BonusVFR

I use my Zumo all the time when travelling, also in my car.

Does anybody know of a FM transmitter to transmit directional messages and mp3 from my Zumo to the car radio, when using the car bracket? There seems to be no mini jack outlet, only a miniUSB contact on the right side of the bracket.

I use the Zumo all the time in my truck - hardly ever pinpoint stuff using the internet anymore.

Just about any FM transmitter should work - I have a Belkin. Just run a 3.5mm plug (double male) from the Zumo car mount to the FM transmitter assembly. This should be in your FM transmitter kit. If not any electronics store (or Walmart in the US) will have one.

Even better if you have a MP3 port on your radio ......then you can go direct to the car system without the FM transmitter using the same 3.5mm cable.

BTW the Zumo makes a great handsfree cell device in the car. Fantastic screen so you can see all the stuff you can not see on your cell plus the POI database is right there if you want to call ahead! So you can see your phone dB as well as the Zumo restaurants etc.

and you can take and receive calls thru the MC mount speaker hands free once you enable BT on the phone.

Way back in post 96, I talked about the POI loader and the Honda Dealers dB.

The guy, HAL, who runs the Wing site as well as a good parts store (no aftermarket VFR yet though) just updated his Honda dealer list to include phone numbers that which you can dial using the Zumo 550/BT. He also has the file in other formats to use with other Garmin GPS units. Make sure you update your Garmin POI loader to the latest version (Aug 07).

Here is Hal's POI site which gives you some simple instructions on how to do it too. The dB is not perfect though and no Canada yet.

http://www.regi.net/poi/

Thanks Hal

Way back in Post #147 V4 Rosso mentioned a replacement security screw aftermarket product............little did I know at the time he was just trying to push the 10K views limit/ceiling!

Well here is an update on the Security Screw Replacement! Thanks V4 Rosso!

This is what it looks like except it is stainless........this is from ECM on ZumoForums

This screw replaces the factory security screw which requires a special Garmin tool to well..............screw it in/out. This arrangement works well if you a teenager working in perfect light and have never had an alcoholic beverage in your life.

I never used the screw as it was too hard to screw??????? - a man has to know his limitations.

The stock screw helps secure the Zumo in the MC mount to prevent an accidental discharge of your Zumo on the street. It may help for a few nanoseconds with thieves too but I doubt it. The clamp worked fine for me and my Zumo has never popped but……………..

Well anyway the replacement screw is available on line here:

http://www.boelis.nl/index_bestanden/SecurityscrewEN.htm

If you want testimonials …….there are nearly 30 pages of SCREW discussion and happy customers on the ZumoForums! The thread was started by another guy from the Netherlands ……..ECM a Zumo wizard.

http://www.zumoforums.com/index.php?topic=1153.0

Well, I received a Xmas present from my tour compatriot ………

…………………………..a replacement screw!

You can see that his vision is like any 50+ guy…………

so he needs the device that is easy to operate without the tool. It is!

Here it is on my machine. Thank you Santa.

Ok .........a quick test of 3.8

Now you can really rule out the Freeway/Interstates with one button on the Zumo

This could save a lot of time when route planning/constructing on the Zumo itself.

Route thru San Diego avoiding the Interstates (I-5) just as advertised! Works great did several tests.

I still do not know what a Zumo "Highway" does/is.............but never did.

Mapsource and the Zumo should have the same AVOIDS..........they don't

Best to keep up with the updates on Mapsource and now the Zumo.......

Version 3.8 just released:

Changes made from version 3.30 to 3.80:

Add support for African Time zones.

Add support for several new pre-recorded voices.

Add support for distances in yards when a British voice is selected (may require updated voice).

Added support for MAD Maps scenic routes.

Allow the compass page to display 5 digits of elevation.

Improved handling of circular routes. Allows entry at alternate point. Will not announce arrival when starting a route. (All routes will be deleted after update, but can be re-imported from GPX files.)

Keep the map detail level when go from main map to browse map.

When reviewing a gas station after pressing the fuel button from main map, the map will now be centered on selected gas station rather than the vehicle.

Change Optimal Reorder so it does not include the final point when reordering.

Correct issue where backlight may change if you remain on the backlight adjust page for a period of time.

