The Honda Owners Club

I bought a Garmin Zumo 550 last week after having TomTom on my PDA for years. Reason for the change? My PDA got wet and stopped - just when I needed it.

I looked around and the choices were Garmin Zumo or TomTom Rider 2 - the only ones which were waterproof. I also wanted one that would connect through my Autocom system - the TTR system only has bluetooth (apparently) and comes with it's own headset - which I did not need or want.

So, it came down the the Zumo. Then the choice was the 500 or the 550. The 550 gives you a car mount as well as bike, full European maps and TTS (text to speech) which means it tells you road names. I went for the 550.

It has been a steep learning curve from the TomTom system, but I am now liking it. Everything works, my phone connects through properly and I can see who is calling and the music works well.....

Alan

Just back from France & was very impressed with the TT Rider. Took me everywhere spot on. I planned my entire route on my PC using the Rider plugged in to it as the source. No need to change maps when moving from country to country as with some units.

I agree the instructions can be a litle late somtimes but I put that down to the fact that it comes via blue tooth & then via my Autocom intercom unit so this may be the cause of perhaps a quater of a second delay but that was pretty rare. Don't use 'short route' though unless you like travelling along un-metaled raods of which there are many in France.!!!

Dead easy to use after my last 'Medion' GPS system. I think battery life is a claimed 5 hours. My unit doesn't give spoken road numbers though which I found a little off putting for a start but it's all there on the screen. Keep a map handy though. As previous writer said it gives you a better visual idea of where you are & make sure you are going to the correct place as many places in France have the same name & can be miles away from each other.

Highly recommended....

Just come back from Europe - my 550 worked well. The TTS was fun - seeing how it tried to talk the french road names in English made me laugh. Music worked OK and I even got phone calls....

I still prefer the TomTom software, but they don't do the features I need.

Alan

Good Evening,

I have the Tom Tom Rider and can't speak more highly of it, easy to use and can be set up to charge on the bike. Also purchased the car mounting kit so can be used in car and on bike. Given my old Tom Tom 700 to the wife. I'm please and she was over the moon.

Let me know what your final choice was.

Chris'TR' wrote:....to have a permanent mounting. I think that it would spoil the look of me Triumph!

That's the funniest thing I've read for ages, thanks for that. (speaking as an ex Sprint owner)

My mate gave me his old Tom Tom and, now I am using it properly , it is fantastic. Found me Dibble's house for a committee meeting no problem, got me home from the National no problem, got me through central London at the weekend etc etc etc.

It is so simple and my only initial 'hitch' was using 'city' properly when I didn't have the post code

I do always look at a map before hand to ensure I am heading in the correct direction and now rather enjoy knowing I won't be turning or going across a round about for so many miles so I can have a little 'play' . 'Tom' also has a very nice voice and never shouts at me!