Garmin Zumo

[hawkdriver1965]

Does anyone have the Zumo? I'd like an honest review before I buy one here shortly...

Thanks all!

:cheers:

[ecramer]

I purchased a Zumo 550 from www.spoiledbiker.com (http://www.spoiledbiker.com) a couple weeks ago. It works great. It can be set to avoid highways & has an off road feature. We used it to go to Marysville, Ohio (great honda dealership) from Cincinnati, Ohio. It took us one way then back a totally different direction (country roads I would have been lost on). It has xm radio, blue tooth, etc.. It can be set to answer your phone & you can even view your phone book on screen (I don't have a blue tooth phone so not sure how it works). If you need directions by voice (not by sight alone), you'll need a blue tooth ear bud. The bike mount does'nt have a external speaker on it. The unit also comes with a car kit (it has an external speaker).

[hawkdriver1965]

Do you need a seperate antenna for the XM Sattelite radio I wonder, or does it come with one?

[ecramer]

You need a separate antenna. I believe garmin sells one over there website. If you buy one, I'd check prices. Spoiled biker shipped overnight for $785.00. Don't know if that's the cheapest price around but most are charging $900.00 or more.

[hawkdriver1965]

Cool--thanks alot for the help!!

[mscales]

You can get them on ebay for a little under $700. I want a Zumo 550 but I will wait a bit for the price to come down some.

[DNO'sVTX]

For what it's worth, Road Bike magazine reviewed the Zumo 550 in the Aug. 2007 issue. If I recall, they had nothing but good things to say about the unit. The only downside was, as noted in a couple other posts, was that they are a bit pricey, but also noted that this is the first motorcycle specific GPS and is easy to operate for one-handed gloved navigation.

[Longboater]

Made two trips to Mich from FL with the 550 including new routes by car. 3000 miles on the X and in both states. Now I'd be lost without it. $700 + on the net last spring from GPS.com or something.

[hawkdriver1965]

Well, I just ordered one from ebay...it was around $700 w/shipping. Longboater--are you using the XM Radio feature, and if so--which antenna/reciever did you get for it? Do you have the power supply hard-wired into your battery?

[Big-X]

I love mine. We just went to Washington DC in the car and it was GREAT, right on the money. I also enjoy it on the bike with the MP3 player and it's nice knowing how fast I'm really going. I am very happy with mine.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/DSC_1200.jpg

[Goldsmith]

Been doing some looking and have not seen this on the Zumo 450 or 550, AUTO routing. The Quest and the Quest 2 do list it. Do the 450 qnd 550 come auto routting?? I guess that would mean you punch in starting point and destination and it maps it for you. HELP!

[OneDrinkOneDance]

Just checked "Price Grabber" and you can find the Zumo 550 for as low as 649. Here is link http://electronics.pricegrabber.com/gps/m/29022071/search=zumo+garmin+550/mode=g_us_b_s/skd=1

[epiphysis]

I got my zumo 550 last week and have been playing with it to make sure it is ok......it has a great GPS....with voice...I hook it up to my J&M Interceptor IV and it speaks clearly to me...I downloaded 11.6 hours of music on a SD card and it plays great.....I can punch in any place I want to and it will take me there...if I am somewhere I want to go back to...I just touch the map and it saves the location..I can name it if I want to....the screen is either 3-d or 2-d...it has written directions along with verbal directions.....and other screens...with speed, max, average speeds, times, gas mileage, you can set it so it signals you when it is time to get gas (like if I set it at 130 miles)...I can find gas, food, lodging, shopping, anything I want, I can go from A to B and I don't have to be there....the maps enlargen and go smaller, it can be bluetooth, there is the radio option, with weather and traffic....etc...overall, it is a wonderful GPS...comes with holders for the bike and car......I am very glad I bought it!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure I left out many features.....check out..http://http://www.zumoforums.com/zumo/ (http://http//www.zumoforums.com/zumo/)

I paid less than $700 and got a five year warranty included......check out ebay
(http://http//www.zumoforums.com/zumo/)

[Big-X]

http://www.physioneeds.ie/images/animateduparrow.gif

Yea....what he said...lol. Exactly. :)

[Goldsmith]

A simple yes or no is all I was asking for.

