GPS report Zumo550

jlux21 · 11-12-2007, 08:41 AM

I was looking for a GPS for the bike and after reading some threads here and getting some input from other I went with the Zuma 550. This is much better than the 7 year old GPS I had with a small monochrome screen, could never use it on the bike. The Zuma is great easy to use with gloves on and the mount that comes with it for the bike is no problem to connect. Going from the GPS I had to this one was like being transported from the bronze age to the industrial age sure a bronze ax will cut wood but a chain saw is way better. With the usb connection downloads like " maps, routes and waypoints" are a snap and very fast, my old GPS connected thru the serial port which is very slow.It's also easy to add a memory card to the Zuma to hold extra maps and other info, I'm not going to get the XM radio or any other of the stuff you can add to the Zuma but you could if you want too. Just a quick report seeing that I've only had it a couple weeks and the riding weather is not been very good here.

Gone Riding2day · 02-24-2008, 10:22 PM

Was the Ram mount you used included with the Zumo 550?
Also, looks like your bike is a Honda 919 and it appears that the flyscreen is a GIVI?
Just curious because I have a 919 only with Honda's flyscreen, which isn't nearly as tall as the GIVI.
Have been looking at the Zumo 550 for quite awhile, but uncertain about instal location amoung other things.
Thanks if you have a chance to reply.

jlux21 · 02-25-2008, 06:37 AM

Yes the mount is the one that comes with the Zumo and yes it is a givi fly screen.The mount will fit in many other positions on the bars, I just had it here because it was cold and wanted to protect the GPS a little. The bad think about where I have it in this picture is that it blocks the speedo.

marylandmike · 02-25-2008, 07:19 PM

I have my eye on a ZUMO 550 or a TomTom Rider2....Based on reviews, Zumo seems like the best bet....Amazon.com cheapest price is $632

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-3-5-Inc...992246&sr=1-12

marylandmike · 03-19-2008, 12:52 PM

Bonus at work, pending tax refund and rebate= New toy....Garmin Zumo 550....here's a few pics in a different location than where jlux had his mounted. I mounted it on the right, cuz I figured it would be easier to mess with it at stoplights with my throttle hand and will discourage me from messing with it while Im riding down the road. May try the other side later. I've used it in the car for about a week to get used to it and preplanned a few routes on the laptop and downloaded into the unit for bike rides and it worked great. It came with the RAM mount for the bike and another windshield mount for the car and pretty much everything you need in the box. Cardo-Scala Rider Q2 bluetooth is on the way.

Just the mount:

With GPS in mount

Bryce919er · 03-19-2008, 01:17 PM

Ive been toying with gettign a Rider 2 or Zumo 450.

I would put it on the clutch side so I would not have to reach clear across my body to mess with it though. I mean they put all the buttons on the left for a reason

martin_nj · 06-25-2008, 07:02 AM

i put mine dead in the center to keep both clocks clear

jetblast10 · 06-25-2008, 08:15 AM

I was very impressed with the Zumo 550 out west. It managed to find and route some of the most remote places we went. Even a few roads that were certainly impassable by anything less than a 4wd vehicle, roads that looked like singletrack trails, it still knew where we were.

I've not loaded the software and used it to do the more obscure routing but if that works as well as the unit does right out of the box it's worth it.

marylandmike · 06-10-2009, 07:02 PM

I have a Zumo 550 on my 9'er. Works awesome, but I learned the hard way to use the weather cap as pictured below when you don't have the GPS installed. I got caught in a thunderstorm on the way home from work last week and water on the exposed pins fried the electronics in the mount.....so if you use one of these save yourself $65 and use the cap

