Customer Reviews

Topeak Panoram V12 12 Function Cycle Computer

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

 

 

I was really looking forward to this device, as its big enough for my middle age eyes to read, and it looked like it had nearly all the functions I was looking for. However, I don't know what the designers were thinking, maybe they weren't....

First, the mounting mechanism WILL fall apart. One would hope that you would only have to deal with this once, but alas not. It is another bike crazy super lightweight approach, that has no rigidity. I have it mounted on my road bike, and it has fallen off several times. I finally fashioned my own mount, and it doesn't fall off anymore. But the mount is junk.

Second, and more importantly, the buttons and button combos simply do NOT work. I have NEVER been able to set the wheel diameter. Resetting the mileage and elapsed time is a crapshoot at best, and doing anything else simply has never worked correctly. There are plenty of examples of multi function buttons working, but this device is not one of them.

Finally, the directions are absolutely terrible... no make that horrible. I'm an engineer, and can usually figure out most things, but the directions are simply mind boggling. There are arrows and flow charts and button combos that lead nowhere, and in most cases do nothing.

All in all, this design is a failure in nearly all respects except the basic concept. Unfortunately, this has been my experience with all the Topeak products I've bought. I will look elsewhere from now on

My last bike computer was stolen along with the bike to which it was mounted. I originally hoped to replace it with the same model, but when I came across the Topeak Panoram V12, I decided it was a better looking model. The wide screen is very nice, providing details at a glance. I haven't lost any features, and can see relevant information easier now. The large speed readout is convenient, and it just works great. My only complaint is that it doesn't automatically activate when the wheel spins as my last model did. I need to manually turn it on, though it does turn off automatically when I'm done riding. Not a large criticism!

It's a good computer, and well worth the money.

First, a word about the unit itself, and some of the criticisms that have been offered by other reviewers.

The Panoram V12 provides accurate and legible data. I found it legible in daylight. Randonneuring enthusiasts should look elsewhere for a unit that can be read in the dark.

I found the mounting hardware to be adequate to my purposes, though, as some have suggested, the handlebar mount for the "computer" seems a tad flimsy and requires careful tightening. Replacing the Phillips head set screw with a socket head screw helps. The strap for the fork mount snapped off before it could be tightened sufficiently and was replaced with a common zip tie - a simple fix. A bit of electrical tape to keep it in place is a good idea once it is adjusted to provide a wheel rotation signal.

While it is true that the unit does not turn on automatically when the front wheel of the bicycle begins to turn, remembering to turn the unit on when beginning a ride has not proved to be a problem for me. I have found that the unit's 30-minute sleep cycle trigger also seems adequate for preventing me from failing to re-start the unit after brief stops.

The "setup" (programming) and installation instructions provided with the unit, in a mixture of English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin are a bit confusing, despite a wealth of illustrations. In particular, I found the use of illustrations instead of text for the programming sequence to be misleading in places. I offer my own version below. I have found that some of the functions that the Topeak instructions identify as being activated by certain buttons are actually controlled by others in the unit I purchased. The following instructions are, therefore, inconsistent with the factory manual in certain respects. Your results may vary. Hello globalization and inexpensive goods . . . goodbye standardization. These instructions, as originally written, included illustrations, but Amazon's web site software doesn't permit uploading images to this file. . . Good luck.

1. Few of the programming steps can be carried out separately . . . most require working through the entire process from the beginning. The programming sequence is unforgiving. If no buttons are pushed for twenty seconds, the computer will automatically re-set to screen 1 and you'll have to start the programming sequence over again from the beginning. Information such as odometer readings, accumulated riding time ("ART"), if important, and wheel circumference should be recorded before wiping the unit's memory and starting over. It is also necessary to have an accurate clock or wristwatch handy before beginning the programming sequence.

2. The method for measuring wheel circumference provided in the instructions strikes me as unnecessarily complicated. The method with which I am familiar, and which I recommend, is to measure wheel circumference in millimeters as follows:
* rotate the front wheel until the valve stem is exactly at the bottom,
* mark the place on the ground,
* roll the bicycle forward until the valve stem is exactly at the bottom again,
* mark that place,
* measure the distance between the two marks (most of us don't have tape measures graduated in millimeters, so we measure in inches and multiply the result by 25.4.)

You must perform this measurement before launching the programming sequence and keep the wheel circumference number handy so that you can enter it without hesitation. If you plan to use this computer on more than one bike, you must measure the circumference of the front wheel for each bike.

3. The Panoram V12 "computer" has three control buttons, one each at the top left and right sides of the unit - the "adjust button ("A") and the "set button ("S"), and a bar across the bottom right hand side of the face - identified as the "mode button" ("M") in the instructions.

4. There are three different "screens" (display modes). "Screen 1" displays speed, distance, and the time.

Screen 2 displays speed, distance and riding time - identified with the symbol "RT."

Screen 3 displays speed, the odometer setting, and accumulated riding time, identified with the symbol "ART."

You can cycle among them with the mode button ("M"). Pressing and holding M for 2 seconds will cause the (key) symbol to appear in the top, left-hand corner of screen 2. This will "lock" the screen you have chosen. This is handy for preventing inadvertent screen switches if you accidentally touch the mode button on the front of the unit while riding - something I have done a number of times because I have mounted a bell very near the computer.

* To begin the programming sequence, press and hold all three buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
* The screen will go blank and then all digits will begin to flash.

* Press and hold the mode button ("M") for two seconds, KM/H will appear and flash. Press the adjust button "A" to switch the display to M/H.

