Garmin GPS

[janda]

Garmin Zumo 660 vs Zumo 350LM. Have not found much info using the search feature, maybe because 350LM is very recent. I do see the advantage of the 350LM being lifetime maps,7 hr battery life and exit sevices. I was hoping to see if anybody can give me some input. Google has been my friend to this point, but real world users are better. I'm looking to replace a Garmin Nuvi 200W I've had for years and share between my truck and R1200R.

[SF_Hooligan]

I recently bought a 660 and avoided waiting for the 350 specifically because of the lifetime maps "feature." It's hard to find specific info because the 350 is such a new model, but the pre-loaded lifetime maps/traffic features on the auto units are ad-supported and I'm simply not interested in dropping hundreds of dollars on a GPS to have it piss me off with ads. This may or may not matter to you, and it may be that they've done it differently on this unit since it's so much more expensive.

More to consider:

• There are at least a couple different good mounts for the 660 and after screwing around with various RAM mount setups for the 660 and previous rigs, I wanted a secure, simple mount - I went with the Touratech 2.0 mount and love it.

• I wouldn't trust the battery, and always hardwire this kind of stuff. So the longer battery life didn't mean anything to me either.

• Not sure how "exit services" differs from what the 660 offers - it can show various points of interest such as gas stations, etc.

For me, the 350 didn't offer anything compelling beyond what the 660 does, and the combination of better (or existence of) aftermarket mount support with the lack of lifetime maps ads annoyances made the 660 the clear choice.

[Lost Rider]

This thread might help you:

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793908

You might want to poke around the ADV rider GPS forum for more info.

http://advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37




I agree with the Hooligan, doesn't seem that the 350 doesn't offer much worth the extra cost. The new design looks nice and fresh though.

I had a 660 for a while, nice unit, but it never did all the things I require out of a GPS unit, mostly to do with Tracks for off tarmac adventures on my other bikes. Now I roll with a Montana 600 and love it.

As for mounts, I've owned most all the Garmin motorcycle capable GPS units at one point or another, never being totally satisfied until the Montana, but one thing I do know is I never bought a aftermarket mount. We all have different needs, that I get, just for me it was never needed.
Of course you need a way to rig the Garmin mount to the bike, be it with a RAM ball or other ways folks mount their GPS, but that's a different story.


If you want to really search this site, use this code in google, changing your search words after the comma:


site:r1150r.org, gps


Or like this to search another site:

site:advrider.com, Zumo 350LM




Welcome to the Roadster forum!



-Finn

[websterize]

Before pulling the trigger on an expensive GPS, you might consider waiting until this fall for Apple's iOS6 release. Their software update promises a significant upgrade to the iPhone's map app and its GPS functionality, a leap I would imagine has Garmin quaking. Phone, camera, GPS -- many tectonic shifts under way in consumer electronics.

[Shakey]

I'm not familiar with the 350 at all but I run a 660 and I have a lifetime maps update subscription too. The 660 has the exit graphic feature and is an excellent device for the road. I bought my wife one of the factory refurbished units and they are totally as new but somewhat cheaper.

The thing to watch out for is that the size of the detailed maps grows with every update as they add more info and data. As a UK and Europe user I now have to restrict my GPS install to Western Europe only else it won't fit in the device memory. The full update is about 32 Gb istr. The next update will have to go on my micro SD card I think.

[SF_Hooligan]

I had a 660 for a while, nice unit, but it never did all the things I require out of a GPS unit, mostly to do with Tracks for off tarmac adventures on my other bikes. Now I roll with a Montana 600 and love it.

As for mounts, I've owned most all the Garmin motorcycle capable GPS units at one point or another, never being totally satisfied until the Montana, but one thing I do know is I never bought a aftermarket mount. We all have different needs, that I get, just for me it was never needed.
Of course you need a way to rig the Garmin mount to the bike, be it with a RAM ball or other ways folks mount their GPS, but that's a different story.

I seriously considered the Montana series, but it didn't look like any of them had Bluetooth and I really value the voice cues for upcoming turns. I often just get really into riding and forget to look at the screen. In fact, I prefer to ignore the screen as much as possible.

I've been a big believer in the RAM mounts, but realized I wanted the unit basically right on top of the triple. I tried using a real short arm (as well as lots of other locations) and ended up just getting the Touratech mount. The lock is nice too.

I'm not familiar with the 350 at all but I run a 660 and I have a lifetime maps update subscription too. The 660 has the exit graphic feature and is an excellent device for the road. I bought my wife one of the factory refurbished units and they are totally as new but somewhat cheaper.

The thing to watch out for is that the size of the detailed maps grows with every update as they add more info and data. As a UK and Europe user I now have to restrict my GPS install to Western Europe only else it won't fit in the device memory. The full update is about 32 Gb istr. The next update will have to go on my micro SD card I think.

I think there's a difference between buying a lifetime maps unit (which are all ad-supported as far as I know) and buying the maps subscription - that separate package isn't ad-supported, is that correct?

[websterize]

I think there's a difference between buying a lifetime maps unit (which are all ad-supported as far as I know) and buying the maps subscription - that separate package isn't ad-supported, is that correct?

Yes, I bought the lifetime maps add-on for the Navi IV (glorified 660), and no ads.

[SF_Hooligan]

I think there's a difference between buying a lifetime maps unit (which are all ad-supported as far as I know) and buying the maps subscription - that separate package isn't ad-supported, is that correct?

Yes, I bought the lifetime maps add-on for the Navi IV (glorified 660), and no ads.

Awesome, thanks. I'll have to buy that at some point, I suppose.

[janda]

Thanking you all for your replies. Real life user info and comments is what I was hoping for. I don't mind spending the money, but like to know what I'm getting besides mfr spec[which is important also].

[waynemathews]

I think there's a difference between buying a lifetime maps unit (which are all ad-supported as far as I know) and buying the maps subscription - that separate package isn't ad-supported, is that correct?

I've not seen the Zumo 350LM in person, but my nuvi models that came with lifetime maps have ads only for the traffic info, not the maps.