Garmin Zumo 590LM
 

Does anyone have any experience / views on the Garmin Zumo 590LM they would care to share please?
Thanks. Horizonti.

Well since posting have been busy researching and found this very helpful site...
Login(Zumo forums)
...and have now invested in a Zumo590 and a Touratech locking mount...
Handlebar mount for Garmin ZUMO 590 LM *lockable* black - Touratech GPS brackets - GPS accessories - Navigation | Touratech Ltd
...to hopefully keep it secure!

First impressions are very good, using it in portrait mode in the car and landscape on the bike is handy. Seems to recalculate your route within a few vehicle lengths if you divert. Not got audio set up on the bike yet or had time to play with basecamp or other mapping options yet but will get around to this when time allows.
The Touratech mount is a work of art and seems to hold the unit nice and steady. It wouldn't take long for someone to unbolt the whole thing off the bike but at least it will prevent a quick grab while you are paying for fuel etc.
Am off on a tour of Britain next week so will be looking at loading up some routes before I go and giving it a decent test. Fingers crossed!

Ps. Is replying to your own posts the same as talking to yourself?:confused1:

Ps. Is replying to your own posts the same as talking to yourself?:confused1:[/QUOTE]


Probably! doh

I've been really interested in this, too. Glad your first impressions are good. I'm going to buy one later in the year.

I might not have replied, but when I read your original post, I was hoping someone with one might have replied! I did, however, find a whole thread on the subject over at adv rider.

Let us (me?!) know how you get on. If you find any serious issues, I'd love to know before I shell out for one!

One major concern I have about the Zumo 590 is that it appears to only be able to source traffic information via a Bluetooth connection to the user's smartphone. It doesn't appear to support connection of a FM radio traffic receiver, as all the other Garmin motorcycle GPS navigators have in the past.

I stress the word 'appears' because I have not got my grubby little hands on a 590 to try it out with a GTM traffic receiver. The literature published on the Garmin North America website does not mention support for a GTM traffic receiver, although it does explain at great length that for a fairly small (about $15) one-time fee, the user can activate traffic advisories via a paired smartphone.

Garmin makes both North American (called 'Americas') and European (called 'Atlantic') versions of their motorcycle navigators. It is possible that maybe the European version will support FM traffic.

For me, relying on a paired smartphone to get traffic is a no-go. I live in Canada, and would get nailed with data roaming charges if I ride into the USA. Similarly, when I ride in Europe (which is frequently), I would get nailed by data roaming charges as I moved from one country to another.

All the above notwithstanding, the 590 looks like a nice device. I have seen one operating in sunlight, and the screen is much brighter and offers far higher contrast than the Zumo 660 screen.

Michael

While driving 4 wheels in the UK I listen to the radio for such information.
While riding motorised two wheels in the UK I am not interested, in the slightest: nothing holds up the bike short of ice and snow, so I just get the weather forecast before departing.
Maybe Garmin realise this?

While travelling overseas, who cares? I am retired, on vacation/"an adventure"; I can filter (lane split) traffic (irrespective if it is deemed to be illegal within certain countries - by which I mean that I still have free choice).
No worries basically.

Posted here to save the OP from talking to himself.

Did you manage to find out if a FM antenna will work with the 590?

Half-dozen-questions on 590lm features
 

Apologies if I'm piggy-backing onto this thread...

Over the last several years I've used cheap (£45) Chinese 5" tablets loaded with the superb IGo Primo navigation software. At last, with the 590LM, Garmin seemed to have just about caught up with what this budget combination delivered as standard. Despite the 10x price difference I'm seriously tempted but there's quite a few things I'd be keen to learn from 590LM users....

Is it reasonably easy to plan a route directly on the device? It is with IGo Primo.
Can you upload routes planned on an Android?
Is Basecamp compatible with Android devices?
Is the MP3 player sound quality good?
Is there a 'jump link' from the home screen to a configurable 'favourites' list? e.g: to delete last waypoint, access music player, sound levels, change viewpoint etc.
Do you have a selection of day/night map displays to choose from?
Can you choose the amount of audio info (verbosity) spoken?

