That’s exactly where the new Avinox DP200 comes in. The display and controls move to the handlebar, putting them directly in your line of sight and within easy reach. Thanks to its high brightness and anti-glare surface, the 1.4″ colour LCD touchscreen should remain easy to read even in bright sunlight. A scratch-resistant coating and IP56 rating equip the system to cope with the rain, dust and dirt of everyday e-bike life.
The touchscreen responds quickly and precisely, but the real highlight is the five physical buttons, all within easy reach of your thumb. Two buttons control the support modes, two handle shifting, and one serves as the power button. Depending on how it’s integrated into the bike, you can also use it to control functions such as the lights and walk assist.
The biggest advantage over the existing top-tube display is that your hands stay safely on the bars. Rather than having to reach down while riding, you can operate the display directly from your normal riding position. The buttons have a clearly defined actuation point, and the control unit feels solidly built. Whether you find it more convenient or not, this is simply the safer and more sensible place for the controls. Avinox themselves see the new setup primarily as giving bike manufacturers more freedom to tailor their bikes to different use cases and customer needs.
More than just a display and buttons
As before, further settings are managed via the Avinox Ride app. Among other things, it lets you customise individual modes and install system updates. The DP200 also supports Apple Find My, allowing a suitably equipped bike to be located via Apple’s Find My network. Apple Watch integration is included too: you can use your watch to unlock the bike and as an additional display while riding.
However, the new solution isn’t without compromise. With the display, buttons and cables, the area around the handlebar inevitably becomes a little more cluttered than with a system fully integrated into the top tube, and the aesthetics suffer as a result. The DP200 control unit simply doesn’t look as sleek as the top-tube display. In return, you now have the option of putting the controls where they make far more sense in everyday use.
The DP200 is a perfectly logical evolution that allows bikes to be better tailored to their intended use. Instead of regularly having to take a hand off the bars, the most important functions are right under your thumb. The premium feel of the controls, compact touchscreen, and integration of shifting and system controls make for a well-rounded package. Visually, the cockpit setup isn’t as clean as an integrated top-tube display, but functionally it has the upper hand.
For more information, visit Avinox.
Words & Photos: Sarah Baumert
