I'm in the market for a GPS-based lap timer, and have been looking at the XT Racing GPX Pro, Qstarz LT-Q6000, and the AiM Solo. I'm interested in hearing some recommendations or feedback from those of you with first-hand experience with these or similar GPS-based units.
CMRA Ex #660
Full Tilt Racing #63
I would like to see someone make a simple GPS lap timer kinda like a "GPS XT Ultra Lap" for a couple hundred bucks
Bill Klindworth
68 Still kicking... just a bit slower #737
I have the Starlane GPS-2, and our endurance bike has the GPS-3. In general, I'm happy with it. It's $450, so a little less than the XT, and it's a LOT smaller.
If you get serious about the Qstar or the AIM, make sure you get some reports from expert-level racers that have them. What you are paying for in one of these units, in addition to the 10Hz GPS sampling, are the algorithms necessary to turn data that's only accurate to about 10 feet being sampled while you are traveling at 175+ feet-per-second, and getting from that data an aggregate that's just a few inches off where you actually were on track!
The Starlane has a noticeable calculation delay, for example, when you cross S/F. It takes it a few more samples to accurately calculate your actual laptime.
The cheaper units I've seen use the data points from the GPS chipset as literals, and that's just... wrong.
CMRA Expert #101
EBR 1190RX, Large BGE
I have a GPS based lap timer. I mainly purchased it because I could not see my lap times unless I went and got the printout at the end of the race weekend. With the race monitor app working half decent, I can see my Friday practice laps and everything else I do throughout the weekend.
It's cool to be able to see your lap split differences on the track but unless you have some real data to go along side it, your just entertaining yourself and dreaming of your perfect lap. Just my .02
I have the XT GPX Pro 4 on Daisy's bike. She has been very happy with it. It provides a wealth of information beyond simple lap times. I have it wired directly into her harness for power and a few other readings. IMO, it is worth the extra money. The guy that has your bike now works with them a bunch and can fab up a cool mounting bracket to boot. They are worth the extra money. There are a couple dealers here that can get you a screaming deal on one too.
And with another $40 piece of software and your video you can do really cool stuff like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDtPFgrFLoQ
I'm just gonna tape my iPhone to the cluster for lap times......
I've had sporadic issues with my Starlane and the company is out of Italy. They have support here (New York) but the technical information reads like a poor translation ('cause it is).
Their support has been ok but the issues I have/ had are/ were that the automatic start/ finish line detect and the timer freezes while processing. When it works, it works fantastic and the information is spot-on. Analysis software is only available for PC (no Mac) and is is a bit of a chore to interpret unless you are a big time computer whiz (which I'm not).
For the money it's a very good timer. The AIM GPXPro is the direct competitor for the Starlane and it has a few things that the Starlane lacks.
The GPX has the ability to have more inputs (throttle, brake pressure, suspension travel, etc) and the analyzation software is WAY easier to use and interpret by comparison.
The drawback is that it is sometimes unreliable too. I have some friends that have had no problems with it at all, and I've had others that have had nothing but problems with theirs.
You're like a kid in a batman costume at Halloween....you think you're cute...and you think you're batman.
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Optrix VideoPro
http://youtu.be/4QQZG8jgwso
David Proler, CMRA Expert #65
Raceworx • Galfer • Vesrah • Sidi Boots • Incase
212 Decals • South Central Race Center • Pirelli
+1 on the GPX. I have to older unit with the internal antenna and I LOVE it. I pull TPS, Brake ON/OFF, ECT, ambient temp, RPM and speed. Gear position is calculated by speed and RPM. I've had some minor issues but nothing really too bad. Their tech support is awesome. The unit is dead nuts on too. My times on the unit are usually within a few hundredths of what the official times are.
Isn’t is sad how some people’s grip on their lives is so precarious that they’ll embrace any preposterous delusion rather than face an occasional bleak truth?
CMRA Novice #211
Brian, how hard is it to wire the GPX?
CMRA Ex #660
Full Tilt Racing #63
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