Garmin zumo 220 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Motorcycle GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Zumo is a great motorcycle GPS but it does have its flaws.

The first thing you'll notice is that the Zumo doesn't come with a printed users guide. Garmin expects you to download the PDF version. It was easy to find on-line and this approach is fine since we're all supposed to be going green. What ships in box is a quick start guide. The web site says "installation instructions" are included but this is not accurate. The only installation information is contained in the quick start guide. It's pretty basic but more than adequate unless you want to attempt installing the wiring harness. If you plan on using the wiring harness you need to know how to tap into the electrical on your bike and handle all of the cable routing yourself or take it to a pro for assistance. (One note on the wiring harness: the cable doesn't include anything to cover the USB/power connector so if you install the harness and don't have the GPS unit plugged in the end of the power adapter is fully exposed to the elements.)

The second thing you'll notice is the device doesn't come with a wall charger. There is the permanent wiring harness and a car charger but they didn't include a wall charger. With a battery life of almost 8 hours I planned on just charging the unit at night and skipping the wiring harness since nearly all of my rides are under 8 hours. For the cost of the unit I was disappointed that I had to scavenge to find a power charger.

The battery life provided on Garmin's website states "up to 8 hours". I think this is a bit of a stretch. If you turn the volume off, turn the screen brightness down to under 50% (the default), and turn off Bluetooth you can get close to 8 hours. When riding with voice prompts, screen brightness at 80 to 90 (on a sunny day) and Bluetooth enabled I was able to get just over 5 hours of battery life. Still very respectable and more than most motorcyclists need for a single day.

One of the nicest features of the Zumo 220 is the ability to plan your routes on your PC and load them on to the GPS unit using Garmin City Navigator. It's easy to install but the unlock code, which is needed to use the maps, comes on a non descript yellow sheet that looks like something you should simply ignore or throw away. You need this special yellow sheet so be careful or you'll be explaining to your wife why you're digging through the garbage! Once installed and unlocked City Navigator is great. It's easy to use and simple to transfer routes to and from the GPS unit.

The GPS unit itself is a nice size but a little thick. If you're thinking you'll just throw this unit into your back pocket you can but there are two issues. First the unit is thicker than you expect and you will be aware of the bulge in your back pocket - it's not a petite unit. Second there is no power lock and it's very easy to turn the unit on when inserting the unit into your pocket or when moving around. It would have been better to have some sort of power button lock. I've resorted to removing the battery from its waterproof compartment, which is easy and quick to do.

The user interface is very intuitive and most of the data fields presented on main page can be customized, even when in motion. The keyboard is easy to use and has two modes that basically change the size of the buttons on the screen to make it easier to use when wearing gloves.

One nice feature is the fuel tank alert. Just enter the total mileage you expect to get from a tank of fuel and how many miles before empty that you want warnings and the unit keeps track of everything. Interesting note: the unit has multiple modes like driving, motorcycling, scooter etc. The only mode that fuel tank alerts work is when in motorcycle mode.

Another solid feature of the unit is if you do switch between a motorcycle and a car the Zumo 220 remembers your preferences for the route types of each mode. This makes it nice not having to reprogram anything when going between modes.

I have encountered a few issues with custom voices downloaded from the Garmin Garage. On at least one of the custom voices the unit seems to get confused and reboots on occasion. Changing back to the preinstalled voices seems to have fixed this quirky problem.

I have a big v-twin and my bike has a healthy dose of vibrations, especially when accelerating or using engine braking. The Zumo 220 is rugged enough to handle the vibrations with ease and the RAM mounts that came with the unit work great. One note on the u-bar attachment for the handlebar: If you have larger handlebars than 1 inch you're going to need to run out to your local hardware store to get a larger u-bar. If you've got a 7/8" - 1", like most people, you'll be fine.

Overall the Zumo 220 is a high quality unit that's easy to use, rugged and ready to hit the road. Just plan on doing a little extra shopping for things that Garmin should have included, especially given the high price point of this unit.

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Product Description:
Get in touch with the open road - have zūmo 220 show you the way. The affordable, compact zūmo 220 motorcycle navigator mounts neatly, right up on your bars ready to guide your ride with spoken street names sent wirelessly to your Bluetooth-enabled helmet or headset.

