The Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Gps. Motorcycle Navigation At It's Finest
Motorcycle GPS is like auto GPS. It's fast becoming an essential accessory for any biker who likes long rides without getting lost.
Because it's not quite as easy to navigate on a motorbike. You can't just hand the map over your shoulder to your girlfriend behind and ask her to tell you where to turn. Navigating on a motorcycle involves stopping. You need to take the map out, work out where you're going and put it away. While you're stopped.
Not so good when it's raining, for example, or on the side of a busy road, or even just when you're in a real hurry.
A good motorcycle GPS unit can take all that away and make motorcycle navigation a breeze. And the Garmin Zumo 55o is a good motorcycle GPS unit. A very good motorcycle GPS unit.
Why? Well first up is it's design. It's not an auto GPS device that's adapted for use on a motorcycle. It's designed specifically with the motorcyclist in mind. For example it has a simple user friendly touch screen with large icons so it can be operated on the ride with gloves on. And with the left hand.
And unlike someone using a car GPS, a motorcycle GPS unit has some other requirements for bikers as well. For example you're trying to read the screen in the sun, so it's usually harder to read.
Not the Garmin Zumo 550 motorcycle GPS. It's designed to be readable from the saddle even in bright sunlight, so the motorcyclist doesn't need to do contortions to read it. And it's UV friendly so the sun won't break it down. And it's waterproof so the rain won't kill it. And it's fuel resistant too.
After all you don't want your bike GPS to break down from something like the effects of the sun do you?
Another issue specific to motorcycle riders is the mount. In the past a good mount was quite in issue, and many motorbike riders had to adapt some type of car GPS mount to mount the motorcycle GPS unit on the handlebars, or anywhere.
But the Garmin Zumo 550 comes with it's own motorcycle mount for the handlebars. And it's vibration resistant too, an issue for bikers but not for car drivers. It's got integrated speakers so you can listen to your directions via bluetooth technology so you don't even need to look down.
City navigator maps are loaded from the start so all your maps are already right there. There's a comprehensive database of points of interest like motels, fuel stops, restaurants and more, and you can even load your own points of interest, or maps.
with an XM subscription and an antenna you can even get real time traffic and weather and radio, so you can avoid all those pesky traffic jams. Traffic jam ahead? Push a button and your Zumo will calculate a new route for you without even needing to get off your bike.
Use your phone via the 550, and you don't even need to take off your gloves or helmet. And you get the voice commands right to your helmet too. Need to turn left soon? Just wait for the command. And why not upload your favorite music and listen to that while you ride as well?
A good motorcycle GPS unit like the Garmin Zumo 550 will allow you to plan your rides, store your best rides and even share them with your friends. If you've found motorcycle navigation a drag in the past, invest in a great motorcycle GPS unit and motorbike navigation becomes a breeze.
Watch the video related to Motorcycle GPS
www.Road-Quest.com - this video will provide information on refurbished Garmin GPS units for under $100 and who on eBAY has them. You won't be disapointed in the GPS.
Help answer the question about Motorcycle GPS
What is a Good Motorcycle GPS that runs off of AA or AAA Batteries and is Waterproof?
Been riding since Feb and I LOVE Cruising Interstates and traveling to all the attractions located around Central Florida. But the GPS I use in the Car a Garmin C330 isn't waterproof, and has a short battery life.
That's why I'm looking for a GPS that can mount to my bike, is waterproof, and I can swap out batteries from Walmart or something if it dies.
Any suggestions would be apreciated.
Tags: 550, garmin, gps, motorcycle, Motorcycle Navigation, Motorcycle Sat Nav, review, test, video, zumo.
Filed under Motorcycle Sat Nav by admin.
Comments on The Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Gps. Motorcycle Navigation At It's Finest
11:00 am
+1 to the Zumo, but you may not have 500 bucks to spend on a GPS. Garmin makes a number of handheld models that are street route capable, but they may not be as easy to use. It really depends on the balance of user friendliness/cost you're comfortable with. Check out Garmin's website or a sporting goods store and ask someone that works there to show you what each unit can do.
12:09 pm
I agree with the Garmin statement. I have had a TomTom x 2. They both only lasted about a year, plus the updating on them were horrible. Me and my wife have Garmins, we have had them over a year 1/2. They have updates available every 3 months, and they are more user friendly. As far as putting it on a motorycle, you can find a mount really for any GPS to go on a bike. http://motorcycle-superstore.com has tons of great things for motorcycles. Check it out.
11:03 am
No you can search for a destination or browse and select it and create a route from the device.
11:26 am
do you HAVE to tell it the route on the computer and upload ? or can you just tell it your destiny and it can calculate the route by itself like iGo8 software or any other navigation system ?
12:53 am
For those who don't mind wiring a gps up to your bike, this seller also offers the Garmin Street Pilot 272 for around $112 US. It's a touch screen model and takes a flash card and I believe you can add your custom points of interest(POI's). Same deal.. Refurbished.
10:40 pm
read this http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Choose-Your-Motorcycle-GPS-System&id=160870
I am a big fan of Garmin but I do not know if your dad will need to carry it in his pocket of mount it on his bike. Good Luck.