deepakvrao

Switching back to Garmin, after 2 years with a Wahoo, and totally undecided, on what to buy. Have heard horror stories about the 820 touch screen, but DCR says that the 830 is better.

Mapping, and navigation with a touchscreen seems a great idea, but worried about a poor quality screen.

Disclaimer: Never used a touchscreen on a bike computer.

Seattle Forrest

Tick screens are great with maps. I would never but a computer with maps that didn't have one

Iride01 

Be sure you really want maps or any of the other features of the 830. Simpler is better if it does what's needed and desired. I'm still happy with my very old Edge 500.

srode1

If money wasn't an issue, I would get the 1030..... and I did, very happy with it!

Chi_Z

2.6 inches is too small for real map navigation, it would work you are riding in a familiar area, but if you are traveling to a totally new place, you need a 1030 or a phone mount.

Cyclist0108

Edge 25 + old $250 iPhone

Sy Reene

Money no object? I'd hire a guide.

gregf83 

Out of curiosity what didn't you like about Wahoo?

August West

I had a 530 on preorder but in looking at the various reviews the touchscreen looks a lot more convenient if it works as advertised. Garmin "says" they have learned from the past and fixed the problems that plagued the 820.

So just an hour ago or so I cancelled my 530 perorder and preordered an 830. I figured I know very well how buttons work from my time with 500 so I might as well give the 830 a try. If it doesn't work as advertised or I don't like the touchscreen I'll return it for a refund and get a the 530 or maybe look at the Roam since I have a 60 day return policy.

deepakvrao

Money is not that much of a non issue, and I did look at the 1030 too, but It's now 2 years old tech.

Wife and I travel a fair bit where we ride in unkown areas, and always have a pre made route uploaded. Real on the spot navigation is for occasional use only.

Loved them, esp the app set up BUT the new climb feature looks great, as well as the colour screens on the new Garmins. Biggest grouse now with Wahoo, is that they don't show me caller id for phone calls, and that's a deal breaker for us. This is with the new Samsung phones.

I might do that too, and while I can't return them, as I live in India, and order abroad, I can sell them at no loss in India if I don't like it.

sdmc530

Of the two I would choose 530. I have a 520 and its great. If you need navigation go 830. If money isn’t a variable I would go 1030 in a heartbeat.

deepakvrao

Even though the 1030 is 2 year old tech?

deepakvrao

Also, to clarify, I'm leaning towards the 830 more for the touchscreen than the actual navigation stuff. I think that alone will be worth the extra IF the screen works well.

What were the issues with the 820 screen?

sdmc530

Yes. They are updating the firmware to the new “30” and the size alone is a huge plus for me. Touch screen would be nice too. The 520 has been awesome but my old eyes wish it were bigger.

deepakvrao

I know that, but the hardware is still 2 years old. Is it reasonably fast?

sdmc530

I don’t know how it will compare on speed to the new 30 line. I have only played with a 1030 and was pretty snappy I thought but have not gotten hands on with the two new ones yet. Being they didn’t do an update on the 1030 I bet it will be another 2 years or so before they revamp it if they do. Just what I think anyway.

My 500 was a good unit and serviced me well before it died and lots of happy users still on old hardware so i guess i am am saying yes if i had the $600 to spend I would still go 1030 but that’s me of course. I doubt very much you will be disappointed with the 830 either.

August West

I kind of figured that when I saw your location but it sounds like you wouldn't be out anything if you went that direction. Since I've never used a touchscreen on a bike I'm anxious to see how I like it. And with all the trouble Garmin ran into with the 820 I'm sure they have at least tried to address the issues. We will see. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Marcus_Ti

2 year old Garmin units are the best Garmin to buy...by then they're almost stable and almost work.

Having owned most Edges from the 205 to the 1K...buying the newest ensures creativity with profanity and frustration

mstateglfr 

You could just look at your phone while riding if someone is calling. Reach into a jersey pocket, look, replace.

Or buy an entirely different system, I guess.

A couple friends have Garmin touch screens and neither is impressive. They are both from last year though, so maybe the new ones are incredible.

deepakvrao

I do that, but heck, if the notification facility is there, it should work. Also, traffic in India is plain nuts. Easier to look at the bike computer screen than pull out the phone, especially for someone like my wife who started riding for the very first time at age 44, has been in a hit and run, and is still pretty scared of traffic.

Iride01 

Money is no object right? Get the 1030 now, when the 1040 comes out you can get that if it has something new you just gotta have.

Jazzguitar

Absolutely agree. Garmin takes a year + to work out the bugs, never buy a new product unless you want to be a beta tester.

I got a 1030 in January and I absolutely love it. Maps and navigating is light years beyond my old 520.

Seattle Forrest

I would buy the (Garmin) Forerunner 945 over any Edge, hands down. Forgive the terrible pun. It'll do TBT, and you're phone has a better screen and interface for maps anyway.

Trsnrtr

I was wondering about replacing my 1030 with the 830 since my 1030 flew off the bike at 25 mph and now the screen has a light leak and spreading. I’ve also dropped it several times while handling it (I admit to being an idiot). It’s also developed some weird stuff since it skidded down the road.

Anyway, that’s what got me looking at the 830 but I don’t think I can give up the large screen as I do a lot of riding tours in the USA and Europe. Going to have to bite the bullet and order a new 1030.

Seattle Forrest

@Trsnrtr

Don't order a new 1030.

Contact Garmin. They'll fix it or replace it (with a refurb) for a low flat rate. They haven't updated the page for the 1030 but the 1000 is $130. Probably you'll save a few hundred dollars.