitive...?
I spent one hour trying to a) get the blasted thing mounted properly and b) get the blasted thing to read. I used to have a Vetta bike computer on my old bike and had zero problems getting it to mount and work, all in less than an hour.
I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone and I will be exchanging it for a model that uses a wire, perhaps by another manufacturer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Buisseret
a
from UK Date Reviewed: March 5, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:
A follow up from my previous review. Mine DOES have the Auto start feature and if you stop, it stops measureing and timing, but it starts automatically. I live in the UK so maybe the spec. is different over here
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jason Herrera
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$51.00
Purchased At:
Coplands sports
Strengths:
wireless, It looks good its got a sleek design I like the kooks of it on my bike.
Weaknesses:
Does not work very well, I had Problems getting it to work.
Bike Setup:
Rockshocks
Bottom Line:
I had a hard time getting it to work. Ive had other computers in the past and this one is the worst. I dont know why But I think Im going to return it and get another brand.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ze'ev Tehar-Lev
a Racer
from Eilat, Israel Date Reviewed: November 25, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Decathlon, Paris
Strengths:
wireless
Weaknesses:
It does not have a start mode, so if you stop riding for a minute and forget to push again the start button, you will have no reading on your computer.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Radar, Cateye Enduro 2, Vetta R55
Bike Setup:
Giant TCR1
Bottom Line:
It's very annoying to have to remember to push the start button all the time. I thougt something is wrong with the computer so I wrote to Vetta USA and this was their answer:" That is how the product should work. We made a misprint in the manual. Sorry, for the inconvenience".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Buisseret
a Weekend Warrior
from Four Elms, ENGLAND Date Reviewed: October 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
The one that leads home
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Multisports, Tunbridge Wells
Strengths:
Easy to fit, comprehensive instructions (in about 10 languages!), high quality feel. The best thing is the fact that the button that switches modes is on the edge of the top panel, so can be really easily pressed with your right thumb whole still holding the 'bars with both hands. No fiddling around taking your hands off the bar and prodding hopefully with a cold index finger.
Weaknesses:
Expensive. All the other wireless computers seem to be cheaper. It was the only wireless that my LBS had in stock, so I just paid up and slunk away. Gross colour scheme for a Brit! But my Bianchi is Celeste, so I already feel a dork.
Similar Products Used:
Mity, Cateye
Bike Setup:
Bianchi, Veloce.
Bottom Line:
I think the ease of use is the winning factor. I love the thumb action, and am glad I paid up for it.
$ 49.99
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
