• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

Looking at buying Garmin Zumo 660, 590, or XT

If you can find one, get the 590/595 model. Probably the best bang for the buck. Not perfect but worth the savings. XT is nice but the price difference is too high IMO. The only weakness of the 59x is they had a bad batch of batteries that wouldn't stay charged and the battery connection pins may need to be tweaked to make contact sometimes.
 
Mazo EMS2 said:
The 396 is a great unit too. Any reason you aren't considering it?
Click to expand...

I'm not a real techy guy...I want something to replace my Nuvi 500, that I can't see most of the time due to the glare and can never hear because of no bluetooth...Looking here for some responsible help and recommendations...The 3 I listed have been talked about here on the forum many times...THANK YOU, larryd
 
If you want to see it under any conditions then the XT is the only option for you out of the 3.
 
I have a 590 (there is the newer 595 but the differences are minor).

Pro's
  • Icons and text are big, clear and easy to read even when riding
  • Interface design is great and easy to operate even with gloves on, even when riding its easy to alter zoom etc without being distracted.
  • If positioned right the screen is works fine even on bright sunny days*
  • Can be mounted with the screen in portrait mode, I find this view works a lot better on a motorbike/Spyder
  • Rugged design - I ride in rain, on badly rutted dirt tracks, etc and its put up with everything - even being dropped a couple of times.
  • Bluetooth pairing to both earphones and phone has worked without issues.
  • Comes with both bike and car mounting kits, automatically detects each so you can have them configured differently (e.g. portrait)
* I have seen others complain on occasion but I've never had an issue, I suspect this is partly to do with how the unit is mounted/angled. Certainly much better than the Navman and phones (Samsung and Apple) I've used in the past.

Cons
  • The batteries are terrible, a few minutes at best. If you setting up a route or modifying the settings you'll probably need to do it on the bike or connected to power.
  • It's a very chunky unit by GPS standards even when it first came out - I suspect this was due to the ruggardisation.
  • There's no lock built into bike mount (On long runs I put a cable tie around the bit you push to release just to stop opportunist thieves at gas stations etc but still remove the GPS at night at motels etc.
  • The Basecamp software is comprehensive but fiddly. Takes a bit of getting used to and I suspect was designed in the 1990's*
  • With the default settings when you sync a route from Basecamp to the 590 it gets recalculated, you can stop this but finding the right settings can be difficult*
  • In New Zealand at least it occasionally makes some very odd routing decisions*
*These will be an issue on all Garmin GPS's.

I've had the 590 a few years so did wonder if I should upgrade to an XT but the main gripes I have with the 590 (basecamp etc) wouldn't change so not bothered.
 
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There are several drawbacks to the 396, IMHO. The biggest is that its native motorcyle mode recalculates all of your routes that were pre-planned and loaded from Basecamp. Another is that they have been known to turn off, reset, and forget much of their recorded tracking. I was lucky that my laptop with the routes on it was with us on a 4300 mile trip a few years ago. My 396 turned itself off and when I got it back on, luckily near that day's destination, all the loaded routes (for ~2500 miles) were gone. Additionally, it has lost satellite lock on a clear day in open country, indicating that we were traveling through an open field ~1/4 mile off the road. Except for more map memory and slightly brighter screen, it has been a poor replacement for the old StreetPilot 2730. Oh, and there's no hard-wire audio output. I have to work-around with a Bluetooth receiver to get the audio into the stereo on the bike. Although the XT is an updated 396 in appearance, I read that most of these problems were fixed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: Zumo 396, the few people I know that had the 396 all complained of the units being 'flakey'. They all replaced them with 590s or 595s. The newest XT has slightly better display but some of the functions of the 59x series were removed.
 
JayBros said:
For a lock for a Garmin GPS, https://robertbeckerdesign.com/. I leave my 590 on the Spyder all the time except when overnighting at motels on tour.
Click to expand...
:2thumbs::agree: quite nice & can match lid lox key if you communicate with therm:firstplace: Also the 660 offers a security setting requiring 4 digit code , or predetermined GPS location to unlock. :bbq: Can also be handy.
 
I've had all 4, the 500, 660, 590 and now the XT.
By all means go for the XT.

"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten"

Not that the 660 or 590 are of poor quality, but the brightness of the XT screen, speed of the processor and additional routing features are real winners.

Just my opinion, but you asked.
 
I don't have pictures, but on our 396 I drilled and tapped a small hole through the release that takes (as I remember) a #7 Torx (tiny). I keep a driver for it in the frunk. At least, if someone knows the location of the release button they can't walk by and snatch it. Don't know if the XT uses the same mount. Sure, they can grab and rip it off, but damaging the unit kills its pawn/fence value.
 
I have a Zumo 595 with both motorcycle and car mounts that I’ll sell for $225 delivered in the 48 states. Unit is in excellent working and cosmetic condition with a 1 year old battery. Includes mounts, power cables, 595, manuals, original box. I’m only selling because I was gifted a Zumo XT.
 
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