Cycliq Fly6 v3 Presale
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Seems that Cycliq is readying the launch of a version 3 of their Fly6 rear camera and light (Fly6ce3). Looking things over it seems that they have reduced the size and weight of the camera, but at the price of battery life.
The Fly6CE spec sheet said that it had a 3200mAh battery. The v3 has a 2000mAh battery listed. The ride time is now down from the never-obtainable 7 hours listed on the Fly6ce to 4 hours on the ce3. Video resolution remains at 1080p, but they have removed the 60fps option and now only offer 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps.
This seems very strange. Typically you'd think that there would be an improvement in either battery life or video resolution. Neither of those as happened. The only thing that has happened is that the unit has become smaller (which I like) and lighter (which is good), but at some sacrifice.
As a sidenote... has anyone performed a battery replacement on their Fly6ce to a larger capacity battery? I'm sure that'll also be something folks will want to do with the version 3 as well, especially with the v3 battery size shrinking by nearly 40%.
Seems a very "meh" upgrade. I like the form factor change, but I'm really hoping that there is a way to replace the battery with something far more robust. At this point doing any long ride will require travelling with two of them if you want to capture the whole ride.
The Fly6CE spec sheet said that it had a 3200mAh battery. The v3 has a 2000mAh battery listed. The ride time is now down from the never-obtainable 7 hours listed on the Fly6ce to 4 hours on the ce3. Video resolution remains at 1080p, but they have removed the 60fps option and now only offer 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps.
This seems very strange. Typically you'd think that there would be an improvement in either battery life or video resolution. Neither of those as happened. The only thing that has happened is that the unit has become smaller (which I like) and lighter (which is good), but at some sacrifice.
As a sidenote... has anyone performed a battery replacement on their Fly6ce to a larger capacity battery? I'm sure that'll also be something folks will want to do with the version 3 as well, especially with the v3 battery size shrinking by nearly 40%.
Seems a very "meh" upgrade. I like the form factor change, but I'm really hoping that there is a way to replace the battery with something far more robust. At this point doing any long ride will require travelling with two of them if you want to capture the whole ride.
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I stopped using them. I had the first and second versions. If you use them a lot and ride in cold weather the battery life drops off significantly. By the second year, they wouldn't last more than 3 hours, which means you have a glorified tail light that weighs too much and will cost quite a bit more than other tail lights that are lighter (and better).
That coupled with their crappy customer service and unwillingness to admit design flaws (see 1st gen seatpost mount) makes it a non-starter for anything they make. Your results may vary.
That coupled with their crappy customer service and unwillingness to admit design flaws (see 1st gen seatpost mount) makes it a non-starter for anything they make. Your results may vary.
Speedplay is the devil!
Also very disappointed with the gen3 of fly6 ce. Seems to aim at the commuter market rather than enthusiasts that does 4+ hrs on the weekend.
I have the original gen3 and can't get to 4 hrs anymore... Seriously may not replace this and go to an Garmin radar or light only.
Where in their feedback would there be people that wants less battery life for a little weight and size. Yes their customer service was always crap and put up with it due to a product that's unique and mostly decent.
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I have the original gen3 and can't get to 4 hrs anymore... Seriously may not replace this and go to an Garmin radar or light only.
Where in their feedback would there be people that wants less battery life for a little weight and size. Yes their customer service was always crap and put up with it due to a product that's unique and mostly decent.
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My main issue is video quality. It’s not good enough to get US style plates in common lighting situations. That makes it pointless...
Agree with this.. Was hopeful that this will improve over time. Never did happen.. Yes it got better with the ce series but only in 1080p 60fps mode at the cost of battery life...and now it's gone.TobinHatesYou wrote:My main issue is video quality. It’s not good enough to get US style plates in common lighting situations. That makes it pointless...
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Last edited by sychen on Tue Jun 02, 2020 3:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Shorter battery life is a dealbreaker for me. I have two CEs, use one as a chest mount ocasionally. This would work for that purpose, but I want my rear camera to go for 5 hours, which I can just barely get out of a CE with the light off at 1080p 30fps (I run a separate tail light).
Customer service has improved, and they now have a US based RMA center. Don't have to send it back to Aulstrailia anymore. I recently had one replaced, turnaround time was something like a week. It was about a year out of warranty, they replaced it with a "referbished" unit that was a v2, less than 2 months after the v2 was released.
As for battery upgrade... might be possible on the 6 CE, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get into the 12 CE. I did replaced the battery in the non-CE Fly6 v2. That was just a standard 18650 lithium-ion rechargable. Not sure what's in the new ones, but wouldn't surprise me if it was similar.
