Garmin Zumo GPS thread.

[jasonsmith]

I figured I would start a Zumo thread for all those looking for Garmin Zumo info. Feel free to post anything Zumo related. 450, 550, 660 etc. There's a bunch of stuff on the forum already but it's all over the place. Please no "Zumo's are a waste of money talk here".


Here's my new 660 I'll post some install pics in a bit with some more screenshots.


The Box


Map DVD, Manual and my MicroSD card (not included).


The Zumo sitting in its provided protective case.


Zumo Back


Zumo Battery Compartment and USB port.


Motorcycle Mount with connected wiring. Ram mounts and protective waterproof cover to keep the connections from getting wet or dirty when not in use.


Included car suction mount with included 12v car power cable.


Home screen. (night mode)


Setting screen. (night mode)

More to come...

[jasonsmith]

Dashboard.






Settings.




Volume




Where to?






Points of Interest.









Music.






Photos.




My splash screen.




Conversion Utility.






Clock




______________________________________________

INSTALL

It took a bit to wire it through the bike properly. I followed the main bundle on the right down and under the back part of the tank, across the bike and straight to the battery. I may wire it to an ignition on only source later but right now I want it always on.

[Scubalong]

Nice I like it.................... Thanks a lot Jason now I have to have one. Does anyone need a kidney :)

[buzzy]

I'm so jealous..very cool unit

[jasonsmith]

Added some install pics above.

Sorry Scuba...

[engeng]

How's the bluetooth audio for music? I've got a 550, and i must say, I was VERY disappointed with the extremely poor sound quality. I'm running my i-phone for audio thru a bluetooth headset...unfortunately.

[derstuka]

Very nice JS! I am jealous!

[derstuka]

How much did it cost?

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by engeng

How's the bluetooth audio for music? I've got a 550, and i must say, I was VERY disappointed with the extremely poor sound quality. I'm running my i-phone for audio thru a bluetooth headset...unfortunately.

Still shopping for a BT headset, will know soon enough. All reports though say there are no problems. The 660 is AD2P, stereo bluetooth.

Originally Posted by derstuka

How much did it cost?

$699 CDN, not cheap but had to have it.

[skivfr1]

Damn, I purchased the 550 last year...........!! Now I have to buy a 660 next year after seeing this! Oh well, should go well with a new VFR 1200..............

[chomper]

Very nice JS!! does that mean my poor mans garmin 60cx is not needed on the next big rd trip?
I guess your leading from now on.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by chomper

Very nice JS!! does that mean my poor mans garmin 60cx is not needed on the next big rd trip?
I guess your leading from now on.

I had a feeling you were gonna say that chomp... at least you know how to use yours though. I just got it for the looks

[chomper]

I'm still learning. most of the time i have no idea what the hell im doing.getting much better at planning routs with map source though. Im sure zumo is much more user friendly. have you tried it locally yet? mine does not recognize new golden ears bridge using 2010 map source

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by chomper

I'm still learning. most of the time i have no idea what the hell im doing.getting much better at planning routs with map source though. Im sure zumo is much more user friendly. have you tried it locally yet? mine does not recognize new golden ears bridge using 2010 map source

Mine doesn't show it either but there's a map update waiting that I haven't downloaded yet. I think the most current map is 2010.20, is that what your using? 2010.10 is what's installed on mine. I have till the end of Dec to update so I'm waiting till then so I get the most current. Garmin only gives out one update with a purchase so I'd like to make it count.

[winaje]

Damn you, damn you to absolute hell and back again!!! I have to save up and buy one of those now... Damn you again I say!!!

[jasonsmith]

Sorry win, just blame it all on me

[uberchuckie]

That's the Honda rebranded model I see.

I have the generic one with side mount. I'll have to look into the centre mount as it hits my tank bag with full left steering.

[John451]

600 Ehh ? got me a little jealous although love my 550 long time, even the included PC mapping tool is easy once you get used to it.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by uberchuckie

That's the Honda rebranded model I see.

I have the generic one with side mount. I'll have to look into the centre mount as it hits my tank bag with full left steering.

This is the standard one as well, I just setup the splash screen as my own. You can too with any picture that's on your Zumo.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by uberchuckie

I have the generic one with side mount. I'll have to look into the centre mount as it hits my tank bag with full left steering.

This is what you need. P/N - RAM-B-231 or RAM-B-231U (unpackaged). It's only about 10 bucks and fits at the tank perfectly without the u-bolt. You'll need a couple longer bolts as well but they're easy to find as well.



http://www.gpscity.ca/ram-mount-stee...am-b-231u.html

[kd4ysi]

nice tnx jason now im jellous

[RedRover5683]

This is a great thread.

I remain quite happy with my Zumo 550, and don't feel the need to upgrade at this time. At any rate, once you've experienced GPS on a motorcycle, you'll likely be hooked.

My GPS unit (as well as an Escort 8500X radar/laser detector), is totally hard-wired into an Autocom Super Pro AVi kit, which includes in-helmet ear speakers and a microphone so that I can effortlessly talk hands-free (VOX) with a passenger, as well as the ability to talk with another rider using a Kenwood FreeTalk 2-way FM radio. (The radio and everything else tied into the Autocom draws its power from the Autocom box, so there are no batteries to hassle with, and there's a continuous source of electrical power that's drawn from the motorcycle's electrical system.)

