By Rick Schultz
Hot!
- 85+ Functions
- Color Touchscreen GUI
- Preloaded Maps w/ Navigation
- Updateable Maps
- Tracks
- Voice Search
- ANT+ FEC Smart Trainer Support
- Smart Trainer Workouts & Virtual Ride
- Bike Radar Support
- 3 Bike Profiles including E-Bike Support
- Auto Sensor Scan
Not!
- Nothing identified
https://www.brytonsport.com/#/products
Price MSRP:
BASIC Rider 750E (Device & Mount) $270
BUNDLE (above plus SPD/CAD/HR Sensors) $350
Source: Bike shops, Websites
Features: 85+ functions, Color Touchscreen, Dual Band, Navigation w/ Voice Search, Data Sync.
How obtained: Manufacturers Sample
Summary: WOW, $270? That’s a STEAL!
I have been working with Bryton for quite a few years now, ever since they asked me to help with recommending new features & functionality, testing existing features & functionality and long term testing of new and existing products.
I started off by testing the Rider 330, then the Rider 530, Rider 410, Aero 60 and now the brand new Rider 750. I have seen the progression of Bryton from a company shipping their first GPS cycling head unit to a company offering rocl-solid products where the customer gets a tremendous ‘bang for the buck!’ When the Rider 530 came out, it had the functionality of the Garmin 810, the major difference was that the Rider 530 was priced at only $99 for the basic unit. The Rider 750 is no exception, a color touchsceen with 85+ functions priced at $270.
What Makes Bryton Different?
- They understand the importance of long term/hard use testing,
- They listen to their testers and implement new functionality and/or fixes as fast as they can,
- Their Rider line is ROCK-SOLID. One of my Rider 530 computers is still running perfectly even after four years of cycling use at five days a week.
- They make a product that is equal on par with their competitors but at a fraction of the price. A lot of value for a little price.
The 750 arrived at the shop late afternoon. It was packaged as a full bundle. First thing I did after opening the box was to charge it. The next morning, I started playing with the unit, getting familiar with its touch screen operations. Next, I added a bike profile, then programmed in my specifics (weight, etc.) followed by the bike’s specifics and sensor selection.
Next, it was on to programming the screens.
I created 5 screens, the same ones that I currently use on the 530 and Aero 60. Creating screens and data fields is extremely easy. First, select how many data fields you want then press and hold the field you want to change. A new screen is popped up allowing you to select category (i.e., POWER) then subcategory (i.e., %FTP). Don’t worry about a shortage of choices, there are over 85 functions to choose from. That’s basically it, go to your main screen and ride.
After your ride, you can upload your ride file to your computer or Auto Sync to your favorite training app: Strava, TrainingPeaks, Selfloops, Komoot, Ride with GPS, Relive.
Touch Screen Operation – 4 main operations
- To return to the home screen (from any screen), swipe up from the bottom to the top
- Swiping to the left or right will change the data pages accordingly
- Single tap on any data page to bring up the Quick Status menu
- If you want to quickly change a data field, long press on the field will select it, then tap again to go into edit mode. First select main category, then subcategory.
I get asked all of the time “what fields do you use?”, here is what I use and a good starting point.
Having just received the unit, I have only used the Rider 750 on four rides. Based on the performance of the other Rider units, I totally expect this unit to run perfectly for at least the next four years.
Some examples of screens.
The Rider 750 is designed as a fully functional GPS head unit that is easy to operate. Turn the unit on and you are at the home page. Since you have up to 3 bikes you can program for, tap to select the bike you are riding. You are now at data page 1. Start pedaling and the unit will ask if you ‘record the ride?’ You then select Y/N. Now, assuming you are on a training screen (like my Main screen above), it works like any of the other Rider GPS head units. It’s not until you transition to a page with a full GUI output (watts, navigation, altitude/climbing, cadence, etc.) that you see GUI displays (see above pictures).
New Features
- Bike Radar Support – After pairing, the Rider 750 supports ANT+ Radar. While in the Meter page, the radar strip will display approaching vehicles. Three levels of warning with audio notifications are available.
- E-Bike Support – Incorporating Shimano Steps, the Rider 750 can display various E-Bike data for over 160 bicycle brands including battery status, current power mode and ride time remaining in current power mode.
- Active Sensor Scan – After pairing multiple sensors, the Rider 750 will auto scan for nearby sensors allowing you to easily move the Rider 750 from bike to bike.
- Smart Trainer Control – Control your smart trainer from the Rider 750. For example, you can customize the trainer’s resistance level to match your training goals.
- Smart Trainer Workout – Create custom virtual workouts for smart trainers. You can build training plans through the Bryton Active App and download to the Rider 750. With ANT+ FE-C support, the Rider 750 can communicate directly with your trainer.
- Virtual Ride – After saving a favorite ride (tracks), you can run it through your trainer which will then simulate the different gradients making it a more realistic experience.
- Online Voice Search – With connection to the internet, you can use your voice to search for locations, eliminating the need to use on-screen keyboards.
