GPSReviewBlog.com

GARMIN 010 00567 00 Zumo 550 GPS Receiver

Customize your ride with the Zumo 550. Designed by bikers, Zumo’s motorcycle-friendly features make it easy to operate. From back roads to rallies, its high-end navigation features give you the freedom to go where you want. Zumo 550 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and a hefty points of interests (POI) database, including motels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. A rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery is integrated into Zumo for up to three hours of typical usage. With Zumo’s Bluetooth wireless technology, you can talk on the phone safely without removing your gloves or helmet. The SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing. Download routes to share, even load mp3 files to your unit to enjoy tunes on the road. In addition, JPEG Picture Viewer lets you share photos of your adventures. Voice announces streets by name Upload custom POI, including alerts for speed zones and safety cameras Built-in MP3 player and JPEG Picture Viewer SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing Glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls makes it easy to operate High bright sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display makes it easy to view your screen Motorcycle console for trip information, including fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up Motorcycle mount with standard 4-hole AMPS pattern so you can mount it anywhere Unit dimensions – Width 4.8 x Height 3.9 x Depth 1.6 inch Weight – 10.6 ounces

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars AS Advertised
The 550 is a marked improvement over the other Garmin GPS’s I have owned.I have found only one glitch in the program; it doesn’t know where home is. The only other complaint I will make is on the Motorcycle Mount. There is no way to disconnect the power supply from the mount so as to take both the unit and mount off for safekeeping at night or while in suspect areas. Garmin wants to sell you a 30.00 dollar lock to secure the mount onto the motorcycle but is not aware that a few minutes work with a wrench will remove the mount and RAM Ball. Way to go Garmin. As for the rest. I will say, so far so good.

4 Stars Zumo 550 review
GARMIN 010-00567-00 Zumo 550 GPS Receiver Picked this puppy up on anticipation of a bike ride from Washington State to New Mexico, into California and back. Features I like include: Inputting miles/tankful – about 20 miles before this “endpoint”, warning comes up, also a gas pump icon. Hit this icon and you can find the closest gas station(s) with turn by turn directions, odometer reading (though I still use my bike reading), portablility (program rides or desinations in my motel room, rehook up the Zumo to my bike in the morning and I’m ready for a new day) and ease of use and viewing while riding. Can remove your digital camera memory and insert into the Garmin to look at or share photos.

Disappointments: The Garmin cradle attached to my bike looks inviting to someone who might want to rip it off. Why not have an easy electical disconnect from the bike to take the cradle and unit off when not in use? Also, the security screw driver doesn’t work on your key chain. The screw driver should be unscrewed from the piece attached to the key ring (I’ve seen this complaint before).

Don’t haves: I don’t have BlueTooth or speakers in my helmet so not sure how this feature worked.

All in all, as my 1st GPS, I am pleasantly surprised how easy it was to travel into my brother’s house near downtown LA, directions given when visiting someone else in Santa Monica, and the directions getting back to my bro. Very easy to see. -b

5 Stars Solid
I’ve had this for about three years. It works like a charm and is as solid as a rock. During the cold weather months, it resides in my SUV, but in the motorcycle riding months, it makes sure I get home when I’m wandering on two wheels.

4 Stars Great piece of equipment that is unsupported.
I originally bought the Garmin Zumo 550 for my father for his birthday. He attempted to set it up, and spent over an hour on hold with Garmin. That was all he needed to let him know that he did not want it. I took it back to send it back but instead opted to check it out myself first. The difference between me and my dad is at 44, I can find information on the web, my dad is not so computer literate. I had the unit up and running in a few hours and was semi pleased with it.

I downloaded the user’s manual to learn about it and it’s support software. (Garmin should really take a look at TomTom’s interactive software and user manuals) The user manual for the Garmin 550 is at best “basic”, it strives so hard to touch on each subject, that it never covers any of them for operating the Zumo 550 or the support software that comes with it.

I was fortunate that when I assumed ownership of this, I had a buddy locally that purchased one at about the same time. It is like having a local support/discovery group.

If you are technically savy enough, get one, if not, go TomTom.

