[akira700]

Check it out !

http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo450/

[RandyO]

I seen that, I would still choose the Garmin 276C (marine unit) with faster processor and larger display

[akira700]

yes, but the zumo is an MP3 player too...
pretty cool.

[Punjistick]

I believe Currently has the Zumo 550 which has the bluetooth which is nice if you want to send/receive calls. I got the Garmin Streetpilot i3 but took it back since I did not care for it. I'll probably get the Zumo 550 even though it is like 3x as much.

[bigred875]

that 550 looks neato

[Punjistick]

Another thing that is nice about the 550 is the touchscreen display and easy to use buttons if you are wearing gloves.

[duey]

wow that 550 has got alot of nice features. Too bad its a tad bit on the costly side, although probably worth the money. Might have to go for that in the near future.

[Currently]

See guys ... you are going about it ass backwards.

This is what you got to do.

You buy your wife a fully loaded Nav Package Honda Accord.
Let her get used to it ... then ...

Honey, can I get a GPS for XMAS?

So it really cost me 29 grand for a GPS!

Actually it is quite the unit, I use it in the truck and on the bike.
It comes with everything you need, you don't have to buy anything extra.

MP3 plays nice but the player has absolutely no features ...
just Random or sequential play ... that is it.

I suggest looking at Cyber Marine in Connecticutt.
I think I paid less than 750 ...

AND NO ... NOT ALL GPS UNITS ARE WATERPROOF OR RESISTANT.

All kidding aside, if you want to give your wife a gift that will totally
boost her confidence in driving to strange places, this is it!

My wife now goes to downtown Boston without a care in the world!
She would throw a hissy fit on finding the mall in ManchVegas from
Nashua!

[Currently]

Akira, come see me the next time we meet at Paul's place in Acton.

[Punjistick]

I found it for $695 at this place

Does anyone know if you can get a set of bluetooth speakers you can fit in your helmet in order to listen to the GPS directions and mp3s instead of using a cord to the headphone jack?

I like the idea of spekers in my helmet as headphones always fall out of my ears and the cord is annoying. I'm sure it is possible to modify bluetooth headphones to fit in your helmet.

[Currently]

The bluetooth helmets I saw are expensive and don't seem to be oriented to sportbike riders ....

Can you say Goldwing rider style ...

I am looking for a mike I can use with my Shure E4i noise isolating earsets.

With my MP3 player on mute, these things cancel noise better
than the foam ear plugs.

For the scientific types out there, it cancels the noise by creating a wave that is 180 degrees out of phase thereby cancelling existing noise.

It works almost too well ... I really have to pay attention to what
is around me.

[RandyO]

I saw a bluetooth helmet set at the Montreal Bike show last winter for reasonable money, I brought literature home, but I'd have to hunt for it now

[duey]

for bluetooth on the helmet i use this : http://www.cardowireless.com/scala_rider/index.php

I like the headset alot, if i'm putting around town (40mph or less, maybe more on a bike thats not that loud) people don't realize i'm on my bike. My old phone used to be able to patch audio through it which made it awesome as an mp3 play and phone headset. Since changing phones i no longer have mp3 function which i missed on a few long rides.

They also have that nice little Teamset rig thats pretty nice, i may sell my regular scala-rider for the teamset unit when i get around to it. (http://cardowireless.com/scala_rider_teamset/)

[Punjistick]

Duey, those are some cool products. The ability to have a mic is great so you can answer calls. I didn't even think about that.

I was thinking I'd have to take apart some bluetooth headphones and install the speakers in the helmet with velcro.
I had no idea there was something made already for helmets.

[ssg]

Motorola makes some too,

http://www.cbrxx.com/riding-gear-lug...set-hs830.html

[duey]

well i didn't get the zumo550, but i'll settle for the c550 that i just got as a bday gift from my fiance

Reviews were great from what i've read on it and so far works awesome. Paid 699 from Circuit City, so it was a bit cheaper the the zumo550. Alot of similar features between the 2 models, obviously the zumo being more "motorcycle" orientated. I do plan on using the unit alot in the car/truck more often so the extra "rugged-ness" from the zumo isn't needed right now. The c550 does have better battery life (8hrs compared to 4hrs according to Garmin.com anyways). Well that and no one has the zumo instock for me to get a hands on "feel" of it which is a huge thing for me, well that and the fact that i'm much too impatient to order online.