Correct issue where backlight may turn off when location is above polar circle.

Correct issue that would sometimes cause highways to be labeled with the incorrect name.

Correct issue that would not allow more than a single point to be added to some routes.

Correct issues when the same map is loaded in two different regions.

Correct issue when searching for cities on basemap.

Correct off road transitions in track to route when there is no map coverage.

Correct issue playing Audible format 4 books.

Correct distance for mixed routes imported from MapSource

Correct issue that caused all traffic delays to be 1min when using certain maps.

Correct issue that prevented TrafficMaster service from being properly named on the unit.

Correct issue that prevented some very large track log activities from being archived correctly.

Correct issue where changes to a route would be lost if you press and hold the back button.

Correct issue that caused MP3?s to be paused for navigation announcements when navigation was set to off and a pre-recorded voice was selected.

Sounds like I need another road trip for proper eval :D

Looks like this probem is over anyway

Does anyone know the web site address where Zumo owners can share maps?

This is one................

http://connect.garmin.com/zumo/

This a copy of a post I put up on Advrider. Lots of questions over there about track capability of Zumo etc. This may help. Maybe your planning 2008?

..........

In practical terms, the Zumo can store about two days of riding in the active track log.......after that it archives them to logs. You can show the active track log on the Zumo screen. For me I basically can ride for a month and have track logs. All of this happens automatically.

Here is an example of the displayed track log on the ZUmo. Tracks going in and out of Campground in Borrego area of CA

Here are downloaded tracks in Colorado.....the purple is the route I did not take on the trip.

In Yosemite ......again Preplanned routes in and out to Curry Village plus tracks to my campsite.

You can see/display the active track log on the Zumo screen but once it archives you can only see it in Mapsource when you get home..

If you did not follow your route and liked your tracks better (actual trip) then you can save the tracks as routes at the end of each day. Or after the trip you can download all the tracks (active/current and archive tracks) to mapsource, clean up a little and export back to the Zumo to make routes.

Here is a combo or dirt and paved roads routes around Telluride after they were converted to routes on the Zumo then back to mapsource for planning for the next visit.

Dirt on a Wing you ask?? Ok nobody asked <_<

I rarely ride in cold weather except on tour. Sometimes in the Winter the temps can drop in the 30s at 6K ft in the San Diego MTs but mostly it never drops below 40.

Our tour I find repetitive days in the cold can beat you up. UP and over the Sierras a couple of times can get cold.

My current cold weather/tour setup:

• Two Piece Aerostich RC
  
• Synthetic thin long underwear……and maybe another thin layer on top.
  
• Wood/synthetic blend hiking socks with Goretex touring boots
  
• Grip heaters .........also use wool glove inserts or winter lined Goretex gloves. I also have the Aerostich Goretex mittens in reserve.
  
• Bicycle arm and leg warmers which you can pull off without totally disrobing when it warms a bit
  
• Aerostich windproof electric vest
  
• Helmet liner
  

I also slow down and if it really looks to be cold I take this!

I found my Garmin quest to be invaluable on my 50k miles of trips with it, but unreliable with it tendancy to break the antenna. I hope the zumo is more rugged I am going to replace it this winter with a zumo. I like that I wont have to update maps all the time when going accross country, there is more than enough memory for the entire us. The quest was lacking in capacity, small buttons and of course the flimsy antanne. How easy is it to use the built in mp3 player?

And yes mapsource doesnt have enough roads marked as dirt, since it was always trying to route me on dirt roads. You have to be smarter than the gps. Usually its just a few miles more but that lake city route I know well! That one would have been hell on a Wing. You can tell it not to route you on a dirt road but they still do sometimes if you have it set for shortest distance instead of fastest route.

I have not dropped my Zumo yet..................... but no problems with bumps, handling, vibrations (I had one once on the Wing), weather and no exposed ant/leads/etc to break. In fact the receiver (sirfIII) is one of the best in the business and I get a fix anywhere and quickly even in my two story house. All of the maps are on the base unit so you don't fool with no stinking maps.

The MP3 works great and auto mutes when Nav directions/turns blare out. I just use the MP3 format songs that I rip for my (sorry) Zune and copy them to the 4 gig SD card. Very easy to do. The Zumo MP3 is easy to control with touch buttons. I think the unit has a 1,000 song limit right now but you could put another card in after your your 8th day of riding I guess - maybe your third day of the Iron Butt.

