Zumo 550 & Mounting Hardware

[JGP]

Just acquired a 07 R1200R, looking to purchase a Garmin Zumo 550 and a good mounting system for it. Can you please provide any feedback on the Zumo 550 and applicable mounting hardware that you've seen or have experience with.

JGP

[spenserj87]

I mounted my 550 using the following SW-MOTECH mount. It looks nicer than the u-bolt bracket that comes with the Garmin. It doesn't give lateral adjustability, but I like it centered - plenty of height/angle adjustment. I will add that the mounting plate holes were a little off those on the Garmin mounting base - but a bit of work with a drill and dremel and it worked fine.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/3040

[JGP]

Do you like the Zumo 550? I let my Garmin 2620 go with the sale of the 04 Rt.

JGP

[Thinman]

I used a simple RAM mount with the U-bolt mounted dead center on the bars. Works well for me, but you are a little limited on which tank bags work with this location. I just installed the Bags connection Daypack II with the gas cap ring. Love this mounting system!

[spenserj87]

Do you like the Zumo 550? I let my Garmin 2620 go with the sale of the 04 Rt.

JGP

I like the Zumo quite a lot. I already had a Nuvi GPS for my car, so I stuck with Garmin. I have not tried the TomTom Rider 2 - it is a bit cheaper and comes with a Cardo Scala Rider bluetooth earpiece if you want that. I don't really want anything in my helmet and the visual/map works fine for me. The Zumo does connect to my cell phone - so I know when someone is trying to call me and who it is - if I care, I can pull over and return the call. Not into cell phone calls while riding.

[fhammond]

I mounted my 550 using the following SW-MOTECH mount.

Would it be possible for you to post a picture of your R1200R with and without the Zumo attached? I'm thinking about getting one and I'd like to see how it look and how the bike looks with the mount on it.

Regards,
Fergus

[spenserj87]

I have the ball mount that came with the GPS mounted to the left of the SW-Motech mount - I use this to mount a camera. I hardwired the GPS into the BMW GPS connector.

[JGP]

Thanks for the pictures, would your sight line be interfered with if a tank bag was used?

How secure is the stock mounting from Garmin, does one needs to buy one of the aftermarket locking (metal) housing to buckle the unit and its mount into?

Thanks for all the help

JGP

[spenserj87]

I use a tank bag and there is no interference. My tank bag isn't really high, but the mount can be raised more so I'm sure it would clear most tank bags.

The only advantage of the Garmin type ball mount is that you have more lateral options. And yes, there is no "lock" on the stock mount that comes with the Garmin. So someone could easily just loosen and remove the piece that connects the two ball joints. The SW-Motech is only more secure in that you need an allen wrench to remove.

The Garmin base that the GPS snaps into does lock with a special screwdriver that comes with the Garmin (but what is the point if the standard mount is so easily removed). It also comes with a case - if I'm in a place where I'm concerend about it getting taken, I just pop out the GPS, put it in the case, and carry it with me.

[JGP]

Thinman

any chance you could post some pictures of your Daypack II mounting along with the ZUMO?

Thanks

JGP

[Thinman]

No problem - I'll get them in a day or two

[Thinman]

[JGP]

Thanks Thinman

It looks great. I got the tank bag mounted today, and ordered the RAM mounts like yours also, should be here on Thursday. The only difference is my R12R is black.

Thanks for all your help. I'll be taking a look at the project of removing the tank to access the BMW power line for the Zumo.

Again, much appreciated

JGP

[Thinman]

For the power I just wired it to the battery with the Garmin supplied connector/cable. I was able to snake it under the tank without removing it, but the BWM connection sounds like the better way to go. I'm still trying to find a permanent method of mounting the XM antenna, which I just put in the map holder on the tank bag when I'm going to use the radio. Good luck with your install!

[spenserj87]

Thanks Thinman

It looks great. I got the tank bag mounted today, and ordered the RAM mounts like yours also, should be here on Thursday. The only difference is my R12R is black.

Thanks for all your help. I'll be taking a look at the project of removing the tank to access the BMW power line for the Zumo.

Again, much appreciated

JGP

You won't need to remove the tank. Just undo the two bolts holding it in and lift it back a bit (I also had to remove the side plastic/cover pieces that run along under the seat and tank - but those were easy). You probably don't need to remove the black face plate - I did because I was trying to avoid removing the tank, but pulling the bolts on the tank and lifting it up and back a bit should do the trick.

[socalrob]

I just posted this over in off topic, I think some of it might help here:

I put a zumo 450 on my 1200GSA before a 3,000 mile trip last month. I like it for much of the above reasons. I don't feel a real need for the voice commands as on long trips I use an Ipod with sound isolating earplugs anyway.

My only complaint is I wish you could disable points of interest like gas stations behind you. Sometimes the behind you stuff overwhelms the in front of you stuff. I don't like to backtrack.

I'm just using the supplied mount but keep the unit locked in my top box. I also wish the miles to destination was easier to see.

Somehow this my Zumo got scrambled (it was in West Texas) & this appeared:



The mount was good enough to survive down at least this dirt road, which did appear on the screen and did tell me which way to go:



BTW, on the 1200 series bikes there is a plug zip tied to the headstock that you can purchase a "BMW Repair Connector" for $25 that is a pig tail that plugs into said headstock plug, which will power both a GPS & a radar detector.

This connector will keep you from having to cut the plug off of the wiring harness by your steering column. It will plug directly into the power supply. It is important to only use wire #1=Brown(Ground) & wire #3=Hot. Just plug wire #2 off.

Part #PN is 83300413585


This is what it looks like connected to the factory power supply. This plug is not powered all the time. There is a 30/40 second delay before it shuts down after you switch the ignition off.

[Skippy]

Great info, this will come in very handy when I wan't to connect a gps unit in the future.

[famousperson]

I used the Garmin mount for my Zumo and put on the left hand bar. It's out of the way of the instruments that way.

I don't like the fact that it is so easy to remove it by loosening the bracket. It fits in my jacket pocket so I just take it with me.

I do like the fact that the Garmin mount came free with the instrument.

(Sorry I don't have pics and probably won't because I am digitially disabled).

[grantorela]

The link posted by spenserj87 does not work anymore (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/3040), does anyone know what the link is for the SW-MOTECH mount he is referring to?

Thanks,

Grant

[spenserj87]

You might want to email twistedthrottle about it - they have several of the same mount but larger diameter. Mine also has a black base, not polished chrome. I think the bars on the 1200 are 22mm if that helps.

I found a couple links that show the model:

http://www.mo-tech.de/produkt/index.php ... 01b8c1a991

And a google search, cache page for twistedthrottle:

http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:Yr ... cd=1&gl=us