Garmin Zumo 550 Video Review part 1

[Patricoau]

Forget the Garmin what about the bike control, talking and operating the unit in such detail - a little scary especially with what looks like a cruiser bike, I have my hands full just riding lol, hope you stay safe good review.

[cobrachoppergirl]

Hold down your Battery icon for about 10 seconds, you should access a diagnostics screen which displays the current temperature (probably of the CPU thermal sensor diode - how hot the board is under the CPU) in Celsius. Also, if you hold down the sattelite signal bars for 5 or so seconds, you'll get another secret screen plotting satellites you are recieving and estimated accuracy and elevation information.

[cobrachoppergirl]

Dunno, I'm seeing lots of Garmins all over Ebay with broken touch screens for sale. And watching the video on here, how to replace the batttery in these things, its an unnecessarily involved process. And I don't really see the insane price premium for a motorcycle unit being justified at all. So as far as I'm concerned, the Garmin is not shining all that brightly. When they can get this unit down to $40 available in your local Walmart, then we'll talk.

[Shinkauto]

Can you view Map and see water, like lakes off in the distance so you can ride that way when your exploring new areas??

[mvrtvcom]

@Shinkauto Yes, I believe so. It showed the Pacific Ocean on my left all the way up the coast. MVR

[Alank950]

Hi is there a difference in the Garmin Zumo 550 and the Garmin Zumo 550 Delux?.If so do you still think the Zumo 550 is the best deal?

[mvrtvcom]

@Alank950 Others may be able to answer this better than I at this point. There were two models of Zumo when we did this review - though few even knew that. I believe their is a lower grade model of the Zumo 550 - you don't want that. You want the full blown Zumo 550 kit. I can't remember the details, but the lower model is not what you want or what is tested here. MVR

[bertouli]

Another excellent mvrtv review, you guys are doing an amazing job, thanks a lot. This even proves women wrong that men cannot multitask.

[tedora1]

Great review, and I'm impressed with the sound quality of the recording as you ride. What system are you using to record the sound?

[mvrtvcom]

MVR Response: We've been asked why we don't like the 660. Trust me, if you buy one you will be sorry as compared to the Zumo 550 which is pretty darn great! We don't want to just slam Garmin here. We have hours of test video on this. The mount isn't secure and you can easily touch the wrong area and loose your GPS. I didn't ask for wide screen and don't like it on a bike. Many of the functions changed - they were perfect on the 550. I have a long list, somewhere, we gave Garmin. We like Garmin.

[narsisco2010]

I've watched this (and Part 2) several times now as I debate about which unit to get for my bike and it's been very helpful. Any plans to do a similar review of the Zumo 660? Would love to hear your thoughts on it!

[mvrtvcom]

@narsisco2010 We tested a pre-production version of the 660 and gave it back. We provided a full page of what we hated about it. They went the wrong direction and ruined it for motorcycling - don't buy it! (just our opinion after riding thousands of miles with it). The Zumo 550 is awesome - don't hesitate - buy it! It's that good. MVR

[narsisco2010]

@mvrtvcom Thanks for your very quick reply to my comment. Since you have some very strong opinions about the 660, can you elaborate on exactly what you didn't like about it? Would you have the time to create a short video reply where you just read from the page you wrote up about what you hated? I think your opinion would be very helpful to those of us shopping for a reliable motorcycling GPS... one where WE program IT to guide us where WE want to go! Many thanks!

[Loft54]

Is this and Automatic Bike--you never have to shift :)

[mvrtvcom]

@Loft54 Not at all! Big big engine and a slower backroad. there's a shift in there somewhere if I remember correctly. MVR

[rlunderhill]

Costco sells it for $599.99. That's much better.

[rlunderhill]

Does it tell you if your about to hit an animal ? I have three GPS units. actually anyone will work on my bike.

Where are you going ? Good video dude. What camera did you use to film this ? It did a great job. Can't see a grand for a GPS.

[freemusicblogg]

What a pro ride, with same quality review! Really great! Best regards from Serbia!

[21stOPFOR]

Great review. Ordered one day. I got a factory reconditioned with warranty for $450. Looking forward to using it a upcoming trip to the Ozarks. Thanks.

[zwtcrack]

Now, this is impossible: How can you ride a bike, control the GPS, think about what to tell, all at the SAME time?! Amazing. Nice review.

I just find that missing a temperature sensor is pointless. It is a GPS, not a universal everything. Buy a BMW and you get a temperatur sensor. ;-)

[mvrtvcom]

@zwtcrack It's easy if you have ridden and tested bikes your entire life. Lots of thought goes into it before we shoot video. Yes. many couldn't do it, but it's all real time! Why do we want a temperature read out? Because we've been riding a BMW a lot lately and in freezing temps. Check out the last two episodes of the F650GS video series. Thanks for taking the time! MVR

[kctay1957]

Thanks for your reply. We have been looking about buying the 660, and I have done much research at the Zumo forum. I haven't seen any concerns regarding your observations. I guess I'm going to do some more digging.