Here are the basic controls... TIP - If you are an Audiofreak you can just touch the screen art and get all the specs of your MP3 recording and then blow up the screen to look at/up Ms Spears or something.

Yea I figured that road/route was dirt.

Like you said - Sometimes the map dB just does not think/know the road is dirt!!!! So not matter what RULES you put in Mapsource or the Zumo you get routed on that filthy stuff. It just so dirty/messy almost as bad as stepping in this.

Here are some of the Avoidances that you can put in Mapsource when you plan your routes on the PC. Note a little different than the Zumo. :rolleyes:

When the routes are preloaded and you are following them it is not that important what Avoidances you have plugged into the Zumo. However when you are freelancing like I did in CO you better check your settings.

Like you, I tend to prefer........

Fastest time over shortest distance cause you can get routed on some really shiiiiiiiiiiiiii roads. I need that Uly I guess.

When you enable the Avoidances you get some choices: U turns, Highways Toll roads, plus the ones on this screen (unpaved roads for example).

But you can not have it all. If you say no traffic and shortest route and there is only one road you get "Farmington" running South out of Durango and that sucks. As they say in the business "I will never do that again"!

As you correctly state "You have to be smarter than the GPS" . In my own words, you have to have your wits about you and this is a problem when you are a half wit. Edited to Add "Like Me"!

But heck I got lost/hit on dirt with pure Maps toooooooooo. But I could have ridden out on my MTB. :unsure:

Somewhere in Idaho??????

And remember HS, you still have a coupon for a certain Bed and Breakfast, Zumo test and spare VFR in San Diego when the weather turns. :beer:

More Road Lessons Learned in AZ/CO

Previously, I mentioned how you can easily throw in extra waypoints/favorites from Mapsource, when you are planning routes for a tour. They do not have to be in the routes in your tour plan. If you mark em up in Mapsource, they will be downloaded to the Zumo.

My recent Colorado/AZ tour was testimony to the value of throwing in a few extra possibilities in the quiet of the night on a PC while at home. This saves a lot of time and Zumo keystrokes when you are on the road or in a campground – trying to find cities, places you do not know how to spell.

Just about every route, I had planned, went out the window as soon as my tour colleagues joined up in San Diego.

Here they are – and one of them was riding a “Dream” or some sort of V4 anyway. They do a lot of commercial work???????????? in M. Valley.

Since it was their tour and I was baggage, I deferred to them but of course the daily legs and possible permutations had to be checked out on the Zumo first. There was a lot of the punching on the fly at the last minute. They seemed to think the Zumo was overkill till they needed an answer like how far and or which way??!!

The favorites made it real easy to “GO” figure!

Of my 8 preplanned routes all but one went out the window. Oh well.

What I would do differently on the road is to use the previously downloaded waypoints/favorites to construct actual routes vice punch in a favorite and GO directly to it.

What I did……….

This is my screen shot of leaving Goulding’s Campground (AZ/UT border) on the way to Durango. Just punched in a favorite and hit GO.

BTW…………..I can think of only one advantage to having sixty year old plumbing.

Construct a route or Touch GO?

The end result is the same but after the trip when you download your trip logs/routes/new favorites you will have those extemporaneous routes plugged in as opposed to having to construct them from your track logs. This means you will be able to download your "on the fly" routes when you return.

Of course, you could always construct your routes from your active trip log at the end of each day – but I am too tired/forgetful despite my Sargent or Wing saddle.

I continue to have an occasional hiccup like this Lake City Cutoff /RT26 to join up on the Silver Thread route on CO 149. I think it is a dirt road and not friendly for a Wing. Maybe I need a Uly?

You can see my actual tracks and the purple shows the recommended route which I ignored or was oblivious to the Jill’s protestations.

With my Default Recalc (OFF) setting she only gets one shot to “inform” me as opposed to numerous and rude reminders. Of course, I was right this time but most of the time I am Fubar or worse.

