CYCPLUS G1 Review

Testing the Cycplus G1 involved miles and miles of riding, and we loved it. Our mix of field and lab testing allowed us to score the G1 as objectively as possible, and ultimately, we concluded it's a great model for budget shoppers only needing the basics. “The Cycplus G1 costs as little as a counter-service dinner, making it appealing for bikers who are either new to bike computers or don't need the heavy-handed feature sets of a higher-end model,” our head tester summarized.

Ease of Use

The simplicity of the Cycplus G1 makes for a very easy-to-use bike computer. However, it doesn't have certain features to aid cyclists on their rides, such as onboard mapping or turn-by-turn navigation, so it doesn't score quite as well in this metric.

Overall, our review team found the G1 to be intuitive to use, especially after the initial setup. It doesn't have much in the way of buttons, and it doesn't have a touch screen, but there aren't many features to sort through anyway. As previously mentioned, this isn't quite the navigation companion that more expensive models can be, and the G1 fell short when we needed more guidance on our rides.

Ease of Setup

The Cycplus G1 is a simple model, making its setup relatively friendly. While there were a few complaints, this device scored fairly well in this metric.

It took us a matter of minutes to get the Cycplus G1 up and running, thanks to its mostlystreamlined design. Our lead tester's main complaint is the clunkiness of the settings navigation; he had to comb through the manual to figure it out. “Before my first ride, I wanted to set the clock to the right time zone and switch the units from metric to imperial. It took me a few minutes of tinkering, but at least it's just a one-time change.” As a bare-bones product, there aren't that many things you'll need to adjust, but the settings menu is cryptic at best. The G1 utilizes the Garmin-style mount system, which is quick and easy to set up.

Features

While bike computers can be very complex devices, the Cycplus G1 is a no-frills model with only the essentials. It doesn't score very high in this metric because it can do very little compared to its high-end competition. However, what little it can do, it does well.

The Cycplus G1 is a graduated version of a bike computer on a stationary bike. It tracks ride time, ride distance, total time, current speed, average speed, max speed, and altitude. For some, this might be all that's needed, but if you want to log more ride specifics, you'll want to look elsewhere. Without an on-board map or ability to track exactly where you rode, the G1 is ideal for cyclists who just want to keep an eye on the bare bones stats of their rides while saving a buck. We found the features this model does offer work well, thanks to the onboard GPS, but we still wish it logged just a bit more information.

Versatility

In this metric, the G1 did fairly well. Its modest size and simple interface worked well across a variety of ride types, from work commutes to road cycling to mountain biking.

At only 2.5 ounces, the G1 is a small and lightweight bike computer that'll work for a wide array of cyclists. Larger models can be cumbersome depending on the type of biking you do, so we appreciated the handlebar “packability” of the G1. Unfortunately, the limited features reduced its score in this metric, as it simply can't do everything you might need, especially when it comes to navigation.

Should You Buy the CYCPLUS G1?

This model is an exceptional buy for shoppers on a very tight budget and who are ok with only tracking core ride statistics. That said, if you are ok with a pared-back experience, the G1 is several times less pricey than other models. It is a great option if you're working with a very limited budget, and you'd rather spend the cash making other meaningful upgrades to your ride. If you're needing more bells and whistles from a bike computer, we'd recommend looking elsewhere.

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