Do i buy the Zumo 550 or 660

[GS Biker]

After a little research, reading the forums, asking mates questions, narrowed the choice to the zumo 550 and 660 but WHICH ONE? Both are more or less priced in the same bracket. Both come with the bike hardware and cables (although not sure about a power cable supplied for the 660) as well as Europe mapping. Also the ability to plot a route before you set out is also a requirement over and above the A to B....Just don't know which one to go for. Will be mostly used for touring and the occasional dirt road/track. Help!!!

 

[GreatScott]

Had a similar difficulty in deciding between the 550 & the 660 plus I think the 550 is better looking and a bit different from the rest. In the end I thought life is too short to worry about it too much and I went for the 660 on the scientific basis it was the lastest model and had a bigger screen. Both do more than I actually need them to do, at the moment, but I thought the 660 might be future proof for longer if I decide I must use some of the extra features both these Zumo units have. It was only slightly more expensive (about £12 more) - from satnaveasy - so not worth the saving by going for the 550. So Switzerland here I come. Well not quite yet - still waiting for it to arrive so can't tell you if it any good

 

[brianmaslen]

Been going through the same thoughts myself, others must have an opinion. I know some people have gone from teh 550 to 660 so what downsides are there please? Thanks GS Biker for starting this thread.
Brian

 

[Deleted account LB]

Having had both I would go for the 660.

The bigger screen is great and you also have the latest lane assist and other features that are available on the car based systems. The only downside is a few softwar issues which are being sorted on various garmin software patches.

Although the 550 was faultless, I would only get one if you can get it significantly cheaper than a 660

 

[GreatScott]

not sure about a power cable supplied for the 660

I does have a power cable. In fact it comes with a charger and car cigarette power cable and a RAM mount too. The bike cable is different (I believe) to the 550 in that it come with leads to plug a mike and ear phones and a mini USB cable for the traffic reciever.(I believe the 550 just has plugs on the side of the cradle - which I think is perhaps a little neater)

The RAM mount on the 1200 places the 660 just where I want it - above and forward of the instruments and in easy reach - so I don't see the need to splash out another £100 or so on a TT cradle - though it would be lockable.

I have found some useful advice on wiring it up to the canbus. I got a plug from Vines for £9 (which is the cheapest thing I have ever bought from BMW). http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117400&highlight=canbus

Finding the canbus plug on the bike was the hardest part.

I can't hear Emily at anything over 5 miles an hour , but so far I have found the screen information is more than good enough not to need a headset.

The screen is big and clear and easy to use though I have not used in very bright light yet.

Here is some good advice on unlocking Mapsource http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186719
I found registering the device the hardest part but once I had turned the anti virus off it worked fine. http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194337 Mapsource looks a great tool for planning etc, but I suspect if you have had previous models you know that anyway.

Downside? None really though the business pak where I work, which in 8 years old is not on the map, but is on my (car) TomTom Go

This is my first bike satnav so I can't offer any direct comparison with the 550 or the TomTom Rider but after a week's use I have no regrets yet and I think it is better than my old TomTom.

 

[Wreford Miles]

FYI... I used my 550 on the Alto Turia rally with just the standard RAM mount - that rally was a real bone shaker and the 550 was faultless.

BTW..I know nothiong about the 660

 

[andyclift]

I have used a 550 for a year or so and just bought a 660 as wife got fed up with the HORRIBLE Tomtom Rider.

Both do the job very well and the 660 has more bells and whistles that you can really do without such as calculator, unit converter, etc.

While actually navigating there is not much to choose between them. In our tests so far they have both come up with identical routes although rather oddly they disagree about the distance, but not by much.

The data on the 660 screen can be changed (arrival time, distance, etc.) but it's fixed on the 550. The 660 has a little direction icon for turn left, turn right etc (this used to be on older units but missing on 550). For me this is great, coupled with the wider screen. On the 550 the full instruction, e.g. "Turn left into Bromley Common Road" was on the top of the screen and long instructions gave a smaller typeface that I could not focus on. The 660 just has the arrow and "Bronley Common Road" No problem.

The 660 shows speed limit but is not 100% reliable and I have yet to find a junction with "lane assist" so don't know if that works. Likewise with 3D buildings but can't see the point.

One snag I have found is with my Palm Smartphone. It links OK but will not send the contacts book. On the old 550 I could manually Bluettoth the contacts across but the 660 works in a different way and won't let me. The work around I have found is it's possible to phone a Favorite so I have added the contacts I normally phone as favorites although I never need the GPS to drive to them.

