An interesting concept that can use some improvement

Author's Rating:

Pros: Small, Powerful, Bright display, 4+ hour battery operation. Very sensitive. Car & Bike mounts included.

Cons: Fuzzy display graphics. Poor TTS quality. Not configurable.

The Bottom Line: 
I still recommend the 276c over this model for the knowledgeable motorcyclist. The 550 will be better when they resolve some of the flaws. Maybe the 450?

Author's Review

May 31, 2008

A note on the various versions of the Zumo series;

The Zumo 400 series is similar to the 500 with the exception of satellite music/traffic support, the supply of the car mount bracket and the exclusion of Bluetooth. I firmly believe that if you are buying a Zumo, the extra money for the 500 series is worthwhile. Note that there is no XM radio support for Euro models as there's no such service there.

The base models of the two series are 'regional', in that they do not have full mapping for the continent they are set up for.

Again, if considering a Zumo, I would opt for the 'complete mapping on board' versions, the ones with model numbers ending in '50'.

===========================

December 15, 2007

I have to update this review to reflect some minor changes.

Garmin sent me a beta firmware release (3.60) for the device (which, as of this date is still not available on their web site). It clears up the Bluetooth issues to a very large degree.

If I didn't say it before, the speakerphone in the car mount works better than any of the other current Garmin units (I also have a 760 and I have used the 350 and 250).

I won't change my ratings because I still feel that the unit has been lobotomised to some degree - and while Garmin has done this to their entire consumer product lineup, I don't agree with the concept - and the display's lack of crispness is extremely bothersome.

The way that Garmin handles the autozoom and the way they display upcoming turns using a simplified graphic on the older 2600, SP3 and 276 series is MUCH more intuitive than it is on the consumer machines.

Now that I think about it, maybe I SHOULD reduce the rating of this model, just on principles.

===========================

This review is edited October 23, 2007 to:

1. Add a comment about the display washing out in direct sunlight
2. Mention the complete absence of a clock while in normal display mode.
3. Mention the security features
4. Up the product rating to 4 from 3.

We now return you to your regular scheduled programming:

I have been using navigators for years. I have reviewed a number of units and have owned many more. My most recent favorite GPS devices were the Garmin 276c and it's other line members, the 376c, 378 & 478.

My units were working fine, but the lust for something new has overtaken my otherwise complete satisfaction with the 276c. I have two bikes and, like it's predecessors the replacement navigator has to be waterproof, rugged and sunlight readable. So after 3 years with the 276c I bought a brand new Zumo 550.

This Zumo is part of a family of navigators that Garmin has released specifically for Motorcycle use. Zumo is Garmin's answer to the TomTom Rider. This is an 'all in one' device that, beyond navigation is equipped with an MP3 player, Bluetooth connection, car kit, speakerphone, XM radio & weather (requires a separately available POD), Traffic (either through the XM POD or through a 'traffic receiver - also separately available) and more. There is an SD memory slot that allows you to add up to 8 Gigs of music, photos or maps.

Garmin offers their model in two versions, the premium 550 (which is fully equipped) and the lower cost 450, which deletes the TTS (spoken street names), Bluetooth and XM functionality. It also deletes the car kit (mounting bracket and lighter plug) though these are available for purchase separately.

European versions of the device are the Zumo 500 and 400 and respectively, though there's no satellite support for music or weather in these versions for obvious reasons.

Having an MP3 player is not important to me because I travel with an iPod plugged into my Autocom on the bike and I have a CD changer in my car. But the Bluetooth functionality was of particular interest - especially on the bike. A wireless connection to the bike from my phone sounded ideal.

Little did I know . . . .

Let's start with the basics:

The Zumo is a bike-specific navigator that incorporates the extremely sensitive SIRF-III GPS chipset. As I sit in my basement writing this review the navigator reports 3 bars (of 5) signal strength - and there's no sky anywhere in sight. This thing is SENSITIVE!!

It is waterproof, but the device has a large connector on the bottom edge. The motorcycle mount ships with a rubber protective cover that is tethered to the mount that is put in place to cover that connector's mate when Zumo is removed from the bike - it stores when the unit is installed by attraction between a magnet in the cover and a metal plate at the bottom of the mount - I have concerns about the long term viability of the cover.

The unit ships with RAM mounts for your motorcycle and also a carrying case and car kit so it can be used on the bike and in the car without having to do handsprings. There is a DVD containing Garmin's MAPSOURCE program and the mapping used in the device to allow users to manage and review their trips off the bike. It is supposed to come with a CD that has the manual - it was missing from my package. But all the documentation can be downloaded from Garmin's site at no cost.

