spinnaker

I have a Cannondale SR500 triple. I want to purchase a Flight Deck computer off of Amazon oe Ebay but want to be sure I am buying the right thing.

Exactly what should I be looking for? I noticed 9 speed and 10 speed. Are these the total speeds or just the speeds of the rear gears? Does the computer show all 27 gears or just the rear 9?

Do I need to by a sensor keit as well as the computer?

I guess, just what should I buy? I assume I want wireless?

How do I install the computer? I assume I need to remove the tape on my handle bars? I have removed the tape on a very old bike. Anything dramatically different from that old bike aside the gel inserts? Anything else I need to watch for when installing?

2manybikes

The mounting instructions and the programing instructions are avaliable as a download from Shimano. You need Flight Deck compatable STI levers.

https://www.shimano.com.au/publish/co...p/7AP1D_En.pdf

spinnaker

Thanks but that is not really what I asked. I assumed that I would get installation instuctions but sometimes hte instuctions don't tell the whole story like experience does.

And I have Flight Deck levers, thanks.

blandin

Not really responsive to your question, but I had a Flight Deck computer 4 years ago and took it off the bike because the little buttons under the hoods continually went bad. Hopefully Shimano has made improvements in the interim and you won't have the same experience.

spinnaker

Thanks for the warning. Did you expose your bike to excessive weather or dirt? Where you able to get the buttons only?



I would still appreciate input on exactly what I need to buy.

blandin

I do my riding on a paved bike trail and never ride in the rain, so weather and dirt aren't issues for me. Again, I don't want to trash the Flight Deck, Shimano sells a bunch of these things and they've likely made improvements over the years. For the record, mine was the original model with both control buttons on the right shift lever.

I currently use the Sigma BC-1600 and run both the wireless and wired versions on my 4 rode bikes with great success.

As to what you need to buy, there is a compatibility chart on the Shimano web site (separate from the installation instructions) that should answer all your questions.

spinnaker

I checked Shimono's site and it is horrible! I can't find the compatibility chart anywhere. The only way I was able to find anything on the flight deck at all is to do a search. There does not appear any way to get to it by clicking on products.

ajst2duk

I had a bit of a mission getting the right one & then fitting myself. I originally bid & won an earlier version with two buttons on the RHS shifter. I have recent ultegra ST-6510's so I needed to get a newer Flight Deck. I also found it a mission to get a feel for campatibility. What model are your shifters, do you know?? The flightdeck wehn fitted & properly programmed will give you front & rear visuals on your gearing as well as actual gearing ie 12-25 and virtual cadence. Fitting is ok, you will need to unwrap the top part of your bar wraps carefully, install the buttons into the shifters then check & re-wrap your bars. Nothing that can't be done with a bit of time & patience. The hard part is programming it, this takes time & you will need to refer to the instructions. Get the latest FD, 6502 & the wireless bracket, make sure the bracket is the right one for your shifters.

SpongeDad

We have two flight decks - the 9 or 10 speed refers to the rear cog. There are separate markings to show what chainring (front gear) you are in.

If memory serves, my wife's model (more recent) will display 9 or 10 gear markings depending on how you set it up. She has a 9spd cog, so that's what I programmed into it.

Installation is a bit of a pain, but I'm too cheap to have the LBS install it, so that's proof that you don't have to be a genius to get it on the bike. You will have to retape your handlebars, however, unless you're willing to have wires all over the place.

Internet has best prices - I think I bought ours from Jenson. On the other hand, if you buy it from LBS and they will install for free, that might be worth it to avoid the hassle.

khuon

Get the SC-6502 computer. It's the latest and although it says it's for 10-speed drivetrains, it is backwards compatible to 7, 8, and 9 and will handle a double or triple chainring setup. The computer will display the correct amount of gear indicator "bubbles" for both front and rear depending on how you program it. If you put a "--" in a gear position in the programming, it will delete the bubble from the display.

3x9 setup display


2x9 setup display



What model shifters do you have? This will determine the correct harness to get.



As far as the installation goes, it's pretty easy with the exception of retaping the handlebars which I find difficult because I suck at retaping bars. You may want to glance over at this recent thread for some installation hints.

spinnaker

Thanks khuon,

That is exactly the information for which I was looking. I have the Tiagra shifters. I'm not sure how that translates to a model number. Guess I'll have to check my owners manual.

There is a 6510 too is that an earlier version?

6502 computer???? This was one of the first CPUs I ever programmed! Just a coincidence I'm sure.

blandin

Programming a Commordore 6502 CPU, your age is showing . . .

khuon

Tiagra is ST-4400 so you'll want the SM-6501 which is a wireless kit.


You probably mean the SC-6501. I have the SC-6500 and SC-6501. Both are 9-speed units. The SC-6502 adds 10-speed compatibility. I don't know if they're discounting the SC-6501. If they are then that may be a good buy for you since you (currently) don't need a 10-speed capability.


Let me guess... Apple-II?

Retro Grouch 

The trick is to get the right sensor harness. Road bikes with two buttons on the right lever hood take a SM-6500 harness. Road bikes with one button on each hood take a SM-6500RS harness (wired) or SM-6501 (wireless fork sensor). Do not get the universal harness. It has buttons that stick onto the handlebar and doesn't interface with the shifters so it lacks the gear indicator and virtual cadence functions that are the main reason for getting a Flight Deck.

The Shimano instructions leave quite a bit to be desired. There are three different heads (SC-6500, SC-6501 and SC-6502). The main difference is it has capability to be programmed for use on more than one bike so the programming is slightly different. 6502 is the 10 speed version. Unfortunately, the instructions come with the sensor kit so you might not get the right ones to exactly match your head. The other issue is that the instructions were rather obviously translated by somebody whose preferred language isn't English so some of the wording is a little bit funky. Once you figure it out, however, the programming goes pretty fast - at least for the second Flight Deck and anysubsequent ones that you program.

condor63

https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1113785749224

2manybikes

The newest model flight deck is compatable with all the different speed combo's make sure you get the right harness to go with the button setup you have. Either one button on each side or two on one side.
It will work with 10,9,8,7 speed rears.double and triple. It takes a while to program it, it's a lot different than a regular computer set up.You have to know each cog and ring tooth number to set it up, it gives a virtual cadence from the one wire to the front wheel. If you may use a HID light some day don't get the wireless. You need to take all the tape off and put the wires next to the cables to prevent them from being pinched. You also need to replace panels in the hoods with new panels that have the buttons in them. If you will be mounting a light make sure you will not pinch the wires to the levers in your set up. I had to leave a loop of slack so I could mount a light on to the bars near the stem without pinching the wires that go out to the levers on my bike.

alba

Hi,
I'm not entirely sure: is the SC-6500 computer compatible with the SM-6501 or SM-6502 (wireless) harness?

Thanks
Albert

EKCooper

I have flight deck compatable shifters. Is Flight Deck really that much better than everything else? I have a wireless Cateye Strada, but it doesn't have cadence. I'm thinking of getting cadence and wondered it the FD is the best option.

cmburch

I have been using the wireless FD with Ultegra for a few years. I like the ease and simplicity of using the brake hood buttons. The cadence works well for me.

Read some negative reviews about cadence here
https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/tr...8_1624crx.aspx