Versa counting steps during a motorcycle ride.

[JoshM76]

Hello,

I just purchased a Fitbit Versa 2 days ago and have found that like so many others it is counting steps when I ride my motorcycle. I feel as if all the complaints of this issue have fallen on def ears, as other smart watch manufacturers have negated this issue long ago. I understand Fitbit’s fix for this is a manual entry under activities as “motorcycle” and it dose work. However in today’s vast pool of technology and programming that a manual entry is less that realistic as the average per will not take the time to do this and will only result in loosing users to another brand.

The engineers at Fitbit need to step it up!! I believe this problem could be fix by simply accounting for the heart rate and speed of travel to auto sense a driving activity. Don’t get me wrong I am no engineer but I am a certified diesel tech and with the technology I see in new semi trucks I see no issue why this is not an easier fix than a manual entry! If the Fitbit can sense when I am in fact on a bicycle ride, a walk or even swimming then I find it hard to believe their can not be a fix for this seemingly minor glitch. Don’t stop now engineers, Find your fit!

In short I like the product, but this needs a true fix. The price point over other products is right on, and information gathering is awesome! 

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject + Format.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @JoshM76, I hope you're doing well, thanks for joining the Fitbit Community. 

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Please take in consideration that Fitbit has worked hard to make sure that our devices do not pick up false steps or activity recordings while driving a car or a motorcycle. However, bumpy trails can sometimes cause your tracker to register extra steps. I understand your concern about this situation which is why I would like to suggest you to check @5ergio's suggested idea to implement a "driving mode" or a "pause button" to prevent this from happening. Please note that even when this idea is for Ionic, the Versa share the same FitbitOS. 

If you find this suggested idea to be different or non-compatible with your ideas, I would like to encourage you to submit your insight as a suggested idea, where members of the Community can comment and vote for it so it can be implemented in the future.

Feel free to share your suggestion with your friends and family to add more votes and comments, this is the best way to make your voice heard and get the attention from our development team.

I hope this can be helpful, if there's anything else I can do for you, please feel free to reply.

[SunsetRunner]

I used to use DriveBit (an Android app) that you could add a widget to your phone's home screen and press it when you started your motorcycle ride and then again when you finished and it would make a Motorcycle exercise activity in your Fitbit which would cancel out the fake steps, stairs, etc from your ride. But, it ended up being too much of a hassle, with all the other motorcycle things I had to get ready each ride.

[dlski]

My two cents here...it's not just bumpy trails.  It's on roads too, and as a passenger on a motorcycle.  Not only did it add a crazy amount of steps, and stairs climbed, it counted a lot of the ride as active minutes even though my heart rate wasn't elevated as it would be during exercise.

[MooterN]

Yep. I've noticed that too. On my motorcycle and in my truck. I think it has to do with the angle of your arm. If I keep it down by my side it stops counting, if I put my hand on the bars, out in front of me, it counts. This morning I counted 3,690 steps in 11 miles at 60 mph.

I'm taking this thing back and getting a refund.

[craigk4]

 Decided to try it again. This was a round trip from Phoenix AZ to Cabazon, CA. About 550 miles round trip. I started with no floors and about 1,200 steps. Then walked about 150 steps at Cabazon and maybe another 350 on returning to Phoenix. 

I have been making this trip with a Charge 2 on the same roads, driving at the same speeds, etc. and it might add 10 steps and no floors on the round trip. I don't stop except at the end points. 

I'm hoping the upcoming update fixes this problem. I followed a suggestion seen elsewhere and set the hand to dominant. That seemed to help sleep track a bit better. But, no significant change in adding steps when I'm driving in my work vehicle. If the update doesn't correct the issue, Im gong back to the Charge 2 and the Versa is finding a new home with my daughter. 

Oh, and I climbed exactly zero flights of stairs that day.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @SunsetRunner, @dlski, @MooterN and @craigk4, I appreciate you have joined the conversation, it's great to see you around. 

We really appreciate our members's input and feedback and I would like to thank you for your findings. Our team is always looking to improve the Fitbit experience and at this moment I will forward this information to our team so they can take a better look at this situation. Once I have more to share with you about this, I'll make sure to update the thread accordingly. 