But this just reminds me how smart I am and that Humans can not be replaced ………….Just yet anyway. :beer:

Anybody want a Bonus CO/AZ Trip Report? :warranty:

This is a repost of what I put on Zumoforums:

The question is how do you get miles to the final destination - easy page to the compass screen or Map your directions. But how do you get total miles to a midpoint/lunch etc

I have found that one day of tour should be one route. That way you can get miles to final stop of the day with just a few keystrokes. Also the ETA on the main screen is relevant.

My tours decay too much after a couple of days to have a week tour route be that valuable to me. Better after an extemporaneous change of route to make a small change to navigate to the start of day two/three route or whatever.

Navigate back to route

However, you can get total miles to intermediate point/turn by first getting the list of directions...

For example I want the total miles to Sunrise highway - which lists the leg miles between turns/viapoints on this screen

If you then touch Sunrise you get the total miles to Sunrise ie 55 miles and the estimated ride time. Waypoints work the same except that you see a big fat flag in the middle of the screen. A few extra keystrokes here but it can be done if you want total miles to a viapoint/turn in the middle of your route.

Still like one day one route though!

Records and Such

When first released the Zumo did not indicate altitude but did record the information in the trip logs. Sometime in early Spring, the altitude reading was incorporated into the compass row screen.

My previous record for Zumo altitude documentation was atop Tioga Pass in the Sierras during my CA 07 tour.

Almost 10,000 ft and you have to pay to make a recording…………………

Despite the fact that the Sierras boast the highest mountain in the lower 48, I was able to set some new altitude records on my recent CO tour.

When the Zumo gets about here ……………..

It starts to have problem……………………..

Which is easily fixed by switching to this new measurement system – which was just invented. :wheel: You just have to believe that 5,280ft in a mile is a lot simpler to understand than that difficult to fathom (6ft by the way) metric/decimal creed.

It is kind of reverse of what I experienced when I lived in England as a kid for a couple of years. I learned :pissed: all about Pounds and Shillings (back then 20 to a pound unless you were talking about a guinea of course) vice the dollar system (how crazy is 100 cents to a dollar anyway) I was familiar with.

Anyway – somewhere in CO????????? :wheel: actually on a Wing and a prayer.

I would convert that to feet but I do not know how.

BTW, the Zumo is usually within 20 ft or so of the posted signs on the hill.

And of course on the way back to San Diego, I sunk ................................... :unsure:

You can find some nice software on the net, that can geocode your pictures by writing the location into the exif data. All it takes is the tracklogfile and a list of picture files.

Gpscorrelate is an example of such software

Cool. Thanks. I may have to screw with that as well........... More time lost <_<

The problem I had initially was that I did not change the time zone on my camera ........but I did on the Zumo.

Ok so here I am in CO, heading North out of Telluride on CO 145 about 8 in the morning………………when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a silver VFR and one reindeer GS. Both just full of bags, presents and tour crap.

A quick snap from my RAM mounted camera and a photedit blow up and you get this

Who is this?????????? Help!!!!!!!! :goofy:

One of the cool things about the Zumo is that you can get a good fix on exactly where you took that photo by comparing the time stamps of your photos and the Zumo track logs.

The kindaaaaaa Blue segment in the middle is where I shot the VFR photo – I was on the move. You can also see what my backtrack loop and pull in to the South looked like when I had to go rescue my buddy who had pulled into the only MC shop he had seen in the Telluride area.

If it helps stir the memory, I was riding my other bike at the time – the one with the AC duct. ………………………….And after reading the Cruiser Bashing thread, there should be no inappropriate, insulting, offensive or fat joke remarks. :idea3:

here is my tale of zumo. I recently upgarded from a garmin 2720 to a zumo 550.

so two weeks ago I ride out to the country and travel some of my favorite roads I decide to go to Pa and visit a friend after

then the fun begins, I enter my parents home address and the zumo calculates the route but has no arrival time, this is my first indication that something is not right. I start to look at the route that my zumo wants me to travel and the route goes straight west from pa to ohio thru and further west then up into Canada yes Canada and then back east and south to Long Island NY.

i tried several times to stop the and re entered there address but zumo kept calculating the same route, then I entered my address and zumo calculated the route to my home but the same way.

I once had a similar experience using mapquest getting around NYC on business - routing took me to Chicago wherever that is.

A couple of folks experienced something similar before the software upgrades. I never did. Have you upgraded the software on the Zumo?