Designed By Bikers For Bikers
The zūmo 220 has a bright, glove-friendly, color touchscreen display that gives you all the information you need in an easy-to-read format. It's easy on the eyes whether you're riding in the bright midday sun or a moonless night. And the intuitive interface makes entering information as easy as shifting gears. But make no mistake this is no car navigator posing as a biker. It's built tough. With its rugged waterproof case that resists fuel sprays and UV rays, zūmo 220 is built for life on the road.

Go Your Own Way
Pick your route and hit the streets. The zūmo 220 is ready to go, on or off road, right out of the box. It's preloaded with City Navigator NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) that include motels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and more. It features voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination and displays the speed limits for most major roads. In addition, zūmo 220 offers lane assist to help guide you to the proper lane for complicated highway interchanges. The zūmo 220 also comes standard with a digital fuel gauge so you can keep track of how many miles you have left before it's time to get gas. And at the end of the ride, it slips comfortably into your jacket pocket.

Move Between Modes
Just because your bike's parked doesn't mean your day is done. The zūmo 220 can also pull double duty as a navigator in your car or truck when you're on four wheels instead of two. In addition to the included motorcycle mount, zūmo 220 also comes with a vehicle mount and power cable.

Plan and Share Your Rides
Searching for the perfect back road to share with your riding buddies? Or perhaps you're planning a cross-country trip and looking to avoid as much interstate as possible. With its powerful trip planning tools, zūmo 220 can help you create custom routes via computer and then transfer your saved route directly to your zūmo. Once home, you can review your rides in Google Earth. In addition, microSD card expansion makes it easy to share routes and add storage. Be sure to visit Garmin Connect - our online community of routes and riders. It's a great resource for finding new rides and planning trips.

What's in The Box
zumo 220, preloaded City Navigator NT for North America, MapSource City Navigator North America NT DVD, Motorcycle mount with mounting hardware, power cable/bare wire, replaceable battery, automotive suction cup mount, automotive power cable, USB cable, dashboard disc, quick start manual, and installation instructions

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TomTom Rider 2 GPS Navigator for Motorcycles and Scooters Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received this unit for Christmas primarily for my bike, but once I purchase the car mount adapter it will be used in the car as well.

This is an excellent unit, to say the least.One reviewer mentioned that it's too difficult to turn the unit on- I say "hogwash".The pushbutton is stiff, yes, but that's done to keep the unit from turning on accidentally while in your jacket pocket or carry bag (and with a touch screen, you can well imagine how much mischief one could accidentally create if it turned on without your knowledge).Ditto with the Scala Rider headset- you don't want the thing accidentally turning on, running the battery down, do you?

Another reviewer mentioned that it doesn't have a "speedometer" or trip meter function- it most certainly does have a speedometer, and what I assume is the "trip meter"- but since TomTom set the unit from the factory to eliminate as much extraneous information as possible, you have to activate it in the menus.Once that has been activated, it'll be there until you turn that feature off.In fact, there are a great number of features you can turn on and off in the menus.

I found the documentation to be adequate, and to the point.The printed documentation is to get you up to speed until you charge the units and turn them on- it's easy sailing after that.The unit is very easy to use, and it has tutorials right on the unit, so in my opinion further paper documentation is rather redundant- actually, I think it's pretty smart on TomTom's part to include tutorials on the unit itself rather than supply a printed book- that way I don't have to carry around the book, as all of the information is already on the unit!They really don't say much about the bike power cable, but I can certainly understand why- it's not possible to provide information about every bike out there, and if you aren't familiar enough with your bike, or can't figure out how to install it, it's probably best to get someone who is (like your bike dealer) to do the installation.

I've got a Motorolla Razr phone, and the TomTom easily hooked up to my phone via Bluetooth, and it painlessly downloaded all of my phone numbers I have stored on the phone (thank you for providing this helpful feature!).

I do wish that it gave the street name when it gives you instructions to turn, but I soon got used to how it works- not only does the display give you very clear instructions on where to turn, it also gives you the street name.Once you get used to it, it's easy.But I would like the option of hearing the street name (my PDA does, but the map display isn't as easy to see as the TomTom).While playing with the unit as my father-in-law drove the car, I discovered one potential issue with having the street name spoken to you- what happens when the street name is changed, but your maps haven't been updated?If you rely on the spoken street name, you might miss it- it's best to take a glance at the screen to make sure you're taking the correct turn (I found one such road- the name has recently been changed, but the map showed the old name instead).Still, I'd prefer to have it spoken, and visually double-check the map.

