Garmin Zūmo XT Motorcycle GPS Navigation Device

Picks up satellites quickly. Map updates are relatively quick. Screen is bright and easy to read. Searching for addresses or location names is easy. The on-screen keyboard is easy to type with.

It’s not bad enough to deduct a star, but I have to note that the power cable could’ve been better designed. It has a proprietary connector on one end to connect to the device, and a voltage regulator box a few feet away from that that is permanently connected. The distance between the connector and the box is about an inch shorter than ideal for my 2012 Harley FLHTK. When I turn hard right, the cable is tight. Another inch would’ve given me the slack that it really should have. But with the power under the seat and the GPS on the grip mount, it just barely makes it. The voltage box is too big to tuck under the backbone cover with the main harness, so it had to go under the seat. It works, but it could be better.

Update: I purchased a second mount and power cable to install on my 2018 Harley FLHCS. Same trouble with fixed cable length. I was able to make it work, but a couple extra inches between the device connector and voltage box would make things soo much easier.

I’ve only used it for a couple of local rides that I’ve done without nav a million times. In comparison to the factory GPS units in my 2015 RAM truck and 2019 Dodge Challenger, it’s way easier to use. It’s also far more accurate than those built-in automotive units. It’s almost as easy to use as Google Maps.

It pairs consistently with my iPhone and Cardo Pack Talk headset. I have to agree with most other reviewers though. Their Base Camp and Explorer programs are terrible, and their documentation is pretty useless. It’s quicker for me to just randomly explore the device UI to see what happens than to read either the PDF or on-line manuals.

But overall, I love the unit. It does what I need it to do very well. Get me where I need to go. I normally just use my phone in my cars, but on a motorcycle I need weather resistance and glove friendly. This unit is everything I need for both my bikes.

When I bought a 2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited, a touring-oriented trike, last July, I wanted a GPS for trip navigation. I’ve owned maybe six Garmin units, and I like the user interface, so I bought this Zumo XT when it came on sale for the holidays. I had to do some custom machining to make a mount that I liked, but that’s now done. See the photos. My trike has a USB cable in the front, so I used that in lieu of the supplied power cable.

I had no trouble pairing my Galaxy S9 and my Sena helmet headset to the Garmin. Using the Drive and Explore apps, I can get weather, traffic, updates, and satellite views quickly and easily. This unit has all the functionality of Garmin’s other top-end navigators, so there was little learning curve. I usually use BaseCamp for route planning, and that works fine with this unit, too.

The display is crisp and bright. I found the touch sensitivity to be a bit high, but I guess that’s so it will work with riding gloves on. I wish they had put a brightness control that was accessible without drilling down through several levels of menus. I can balance the audio levels between the phone (for music) and the navigation instructions easily.

It’s easy to record a track with a single click, and it can be named and saved for future use. You can ask the unit to design a ride for you and set a level of “adventurousness” that will preferentially take twisty roads. You can specify a mileage or a duration, and up it comes. I haven’t really tested this feature, so I don’t know if the algorithm will be to my liking, but I can always fall back on the old method – guesswork – if I don’t like the results. You can also manually construct routes by placing waypoints between the starting and ending points, and saving them for future use. Map updates are free.

It’s December in the Pacific Northwest, and I’ve only had the unit for a week, so no actual rides yet. So far, it seems to do everything I need, but time will tell. Garmin’s user interface is an old friend, so I don’t think that there will be any significant shortcomings.

Construction is rugged, and the attachment hardware looks like it will keep the unit where I want it without wiggling or changing position with vibrations. It’s a pricey unit, but quality is always worth it to me. I’ll revisit this review after I get some mileage on it in the spring. Stay tuned.

Muy buen producto, se lo instale a mi GS y se ve muy bien incluso con sol de atrás. Fácil de usar, se conecta al teléfono y/o al bluetooth del casco.
Compré una segunda base y para usarlo también en una WR450 y corrí unos 5 rallys y la verdad que es una maravilla. Extremadamente fácil de subir los GPX y seguir rutas. Lo tengo hace casi un año y es realmente bueno. Se conecta a wifi para actualizar mapas, al teléfono por bluetooth para subir rutas. Responde perfecto con cualquier guante… EXCELENTE.

Excelente equipo y gran calidad, la pantalla se ve perfecta aun con mucha luz de dia, buena bateria y facil de usar !!

No es barato pero vale cada centavo de lo que pagas lo recomiendo !!!