buffalowings

Hey guys, I have the option of buying a garmin edge 500 or 705 for the same price. (from what I can tell from the auction descriptions, they are both functional) which one would you go for?


Thanks!

rdtompki

705 - more functionality. what's not to like. I'm sure these units are going for very favorable prices these days, but if you can find an 800 at a reasonable price the touchscreen interface on that series is much superior to the interface found on the older devices. Now that Garmin as thee 810 out one would expect to see 800 pricing drop.

donrhummy

The 705 has navigation capabilities, the 500 does not. what do you want to use the device for?

JerrySTL

I have a 705 and it's a great bike computer. However if I needed another computer now, I'd probably go with the 500. I seldom use the 705's navigation capabilities. I'm more interested in tracking what I've done instead of where I will be going.

If I get lost, I'll use my smart phone for it's mapping capabilities. If you don't have a smart phone, nor plan to get one soon, the 705 might be a better option.

buffalowings

I'm not going to get a smartphone anytime soon. Figured I could use the $30 I save a month to spring for a GPS cyclococomputer instead.

Looigi

I have both. I mainly use the 705 as I like the map and it pretty much does everything the 500 does. I fairly often plan out new rides and download them to the 705 to navigate. You can do something roughly similar with the 500 though the route just appears as a track on the screen with no roads or anything else. You can get turn prompts with the 500 if they are included in the route file when you create it. The 705 generates it's own prompts and turn instructions based on its internal map, which can either be purchased from Garmin or be free OSMs. (Open Source Map). The 500 is still offered by Garmin but the 705 has been discontinued for a few years now and there will be point when Garmin stops supporting it with repair service. You can of course buy a third party battery and install it yourself, but if other things go south you'll be out of luck. Of note is that the latest 500 firmware fully supports the Garmin Vector power pedals with L/R power measurement etc. The 705 doesn't and as a discontinued product will not get further firmware updates.

Looigi

You do not need a data plan to use a smartphone for navigation. You don't even need a voice plan. You don't need any plan whatsoever. Maps and apps can be downloaded and ride data uploaded via a WIFI connection. This holds true for email and other apps and data too.

buffalowings

Indeed..the closest thing I have to a smartphone is my tablet, haha..

Gluteus

The only downside of the 705 (compared to the 500) is that is bulkier/heavier.

StanSeven

I measured and it is 80% the size of a phone!

Elvo

I've gotten a lot faster since I switched to a 500 from a 305. I could barely do 30 mile rides with ~2000 feet elev gain and I would be totally beat. Now I can do 70 miles with 4000 feet and feel greater afterwards.

I think it's because the 500 is significantly lighter and the barfly style mounts make it more aero