Overall, I give the TomTom an A-.TomTom, if you're reading this, I'll give you an A+ if you guys update the software so that it'll give you the street name by voice- then you'll have the best bike GPS available!However, I'd still buy the unit as is.It would just increase the functionality by including this feature.

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Product Description:
Developed for bikers by bikers, TomTom RIDER is one of the smartest navigation solutions for motorcycles. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just mount the unit on your bike, and you're ready to hit the open road. Turn-by-turn spoken directions guide you safely door-to-door to any address in the United States or Canada.


The smartest navigation solution for motorcycles. Click to enlarge.
Developed for bikers by bikers. Click to enlarge.
Rugged waterproof device, anti-glare screen, integrated sun visor, and gloves-on operation give bikers just what they need while riding. Navigation instructions are spoken via in-helmet Cardo scala-rider Bluetooth headset for great audio quality, external noise cancellation, and added safety and convenience. Itinerary planning helps riders to make the most of their time on the road. And with a choice of routes--including shortest, fastest, non-toll roads, and avoiding highways--you can explore the world your own way.
TomTom RIDER can even be used for safe hands-free calling with your Bluetooth-enabled phone.
TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you instantly can modify street names, street direction, points of interest, and more on your own device.
Included universal RAM mounting kit securely fits most bikes. Optional car mount kit accessory makes it easy to transfer from bike to car.
The TomTom RIDER is the ultimate in smart and easy bike navigation.

RIDER Features

Maps of United States and Canada with TomTom Map Share
Spoken Instructions
Glove-friendly Touchscreen
Waterproof
Cardo scala-rider Bluetooth headset
Universal RAM Mount
Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling
3.5-inch Touchscreen
Car Mount Kit--Optional Accessory

All TomToms Feature

Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.
Preloaded Points of Interest--Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more on your route.
30-Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.
TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.
Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers, such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.
TomTom HOME--Always up to date.
Traffic Ready--Optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver accessory keeps you up-to-date on traffic events to minimize potential delays.
Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

Why TomTom?

TomTom believes that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. TomTom develops smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.
Easy to Use

Award-winning navigation software
Plug & go

Best Maps

30-Day Latest Map Guarantee
Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share

Best Routing

QuickGPSfix
Traffic ready

Leader in Safety

Help Me! emergency resources menu
Safety preferences menu

About TomTom

Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high-quality products and services.
TomTom is a leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further its commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so that the company can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.
TomTom has its own mapping company!
Did you know that every year, roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

What's in the Box

TomTom RIDER, Memory card (SD card) with software and maps, USB cable, High quality Cardo scala-rider wireless Bluetooth headset for in-helmet spoken instructions, RAM Mounting kit

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Garmin nuvi 500 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let me start by saying that I currently own and use several different GPS units: Garmins Nuvi 750, Colorado 400t, Rino 130 (a pair), Magellan 1470 and a Dash Express (I've also owned Garmins 2720, 2820, Nuvi 350, and a 60CSx in the recent past).I have so many of them because I use them for different purposes:

* Automobile navigation: I travel all over the country and always take a GPS with me for use in my rental cars.
* Walking in urban areas: I love to stroll around great cities and a good GPS not only keeps me from getting lost, it helps me to find areas of interest.
* Hiking in rural areas: As a birdwatcher I find a hand-held GPS receiver essential.Getting lost in the desert or the woods is no fun at all.
* Bicycling: I love to just bike and then try to figure out how to get home later.A GPS makes it easy to find my way back.
* Geocaching:A wonderful hobby that involves finding things that others have hidden using coordinates posted on the web.A GPS is an absolute necessity if you want to do this.

So, why did I buy yet another Garmin, the Nuvi 500? It is a part of my eternal search for one GPS receiver that is appropriate for all of these endeavors.It is important to understand that no GPS is perfect, nor is any one model ideal for everything.However, some accomplish some tasks well but are useless for others.The Nuvi 500 (and it's brother the 550) are useful for all of my needs.

