I got tired of my old medion GPS. Not waterproof, missus was getting tired of the routing logic and map inaccuracy, and the earpiece setup was just peeing me off (that, and I stepped on the bracket and broke it). So I bought I Zumo 550 and I’ve been trying it out. I’m using an original scala rider BT headset and a nokia phone.What’s in the box
Totally impressed with the contents. Options for mounting in a car and your bike are complete. You can switch effortlessly between them. If you’ve more than 1 bike you can even switch the bike mount between one with handlebars and one screwed into the clutch assembly if you buy an extra power cable. I didn’t like the idea of having my Zumo covered in flies from the clutch assembly mount so I purchased a Telferizer yoke nut mount (superb). At least I’m sorted if I get a third bike… Due to my height I cannot see the screen on the ZX6R without glancing down but my clocks remain uncovered. I’m expecting the Fazer to be fine as the mount will just slot in the location the medion was in. Otherwise it’s unobtrusive and besides fears that it might fall off (which I’m sure will go away at some point…), I barely notice it’s presence.
Software and mapping is superb and Garmin have this nailed above other providers IMHO.
Bluetooth
Your phone BT’s to the Zumo and then the Zumo to the headset. You can browse your phone using the Zumo interface and call buttons are large and obvious on screen. It’s laid out for gloved hands - large “call home” button. I’ve not tried voice dialling. You can even browse POI’s on screen and ask the Zumo to call their number… Call clarity on the headset is superb (but that’s maybe due to the headset). My one problem at the moment is that audible navigation prompts are hard to hear at anything above 30mph. That may be because the scala rider is designed for phone calls or maybe because my lid lets in too much wind noise. Or maybe it’s the stupidly loud stock pipe on the ZX6R.
Whether you want this facility or not, it’s really clever. I don’t like making calls on the move but if I go to the trouble of setting all the links up, at least I don’t have to take my gloves and lid off to make a call from a stop - and if that’s the difference between my missus worrying whether or not some numpty has knocked me off on the way home or not, then that is a good thing.
Navigating
Routing and directions have so far proven excellent. The screen can be turned into a big “next turn” indicator or a large speedo/trip meter/fuel meter - great if you’re planning on covering your clocks with the mount.
Overall
Worth every penny. The right tools are worth paying for and you get what you pay for. Garmin have put a lot of thought into this and as a 1 car 2 bike family, it makes sense for me. I do a conisderable amount of mileage in cars and bikes for work (and bikes for leisure!) and often to new places. I’m planning or testing this further in Scotland soon.
Just need to get that volume sorted out.EDIT - in the carWorks superbly. BT and the car mount operates as a handsfree speaker/mike without the need for a headset. The volume problem is still there at (i.e. over) 70mph - vibration and wind noise (fans on as it has been hot!) on a 6 year old VW Golf make calls not easily heard. I guess they only reasonably expect instructions and call to be heard at speeds up to 70. On single carriageway at 50 or 60 a call is crystal clear.
+1 for the great review. Also the Q on how much it is.
Have you tried it in situations where it has to reroute on the go? I’ve got a Garmin SPIII (old model, compared to your swanky new Zumo) and the only drawback to it (I must stress, I really do love it except for this) is that it can take a LOT of time rerouting.
I love the Garmin software and build quality. They’re supposed to have awesome customer service as well (but thankfully I’ve not had to use that).
I’ve just bought the TomTom Rider - I paid about £270 for mine and i was really considering the Garmin, the softeware is much better than the tomtom, but i downloaded a program that allows me to plan my routes on googlemaps and then to import them onto the tomtom, and what i can do it create my route using waypoints, nice and easy, although it would have been nice for the tomtom software to have done it better!
I’ve not been impressed with the calling facility, but too be honest, i dont want to take any calls when i’m on my bike… its ME time!!
Good review even though I went with the tomtom a few weeks ago!
I paid £370 for the 550, that seems to be about the going rate - there’s a few cheaper retailers but I wasn’t going to cheap out for a tenner. The price difference between that and the rider was food for thought. But you pays your money… and I wanted to avoid the tomtom TBH.
It has yet to freeze up on me. Re-routing calculations are pretty quick. Certainly quick enough to avoid any “OMG which turn now?!” moments whilst it is doing it’s thing.
I used to love my 550, till it was stolen. Replaced it with the 500; virtually no difference. I now use a Tomtom (on a PDA) as its cheaper, better to use with no wiring in and easier to use just in a tankbag. Problem with the garmin is that unless you wire it in you can’t use headphones or bluetooth.
Differences I have noticed; the Garmin had a WAY better screen, bright in all conditions. It did occasionally freeze, but was quickly sorted. However both the 550 and 500 seemed to have a few bugs; not what I expect from a 400 quid device (they were at the time). Maps an POIs were all brilliant, and it worked all over Europe perfectly. So apart from the bugs, it was really good. There were certain places it struggled to pick up a signal, but once it had one it was brilliant.
My PDA with Tomtom is much harder to see on the bike, but more convenient to use since I can’t be bothered to wire it into every bike I have. The spoken instructions on the Tomtom are WAY better; the Garmin felt the need to bother me with constant ‘go straight on’ instructions; the Tomtom just leaves you alone till you need to turn. I also think the Tomtom gives me better routes; sometimes the ones the Garmin came up with were slightly strange…I also prefer how the Tomtom software works, and it gives you more useful options.
So generally, the Garmin was always brilliant; and superb quality (which I gather is the issue with the Tomtom rider), but I wish they made one with Tomtom software! And its rubbish if you don’t wire it in.
One last point; when I had my Garmin, since it was all wired in, all I had to do was snap it into the holster then I could choose my route at traffic lights; this meant I hardly ever went anywhere without it, as its so easy to use. As such, I hardly got to know London at all. With my PDA, I have to put it in a tankbag, with earphones coming out, its basically a bit more hassle. As such, since I swapped, I’ve got to know London really well and now hardly ever use a GPS at all these days.
For me having a GPS wired in was just a bit too easy; and an unexpected benefit to the PDA has proved to be the best benefit of all.
I find the Tomtom software way better. Thing is if you’re gonna take the time to plan the route; do you really need a GPS to remember it for you? I hate using GPS on fun rides. I only ever find them useful when you need to get somewhere quick and don’t want to mess about working out a route yourself.
I’m taking for granted that I used the satnav when I visit somewhere new or on the fly. Which I do often. Whether that is in London or not. Agreed that the best way to get around London is to just ride it till you get to know it.
I’ve not found any bugs yet but give it time I guess. I have found the instructions can be annoying - it basically prompts everytime there is a “change”. So straight on at a roundabout, keeping left or right on a main road etc. But then if you missed your turn because of insufficient prompts… would you complain?
Also, the 550 speaks all the road names: so the A418 is “Oxford Road”. I don’t know it as that so it’s a bit irritating. It’s only “unamed” large roads, like the A303 or M25 that get called as such. But then it’s great when you’re looking for some piddly little road, or on a housing estate, or looking for a road to turn into - it actually speaks the road name you need. Not sure if that is worth £100 more than a 450 or 500, but for updated everything else too…
Power to the mount is needed for audio in a car, but not with a bluetooth headset - in fact I’m listening to it now! So you could “unplug” and play with it on a bike. Still, I wanted the wired option because it is so easy and my old Medion lasted about 3 hours on battery (after I lost the power cable).
Yeah, that’s when I use GPS, when I’m going somewhere new. WIth the Garmin got tempted to use it all the time.
Only difference (I already had the car mount from the stolen 550) between 550 and 500 is speaking the road names; I also found this annoying; but you can turn it off. Would be useful in London in a way though…