All-in-all, the Rider 750 is a fully featured GPS head unit for the ridiculously low price of $270-$350.
The Rider 750 Specifications
Display: 2.8” Color TFT LCD
Resolution 240 x 400 px
Weight: 93 g (3.28 oz.)
Battery Life: 20 hours
Display pages: 12
Navigation: OSM with auto rerouting
Search: Voice
Smart Trainer Capable: Create Workouts, Control Smart Trainer
Sensor scan: auto
Satellites: GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
ANT+ Sensors (2.4GHz: HR, Cadence, Speed, Power, ESS
ESS: Shimano Di2, SRAM eTap, Campagnolo EPS
E-Bike Support: Yes
Sync: Bryton Active App: WLAN or BLU to many of the current training programs
Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern California. Rick is an engineer by trade, and in addition to being a coach, he's a bike fitter and prolific product reviewer. He's the author of Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist and Bike Fit 101: Your Toolset for a Great Bike Fit in the RBR eBookstore. Check his product reviews website, www.biketestreviews.com, and his coaching site, www.bikefitnesscoaching.com. Click to read Rick's full bio.
I had a Bryton (I forget which model) when they were first available in Canada several years ago, and really liked it – it was affordable, easy to set up and use, I found the screen to be more legible than Garmin, and as I found out the battery life was much better than Garmin. But I was never able to upload files into Golden Cheetah, so reluctantly joined the mainstream and moved to Garmin.
Have Bryton now fixed this uploading problem?
You are 100% correct, there was a bug in how they processed the data. I also experienced that but they fixed the problem several years ago and I can upload to Golden Cheetah just fine and run the data.
Hi Rick,
Is the “clip” underneath the Bryton device the same than a Garmin 500 series ? My Garmin is actually held by a device that is screwed underneath my aero handlebar. (Giant Propel Advanced SL)
Im not sure since I dont own (nor will buy) a Garmin. If you want, I can take a closeup pic and send to Lars to post for everyone to see?
I just looked it up, and it looks like Bryton uses a standard Garmin style mount. So your existing Garmin mount should work.
Will it read Shimano cadence and speed sensors?
If they are ANT+ and/or BLU standards then yes. For all other Di2 data, you will need to EWW01 device to convert proprietary Di2 protocol to ANT+, then you can read that too with the Rider 750. Will tell you (graphically or numbers) what gear you are in and how much Di2 battery life is remaining.
Two weak areas of the Garmin 830 are navigation and GPS.
Garmin’s navigation algorithms are sick on the 1990s. When I deviate from a route and the unit “recalculates” the bet it can do is tell me to make a u-turn to re-join the route back where I went off course. Today my Garmin actually wanted me to back track along the route to get back on course. Not very useful when one must detour from a route.
Routing to a saved location or POI is also rather weak on the Garmin. I have mine set-up to calculate the shortest distance yet our frequently calculates a longer route. Even when I ride the shorter way it true to send me on to the longer route.
GPS accuracy is poor on the 830. I frequently pass a turn before the unit notifies me to turn.
The best thing Garmin has going is the ability to load various apps. In particular I use an app that lets me fully customize my display. I currently use a screen with 18 data fields including icons for sensor batteries and GPS strength.
Can you comment on the Bryton’s ability to navigate?
Nice review Rick. I just recently upgraded from the 530, which was an excellent product. I am wondering about the screen modes. They have night and day modes. Also, there is a backlight timeout feature. I rode yesterday in Auto screen mode. Starting early in the morning it stayed in night mode for quite a while, then eventually switched to day mode. I don’t find the screen in day mode as easy to read as the 530, unless the backlight is on. The 530 used the backlight when it was fairly dark out. Once it became light the screen was easy to see in normal mode. Is the 750 designed to be used with the backlight on? I noticed a setting for always on.
I am interested in the brightness of the 750. I have the 860 and have issues with readability in some lighting situations. It only has a black or night background. Part of the issue is the highly reflective screen. The other issue is that even with the light set on “always on”, at the brightest setting, it is still hard to read the display screens at times. I was hoping that “day mode” with a white background and black digits would be easier to read. Are you saying this is not so?
Hello, I just bought me the rider 750
I would like to drop a GPX file with the usb cable direct in a file of the Bryton,
I can drop it in the file “plan trip or track” but can’t see it on my rider route display.
PS: My previous was the Garmin edge 800, and this was easy, just install the GPX in the file “New Files”
Thanks in advance
i bought recently and using this from 4 rides.It is very satisfactory and price is very low.garmin 830 is dated now around 2 years back theg launched tge product .Very soon garmin will launch plus or 840 then defintly they should be refined .Still garmin is overpriced for the product.
I’m curious, is this a true GPS unit, or does it have to be paired to a smartphone at all times to have GPS capabilities like other cheap “GPS” units?
I really do not like to ride with my phone in my pocket, so stand-alone is a must.
The same question also applies to Strava, does it need to be connected to your phone at all times to record to Strava, or can you just sync later when you get home?
Thanks.