Customer service has improved, and they now have a US based RMA center. Don't have to send it back to Aulstrailia anymore. I recently had one replaced, turnaround time was something like a week. It was about a year out of warranty, they replaced it with a "referbished" unit that was a v2, less than 2 months after the v2 was released.
As for battery upgrade... might be possible on the 6 CE, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get into the 12 CE. I did replaced the battery in the non-CE Fly6 v2. That was just a standard 18650 lithium-ion rechargable. Not sure what's in the new ones, but wouldn't surprise me if it was similar.
* There is a 70% chance that what you have just read has a peppering of cynicism or sarcasm and generally should not be taken seriously.
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I'll leave it up to you to figure out the other 30%. If you are in any way offended, that's on you.
I haven't had any issues with seeing US platesTobinHatesYou wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 2:56 amMy main issue is video quality. It’s not good enough to get US style plates in common lighting situations. That makes it pointless...
I have had a couple of them die on me which has been frustrating. The one time I complained, customer service was good and they sent me a new one.
I am surprised no one else had come up with a camera/light set up yet.
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More to the point, I'm surprised that no one else has come up with an attractive alternative with good specs at a decent price.
Aldi makes the "BikeMate" light, which I found yesterday while looking to see if there were any quality alternatives to the Fly6ce. And it looks like crap. It's big, it's bulky, it just doesn't look good. But it is inexpensive.
Come to think of it, does anyone make an alternative to either of the Fly cameras? They're not bad products per say... but it seems like each could also be done much better.
I have both a Fly6ce and a Fly12ce... and won't be parting with either one for this "upgrade".
Aldi makes the "BikeMate" light, which I found yesterday while looking to see if there were any quality alternatives to the Fly6ce. And it looks like crap. It's big, it's bulky, it just doesn't look good. But it is inexpensive.
Come to think of it, does anyone make an alternative to either of the Fly cameras? They're not bad products per say... but it seems like each could also be done much better.
I have both a Fly6ce and a Fly12ce... and won't be parting with either one for this "upgrade".
Im looking at getting the newest one or V2 but this seems like a major nay. I was really concerned about the warranty and I havent been impressed from what Im seeing
Looks liks Im better off just having a GoPro mounted on my saddle. Just get an older version and have a light separately.
Looks liks Im better off just having a GoPro mounted on my saddle. Just get an older version and have a light separately.
I really just hope that Garmin rolls something like this out on the Varia. I think that would be a game changer, especially if it's not constantly recording, but recording when it detects a vehicle using the radar. They could theoretically use a small battery, in that case, since it isn't recording as much.
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That’s a great idea. Perhaps even a mode where it’s recording at a low resolution and frame rate but changes to high resolution and frame rate when it detects a car.FIJIGabe wrote:I really just hope that Garmin rolls something like this out on the Varia. I think that would be a game changer, especially if it's not constantly recording, but recording when it detects a vehicle using the radar. They could theoretically use a small battery, in that case, since it isn't recording as much.
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This feels like a market that's just going to get bigger and bigger and it's a real surprise that no-one else seems to make a compelling product. Unless I'm missing them.
i would avoid them. the unit didnt last.. .. less than 9 month of use.. and due to the covid situation. i didnt get to ride . and recently when i try. the batt didnt take a charge.. and i wrote to them. try alot of way. even to the expense of getting a new sd card as they say the unit cant the Scandisk card that i have.
so i got a new one. n then didnt work till in the end told me. out of warranty. too bad.. 10% discount for me if i want to upgrade.. ..
wtf.. for a shitty product like.... who know how long that batt will last.. maybe.. 12 month and 1 day and kaput....
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so i got a new one. n then didnt work till in the end told me. out of warranty. too bad.. 10% discount for me if i want to upgrade.. ..
wtf.. for a shitty product like.... who know how long that batt will last.. maybe.. 12 month and 1 day and kaput....
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The product is a great idea but I would steer clear of them. Terrible quality and customer service. My unit stopped recording within the warranty peroid. Multiple emails to the company and posting it back at my cost to be reviewed have determined it's defective. All they will offer is a 10 percent discount on a new unit. I'm currently taking this to the Australian Consumer Affairs Tribunal
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same thing. i just told them. forget it. i am not going to spend money to send the shitty light over for them to tell me it faculty and then get 10% off the shitty new gen3. i rather spend the money on someone who is trained and able to solder a new batt pack for me.Stiphodon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2020 10:01 pmThe product is a great idea but I would steer clear of them. Terrible quality and customer service. My unit stopped recording within the warranty peroid. Multiple emails to the company and posting it back at my cost to be reviewed have determined it's defective. All they will offer is a 10 percent discount on a new unit. I'm currently taking this to the Australian Consumer Affairs Tribunal