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I’ve been an enormous fan of Wahoo bike computer systems for the reason that starting of recorded time. Or 2017.
I’ve had a specific smooth spot for the
However because of stated shopping for spree, I’ve now purchased the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM and the model new V2 model of the ELEMNT BOLT.
And on this publish I’m going to check these two Wahoo bike GPS computer systems. So clip in, strap on and put together to zone out!
(Wait, what?).
Watch The Video Model Of This Submit?
Would sir-or-madam prefer to see a reside motion comparability of the 2 gadgets? Bien sur… [sings] BE… OUR… GUEST…!
What Do The Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT and ROAM Truly Do?
Each the BOLT and ROAM are absolutely featured bike GPS gadgets (right here is my VERY to-the-point evaluate of the ELEMNT BOLT V2).
They’ve onboard microchips, aerials and different techno-bobbins that decide up alerts from satellite tv for pc networks to find out the place they’re at any given second.
To allow them to be used to report the place you’ve been on a journey, plus, at any given time, inform you your pace, distance lined and a raft of different time-space continuum factoids.
(All of which, as any self-respecting highway bike owner is aware of, is ‘VERY IMPORTANT’.)
The BOLT and the ROAM even have the flexibility to hook up with a wide range of different information sensors unfold round your bike and physique.
On the bathroom normal finish of the sensor spectrum, this is likely to be pace and cadence sensors, or a coronary heart charge strap.
More and more extra bathroom normal: energy meter, ANT+
Much less widespread (and albeit made up): parking sensors.
I’ll go into every of the principle options that the BOLT and the ROAM share later on this publish.
However first, when you’re evaluating them, presumably you’re most within the variations. So let’s begin with these.
Giant color display screen, easy-to-read textual content (that may be made large!) and full on-device navigation. Not touchscreen however the buttons work properly. Very intuitive to make use of.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
My favorite mid-range bike laptop. The V2 improve brings a vivid color show and full on-board navigation. The BOLT stays very straightforward to arrange and use.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
Notice: hyperlinks like those above are affiliate hyperlinks – when you click on and purchase one thing, I get a small fee at no additional value to you (my affiliate hyperlinks coverage).
What Are The Variations Between The ELEMNT BOLT and the ELEMNT ROAM?
Previous to the discharge of the up to date V2 BOLT, the variations have been extra (Tony) stark.
Now there are fewer of them, and with out giving it away (okay, I’ll), many of the variations, in my un-esteemed opinion, favour the BOLT over the ROAM.
(By the best way, try this publish if you wish to see what has modified between the unique V1 ELEMNT BOLT and the brand new V2 model.)
Dimension
With out even switching them on, it’s apparent that the BOLT is smaller than the ROAM.
While the brand new BOLT could be very barely bigger than the v1 model, it nonetheless stays a step change extra mini than the ROAM.
I may provide the size (okay I’ll: BOLT 77mm x 47 x 21; ROAM 89mm x 54 x 18) however the message is healthier delivered by fotografía.
The ELEMNT BOLT (center left) and ROAM (center proper) between the Garmin Edge 530 (left, in all probability) and the While I get the chunky look aesthetic, for me the ROAM is a bit bit too meaty, beaty large and bouncy.
Though we now have this huge case, the proportion of it taken up by the ROAM’s display screen is comparatively small. The bevels are, how shall we embrace this… er, gigantic?
I perceive that they should accommodate two units of LEDs, one down the aspect and one alongside the highest. And clearly I’m not celebration to the technical challenges of designing an honest bike GPS. However personally I feel the ROAM’s thick edges are a bit a lot.
Weight
The additional dimension clearly interprets into extra kgs to lug round. Or gs on this case.
About 25 of them. And as we’ve mentioned, nearly to the purpose of boredom, an additional 25g is neither right here nor there for 99.99999 per cent of riders.
Fuggetaboutit.
The Out Entrance Mount
The cleat-fixing-type-mounty-type system factor is identical between the BOLT and the ROAM.
(What?!? Attempt once more).
The ROAM and BOLT use the identical handlebar/stem mount.
BUT.
The out entrance mounts are completely different. This is sensible. Each are designed to combine considerably right into a reduce out on the underside of every system.