* Press and hold the set button ("M") for two seconds again to switch the display to the wheel circumference display. "M/H" and the default wheel circumference setting will appear. Cycle through the digits with the A button until you see the appropriate digit, then move to the next with the S button. Holding the A button down for five seconds will cause the tiny ' over the last digit to change to a ' and permit you to enter a second wheel circumference for a second bike.

* Press and hold the set button ("S") for two seconds again to switch to the clock display. First the "24H" symbol will flash. If you aren't comfortable with 24-hour time notation, press the A button to switch to the 12-hour clock display ("12H").

* Press and hold the set button ("S") for two seconds again to make the time display flash. Cycle through the digits with the A button and the S button to move to the next digit as above.

* Press and hold the set button ("S") for two seconds again to switch to the odometer display. If you have recorded a previous odometer setting that you wish to retain, enter it, using the A button to cycle through the digits and the S button to move to the next digit as above.

* Press and hold the set button ("S") for two seconds again to switch to the "ART" (accumulated riding time) display. Enter data or re-set to zero as above.

* Press and hold the set button ("S") for two seconds again to return to screen 1. Voilà! You are done.

Installation was easy. But, the instructions that came with the computer on how to program it were very vague. I still have not been able to program the clock. The other readings work fine.

I didn't want to leave a review on this until I had it installed, programmed properly, and positively working. All of the above are true now, so here I am! I'll admit this is my first bike computer. I chose this one for it's large display screen. Even so, I was still surprised by how tiny it was when I took it out of the box. But when you're out riding, seeing all the information is quite easy, as is flipping through the display screens with the large front button. Installing the base was a bit of a pain. Neither of the 2 sized bands which wrap around the bars were the right size. I finally had to loop the smallest band through the back handle of the Bell bag I have on my handlebars and that provided a way to keep the unit in place while riding. Programming the unit itself can be a bit daunting. It comes with a poster sized sheet of pictoral instructions! That's why I say, "Don't give up!" It's overwhelming at first and it took me a couple days to really sort everything out. Just getting it programmed and the clock set took me a good long while. I recommend this site when you get to the part of figuring out your tire circumference: http://mike.larosa.com/cycling/tire_circ/ But even with all these facts, I give this 5 stars because I'm so pleased with the unit, it's functionality and display. For the cost and the functions available I'm more than willing to put up with some sketchy instructions and in the end I did figure it all out on my own. No expert intervention required!

The computer is excellent for seeing the speed, distance and other functions all at once. The set up instructions were difficult to figure out but once I did, the computer functions perfectly.

The Computer works well and as advertised. It is very handy for tracking one's improvement over a repeated course and gives great information in terms of average speed, distance traveled, peak speed, etc. The pace indicator is another handy feature, although some information on the time or distance averaged over would be helpful. Despite some reports to the contrary, I did not find the unit difficult to program. One rather simply sets the units, metric or English, the current time and the circumference of the wheel and you are ready to go. The unit mounting and magnetic sensor mounting were straight forward and both have proved very stable. Two improvements to the unit would be helpful. One would be a backlight so you could see the display in dim light. The other would be a simple method of turning the display, but not the clock, totally off to conserve the battery.

A real handy device. Well, thought out, and if you're even a little bit handy with tools, quite easy to install. It really makes your bike rides more productive. You can set yourself a pace to sustain, or exceed. Time your ride duration, and just about any other parameter you may have interest in obtaining. I have read other people's reviews, and some rated it low. This is not the case. People have all different levels of ability, and of expectations. And at about $30, this item ranks high on my list. I would say if you're looking for a computer, this would be a good choice.

Bicycle Computers make your riding more interesting; Wireless computers make neater cleaner looking installs. The PANORAM WIDE WIRELESS V12 replaces the older V17 Wide model and improves it in every way. One review says this computer has a flimsy mount. That is not so. Yes, it is plastic. But I own three of these Panorams and have used them for years with no failure to remain firmly on the bike, easy to adjust and press the buttons with no problem. The information is awesome, the trip reset is simple [just press and hold the left and right buttons], and the accumulated riding time [ART] and [ODO]odometer feature lets you have a chance to save this info and put it back onto your bike computer if you have to change batteries so you can keep your accumulated riding. The wheel setting lets you select your exact roll out for accurate computer readings. My Bontrager tires are hard case 4H and the actual rollout. Many computers have you select their number for 26 x "whatever" tires. The chart has the 26x1.5 number as 2026. You can get your actual rollout by using the valve stem, marking on the floor the beginning and rolling till you complete a revolution. Take those marks and measure the distance. For my Bontragers it was 80.375 inches times 25.4 mm per inch and you get 2041.5 so we round up to 2042. The middle button lets you select your screen to see the info you want. I mostly use the two first screens to get riding time, distance speed. I like the pacer arrow that gives you a sense of maintaining consistent speed. The max and average speeds are interesting, but over the long haul the odometer and accumulated riding times are cool. They tell you how many miles, km you put on the bike, and how many hours you have spent. Cool. At under $40 this computer is wonderful. IT IS HARD TO BEAT TOPEAK FOR BIKE QUALITY.

I liked the concept of seeing all the information on a large screen, but the unit has given me some problems. I have had to replace the sensor battery about every two or three months. Also, at times, I get "bouncing" speed readouts, which can't be accurate. Finally the Panoram along with many other bike computer companies, seem to have given up trying to write or illustrate good operating directions. The Panoram literature is no exception, the directions are very poor. I think I will probably go back to a unit that is wired. I'm still searching for a good bike computer that is easy to set up, easy to use and keeps doing the job.