The mounts for the navigator itself are quick disconnect, so there are no cables to unplug when moving the device from the bike to a car or to take it indoors. The connector on the 276c could break if you didn't lubricate it with petroleum jelly from time to time - a major plus for Zumo.

The bike mount has a security feature that involves a screw and a special driver for it that locks the release. Garmin provides the driver with a handy ring to attach it to your keychain. However a thief only has to twist the adjusting knob to remove the unit from your bike complete with the base, though he'd have to rip the power cable out or cut it to do this. RAM does sell a locking 'knob spinner' that would improve the bike mount's physical security - of course they can always just take the whole bike if they really want to . . . .

Security is further 'enhanced' by Garmin's security soft lock. You select a private 4 digit code that is used to unlock the unit when it is turned on. Supposedly this will protect you from thieves - NOT. A thief will still get the navigator, but he won't be able to use it - so into the trash it will go - UNLESS he takes it to your home. The security system will automatically unlock without a code when the unit is at the 'Home' waypoint as a backdoor in case you forget the code.

There are connectors on the base for the XM pod - but I suspect (since I don't have a pod to play with) that this will make it inconvenient to move the pod from bike to car . . . and since the pod IS the XM receiver, and it is the pod that has the subscription, not the navigator . . . you get the idea.

The unit has a touchscreen. It is supposedly designed around the fact that bikers wear gloves - but I have to say that it REALLY prefers when I use the pointer from my PDA. There are four physical buttons on the left side - a big 'square', which is the 'Page' button and will eventually always get you back to the map page. There are '+' and '-' keys that are used to zoom the display and to adjust volume and screen backlighting brightness. The fourth button is the 'speak' button and it will announce the current information or the latest navigation instruction and is also used to adjust the speaker volume. On the right side of the screen in the 'power' button.

The bike mount comprises components from RAM - very classy. The package contains parts to mount the unit on the screws that clamp the clutch handle to the bars. I had a ball mounted on my bike already, so all I needed to do was to run the new power cable from my fuse block to the mount and cinch the RAM arm down.

The base that they include for the Zumo mounting bracket is, however a bit wider than the bracket itself, so it sticks out past the edges. The excess material does interfere with the adjusting knob a bit. RAM does offer a 'diamond' shaped base that would not do this, though the hole pattern would only allow using two screws to fix the unit to the RAM base the way they've done it.

The vehicular mount uses a suction cup. It has a lock and will not let go unless you flip a lever and pull on a small spit of rubber to break the vacume. It can be stuck in the windshield or can be suctioned to the dash - they provide an adhesive disc for this - but be warned; once installed, the disc WILL cause damage to your dash if you try to remove it.

A (too short) cigarette lighter style power cord comes with the unit - I wired up a short extension and powered mine from the fuse block, which just happens to be located on the left side of the dash on my car . .

There is an internal (not casually replaced) battery that will power the unit for a claimed 4 hours, so you can bring your Zumo into a restaurant and plan the next leg of your journey - the battery recharges whenever the unit is plugged into external power - Garmin even provides a wall plug charger in the package!

The navigator provides a 'fuel gauge', which is simply a device that records the distance travelled - only when the unit is in the motorcycle cradle - and compares it with the usual mileage you would get from a tank of gas on your bike. When you get within 30 miles of the specified distance you'll get an icon on screen and an announcement.

Very nice, but as it happens, one of my bikes has an accurate fuel gauge and the other has a very effective two position petcock that lets me know I'm getting low by forcing me to switch to 'reserve'.

The MP3 player works - and up to 8 Gigs of data can be stored on an SD card (not included). It will also play 'Audible' recorded media in addition to the usual MP3s - audio quality is good when plugged into an external headset - even the internal (to the car mounting bracket) speaker doesn't sound all that bad.

There is a connector that allows the use of Garmin's extra-cost XM 'Pod' and that can also be used for weather and/or a 'for pay' traffic service'. I don't have the pod, so I can't comment on those aspects of the device. If all you want are the traffic reports then they sell a radio adapter for this purpose that replaces the pod.

One of the important features (for me) in a navigator is the TRACKLOG. This is a recording system that keeps track of where you've been, when you were there and how fast you were going.

The tracklog has helped me successfully fight speeding tickets. It has allowed me to find great roads previously traveled, documents a day's activity and much more.

The original Streetpilot and 2000 series units (2610/2620) from Garmin had paltry 2000 point tracklogs. The 276c was the first of Garmin's road-ready navigators to have 10,000 point tracklogs (that size is now pretty much standard) that can record huge amounts of history. Zumo kicks it up a notch by allowing up to 20 10,000 point tracklogs to be automatically saved in the device for later review using Garmin's powerful, but not-very-intuitive Mapsource application software.

