GPS, Garmin introduces Zumo 220, $600 navigation for vaguely budget-conscious two-wheeled hooligans
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 20th 2010 10:54AM
posted January 20th 2010 10:54AM
GPS, posted January 20th 2010 10:54AM
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I'm not a hooligan!
@Macinmypocket Tell it to the judge.
"but also has a car mount for those days when weather prohibits riding in to work -- or when you just don't feel like getting all your gear on."
Or for the few of us that have impractical cars such that one gets wet if it rains (unless driving at warp speed).
Another product that begins with Z - Zune, Zino, Zeen, Zumo...
All these people are copying off Microsoft...
@bob e Zima, Zero (aka A6M), Zork, Zack the Lego Maniac ... they all preceded the Zune.
???
I am confused as to why a GPS for a motorcycle would cost many times what one for a car would cost.
And I used to own a bike.
@Hazdaz
Making a Rugged device requires higher quality parts. Shock proofing, Heat proofing, Water Proofing, Dust proofing. And its own custom glove friendly UI.
@Grizz are you serious? no, really, i want to know if you're being serious?
@Grizz
OK, I can "get" the weather-proofing, but that's still an absurd amount of money in my book. I mean I could easily understand a $100 or possibly even $200 premium, but not 2x or 3x the cost of a car unit.
Hell, on a bike, getting lost is 1/2 the fun.
buy a $70 GPS, and a $5 airtight food container at ikea or someplace, and be happy with the $500+ profit.
@Wwhat
I'm not sure you understand profit.
Or you could buy a Lowrance XOG weather resistent crossover GPS for $200 and have $400 left over for gas money.
$150 GPS and a ziplock bag has lasted me many years.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=168512&l=55af470679&id=1240633809
@Grizz zip lock bag? Classy. I guess this device is more for people who aren't driving there 1985 dirt bike out of the trailer park.
@Grizz
It's hard to tell from the photo but what have you done with regards mounting it?
Is the mount inside the bag (so the seal strip is on the arm) or does the bag only contain the unit so the bag gets pressed into the mounting bracket?
@Sheldon
I zip-tied the window mount to the handlebars. The bag goes over it all and a elastic holds it shut. Over the last 2 years I found thinner bags work better but need more frequent replacement.
Unit still works and never got more than a little fogging inside the bag on the really bad 6-hour downpours.
@Grizz I currently use thinner bags over just the gps and press it into the mount clips.
@Grizz does your GPS do cusstom routes?
engadget why does your website not work on firefox or IE6. COMEON!
@Grizz Do you also save money on condoms by using saran-wrap? heh heh heh.
@Grizz
Ah, thanks for the deets Grizz.
Good to know that I can press into the clips with thin bags (obviously "YMMV" and it depends upon the exact GPS/clip type but I'd rather go down that route to keep the bag completely sealed all the time)
@Mcflycat
what is Saran-wrap ? Must be a Yank thing
I'm going to guess Plastic cling flim?
@Grizz
Condoms (non lubricated of course) work very well for this as well.
Since when is $600 for a GPS budget conscience?
Garmin just doesn't get it.
Maybe when their profits go down even more they will start to realize that things have changed, and navigation devices should no longer cost ridiculous amounts of money.
@Grizz
It's hard to tell from the photo but what have you done with regards mounting it?
Is the mount inside the bag (so the seal strip is on the arm) or does the bag only contain the unit so the bag gets pressed into the mounting bracket?
@Sheldon
*sigh*
Stupid system; lost my "replying to" pointer and I was too lazy to check.
$600 for a GPS? And for a 3.5" GARMIN? Damn. My discontinued Mio C320, for which I paid a whopping $100, blows most GPSs out the water. 4.3 widescreen, TTS add-on, runs IGO8 and other apps, can be easily hacked to be a full WindowsCE (that's what under the hood) device.
I've taken it kayaking, biking, skiing (dropped in deep snow few times)... My GF's Garmin, on the other hand, sends her on an interesting detour EVERY TIME she uses it, and that's with updated maps.
And did I mention that my Mio doesn't have a Toys-R-Us interface/colors?
/ A little Garmin hate
// Tom toms are cool too
/// Don't get a Navigon either.
@whiskers
P.S. And the best part about the Mio? Fast startup and absolutely NO stupid "omg don't use this while driving" warnings that you have to click through.
Pick yourself up a user or refurbished Garmin Nuvi 500. It's waterproof and has most of the features at a fraction of the price.
The reason why motorcycle GPS’ cost 2x that of vehicles is primarily because the motorcycle market is a lot smaller than the vehicle market. Thus, they are not able to sell as many units and recover their development/manufacturing costs. The construction of the Zumo and Nuvi are pretty much identical other than plastic covers, rubber seals and glue to prevent moisture from reaching the circuitry. It’s fairly easy to weatherproof a Nuvi; I weatherproofed my 260 and use it on my motorcycle.
Motorcycling is still considered a recreation. Thus, all things “motorcycles” cost more that the norm. For instance, an oil change will cost ~$100.00 to have changed. A new set of tires will cost you ~$400.00 to have installed. If you own a motorcycle, either you learn to deal with it or do the work yourself.
Hey, cool, that's down town Denver. That destination is a bar though. I wonder if this thing can guide you to the nearest detox center too.
I put my Garmin Nuvi 260 in a ziploc bag and zip tie the normal bracket to the top triple tree bracket then secure the gps to the bracket with electrical tape. This has worked for me on over 4k miles of road trip, rain and shine, Texas desert heat and dust. I give Garmin props, the Nuvi 260 is built like a tank, it has survived far more then most other small electronics have.
Damn, that's half what I paid for the whole motorcycle.
I've been very happy with my Zumo550 - very durable including a few times it popped out of the TechMount bracket when I didnt clamp it correctly.
Does this unit run on battery as well, aka, when not in wired mount? It's convenient to be able to take the 550 out of bracket when I park the bike and need to walk a ways. I'd look at this - but the 550 has proven very reliable (and no plastic baggies required- which of course, on my MV Agusta F4 would be completely unacceptable).
GSXR750. Nuvi 250. Bicycle mount. Ziplock bag (for when it's raining). The bicycle mount has been ziptied to the inner fairing in front of the left handlebar. I stripped a USB car accessory plug and wired it to the battery via a fuse and zip tied that to the back of the mount. Total cost < £100. The Burgman megascoot got similar treatment but in this case the bicycle mount has been zip-tied to a couple of small holes in the handlebar surround and the USB socket is fed from the heated grip feed.
I've decided I like the GPS well out of line of sight so it's not distracting. It's just a quick look down when you lose track of the directions. Tend to have the sound turned off as well.
M/C specific GPS? We don't need no steenking...
Garmin will never get that much money from me for that overpriced gps. I'll just keep on using my Etrex Vista with RAM Mount. Vibration resistant and waterproof.
Zumo has always been rip off marketing as a niche product. The Nuvi 500 is waterproof, has been out for a while, and even has topology maps for offroad riding.
Personally, I just have a really thin plastic baggie that goes over my GPS as I've been too cheap to buy one of the waterproof enclosures. I have ridden through many storms w/o issue.
I use a normal $200 garmin car version on my GIXXER, why should motorcyclists take it in the back door for a 300% price increase on a GPS unit? I am still waiting to hear why these so called "two wheel" versions should cost so much more than their "four wheel" equivalents?