I started to post this in another GPS thread here but decided the subject was too OT. My quandary is whether or not to replace my aging Zumo 450 GPS, which although still working (mostly) is apparently in its end-of-life phase at this time.

I'm not happy with the durability of these devices or Garmin's support for units out of warranty. At some point in time, apparently a year or so after the model is discontinued, Garmin will abandon all support for it. My touch-screen failed last spring and Garmin had no support options, not even the usual $175 refurb. They also wouldn't sell me a digitizer, so I ended up finding one on Ebay for $15 shipped direct from China, then fixed it myself. I did a write-up on that job here. It's still working, but this summer the rubber buttons started falling out, two so far. I plugged one (second from the top on left) with a piece of rubber, but in so doing damaged the delicate switch under it, rendering one screen unavailable when a route is loaded. Next, the top left button fell out a few weeks ago, and I luckily retrieved it. I applied some RTV and it is holding for the time being. The buttons are part of a strip that Garmin could sell for 50˘ but they won't offer them, and I can't find any on-line. Garmin has them, as support for the 550 continues and the two models are physically identical, differing mostly in support for Bluetooth and XM (550). The newer 600-series units don't have hardware buttons, which eliminates that problem, although the digitizers are already dying since I see replacements for them on Ebay. That's not a problem if the units can be disassembled with conventional tools like the 450 and 550.

So, basically Garmin thinks of these expensive gadgets as throw-away items, and if you own it for three years and it fails you simply have no choice but to buy another one, fix it by whatever means you have available, or go without. I'm now leaning toward the latter option and am reconsidering my need for a GPS mounted on the bike. I have a phone that has a good GPS, but although its screen is mostly unreadable in sunlight and wouldn't work mounted on the handlebars it does gives me at least some GPS functionality on the road. I'm also concerned about the fact that it distracts me while on the road, so add that to Garmin's unwillingness to support their products after a few years and the high cost that repeats too often, it makes me just want to give up on a mounted GPS, especially the expensive Zumo line.

In addition to the other problems I've been having, my unit is giving sporadic "Satellite reception lost" warnings even when out in the open, so I'm thinking its days are numbered. Some of you might say that our cell phones die after a while and support dies along with them, but they don't cost $650 or more. I would consider a Nuvi or some other model that has a lower cost, where I can better justify throwing it in the trash every few years, but I'm concerned with screen brightness in daylight. The Zumo 450 has the brightest screen I've seen and it is marginal in bright sunlight, so I wonder how these non-MC models would fair in this regard. I'm not worried about whether or not is waterproof, as I can remove it when it rains.

I'd like to hear ideas, including any from those of you who've installed less-expensive Garmin units successfully. I'm most interested in the ability to see the screen while in sunlight as well as to retain my ability to plot routes on my computer with Mapsource and export them to the GPS.

 

I would just use a splash proof type that is designed for car use rather than pay three times as much for a motorcycle specific unit.

 

+1 I recently replaced my original Garmin that was purchased in 2003 for $500.00! That damn thing was huge, reminds me of my first cell phone in 1995 (remember the ones you carried in a bag!). LOL! New Garmin was $119.00 at Wally's with free lifetime maps. I seldom use the "turn by turn" directions when on the bike, just read the map to my next stop. Use it more often when at my destination for restaurants, shopping, POI's, etc. At a little over $100.00, if it lasts 2-3 years, I'm OK with that.

 

I have a nuvi3760 I use on the bike, truck & car. Works great! I have no problem seeing it in the sun.

 

I started with the Road Tech Conquest, I liked the fairing mount bracket on my Road Glide. But when the bracket got sloppy, no replacement available from HD. So I plugged the holes and went with a Garmin NUVI 1450LMT on the handlebars. It seems to be bright enough most of the time. I only use it sporadically. The ram mount I can adjust to fit my iphone or the Nuvi by adjusting two screws. I buy a new Nuvi for the truck about every 12 months and use the old one for the bike. I have put a baggie over it in real hard rain and it still works fine. I just can't see the dollars they want for a motorcycle specific type GPS.

 

First off, let me say I can't help you but your thread caught my eye because I purchased the next generation Zumo 550 when it first came out. The unit has been bulletproof. It's a little frustrating that it now doesn't have enough internal memory to load map updates but I've been able to use the work around and load updates to an SD card. It just seems to be an indicator that the 550 is on its way to obsolescence.

I'm amazed at how quickly tech gear becomes obsolete. I have used MapSource (now BaseCamp) a lot. Maybe I've just adapted to the quirks of developing routes with their programs and then transferring them to the GPS but they have provided great directions for many miles of touring. I figure the lifetime map updates will be available until Garmin decides that the 550 is obsolete.

I also figure that if it ever gets to the point where it needs repair, it will be time to 86 it and look for a replacement (Garmin).

End of rant.

 

There's a reason why they offer lifetime map updates...the life expectancy is only 2-4 years. I use a Nuvi and no problems, car or bike...

 

Buy a $100-$125 Garmin/Tom Tom and spend another $12 for a 3 yr Square Trade warranty. Won't help if water damaged but they'll honor it for other internal damage. Another option is buying one at Best Buy and getting a product replacement plan. My past experience shows they honor their products ...

 

Can you create routes with Mapsource and export them to the Nuvi? I've heard the newer Garmins can't use Mapsource, and I want to be able to plot routes on the PC.

 

I bought the Garmin Zumo 220 made for cycles, supports mapsource, price is not bad easy to mount and remove if you want, easy enough to read so you don't need to hear it, works great in the car