As a navigator it contains the entire of the US and Canada on board and additional maps can be plugged in (along with photos and music) using the SD card slot on the bottom of the device.

Navigation data comes from Nav-Tech and there are some 6 million points of interest. However always remember that the data itself is not quite current and always use common sense when employing a navigator to route you somewhere.

It works well enough. Since the data is common to all of the Garmin vehicular products, there isn't much I can add to the vast store of knowledge about routing and such that is out there. It does this the same as any other navigator they sell with current maps installed.

However - Garmin navigators can and do offer user preferences for routes - you can select 'fastest' or 'shortest' and there are 'avoids', such as 'avoid dirt roads', 'avoid toll roads' and so on. Zumo has this, but it is buried in the setup. The 276c does it MUCH better, by including a checkbox that can force the unit to ASK for your preference before calculating a route for the first time - it can also remember the last choice (fast/Short - or simply a bearing line that they call 'off road') and make it the default for the next route.

Sometimes I'm in a hurry. Sometimes I prefer the secondary, twisty roads. I'd prefer to be asked, the way they do on the 'less dumb' models without having to drill through four layers of menus.

The Zumo (and the C, I and Nuvi series for that matter) are all part of a very 'dumbed down' product line. However it is dead simple, and very intuitive to operate.


Operation

On power-up you get a welcome (splash) screen that can be customised if you know how. Mine has the Garmin logo and says "Stolen - Reward if returned" and provides the phone number to call.

There are two large buttons - "View Map" and "Where to?" and some smaller buttons on the bottom of the screen - the combination depends on how the unit is operating (With a cellphone, with XM and so on), but the constants are the access to the MP3 player and the setup modes.

Watching the map is simple enough - the unit will show you where you are, what direction you are heading and what speed you are travelling. Setup allows you to choose from 'top view' with either the track (direction of travel) up or always with North up. There is also a '3D' view that some people find a bit more intuitive.

If you are in navigation mode the direction is replaced by next turn information and there is an estimated time of arrival box. Across the top of the ecreen is the name of the street you are on and/or the name of the upcoming cross-street or a GPS signal level indicator, a bluetooth status logo and phone status logo - depending on whether you are moving or not and where you are. If you press the 'Menu" button, you get back to the menu.

Pressing the speedometer will take you to a 'trip computer' screen (from there you press 'Back" or the physical 'Page' button on the unit to get back to the map). Pressing the direction button takes you to a compass page.

If you'd like to examine the map, there are zoom buttons on the left edge of the case and there are soft '+' and '-' keys on the screen. Pressing any of them will change the zoom factor.

If you want to check something out that is 'off map', you can 'drag' the map window by touching ad holding the screen, then dragging your finger in the direction you want to skew the map.

Selecting a destination is as simple - you can choose it right off the map or you can go to the 'Where do you want to go' menu, where you are presented with options such as 'home', a list of recently located places, favorites you may have stored from a previous search or defined on your PC. You can enter an intersection, you can enter an address and so on - from there you hit the 'Go' button and follow the directions.

If you need gas or feel the urge to 'go', you can always find a point and then either set it as a new destination or make it a 'via' stop along the way. The unit will automatically recalculate the directions and the arrival time.

So essentially it operates as do all of the other consumer grade Garmin navigators.


But there are things that I don't like:

For example - the clock in the Zumo doesn't display seconds - and seconds are useful if you want to accurately set your watch. It doesn't display the date either. Since Zumo knows the time to within 500 nanoseconds, there really is no reason not to be able to see the time with resolution to the second.

In fact, I have a problem with the fact that the time is not displayed at all on the map screen - the navigator becomes my 'information center' and the lack of a clock without pressing things is a serious omission IMO.

The screens are fixed. You cannot select your data fields.

The display is bright, but unlike the 276c, it washes out in direct sunlight - I have to shift my body or move a hand to block the sun - the 276 display is very readable in direct sunlight.

There is also serious problem in my opinion that the display simply isn't CRISP.

The 276c and it's cousins in the series have the highest resolution displays in Garmin's vehicular product line - and they take advantage of it. However the 'consumer' products seem to use a raster-conversion for their displays and to put it mildly, the map displays look 'fuzzy'. I feel that I need to get my glasses prescription changed whenever I look at the unit.

More; The Zumo uses Garmin's TTS (Text To Speech) feature that allows the navigator to announce the street names as part of the navigation function. Unfortunately the quality of the speech and the pronunciation are somewhat lacking.

