New Garmin Zumo XT Review - Updated
- Thread starter Greg Rice
- Start date
Hey Greg...you've made a big deal on the weather and traffic alerts on the new Zumo. Could you tell us what the difference is between how the Nav VI does alerts (when paired with the phone app), and the Zumo?
Also, since you once also had an RT (and the reason my bike looks like it does, lol), could you give us your opinion on mounting the Zumo using the included mount on the accessory shelf RT riders would have? Thanks a bunch!
Also, since you once also had an RT (and the reason my bike looks like it does, lol), could you give us your opinion on mounting the Zumo using the included mount on the accessory shelf RT riders would have? Thanks a bunch!
I have always like having weather on my GPS as far back as the Garmin 2730 with the GXM 30 antenna.
The new Zumo XT uses a new Garmin app called "Garmin Drive" it is a little better than the previous one ( SmartLink ) that I still use for my Dezl 770. The response time is better and I like the screens better. You can get the same information from both.
I think it would be easy to mount a Zumo XT on the dash with a Ram ball. The new Zumo XT weighs less than the 595 or the Nav 6. I think all you would extra that does not come with the Zumo XT is a Ram ball to mount on the dash shelf.
The new Zumo XT uses a new Garmin app called "Garmin Drive" it is a little better than the previous one ( SmartLink ) that I still use for my Dezl 770. The response time is better and I like the screens better. You can get the same information from both.
I think it would be easy to mount a Zumo XT on the dash with a Ram ball. The new Zumo XT weighs less than the 595 or the Nav 6. I think all you would extra that does not come with the Zumo XT is a Ram ball to mount on the dash shelf.
I experienced a couple new nice features with the new Garmin Zumo XT during my I-20 E2E ride this weekend.
One was that it alerted me with a alert tone and on screen alert that I was going the wrong way on a one way street.
The other was that it alerted me twice about stopped traffic ahead when approaching an accident on I-20.
To do the stopped traffic alert you need to have the new Garmin Drive app on your phone.and have the phone connected to the Zumo XT.
One was that it alerted me with a alert tone and on screen alert that I was going the wrong way on a one way street.
The other was that it alerted me twice about stopped traffic ahead when approaching an accident on I-20.
To do the stopped traffic alert you need to have the new Garmin Drive app on your phone.and have the phone connected to the Zumo XT.
I was given the one-way warning too, it took me by surprise, I had to think 'is that new or have I heard it before?' only my 'one-way' street was actually 2-way, just in an old town and it was a very narrow street that is 2-way but only 1 at a time in each direction. For me the XT is a sharper, lighter, faster and more feature rich than any previous Zumo. I haven't done a lot of miles with it so I'll defer my final verdict until I properly test the routing to see if it has inherited the previous Zumo traits of routing you through 3 miles of back lane to save 2 metres of main road, etc.
Real "real-time" traffic is the ONLY reason I don't use a dedicated GPS on my ride now. Personally, I see it as a safety concern not having my phone on my person in case of an accident that separates me from my bike (I have this nightmare about running off the road and not being able to get to my phone to call for help). Obviously, since I do it anyways, it's not that big a deal but it would be great to find out Garmin has finally figured out how to do it (or gotten into bed with a real-time traffic data source). I would buy this gizmo tomorrow if there are more first-person reports of its accuracy in areas outside major cities.
I was looking at an XT out in Colorado last weekend that a guy got and had just started using. He mentioned a weird anomaly with it not wanting to recalculate when he took a different route than Garmin was trying to give him. Said it took about 10 minutes to finally recalculate the route and catch up with him. Has anyone else noticed this? I am just curious. It is a slick looking device.
I use the Tomtom Rider 550 alongside my Zumo XT. I've always used a Tomtom alongside the various Garmins I've had. Unfortunately, until Garmin proves me wrong, if I come to a junction and Garmin says left but Tomtom says right, I go right. The Tomtom interface and usability is way inferior to Garmin, making it a poor choice as a primary rally GPS, but in my experience the A to B routing of Tomtom is 'sensible' whereas Garmin is 'quirky'.
Greg:
On a separate issue (I purchased the XT and very happy - thank you for the great review) it seems difficult to find Interstate highways when searching for routes. Example wanting to find I-10 and I-75 intersection. Does the Garmin like this information formatted a certain in the search?Thanks, Jim
On a separate issue (I purchased the XT and very happy - thank you for the great review) it seems difficult to find Interstate highways when searching for routes. Example wanting to find I-10 and I-75 intersection. Does the Garmin like this information formatted a certain in the search?Thanks, Jim