Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps) Reviews
Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
- GPS-enabled cycle computer
- Sunlight-readable color display
- Features a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings
- Automatically measures speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, and climb and descent
- microSD card slot for adding map detail and storing workouts, courses, and saved rides
Garmin has really upped the ante on the entire cycling computercategory with it’s new gps-enabled navigator/computer, the 705. This is a true navigational aid with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions in addition to advanced route-planning and saving capabilities. On top of that, the 705 adds heart rate and cadence monitors, a barometric altimeter, and wireless capability that lets you share routes and workout data with other riders instantly. Sleek and waterproof, with a 2.2-inch color s
Rating: 
(out of 29 reviews)
List Price: $ 709.07
Price: $ 529.99
Also available in these stores:
[nmtk-prosperent keyword="wireless bike computer"]
More Cycling Computer Wireless Cadence Products
Incoming search terms:
- Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycle Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor Speed/Cadence Sensor and SD Card with Street Maps)
- connecting bike2 to the garmin edge 705
- share tips yourname@yourkeywords
- Product Certification yourname@yourkeyword
- plastic ties powered by wordpress
Related Posts
Tagged with: card • computer • Cycling • edge • garmin • GPSEnabled • heart • Includes • maps • monitor • rate • Reviews • sensor • Speed/Cadence • street
Filed under: Cycling Computer Wireless Cadence
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Review by Webster for Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
Rating:
I’ve had my 705 for about 3 weeks and have used it on over 400 miles of bike training. It’s a great bike computer – very easy to setup, lots of data available, but only the data you decide to have on each screen. The GPS and in-unit maps are great. Installation is also easy since the sensor is wireless.
The Garmin Training Center software (Windows version in my case) is okay, but appears to have only basic integration with the 705 so far. GTC is a separate, but free, download from the Garmin site. Hopefully future versions will provide more/better 705 integration.
Something to watch out for as it isn’t mentioned in the 705 docs or on the Garmin site, if you buy the 705 with the map card, those detailed maps will only be available in the 705, not in GTC. If you want detailed maps in GTC, you have to buy a PC/Mac version of the very same maps you have on the 705. That’s another $100-130 on top of the $600-700 you just spent on the 705. Why? Ask Garmin.
Review by Danbucks for Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
Rating:
Rating is more like 3.5 stars:
It is an expensive unit, but there’s not much on the market that has so many features. Most early adopters will have fun playing with this device.
It is remarkably light given the number of features – in fact, it is as light as my small previous computer, given its cadence sensor was wired (wire weight adds up quickly).
First, the positives:
-installation on Mac OS X was flawless – the SW has some major issues (below),
-device setup (both HW and profiles) was trivial
-customizable screens on a LOT of data.
The negatives
-I doubt (no trials yet) the battery will last 15 hours with the backlight on, even for brief moments. I think Garmin knows this, which may be why the unit will not remember your backlight % strength setting: it will drop to 0% each and every time you sync the unit
-The screen is all but unreadable without the backlight at 100%, and, even then, is hard to read, in a common case: when the device itself is in shadow (your own, cast over it from riding on the hoods of a road bike), but full sun is out (presumably the rider is wearing sunglasses)
-The mounting bracket is the weakest I’ve seen in a long time. There’s a huge amount of play between the unit and the mount – and it’s all plastic, with a single tiny plastic “foot” that keeps the unit from flying off – so: at least on my road bike, it rattles quite loudly on occasion (on pavement). The mount itself will quickly starting rotating around the handlebar (horizontal mount) unless you carefully place your own compression in the right places by the cheap plastic ties included.
-There’s no temperature reading. This is quite strange, given the unit is feature rich, and the barometer should be temperature compensated.
-As the prior reviewer commented, the prebundled street maps are unviewable in Garmin Training Center. Since this is where you would add course notes (I am not sure of their purpose: they don’t appear on the unit as far as I can tell), where detail matters, it makes course notes – and all the map viewing – really weak, as far as I can tell. On OS X, there is not option to overlay on Google Earth (presumably Windows users can).
-Even though it’s somewhat pointless due to lack of accuracy, there’s no estimated power. One must purchase ANT+sport enabled power units separately. The current list are good ones, but they are very expensive.
-SW has a few bugs here and there, especially GTC, and Garmin Connect … even a few on the unit. I am sure these will be fixed in several months or so.
