Harley GPS - Know what model it is?

[Bakon]

I looked at the Harley Zumo and Garmin Zumo 550 models for comparison. Are they the same unit in a different case?

Seem to have all the same functions and display size, but the outside is different. Cant find anything on line to verify or disprove.

Thanks in advance.

[IndyHarley]

Garmin makes the HD GPS and it is a 550

[Coyote]

Yes, same unit, different color. The HD unit comes with the dealerships pre loaded but you can load them as POI's with the 550. Only difference besides that is you pay more for the HD unit and don't get the car mount. The choice seems clear. JMO 

[IBARider]

Let me guess,  The HD version costs a lot more?

[RoadGlide0611]

Yes you guessed right!

[Bakon]

Thought so. Thanks

[road-dawgs1]

About $300 more

[Coyote]

If you can wait a few months, the Zumo 650 will be out and even lower cost I believe. My 550 recently developed touch screen issues. Finally gave up and sent it back to Garmin at a tune of $200 to refurb it. 

[Panzer]

I hope Specialx1 reads this........oh wait, he'll prolly by the HD anyway.                       
                                    Never mind !!

[road-dawgs1]

If you can wait a few months, the Zumo 650 will be out and even lower cost I believe. My 550 recently developed touch screen issues. Finally gave up and sent it back to Garmin at a tune of $200 to refurb it. 

It's a 660 ain't it?  The 450's are now not being made anymore so those can be had cheap. Same as 550 but without blue tooth and car cradle

[Coyote]

If you can wait a few months, the Zumo 650 will be out and even lower cost I believe. My 550 recently developed touch screen issues. Finally gave up and sent it back to Garmin at a tune of $200 to refurb it. 

It's a 660 ain't it?  The 450's are now not being made anymore so those can be had cheap. Same as 550 but without blue tooth and car cradle

Yes, 660

[Jim Bronson]

Is there any reason the 550 (or 660) can't be easily used in a car? I would want to transfer the unit between the bike and the car.

[Princess Butt]

I've had the 550 for almost 2 years, and I love it. It came with a motorcycle mount, and a seperate car mount which uses a suction cup on the windshield. Just pop it out of the bike mount and into the car mount, works beautiful.

Word of warning: when washing the bike, put a plastic baggie over the bike mount. They don't like getting soaked 

www.zumoforums.com is a great info source on these units. Get the thumbscrew from the guy in the Netherlands, it's stupid cheap and the best thing I've done with mine.

BnEUC

[Jim Bronson]

Word of warning: when washing the bike, put a plastic baggie over the bike mount. They don't like getting soaked 

BnEUC

That's good to know. I thought the Zumo was waterproof. Do you have to baggie it in the rain?

[road-dawgs1]

That's good to know. I thought the Zumo was waterproof. Do you have to baggie it in the rain?

It is waterproof and you don't have to baggie it, he is talking about the empty cradle when left on the bike and washing it.

Is there any reason the 550 (or 660) can't be easily used in a car? I would want to transfer the unit between the bike and the car.

The 550 comes with the car cradle.  The 450 you can buy the cradle.  I don't know about the 660 but I would imagine that it will come with a car mount.  Most folks do switch between bike and cage with the 550

[marc]

Let me guess,  The HD version costs a lot more?

Hell yes...HD=hundred $$...LOL...

[Tsani]

Odd. My cradle mount has a cap that seals it when the 550 isn't in it.

[road-dawgs1]

Odd. My cradle mount has a cap that seals it when the 550 isn't in it.

Mine too. I don't bag mine when washing.  Some dielectric on the pins is wise

[highlander]

I have the older Garmin Quest. The mounting system that have for the unltra kinda sucks. I've had two units jump off the bike when I hit a bump. The only response from the dealer or HD is "shoulda made sure it was clicked in all the way". Kiss my ass! I don't know what kind of mounting system this new one has on it, but make sure you figure some way to keep it securely attached to the bike, or you will be buying a new one, cause nobody cares.

[loc]

I use the Nuvi 350 but it is not waterproof....I think the do make a waterproof Nuvi but dont know the model number. Nuvi is very slim and compact.