BUT, i still do want to the zumo eventually. So i figure this, both my girl and i will use the unit for a bit, she'll finally get sick of me taking it out of her truck that'll she'll get me the zumo later Well thats the plan anywayas

[Currently]

I see my advice is rubbing off.

Actually, you will find it very hard to get it out of her hands.

Battery life is a moot point unless you hike with it.
It is connected to your vehicles electrical system.

[duey]

Originally posted by Currently
I see my advice is rubbing off.

Actually, you will find it very hard to get it out of her hands.

Battery life is a moot point unless you hike with it.
It is connected to your vehicles electrical system.

The battery life thing i figured is a nice option for when its on the bike, since i'd only be using it when i actually need it.

But yeah hopefully the plan goes well and i hope to have the zumo sometime down the road At least i hope i don't have to invest in a 29k investment to get my zumo

[Currently]

Originally posted by duey
The battery life thing i figured is a nice option for when its on the bike, since i'd only be using it when i actually need it.

But yeah hopefully the plan goes well and i hope to have the zumo sometime down the road At least i hope i don't have to invest in a 29k investment to get my zumo

Zing well taken ... believe me.
She supported me through engineering college.
It was the least I could do for her. She has been busting her
butt for the last 30 years and this is the first time she buys
what she really wanted instead of what we could afford.
It made us both feel good to get her that car.

You miss my point though on the battery.

You should get a cradle or mount that allows it to tap in
to the electrical system of the vehicle it is on.

There is a guy in Exeter that is using the ZUMO instead
of a gauge cluster ... yeah he loses the Tach but he has every
thing else plus accurate speed readings on his SV.

The only time that thing should be on battery is if you are on
foot or hiking. I am sure they sell cradles or what they call
it for your model.

The zumo has one setup for a car/truck and one setup for a
motorcycle exclusively. Both use vehicle power.

[PatSV650]

The first time you have a GPS and go somewhere unfamiliar, especially on a bike, you'll forget what you paid for it! I went to Martha's Vineyard a while back with my TomTom and it made it so enjoyable! No thinking about where you are or if you're lost or being totally surprised by turn in the road. I kept the place we were staying at as a "favorite" in the memory ( we were staying at the West Chop Lighthouse, courtesy of my Coast Guard Brother-in-law) and never once worried about how to get back. Also used it to check out some cool places on the island.

I use it mostly for work though. Being an electrician in my company's service department puts me in up to 8 different locations a day.

I know I'll definately feel very lost without it.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by PatSV650
The first time you have a GPS and go somewhere unfamiliar, .

bah , they only take the fun out of exploring

[Currently]

There is a lower featured one coming out. ZUMO 450

No Bluetooth, no XMRadio and no text to speech ..

You really don't need these on a motorcycle anyways!

http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo450/

MSRP around $850 so street prices should run about $450 -$525



EDIT: I just reread Akira's post ... he is already talking about
the 450

Still, I would recommend that one (the 450) over the one I have.
Cheaper and more practical.

[Punjistick]

I think you are right. The 450 might be the way to go. I have an XM Radio mp3 player and I am not impressed. For the few stations I like and listen to it's not worth the $12/month.

As for the bluetooth, it would be nice to have but like you said, you don't really need it.

I think I may just have to get the 450.

[PatSV650]

Originally posted by Punjistick
........... I have an XM Radio mp3 player and I am not impressed. For the few stations I like and listen to it's not worth the $12/month. .............

Slightly off-topic, but.. Have you tried Sirius? I've been a subscriber for over a year. Love it! Listened a bit to a friend's XM and they just don't have the content that Sirius has. BTW, I do listen to Stern, but, that's not why I got it.

[Currently]

Originally posted by Punjistick
I think you are right. The 450 might be the way to go. I have an XM Radio mp3 player and I am not impressed. For the few stations I like and listen to it's not worth the $12/month.

As for the bluetooth, it would be nice to have but like you said, you don't really need it.

I think I may just have to get the 450.

Here is the effing kicker for XM Radio ...
You need the GXM 30 Antenna.

Garmin part number: 010-00423-00

Suggested Retail Price:
$267.84 U.S.D. (for domestic US market only)

Plus you have to pay 12 bux a month ... they can kiss my
rosy red arse. MP3 music on a 2 gig SDRAM card has a
months worth of music without repeating.

I think that XMRadio and Sirius Radio better rethink their
marketing strategies ...

I got XM in my wife's car and we listened to it a dozen times.
We let the free subscription lapse .. it ain't worth it.