Are Garmins' really that bad?!

Max P

I'm in the market for a reasonable bike computer with the usual Strava ability + HRM/cadence.

Logically the 510 would be the one - not so much for the phone connectivity (I don't even own a 'smart' phone) but as the newer version of the 500. I've read up all the reviews and feature comparisons (rainmaker etc) so well aware of how they differ but strangely the price is a factor in the 510's favour.

The premium 500 bundle (incl HRM/cadence) is around £185 but Amazon have the 510 bundle at only £219 but this also includes the outfront mount which I would want for the 500, making the 500 effectively £200+ (and that's with a cheap non-Garmin mount).

BUT....there seem to be endless tales of woe and faults particularly with the 510, less so the 500. Not just on Amazon but on here (just did a 'Garmin' search this morning) and other Garmin forums. Of course people moan online and the happy ones stay quiet but there are so many poor reviews from people like me - ie, "I thought all the other bad reviews were from numskulls who screwed it up themselves etc" but no, the unit really is in many reveiws a piece of untrustworthy, unreliable junk?!

So, what to do? I would prefer a dedicated cycle computer over a smart phone + app but they all seem hideously overpriced and Garmin seem to have a bit of a monopoly.

Are Garmin's really that unreliable? Is there an alternative with the same features at £200 or less?

slowbike

Oh yes, Garmins are totally crap ... which is why there are so many bad reviews on them and Garmin have given up making them ... right?!

IMHO, Garmin units are reasonable, but expensive. I don't particularly like the software on the 810, but it works, my 800 has crashed a couple of times, but it seems to have settled down and works. My brother has a 500 and doesn't complain about it. We've also had a 705 and that's been fine too.
I tend to avoid doing firmware updates until they've been released for a while, unless there's a particular problem that is fixed - actually I can't remember the last time I did a firmware update - the unit works so why tamper?!
The x10 series will have taken a hammering review wise, because they're "new" and there would've been some software bugs, but also because people seem to always criticise new things. You'll be fine with an x10 series garmin now ...

lostboysaint

No they're not. It's like all things, you hear most from the few that have had problems. I've had a 205 and an 800 and other than having to do a soft reset (hold a couple of buttons in for 20s!) to reboot the 205 I've never had an issue.

t4tomo

No they are really quite good, but withbthe odd annoying glitch and a slightly clunky menu that you soon get used to.

what you really want is this as its better value.

http://www.handtec.co.uk/garmin-edge-800-performance-bundle-010-00899-86.html

the x00s are allegedly a bit less glitchy than the x10's as the bugs have been pretty much fixed. that said I think the x10s hav calmed dwon a bit now. there isn't much function differential between the 2.

chris_bass

weird apostrophe placement in the title

bernithebiker

If you don't own a smartphone, then I would say go for the 500.

Smaller, lighter, simpler. Less to go wrong.

Possibly this explains the small price difference between the 500/510.

If my 500 was to fail (nearly 3 years going fine now) then I would think hard between the 500 and 510 (I have a smartphone with me on rides), but would probably end up getting a 500.

IanRCarter

Just to add, the 'cheap, non-Garmin mounts' aren't all that bad. I use a Barfly 2.0, a shade over £15 off eBay and I found it so good that I bought another for my winter bike.

I have an 800, only crashed once in a year of owning it (it rebooted and didn't lose data, just lost a few hundred metres of the ride), and lost ride data once (tip: reset activity before plugging it in via USB).

Anonymous

bernithebiker wrote:

If you don't own a smartphone, then I would say go for the 500.

Smaller, lighter, simpler. Less to go wrong.

Possibly this explains the small price difference between the 500/510.

If my 500 was to fail (nearly 3 years going fine now) then I would think hard between the 500 and 510 (I have a smartphone with me on rides), but would probably end up getting a 500.

I used to think that, but would defo replace my 500 (if it broke) with a 510 now.
510 has proper virtual partner and better/quicker satellite lock (the two main reasons I would want it over 500).
It also has a bigger/better screen and you can get silicone skins for it to name but two of the other reasons.

kajjal

My 500 has been fine for road and mountain biking with no problems at all. I am not interested in HRM and the 500 screen is customised to my needs.

DavidJB

The live tracking of the 510 is worth the cost alone.

slowbike

DavidJB wrote:

The live tracking of the 510 is worth the cost alone.

Although you can get apps (usually free) for your smartphone that do this without needing to link to the GPS ...

DavidJB

Slowbike wrote:

DavidJB wrote:

The live tracking of the 510 is worth the cost alone.

Although you can get apps (usually free) for your smartphone that do this without needing to link to the GPS ...

