Input on the Garmin 660

[Bullgoose]

After the trip to Inzane, it seems I'm the only Valkyrie rider that doesn't have a gps unit. Rainmaker & Earlybird both have them and they were quite useful. So, I've decided to get one and I'm looking at the 660, but reviews I've are mixed at best.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Yeah, looking at the Sena smh-10 BT headset for my helmet. If I have wires attached, I generally break them.

TIA

[Warlock]

After the trip to Inzane, it seems I'm the only Valkyrie rider that doesn't have a gps unit. Rainmaker & Earlybird both have them and they were quite useful. So, I've decided to get one and I'm looking at the 660, but reviews I've are mixed at best.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Yeah, looking at the Sena smh-10 BT headset for my helmut. If I have wires attached, I generally break them.

TIA

I have the Sena 10 headset and really like it. I have it blue tooth to my gps,cell phone, and also my Ipod. Works very well.
David

[Disco]

I have the 660 and love it.  However, in my experience, it is not without its quirks.  Mine is integrated through a J&M CB2003 and I have a 16GB card in it crammed full of music.  

This setup allows CB, weather radio, GPS prompts, music, and Bluetooth connectivity to my iPhone.  There is also an audio input jack for iPod or similar, but I don't use it.  In the 25,XXX miles or so I've ridden with it there have been a few times I would have appreciated having and relied heavily upon the weather radar available on its big brother.  I also occasionally wonder if I would have enjoyed the satellite radio through which you get the radar.  When I made the purchase, I chose not to pay Garmin for all that once only to have to then pay Sirius/XM repeatedly.  I might do that differently if I had to tomorrow.  It's not that big a deal if most of your riding is close to home.  It's another matter if you take long rides to Michigan or South Dakota...  

The quirks are relatively minor.  But they do exist.  The vast majority of the time, I can't answer an incoming call.  For some reason, there is a huge delay between touching the screen on the "Answer" box and the call actually being completed.  I doesn't seem to matter if the screen is clean or dirty or the finger is gloved or bare.  Probably the loose nut between the seat and the handlebars.  Another bit of weirdness is that if you listen very carefully to the mp3 playback, many of the songs seem like the transfer process left out a byte here and a byte there.  They skip forward a very little bit at a time, but repeatedly through the song.  Really weird.

But, to put them in their proper perspective, check out Louis CK's riff about how Everything is Amazing and Nobody's Happy.

Louis CK: Everything is amazing right now and nobody is happy	powered by Aeva

Oh, and IMO, their mapping software, MapSource, sucks!  I find it mind-numbingly stilted and unintuitive.  YMMV

[Bullgoose]

Nice post Disco
If you create a route with waypoints on your computer, does it transfer good to the garmin? That was one of the main criticisms in all the reviews I read. Also, does it ever just stop working and needs to be rebooted?
I only plan to use it for the gps & music. No phone, weather, traffic, etc. No passenger. Solo.

[Disco]

If you create the route through MapSource, it's seamless.  I'm told by reliable sources that importing a route originally created in MS Streets & Trips works great almost all of the time.  However, I haven't played with S&T enough to think it's any better than MapSource.  I've heard that there is a website that will convert GPS files from format to format, but have never sought it out, either.  My rather brute force method is to review the route the night before using the VERY user-friendly Bing Maps, make notes (mental or painters' tape on the tank) with waypoints, and then do a series of Where-Tos.  If you've already entered them via the Where To dialog, they remain in the memory under Recently Found.  It's much easier/faster/safer to load them that way while rolling than to have to spell them out letter by letter.  

It did hiccup a few times right after I got it, but has been very reliable since then.  No complaints on that from me.

As I'm sure you've already found out, they are pricey.  I got mine last year during a $100.00 rebate promotion from Garmin.  It was applicable only on purchases made from Authorized Dealers.  That fact ruled out most eBay sellers, but not all.  Mine came from 17th Street Photo in NY.  They were within a few dollars of the cheapest price I could find anywhere, and being an Authorized Dealer got me another c-note off.  As I'm not shopping now, I don't know if there are any specials running, but I would definitely check 17th Street Photo before pulling the trigger.  

[Bullgoose]

Just checked them out. They are currently $10 cheaper than Amazon. Interestingly, the 665 is $999. Good thing I don't want the satellite radio.
Later.

Price at:
Garmin - $650
Amazon - $649
17th st. - $640

No deal at Amazon.

[Disco]

I think the MSRP last year was $799.00, but 17th St. had it at $639.00.  At least it hasn't gone up.

I believe it came with a RAM mount, but I went with Tech Mount.  http://www.techmounts.com/products/



More detail here.  http://www.techmounts.com/products/index.php?page_function=detail&product_id=149 

And, of course, the 660 requires a special mounting plate. 

[Bullgoose]

And, of course, the 660 requires a special mounting plate.

Doesn't it come with all necessary hardware to mount? ???

[Disco]

Sorry for the confusion.  If you're going RAM, yes. 

What's in the Box:
    zūmo 660
    Preloaded City Navigator® NT for North America or Europe (full coverage)
    MapSource® City Navigator North America NT DVD or City Navigator Europe NT DVD (full unlock)*
    Motorcycle mount with integrated power cable and mounting hardware
    Carrying case
    Battery pack
    Automotive suction cup mount**
    Automotive power cable
    USB cable
    Dashboard disk
    Quick start manual


The standard/provided/"universal" GPS mount from Tech Mount does not fit the 660.  The 660 has a different bolt pattern.