Wahoo claims this makes the BOLT (hashtag) aero and the ROAM … properly, they’re silent on this (as a result of it appears to be like good?).
Principally, you want to be sure to use a BOLT system with a BOLT out entrance mount, and a ROAM with a ROAM mount.
All of it comes right down to the scale of the cut-out.
A ROAM can match on the BOLT mount, however it leaves an odd wanting hole that negates the entire built-in mount factor.
The BOLT’s recessed bit is simply too small, so it gained’t match on a ROAM mount.
Fast apart: the brand new BOLT will match on an previous BOLT mount, however not vice versa. That’s a topic for one more publish.
LEDS
A key characteristic of Wahoo bike computer systems is the usage of LEDs constructed into the bevels across the display screen. I like my Wahoo LEDs, as do many different Wahoo-la hoopas.
They can be utilized to show information like pace, energy and coronary heart charge, present alerts and combine with third celebration gadgets like the Garmin Varia
In easy phrases, the ELEMNT ROAM has extra of them. It has a row above the display screen, and a column down the left hand aspect.
You possibly can use the row on the prime to point out, say, present pace relative to journey common pace, and the LEDs down the aspect with a Garmin Varia to trace overtaking automobiles as they method.
The ELEMNT BOLT solely has the row of LEDs above the display screen.
While I’m very a lot keen on a well-used LED, and having two units is sweet, I can definitely handle with one. So the BOLT single line arrange is simply high-quality for me.
As at all times, your LED-age might fluctuate.
Display
The primary promoting level in favour of the ROAM, now that Navigation has been equivalent-ised (extra on that in a bit), is the bigger display screen.
Assuming after all that you really want a bigger display screen.
With the introduction of the V2 model of the BOLT, each gadgets now have a color display screen. So it’s all in regards to the dimension (however nonetheless a bit bit in regards to the colors).
The ROAM sports activities a 2.7″ show, whereas the BOLT’s measures (diagonally) 2.2″. In decision phrases, the ROAM will get an additional 80 vertical pixels (it has a 400×240 show, the place the BOLT is 320×240).
Numbers, numbers in every single place and never sufficient to drink… what does this imply in sensible phrases?
For me, it doesn’t really feel just like the ROAM has an enormous quantity of additional display screen actual property. The BOLT doesn’t undergo from an absence of pixels.
By means of an additional comparability, the Garmin Edge 530 and 830 each have a 2.6″ show – akin to the ROAM – with a 246×322 decision – which the BOLT nearly achieves with its smaller display screen.
So the BOLT packs a mighty punch in a diminutive package deal. The show is sharper and clearer than on the ROAM. The ROAM is clearly pixelated, the place the BOLT is a little more HD.
Giant color display screen, easy-to-read textual content (that may be made large!) and full on-device navigation. Not touchscreen however the buttons work properly. Very intuitive to make use of.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
My favorite mid-range bike laptop. The V2 improve brings a vivid color show and full on-board navigation. The BOLT stays very straightforward to arrange and use.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
Textual content Dimension
Earlier than this pixel celebration descends into full on (hashtag) BOLTlove, the ROAM’s bigger display screen does retain one profit.
Many Wahoo-lean’s like the best way that while you scale back the grid information show on a Wahoo down to at least one single subject (e.g your pace), the font dimension will increase dramatically (the place Garmins cap out at a comparatively small dimension).
The one information subject font dimension is bigger on the ROAM than on the BOLT. Certainly, you’ll be able to have two information fields on the ROAM and the textual content stays bigger than the one subject show on the BOLT.
This relative benefit in font dimension for the ROAM continues as you improve the variety of fields in your information display screen. And, in actual fact, the bigger ROAM display screen shows as much as 11 fields, whereas the BOLT stops at 9.
So when you both wish to show one information subject bigly or probably the most potential information fields little-y, then the ROAM shades it over the BOLT.
And speaking about shades…
Color Show
I discussed BOLT’s V2 model introduced with it rainbows and unicorns. The unique BOLT show was monochrome. It was a easy alternative: when you needed a color Wahoo system, you went with the ROAM.
Now not.