4 Stars Great GPS!
I love the garmin. The same day I got it it went on the bike. You do not need any kind of voice directions on the bike due to great screen with advanced instructions. On the included car mount, it talks great! It has elevation figures and it gets signal from the satelite right away. I am really happy with the unit, it’s also super sturdy (it looks like it would do fine if it’s dropped). The only thing I can think of that would make it better, it every time you have to navigate somewhere it asks if you want to go somewhere in your state. This gets kind of old and I would it rather assume I am going somewhere in the state, if not I should have a key to say diff state! But this is a super small thinkg! Buy with assurance and enjoy!

Buy/More Info

Garmin Zumo 550 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Motorcycle Navigator

Born to ride, the Garmin zumo 550 brings all the power of a GPS navigator, wireless communicator, multimedia entertainer, and tour guide all into one device. And it’s made just for motorcycles. Designed by bikers, zumo’s motorcycle-friendly features make it easy to operate while in the saddle. From back roads to rallies, its preloaded maps and high-end navigation features give you the freedom to go where you want.

View the zumo 550 in action. You can also see a demonstration of the product’s features. (Best viewed with Internet Explorer)

The zumo comes with a motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere.

An internal battery lets you roam on foot with the device.

The unique motorcycle console offers valuable trip information, including a fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up. View larger.

The zumo 550 features a glove-friendly touch screen with an intuitive interface, as well as left-handed controls that make it easy to operate. View larger.

Made for Two Wheels
The zumo is made for extreme durability; it’s vibration-tested, waterproof, and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements. It’s also intuitive, with a glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls that make it easy to operate. There’s a bright, sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display that makes it easy to view, as well as a unique motorcycle console for trip information, including a fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up. The display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and features 320 x 240 pixel resolution.

Measuring 4.8 x 3.9 x 1.6-inches (WxHxD) and weighing just 10.6 ounces, the zumo is small enough to carry with you while you’re off the bike. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver is powered by the SiRF Star chipset, which offers extreme accuracy, even when you’re riding under dense foliage or between tall buildings. The unit also features Garmin Lock — an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location.

The zumo comes with a motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere. An automobile mount is also included, and it features an integrated speaker. Garmin also provides custom caps, which are available in a variety of colors, so you can reflect your style.

Navigate the Open Road
The zumo 550 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and a hefty points of interest (POIs) database, including motels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply enter a destination, and the zumo takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names. In addition, zumo accepts customized points of interest such as school zones and safety cameras, and it also includes proximity alerts to warn of upcoming POIs. Plus, the unit is fully compatible with Garmin’s Tour Guide feature, a free utility that allows you to build and upload a database of POIs that are encoded with photos and MP3 files. A rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery that offers up to three hours of use is integrated into the zumo for trip planning or use on foot. In addition, the zumo even accepts electronic maps, making it the ultimate off-road navigator.

Hands-Free Calls and Wireless Voice Prompts
With the zumo’s Bluetooth wireless technology, you can talk on the phone safely without removing your gloves or helmet. Connect the device to your Bluetooth-enabled headset/helmet and cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls. You can even make phone calls to POIs through the zumo’s Bluetooth interface. In addition, The zumo transmits navigation voice prompts to your headset so you can listen wirelessly.

Traffic, Weather, and Radio
With optional XM subscriptions and an XM antenna, you can check the weather, move ahead of traffic and listen to the radio when you travel with the zumo. As an alternative, the zumo can receive optional TMC traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. Simply press a button on the screen, and the zumo recalculates your route to avoid traffic tie-ups.

Route Planning, Sharing, and Entertainment
The zumo makes it easy to plan your next trip and share routes with your riding buddies. Plan trips on your computer before you start. Search for food and fuel stops and local attractions. Then, transfer your route to your zumo and go.

At the end of the day, share your favorite places and rides with other zumo riders, and review your travels in Google Earth. SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing, and you can download routes to share with your riding buddies. You can also load MP3s onto the unit so you can enjoy music while you’re riding. Plus, a JPEG picture viewer lets you share photos of your adventures with friends and family.

