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[Midnight Rider]

Or...find some leftover Garmin 2820 model...almost every feature of the Zumo (no SD card, but lots of internal memory) and you can get one for a song if you can find one.  Waterproof, MP3, Bluetooth, Stereo output jack.   Uses the same map as the Zumo, blah, blah, blah.  Comes with a car mount (bean bag type deal).

Anything with a hard drive is a bad idea on a bike.  IMO, anything not waterproof is also a bad idea on a bike...the very time you will need it most will be when it's in your pocket and you're in a strange place that you don't need to be lost in.

Generally speaking, you get what you pay for in these units.  My 2 cents...

[Twolanerider]

Hadn't had a reason to look for awhile Terry.  Damn.  Just saw new 2820s on eBay for $250.  Almost good enough reason to consider buying a backup unit.

[Midnight Rider]

Hadn't had a reason to look for awhile Terry.  Damn.  Just saw new 2820s on eBay for $250.  Almost good enough reason to consider buying a backup unit.

Yea, they're cheap now.  I've considered the same thing because Suzanne is always "borrowing" mine when she goes around town doing business.  She can actually use the thing from the unit itself more efficiently than I can, as I generally map stuff out and upload.  Garmin will support the 2820 for some time to come, so it really is a bargain.

[woode]

The Zumo 550 has...

*XM Radio
*XM Traffic
*MP3 Player
*Bike Mount
*Car Mount
*Audio out
*External microphone
*Bluetooth
*Good phone interface screen should you decide to pair Bluetooth phone
*Waterproof
*Create routes & waypoints offline & upload to Zumo
*Download routes traveled to PC, extract lots of interesting info (exact locations, speed, altitude, etc. etc. etc).  Export to other users' Zumos
*Import custom points of interest
*Interface customized to fat-fingered/gloved biker hands
*Combination of hard (rubber covered, on left of unit) and soft buttons (on screen) make selection of options easy without taking attention off of the road

This is not a perfect unit (Bluetooth is mono only, and screen is a bit too small), but it is pretty darn close.  You can get other GPS units to do some of the same things, but I doubt that you will find another that has so many useful features in one unit.  My guess is that if you never had a Zumo, you may be perfectly happy.  However, once you have one, you will never want to be without it.  It is truly a must-have that no other GPS will replace - not even the new Zumo 660!

You truly do get what you pay for.

Ed

[Diamondback]

I agree.  I've never found one better.

 

It is worth the money.. Which could be why it is still the same price after almost three years on the market.

[PR3VS56]

Are the Garmin Zumo 550 and the Road Tech Zumo the same thing?

[Fired00d]

Are the Garmin Zumo 550 and the Road Tech Zumo the same thing?

For all practical purposes the answer is yes except for one big difference.... the H-D one will cost you more and not have all the accessories. If memory serves me right the H-D version will come preloaded with dealerships loaded as points of interest, but you can get a file (a better one at that) of the dealerships that you can load yourself.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[PR3VS56]

For all practical purposes the answer is yes except for one big difference.... the H-D one will cost you more and not have all the accessories. If memory serves me right the H-D version will come preloaded with dealerships loaded as points of interest, but you can get a file (a better one at that) of the dealerships that you can load yourself.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

What accessories come with the Z550?  My RoadTech Zumo came with the automotive mount kit (separate suction cup mount/disc & cig lighter cable).  I paid $699, which I thought was rich, but felt OK about it being that I didn't pay msrp.  I had to buy the mc mount though -- another $40.

The only other extras I'm aware of are the external mic and XM kit. 

[Fired00d]

What accessories come with the Z550?  My RoadTech Zumo came with the automotive mount kit (separate suction cup mount/disc & cig lighter cable).  I paid $699, which I thought was rich, but felt OK about it being that I didn't pay msrp.  I had to buy the mc mount though -- another $40.

The only other extras I'm aware of are the external mic and XM kit.  

That would be it. Even though most don't use the supplied mount that comes w/the Zumo (it's not chrome ) there are actually two motorcycle mounts supplied w/the 550.

I paid $679 for my 550 in 04/07 (which came w/XM capabilities) and I believe others have gotten them cheaper since. You getting your Roadtech at $699 is/was a bargain the MoCo website is showing a msrp of $799 and that was what I was basing my statement on the 550 being less cost.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[PR3VS56]

OK that makes sense.  I went through Mark @ M&M for the friendly price.  Gave mine the first long road test yesterday enroute to Solana Beach from Santa Barbara for the long weekend, and it worked great.  I like the way the audio instructions mute the mp3 playing.  Great unit -- I'm happy!

[Fired00d]

You can't go wrong w/either unit. Basically the same thing only difference is the name.

Speaking of the Roadtech unit... Do you know if there is a part number for the cap(s)... specifically the top one that has the bar and shield? I'm currently running the flame caps, but the B/S logo would be a nice one to have.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Diamondback]

 

Once on the bike they are the same.  The HD may look better.

If you go to the Zumo forum it will tell you where to buy the BS tops(as well as a host of others).  Garmin even sells a few.

 

[Fired00d]

Once on the bike they are the same.  The HD may look better.

If you go to the Zumo forum it will tell you where to buy the BS tops(as well as a host of others).  Garmin even sells a few.

 

You got a link?? I belong to that forum although I haven't been there in a few weeks and hadn't seen anything about them before (and just did a search w/no luck). I was aware and have purchased some of the ones by Garmin.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Diamondback]

 

Couldn't find the Bar & Shield.

http://www.compacc.com/p.cfm/c/1119003/p/19570

I saw one in Colorado.  Could have been custom made.  It was on a carbon fiber top.

 

[Fired00d]

Couldn't find the Bar & Shield.

http://www.compacc.com/p.cfm/c/1119003/p/19570

I saw one in Colorado.  Could have been custom made.  It was on a carbon fiber top.

 

Ok, thanks. I've got some of the ones in the link you provided.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d