And in reality the BOLT has leapfrogged the ROAM within the color stakes. It shows a positively vibrant 64 completely different hues the place the ROAM is proscribed to eight.
These additional shades are (clearly) used throughout the BOLT software program wherever subtly completely different colors are useful.
Most screens have an elemnt (ha!) of color the place the ROAM has to stay to monochrome, whether or not that’s the great blue begin button label, or the salmon stars subsequent to your favorite routes.
Extra usefully, the additional colors are used as backgrounds for sure information fields, coronary heart charge and energy, to show which zone you might be in, with these zones being set and colour-coded within the Wahoo ELEMNT app.
Within the color stakes, and the ‘show expertise’ as an entire, the brand new BOLT is simply higher than the ROAM.
While it has colors, the ROAM nonetheless feels a bit monochromey. The white backgrounds are extra like a uninteresting yellowish gray. The blocks of black don’t fairly get there both. In comparison with the BOLT, all of it feels a bit washed out.
Lastly, and I’m unsure if this can be a large level or not however the best way the ROAM display screen updates is a bit, er, completely different. It kind of ‘wipes’ from the left as you progress between screens and up and down menu choices. It’s fairly noticeable.
The BOLT simply modifications within the regular means.
On stability I choose not excited about the display screen updating, however I suppose it’s not a dealbreaker.
Fonts
I suppose that is kind of linked to the show part, perhaps combined in with a splash of person expertise.
[Stop whiffling Mont…]
The brand new BOLT makes use of a larger number of fonts than its predecessor and the ROAM. Or maybe it’s the identical font, simply with extra liberal use of decrease case.
The place the ROAM makes use of capital letters all through, the BOLT makes use of a mixture of the 2. Pop up alerts appear primarily to be in decrease case.
I’ll admit, it doesn’t really feel just like the ROAM spends all its time shouting at me. The BOLT stays closely skewed in the direction of the capital letter.
I can’t see this distinction forming any a part of the shopping for choice for the rational bike owner. However then, palms up, who right here is rational?
Buttons
For probably the most half, the buttons on the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM and the BOLT are the identical.
They’ve the identical quantity and so they’re all positioned in broadly the identical locations: Energy/Menu on the left aspect, Up/Down on the proper aspect and three multi-function buttons on the entrance, beneath the display screen.
The primary distinction, and this outcomes from the latest redesign, is that the buttons on the entrance of the BOLT are actually flush with the highest of the system (i.e. with the display screen).
The ROAM follows the method of the primary technology BOLT the place the entrance buttons are barely recessed.
The change on the BOLT got here, apparently, from some customers having problem urgent the indented buttons.
I really fairly like the best way the ROAM method guides the fingers to the place you want to press.
However I gained’t die in a ditch over it. The brand new BOLT buttons are high-quality. Not a dealbreaker.
Charging Port
Who’d have thunk the charging port would have merited a sentence, not to mention a bit. However right here we’re.
The brand new ELEMNT BOLT has (shock, horror) a USB-C charging port, versus the ROAM’s quaint normal micro-USB aperture.
In bike GPS world, it’s the BOLT that’s uncommon moderately than the ROAM. Garmin nonetheless makes use of micro-USB, as do Bryton and others.
USB-C makes the BOLT faster to cost – it may well take as much as 5 Amps in case your energy adapter and cable can provide it. The ROAM’s micro-USB is extra like 1.5A.
This isn’t one thing that will ordinarily influence my life, aside from that my checklist of USB-C gadgets is beginning to attain crucial mass.
However within the state of affairs the place you realise simply earlier than a journey that your GPS isn’t charged, the USB-C port means BOLT will extra rapidly attain the purpose of enough cost (no matter that is likely to be) than the ROAM.
Charging port sort isn’t going to drive your shopping for choice (until you’re a peculiarly onerous line electrical engineer), however it’s positively one other plus within the BOLT’s execs column.
And it kind of leads us in to battery life.
Battery Life
The ELEMNT ROAM’s bigger dimension homes a extra capacious battery. Wahoo states as much as 17 hours between fees.
The BOLT, as befits its extra humble dimensions, accommodates a extra modest battery. This provides it a claimed 15 hours of use earlier than requiring a scorching energy injection.