Instead of comparing it to other models that are more specialized, let me grade the Nuvi 500 in how well in works ,right out-of-the-box, for each task that I wanted it for:

* Automobile navigation: B-
There are much better units for this purpose if that is all you are going to use it for.Still, it gets you there.One major feature that I missed at first in the Nuvi 500 was Text-To-Speech (or TTS).This is where the unit pronounces the names of streets and roads.With it a GPS will say "Turn right on Broadway Street".Without TTS is will say "Turn right at the next street".However, in March of '09 Garmin released a firmware update that gives the nuvi 500 this feature!I have downloaded it to mine and it works just like my nuvi 750 (make sure that you download some TTS voices as well).I assume that new units will have this already installed. Still, the display is somewhat small for an automotive GPS, especially if the dash is deep and far from the driver.Although you can buy an optional FM traffic receiver, some units, like the Dash Express, have this feature built-in, plus it can connect via the internet and get real-time traffic info.My Garmin 2820 has built in satellite radio, however it is pretty big and needs to be plugged in.

* Walking in urban areas: A
Here is where the Nuvi 500 shines.First, it is small enough to fit in a pocket (although I do wish that it was thinner) yet it's big enough to see the display without squinting.However, my favorite feature is the user-switchable batteries.Most GPS receivers use built-in rechargeable batteries; nice but when they run down you either have to find a place to plug it in and recharge it or you are stuck without a usable GPS.The Garmin Nuvi 500's back opens up and the expended battery can be swapped out with a fresh one.This is a HUGE benefit for anyone using a GPS in any place other than a car.Another nice feature for the urban tourist is that you can download photos from a special web-site and not only see them on the Nuvi it will give directions to where the photo was taken.Cool.

* Hiking in rural areas: B
The Nuvi is not as ergonomic as those units designed to be hand held.It is a flat, rectangular device without a textured surface, still it is very usable outdoors.What I like about the 500 is that it comes loaded with both City Navigator and Garmin's Topo Map (the 550 does has more North American coverage but does not have topographical coverage).Both units feature "digital elevation model" (DEM) mapping which shows you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, however, the Topo maps will show much, much more.Details like elevations, streams, small bodies of water, trails, landmarks and many other features that can really be useful when you are out in the boonies.

* Bicycling: A
I had my Garmin Colorado mounted on my Trek 7300 bike and although it looked funny (I have photos of it on Amazon's Colorado 400t page) it worked O-K.Still, it did not come with the same type of street maps that the Nuvi does (I could have purchased it for about $100 and downloaded it onto the Colorado if I wanted to) and it was not as intuitive to use as the Nuvis are.Also, the Nuvi 500 really looks nice on my handlebars.Since it is waterproof (as is the Colorado) you don't have to worry about a rainstorm.

* Geocaching: B+
If you haven't geocached and don't ever plan on doing it then you might want to skip this part of my review.However, if you are on of the many thousands that enjoy this growing hobby (over 800,000 geocaches have been placed worldwide) this is a GPS that can take you from your driveway to the cache and back effortlessly.Like the Colorado (and similar models such as the Oregon) you can download cache information directly to the GPS.Other Garmins can download the coordinates but the Nuvi 500 (and the 550) will display the cache information, hints, logs and just about everything that you need to successfully find what you are looking for.You can also record the results of your search (found, did not find, needs repair, etc.) for later transfer to the geocaching website.I've used the Nuvi 500 to find caches and it took me right to it.I'll still use my Colorado but if I only want to take one GPS with me, it'll be the 500.

Additional things that I like:

The Nuvi 500 lets you change your mode of travel (car, bike or on-foot) from the main page.It will then customize you directions based on your mode of transport icon (for instance, you can navigate one-way streets much differently on bike or on foot vs. by car).Another nice touch is when you choose a destination a little tab slides out from the "Go!" icon on the screen which shows your Usage Mode (car, bike, etc.) the Distance and the Time based on your chosen mode of travel.My 750 does not have this feature.Another thing that I like is that you can easily program the Nuvi 500 for on-road or off-road use.If you are traveling on foot you are not restricted to directions that require you to stick to the streets.

Somethings that I am not crazy about:

The specs list the battery life as "up to" 8 hours. I set the backlight to 50% and got 5 hours of use.Still very usable and with a second battery (which I bought with the unit and highly recommend) you can get 10 hours of continuous use without needing to recharge it or turn off the backlight completely.I also wish that the housing had a textured finish on the outside edge, giving you something to help you to keep your grip.

One final gripe: I can understand why Garmin does not include the AC charger with other Nuvi models but this one should really come with one.After all, it's billed as a multifunctional GPS, not an automotive GPS.