With the Autocom system, the passenger's helmet must of course have an Autocom headset installed. At any rate, the passenger will quite clearly hear everything that I hear, including the GPS unit, as well as the radar/laser detector warning tones, and she can also listen in and talk bike-to-bike with another rider just as I can with the 2-way radio.

Because all connections with the Autocom intercom system are hard-wired, you have to get used to plugging-in and unplugging the cords whenever you mount or dismount the bike, but I find this to be a very minor inconvenience compared with the numerous drawbacks of a Blue Tooth set-up. Consider for a moment the following the following issues:

1) The Autocom system is actually designed to be used in conjunction with 15-25 db earplugs, because Autocom's engineers have long recognized the advisability of always wearing substantial hearing protection while riding. In addition, the Autocom system is centered around a powerful and fully adjustable amplifier and processor which also incorporates a Background Noise Sensor (BGNS) in the rider's helmet, which monitors wind and engine noise levels while riding, and automatically adjusts the volume up-or-down according to moment-to-moment feedback from the BGNS. No way can a merely battery-powered Blue Tooth set-up even begin to match and indefinitely and reliably maintain the required electrical power needed to produce this degree of volume in in-helmet headsets while also wearing ear plugs. Forget about it.

2) Blue Tooth devices typically eat power and are quickly drained when taxed. Moreover, they tend to be rather finicky, and it's not uncommon for them to occasionally lose contact with the devices they're supposed to be in contact with. Cell phones combined with the vagaries of Blue Tooth ear-buds are a case in point.

3) OK, if you're still thinking that when it comes to a motorcycle-specific intercom system, including battery powered versions of most or all of the features that the hard-wired Autocom system delivers with continuous power drawn from the bike's electrical system, you have choices...

You can trade away the trivial inconveniences of Autocom's few hard-wired electrical plug-in leads, along with its continuous and inexhaustible electrical power that's drawn from the motorcycle, in favor of a Blue Tooth set-up in which each and every device you wish to hear (some of which may also require batteries if not hardwired) must be linked with Blue Tooth headsets. If you choose the latter, you can then worry about which of these many batteries might be about to randomly crap out on you within the span of a day, not to mention the need to fully recharge all of them each day. And of course, all of those batteries will eventually fail to accept a full recharge. Have fun trouble shooting and trying to figure out the sources of such battery problems when you're tired and just want to rest. These expensive rechargeable batteries rather unpredictably and unevenly degrade over time and must eventually be replaced.

[uberchuckie]

Originally Posted by jasonsmith

This is what you need. P/N - RAM-B-231 or RAM-B-231U (unpackaged). It's only about 10 bucks and fits at the tank perfectly without the u-bolt. You'll need a couple longer bolts as well but they're easy to find as well.

I just ordered it. Thanks.

$10 shipping for a $10 part.

[jimlowe]

I have had the 660 for around 6 months,works well used it for touring spain and portugal in the summer on the v rod.also works well in the car.I have a "scala team rider" bluetooth headset works really well with the voice instructions and cell phone,but not so good when talking to pillion as it picks up too much windnoise.Also not much good listening to mp3 as not loud enough,mind you might be better if i had some baffles in the exhaust lol.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by uberchuckie

I just ordered it. Thanks.

$10 shipping for a $10 part.

Your going to love it. Much better than it moving around on the bars plus it's more centered to your instrument cluster so your eyes can stay looking forward.

Originally Posted by jimlowe

I have had the 660 for around 6 months,works well used it for touring spain and portugal in the summer on the v rod.also works well in the car.I have a "scala team rider" bluetooth headset works really well with the voice instructions and cell phone,but not so good when talking to pillion as it picks up too much windnoise.Also not much good listening to mp3 as not loud enough,mind you might be better if i had some baffles in the exhaust lol.

Have you tried a stereo (AD2P) headset with your 660? Curious how much of a difference there is to your Scala. I'm going to get the Chatterbox XBi2 as soon as I can find a decent deal somewhere.

[jimlowe]

no not tried the the headset you mentioned,but as i said cannot recommend the scala if you intend to use it for communication with pillion,otherwise very good, one other point can be difficult to attach the headset to some helmets.

[NOLA VFR]

I'm running my Zumo 550 through a J&M with the hard wired headset/mic. LOVE IT. Never ride without it now.

[chomper]

Originally Posted by jasonsmith

This is what you need. P/N - RAM-B-231 or RAM-B-231U (unpackaged). It's only about 10 bucks and fits at the tank perfectly without the u-bolt. You'll need a couple longer bolts as well but they're easy to find as well.



RAM Mount Steel U-Bolt Motorcycle Mount Base RAM-B-231U (GPSCity.ca)

Js thats the same mount i use. didn't like it mounted in front of tank so i installed it on handle bar,clutch side. you do need to loosen reservoir to get it on and then retighten. i should post a picture even if its not a zumo

[JBzRed07]

I have the 550. The only thing I don't like about it is that I am not able to permantely disable that obnoxious Fuel Guage / low fuel warning.

Other than that, it has been an outstanding product.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by chomper

Js thats the same mount i use. didn't like it mounted in front of tank so i installed it on handle bar,clutch side. you do need to loosen reservoir to get it on and then retighten. i should post a picture even if its not a zumo

The 660 came with a bar mount but I'm not a fan of big blocky (gps) objects moving around with my steering. I like it dead center and planted. I stuck the bar mount on anyway for the camera. Why didn't you like off the tank?