[Goldsmith]

Been doing some looking and have not seen this on the Zumo 450 or 550, AUTO routing. The Quest and the Quest 2 do list it. Do the 450 qnd 550 come auto routting?? I guess that would mean you punch in starting point and destination and it maps it for you. HELP!

I got my zumo 550 last week and have been playing with it to make sure it is ok......it has a great GPS....with voice...I hook it up to my J&M Interceptor IV and it speaks clearly to me...I downloaded 11.6 hours of music on a SD card and it plays great.....I can punch in any place I want to and it will take me there...if I am somewhere I want to go back to...I just touch the map and it saves the location..I can name it if I want to....the screen is either 3-d or 2-d...it has written directions along with verbal directions.....and other screens...with speed, max, average speeds, times, gas mileage, you can set it so it signals you when it is time to get gas (like if I set it at 130 miles)...I can find gas, food, lodging, shopping, anything I want, I can go from A to B and I don't have to be there....the maps enlargen and go smaller, it can be bluetooth, there is the radio option, with weather and traffic....etc...overall, it is a wonderful GPS...comes with holders for the bike and car......I am very glad I bought it!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure I left out many features.....check out..http://http://www.zumoforums.com/zumo/ (http://http//www.zumoforums.com/zumo/)

I paid less than $700 and got a five year warranty included......check out ebay
(http://http//www.zumoforums.com/zumo/)


A simple yes or no is all I was looking for. LOL

[epiphysis]

..yes

[Goldsmith]

LOL, simple enough. Thank you!

[epiphysis]

welcome!

[Goldsmith]

LOL, do'nt you have a ball to hit or a shot to give. Sorry, guess the girls give the shots. LOL

[epiphysis]

not working today..the son came home from two months in europe....gotta spend some time with him........buying stuff for college.....he decided to move out of the dorms for his last year so we have to get him some furniture....I guess he didn't learn economics in school......and neither did his mother!!!!........and I always give the shots....don't want to take away that joy!!!!

[Goldsmith]

LOL, I knew it.... you guys do like to inflict pain. LOL

Happy shopping, and enjoy you time together!

[Longboater]

In answering late to Hawkdriver, I hardwired to the battery maintaining the fuse. Also I do not have the XM function installed yet. The bike is a little loud and I have not researched the helmut speeker situation yet. Looking for information from those who have worked this out though.

[epiphysis]

In answering late to Hawkdriver, I hardwired to the battery maintaining the fuse. Also I do not have the XM function installed yet. The bike is a little loud and I have not researched the helmut speeker situation yet. Looking for information from those who have worked this out though.

I have the J&M InterceptorIV......the speakers are in the helmet...I have a full face helmet......I hard wired the GPS to it with one wire for the system....I put it into the aux spot and it works perfectly!! I can hear the music and the GPS lady!!

[Longboater]

Many thx for the J&M tip, I will check it out. RE the speekers in the full face, are special helmets with speekers required or can I retro my full face?

[hawkdriver1965]

I had hoped to run some sort of extension headphone wire to a convenient location on the tank, so I could simply plug in my EC2's and listen that way...same thing I do now, except with an MP2 player I put in my pocket. When it gets here, I will figure it out, and post my solution. :-)

[epiphysis]

Many thx for the J&M tip, I will check it out. RE the speekers in the full face, are special helmets with speekers required or can I retro my full face?

the speakers and microphone are retrofitted in the helmet.....very simple to carve out a space for the speakers on each side and then hard wire the rest.....once you do it you will hardly notice everything

[epiphysis]

I played with my zumo yesterday......I connected it to my phone via bluetooth......it read my phone and added my favorite numbers to the GPS and will dial them and allow me to speak without touching the phone....very cool.....everytime I touch this thing I learn more stuff!!

[hawkdriver1965]

Epiphysis--I did a search for the J & M Interceptor you have, but couldn't find it...can you provide a link please?

[epiphysis]

sorry, I got the name wrong....old age creeping in!! check out this site....it's the Integratr IV!!!!

http://http://www.sierra-mc.com/products.asp?id=229 (http://http//www.sierra-mc.com/products.asp?id=229)

[Dapper]

Anyone using bluetooth with their helmet, hate the idea of wires.

[Goldsmith]

Dave, I am expecting a Scala Rider FM Bluetooth to arrive thursday. I will report back once I have it and have had some time to try it out.