In sensible phrases, there’s not a lot in it. Except you’re doing a collection of monster rides, day after day, with no plug socket in sight, each gadgets will keep charged for a enough variety of rides that charging won’t be an annoyance.
Storage
Expertise huh? It’s a humorous previous trout.
The Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM is greater and due to this fact has a bigger battery. The BOLT is smaller and but has extra onboard storage (of the digital selection).
That is Moore’s legislation in motion (to not be confused with Murphy’s, Parkinson’s or Sod’s).
I’ll cease techno-wittering.
The brand new BOLT has 16GB. The ROAM has 4GB. I consulted Euclid and he advised me that that is 4 instances as a lot.
BOLT makes use of its extra reminiscence banks to retailer maps for Europe, Australia and North America, that are already loaded onto the system.
And these maps now embrace elevation information. In order that’s good… And truly helpful for exhibiting the upcoming journey profile for routes calculated on the system.
Navigation
That is primarily a similarity moderately than a distinction however I’ll checklist it with the latter as a result of, hey, it’s my weblog.
The navigation mini-difference is that the mixture of extra colors and pixels on the brand new ELEMNT BOLT means the displayed maps are extra detailed than on the ROAM.
That is most blatant as you zoom out. The upper def BOLT can present extra place names and smaller roads.
Now clearly you’re not going to observe a route on a map this scale, however it’s helpful to seek out out the place you might be relative to close by cities and villages.
Apart from that, the ROAM and the BOLT are the identical from a navigation perspective.
If you already know your Wa-history, you’ll know this wasn’t the case with the older BOLT. The brand new v2 BOLT now has full on-board routable mapping, which the ROAM at all times had.
Whence following a route and also you go off-course, each gadgets will re-calculate and supply revised flip instructions to get you again on observe.
You’ll be able to add routes to each in the identical means utilizing the ELEMNT app. On the gadgets you’ll be able to choose a location on a map, utilizing a set of cross hairs, and the BOLT, or the ROAM, will create a route.
Other than the display screen def, navigation is the sameballs.
Sounds
The bleeps! They sound barely completely different. However they happen in all the identical locations (i.e. for alerts primarily).
Solely of curiosity for these with significantly delicate ears. Which isn’t me.
Software program Options
One other class that would additionally slot into the ‘similarities’ part, however right here we’re.
The place potential from a technical perspective, the software program enhancements which have include the discharge of the brand new BOLT have additionally come to the ROAM through firmware updates.
For instance, the brand new BOLT added notifications for WhatsApp messages. Beforehand the display screen pop-ups have been restricted to texts and emails (I feel). The ROAM has additionally obtained this enchancment*.
(* I’ll allow you to determine whether or not having your journey distracted with memes and questionable humour is an effective factor).
There are a few areas the place the ROAM’s limitations imply new software program options can’t be ported throughout.
The ROAM’s restricted palette means it doesn’t get information fields that color code to the related zone, coronary heart charge or energy, that you simply’re driving in.
The smaller onboard storage implies that the ROAM’s maps don’t include elevation information. You’ll depend on the route you add, from Strava or wherever, to include the info wanted to see the upcoming elevation chart over the course of your journey.
Age (Or Will Wahoo Deliver Out A New Model)?
Effectively, Wahoo simply ‘stunned’ us all with the discharge of the brand new V2 color model of the ELEMNT BOLT, so there’s clearly at all times the potential for this to occur.
I feel it’s protected to say that we gained’t see a brand new model of the ELEMNT BOLT for a while. It’s model new and 4 years elapsed between model 1 and a couple of.
The ROAM is (clearly) now older than the BOLT. It was launched in 2019, making it 23 in squirrel years.
If Wahoo keep the identical replace cadence because the BOLT, that provides us a pair extra years with the present ROAM mannequin.
I’ve received no particular perception on this one although – definitely nobody from Wahoo HQ is asking the Sportive Bike owner batphone regularly.
Pure hypothesis (which can also be the unofficial tagline of this web site).
I ought to observe, although, that Wahoo appears to have a coverage of updating the software program of older gadgets with options launched on newer ones (restricted to these options that may be supported by the older {hardware}).