The 660 does not need the stupid security screw on the 550 (which I replaced with a thumbscrew anyway.

Bottom line is they both work very well but if your phone is supported by the 660 I think its worth getting - if only cos in most places it seems slightly cheaper

 

[Dazza2]

I`ve gone for the Garmin 550,purely on being a proven model with no software issues.
I paid £370 (20.08.09) from b4udirect.com
ordered & received within 7 days
good service / recommended.
Darren

 

[andyclift]

An Update

A recent software update from Garmin has solved some outstanding issues and mine has had a lot more use since the original post.

On day trips with my wife who has the 550 we have found some minor differences in the routes calculated but both options have been very similar so we have just worked on whichever route the bike in front offered.

I have found some junctions on the M25 with "Lane Assist". Essentially this replaces the 3D map with a photo style picture of the junction with number of lanes on main road and slip road shpwn correctly. It also correctly shows the main sign post at the junction and if its an overhead gantry it shows the lanes not wanted greyed out. Very clever but I don't think it adds anything to navigation.

On the 550 when not navigating the top of the screen shows the name of approached side roads. On the 660 it always says "Driving on.......". Both have been useful but on balance we have found that knpwing the road you are on is slightly more useful.

The text on the 660 is too small. I have perfect distance sight but need reading glasses. With the 550 mounted on the GSA screen I could just about read everything. I struggle on the 660 and often the text is far too small.

I really appreciate the return of the next turn graphic. I.e. a little symbol showing a left or right turn arrow, a graphic showing which exit on a roaundabout etc. I had this on my 2720 and really missed it on the 550. It is so easy to just glance at the screen to see what turn is next. The 660 version is even better than the old 2720 as on multi-lane junctions it shows arrows for each lane so you don't sit in traffic on the left lane to find that the faster moving lane next to you also follows your route.

There are still BT phone issues and although my Palm worked with it I could not upload my contacts or see who was calling from the satnav screen. I now have a Blackberry and it is brilliant. Not only is my phone book uploaded on every reboot but I can voice dial via the helmet mic for my Autocom.

Overall I am glad I bought the 660 and although there are still some outstanding software issues they are minor. For example the warning icon for low fuel overwrites the icon for the mp3 player. Hardly an issue on a GS as the fuel warning system is not needed anyway. Also it is a little irritating that the screen icon for the mp3 player is only there when it is playing. I.e. Music playing and player screen is one click away. Music not playing and the player screen is three clicks away. After the last software update the "playing " setting survives a reboot so hopefully the three click issue will be solved as well.

Interestingly most places seem to be selling the 660 for less than the 550 (excepting white box 550s)

 

[rdover]

How much music can be stored on the 660?

 

[Canuck]

How much music can be stored on the 660?

the 660s can take micro sd cards up to 4 gig (maybe 8).... how much music do you need?

 

[AberdeenAngus]

How much music can be stored on the 660?

Up to 1000 tracks though I doubt you could get them all on the fixed memory.
A 4 GB card should give more than enough room and they cost buttons.

Incidentaly, the sound quality is every bit as good as my Ipod !

 

[cookie]

the 660s can take micro sd cards up to 4 gig (maybe 8).... how much music do you need?

mine has an 8gb card.

 

[rdover]

8Mb should do it, I have 16Gb of music on my iPod but it would be easy to thin down the collection for a 4 week Norway trip.

I'm fed up with my dodgy 2720 - it's had a few too many knocks.

Next stupid question: How do you listen to the 660, through earphones or my autocom?

 

[Canuck]

Either, but if you have both the autocom and zumo wired through alternate ground... you will need a isolator thingy... can't remember but gs rich sorted me out... although you can buy basically the same thing on ebay for about a fiver I think... Do a search and it should come up.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Either, but if you have both the autocom and zumo wired through alternate ground... you will need a isolator thingy... can't remember but gs rich sorted me out... although you can buy basically the same thing on ebay for about a fiver I think... Do a search and it should come up.

Try it first. I have my autocom and zumo both powered off the bike without any suppressors. No noise problems at all. I was as suprised as anyone.

 

[Canuck]

Try it first. I have my autocom and zumo both powered off the bike without any suppressors. No noise problems at all. I was as suprised as anyone.

Yes it depends how you wire them. Put on direct off the battery and you should have any problem (don't quote me on that!). I have both of mine wired through the beak power outlet hence using the same ground issue. You'll know if you need the additonal piece if you hear clicking which increases with your rpm.