I've asked Garmin but their responses have been, to be polite, less than satisfactory.

I've had a Zumo 590 for about 6 months now (I have it on my North American moto, I'm still using a 660 on my European moto). All in all, I'm pretty happy with the 590, it is considerably faster at calculations and display refreshes than the 660, and the screen quality is amazing... the brighter the sunlight, the easier it is to read the display (honest, no kidding).

So, here's my attempt to answer your questions:

Very easy. In fact, I have since given up on doing route planning using MapSource or BaseCamp, and now just create the routes directly on the device. Be aware that the 590 will not work with (will not communicate with) MapSource, if you want to create routes on a computer, BaseCamp is the only Garmin application you can use.
I don't know. I kind of doubt it, but, it is so easy (and fast) to create routes on the device itself, it's not really necessary to use an offline device (computer, phone, etc.) for route creation.
I don't know but I strongly doubt it.
It is friggin' awesome, 10 out of 10, so far as the Garmin end of things is concerned. But be aware that 99% of the 'sound quality' issue is up to the helmet audio system, not the Garmin device. By example, I have a ridiculously expensive BMW System 6 helmet with Bluetooth audio, and the music quality is crap. I also have a very inexpensive, bottom of the line Sena audio system in another helmet, and the music quality is awesome.
Uh, yes, sort of. The menu structure is such that you can get to MOST of the functions you want to control with only one screen press from the main map screen. A few functions require 2 screen presses to reach. Unfortunately, Garmin does not allow the user to re-arrange the order of icons for various functions (like one can do on an iPhone), which means that certain icons that never get used (e.g. Pandora) remain in pride of place, and other icons that a user might use a lot (like find food, or find hotel) might require scrolling to get to. But, all in all, the user interface is well thought out, and once you get used to it - which will require some study and practice - , it is fast and easy to use.
Yes. Or you can just leave it in 'automatic' and it will switch back and forth between day optimized and night optimized automatically, at exactly the correct time for sunset at your current lat/long. You can also chose various customized skins for the display.
No, not really. But what I do when I don't want the audio is just reach up and turn off my helmet bluetooth system (one button press) - that's faster and easier than muting the audio from the device itself. It's worth mentioning that the quality of the spoken voice guidance is extraordinary, it sounds very natural, not at all like computer generated speech. It's a full order of magnitude better than any spoken guidance I have ever heard on any other Garmin device.

One last suggestion: If you get a 590, don't bother to get a Touratech security bracket (unless you plan on riding really, really rough trails). The device unclips and reseats into the Garmin bracket very quickly and easily, hence it is far simpler and much more practical just to unclip it and stuff it in your pocket anytime you leave the motorcycle.

The Garmin bracket holds the device quite securely, I cannot imagine it ever coming loose on any public road, no matter how rough the road might be.

Michael

Re: Half-dozen-questions on 590LM features
 

Thanks PanEuropean for your detailed reply.

Re using an Android tablet for route planning was because, having tried to route plan on a TomTom, I almost topped myself with frustration! Thought it might be the same for the Garmin 590LM. Garmin's response to using BaseCamp on an Android was evasive so I'm guessing you can't. I've asked them to clarify.

Looks like the 590LM with a Senna SMH5 or SMH10R Bluetooth headset might do the job those £45 Chinese/IGo Primo have been doing. Their biggest failings were unreliable hardware (I always carried a spare) and no weather proofing. IGo Primo is very definitely superior to Garmin; Garmin better hope they don't produce a biker's version on a weatherproof tablet!

Recently got a 590 with my new bike and some thoughts:

Routing instructions excellent, even tell you to turn at the traffic lights when it knows they're there.

Bluetooth, great for a solo rider, completely frustrating when trying it with a pillion.

Screen clarity is great, and is configurable, eg you can increase the width of roads change the colours of areas etc.