That normally suck and smash your battery.

slowbike

DavidJB wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

DavidJB wrote:

The live tracking of the 510 is worth the cost alone.

Although you can get apps (usually free) for your smartphone that do this without needing to link to the GPS ...

That normally suck and smash your battery.

Not in my experience ...

the only thing that "suck"s is the lack of data connectivity in the areas we ride, but that's primarily down to network selection.

Cartebleu

I own a 510 and had previously been using just my smartphone.

I think one of the causes of complaints is the lack of documentation for the devices. There's a lot of features and functionality but it takes an age to find out how to use them. A good example of this how to change your page layouts. I had a good search of the net to find the answer. I can think of many other examples where it was frustrating to find an answer.

On the plus side, the battery life is superb and you can feel rest-assured it will get through a 100 mile sportive with plenty of life leftover. You can't say that for a smartphone.

If you simply want the Device to record your ride so you can upload to Garmin Connect/Strava, then it will do the job well for you.

I also have the cadence/speed monitor and again am very happy with that. The cadence sensor has improved my cycling and is definitely one of my better purchases. I don't think you need the mount though. The Garmin fits perfectly well on the handlebars.

I hope this helps.

slowbike

Cartebleu wrote:

There's a lot of features and functionality but it takes an age to find out how to use them. A good example of this how to change your page layouts. I had a good search of the net to find the answer. I can think of many other examples where it was frustrating to find an answer.

http://www8.garmin.com/learningcenter/i ... e-510-810/

follow the tutorial videos ...

I think the lack of paper manuals is a reflection on how often they're used. Quite often the devices are unpacked, the box chucked (in the bin or in storage) and only a few days later do people start to think about how to change from default, by which time it's quicker to do a web search for the instructions than find the manual. Then you get firmware updates that change features, can't update the paper manual sat in your home easily (assuming you've not thrown it) - online is a quick and easy way of updating that manual.

I'm just trying to think when was the last time I referred to a manual ...

bernithebiker

Carbonator wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

If you don't own a smartphone, then I would say go for the 500.

Smaller, lighter, simpler. Less to go wrong.

Possibly this explains the small price difference between the 500/510.

If my 500 was to fail (nearly 3 years going fine now) then I would think hard between the 500 and 510 (I have a smartphone with me on rides), but would probably end up getting a 500.

I used to think that, but would defo replace my 500 (if it broke) with a 510 now.
510 has proper virtual partner and better/quicker satellite lock (the two main reasons I would want it over 500).
It also has a bigger/better screen and you can get silicone skins for it to name but two of the other reasons.

I take your point, but I've never had any issues with the 500 locking on; takes about 30 seconds, which is while I put my helmet on! But quicker is better I suppose. Under heavy tree cover, I do sometimes get dodgy speed readings.

Is a virtual partner the thing where you race against the computer doing say 30km/h? Isn't watching your average speed similar?

Do you need a bigger screen? I have 4 to 6 data fields per screen (3 off) which is plenty. And don't silicone skins trap the water between the skin and the unit?

Genuine questions, I am thinking about the 510, but can't really see the point so far.

Max P

Chris Bass wrote:

weird apostrophe placement in the title

Thanks Chris, that really adds something to the discussion, boy, you must be bored. As for grammer you should try starting sentences with a capital letter too, oh, and a full stop at the end helps. :roll:

Thanks for the other posts chaps. Re' tracking etc, as I say, no smartphone owned so live tracking of no interest to me.

The HRM is though but then I read this:

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12963969&hilit=garmin

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solu ... pikes.html

Alsonboard

I used to have the 500 but upgraded to the 810 and I can't fault either. There has been absolutely no issues while using both, syncing or charging. If you get the one with all the functionality you require then you won't regret it.

Although there are faulty units out there and failing firmware but it's the same with all third party/customer reviews - you only tend to hear the bad.

bobmcstuff

Cartebleu wrote:

On the plus side, the battery life is superb and you can feel rest-assured it will get through a 100 mile sportive with plenty of life leftover. You can't say that for a smartphone.

Yes I can. Even with stopping to look at maps on my phone fairly regularly (which you shouldn't have to do on a sportive if the signage is up to scratch) my smartphone (HTC One M8) can do a 100+ mile ride and still have 50%+ battery... And it's not even got a particularly big battery in smartphone terms.

Having said that, I do have an 810 on my Christmas list (want navigation without having to get my phone out all the time).

slowbike

bernithebiker wrote:

I take your point, but I've never had any issues with the 500 locking on; takes about 30 seconds, which is while I put my helmet on! But quicker is better I suppose. Under heavy tree cover, I do sometimes get dodgy speed readings.

