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| Welcome to the forum GDobler. I believe all the Streetpilot series are water resistant. I have never had a problem with my SPIII and have had it running through some serious rain. I know their is no problem with the 2610, 2720 and 2820 in rain. The only thing I would stay away from are the ones with hard drives (which I think have all been discontinued in the Garmin line.) The models that use memory cards are not subject to vibrations like hard drives are. I think the Zumo cost a lot right now because it is a fairly new model. If history is any indication the street price will be much lower in just a couple of months. I have seen refurbished 2720s selling for a great price right now and Garmin refurbished units carry the same one year guarantee as their new units. One other thing to consider is the Zumo comes with a RAM mount for the bike. You can expect to add $50 or more to any other model you buy to get a RAM mount.
Torqueman
Battle Creek, MI
V-Strom 06
Goldwing 03
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GDobler (3/8/2007)
Is it fair to say that the cycle specific GPS units like Tom Tom Rider or Zumo are more expensive than those sold for the automobile because they are 1) water resistant and 2) built to withstand more vibration?Has anyone had issues with using a none cycle specific GPS? I'm mostly a fair weather rider, although we've all been caught in an unexpected storm. I used various Garmin units for years on my bikes, all were waterproof. All were built primarily for the cage market. If you go to their website, they will, under the specs of a unit actually tell you to what standard any given unit is waterproof. I don't know about the TomTom units, never used one. Different units have different features, that is what tends to determine the price. Plus the expected popularity will impact the price.
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| One time while out I had to ride thru a small shower and i passed a guy that had what looked like a kitchen sandwich baggie over his gps unit. I thought to myself it is eith not waterproof or he did not want it wet or anything to happen to it. Just some of the things you see or observe about other riders or bikes. Nomad17
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| Thanks for the replies. I see a Garmin 2720 refurnbised for $459 on Tiger GPS. Zumo 500 advantages are left hand buttons, UV fade resistant screen, RAM mount. Disadvantages are not yet available, price. The Zumo 450 doesn't come with a lot of accessories, which if bought separately add up to more than the 500 suggested price and the 550 has features I don't want (or think I want). The 2720 maybe the way to go.
2001 R1100s
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| GDobler, Yep you got Decisions decisions to make. Don't you just love it. I like the extra gagets. it will give me something to do if I get bored on a long ride or on a rainy day in the garage. i like the 550 Nomad17
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GDobler (3/21/2007)
Thanks for the replies. I see a Garmin 2720 refurnbised for $459 on Tiger GPS. Zumo 500 advantages are left hand buttons, UV fade resistant screen, RAM mount. Disadvantages are not yet available, price. The Zumo 450 doesn't come with a lot of accessories, which if bought separately add up to more than the 500 suggested price and the 550 has features I don't want (or think I want).The 2720 maybe the way to go. Really, how much is the real world difference in price from the 450 - 550? Just bought the 550, haven't even gotten it out of the box yet. Leaving on a trip on the 30th.
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A quick comparison on CNET looks like around $150 to $200 between the 450 and 550. Enjoy the trip. Post a reply as to how you liked the 550.
2001 R1100s
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| Spike, Yes post back on the 550 i would like to know how it did also. And I will see if I should buy it before my big trip in July. Nomad17
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Will do, I actually carried it with me in the cage yesterday going back and forth to work -- just to get an idea. It definately gets a signal and holds it better than my StreetPilot. The little icon being a motorcycle is cute too, wish you could change the color though They have definately removed some functionality from it compared to the SP III that I had/have. Fewer menues and user defined choices. I am guessing to make it easy/quicker/safer to use on a bike -- but that is a guess on my part. The 3-D view is neat. But the POI's don't have a listing for Alice's restaraunt, a fairly famous local biker meeting place for the San Francisco Bay area. Been there for years and years so it isn't new. That is where I am meeting my buddy to start our trip, I wanted to pull it up to try to get an idea of what time I need to leave my house. They didn't have it??? Weird. I hadn't thought I would want one, but now after playing and seeing the Zumo, I really want a Bluetooth headset for my helmet. Does anyone have any comments on them? My helmet manufacturer, Schuberth, actually now makes a kit, with replacement pads and everthing to integrate a Bluetooth right into the helmet -- but they aren't going to import it to the US. No plans, not even trying to, I contacted the home office in Germany about it. The retrofit kit isn't availible for sale, you buy it only thru an authorized dealer in Germany and they install it for you. So I can't even have the kit shipped from a European dealer. Apparently they went to great lengths to make sure that even after the install, the helmet still passes all the EU safety regs, and they don't want to risk someone screwing it up. So I guess I will have to go with a clunky add on unit I tried going to the Chatterbox website to see what they have, I remember seeing them show something at the motorcycle show last year. First off, had a hard time finding their website instead of just a dealers website, finally did and it no longer works. Did they go belly up does anyone know? J&M is working on a Bluetooth unit, but it isn't availible yet. Autocomm has nothing yet. The only two things I have found are an add on Motorola unit and another name I haven't heard of before Cada or something like that. I know in the British mags there are several, from the manufacturer, availible Bluetooth equiped helmets, but not here in the states. Even the new BMW helmet includes it now. Really would like to use the Zumo to play my MP3s, route phone calls, and I can even plug in my V1 and have it all go to my helmet wirelessly. That is awesome, if I can find a good headset.
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| Spike, one thing that is worth knowing is the bluetooth does not play music in stereo. If mono is OK with you then go for it. For me I want stereo. One other thing is you could not play something through the bluetooth. I can not remember if it was the XM or mp3s so check with Garmin. Everyone has to make their own decisions but after seeing the Mythbusters episode where they showed driving while talking on the cell phone was worse than driving while drunk I am staying away from cell phone use on the bike or in the car.
Torqueman
Battle Creek, MI
V-Strom 06
Goldwing 03
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