Smokin deal: Garmin Zumo 450, $399 @ Amazon

[schleppy]

With free standard shipping, $13 for two day. I just bought one myself, seeing as this is the best deal I could find by a long shot!

[OreoGaborio]

DAMNIT!!!! If only I didn't just buy a new race bike & need new leathers

[schleppy]

Just use the credit card (says the guy who just spent a year paying all of his off)...

[DucDave]

I have the Zumo 450 and that IS a smokin' deal!

[schleppy]

I also bought a car charger for $20 shipped, and I'll pick up a RAM windshield mount so I can use it in my truck. No way I'm paying $100 for the Garmin Auto kit...

[kermita]

So is this the best GPS for the $? Been thinking about getting one but wasn't sure of which one to get.

[DucDave]

The 450 is specifically made for motorcycles though it works great in a car too. But I think there are other Garmin models that might be better for cars...

[kermita]

The 450 is specifically made for motorcycles though it works great in a car too. But I think there are other Garmin models that might be better for cars...

what makes it "specifically made for a motorcycle"? Size?

[RandyO]

what makes it "specifically made for a motorcycle"? Size?

waterproof, large glove friendly left hand controls

get zumo 450 if your only gonna use it on your bikeand don't want bluetooth or XM radio

difference in price between 450 and 550 is not much more than the cost of the car kit that comes with the 550 but not the 450

[DucDave]

its designed to be controlled left handed and its waterproof....

[kermita]

thanks for the input guys!

[noxin]

I have a Zumo 450 and like it.

The difference between the 450 and 550 is the Bluetooth that can connect to a phone and a set of headphones so you can go wireless with music and make/receive calls on the bike (I don't like that idea).

If anyone gets this and the zumo just decides not to turn on, try popping the battery and see if that makes a difference.

[Cheese]

I have a Zumo 450 and like it.

The difference between the 450 and 550 is the Bluetooth that can connect to a phone and a set of headphones so you can go wireless with music and make/receive calls on the bike (I don't like that idea).

Bluetooth is also making it's way into helmets.. slowly. I don't know why technology is so slow for motorcycle gear (probably the customer base is too small) but eventually you'll be able to connect your bluetooth GPS, GMRS radio, XM radio and cell phone to your helmet without wires. If they can tie in the RADAR detector we're all set!

Kim,

Get a Zumi for your bike or a Nuvi for your car. Unfortunately, they don't swap back and forth very nicely.

[noxin]

I just got a Nuvi 200 for the car for $99. Very similar interface to the Zumo, so of course, I like it.

[mycirus]

I got the 550 and it works great in the car as well. It gives you directions and voice prompts, what more do you need?

[schleppy]

I got the 550 and it works great in the car as well. It gives you directions and voice prompts, what more do you need?

I've had a Garmin C330 in my truck for a while now. I'm at the point where I don't even use the speaker anymore. It's basically permanently muted now. I just look at what direction is coming up and keep it in mind. Occasionally I look down to see how far it is to the next direction, if it's a real trek.

[ssg]

I also bought a car charger for $20 shipped, and I'll pick up a RAM windshield mount so I can use it in my truck. No way I'm paying $100 for the Garmin Auto kit...

Have you tried this out yet?

Im curious because I think the usb only charges, not operates the unit. Not to mention you'll have no audio outputs (or speech) which means staring at the GPS hoping to know when it's going to tell you to turn. Sorta self defeating...

[schleppy]

Have you tried this out yet?

Im curious because I think the usb only charges, not operates the unit. Not to mention you'll have no audio outputs (or speech) which means staring at the GPS hoping to know when it's going to tell you to turn. Sorta self defeating...

Nope, I haven't tried it yet. My current plan is to use the whole motorcycle mount in the car via a windshield RAM mount. The car charger I bought plugs into the moto cradle so far as I know. If not, I'll find another solution.

Worst case I have no sound, oh well. As I said above I have the speaker turned off on my current Garmin...

[ssg]

As I said above I have the speaker turned off on my current Garmin...

Yeah but my attention span had already drifted by that point

yeah, if your car plug is going into the bike cradle it's a nonissue, I thought you might have snagged one of the Nuvi usb plug-in's.