[Update: Garmin must receive a major demerit for their ability to manage software. Over the course of a year, they've fixed only a small fraction of the SW bugs on the unit and in GTC, and, in once case, introduced a new major flaw (the entire left hand pane of GTC wouldn't update), and took over 4 months to repair it. Ironically, the only fix in this update was this bug they introduced. This unit still has several very annoying SW flaws, a year+ into its release. The good news is, I suppose, none of them fatal - those have been fixed]
Review by Jeff for Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
Rating:
I read all these reviews before I bought my Edge 705. The device has exceeded all my expectations, and has added a new dimension to my bike rides. It’s the most sensitive GPS i’ve ever used – it “sees” satellites even when indoors. I also find it to be very accurate, the speed is always close to my Cateye bike computer, which i haven’t removed yet.
One bike-specific feature that no one else seems to have mentioned is the actual routes the 705 gives you. If you punch in a “go to” address, it will provide directions using back roads and side streets – instead of the usual highways and major roads. Especially great in urban areas. The only caveat is that “rail trails” don’t seem to be part of the database.
Danbucks “-DC” – you just need to really tighten the ties. I used needle-nose pliers to tighten mine, and today was mountain biking over gnarly roots and rocks, including slamming down rock “staircases” – the Garmin remained firmly attached to the handlebars. I’m using this unit on a road bike and mountain bike, it’s very secure. Also: when you mount it, pay attention to the angle. This screen is easily readable with no backlight in bright sunlight, as long as you’re looking at it straight on. Garmin includes a rubber wedge so you can position the unit for optimal viewing relative to your riding angle.
As far as software, Garmin’s training center isn’t that great, but third party software called “Ascent” is amazing. I’m using it on my mac, and when you sync the GPS with it, a presumably google-based map instantly appears with your route superimposed, along with graphs, charts, and a calendar. I’m just using the free demo version for now.
Overall, I find the Edge 705 to be robust, intuitive, and perfect for bike riding – or even when just on foot. I previously tried using a Magellan Explorist 500 as a bike GPS – a waste compared to the Garmin. I purchased the Edge 705 for the maps, but the ability to recall your speed, elevation, heart rate and cadence at any given point during your ride now has me analyzing my fitness level – and pushing me to go further.
Review by Justin Moore for Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
Rating:
I’ve logged close to five hundred miles on my Garmin Edge 705 after upgrading from an Edge 305HR that I used for nearly two years. Here’s a quick review of my experience…
Display: The new, larger color display is gorgeous. Improvements include removing the “title bar” present on the Edge 305 and using every pixel of this larger screen for displaying data fields that you select. The display is easy to view, without backlighting, during the day. For early morning or night rides, just a click or two to engage the backlight provides plenty of clarity while providing long battery life.
Battery: So far, it’s handled 2-3 hour rides with very little battery drain (including about an hour of riding at night with the backlight set to “stay on”). I see no reason, at this point, that the unit would not meet its stated battery life of 10-15 hours.
Maps: Let’s say that again. Maps! The ability to see where you are and to actually navigate using the Edge 705 continues to impress me. It provides detailed routing optimized for bicycles. It does this by optimizing the route to avoid major streets and other hazards. On a recent ride it routed us as far as possible on low-traffic side streets before taking us to the main street in town where we only had about 1/4 mile of riding in traffic before arriving at our destination! Very impressive and a powerful ally for bicycle commuters.
Size/Weight: The Edge 705 is physically larger than the 305 and a tad heavier. Kudos to Garmin for making the 705 compatible with the 305 mounting system.
Usability: Usa…what? This is a measure of how intuitive and user-friendly the device and its internal software is. Here the Edge 705 scores BIG. The inclusion of a “joystick” type input device makes entering information, changing data, etc. much easier than the 305. Nice touches include customizing the color scheme of menus and having the ability to actually NAME your various bike profiles (instead of just “Bike 1″, “Bike 2″, etc.).
Garmin has a solid track record of releasing firmware updates that correct software glitches and/or adds features to the unit.
If you want the ultimate cycle computer and a robust navigation aid for your bicycle commutes, look no further.
If you don’t need the color screen, detailed maps/routing, etc. – the Edge 305HR remains a solid option.
For more detailed, real-world use of the Edge 705 you can learn more by visiting my cycling blog. [...]
Review by A. Nichols for Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor, Speed/Cadence Sensor, and SD Card with Street Maps)
Rating:
Danbucks “-DC”, it sounds like your cable ties need tightening. This is my second Garmin, (had the 205 for a few years first) I use it on both my mountain and road bike and have never had a problem with the mounting. One other thing I’d like to add to these two great reviews is that while the speed/cadence may be optional for some, the SD map data card is a must have! In my opinion, this opens up a whole new world of cycling. I have “gotten lost” with it several times, I just keep track of my miles away from home, then when Im ready to head back I just hit “go home” or “track back” and viola, The trusty Garmin takes me right to my doorstep. If it were not for this data card and turn by turn directions, there would have been no need for me to upgrade, I would have been just fine w/my 205.
btw, Garmin Edge 205 for sale!