Giant Explore E+ 2 - possible to upgrade from Ridecontrol One to Evo?

[Ajkiwi]

Hi all! I'm about to buy the Explore E+ 2 to replace my 5-year-old Wisper (german) e-bike. I'm commuting and aiming to get back to cycle touring around New Zealand, as I used to 20 years ago when I was... ah... slightly fitter.

But the Explore E+ 2 doesn't have a cycle computer any more!

I notice that one of the changes from the 2018 to 2019 versions of the Explore is that they've downgraded the control unit to the Ridecontrol one, leaving you with no HUD with speed, distance, etc. It's all very well to be able to access that via bluetooth on my phone, but it's hardly the same as having a speedo in front of me when I'm touring.

Does anyone know if it's possible to swap out the Ridecontrol one and replace it with a Ridecontrol Evo?

 

[Angela M.]

Hi! While I can't offer any suggestions, I just wanted to welcome you to the forum and hope another member can help you out soon.

 

[Slow Rider]

HI Ajkiwi, don't know if its possible to swap out the unit, but the bluetooth connection to iphone/android app updates realtime. I have a phone mount on my bike and use my phone to see speed, time, distance, cadence, range on the app while I'm riding. The screen on the right side is how it looks. Not sure if it's a practical solution for touring, but it's been fine on shorter rides for me.

 

[Ajkiwi]

Thanks for the help - I contacted Giant themselves and they said that it's the Ridecontrol One or using bluetooth on a cellphone if you want a live readout - with the cellphone battery drain that that entails. So, yeah: good for reporting rides afterwards, less useful for actual day to day use, as it doesn't even have a USB jack to charge the phone.

Ugh. Might buy a $20 cycle computer for speedo duties.

 

[Llama]

Unfortunately when I recently bought my Explore I thought that it wouldn't be a problem relying on the app, but now I have the bike I find the app to be very underwhelming.

And as you have noted the lack of any power supply makes it even less useful.

Hopefully Giant comes around, or a good after market option is produced.

 

[Labrador29]

March 2019 I purchased a new 2019 Giant Trance E +1 MTB fitted with RideControl One. I have downloaded the app from Apple and while it works OK through my iPhone 6s, I find the Strava app a far better one.
My problem is I have a serious heart condition and apart from aggressive medication, nothing can be done for me.
It is important that I can check my heart rate during rides and to that end I recently purchased a brand new Garmin HRM1G heart rate montitor belt that is supposed to be +Ant and therefore compatable with the RideControl One.
No matter what I try, the HRM belt will not pair up with the RideControl One app on my i-phone.
My local Giant dealer has also tried with little success, and the NZ distributor apparently doesn't have an answer.
I would really appreciate some advice.
In anticipation, thanks.

 

[Acadiandad]

... I recently purchased a brand new Garmin HRM1G heart rate montitor belt that is supposed to be +Ant and therefore compatable with the RideControl One.
No matter what I try, the HRM belt will not pair up with the RideControl One app on my i-phone ...

I also tried using the HRM belt from my Garmin Forerunner and it would not sync with either the Giant eBike (wasn't sure if the EVO display had Ant capability) or my iPhone (no surprise there, iPhone doesn't support Ant). I figured the issue was Ant vs Bluetooth so I purchased a Wahoo Tickr HRM which is dual mode Ant/Bluetooth.

It took me a while to figure out how to connect the Wahoo - it will only connect if you are wearing it (must be a power savings mode when it doesn't detect skin contact). I was able to get the Wahoo to pair to my iPhone (using the Wahoo app) but had no luck with the Ride Control app at first.

Giant pushed out a RideControl app update last week (1.2.1) and yesterday AM I found I WAS able to get the Tickr to connect to RideControl - I'm not 100% sure the issue wasn't the thing where you have to be wearing the strap to get it to "wake up" or if it was the App update but I can now get HR on my RideControl app.

 

[Spencerhybrid]

I'm very new to E-bikes and I have the same issue with the app being "underwhelming". On my non-electric bike I used a polar HRM the syncs to my phone. It gives you a lot of information, time, distance, HR etc. and it has built in GPS.

 

[Drob76]

I just did this with my 2019 Trance. It cost 270$ for the updated 2019 evo screen and about 30 for the buttons to control it. Take out battery and holder at top of tube and unplug onetouch and plug evo screen in. Works perfectly!

 

[racarlsson]

I just did this with my 2019 Trance. It cost 270$ for the updated 2019 evo screen and about 30 for the buttons to control it. Take out battery and holder at top of tube and unplug onetouch and plug evo screen in. Works perfectly!

Could I ask where you bought the EVO screen and the controls? Thanks!

 

[Feliz]

I just did this with my 2019 Trance. It cost 270$ for the updated 2019 evo screen and about 30 for the buttons to control it. Take out battery and holder at top of tube and unplug onetouch and plug evo screen in. Works perfectly!