I just found NextDayPC.com.  It says call to check availability, but their published price is $600.47.  Don't know if it's new or refurbed. 

[strawbobrob]

  Love the CK video; very funny, very true!

[MarkT]

I've had my Zumo 660 for about 4 years.  I don't use the satellite radio ability after XM & sirius merged and they screwed their lifetime customers.  That's another story.  BTW - the weather available through satellite is not radar - it's more like a temp & precip. report, with cartoon icons.  You can't see what that cloud is doing up ahead, or if a certain path will get you around it.  I wish it was.  You can get actual doppler radar from XM, with other more expensive units.  The subscription for that was $99/mo. last time I checked.  Pilots seem to like it.  And I suppose, doctors, lawyers, and other millionaires.  

Garmin only supports a 4MB card, in the extra card slot.  However, larger cards work.  I have an 8MB in mine.  The unit is hard-coded to only recognize a max of 1,000 tunes, no matter how much memory you have.  And you need to store them in a lot of directories, rather than one or a handful, or it will take forever to boot up.  I have my 1,000 tunes in 40 directories, 25 tunes per.  It works OK, provided you want to launch your tunes & just let them play.  Navigating through the tunes - not so good.  Also - I bought a separate preamp with a dial volume control and 3 inputs - so I can mix sound between 3 devices into my separate amplifier.

You are better off planning your trip in mapsource, then uploading it.  Pretty seamless.  The unit is pretty bulletproof, and waterproof - has a military submersion standard.  The processor is fairly fast, compared to previous Garmins I've had, and I've had 5 now.  Been using them instead of maps since the 90's - even before the gov't stopped degrading the signal intentionally.  I have only once had it lock up, where it would respond to no key or screen presses.  That was a PITA, because the only way to regain control is to power it off, and you need tools to do that.  My Street Pilot - that was a regular occurrence - I even installed a momentary off switch on the back to break the battery connection inside - happened every time I went past a really strong EMF field.  Specifically the AF radar dome on Smoky Hill rd SE of Denver.

There is a lot of help, inside info, tips and such on the online forums - see http://www.zumoforums.com.  And another here - http://garminzumo.wikispaces.com/ There are some tricks to using the 660, you'll find out for yourself, or you can read about on these forums.  It was the best available when I bought it - then of course after that, they came out with ones with online connectivity, searches, auto updates etc.  I haven't checked what's available recently - I really want one with doppler radar.  If you get a garmin and plan to keep it a year or so, get the lifetime update subscription - it's only a bit more than 1 update and you get 4 a year.  I just got the latest update a week ago.

I've set up the wing and the valk to accept the garmin.  Easy to plop it onto the mount and go - or take it off & put in pocket. I never bother with maps anymore.  Plan the route in mapsource, load it up & go.  Can modify the route on the way as needed.  Can have it plan a route to saved waypoints. Can have it find most things I need to find in a strange place - ATMs, hotels, restaurants, etc.  And you can load up your own favorites file, downloaded online, and/or edited yourself.

[The Anvil]

After the trip to Inzane, it seems I'm the only Valkyrie rider that doesn't have a gps unit.

No you're not 

[Chiefy]

I bought a cheap GPS for my trike, but kept it in the trunk.  Only needed it once, when an accident closed the road I was on late at night.  Have been meaning to get the Fatlady ready (aux power, install the mount) but can't seem to get interested in having it.  I'll kick myself if I ever need it though.....

[Disco]

BTW - the weather available through satellite is not radar - it's more like a temp & precip. report, with cartoon icons.  You can't see what that cloud is doing up ahead, or if a certain path will get you around it.

Thanks.  I don't feel like I'm missing out on as much.   

The unit is hard-coded to only recognize a max of 1,000 tunes, no matter how much memory you have.  And you need to store them in a lot of directories, rather than one or a handful, or it will take forever to boot up.

Mine says it sees 2,900 songs, but I can't swear it's played them all. 

[rws]

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={a43e2650-1794-11e0-7efa-000000000000}

[Bullgoose]

Thnx for the link.


From Garmin support:
zumo 660 and 665 = 2000 songs

[dreamaker]

If I recall correctly the Zumo 665 is about the same as the Zumo 550 but larger.  But if you get the 550 and want XM you have to buy the antenna ($250) but if you get the 665 it comes with the antenna which I think is a better buy.

[MarkT]

BTW - the weather available through satellite is not radar - it's more like a temp & precip. report, with cartoon icons.  You can't see what that cloud is doing up ahead, or if a certain path will get you around it.

Thanks.  I don't feel like I'm missing out on as much.   

The unit is hard-coded to only recognize a max of 1,000 tunes, no matter how much memory you have.  And you need to store them in a lot of directories, rather than one or a handful, or it will take forever to boot up.

Mine says it sees 2,900 songs, but I can't swear it's played them all. 

I haven't tried to exceed the 1,000 limit for awhile, so that could have changed with firmware updates.  Back when I tested it, that was an absolute limit.  Tune 1001 and up were non-existent to the player.  I'll have to check it again.  Hope you're right, I'd like to use my larger playlists.