[Big-X]

Me too, just ordered the Scala Rider Twin Set for two today from: http://www.xtremerevolution.com/Store/sps-6024-0-1-scala-rider-team-set.aspx

$218. :)

Will report back.

[psuedohippy]

Me too, just ordered the Scala Rider Twin Set for two today from: http://www.xtremerevolution.com/Store/sps-6024-0-1-scala-rider-team-set.aspx

$218. :)

Will report back.

Did I miss the report back, maybe there is another thread here. Im particularly interested in your setup since me and my wife already use the team set and just last night we were looking at the Zumo 550. Im kinda researching the zumo now and would like to know how the scala team set works with the zumo. Can you hear the music and the zumo voice over the scala speakers and does the passanger also hear either the zumo, the music, both or neither?

Im hoping all works well as advertised with as little hassle as possible.

Thanks, Ethan

[Big-X]

I think I may have but here goes...

We rode a long time last weekend. The MP3's over the Scala is poor since it's "duel mono", not stereo so that sound quality sucked. We had good connection between the phone's bluetooth and the Zumo. Spoke to Boop doing 60-65 and heard her good.

My wife and I spoke most of the time during the dragon and heard each other clearly. I do with it earbuds or a better or louder speaker sometimes we had to repeat ourselves.

I did notice with the voice activation you have to give a good yell, but that should be expected or the wind would have it going all the time.

Overall I like the function, not happy with the speaker quality.

[epiphysis]

I am using the J&M Intergatr IV.....got great sound with the zumo 550....nothing with the telephone....it read my phone, placed the favorite numbers on the zumo...but I could not make a phone call...apparently this is normal...check out the site http://www.zumoforums.com/ (http://www.zumoforums.com/)

the site is very informative..it essentially says that most have problems with the bluetooth ability......which is poor, at best.........other than that, I think this is a great GPS.....I did have some engine sound which I fixed with a sound supressor

[hawkdriver1965]

I noticed that engine sound just this morning out of no-=where...where in the wiring did you place the sound supressor?

[epiphysis]

I hard wired the Gps to a panel which goes to the positive lead of the battery....Rivco makes it...that way I can put a fuse in and allow me to access the fuse any time without any fuss...also I can add other stuff like lights in the future....I removed the fuse holder that came with the garmin wiring and added the sound supressor to the red wire....the fuse panel is on the glove box cover so I only have to lift off the left side cover to access it

[alexsmom]

I just installed the Zumo 450 a couple of weeks ago and love it. Easy to use on the bike and since I tend to "wander" the re-calculate route feature is great. I didn't need all the extra stuff that comes with the 550 although I did buy an auto cradle so I could put it in my car. Within two weeks I have gone from an attitude of "gps- not sure I need it" to "can't get along without it!"
Carol

[Big-X]

How much was the auto cradle?

[VT4ME]

The zumo 450 is great buy for $399 and it also has is battery backup so it can be used any place. I just got a auto zumo suction cup mount for my truck it is almost like the bike mount but you hve to buy a power cord . Can't be without it now. Would of been nice to have a clock in the corner all the time. Oh the auto mount cost me $69.55 plus shipping at amazon.

[VT4ME]

Carol
Don't it me you laugh a little when you tend to wander and it re-calculates each time. Glade it can't cuss .
PJ

[Bob Payne]

The zumo 450 is great buy for $399 and it also has is battery backup so it can be used any place. I just got a auto zumo suction cup mount for my truck it is almost like the bike mount but you hve to buy a power cord . Can't be without it now. Would of been nice to have a clock in the corner all the time. Oh the auto mount cost me $69.55 plus shipping at amazon.


where did you get it for 399? i just paid 550 3 weeks ago

[Goldsmith]

where did you get it for 399? i just paid 550 3 weeks ago

Oh, that hurts!

I ran a search for lowest price back in dec. As I recall I paid close to that or maybe 20 less.

[VT4ME]

Oh, that hurts!

I ran a search for lowest price back in dec. As I recall I paid close to that or maybe 20 less.
Got mine at amazon.com , but it went to 529 2 weeks later. Techon Digital has them for 359 this week, hard to beleave the price can jump around so much. Just can't trust any store can we .

[Bob Payne]

Got mine at amazon.com , but it went to 529 2 weeks later. Techon Digital has them for 359 this week, hard to beleave the price can jump around so much. Just can't trust any store can we .


