Garmin is pleased to announce the all-new motorcycle navigator – zūmo 550. The Garmin zūmo 550 is the first fully-featured, no-compromises GPS navigator designed exclusively for motorcyclists with glove-friendly, left-handed controls. A specific feature of the new zūmo 550 is its Bluetooth® wireless technology. This feature allows users to place hands-free mobile phone calls when paired with a compatible phone that has Bluetooth . Incoming calls are answered by simply tapping the zūmo’s screen and speaking through the helmet mic or optional external mic. A user can also make a call from zūmo’s huge points of interest database – which includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and much more. Customers will also wirelessly receive navigation audio prompts using text-to-speech which allows the unit to audibly announce the name of upcoming streets, favourites and points of interest (POIs), letting drivers keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic when using a compatible helmet. By connecting to the wired stereo audio jack, users can also listen to MP3s. zūmo 550 comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator Australia maps on internal memory.
Zūmo boasts a 3.5-inch (diagonal) high-bright, sunlight readable touchscreen display, encased in a waterproof (IEC 529 IPX-7 standards) housing made of plastics that resist damage from fuel splashes and UV light. In addition to the touchscreen, zūmo has four dedicated left-handed buttons for quick input. The zūmo is equipped with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, which acquires and maintains a GPS signal even in heavy foliage or “urban canyons” created by city skyscrapers. The navigator also features solid state memory, which mitigates the effects of vibration, shock, cold, heat – and displays and redraws maps faster. zūmo is secured to the motorcycle with a locking mount that has waterproof power and data cable connections and is able to withstand the severe vibration environment commonly experienced in motorcycle riding. A rechargeable user-removable lithium-ion battery (three hour typical use) is integrated into zūmo for trip planning or use on foot.
Zūmo features a 10-thousand point tracklog, allowing users to record even the longest of rides – and the included MapSource® CD even lets motorcyclists relive a memorable tour on their home computer through the 3-D Google Earth interface. Riders can also plan upcoming trips on their computer, and swap routes and waypoints with other zūmo owners via the unit’s SD card slot.
Users can also access zūmo’s trip computer page for trip information like speed, heading, and a customizable fuel gauge that allows users to define their motorcycle’s maximum fuel range. When zūmo calculates that the motorcycle is low on fuel, it automatically reminds the rider and suggests a route to a nearby gas station. Zūmo even has a compass page making it the ultimate off-road navigator. For those long trips, riders can stay entertained with zūmo’s built-in MP3 player.
Riders can personalize zūmo to match their particular bike’s colour scheme and attitude with custom caps. Silver and black caps come standard with the unit. Owners can also customize zūmo’s opening splash screen to depict a one-of-a-kind photo with the help of the unit’s jpeg picture viewer.
Because even the most dedicated rider sometimes travels by car, zūmo comes with an automotive mount and speaker – making the unit ideal for virtually any type of road trip.Zūmo is also equipped with Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft system that disables the unit until the owner types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location.
