Motorcycle GPS | Garmin Zumo 550

Garmin Zumo 550

Filed Under Motorcycle GPS |

The Garmin Zumo 550 is designed to be used as a motorcycle GPS and it fulfills this role spectacularly. Inside the box it comes with a classy silver shell but if this doesn’t suit your style you can exchange the default shell with other colors and designs.

A part from the GPS unit, inside the packet there is: a motorcycle mount, a car mount, an AC charger, a tiny screwdriver for the “safety screw” on the unit, a motorcycle power cable connecting to the bike’s battery, a car charger, black plastic faceplates and tools needed to mount the Zumo to motorcycle handlebars.

And there is even more. The Zumo comes with a City Navigator DVD, a USB cable to connect to your computer to get updates and new maps, an electronic copy of the Zumo owner manual and quick setup guide to enable you to use the GPS unit as quickly as possible.

While this is a lot of stuff for a GPS unit, the Zumo 550 doesn’t have a Bluetooth earpiece for your motorcycle helmet. I’m not sure why the company didn’t include it in the package but it is easily fixed by purchasing some of the many Bluetooth earpieces available on the market. It is a small problem in light of all the other extras included but one that should have been thought of by Garmin.

There are two options for mounting the Garmin Zumo 550 to a motorcycle: a u-bolt mount or a clutch mount. The unit is compressed, measuring 4.8 inches wide, 3.9 inches high, and 1.6 inches deep and weighing 10.6 ounces - a hair lighter than the TomTom Rider’s 10.9 ounces.

The Garmin Zumo is waterproof, enabling you to leave it submerged in water for up to 30 mins. This makes it ideal for attaching to a Jet Ski, if you also own one. With the display, you have the choice of choosing either standard or large icons.

Some say that the Garmin Zumo should only be used as a motorcycle gps device but it’s just as effective in the car. The unit is placed at eye level on the dash and therefore there is no need to take your eyes off the road at all.

The Zumo 550’s screen is UV resistant, measures 3.5 inches in a diagonal line, has a white backlight and is 320 by 420 pixels. As far as motorcycle GPS units go, the Garmin Zumo 550 is one of the best money can buy.

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