Zumo - whats it like to use?

[stageonesimmo]

I'm about to bite the bullet and get a Zumo. I've already got a Tom-Tom for the car and was hoping to use an Otterbox and bluetooth connection to enable me to use it on the bike, but it's not happening as the Tom-Tom cant sent voice directions via bluetooth.

So, to all you Zumo 'old-hands' out there, whats it like to use on a day to day basis - I've had the fraudster from Halfrauds extolling its vertues, but he hasn't even got a bike!

[Lord Vader]

They are brilliant.I got the 500 and it finds Tesco roundabouts in the most amazing places
But i still love it and don't know how to use most of its functions.But have a look over on the GS'er forum,they have a brilliant Zumo section(you do not have to subscribe)

[winxp-master]

I have the Zumo550 and it does everything I need it to do, I had a TomTomRider previously and the only thing better on the TTR (in my opinion) was the ability to look at the screen and judge the upcoming turns etc, the Zumo550 doesn’t realty give an accurate picture of what the bend is really like. But I would not recommend the TTR to anyone as design faults (first addition not second edition) means you may have trouble with the docking shoe and the customer support is non-existent (Stuart123456789? lol). The Garmin support I can’t complain about, I had a fault with my Zumo550 and within a couple of weeks it was simply replaced with a new unit.

The planning is easy to use and it has lots of extra features such as fuel gauge, what altitude you are at etc… also the pc software is quite good as you can download your tracks to the pc and it gives you detailed information about your route with mph and time taken etc… you can plan your route on the pc and then transfer to the garmin so you don’t have to sit staring at the small screen for an hour while planning the route. Another nice feature of the 550 is if you are subscribed to Google Earth you can download the tracks (your route) and it will overlay it on the map in Google Earth. I haven’t done this as im not a subscribed user but it is possible.

Hope this helps.

[stageonesimmo]

Sounds good - I too have had problems with Tom-Tom customer serivce - I had to go through 3 days of e-mails to get a package and control number to send mine off to get fixed - I could have ridden there in an hour! Not good service and the prices are mental - just under 100 GBP to get a cracked screen replaced - I could have bought a new unit for another 50!

The Zumo sounds more like a true sat nav as in it lets you plot a route - something you cant do with the TT.

What kind of mount does it come with? They've 'lost' it at the local Halfrauds and I want to see what the mounting options are............

[Ashley M]

I think this months TBM magazine has a article on the Zumo

[Dee Duble Yuh]

+1 all of the above. Admittedly the first one had a minor hardware problem, but was quickly replaced with a new one. By and large Customer support is good, but it can depend on who you get on the other end of the line.

I found the 550 brilliant for finding hotels on the continent. Just pick a destination town, search for nearby hotels, click the "dial" button, make a reservation, then press "Go". Fab.

[fatowl]

Another nice feature of the 550 is if you are subscribed to Google Earth you can download the tracks (your route) and it will overlay it on the map in Google Earth. I haven’t done this as im not a subscribed user but it is possible.

Try http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input
You can put pretty much any track log onto a google map. It's very good.

[winxp-master]

What kind of mount does it come with? They've 'lost' it at the local Halfrauds and I want to see what the mounting options are............

The mounting options you get with the Zumo550 are really good, it ships with Ram mount options.



Bottom right is what it docks into (and theres a locking screw) above that is the power cord for running it off the bike, then the ball with a plate on it attaches to the back of the docking shoe. This in turn is used with the 2 items above that, the long one with a ball on the end (at the top right) attaches to the handlebar... it's all pretty good stuff actually and the only thing i use different is i used a longer connecting device than is in this picture (between the 2 ball attachements).

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Because the mounting brackets are made by RAM, you can always buy extra bits to mount the docking shoe.

[StumpyFingers]

the RAM mounting is the same as comes with the Tom Tom rider 2 , except the cradle is different.
It will also fit the brake or clutch lever mount, the spacing is identical. That is how I had it fitted on the yamaha.