Review

BOSCH COBI.Bike Sport review

08.12.2020
by Rudolf Fischer

The COBI.Bike Sport is an intelligent smartphone mount that can be retrofitted to Bosch ebikes without having to mess with the onboard electronics. But is it the best navigation system for ebikers or were the developers at COBI too cerebral in their approach?

Click here for an overview of the best e-bike navigation device

Bosch COBI.Bike Sport | Smartphone | 91 x 83 x 86 mm (without bracket) | 120 g | € 250
Manufacturer Website

Google Maps for ebikes. The COBI.Bike Sport strives for the online giant’s success and delivers a sleek navigation system. For people who own an old Nyon or Intuvia display, this is the easiest upgrade.

The COBI.Bike Sport can be used to replace Bosch Intuvia or older Nyon displays using the existing bracket. Once fitted, it only works together with your smartphone as it doesn’t have an integrated display, though you do get an integrated speaker. The upgrade will set you back by € 250.

Not only is it easy to control the app via the handlebar remote, thanks to the COBI.Bike Sport system, your smartphone is always within reach.

Your smartphone is either clamped to the spring-loaded bracket of the COBI.Bike Sport system or attached with a special case which supplies your smartphone with power while you ride. The COBI.Bike app uses Bluetooth to connect to your ebike. The user interface is identical to the one found on the Bosch SmartphoneHub. As the COBI.Bike Sport replaces the Intuvia or Nyon display, the existing handlebar remote works just as before. You can still use it to change the support mode and to conveniently scroll through the individual menu items of the COBI.Bike app. The navigation view features a search bar similar to what you might have seen before on Google Maps. Simply enter your desired destination in the search bar or find and mark it directly on the map – it couldn’t be easier.

You can get the weather forecast for the next two hours in your current location.

The COBI.Bike app allows you to choose between the fastest, shortest and quietest route where available. The ‘quietest’ option avoids main roads. The app also compares the distance of the route with the range of the battery, using a red marker to indicate if the target is out of range. However, there is no elevation profile that could provide vital topographical information about a planned route. You can’t set any preferences, such as including trails on your route, either. Another point of criticism is the general lack of customisation options. The COBI.Bike app dictates what you’re able to see in each view. As with the SmartphoneHub, the map view doesn’t indicate the battery level of the ebike and you have to leave it to find out how much charge you’ve got left.
The COBI.Bike app can hardly be faulted during navigation. If you deviate from your route, it quickly recalculates and adjusts it. The COBI.Bike app also offers voice directions, either via the speaker in your smartphone or a pair of Bluetooth headphones. However, you can’t add any intermediate destinations en route or create a loop. To do this, you would have to plan the route beforehand on Bosch’s eBike Connect platform or connect the app with your Komoot or Strava account in the app. The accuracy of the GPS navigation depends on your smartphone and, together with the sometimes slow COBI.Bike app, you might occasionally miss a turn. For offline navigation, you can download the relevant maps for free. If you want to pause or stop navigation, all you have to do is remove the smartphone from the COBI.Bike Sport mount and hold it upright. Unfortunately, the position sensor in your smartphone can sometimes lead the app to misinterpret aggressive riding manoeuvres and pause the navigation when you’re on steep terrain.

Unfortunately, the map view cannot be customised. However, the 3D representation on your smartphone gives you a good overview of what’s to come.
The speaker doubles as a bell and alarm.

The COBI.Bike app also turns your smartphone into a music player and weather app, it manages your phone calls and, with the premium Help Connect service, offers crash detection. Besides that, the ebike can be ‘locked’ with your smartphone, protecting your bike from unauthorised access by detecting movements and sounding the alarm. When the alarm is deactivated, the loudspeaker can be used as a digital bell via the remote.

Coclusion

Together with the COBI.Bike app, the COBI.Bike Sport system will get you to your destination but it cannot keep up with the best GPS systems on test. The app is the same that you use with the BOSCH SmartphoneHub, but the COBI.Bike Sport system doesn’t have a minimalist display like the Smartphone Hub and even costs more. It’s a tool-free upgrade option for those who want to replace their Intuvia or old Nyon display with an intelligent smartphone mount. The system goes beyond navigation, scoring points for the smart app interface and additional features including the loudspeaker, motion sensor and remote control.

Tops

  • easy to use
  • voice output
  • tool-free assembly on the old Nyon and Intuvia bracket

Flops

  • navigation is slow at times
  • more expensive than Bosch SmartphoneHub
  • no customisation options
  • only for Bosch systems

Find more information here: bosch-ebike.com.

The Testfeld

Get a quick overview of this test here: The best e-bike navigation device

All navigation devices in the group test: Bosch COBI.Bike Sport | Bosch Nyon (Click for review) | Bosch SmartphoneHub (Click for review) | Garmin Edge 1030 Plus (Click for review) | SIGMA ROX 12.0 (Click for review)

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Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Jonas Müssig

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About the author

Rudolf Fischer

In his previous life Rudolf was a dab hand at promoting innovation, putting his brain behind big-ticket patent assessments that easily ran into six-or-seven-plus figures. These days, the self-confessed data nerd’s role as editor at DOWNTOWN and E-MOUNTAINBIKE is no less exciting. Given his specialism in connectivity, Rudolf’s often placed on the front line of future mobility conversations, but he’s also big into testing new bikes–both on the daily as a committed commuter and intensively for our group tests. The business economist graduate is as versatile as a Swiss penknife, and that’s no hyperbole. Away from two wheels, his background in parkour means he’s a master of front, side and backflips, plus he speaks German, English, French, Russian and a touch of Esperanto. Japanese remains woefully unmastered, despite his best home-learning attempts. Good to know: Rudolf’s sharp tongue has made him a figure of fear in the office, where he’s got a reputation for flexing a dry wittiness à la Ricky Gervais... interestingly, he's usually the one laughing hardest.