GARMIN Zumo 450 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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List Price: Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of GARMIN Zumo 450 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Beach Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased my Garmin Zumo 450 through the Amazon web page. The supplier was Beach Camera in New Jersey. The advertisement on the Amazon page stated that the Zumo 450 included an automotive mount as well as a motorcycle mount. This was the determining factor in my decision to select this particular product. The Zumo arrived in good time and on a Saturday which gave me free time to explore it's functions and features. I discovered that the automotive mount was not in the shipment. The following Monday, I contacted Beach Camera, and spoke with a customer service supervisor (Mark Kess). Mark explained that an error had been made in the advertisement on the Amazon page and that the automotive mount was only included in the Zumo 550 instead of the 450. His original position was that Amazon was the party to contact. To make a long story short, Mark agreed to ship the Automotive mount (a $75.00 item) at no charge to me. I picked it up today at the Fed Ex depot and I am very pleased with the product. I am also pleased with Beach Camera for accepting responsibility to a customer even though the error was not necessarily theirs. Thank you Mark and Beach Camera for a job well done. I highly recommend this company.Customer Review: Its a good product, but I didn't get JUST want I wanted.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a pretty good device all around. Its durable, easy to use for someone even in gloves, and it can be used in conjunction with Harley Davidson.com's ride planner to plan your route.
2 Problems I have with it:
1) Don't think it can be used as a GPS for both bike and car. It has a weird plug-in for the mount that gives it power (the only way to power the thing and use it at the same time is to power through the mount) and Garmin doesn't sell a car adapter with that end. Also, they don't sell anything that can mount it to the window of your car. It would be so easy for Garmin to make these things, but they obviously want you to own GPS's for as many things as they can get you to buy them for, regardless of the overwhelmingly high price.
2) If you want to be able to just hear it tell you where to go and not mess with putting in the wires to power it up, also out of luck! It requires power to use the audio functions. So you better resign yourself to getting this thing installed if you don't feel comfortable wiring your own bike.
Those two things get fixed, and I'd think it was PERFECT!
Customer Review: A Great Motorcycle GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
As most of the reviews attest, this is a fine GPS. I mounted mine on my BMW 1100GS using a BMW plug so that I can quickly detach and use in my auto. The GPS was used extensively on a recent trip to Alaska and performed as it was supposed to do. It was always very accurate and particularly useful in finding motels and the next available gas stop, no small matter when traveling in some of the remote regions in British Columbia and the Yukon. It runs off the bike on batteries for about four hours. That feature was useful in previewing the next days ride which is useful when changes occur. I also used the MapSource software to update the map info to 2009. My son was with me and is now enthusiastic about getting one for himself. He will probably get the 550, but the 450 is sufficient for me. Just a great buy. Some folks do not like the on line manual, but I printed mine out, trimmed it and put it in a zip lock and took with me. No problem. I detached the GPS at the end of the day, using the security screw driver and was not inconvenienced by the process. Just remember a good safe place to keep it.Customer Review: Not many options for car mount
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the Zumo 450 with the intention of using it on my motorcycle and my car. Unfortunately, New England weather has not been ideal for motorcycle riding as yet but I have used it several times in the car. Other than the optional window mount Garmin offers, I could find no other safe and reliable way to mount it in the car. The dashboard friction mount Amazon offers for the Nuvi will not work because the ball receiver is too small. I'm still working on this problem but may have to bite the bullet and purchase the optional window mount unit.
I am a novice at GPS navigation but found the Zumo very easy to learn. The online manual helped tremendously. To date, the only "dislike" I have is the lack of a speaker. I don't care about not hearing the verbal directions but I would like to use the included MP3 player. In the car I use a cassette adapter from my old CD player to pipe the sound through my radio but my motorcycle has no powered audio system. I'll have to put that on my wish list with Amazon!
Customer Review: when it works, it works.....usually......
Summary: 4 Stars
Had the Zumo for 2 weeks now. Took a trip in the car ( I spliced a cigarette lighter adapter to end of power cord), everything worked for 2 days, 3rd nite Zumo told me to drive a 2 mile loop to head back to where I started before actually getting me on my way to a hotel it found. After that, no weird stuff for another day......then it runs me down 3 miles of gravel backroads to get to a winery that is less than 1/4 mile from an Interstate off-ramp (Interstate was part of route, too!). Get home, Zumo sits for a week, then it won't power up. Plug in pc cable to charge it (didn't think it should need it), nothing. Nothing in the owners manual about removing battery to "reset" device, found that on Garmin tech site. It worked, wish I had that handy tip a little sooner. 2 days later, all ok. This is my first GPS, don't know if the nav quirks are typical. POI's are pretty handy, found food and motels along the way. Curious what will happpen when I go for a cycle trip and don't have laptop w/ wifi for back-up.