The Garmin Garmin zumo 550 Motorcycle Navigator GPS is the first fully-featured, no compromises GPS navigator designed exclusively for motorcyclists with glove-friendly, left-handed controls. Specific features of the new zumo 550 include Bluetooth wireless technology. This feature allows users to place hands-free mobile phone calls when paired with a compatible phone that has Bluetooth wireless technology. Incoming calls are answered by simply tapping the zūmo’s screen and speaking through the helmet mic or optional external mic. A user can also make a call from zūmo’s huge points of interest database – which includes hotels, restaurants, stores, and much more. Customers will also wirelessly receive navigation audio prompts when using a compatible helmet. By connecting to the wired stereo audio jack, users can also listen to MP3s and optional Satellite Radio (subscription required). zūmo 550 comes preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT maps containing detailed road maps throughout the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Map data for the zūmo 550 is provided by NAVTEQ the world leader in premium-quality mapping. This industry leading navigation database allows the user to look up nearly six million points of interest such as restaurants, hotels, transportation hubs, and banks.

User Reviews about Garmin Zumo 550 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Have never owned a GPS before, have borrowed a few. Needed one that could handle the severe vibrations of my Harley all cammed up and all that it is. Read other reviews and decided on this. I opted for the H.D. Fairing mount over the handle bar mount that came with it, however if it'd been clear in description that it came with the handlebar mount I might have at least tried it before drilling holes in the fairing. Am happy with it though, minimun vibration and very secure. Anyway, only beef w/550 is the lane change technology could be better. It works very well, and only had an address off location a couple of times. But even then close enough to see visually. Very happy and would recommend to any serious traveler! -- Nuvis 550

I got what I ordered quickly & everything needed to install it in a car or a motorcycle was supplied. I just wish that Ram Mounts made a conversion for the suction cup to a old style Garmin 2610 Street pilot dashboard mount. I hate the suction cup to the windshield idea, & there are two States that forbid that mounting. In my full sized truck it isn't too bad, but in my Wife's VW Jetta it really blocks the view!

So here is what I have gathered in the month that I have owned this:

My 2610 had more features than the Zumo 550 like in tell you what the address # is while you are just driving in map mode.

I could also change the information bars to just about anything I wanted, like see at what altitude I was at in real time.

This unit came with 2009 maps installed internally, & the only way you could get the newest maps upgrade for free on the Garmin site, was to install a 2Gb SD card & install that map there & then do the install from the SD flash card. Instructions were vague, & it took me some time to figure it out. It all got done in a few days of grief including new "MapSource" software. So, why couldn't Garmin install these for Amazon to sell? I guess this is the reason why the price is reduced...

For the people that are looking for a Motorcycle GPSR, yup, this one is OK, I wish they didn't split the MP3 & microphone outputs/inputs on the mount for the motorcycle, it really makes it tough to be able to tie in a way to hear the navigation voice prompts plus be able to tie in a way to speak for the phone. I have a Blue-tooth headset, so I could get both Nav & phone, but you can't hear anything over 35 MPH & I have a quiet stock Muffler on my motorcycle.

I have a Motorola flexible boom mike/ear phone with a 2.5 mm connector,it won't tie into the motorcycle mounting outputs/inputs & no adapter are available.

The good points of the Zumo 550 are that you really don't need the amplified remote antenna for it, it does just fine without one.

Display is great ( but doesn't compensate for the ambient light) like the 2610 did.

So far the mount has held the Zumo 550 in place on the motorcycle, not like the 2610 mount from Garmin that snapped out the holding piece on the case.

I have to rate this as a 4 star due to missing features I had really expected in a product that was $300.00 more than my 2610 plus a lack of mounting it on the dashboard with a 2610 adapter. The sticky that came with it will cost you over $10.00 plus shipping for each car you want to install it to, get my drift?

-- Zumo 550 GPSR

An idiot cager came across the center line and I had to take my bike off of the road at a pretty good clip to avoid him. Unfortunately the shoulder was soft and as soon as the front wheel went into it, the bike went down. It was a total loss. the Zumo550 however, came through...even after the bike tumbling more than a few times. still in its OEM RAM mount and still working when I picked up the bike. BTW, I only had a cracked rib and a few scratches.... The cager never stopped.

Phil -- works even after the accident