Thanks for your patience and understanding, if there's anything else you might want to add, please feel free to reply. 

[craigk4]

I found a screenshot of before the trip and after incase you want to comment. To repeat, my Charge 2 never does this. So, something is drastically different in the way the Charge 2 and Versa derive steps and floors under the same conditions. 

[SunsetRunner]

I noticed in my activity record that the Versa thinks I am riding a bike ... oh sure but it's a Harley not pedals :).  Shows how long I'm in traffic though ... but that's not what I want right?!  I want accuracy.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @SunsetRunner, I hope you're doing well, have a warm welcome to the Fitbit Community. It's nice to see you around @craigk4, thanks for taking the time to reply. 

@craigk4, I appreciate the information and the screenshot you've sent. I'll make sure to also forward them to our team so they can continue investigating this issue. 

@SunsetRunner, thanks for your insight and feedback about this issue, as mentioned before I have forwarded information to our team so they can check this further and provide a prompt and proper solution for this situation. Once I have more to share with you about this, I'll make sure to update the thread accordingly. 

Thanks again for your patience and understanding. 

Happy stepping. 

[SunsetRunner]

Yesterday (5/9) I drove from Reno to Davis California via I-80 - about 140 miles, and I never got out of the car.  My Versa told me during this trip I walked over 1100 steps.

Note likely.  This needs fixed ASAP.

[Rebel_Kitty]

As others have said, it’s not just “bumpy trails” that are being counted incorrectly.  I itch my nose and it counts as 3 steps!  Going thru drive thru at lunch today got me another 300 steps!  And heaven forbid I talk with my hands!

*THIS* is the only thing that bothers me and makes me regret getting up my Charge 2.  I’m die hard Team FitBit and was looking forward to the Versa for weeks!

[MIsenhour]

I am currently sitting on a school activity bus, coming home from a field trip, and I noticed it’s counting steps. My Fitbit Alta didn’t do this. I’ve only had the Versa a week, and I like it, except for this. Fitbit, you need to figure out a way to resolve this issue!

[Dajana4]

I had no idia what was happening..unt un I went back into yht app and figured out it counted 94 floors and over 15 000 steps for my motorcycle ride to work and back.. 

Please fix this..

[SunsetRunner]

I've had my Versa for a few days now, and I ride a Harley to and from work daily.

Yesterday, I logged 4400 steps during my 15 minute ride to work, today I logged 3700 steps.

Customer service's remedy?  Start a bicycling exercise before leaving for work, then delete it once at work.

Seriously?  $200 for a fitness device that can't tell that no human can travel 18 miles in 3,700 steps?

How hard would it be to make an algorithm or write code: if steps or distance accumulate too fast for  human input (50 steps = 500yds or 4,000 steps = 18 miles) suspend step counting algorithm or delete steps accumulated during invalid input?

I like my Harley, but after spending good money for it I had to do extra steps to ensure it ran well (open left saddle bag three times, hit horn twice, and high beams three times, then it will function properly; I'd probably end up getting a different bike.

[fiberopticmary]

My pebble 2 didn't have a problem managing to tell the difference... one day using the versa and I noticed a difference.

[troyy0206]

Honestly, this issue is pretty ridiculous. This is not a cheap device.

[snowboarder2587]

how is this issue over a year old and FitBit has not fixed this yet??? This is ridiculous. I just got my first fitbit 11 days ago and it also is recording my motorcycle as steps and a bicycle ride. @MarcoGFitbit when will this be fixed? I do not want a BS reply about welcoming me to the community or anything like that. I just want to know when it will be fixed. I didn't spend $220 on a "smart" fitness tracker to be this stupid. It is a simple coding change as mentioned by multiple people in this thread

[rfkoen]

Well it's now almost July 2019 and apparently this still is not fixed. Rode my motorcycle to work and racked up about 3000 steps and each leg of my 25 minute highway commute.  Very ridiculous that Fitbit is not addressing this, especially since it apparently was not an issue with earlier trackers...

[Ankurbhatia]

Hi,

Its surprising for me to see that the issue of steps/active minutes getting counted on a bike ride still persists. I am facing this issue on my Versa. When will this problem finally have a solution?!