Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice solution for this niche market, March 29, 2005
This radio is almost exactly what I was looking for. Its water resistant design is sleek and reassuring. The speaker is loud enough for normal riding conditions. The backlit LCD and digital tuning are very nice. The bike mount is well designed - it is very simple to quickly detach the radio to take it with you. The FM antenna forms a hard rigid handle on the bottom (not shown in picture) which is nice for carrying.
That said, I have a few complaints. First, the FM reception is pretty poor compared to my car radio (in the same locations). I haven't tried working with the AM band much, so I can't say if it is any better. I would be willing to endure a larger model or more batteries to get better reception.
Second, there's no line-in jack for attaching an mp3 player. This might have been a conscious decision to preserve the water resistant design, but I would have liked to see it just the same. Of course, if you get a radio transmitter for your mp3 player, then you're golden.
Third, $50 is expensive for a portable radio. I would have been willing to forgo the bike computer functions for a less expensive bike mount radio.
Fourth, the wire going to the wheel sensor is kind of short and there's no way to extend it short of splicing the wire.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It is smaller than you think it is., October 13, 2004
This is the perfect compliment to my hybridized mountain bike. Something was missing from my jaunts about town, and I was thinking of getting a cycle computer anyway. I tend to ride in the wee small hours of the morning when traffic is not much of an issue. It looks kind of silly on my bar, but I'll live. I've lived with it for a week and can tell you that the computer functions work well, the speaker really is loud enough at any speed I am likely to obtain, say 25 downhill with the wind, and the buttons and dials feel quite secure. The mounting mechanism is top notch.
As much as I enjoy the air and the easy traveling the bike allows, I didn't like missing my favorite radio programs especially in the morning. I wasn't going to wear a headset as it just isn't safe, not to mention illegal. Now this is no longer an issue.
Reception could be better on both AM and FM. FM fade is much more significant than, say, on my car's radio. I can't seem to pull any but the highest of the high-power AMs from adjacent markets. This may not be for you if you don't intend to ride within 20 miles or so of your favorite station's transmitters, which I do.
Frankly, I am infatuated with this little radio. Although a few subtle improvements could be made, especially considering it's a Sony who make really swell mundane radio sets; I recommend it to anyone either addicted to the radio or whose biking jaunts could use a little more entertainment.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dream come true!, April 22, 2005
I've been cycling on city streets for over a decade, and I always listen to the radio, both AM and FM. Headphones are a bit dangerous when you need to listen carefully for cars or sirens, so I looked far and wide for a radio such as this one. I have been using this radio for about five months now, and it is amazing! The radio reception is better than my sony s2 walkman, the speakers are loud enough so that I can hear the radio in the middle of urban noises and traffic, and the cycle computer is great. I had mine installed at a bike shop, and the gentleman there had no problem with the length of the cable. I'm 5' 10" riding a hybrid bike, so I'm assuming there's enough cable for your average rider.
The cycle computer is very easy to use, it has a wonderful variety of displays, and it's easy to reset. The radio is easy to tune while riding, and wow! the battery life is outstanding. I ride about 20 miles a week, playing the radio the entire time, and after 5 months, the battery still works great.
Anyone looking for a bike radio - this is far and away the best you will find, and one of the few with digital tuning.
If I loose my baby weight by the summer, I'm giving credit to this radio!
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