Customer Reviews

SIGMA BC506 5-Function Topline Wired Bicycle Speedometer

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

That's it, you need to read the fairly straightforward manual and install it correctly, but the bang for the buck here is teriffic. The wire is unobtrusive and I guess that the "unwired" version would have two batteries; one in the sending unit that seems to me would take more power and maybe go out quicker. My guess only.
If you have a bike path with mileage markers you can tweak the unit to your bike by changing the wheel size that you input in it, making it very accurate.
I find its more fun to know your speed, distance, average speed, etc., it gives you something to shoot for on your next ride. Plus it weighs about nothing; you could wear thinner socks and make up for it.
Have fun.

This was my first bike computer and I'm happy with my choice. It does everything it's designed to do quite well. There is a little bit of a learning curve as far as navigating through its options/functions but once you get it there no issue at all.

Installation was a little more involved then I thought it would be and I am very mechanically inclined. Nothing your average DIY'r can't handle just some interesting things to deal with like placement of the magnet and dealing with, for my install anyway, an overly long sensor wire. You have to get a little creative to keep the wire secured and out of the way of moving parts.

The first mount/sensor wire assembly that I received with the computer was faulty. After much remounting and head scratching I called the US contact for Sigma. He was very helpful and told me that while every computer is tested for operation the mount and wire assembly are not. He sent out a replacement mount/wire (at no cost) and once I swapped it out the computer worked perfectly. I don't I think I broke the wire on the first one as I was extremely careful with the installation but just in case, be careful as it is a small wire and you have to make several turns and twists to get installed.

The manual is one of those international mutli-language picture books. I hate them but if you spend some time deciphering it before you start you can get it done. As one of the other reviewers stated, getting you tire size right is critical to the accuracy of the computer. So spend a few extra minutes here and actually measure the circumference. Using the chart in the manual will get you close but not exact.

Once installed the combination of the double sided tape and rubber ring used to mount the computer to the stem or handlebars is actually quite secure. I have no fear of it coming off in normal use. A rubber ring is also used to mount the wheel magnet sensor to the fork. No tape is used here, probably to allow easier adjusting but doesn't feel quite as secure because of this. I've had no problem but now that I have it positioned properly I may add some d/s tape or a wire tie to lock it in place. The spoke magnet locks on very securely but follow the instructions closely on this part.

I really like this product and the customer service was excellent. If it was stolen or lost I would by another immediately. Have fun with it.

I've been using Sigma bike computers for about 5 years now. I buy the wired, less expensive ones that only supply the basics (Speed, Ave. Speed, ODO, Trip ODO, Time)and then buy a new one when a wire breaks or the battery dies. This model is a good one except it doesn't calculate average speed (which is think is dumb). I installed it on my beater bike and am purchasing another one to install on my primary bike. It will be a Sigma. I like Sigma and they're intuitive to use.

I bought this a few months ago and used it for about a month before it broke. I think the break was my fault. When I installed it I probably didn't leave enough slack, and during one of my mountain bike rides the wire pulled out of the base. I've since replaced it with a wireless cateye.

Installation was pretty easy, just make sure you leave enough slack.

The functions were great! The screen was nice and everythign was easy to read. I did have a few problems with accuracy, it would consistently report 1.08 miles for every mile I rode. That wasn't a huge deal for me, but is worth noting.

Very easy to install and set for wheel size. The reset function is wonderful. Taking the works off for security is a simple twist and it is off. Have not checked it against the odometer in my car but I think it is very accurate. I use it in the auto mode which cycles through the five displays and this suits me best. A great product for the money if you have no need for more functions. The instructions were, again, simple and easily understood by me; not the brightest bulb on the tree for dealing with technology. I don't know how it will hold up in the long haul because I have not had it long. Also can't speak for weather resistance and saw no claim for that anyplace on the web.

I recently bought one of these and now plan to buy another.

One thing I did not realize when I bought this computer is that it requires no tools to install, which is a nice feature. (Only if you want to mount it on the stem instead of the handlebar do you need a small Phillips.)

The real reason I bought it was my perpetual annoyance with every other computer I ever owned that changing the battery loses ALL data, e.g., mileage totals, wheel circumference, etc. This one promises to save all of that upon battery change, and I hope it does.

The wheel circumference chart in the little manual was quite accurate for me. On my first ride it showed 22.6 miles. I then plotted the route on Google Maps and got 22.3, so all I have to do is tweak it down a tiny bit.

Display is large with good contrast, and I had no problem reading it with my polarizing sunglasses, an issue I had with other computers. Beyond that, the basic functions are the basic functions.

I just got one of these, and right away had a bad feeling. I didn't get everything it said I would in the manual. I have bladed spokes and there was supposed to be a 'pad' but none came. The buttons didn't have a very good feel to them, like I could push them and nothing would happen. Then when I tried to install the magnet, it didn't attach securely enough. I waited and got someone to help me, but the problem wasn't me, it was the way the magnet was designed. If we tightened it to stay on my spoke, the nut just got pushed out and fell on the floor. So we put it on as securely as it would go, I rode once with it and it worked, but the second time I used it, the magnet fell off and got lost. I think there is a problem with the buttons too, they don't always seem to work, although I didn't get a chance to use it enough to be sure if maybe it was just me getting mixed up. I'm hoping to be able to return the computer and exchange it for a different model.

Once you get by the confusing instructions, you have a item that does what it says it does. The 42mm band did break the first day, but you can easily replace it with a rubber band.

This is a nice little computer but the less than 5 mm gap required between the magnet and pickup is ridiculously small. That's about the thickness of of a stack of 3 pennies! When I mounted the magnet at the rim of my wheel as shown in the instructions, the gap between the magnet an sensor was nearly 3 cm, or 6 time too large! I was able to achieve the 5 mm gap by mounting the magnet about halfway down a spoke, but I'm concerned that it will work its way up the spoke over time. At least the wire was long enough. Why not make the magnet a little stronger so that you could have a more reasonable gap?

I have three of them. Bought the first one for my commute bike, the second for may daughter's bike and the third for my race bike. The first two stay on the bike even when outside in all kinds of weather. They never fail. They do what is told and do that good. The use is very intuitive, one wonders how other makes can make it so complicated. This one is easy to read and self-explanatory.

The last one I bought every now and then reset itself, which was very annoying. After some time I bought the 906 instead because I calculated the average speed with the race bike anyway.