The inability to order the icons how you want them is frustrating.

Over my Interphone F5MC the music clarity is superb, voice instructions less clear.


Battery life, don't expect to use it for long without plugging into a power source.

Sleep function works well, ie it seems to shut the screen down, but fires up in a 1/10th of the time from a cold start.

Doesn't seem to batch tracks together into lumps eg a days worth like my Montana did, a pity.

Re: Half-dozen-questions on 590LM features/BaseCamp
 

You can only install BaseCamp on a computer. That's not good.

Here's Garmin's reply to the question "Can you install BasCamp on an Android device?"

"...routing on mobile apps is not supported for automotive and motorcycling devices. This is down to the fact that these Garmin devices are not compatible for use on a tablet. You will need to use Basecamp on a computer."

Thanks JohnA for your reply. On battery life... Users seems to get very different experiences, none exactly brilliant. Especially when compared to TomTom devices. Perhaps TomTom should commission a video ad similar to the old Duracell Longlife battery TV ads, seen in the UK about 15 years ago?

Not wishing to derail, but which do people think are better overall - Tom Tom or Garmin?

If you're interested in changing the colours / size of lines, how to is explained here:

Login which directs you to here:

http://www.javawa.nl/zumocolors.html

That's exactly the combination I have - a 590 and a Sena headset (either a 5 or a 10, I can't recall which, but it is one of the inexpensive Sena ones). The two work perfectly, I am very impressed with the entry-level Sena headset.

So far as route creation is concerned, based on my own experience creating routes directly on the 590 (after 15 years of doing it on MapSource), I am now pretty firmly convinced that the easiest way to create routes is to simply do it right on the 590... forget the computer completely.

Michael

The basic problem would be getting the 'route plan' off the phone/tablet and into the GPS.

You can route plan on the phone/tablet .. but not with the garmin maps/software. For Android I use Osmand, Mapsme ... they both use OSM data but display it differently. Having them do the route planning is a 'guide' to me ... same with the GPS .. if I think something looks interesting .. I'm going there .. my holiday not the GPS/Phones!

590LM with a Senna SMH5 or SMH10R Bluetooth headset
 

Thanks for the info PanEuropean.

Will be placing an order for the SMH10R as a first step.

GARMIN 590LM vs IGO PRIMO - FIRST THOUGHTS
 

I just invested in £450 in a Garmin 590LM and the only thing I can say positive about it is that, compared to the cheapo Chinese units with IGo Primo, the unit itself is much, much better (if you ignore connectivity). But you'd expect that at, given the x10 price difference! But the navigation software is an altogether different story...

If you ride on paved roads only IGo Primo is streets ahead of Garmin. As standard you get a selection of voice prompt levels, hi-viz graphics as a default (not the near useless pastel shades of Garmin), multiple map themes, multiple voice characters, differentiation between dual and single lane roads, auto audio warning when you deviate off route, destination arrival confirmation, variable 3D-view-ahead distance, editing of saved favourites... the list goes on and on.

If Garmin ever consulted a biker when designing their software, or listened much to feedback when they've had it, I'd suggest they just ignored it.

I'm a bit confused by your post above... this because I'm not really sure what it is that you are trying to say.

After having read your post several times, it appears to me that you are saying "for paved road only navigation, the IGo Primo is a good device." If that is what you meant to say, great, thank you for letting us all know about this inexpensive device as an alternative to Garmin devices. I like Garmin stuff, but like you, I'm not exactly happy either about the $800 price tag on the 590.

What I can't comprehend from the paragraph you wrote (quoted above) is your statement "IGo Primo is streets ahead of Garmin". The Zumo 590 also offers every one of the features you cited. I know this because I have owned a 590 for about 6 months now, and have ridden over 10,000 miles with it in Canada, the USA, Europe, and North Africa.

