The third-generation Hammerhead Karoo has a longer battery life, more storage, greater GPS accuracy and a revised shape.

The bike computer also integrates with SRAM AXS. It will be supplied with the new SRAM Red AXS groupset when bought as an aftermarket groupset.

The new Karoo costs £449.99 / $474.99 / €499.99 / AU$749.99 / CA$699.99. It is available from today.

Physical updates

The previous generation Karoo 2 impressed us with its high-quality display and broad functionality, including features, such as its live ‘Climber’ mode, which were innovative at the time.

SRAM bought Hammerhead in 2022, and since then it has been at the helm, driving the claimed improvements to Hammerhead’s latest bike computer.

One of these claimed improvements is the Karoo’s new body. It’s 103mm long and 15mm deep, but is 64mm wide at the base, tapering to 54mm across at the top for a reversed wedge-like shape.

There are four hardware buttons on the unit’s sides. These are spaced wider than the previous generation. Hammerhead says this change was made following feedback from riders, who reported they were too close together to be used easily wearing winter gloves.

At the base, next to the covered USB-C charge port, is a new power button – another change born from user feedback, according to the brand.

Hammerhead says the Karoo offers a 30 per cent improvement in battery life, now claimed to be 15 hours.

Hammerhead also says the computer will charge up more quickly. The brand says a full charge from empty takes two and a half hours, while 30 per cent takes just 30 minutes.

Improved GPS

Hammerhead says the Karoo’s GPS signal is now more accurate, thanks to a range of satellite systems:

• Multi-band (L1+L5) GNSS GPS
• GLONASS
• Galileo
• QZSS
• BEIDOU

The touchscreen sports the same resolution and size as before (at 480 x 800 pixels, and 3.2in corner-to-corner). But this is still a higher resolution than major rivals, such as the Wahoo Element Roam and Garmin Edge 830.

Hammerhead claims the screen has improved, and our test sample appears brighter than the previous Karoo.

Hammerhead says the new design weighs 118g and our test sample weighs 117.7g. This undercuts the previous model’s 132g weight.

New app

A new companion app (for iOS and Android) has been developed for the new Karoo. The app allows riders to upload rides, synchronise routes and workouts, and use live tracking by using a connected phone’s signal.

Routes or workouts can also be shared and synced with the head unit.

The mapping capability is also said to be expanded. If you don’t have a route, Hammerhead says riders can share a pin from Google or Apple Maps to the companion app, and the Karoo will configure a route.

Training and ebike functionality

Hammerhead claims the Karoo has a new ‘workout player’, which is compatible with the TrainerRoad and Training Peaks indoor cycling apps.

The feature uses a screen with a dedicated start-stop feature and customisable data fields. Hammerhead says it offers full visibility of upcoming and past interval information.

Hammerhead claims the new Karoo is easy to pair to your electric bike and offers data fields such as motor assist level, estimated range, and battery level.

This move is arguably unsurprising, given parent company SRAM recently launched its own Eagle Powertrain ebike motor system.

The Karoo features ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity for peripherals including heart rate monitors, power meters, connected lights, and radar systems.

Designed for SRAM AXS

The Hammerhead Karoo will sync with SRAM’s latest AXS groupsets and components, including the new Red AXS groupset, launched today.

The brand says the new computer can customise the functionality of an AXS drivetrain, without having to engage with the AXS app. This includes the ability to change the functions assigned to buttons.

The brand also says the Karoo enables automatic sensor pairing and detailed battery data, including low-battery warnings, if registered with your existing (or new) AXS account.

SRAM has also announced that the Hammerhead Karoo will be supplied with all aftermarket Red AXS groupsets, while it says some bike brands may choose to include it on Red AXS-equipped bikes.

Hammerhead Karoo pricing

The Hammerhead Karoo costs £449.99 / $474.99 / €499.99 / AU$749.99 / CA$699.99.

Included in the price is the Karoo computer, a Hammerhead-specific mounting system for 31.8mm handlebars, a quarter-turn mount adaptor, a tethering lanyard, and a USB-C charge cable.

These accessories are also available to buy individually: