Garmin Zumo 550

[DEN MONKEY]

Ok So I've just ordered one yesterday and it should be in stock sometime tomorrow or the next day.
So colour me excited.
Ive seen the unit first hand at the Sydney bike show and have read a few reviews and spec sheets.
Just curious if anyone has it already and what's your opinion etc .

Heres a quick link if anyone is interested. Once Ive got it fitted and tested, I'll pop back with a quick review if no one beats me to it.

http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo/#

Here are the basics.

Durable and intuitive, zūmo is built specifically for motorcycles:

* Glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls makes it easy to operate
* High bright sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display makes it easy to view your screen
* Motorcycle console for trip information, including fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up
* Motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere
* Included motorcycle mount and automotive mount (with integrated speaker) for riding or driving
* Custom caps, available in a variety of colors, to reflect your style
* Vibration-tested, waterproof and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements


With zūmo’s Bluetooth® wireless technology, you can talk on the phone safely without removing your gloves or helmet. Connect zūmo to your Bluetooth-enabled headset/helmet and cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls. You can even make phone calls to POIs through zūmo’s Bluetooth interface. In addition, zūmo transmits navigation voice prompts to your headset so you can listen wirelessly.


The price point is a bit high but hopefully in the long run it will be worth the money spent.

The few things that seem a stand out to me thus far are

Water proof.
Can be submersed in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes.
This is obviously a bonus over a walk about or car oriented model. I considered a regular gps but this seems a more logical choice rather than messing about with trying to water proof an alternative model.
Although a mate and I agree that if the unit is on your bike and ends up under even 1m of water for around 30 minutes youre probably F&*KED anyway. Might be handy for the walk home though

Planning your route.
Im guessing this is an option for alot of GPS now days but I like the idea of setting up a route on the pc uploading to the unit and then heading off on my way.
Part of this is allowing "way points" or stops along the way, rather then point a to point b.

Fuel Guage. This one interested me a bit. It seems you can input your fuel range and the unit will keep track of how much fuel you have left and compare that to the nearest fuel station.
If you are low on fuel and will run short on making the next petrol station on your route it will alert you.
You can then tell it to route you to the nearest off route station for fuel.

Blue tooth. It has 2 channel blue tooth. One for voice instruction to a blue tooth headset and the other for your mobile phone.
That way you can chuck your mobile in your pocket and take or dial calls from the units screen.
Since I often listed to mp3s off my phone with my headset, Im hoping I can use them to listen to the directions instead. Guess I will see.

Anyway thats it. Feel free to share or pass comment.
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meh

[firefox]

if you dont mind me asking, how much did you pay for it ?
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bye bye gti <^>( ' . ' )<^>
*officer* what caused the crash ? *firefox* you see that wall up there sir ?
*officer* yes what about it *firefox* i tooted my horn but it refused to move i had to teach it a lesson.

[dainesefreak]

Some worthless Australian dollars, probably the equivalent of a shiny half a pence piece.
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329 genuine Honda HP

[DEN MONKEY]

DF is right I did pay with Oz bucks, was thinking of trading some koala hides or come croc teeth but i was fresh out.
SO instead Im going to trade his sister and 50 bucks for the privillage of owning one. Hey I figure I'm doing him a favour too
Its retailing here for 1600 but getting it for 1550.
Pretty steep. To give you an idea the nuvi 310 is around the 1000 mark or just over. So its about 2/3 of the price Im paying for the Zumo
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meh

[dainesefreak]

Exchange rate as of 5/12/06 £613.91. That is quite steep.

How's the weather with you? Had a mate come over from Sidney yesterday and it was over 30C when he left. I realize you are the other side of the country though.
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329 genuine Honda HP

[mark83]

Can I just say that all this business of plan your route then download it to the device is a load of shit.

I'm not parting with my hard-earned cash (especially not at these prices) until you can buy a satnav that you can choose where you want to go whilst on route.

Fuck me, you can do it on cars, you'd think they could do it for the bike ones.

£400. How dare they charge prices like that for something that you can only plan a route from a fucking PC.

I don't usually rant like that but the manufacturers are really pissing me off.
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Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Loving my guzzi

[kawashima]

Looks much better than mine(broadzone BZN200)

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2008 TDM900 , past 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50

[DEN MONKEY]

Weather has been great mate. It was just oevr 30 here yesterday. SO the bikinis are coming out now. Noice .

Sydney is only about 1.5 hour drive down the coast from where I am in Newcastle.
Its funny, I bitch about the cold when its winter then we hit the summer and its too hot to ride. Sometimes seems like there is nothing in between. Can't complain though, really is God's country here.

I know its up there for price but Im not sure if one that isnt specifically made for the bike would hold up to the task and not shit itself down the road.
The kit also includes the moutning gear for the car as well as the bike. So thats included the in the price.
Right now I have money to burn and this can be my christmas present to myself.

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meh

[Adam_P]

[Adam_P]

[mark83]

Apologies all.

Thanks a lot for clearing that up.

I did think it was a bit ridiculous!



Now I really want one!!!!!
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Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Loving my guzzi

[DEN MONKEY]

Just had a quick look at the quest and not a real fan.
Doesnt appear to have blue tooth at quick inspection and I plan on using that. The zumo also has the buttons located on the left hand side of the unit which is a nice touch to leave your throttle hand free.

When I say shit itself, I mean small niggly probs that might come about due to vibrations etc from the bike that they would be expected to encounter when in a car or pocket etc.
If this one has issues while being used for its intended purpose I have some recourse.
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meh

[Joe]

[mr.z]

Last time i looked tt rider was £400 :/ 250 is quite reasonable considering.. i'll stick with my bodeged £100 i3 for a little while

Looks good though, allthough i'd still prefer one of the older garmins, there complicated but there just cooler , and they looks solid as a solid thing..

grrr

But the zumo looks good for normal folk
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[DEN MONKEY]

What’s the difference between a motorbike courier and a Garmin Zumo? You only need to punch the destination details into a Garmin Zumo once.
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meh

[Joe?]

tom tom rider is available for £233 from http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/details/tomtom-rider/2296/

is bluetooth wireless too
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Got my bike - Honda VT 125 SHadow - passed DAS (2nd time) - got my BabyBlue A suzi VL 800 mmmm - 2 yrs on a brand new c1800rt (suzuki torque monster)