OK, so I “misplaced” my Polar S520, and after a few weeks it doesn’t look like its going to turn up. Since I already have the cadence and speed sensors (and HR transmitter belt) from Polar, it seems more logical to stick with Polar than switch to a different brand.
Q fot ST’ers – Which to choose? I’m thinking of moving up to either the S725i or the S625X – which would you suggest? The 625 has the running features, which I’ve heard both good and bad about. But I already have the bike sensors (which don’t come with the 625), so maybe the 625 makes more sense since I don’t need to pay for them? Is there anything special that the 725 has that the 620 doesn’t? The 725 is about $30 to $40 cheaper.
I know the 720 is even cheaper, but it doesn’t come with a Wearlink (the softer HR transmitter belt), which I’ve heard is more comfortable than what comes with the 720 and 520.
Thanks!
720 offers autostart/stop on the bike, which neither the 625 or 725 offers (it is now only offered on the polar bike computers). So if you like that, you will miss it on the 725 or 625.
725/625 have some other features like “recovery rate” that I don’t think the 720 has. Polar.fi gives a good matrix for comparison…
625 has all of the 725 features plus the run option. Other than that, they are identical in terms of features. 625 has metal faceplate, 725 is plastic.
WearLink is the BEST. But you can buy it separately, if you are sold on some other features.
Rappstar,
Thanks for the feedback. I do want to get a Wearlink, because of the positive comments I’ve heard. Since that’s about $40 or so by itself, that would make a 720 plus a Wearlink effectively cost about what a 725 would be, I think, based on Nashbar or Performance prices.
The comparison charts on the Polar site are good. What’s kinda funny is that they have a chart comparing the 625, 720 and 520, but it doesn’t include the 725, which you have to look at separately.
I never really used the Autostart/Stop function with my 520. Does that just help with cutting out data while waiting at stoplights and such?
One other thing I just noted – in Polar’s comparison chart among the 625, 720 and 520, they don’t even mention the Autostart/Stop feature that is only on the 720 and 520. Could they be trying to upsell you to the more expensive 625 by not mentioning something that the cheaper models have and it doesn’t?
Polar no longer offers the autostart on anything except the new cyclocomputer-style models. I am not sure why they decided to remove it, since it was nice to have the option. You’re right that it only removes stoppage at lights/etc., and I actually don’t use it since I think it is important to know if you were stopped for 1 minute, since that is essentially recovery time. A ride with lots of 30sec and 1 minute stops is different than a long, continous ride.
I know the Autostart/stop feature used to be on the comparison chart, but maybe they’ve removed it as it was confusing? If you add in one of the cyclocomputer models, you’ll see it show up again.
Like I said, it is a mystery why they took it out. But I’ve come to think you get a better picture of your workout without using it anyway. Time when you are stopped also does NOT affect your average speed. Avg speed is calculated only based on times when speed > 0.
I think they took the autostart feature out because when you get into an area with a high enough level of interference (power lines, etc) to cause a loss of the speed signal, the HRM would autostop and turn off the timer. Depending on the area where you ride this may or may not be a problem. This is a problem on one road that I frequently ride on, so I don’t use the this feature on my 720I rather than remembering to turn it on or off depending upon my route. I think this is only a good feature on a hard wired cyclometer.
Wearlink comes with all new stock Polars from what I am told. I bought two S210’s at the same time a friend of mine did (Performance Bike) and his came with wearlink and mine did not. His box had a Wearlink sticker on the outside under the model name. I called Performance and they told me that all the new ones were coming with it. He checked the bin and said that there were about a dozen “old” ones in front of the “new” boxes in back. I waited a couple days so they could deplete the “old” ones and then called back. At that point he said the open boxes had new ones so I orded two more. Once they arrived I returned the “old” style for a refund.
I would guess that by now if you buy from a higher volume dealer the old styles should be gone but I would call first.
Michael