How are your Avoidances set? Did you talk to tech support?

Sometimes I have done some route programming but failed to hit GO and I got the same route till I went past GO and collected $200. :idea3:

In essence, he is totally on voice as he is blind unless he uses his reading glasses and then he can not see the road.

That sure is a disadvantage. I sometimes find that when I solely rely on voice prompts I end up taking a wrong turn. Particularly at roundabouts the directions are not always correct.

Yea that is where I come down too. Originally I thought Voice would be enough but apparently I need more help!

Most of the time I get in trouble now is when I don't believe Jill???? I should know better after all I am married. :idea3:

Sometimes Mr. ZUmo is saying one thing and the sign has another name. Most always the same road though. But you have the problem big time with maps too.

Another note on the Zumo

When you are on the run and pull up a new destination be it a town or a gas station. Be advised that these distances and direction are as the crow flies.

Mt Laguna

If you are stopped and do the same thing you get cardinal points of the compass. BTW this is the safer way to go. Even though the hard buttons and touch screen are very easy to use.

Actual route to Mt Laguna and miles. Add another six miles or so!

This can be a little disconcerting at first but the Zumo can not simultaneously compute and continuously update multiple routes at one time so it gives the crow distances and you pick one and see if it works by calculating the route.

Bon Voyage

As a side note when we navigated this piece of road South East from Lassen NP there were entirely different reactions from the two Zumo riders depending on the Zumo Recalc mode and "other factors".

My BMW buddy has his Zumo set on Auto recalculation mode.

I have mine shut off which is the default position for me except in large metro areas or perhaps when I want to explore a neighborhood. In the hood, I just set the destination to a point on the other side of the maze and just ride around, explore and let the Zumo pull me out.

Now my RT partner has a problem that he has not come to terms with. :blink:

It is not his plumbing but something much more important on tour.

His wife seems to support him though - no matter what - unconditional L......... or ............. :wheel: .

In essence, he is totally on voice as he is blind unless he uses his reading glasses and then he can not see the road.

I have a competitive advantage as I have the latest dual pane correction devices. A man has to know his limitations. :pissed:

He panics as he gets one continuous recalculating message that he is off track and all I have to do is look at the screen and see we are going to join up with the route in a couple of miles or so. He can not see it though - this is a problem!

If this happens all you have to do is tap the screen to get another perspective and see if you need to do anything.

Have to hurry with this post as I am off to Durango by Zumo. Guess which bike I am taking.

On the Road Utility

Many of my previous tours had been plagued by Navigation Errors. Indeed this prompted the use of FRS/GMRS radios and sporadic map stops to resolve gentlemanly and respectful disputes about which way to go. And what the Heck/F…… are you doing???

Here we are missing a turn in the Sierras in 2006………..

That should be a right!

Occasionally, I even had to engage the gear whine warp drive motors to chase down my fellow rider, whom I let with regret, take the lead.

This was my first tour where both my riding buddy and I had GPS units – Zumos! What could go wrong? More on this later in this interminable voyage.

As the keeper of the Navigation trust (easier to get blamed that way) and a software guy, my charter was to develop routes in Mapsource.

The job was done and I emailed the routes to my colleague. Of course, I followed my maxim of one route for each day. Following the protocol in the post above, one can easily upload the routes to your Zumo.

It is not critical that the routes be perfect. For example don’t spend too much time on the last mile i.e. for example if you do not where you are bedding for the night. Just crank something in.

Here is an example, I used Curry Village as my stop point for my swing into Yosemite Valley even though Lower Pines Campground was my final destination.

Curry Village is straight down.

I did not know the exact camping site, so I did not try to locate it on Mapsource. Later I was able to use the Zumo to mark the exact spot (see "Lower Pines Camp" marker in Mapsource below) as a waypoint/favorite to be used in future routes. Indeed spots you mark by pressing the Motorcycle Icon on the front screen load into your Zumo favorites file and will be downloaded when you finally hook up the Zumo to Mapsource at tour’s end. You can also see my tracks to the site.

Right there.

After two days of rest I just loaded the next days route into the Zumo and proceeded to the start point. If I had been unfamiliar with the area, I could have just opted for this………….

Navigate back to start of route

As a matter of routine, I set my Zumo Recalculation Mode to Off, except in cites/dense urban areas where I set the mode to Auto.

