trying to decide on a GPS....

[RockyMtnWay]

I am torn. I yearn.

I was about at the end of my GPS decision and thinking Garmin's 276/376 was the bomb, then I hear good thnigs about TomTom and now the Zumo thing screeches onto the scene.

What's the goood word out there for long distance riders? Every year or two I do a 5-7k trip. Formerly from Canada, I used to travel to Cali, then like the sun so damn much moved here. Now I miss the mountains and go to Colorado and BC/Alberta all the time. The grass is always greener....

I hear good things and about sold on the Zumo, but I want something that can: track my trip and save it to SD card so I can load it and dream over the trip as I relive it at home on my computer until the next Big Planned Trip. Can the Zumo do this? I haven't heard yay or nay for sure yet on this.

A typical trip may be to head from Santa Barbara to Colorado, to BC/Alberto to Hyder Alaska and back (this year's plan anyway). Have done a few "3 Flags rides" and it would be nice to have saved our exact route taken because sometimes you just want to go back and remember the name of That Great Road that you can see in your mind but can't for the life of you remember the name of later on.

Also - reliablity/screen/waterproof-ness/ease of use with gloves - all these things seem to pass OK on the Zumo?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[RichieTwo]

I am torn. I yearn.
I was about at the end of my GPS decision and thinking Garmin's 276/376 was the bomb, then I hear good thnigs about TomTom and now the Zumo thing screeches onto the scene.

What's the goood word out there for long distance riders? Every year or two I do a 5-7k trip. Formerly from Canada, I used to travel to Cali, ...............................................

and remember the name of That Great Road that you can see in your mind but can't for the life of you remember the name of later on.

Also - reliablity/screen/waterproof-ness/ease of use with gloves - all these things seem to pass OK on the Zumo?

Thanks!

Mike

Mike, I just ordered a ZUMO 550. It should be here next Wdnesday. I'll let you know how it goes. BTW, there are a lot of GPSs for sale on EBAY but I got a better price from PCNATION.

 

[bramfrank]

The decision for which model to buy is very personal.

I am not a 'bells and whistles' type of person. I don't need/want my GPS to answer my phone, nor do I want it to play my music or even to guess where to stop for gas for me.

I prefer specialisation. I want my GPS to only do navigating. The Autocom handles the audio chores and the iPod does music, both on and off the bike.

I've played with 'em all including the Zumo, thanks to a friend who distributes TomTom, Garmin and more and I'm sticking with my 276c with a 512 meg card.

276 series has the BEST SCREEN OF THEM ALL. Doesn't hurt that it has great battery life. I does have a couple of negatives . . . . text entry is one. I KNOW, it doesn't have a touchscreen (the lack of which can be a positive, but precludes simple data entry). It doesn't do TTS (announcing streets by name) about which I could care less, because I don't compare the display against the street signs anyway. And it doesn't have that crappy, fuzzy 3D display mode either.

It does have the highest resolution display and you can program in proximity alarms without needing a computer.

Maybe you prefer the 478 (own a boat maybe?) Because mapping is extra for the 276/376 the 'big brothers' to the 276 might do your job better.

Just my 3 cents . . .

Here's a link to a comparison chart for the various bike-friendly Garmin automotive navigators on the market today that I put together:

https://s92046465.onlinehome.us/garmin%20models.htm

 

[85turbo]

i have found the zumo 550 very user friendly, athough, it is a personal reference thing.

go give your short list a button bash. take your gloves with you.....

as for the track log feature, as of the latest firmware update, the zumo 550 now records

your log, and has the option of displaying it on screen also.

if you dont like 3d mapping, just select the 2d view.

i find it easy to use with my gloves on (summer ones) havent tried with the winter ones yet.

also with the latest firmware update, the 550 now supports sdhc (high capacity SD cards up to 4gb) and play

lists up to 1000 songs.

jason

 

[camera56]

Read this link . . .

https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207733

Best, most detailed review of the Zumo and how it compares with the vaunted 276/376 and 26xx series. The guy writing the review knows his stuff and drags these things literally all over the world. Short answer: get a zumo. If you're a geek, get the 276/376.

 

[MKO]

I have been doing the research and decided on the Zumo 550. Found it for $675 delivered from compuplus.com.

It is designed for motorcycle use. I like the bluetooth technology for phone / communications and mp3 capacity of 1000 songs. Unlike BramFrank, I like farkle consolidation when practical. I have an ipod, but I prefer not to bring it along as a separate gadget if I don't have to.

 

[Rickster]

ok... i'll bite.. I own most of these mentioned, so I'll comment for motorcycle duty only:

For general all around.... zumo.

If you want live radar -- garmin 378/478, user interface stinks, but the resolution and flexibility are the best.

BTW -- Radar is $29.99 more a month from XM

For the best resolution, but the worst interface (and skip radar), 276C

For the best user interface (but it may/will fog up one day), 2610 cheap, 2730, or 2820(adds bluetooth)

I would not own a tom tom based on the reports of mapping accuracy in the US.

 

[04FJR4ME]

ok... i'll bite.. I own most of these mentioned, so I'll comment for motorcycle duty only:
For general all around.... zumo.