11-12-2007, 08:41 AM	#1
jlux21 libertine Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pittstown, NJ Posts: 1,467 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	GPS report Zumo550 I was looking for a GPS for the bike and after reading some threads here and getting some input from other I went with the Zuma 550. This is much better than the 7 year old GPS I had with a small monochrome screen, could never use it on the bike. The Zuma is great easy to use with gloves on and the mount that comes with it for the bike is no problem to connect. Going from the GPS I had to this one was like being transported from the bronze age to the industrial age sure a bronze ax will cut wood but a chain saw is way better. With the usb connection downloads like " maps, routes and waypoints" are a snap and very fast, my old GPS connected thru the serial port which is very slow.It's also easy to add a memory card to the Zuma to hold extra maps and other info, I'm not going to get the XM radio or any other of the stuff you can add to the Zuma but you could if you want too. Just a quick report seeing that I've only had it a couple weeks and the riding weather is not been very good here.

02-25-2008, 07:19 PM	#4
marylandmike Tirone Choolaces Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Maryland, USA Posts: 3,476 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	I have my eye on a ZUMO 550 or a TomTom Rider2....Based on reviews, Zumo seems like the best bet....Amazon.com cheapest price is $632 http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-3-5-Inc...992246&sr=1-12 Last edited by marylandmike; 02-25-2008 at 07:19 PM. Reason: typo

06-10-2009, 07:02 PM	#9
marylandmike Tirone Choolaces Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Maryland, USA Posts: 3,476 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	Zumo 550 Weather Cap I have a Zumo 550 on my 9'er. Works awesome, but I learned the hard way to use the weather cap as pictured below when you don't have the GPS installed. I got caught in a thunderstorm on the way home from work last week and water on the exposed pins fried the electronics in the mount.....so if you use one of these save yourself $65 and use the cap

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02-24-2008, 10:22 PM	#2
Gone Riding2day Tirone Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 16	Was the Ram mount you used included with the Zumo 550? Also, looks like your bike is a Honda 919 and it appears that the flyscreen is a GIVI? Just curious because I have a 919 only with Honda's flyscreen, which isn't nearly as tall as the GIVI. Have been looking at the Zumo 550 for quite awhile, but uncertain about instal location amoung other things. Thanks if you have a chance to reply.

02-25-2008, 06:37 AM	#3
jlux21 libertine Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pittstown, NJ Posts: 1,467 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	Yes the mount is the one that comes with the Zumo and yes it is a givi fly screen.The mount will fit in many other positions on the bars, I just had it here because it was cold and wanted to protect the GPS a little. The bad think about where I have it in this picture is that it blocks the speedo.

03-19-2008, 12:52 PM	#5
marylandmike Tirone Choolaces Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Maryland, USA Posts: 3,476 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 3	Bonus at work, pending tax refund and rebate= New toy....Garmin Zumo 550....here's a few pics in a different location than where jlux had his mounted. I mounted it on the right, cuz I figured it would be easier to mess with it at stoplights with my throttle hand and will discourage me from messing with it while Im riding down the road. May try the other side later. I've used it in the car for about a week to get used to it and preplanned a few routes on the laptop and downloaded into the unit for bike rides and it worked great. It came with the RAM mount for the bike and another windshield mount for the car and pretty much everything you need in the box. Cardo-Scala Rider Q2 bluetooth is on the way. Just the mount: With GPS in mount

03-19-2008, 01:17 PM	#6
Bryce919er Radical Extremist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 847	Ive been toying with gettign a Rider 2 or Zumo 450. I would put it on the clutch side so I would not have to reach clear across my body to mess with it though. I mean they put all the buttons on the left for a reason

06-25-2008, 07:02 AM	#7
martin_nj czesc Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NJ USA Posts: 448	i put mine dead in the center to keep both clocks clear

06-25-2008, 08:15 AM	#8
jetblast10 Site Founder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 9,688 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 6	I was very impressed with the Zumo 550 out west. It managed to find and route some of the most remote places we went. Even a few roads that were certainly impassable by anything less than a 4wd vehicle, roads that looked like singletrack trails, it still knew where we were. I've not loaded the software and used it to do the more obscure routing but if that works as well as the unit does right out of the box it's worth it.