What’s in the Box
zumo 550, preloaded City Navigator NT North America, MapSource City Navigator NT DVD (full-unlock), motorcycle mount with RAM mounting hardware, automotive suction cup mount with integrated speaker, dashboard disk, carrying case, AC charger, vehicle power cable, motorcycle power cable, USB interface cable, security screwdriver, custom caps (silver and black), Garmin stickers, owner’s manual on disk, and quick reference guide.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars The zumo is great
I just did a coast to coast ride on a vespa. the zumo 550 worked really, really well.

5 Stars Garmin Zumo 550
Overall an exceelent full featured GPS that easy to use as well as intuitive. I’ve had several Garmin products over the last 3 or 4 years and found Garmin to a very customer oriented company that stands beheind their products and administers excellent service.

4 Stars zumo 550
I do like my Zumo, it gives me more confidence when I am out riding. It seem like every time I pick it up I learn something new about it. There are things that could be more user friendly and the help book could be a lot better (it is only on disk) but it I had to it again and would purchase the same thing.

5 Stars This is the one.
I own it…it is awesome. I don’t use the bluetooth or listen to music with it, so if I had it to do over again, I’d buy the 450.

Works great, even in pouring rain, gets great satellite reception, MadMaps tours can be downloaded into it…it is durable, bright, vibration resistant, and works in my car and on my bike. I love it.

Garmin rules!

1 Star Problem
A great gps when it works. Stopped working three weeks after receiving. Received a replacement that only worked for a week.

Buy/More Info

Garmin Zumo 450 Portable GPS Motorcycle Navigator

Born to ride, the Garmin zumo 450 brings all the power of a GPS navigator, wireless communicator, multimedia entertainer, and tour guide all into one device. And it’s made just for motorcycles. Designed by bikers, zumo’s motorcycle-friendly features make it easy to operate while in the saddle. From back roads to rallies, its preloaded maps and high-end navigation features give you the freedom to go where you want. The zumo 450 includes many of the 550’s motorcycle-friendly features, minus bluetooth wireless technology, text-to-speech and XM Satellite, at a price that won’t break your budget.

View the zumo 450 in action. You can also see a demonstration of the product’s features. (Best viewed with Internet Explorer)

The zumo comes with a motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere.

An internal battery lets you roam on foot with the device.

The unique motorcycle console offers valuable trip information, including a fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up. View larger.

The zumo 450 features a glove-friendly touch screen with an intuitive interface, as well as left-handed controls that make it easy to operate. View larger.

Made for Two Wheels
The zumo is made for extreme durability; it’s vibration-tested, waterproof, and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements. It’s also intuitive, with a glove-friendly touch screen with left-handed controls that make it easy to operate. There’s a bright, sunlight-readable, UV-resistant display that makes it easy to view, as well as a unique motorcycle console for trip information, including a fuel gauge to warn you when its time to fill up. The display measures 3.5 inches diagonally and features 320 x 240 pixel resolution.

Measuring 4.8 x 3.9 x 1.6-inches (W x H x D) and weighing just 10.6 ounces, the zumo is small enough to carry with you while you’re off the bike. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver is powered by the SiRF Star chipset, which offers extreme accuracy, even when you’re riding under dense foliage or between tall buildings. The unit also features Garmin Lock–an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location.

The zumo comes with a motorcycle mount with universal mounting hardware so you can mount it anywhere. Garmin also provides custom caps, which are available in a variety of colors, so you can reflect your style.

Navigate the Open Road
The zumo 450 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps and a hefty points of interest (POIs) database, including motels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply enter a destination, and the zumo takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names. In addition, zumo accepts customized points of interest such as school zones and safety cameras, and it also includes proximity alerts to warn of upcoming POIs. A rechargeable, removable lithium-ion battery that offers up to three hours of use is integrated into the zumo for trip planning or use on foot. In addition, the zumo even accepts electronic maps, making it the ultimate off-road navigator.

Traffic Alerts
The zumo can receive optional TMC traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. Simply press a button on the screen, and the zumo recalculates your route to avoid traffic tie-ups.