I just bought a 2019 Trance and ordered a display, I was told it will cost me $350 CDN. Which display did you get, the old Evo that looks like it's from the 60s or the newer one? Do the buttons plug into the display? Thanks.

 

[Feliz]

Could I ask where you bought the EVO screen and the controls? Thanks!

I don't know where he got his but I ordered mine from the dealer when I purchased my Trance. There's more than one type and they aren't cheap.

 

[Downhiller]

March 2019 I purchased a new 2019 Giant Trance E +1 MTB fitted with RideControl One. I have downloaded the app from Apple and while it works OK through my iPhone 6s, I find the Strava app a far better one.
My problem is I have a serious heart condition and apart from aggressive medication, nothing can be done for me.
It is important that I can check my heart rate during rides and to that end I recently purchased a brand new Garmin HRM1G heart rate montitor belt that is supposed to be +Ant and therefore compatable with the RideControl One.
No matter what I try, the HRM belt will not pair up with the RideControl One app on my i-phone.
My local Giant dealer has also tried with little success, and the NZ distributor apparently doesn't have an answer.
I would really appreciate some advice.
In anticipation, thanks.

I’m currently trying to pair my Wahoo Tickr with no luck. Glad this isn’t a unique problem. I will keep on reading the thread. Hopefully there is a solution !

 

[Downhiller]

I also tried using the HRM belt from my Garmin Forerunner and it would not sync with either the Giant eBike (wasn't sure if the EVO display had Ant capability) or my iPhone (no surprise there, iPhone doesn't support Ant). I figured the issue was Ant vs Bluetooth so I purchased a Wahoo Tickr HRM which is dual mode Ant/Bluetooth.

It took me a while to figure out how to connect the Wahoo - it will only connect if you are wearing it (must be a power savings mode when it doesn't detect skin contact). I was able to get the Wahoo to pair to my iPhone (using the Wahoo app) but had no luck with the Ride Control app at first.

Giant pushed out a RideControl app update last week (1.2.1) and yesterday AM I found I WAS able to get the Tickr to connect to RideControl - I'm not 100% sure the issue wasn't the thing where you have to be wearing the strap to get it to "wake up" or if it was the App update but I can now get HR on my RideControl app.

Darn ! I’ve done all that. Did it connect when you searched for a new device (in the app) or some other method ? Thank you !

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This is and old thread. To any future reader of this thread:
Nowadays it is possible to connect any of these GPS bike computers to any Giant e-bike equipped with Ride Control One: Garmin Edge from 530 to 1040+ or Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v1, Bolt v2, or Roam v2. Any of the above can become your universal Giant e-bike display offering far more capability than any display can do. The rechargeable battery lasts for many hours, and the unit is totally waterproof.

While the Ride Control EVO is susceptible to water ingress.

Been there done that.

 

[Downhiller]

This is and old thread. To any future reader of this thread:
Nowadays it is possible to connect any of these GPS bike computers to any Giant e-bike equipped with Ride Control One: Garmin Edge from 530 to 1040+ or Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v1, Bolt v2, or Roam v2. Any of the above can become your universal Giant e-bike display offering far more capability than any display can do. The rechargeable battery lasts for many hours, and the unit is totally waterproof.

While the Ride Control EVO is susceptible to water ingress.

Been there done that.

Yes, I know it is an old thread. Thank you for trying to help. However, My question was about the Wahoo Tickr, not the Roam or Bolt. The Tickr is a heart rate monitor.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes, I know it is an old thread. Thank you for trying to help. However, My question was about the Wahoo Tickr, not the Roam or Bolt. The Tickr is a heart rate monitor.

Who said you could connect a heart rate monitor to a Giant Ride Control EVO? I have never even tried doing that!
I own a heart rate monitor (Polar OH-1). This (and the Giant e-bike) both connect to Wahoo ELEMNT or Garmin Edge GPS bike computers. That makes the ELEMNT or Edge a totally universal Giant e-bike display.

 

[Downhiller]

Who said you could connect a heart rate monitor to a Giant Ride Control EVO? I have never even tried doing that!
I own a heart rate monitor (Polar OH-1). This (and the Giant e-bike) both connect to Wahoo ELEMNT or Garmin Edge GPS bike computers. That makes the ELEMNT or Edge a totally universal Giant e-bike display.

 

[Downhiller]

Ride Dash Evo display Can display heart rate. I replied to a comment about pairing to the app, not to the Ego controller. But thank you for trying.

 

[Downhiller]

Who said you could connect a heart rate monitor to a Giant Ride Control EVO? I have never even tried doing that!
I own a heart rate monitor (Polar OH-1). This (and the Giant e-bike) both connect to Wahoo ELEMNT or Garmin Edge GPS bike computers. That makes the ELEMNT or Edge a totally universal Giant e-bike display.

My next step is to try my boyfriend’s Polar. My hrm is always glitchy staying connected to Strava during a ride. So I’ll try his Polar. I’ll spend more time figuring this out, until it stops being a fun challenge. And then, yes, admit defeat and grab a Roam or Bolt or Garmin. Thx.