Lap timers?

Sean · 10-24-2010, 01:30 AM

Recommend me a new lap timer.

I have the XT Ultra Lap, and it has given up for the fourth time in less than a year. I have the beacon for it so something compatible would be nice. Will Mychron laptimers work with the XT beacon?

Are there any inexpensive GPS laptimers worth a shot?

Clay · 10-25-2010, 08:04 AM

I use the GPX pro. Best friggin' thing I've ever bought for helping you drop those lap times if you actually use it for more than a laptimer.

Sean · 10-25-2010, 12:31 PM

That's a bit spendy. The website doesn't say much about what it does over the Ultra-Lap. What's so special about it?

OreoGaborio · 10-26-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Will Mychron laptimers work with the XT beacon?

I believe it will... pretty sure, in fact. But don't take my word for it.

tommymac · 10-26-2010, 11:27 AM

my buddies use some cellphone apps and use their phones as lap timers. granted my phone is an ancient POS I still wouldnt strap it to my track bike to use as a laptimer. Sad part is theyre prety good from what I have heard.

Sean · 10-26-2010, 03:33 PM

Yup, android and iphone have good laptimers in them, I use a Windows Mobile device. I'd rather have a dedicated laptimer anyways, we like to put it in the race car.

fasternyou929 · 10-26-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

That's a bit spendy. The website doesn't say much about what it does over the Ultra-Lap. What's so special about it?

It's an all-in-one instrument cluster. Replaces your tach, believe it can show gear number, shows your speed at certain points on the track, can tell you what lap you were fastest in a certain part of the track, etc. You just get a LOT more detail than "that lap was 1:38.87".

Speaking all 2nd hand knowledge though. My friend has one and raves about it, when it works. He's struggled to get it working at Road Atlanta and VIR a couple times (it doesn't recognize the loop for a while). Very well could be user error though. He's a pilot and doesn't do well with computers.

ETA: All lap timers with a red window on the pick-up unit are infrared and will work with a XT beacon.

Clay · 10-28-2010, 06:03 AM

There are some things you spend money on and don't see a massive benefit. There are some things you spend money on and IMMEDIATELY realize it was worth EVERY penny. The GPX is one of those. It's a data collection unit, not just a lap timer. Of course, you have to have a laptop to use it properly. When I come in off the track one of the first things I do is pull off my laps and go over them. It draws out the track and lets you view whatever inputs you've collected. Speed and laptimes are automatic, but you can add RPM, throttle position, gear indicator, and many more very detailed things like suspension travel. Personally I use just use Speed, RPM and Throttle position. You can then overlay your laps and see what you're doing...where you're braking, etc. When you go 1 second faster and you want to know why... you can know EXACTLY why. The BEST benefit is to take it off your bike and throw it on your "fast" buddy's bike. You can immediately know what he's doing that makes him go faster. This was the BIGGEST help when my son was racing. I'd go out and do some fast laps, then overlay them on his laps and show him exactly where I was going faster than he was, down to a specific corner and line on the track.

10-24-2010, 01:30 AM	#1
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	Lap timers? Recommend me a new lap timer. I have the XT Ultra Lap, and it has given up for the fourth time in less than a year. I have the beacon for it so something compatible would be nice. Will Mychron laptimers work with the XT beacon? Are there any inexpensive GPS laptimers worth a shot?

10-25-2010, 08:04 AM	#2
Clay I know nothing... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 134	I use the GPX pro. Best friggin' thing I've ever bought for helping you drop those lap times if you actually use it for more than a laptimer.

10-25-2010, 12:31 PM	#3
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	That's a bit spendy. The website doesn't say much about what it does over the Ultra-Lap. What's so special about it?

10-26-2010, 11:27 AM	#5
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	my buddies use some cellphone apps and use their phones as lap timers. granted my phone is an ancient POS I still wouldnt strap it to my track bike to use as a laptimer. Sad part is theyre prety good from what I have heard.

10-26-2010, 03:33 PM	#6
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	Yup, android and iphone have good laptimers in them, I use a Windows Mobile device. I'd rather have a dedicated laptimer anyways, we like to put it in the race car.

10-28-2010, 06:03 AM	#8
Clay I know nothing... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 134	There are some things you spend money on and don't see a massive benefit. There are some things you spend money on and IMMEDIATELY realize it was worth EVERY penny. The GPX is one of those. It's a data collection unit, not just a lap timer. Of course, you have to have a laptop to use it properly. When I come in off the track one of the first things I do is pull off my laps and go over them. It draws out the track and lets you view whatever inputs you've collected. Speed and laptimes are automatic, but you can add RPM, throttle position, gear indicator, and many more very detailed things like suspension travel. Personally I use just use Speed, RPM and Throttle position. You can then overlay your laps and see what you're doing...where you're braking, etc. When you go 1 second faster and you want to know why... you can know EXACTLY why. The BEST benefit is to take it off your bike and throw it on your "fast" buddy's bike. You can immediately know what he's doing that makes him go faster. This was the BIGGEST help when my son was racing. I'd go out and do some fast laps, then overlay them on his laps and show him exactly where I was going faster than he was, down to a specific corner and line on the track.