Route Planning, Sharing, and Entertainment
The zumo makes it easy to plan your next trip and share routes with your riding buddies. Plan trips on your computer before you start. Search for food and fuel stops and local attractions. Then, transfer your route to your zumo and go.

At the end of the day, share your favorite places and rides with other zumo riders, and review your travels in Google Earth. SD card expansion makes it easy for storage and route sharing, and you can download routes to share with your riding buddies. You can also load MP3s onto the unit so you can enjoy music while you’re riding. Plus, a JPEG picture viewer lets you share photos of your adventures with friends and family.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great buy
I had the misfortune to try another online store for this purchase when they called to confirm I had to ask if it was in english it was in Japaneese only! I went to amazon because of the reputation and was surprised at the price and how quickly the order arrived. The Zumo is a wonderfull product and lives up to and exceeds evey statement made about it. I am planning a trip to Alaska and this is a crutial tool to get me there. buy with confidence with Amazon.

4 Stars Great product………but
The 450 is a great product with wonderful features too many to mention here. I have used it on a 800 mile motorcycle trip and it performed admirably. It’s user friendly as long as a new user is not technically challenged. The visibility in bright sun light is surprisingly good. I could go on and on about the Zumo and I recommend it highly. Is it perfect? Probably not. Nothing is. It does come close, IMHO. You noticed that I rated it 4 stars. That’s where the ‘but’ comes in…….If I had to do it over again, I would skip the 450 and go directly to the 550 and pay the additional money. Here’s why…..for the kind of money spent, I decided to also use it in the car. To be able to do that, I had to purchase a car mount and power cord. By the time I added the costs for those items, I could nearly have paid the price difference between the 450 and 550. The 550 comes with the car mount and has some additional features such as Text To Voice (it will announce a turn by saying ‘turn left on Main Street’ instead of just saying ‘turn left’) and Blue Tooth capable.

Bottom line is this, if you don’t care about the additional features (which I didn’t think I did) and you don’t think you’ll be using it in your car, get the 450. If you intend to use it in a car as well as your motorcycle, pay the difference and get the 550. In any event, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with either unit.

I absolutely love my Zumo.

4 Stars Great performance and ease of use.
I had a Garmin Pilot 3 gps which was ok with limited capabilities. Then a Garmin 5, more features but very disappointing, lots of errors, almost turned me off Garmin. Decided to buy the Garmin Zumo 450 and coupled it with motorcycle speakers from Uniqcycle. This system is great for sound, road directions, accuracy and quick recalculations. The built in MP3 player categorizes your music for ease of use. This GPS is easy to use and very visible while riding. The gps unit is waterproof as are the speakers. Here’s a plug for the speakers, no distortion at high sound levels. I’m glad I decided to stick with the Garmin unit made especially for motorcycles. Special note: if you wire the speaker amp and the garmin unit to your motorcycle, chances are you will need a “ground loop isolator” device to eliminate the hum in the speakers that connecting the two to the same power source creates. It’s $20 but does the job.

2 Stars Garmin Zumo 450 – shipped not as advertised
Caution…, Product price is good and advertised as new, but I received a previously used Zumo missing a part. When I contacted Customer Service however, they were very cooperative and immediately shipped what appears to be a new, not previously used Zumo. Very suprised with Amazon. Thought it would be better experience as this was my first order with them. Bottomline: I should not have had to go through that hassle.

1 Star unhappy
Be careful when you see the name Optics Planet in the description. Item listed as Trijicon TA31RCM150 Trijicon ACOG Rifle Combat Optic Rifle Scope 4X 32 Red Chevron Matte BAC-M150

List Price: $1,450.00

Price: $34.99

You Save: $1,415.01 (98%)

I have seen deals on these scopes before (I also purchased them) and Optics Planet is not honoring the order, saying it is a case, not the scope and telling me that it is my problem and they will send me an “RMA” if I would like. Just be leary if you see a good deal from this company as it is probally not true. I personally don’t feel that falsely advertising a sale is the customers problem. Other companies honor misadvertised prices on their products that were purchased prior to the correction. But you will not find that here.

Buy/More Info