The Bluetooth is a potentially interesting feature. The device purportedly will connect to your Bluetooth phone and provide call display, SMS operation (with some phones), and has a speakerphone. It can access the phone's contact list and uses that information for call display.

The Bluetooth can also be paired with a Bluetooth headset - so the navigator would sit in between the phone and it's headset, which could be a problem when you leave your car depending no your phone and headset.

Zumo also has a built-in speakerphone that works fairly well in the car - and the music and phone connections can be plugged into an external hard-wired connection through jacks on the cradle as well (that's how mine is mounted on my bike).

Unfortunately, like the rest of the unit, the execution leaves something to be desired;

- You cannot pick the fields to be displayed for an incoming call - It uses a 'Last name then First name' format for calls that have contact entries in your phone and does not offer the phone number in those cases.

- The Bluetooth implementation is flawed. It constantly disconnects the phone from the Zumo - it reconnects when a call comes in, but you need to press an onscreen 'OK' button twice to get to the information.

It isn't a problem with my phone - I tried several different model phones that work well with their headsets and they all behave the same way. It isn't a problem with the individual navigator, because I tried two other units.

You cannot initiate a call from the screen because of the problem. Obviously if the unit thinks there's no phone, it won't let you dial. It is very inconvenient and I've tried contacting Garmin about a solution . . . I'm waiting for a reply.

In summary, the Nuvi is a very interesting device that operates well as a navigator, but there are some extremely serious compromises in its implementation;

- Fuzzy display
- Non-configurable screen
- Limited technical information (such as satellite data and such)
- Problematic Bluetooth implementation
- Potential issues with the bike connector cover

On the other hand it does work for it's primary purpose and I am confident that Garmin will sort out the soft glitches.

It supports music and traffic information, so you can get away with one device instead of three or four if that is what you wanted.

For my part I originally gave the unit a 3 out of 5 - it works well enough, but there are serious issues and I really still prefer the 'old school' GPSMAP 276c. But after some consideration I decided that I probably am not the target consumer for this product - I'm too knowledgeable, too demanding. So I upped the rating to four - It would have been five if not for the Bluetooth bug.

Feel free to read my review of the 276c by clicking here:

http://www.epinions.com/content_147941396100

I provided the link because there is a lot of background information in that review for those who are interested in understanding a bit more about what GPS is all about.

Zumo ships with two colors of interchangeable end caps and Garmin sells various additional 'designer' caps for those who want them. It is fairly clear that Zumo is intended for users where form trumps function to some degree - this device is adequate - it gets you where you want to go and has some pretty neat features. But if you've used a more advanced device, you may well find that the information provided, the display quality and overall operation leave something to be desired.

So to some degree the jury is still out FOR ME. I LOVE the display and functionality of the 276c. The display is crisp. The information displays are flexible. If I owned a boat there'd be no question. I'll give it a while and make my final decision about whether Zumo is for me later.

Zumo and its commercial cousins are best suited for the non-technical individual. If you never owned a high end, feature-laden navigator, then this thing is the cat's meow. But if you have an engineering background in GPS-based navigation systems, then, while it has everything necessary and then some, it comes up lacking.


Specifications for the Zumo 550 are as follows:


Physical & Performance:

Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 4.8"W x 3.9"H x 1.6"D (12.2 x 9.9 x 4.1 cm)
Display size, WxH: 2.8"W x 2.1"H (7.2 x 5.4 cm); 3.5 diag (8.9 cm)
Display resolution, WxH: 320 x 240 pixels
Display type: WQVGA color TFT with white backlight
Weight: 10.6 ounces (300.5 g)
Battery: removable, rechargeable lithium-ion
Battery life: up to 4 hours
Waterproof: yes (IPX7)
High-sensitivity receiver: yes
RoHS version available: yes


Maps & Memory:

Basemap: yes
Preloaded maps: yes
Ability to add maps: yes
Built-in memory: internal solid state
Accepts data cards: SD card (not included)
Waypoints: 500
Routes: 50


Features:

Voice prompts (e.g. "Turn right in 500 ft."): yes (using included automotive mount with integrated speaker)
Speaks street names (e.g. "Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.") : yes
3D map view: yes
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): yes
Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): yes
Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): yes
Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): yes
Hands-free calling with Bluetooth® wireless technology: yes
FM traffic compatible: yes
XM Navtraffic (includes basic weather) & Radio for U.S. compatible: yes
MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: no
MP3 player: yes
Audio book player: yes
Picture viewer: yes
Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): yes
World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, calculator: no
Touchscreen: yes
Remote control: no
FM transmitter: no
Headphone jack/audio line-out: yes
Dead reckoning: no
Garmin Lock-(anti-theft feature): yes
Motorcycle-friendly: yes