Review of XOSS G Cycle Computer - Clive Goes Cycling

The XOSS G is a budget GPS cycle computer that has become a popular alternative to more expensive units from established brands. After a trusty Garmin Edge 200 finally gave up on lasting battery life, the XOSS G was chosen as its replacement. Here is how it has performed over more than a year of regular use.

Why the XOSS G

After several days of research, the choice came down to either a more expensive Garmin Edge 130 or a cheaper non-Garmin computer. The cheaper option won, partly to save money and partly out of curiosity about something different.

The XOSS G was an unknown quantity beforehand, but it had attracted positive comments and reviews, as had its more fully featured G+ sibling. The G+ works with additional sensors such as heart rate straps. That sensor connectivity wasn’t needed, so the standard G model was the pick.

Key strengths

• Excellent value for money
• Syncs directly with Strava via the XOSS app
• Long-lasting battery
• Simple to operate

Cycling with the XOSS G

The unit has now been used on several rides and has proved very satisfying.

It is easy to use, with two multi-function buttons below the screen. At the start of a ride, press one button to power up the unit, then press the other to acquire a GPS signal. Satellite lock normally takes less than a minute, and then you ride.

The XOSS comes with a handlebar mount closely similar to a Garmin mount, and the unit has been used with a Garmin mount on every ride without issue.

While cycling, the main screen shows speed, ride time and distance, but two other data screens can be reached with a button press. The three screens are not customisable, which in practice has not been a problem. Each screen carries a different set of metrics, including average speed, altitude, maximum speed and the current clock.

Auto pause is switched on, so the unit stops when you stop and restarts when you do. The stopping and starting is signalled by a beep and is very quick.

The display on the old Garmin Edge 200 is more readable, even though the screen size of the XOSS G is the same, but the difference is negligible and certainly not worth another £100 or more.

The XOSS G connects very quickly with GPS satellites and, with one exception, has been accurate on rides. The exception was an instance where GPS connection was lost on an early ride, and the route was incorrect until the signal was picked up again. This has not happened since.

The XOSS app

The XOSS G connects with a smartphone app, which is essential if you want to upload or save rides. Connecting the unit to a laptop via USB will charge the battery, but rides cannot be transferred that way.

The app was quick and simple to connect with the XOSS G. After every ride, the app and the unit are synchronised, and the most recent ride uploads to the app. That process is not especially quick, but it has not been a problem so far.

The app can be linked to Strava or Training Peaks accounts so that each new ride is uploaded automatically. When the app was first used, this was not working, and there were plenty of reports of Strava connection failures. The developers have since fixed the problem, and rides now appear on Strava within a few minutes.

The app is relatively simple but does what is needed. After the initial Strava problem, it has worked nicely.

Points raised by other users

A common question is whether rides can be recovered by connecting the unit directly to a computer via USB. They cannot: the XOSS is not recognised as a storage device, and the cable only charges the battery. One workaround is to share the .fit files from the app on a smartphone, or to retrieve the file using the phone’s file manager and then upload it manually. Note that not all .fit files are identical, and some third-party software may not read them.

On units that display distance in kilometres, the routebook can be switched to miles by going to Profile, then Settings, and changing Units of Measurement.

Whether the clock can be set to a 12-hour format is unclear, but it may be found in the user settings once the device is connected to the app.

Sensor questions are common. The cheaper XOSS G does not support connecting an ANT+ speed sensor or receiving a heart rate broadcast; the G+ model is needed for that. The G relies on GPS for tracking.

Adding a second bike profile is not something that has been tried. The unit is used to track rides on more than one bike simply by relying on GPS each time, without separate profiles.

Resetting or pre-setting the odometer does not appear to be possible, and a long thread on the XOSS Facebook page has discussed the matter without a resolution.

In summary

The XOSS G is a great-value, easy-to-use and fully featured GPS cycling computer. More than a year on, it continues to work brilliantly and is used on every ride.