Garmin does listen quite carefully to their users. I know this from personal experience - back in 2001, I bought a StreetPilot III for use on my motorcycle, this back when the idea of using a GPS on a motorcycle was considered quite novel and exotic. I wrote Garmin with some suggestions, and this evolved into Garmin providing me with prototype or new model GPS units to test while riding. I did this for 6 years, from 2001 to 2007, riding over 100,000 miles testing the SP III, 25xx, 26xx, 27xx and early prototype Zumos. I gave them a lot of feedback specific to use on motorcycles, often on a daily basis, and some years they would supply me with new build software as frequently as once a week to test while riding. They did listen quite carefully to what I had to say, and often I would see my suggestions incorporated into public release software. The only reason I stopped doing this beta testing was because I had to enter into a NDA with Honeywell due to paid work I was doing on aircraft navigation systems, and that conflicted with the NDA I signed with Garmin for my volunteer work.

The Zumo 590 is a very capable device, but it has a steep learning curve if you want to be able to take advantage of all the features it offers. My respectful suggestion to you, in light of the fact that you "just bought" the unit, is that you re-read the manual about once every 3,000 miles of riding, and you will then discover how to use each and every one of the features you enumerated above.

Please appreciate that I'm not saying this in a sarcastic or condescending manner. One of the disadvantages of contemporary consumer electronics is that they pack hundreds of features, but it's difficult for the end user to discover them all unless the end user puts a fair amount of time and effort into learning how the device works. By way of example, I have had 3 different iPhones (4S, 5, and 6) over the past 3 years. I went into the Apple store in Zurich last week to buy a cable, and saw one of the employees dictating a SMS into their phone. I was amazed, I didn't know the phone had that capability. The employee explained to me that not only has the phone had that capability for about 4 years now, but if you changed the language setting with one button push (only) from the main screen, you could dictate to it in any number of languages, and the phone would properly comprehend and spell the messages.

Michael

It's a very useful tool but, unless I missed something, one thing it doesn't facilitate is changing the colours of the countryside outside of urban areas. This remains a pale, pastel green for all themes, default and modified.

Thank you for taking the time to give a detailed response.

Whilst I'm pleased to hear Garmin do listen to feedback I'm still of the view that a device costing this much money should come with default settings that a typical biker wouldn't feel the need to change.

For example my previous post about not being able to change the default countryside colour... Really, why is it the same pale green for all the themes that come with the unit? There's not even an option to change it by editing the theme files themselves.

I will have a re-read of the manual to discover some the settings mentioned so far but one I'd really like some help with is changing the 3D distance view.

On iGo Primo you can choose - I seem to remember it was 5km, 10km or 15km together with on/off for zoom-out when there are no turns within the chosen distance view. When set to 5km it gives an excellent and detailed view of the road ahead allowing the rider to accurately assess bends.

Use the two small controls that appear on the left hand side of the screen (at least, that's where they are when the device is in portrait orientation). They will let you zoom in and out.

Garmin doesn't assign a scale to the 3D view because the map is drawn logarithmically, with quite high zoom directly in front of the rider, fading away to a more compressed view at infinity (the horizon at the top of the display).

I don't use 3D view myself, hence I don't have a lot of experience with it. I expect, though, that you will need to select the 'autozoom' control to 'off' if you want the zoom level you have manually set to persist.

It is possible that the + and - controls on the left of the screen may disappear after a few moments of riding. If this happens, it is by design, to automatically declutter the display. Touching the screen should bring the controls back.

For what it's worth, I find that using the device in portrait view presents me with much more useful map information that using it in landscape view. I don't care much about what is beside me, it's what is ahead of me that counts.

Michael

Zumo 590 - Portrait View
http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/a...psx0uvvhdt.jpg

Update fixes bug for fixed countryside colours
 

I had a suspicion the persistent LAND colour maybe a fault. I just installed the latest updates for my device and now the LAND colour changes with each theme selected. Toggling 3D Terrain on/off changes the colours as well. With it off the LAND colour set in the kmtf file (this is the file that holds the colour them parameters) is a match.