So I’d be fairly snug about getting loads of use, together with continued Wahoo assist, out of both the ROAM or the BOLT.
Worth
In my Wah-exuberance I practically forgot this one.
The ROAM prices greater than the BOLT. The dimensions of the value distinction depends upon the place you reside.
On the time of writing, the costs on the Wahoo web site are as follows:
These are costs for the system solely, however together with the related out entrance mount.
Two observations:
- The worth step-up appears larger within the US versus the UK ($100 is greater than £50); BUT
- Costs total are decrease for US patrons (e.g. £250 translated to USD is quite a bit larger than $280)
Similarities Between the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT and the ROAM
(Which is an inelegant sub-heading if ever I wrote one)
You’ve in all probability labored these out already.
Aside for some apparent bodily variations, and a few technical ones reflecting the ROAM being a bit older, nearly all of the software program options and the performance of the 2 gadgets are very comparable.
The person expertise, which is Wahoo’s key benefit over Garmin, is superb, whether or not on the ELEMNT ROAM or the BOLT.
Arrange for each is admittedly easy.
Each are ‘smartphone first’. A number of the settings can solely be modified through the Wahoo ELEMNT app moderately than through the menus on the ROAM or BOLT themselves.
This makes the screens and choices really on the gadgets cleaner with fewer menu rabbit holes to fall down.
While we’ve talked about that the BOLT has a sharper show, each gadgets can scale back down the variety of fields proven on the info screens to maximise the textual content dimension for straightforward viewing.
Each connect with all the identical sensors, good trainers and different gadgets, through ANT+, Bluetooth and ANT+ FE-C.
The ROAM and BOLT will add your journey information, and obtain any routes or exercises, routinely through wifi or by Bluetooth to your telephone. There’s no distinction in how they sync with third celebration apps like Strava.
In abstract, each the ROAM and the BOLT simply work. Which is sweet.
Which One Would I Suggest / Which One Would I Purchase?
Again within the model 1 BOLT days, the ROAM vs BOLT choice was based mostly on just a few clear distinctions. When you needed a color display screen and/or on-device navigation, you went with the ROAM.
Now there are fewer materials variations (although I’ve managed to write down 3,000+ phrases on the subject “LOL”). The v2 BOLT has a color display screen and has on-board mapping.
So then it comes right down to dimension. You’d anticipate the ROAM’s 2.6″ display screen to go well with these wanting a bigger show, while the BOLT appeals to these wanting a smaller kind issue (and to be ).
However the brand new BOLT’s brighter, extra colourful and seemingly extra outlined display screen, for me offsets the ROAM’s dimension benefit.
Aesthetics sensible, I’m as large a fan of chunky as the subsequent man, however the ROAM is a bit an excessive amount of. That’s fairly a lump of motorcycle GPS on my handlebars.
I choose the feel and appear of the BOLT, even when I do suppose the flat versus recessed entrance buttons are a backward step… barely.
I beloved my unique monochrome v1 BOLT. Even with out the on-board navigation, it did (does) every thing I want from a motorbike laptop. I didn’t as soon as want I had a bigger show.
I just like the upgrades on the brand new BOLT. I’m not going to say no to the whizzbang mapping or the engaging color graphics. It continues to do all the unique stuff properly.
So I’d nonetheless select the brand new BOLT over the ROAM. And that’s earlier than noting the decrease value of the smaller system (a serious plus to this deep pockets quick arms Yorkshireman).
As at all times, your GPS mileage might fluctuate. Do your individual satellite-guided analysis. And many others.
Wanting To Purchase An ELEMNT ROAM or BOLT?
Listed below are the hyperlinks in case you wish to purchase a pleasant shiny Wahoo bike laptop (affiliate hyperlinks; I get a small fee when you click on and purchase one thing):
Giant color display screen, easy-to-read textual content (that may be made large!) and full on-device navigation. Not touchscreen however the buttons work properly. Very intuitive to make use of.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
My favorite mid-range bike laptop. The V2 improve brings a vivid color show and full on-board navigation. The BOLT stays very straightforward to arrange and use.
Verify worth – Amazon Verify worth – Wahoo
When you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, I earn a fee at no extra value to you.
En garde!
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