If you want live radar -- garmin 378/478, user interface stinks, but the resolution and flexibility are the best.

BTW -- Radar is $29.99 more a month from XM

For the best resolution, but the worst interface (and skip radar), 276C

For the best user interface (but it may/will fog up one day), 2610 cheap, 2730, or 2820(adds bluetooth)

I would not own a tom tom based on the reports of mapping accuracy in the US.

Rick

The TomTom Rider uses the same mapping software as the Garmin Zumo and 276, 376, 2720, 2820 etc. They use NavTeq mapping software for the TomTom Rider and not the Tele Atlas, although I understand they can upgrade to the new TA software if customer wishes.

So, don't let the mapping software issues worry you, siince TomTom use the same maps as Garmin and Magellan for their Rider.

Hope this helps.

James

04FJR4ME

I have been doing the research and decided on the Zumo 550. Found it for $675 delivered from compuplus.com.
It is designed for motorcycle use. I like the bluetooth technology for phone / communications and mp3 capacity of 1000 songs. Unlike BramFrank, I like farkle consolidation when practical. I have an ipod, but I prefer not to bring it along as a separate gadget if I don't have to.

Mike

Looks like compuplus.com is selling the Zumo 550 for $999?

https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-...1008160~.html?sid=7s138q4i685un12&comboid=836https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-Zumo-550-Motorcycle-GPS-Navigation-System-010-00567-00-1008160~.html?sid=7s138q4i685un12&comboid=836

Selling Elsewhere for : $1149.99

Our Price Only: $999.99

 

[Rickster]

Clicky

 

[Geezer]

Tom Tom Rider is apparently being discontinued in Europe.

 

[JJones]

ok... i'll bite.. I own most of these mentioned, so I'll comment for motorcycle duty only:
For general all around.... zumo.

If you want live radar -- garmin 378/478, user interface stinks, but the resolution and flexibility are the best.

BTW -- Radar is $29.99 more a month from XM

For the best resolution, but the worst interface (and skip radar), 276C

For the best user interface (but it may/will fog up one day), 2610 cheap, 2730, or 2820(adds bluetooth)

I would not own a tom tom based on the reports of mapping accuracy in the US.

Rick

The TomTom Rider uses the same mapping software as the Garmin Zumo and 276, 376, 2720, 2820 etc. They use NavTeq mapping software for the TomTom Rider and not the Tele Atlas, although I understand they can upgrade to the new TA software if customer wishes.

So, don't let the mapping software issues worry you, siince TomTom use the same maps as Garmin and Magellan for their Rider.

Hope this helps.

James

04FJR4ME

I have been doing the research and decided on the Zumo 550. Found it for $675 delivered from compuplus.com.
It is designed for motorcycle use. I like the bluetooth technology for phone / communications and mp3 capacity of 1000 songs. Unlike BramFrank, I like farkle consolidation when practical. I have an ipod, but I prefer not to bring it along as a separate gadget if I don't have to.

Mike

Looks like compuplus.com is selling the Zumo 550 for $999?

https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-...1008160~.html?sid=7s138q4i685un12&comboid=836https://www.compuplus.com/i-Garmin-Zumo-550-Motorcycle-GPS-Navigation-System-010-00567-00-1008160~.html?sid=7s138q4i685un12&comboid=836

Selling Elsewhere for : $1149.99

Our Price Only: $999.99

I just bought a ZUMO 550 three weeks ago from Compuplus for $674 delivered. Wonder why the increase in price.

 

[Kaelaria]

It's still cheap all over - Abes of Maine has it for $679, along with many others. Google for current prices.

https://www.abesofmaine.com/viewproduct.asp...z550&l=CNET

 

[Lester from Tampa]

I have a Garmin 340 $350 bucks ....With a full face helmet it's loud enough to hear the alert for upcoming turns but not the instructions.(I just look down when I hear the alert.) Suction cup mount speed tested to 130, but only for 8 hours at a time. Would choose a ram mount for extended use.

 

[TheAxeman]

For those of you researching the Zumo, one of the guys on the VFR forum just did a write up on it if you are interested. Just another perspective.

CLICK HERE

 

[RichieTwo]

For those of you researching the Zumo, one of the guys on the VFR forum just did a write up on it if you are interested. Just another perspective.
CLICK HERE

I got my Zumo 550 last Wednesday. Since the wind won't stop blowing, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use it on the bike but I have used it for 300 miles in my car and truck. It's a giant leap forward from my Garmin GPS III PLus. Now I know how far to gas stations, restaurants and more importantly to hospitals, which can be critical in unknown territory. My only worry is that my wife will want to keep it in the car. Pricey but worth the money.

 

[Orient_Express]

At the risk of sounding "Gold Wing-ish" - I wish Yamaha would just incorporate a GPS system on the 2008 model... along with some digital rider communications. The GPS should have a USB port to DL maps from a flash drive - that would be kool...

Somebody start a petition

 

[Fencer]

FWIW I am happy with the 2820 and integrated farkles music /phone and no wires to the helmet (bluetooth)