Thanks again

[mvrtvcom]

@kctay1957 It is so bad for motorcycling that it get's our blood boiling to even think about it. We spent a lot of money and two trips testing the unit. We made Garmin fully aware of our concerns with the unit, starting with a mount that the unit will fall out of if you just brush your hand by the unlock mech. Unlike the perfect mount of the 550. If you don't have anything nice to say ...... See, I'm already starting to feel ill.

[kctay1957]

I'm curious, you pan the 660, which has more features, and a larger screen, but don't say why. Why...

[HiBLimited]

Hi, excellent review definitely going to get one. Your commentary was very clear, what sort of headset do you use when making the video? Also, can you recommend a bluetooth headset please.

Many thanks

Nigel

[HiBLimited]

Hi, excellent review definitely going to get one. Your commentary was very clear, what sort of headset do you use when making the video? Also, can you recommend a bluetooth headset please.

Many thanks

Nigel

[rots4me]

Got my 550 because of this video (and the BMW 800GS review)...did some snooping online and the price has come down, got it for $607 delivered.

EXCELLENT REVIEW!!!!!!!

[johnudon]

@rots4me Good video, would you care to share the name of the $607 vendor? The price in Thailand is over $1100.++

TIA

[bboydoy]

Excellent review! Seriously you even have a proper review voice lol. Even more impressive you're doing it while riding.

2 thumbs up for review and 550!

[mvrtvcom]

Thanks for the kind comments and taking the time to comment. We love the 550, the 660 .... NO! MVR

[ZumoUchiha]

YAY I'M FAMOUS ^^ lol

[belladellahotdog]

do you think the mount would work on a sports bike?

[jediknight122089]

Hey, what kind of helmet do you have because, I had a tom tom rider and using the bluetooth headset was way to noisy in my current helmet.

[65roadliner]

I bought one about 2weeks ago, here in Australia and I had problems with the GPS Bluetooth from day1, I could only make calls and not receive calls and to end the call I had to pull over and manually end the call.

I took the phone to a service agent and got the bluetooth software upgraded in the phone and it still had the same problems. My phone is a Motorola V3XX

.The GPS is now in the shop, a bad start but I hope things will sort them selfs out.

[wolf501958]

do you have any plans to rewiew the garmin zumo 660?

[mvrtvcom]

We used a new unit just as it came out - we can not recommend the unit for any reason. 4 of 10 score. The Zumo 550 gets a 10 from us. Forget the 660! MVR

[Muscleduck]

This is an awesome review, now I'm sure the Zumo 550 is the right choice.

[ermollejuo]

next time , review a product in a studio, the panorama and the sound of the engine , made me not to pay attention to whatever you were talking about....great ride!!!

[mvrtvcom]

Sorry, everyone else seemed to love it. MVR

[mvrtvcom]

Thank you! A lot of work goes into what we do.

MVR

[ajaxweb]

Never seen anything like this video - I am amazed that you are casually demonstrating this unit while cruising around bends. Amazingly well produced and a very entertaining watch, thanks for making it available to us.

[Senegal01]

Hard to believe no ambient noise with you system! Very good video, I am now glad that I am having factory installed Zumo on my new Road Glide. Thank you.

[cdrice999]

Do you have a list of your equipment used during filming these videos? I'd especially like to find out what helmet, microphone, intercom and camera you are using. Thanks!

[mvrtvcom]

It's nothing two years of study and a bag full of money won't get you. This is all a very important part of our business, and a lot of it is custom, so we don't release details. You should see other magazines staring at our equipment when we're at press events. It actually pissed one magazine guy off that we wouldn't share the details of our business.

MVR

[cdrice999]

Thanks for the reply; that's certainly fair. Allow me to rephrase. ;)

If a rider wanted to use their Zumo 550 to interface with their mobile phone, what kind of intercom system and helmet would you recommend?

I use a Baehr Ultima XL wired intercom with their own microphone (all wired connections; only wireless/Bluetooth is from my 550 to my phone). I'd love to sound as clean and present as the audio in your videos. Do you have any suggestions, without giving away any secrets? ;)

Thanks again!

[mvrtvcom]

Oh sorry - certainly. We have had good luck, and like the Scal Bluetooth Rider Headset. This is small, lightweight, has a small charger, and a strong single speaker. We used this for cell phone and to hear the GPS. It doesn't solve the communication to others, but I think they have a model for that. We do not recommend the FM radio model. We do not use this for recording - that's something entirely different, custom and very difficult to use. Just saw the Zumo for best price ever at Best Buy.

[redraiders2K9]

If you had a bag full of money why couldnt you get a camera that uses HD?

[darkeneddreams]

Have you guys got the Garmin Nuvo 550? Its cheaper than the Zumo but similar spec.

[nevertrustabunny]

waterproof?

glove usage?

vibration proof?

[Yeormom]

The documentation with the Zumo is horrible but other than that, seems to be well liked.