[Princess Butt]

My little weather cap was left on the side of the road somewhere in Virginia.

If the GPS is mounted in the cradle, there's a seal between the GPS and the mounting base which will keep it water tight.

If you don't have the GPS installed, definitely cover the mount with a baggie. Cheap insurance.

BnEUC

[takwolf]

Just used my c550, (older unit) and need to come up with a sunshade or something so I can see it. Any ideas? TIA.

[chris haynes]

I found a place, http://www.gpsdiscount.com/products/nuvis.html , that sells garmin Nuvi's cheap. They even sell factory rebuilts at a fair price.

[chengdave2003]

I just fabbed up a mount for my Nuvi 350 (also obsolete now according to the Garmin website).  I posted this on another forum, but it's pertinent to this thread also.

I had replaced the stock black plastic gas cap last year with a chrome one. The GPS mount I bought from Ebay a couple years ago for about $10 including shipping. To make the mount I took the plastic gas cap apart. It can be taken apart by inserting a screwdriver in the slots underneath the cap and prying apart the cap at the joint. Each slot opens it up a bit more. The cap is domed and I needed it flat. I put the cap on a woodworkers vice and put a piece of solid six inch round stock on top. It weighs about 30 pounds. From underneath I used a heat gun to soften the plastic until it was flat. I had to take the GPS mount apart to get the mount screwed onto the cap. I used four 6-32 machine screws to mount fasten the cap and mount together with a piece of 1/16" rubber gasket material to help dampen vibrations. I put it all back together and it works great. I have to admit that I'm not comfortable leaving it the GPS in the mount as is, I'm going to use some rubber bands to help hold it in.... Of course when I'm not using the GPS I'll put back the chromed gas cap.  All told took maybe an hour.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn60/chengdave2003/Harley%20Upgrades/GPSMount1.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn60/chengdave2003/Harley%20Upgrades/GPSMount2.jpg

Now I have to wire up an accessory outlet to plug it in. For that I'm going to splice a battery tender quick-disconnect to the outlet so I only have the one harness on the battery, plus the outlet is fused.

Dave

[Princess Butt]

Dave, that's a great setup! Who would have ever thought of using the cap?

BnEUC

[Coyote]

Dave, that's a great setup! Who would have ever thought of using the cap?

BnEUC

I tried this on my RG but decided it was far to dangerous. When the GPS is mounted up on the bars, you can glance at it and still have the road ahead in view. With it on the tank, you must move your head down and while looking at the GPS, you don't see the road at all. Just felt like a bad idea to me so I moved it back up to the bars. JMO

[IndyHarley]

Is there any reason the 550 (or 660) can't be easily used in a car? I would want to transfer the unit between the bike and the car.

if you buy the 550 or 660 they have a car mount also as standard equipment. so yes they can be transferred from bike and car rather easily.

[IndyHarley]

Dave, that's a great setup! Who would have ever thought of using the cap?

BnEUC

I tried this on my RG but decided it was far to dangerous. When the GPS is mounted up on the bars, you can glance at it and still have the road ahead in view. With it on the tank, you must move your head down and while looking at the GPS, you don't see the road at all. Just felt like a bad idea to me so I moved it back up to the bars. JMO

I agree - it should be mounted so you also have your eyes straight ahead on the road for obvious safety and life saving reasons. Now if your GPS has voice prompts and you set it and go and do what the voice prompts state without ever taking your eyes off the road then I guess safety is not a factor but my guess is that you will look at it at some point while riding so again my preference is to mount it where my eyes will still be on the road.

[RoadGlide0611]

That's what I'm thinking of going with a Nuvi.  There so much cheaper than the zumo and thinner and less weight.

[Coyote]

If you go with a Nuvi, just be aware that you can't create your route and upload it (At least I know most don't). That was one of the nicest things about the zumo. It's very seldom I want the shortest (hiway) route from point a to point b. With the zumo, I can create any route I want and load it into the zumo. The zumo will then navigate that exact route. 

[chengdave2003]

Thank you...works for me...and it was free....(already had everything)...just took a bit of time to figure it out....

Dave, that's a great setup! Who would have ever thought of using the cap?

BnEUC