The Zumo hit the motorcycle market by storm as a GPS system made specifically for motorcycles. There are 2 different Models for the US market the 450 and the 550. the difference being that the 550 included features such as Bluetooth, Text-to-speech, and the XM satellite radio option.
After doing some reseach the Hubby and I decided that since we love going out and getting lost it would be a great investment. We bought the 550 when I had a Softail Deluxe and Hubby had a VTX figuring I would get a bluetooth head set and could listen to music, directions, and handle phone calls. I've been using it for about a year now and here's what I have found:
PROs:
Garmin Maps and routing software are great. Once you get going you will find your self using the system even if you don't need it. I use the Mapsource software constantly to route my trips.
POIs alone are worth the price. Not every gas station, resturant, or motel is listed but there are enough to help you out. We have used the database to find and call local hotels. One time it took us 12 motels to find a room but the garmin had a huge list with phone numbers for use to try.
Setup and viewing: The cradle is easy to use and the screen is easy to see. So far I don't think I have had an issue with either even in harsh sun.
Turn-by-turn: The interface and voice directions are clear and consise for the most part. I have had a couple of issues where the name of the street or exit is inconsistant or the turn is somewhat ambiguously defined.
Easy to move between vehicles: The real bonus being that hubby could also use it in his work van for work.
I know when friend and family need me: I didn't buy a bluetooth headset (see below). But I still setup the phone to work with the zumo and I can see every call that comes in flash on the screen. I can't answer the call but I worked out a signal technique so I know if I need to pull over and call them back.
Interface is fairly well organized and easy to use. The buttons and screens are well thought out for use on a motorcycle.
Absolutely weather proof: I have ridden in heavy rain, hail, snow, between 37 degrees and 113 degrees....never an issue for the zumo.
Cons:
Music management is non- existant. Music management consists of copy and paste. I find that unless you have a way to even out the volume on the songs you put on the memory card you spend a lot of time playing with the volume button. I never use the feature opting for my iPod instead.
I never bought a bluetooth headset. When I bought the zumo the quality of bluetooth headsets was not quite where I could use it for my needs. Most died afer a very short time it you used them to listen to music. Not sure if that has changed but I figured I could read or glance at the screen if I really needed to and answering the phone wasn't worth $200 + (which is what they cost at the time). Now that I have a touring bike I can buy a bluetooth setup for the already included communication system so I may drop my usage of that on the zumo also.
Additions such as XM and Traffic require further costs and even components to be placed on the bike.
The backend is not real intuative: Hooking it up, updating the software, and even the maps can be a challenge.
In the end....I love the 550 as a GPS system for my bike and I whole heartedly recommend a Zumo. I will say before buying the one with the most features that you take a look at how you plan to use it and the cost of any extras (e.g. bluetooth headset). In my case, I found I didn't need all of the features on the 550 and could I could have just gone with the 450. The price differnence can be up to $200.
--'08 HD Ultra Classic w/ ABS
The content person enjoys the scenery of a detour.