Quicker would be better, especially after a bit of travel, but it's not the end of the world. Yes, I get dodgy speed readings under trees, but then so does my wife with her 810 - partly why we use the Speed/Cadence sensor.

bernithebiker wrote:

Is a virtual partner the thing where you race against the computer doing say 30km/h? Isn't watching your average speed similar?

Actually you can do something a bit better than just a fixed avg speed - you can take a segment of a previous ride (or all of it) and "race" against that time - with all the speed changes you made last time

bernithebiker wrote:

Do you need a bigger screen? I have 4 to 6 data fields per screen (3 off) which is plenty.

10 - but then I have cadence and power on one bike. I believe the 510 and 810 have screens customisable for the bike profile - which is handy as I prioritise different information when TTing, club riding, touring, commuting and mountainbiking ...

bernithebiker wrote:

And don't silicone skins trap the water between the skin and the unit?

Don't seem to on my 800 - nice bit of rain this morning, under the skin it's dry ... handy - especially as my first 800 failed due to water ingress on the start button

Genuine questions, I am thinking about the 510, but can't really see the point so far.[/quote]

chris_bass

Max P wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

weird apostrophe placement in the title

Thanks Chris, that really adds something to the discussion, boy, you must be bored. As for grammer you should try starting sentences with a capital letter too, oh, and a full stop at the end helps. :roll:

Thanks for the other posts chaps. Re' tracking etc, as I say, no smartphone owned so live tracking of no interest to me.

The HRM is though but then I read this:

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12963969&hilit=garmin

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solu ... pikes.html

Always a pleasure.

dinyull

If you haven't got your heart set on a Garmin, this is the equivalent of the 500/510 without the breadcrumb route notification. Comes with HRM and cadence sensor included which for £52 delivered is a steal.

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;n ... duct=47704

I took delivery of 1 on tuesday, haven't got my head around all of the functions yet but seems like a top piece of kit for the price.

Bar Shaker

Dinyull wrote:

If you haven't got your heart set on a Garmin, this is the equivalent of the 500/510 without the breadcrumb route notification. Comes with HRM and cadence sensor included which for £52 delivered is a steal.

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;n ... duct=47704

I took delivery of 1 on tuesday, haven't got my head around all of the functions yet but seems like a top piece of kit for the price.

I heard Bryton's had a diabolical battery life. It may not apply to the model you have bought.

My Garmin 800 cost me £260. I used it almost every weekend for 2 years and sold it for £200. That is excellent value!

The 1000 I have replaced it with is a superb bit of kit.

Gamins aren't bad at all.

craker

And 500s do have a virtual partner feature. Mine cost £90 new from Amazon at Christmas (I was lucky after someone on here said that were having a 'buy in the next ten minutes' kind of sale).

My 500 has been proper reliable. That's why I don't go onto Garmin forums and moan about it.

I've also got a 5 year old Forerunner 405, dodgy touch sensitive bezel aside it's been great. Battery has started getting flaky but I can live with it; ditto on not upgrading firmware just 'cos it's available. If it works don't try to fix it (unless there's a compelling reason to).

NeXXus

No they're brilliant. A few moans from members here or any other forum is not representative of the total numbers of units sold

lostboysaint

Chris Bass wrote:

Max P wrote:

Chris Bass wrote:

weird apostrophe placement in the title

Thanks Chris, that really adds something to the discussion, boy, you must be bored. As for grammer you should try starting sentences with a capital letter too, oh, and a full stop at the end helps. :roll:

Thanks for the other posts chaps. Re' tracking etc, as I say, no smartphone owned so live tracking of no interest to me.

The HRM is though but then I read this:

viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12963969&hilit=garmin

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solu ... pikes.html

Always a pleasure.

Rather disappointed that you didn't point out that it's "grammar".

Anonymous

I did not say that the 500 did not have virtual partner. I said that the 510 has proper (full) virtual partner.
The 500 only has it on a pre set course.

That may be where you mainly need it but combined with all the other advantages I just think the 510 is the one to get these days.

navrig2

Are Garmin's (sic) really that bad?!

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Jules Winnfield

I have a 510 and I love it. It has never let me down (touch wood) and is the best thing I have bought for my cycling after my bike.

Anonymous

There's nothing better so you are stuck with them (or the worse alternatives) anyway

Max P

Carbonator wrote:

There's nothing better so you are stuck with them (or the worse alternatives) anyway

After more researching and taking on board all comments I think your post sums it up nicely. It's a shame Apple don't make a dedicated cycle computer...