Techon Digital is a rip off, i called them to place order a few weeks ago and asked if it was in stock they said yes, then they wanted me to buy the memory card that is supposed to be in the zumo (Acording to them) it was $99.00 i said nope i just bought 2 4gigs for $29.00 he said ok let me put you on hold to complete the order.
then a few minutes later he came back and said the zumo was not in stock and wouldnt be for 3-5 weeks. GRRRRRRRRRR we exchanged a few choice words and i hung up, the next closes price on amazon was walmart.com so i got online and ordered it on a friday and had it monday afternoon.

[beitz67]

There are a few shady folks like the company mentioned above. They show a real low price to get you in the door, but like Bob mentioned they want to load you up with lots of VERY overpriced extras. I found that all the companies that were around $100 bucks cheaper for a Zumo 550 were all scam shops.
Now I always google them and look for reviews on reseller rating sites before I order. Most of the stories were exactly like yours, Bob.

[VT4ME]

Glad I ordered it from amazon. It was the first time I ever ordered from them. I was it work when my electricion found it for me. Have you ever had trouble with them? I ordered the auto mount and got it in 2 days but still waiting on the power cord which I had to order by it's self. Seems like it would of came with it. The sd card did not come with it , so it looks like I need to make a trip to walmart. It did come preloaded with the maping stuff. I'm impressed with the way it works. All I need to do is figure out how to down load music to the mp3 player.
PJ

[bass mechanic]

i have the zumo 550 and i am not WIRELESS! i got the bluetooth setup from J&M and now can receive phone calls and listen to XM in stereo along with the GPS instructions. all without a cord!

[VT4ME]

Oh, that hurts!

I ran a search for lowest price back in dec. As I recall I paid close to that or maybe 20 less.

where did you get it for 399? i just paid 550 3 weeks ago

HEY BOB
Amazon has that 450 for $399 again, so if anybody was looking. I think 550 is only $543, I think I should have waited for the 550.:hmm2:

[BG-Pete]

I've gone through all the posts here and the 550 sounds pretty good and has a lot of bells and whistles that, quite honestly, I don't think I would need or use.

That being said, the 450 sounds good, but I did a quick compare with the Nuvi 750 and I think the Nuvi gives you a few more features for about $200 less. Just use a Ram mount for $30 and you're done. What am I missing?

The other thing I am looking for is to make the mounting interchangeable between my ride and my wife's. Can this be easily done with the wiring and all. I understand 2 mounting brackets would make life easier too.

[Bob Payne]

I've gone through all the posts here and the 550 sounds pretty good and has a lot of bells and whistles that, quite honestly, I don't think I would need or use.

That being said, the 450 sounds good, but I did a quick compare with the Nuvi 750 and I think the Nuvi gives you a few more features for about $200 less. Just use a Ram mount for $30 and you're done. What am I missing?

The other thing I am looking for is to make the mounting interchangeable between my ride and my wife's. Can this be easily done with the wiring and all. I understand 2 mounting brackets would make life easier too.


the nuvi will work no more after it gets wet

[Dapper]

Just came across this today :)
Deals

Bikers! Garmin Zumo 450 At Costco.com $349.99 Plus Tax (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11311263&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC%7C1482&N=4000486&Mo=62&No=20&ViewAll=63&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=1482&Ns=P_Price%7C1%7C%7CP_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=)

[BG-Pete]

WOW...what a great deal. $599 at Best Buy and $615 at Abt Electronics. Just placed my order. Thanks Dapper!!!

[Dapper]

I think there may be a price drop based on increased competition. That is good because these units are expensive. I was going to buy the 550 but I will now buy the 450, can't see spending 300+ dollars for bluetooth no matter how cool it is. :(

[AV8R]

I've had the 450, 550 and the 2820. 450 can be bought at Costco right now for $349 I believe. 550 was selling at Best Buy on close out for $399 (I bought 2) 550 is best if you're going to use the bluetooth stuff, otherwise buy the 450 and save a bunch of money. The 2820 is the best overall for serious GPS users...Zumos are dumbed down for new gps users (not a bad thing) They all get the job done. You can buy a nice 60CSX that works just as well for less than 1/2 the money. I'm selling my 2 month old 2820 if you're interested.

[crstubbs79]

you guys sold me on the zumo, amazon here i come. zumo 550 is gonna be the one for me!