I am very happy with my new Garmin.I will be recommending this unit to all of my geocaching, birdwatching and bicycling friends.If you're are looking for a GPS that does it all, so far this one is the best.

UPDATE 12/03/08:The price has dropped quite a bit since I purchased it only a month ago.Now the value is even better!Grab it while you can.TR

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Product Description:
Perfect for crossing over the threshold from city to backcountry, the Garmin nuvi 500 provides a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with turn-by-turn navigation in a ruggedized, waterproof exterior that you can use while hiking, biking, or boating. With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, nuvi 500 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons--whether in the city or out in the wilds. And it easily switches modes (driving, walking, biking and boating) to navigate through your active lifestyle depending on your activity. Other features include a 3.5-inch touchscreen, microSD memory expansion, geocaching GPX file capabilities for complete cache descriptions and hints, and Garmin Connect Photos--enabling you to associate your favorite images with saved locations.


The waterproof nuvi 500 guides you while you drive, hike, bike or boat. The nuvi 500 comes preloaded with the highly detailed City Navigator North America NT maps for the lower 48 states, which also includes topographic maps for a better perspective of your elevation. The map data, provided by NAVTEQ, features over six million points of interest, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions.




The DEM basemap (above) provides shaded contours, and the nuvi also includes a digital compass. Weighing 7.6 ounces and measuring less than an inch thin, the nuvi 500 fits easily in a purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. The 3.5-inch color touchscreen display (with 320 x 240-pixel resolution) is easy to read even in direct sunlight, and the nuvi's easy-to-use interface means you'll spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for information. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with turn-by-turn voice directions, 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. Its digital elevation model (DEM) mapping shows you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, the nuvi accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.


Garmin's HotFix capability automatically calculates and stores satellite locations, greatly reducing satellite acquisition time so that you can turn the unit on and get going. With HotFix, your nuvi 500 remembers the position of all satellites it is tracking when you turn it off, and calculates their movements in order to predict where they should be the next time you turn it on. HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.


Conveniently plug in optional preloaded microSD memory cards for all your outdoor activities on land or water. Just insert an optional Garmin MapSource card with detailed street maps (such as for locales outside the United States), and the nuvi 500 provides turn-by-turn directions to your destination. And with optional BlueChart g2 Vision maps, you'll get everything you need for a great day on the water including depth contours, navaids and harbors. Plus, a user-replaceable lithium-ion battery will give you up to eight hours of battery life (depending on use).
Specifications

User modes: Driving, Boating, Bicycling and Walking
Expansion: microSD card slot for optional mapping and data storage
Wherigo player
Geocahing: Supports Geocahing.com GPX files for complete cache descriptions and hints
Dimensions: 4.21 x 3.35 x 0.9 inches (WxHxD)
Display size: 3.5-inch QVGA color antiglare TFT screen (320 x 240-pixel resolution) with white backlight touchscreen
Weight: 7.6 ounces
Battery type: user replaceable lithium-ion
Battery life: up to 8 hours depending on use
Waterproof standard: IEC 60529 IPX7

Navigate by Photo with Garmin Connect Photos

Using Garmin's Connect Photos Web site, you can choose from millions of geo-located photos provided by Google's Panoramio photo sharing community and download them to the nuvi for a richer navigation experience using pictures as a guide.

Choose from Panoramio's collection of photos from around the world.
Easy to use interface displays photos on Google Maps.
Search for photos by location name or map area boundary.
Transfer photos directly from Garmin Connect to device with the Garmin Communicator.
View photos in Google Earth.
Supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+, Safari 3+ on Windows and Mac.

Play Wherigo Wherever You Go
This nuvi GPS device is compatible with Wherigo, the latest GPS-based activity from geocaching pioneers Groundspeak. Wherigo (pronounced "where I go") is a toolset for creating and playing location-based multimedia experiences in the real world. Using the Wherigo platform, Wherigo authors can build exciting adventure games, historical tours or other innovative activities.


3D Terrain Maps
Shaded relief terrain maps show you when to expect hills, mountains, forests and other natural features. Topographic terrain maps are viewable when using the 2D "birds-eye" view.








What's in the Box
Garmin nuvi 500, preloaded City Navigator North America NT Lower 48 U.S. states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico plus topographic maps, lithium-ion battery, vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disc, quick start manual

Which nuvi is Best for You?

Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
Device

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