Garmin 520

[Matt006]

Perks, experience and just an overall review

[corrie.kuilder]

Still have mine since their release. Long story short, I am very happy with it, gives me all the data I need/do not need/use. Battery life is still good, user interface is very "user friendly" if you are used to Garmin devices, and for me, personally, I prefer the buttons over other devices that use touch screen. 

[ChrisF]

Matt I have mine since 2017.

 

It does more than I need.

 

The only issue is that the "battery low" alarm now comes on before 5 hours.  on the odd occasion I have ridden another 30 minutes before getting home.... I was nipping that I might loose the ride data.  Now I use a battery bank for the longer rides.  It is very seldom that I do such long rides on the MTB, so not a big issue for me.

 

 

As a basic bike computer the 130 is also a very good buy.  Though we have not used it on very long rides, so cant comment on its battery range.

[mecheng89]

I wish I still had mine. Lost it after an Audax, left it on the roof of my car and drove off. 

BULLETproof unit. Only thing I didn't like was the cr@p navigation. Other than that, perhaps be careful considering as it's getting long in the tooth, and spares might not be readily available.

My recommendation is the 130 or 130 PLUS, if you're looking at Garmin. 

[mecheng89]

11 hours ago, ChrisF said:

Matt I have mine since 2017.

 

It does more than I need.

 

The only issue is that the "battery low" alarm now comes on before 5 hours.  on the odd occasion I have ridden another 30 minutes before getting home.... I was nipping that I might loose the ride data.  Now I use a battery bank for the longer rides.  It is very seldom that I do such long rides on the MTB, so not a big issue for me.

 

 

As a basic bike computer the 130 is also a very good buy.  Though we have not used it on very long rides, so cant comment on its battery range.

If it's good enough for Nino on XCO.. 

[ChrisF]

28 minutes ago, mecheng89 said:

If it's good enough for Nino on XCO.. 

 

o... dem .... does it get three flats per trail ....

 

 

Thought he used the 130 ?

[mecheng89]

54 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

o... dem .... does it get three flats per trail ....

 

 

Thought he used the 130 ?

I was referring to the 130, apologies.

[ACE Cycles]

13 hours ago, Matt006 said:

Perks, experience and just an overall review

You can't go wrong with a 520, bought mine used and had it for 3 years before upgrading to 530.

Well, didn't really upgrade, lost my 520 after I forgot it on the back of my bakkie and drove off. 

[ACE Cycles]

1 hour ago, mecheng89 said:

If it's good enough for Nino on XCO.. 

I'm pretty sure that he only uses the 130 when racing? Maybe something bigger when training for more data fields?