Auto recalculate modes

This minimizes button pushes when lane splitting in San Francisco and disturbs one less when you jump off the road to look at something like this and know perfectly well where you are.

If you do get off route and need help you can easily switch back to "Auto" or "Prompted" Recalculation or better yet just hit “Detour” to get direction back to your route.

This also works when the road is chained off.

Should you both be in the Same Mode?

Ok, I just jumped back into Mapsource to lay out some routes for my upcoming swing to Colorado. So here are some lessons learned from my recent CA tour where both my buddy and I had Zumos.

Before a trip I like to…………………..

First off - I like to clear out my old routes and favorites/waypoints files from previous tours. It just makes it cleaner to find the relevant destinations when you are on tour. I have not had a memory (Zumo that is) issue yet but clutter is something I do not want on my Zumo.

My garage is another matter. <_<

Get rid of old and non relevant routes etc – you always have them and the old tour track files on Mapsource if you want to use them again.

I also like to clear out my screen shot and archive gpx directories, so I do not have to sort out what was from the previous tour when I download stuff from a tour.

Remember, when you construct routes with Mapsource and the Zumo use shaping points so that you can eliminate unnecessary voice directions and flags on your Zumo. I mostly let the computer pick the route and then correct using shaping points.

You can tell a proper Shaping Point because it has in the Type field it is call a "Map Intersection" and in the "Comments field" the both roads are labeled ie "VFR rd and Wing way".

One from my next tour on the way to CO - getting hot in AZ.

Then you upload your routes and waypoints. Waypoints turn into favorites on the Zumo. It is important to remember that all waypoints do not have to be in your routes. You do not want to download tracks and if it comes up you probably did not have a clean Mapsource file when you started building your trip.

You could dowload tracks from somebody else to turn then into a route on your Zumo.

Having extra waypoints is real handy on tour if you want a detour or look at a detour option quickly. You can also get quick mileage checks/options if you want to alter your route.

I build in extra waypoints (that are not in my routes) that I may want to visit if it suits me. If you get tired you can also use the favorites to get direct routes to alternative destinations

You should get a "New data found would you like to manage this data now" alert. And then.................

Your Data successfully imported

In a perfect world :huh: , you would want to expand the scale on your Mapsource and even the Zumo screen to really check out your route. You could get one of these perhaps. But frankly I do not spend a lot of time blowing things up (I used to do that a long time ago). I just go with the flow.

Next on the road.

Today I rode with a guy who just put in the Brake RAM mod on his ST1300. This RAM attachment point looks pretty good and much cleaner than the handlebar grip add on that I have on the VFR and Wing.

Here is the Motorcycle Larry Brake Reservoir - comes in Model T black and Silver.

Sport Riders Triple RAM Ball kind of appeals to me as well. But I have to get another gizmo first.

After the debacle I had with my JVC earbuds on my California tour, I had to do something different to optimize the sound on my VFR. I tested out some Zumo sound mods today.

Here is my summary of earbud experience from my CA tour report .........

"....My JVC earbuds did not cut it. Forget fidelity, my hearing is shot anyway. The darn things kept getting pulled out when the cord got caught on my tank bag. Makes me appreciate the coiled cord and speakers/helmet speakers on my Wing. When I returned, I took my speakers out of my Arai and positioned them closer to my ears. Sound is now restored to both ears. Looking at other options though."

But I will probably not use my Arai Corsair on tour anymore.

For me, earbuds are just uncomfortable and are prone to being pulled out and are hard to put back in without taking off the helmet and starting from scratch.

So, I purchased an extender cord with 3.5mm stereo plug in for my Airrider Wing headset intercom rig. They are installed in my flip up HJC which is now my preferred tour helmet as well. Plus I can still use this helmet with my Wing anytime.

Here is a shot.

The coiled cord plugs into the headset/helmet (top of photo) and the 3.5 mm extension on the left plugs into the Zumo MC mount and to the end of the coiled cord. This end normally would plug into the Wings Intercom hookup. The coiled cord is a must, which you do not appreciate till you do not have it.

Unlike the Edset headset with Zumo attachment I talked about in a previous thread, my new VFR airrider addon does not allow me to talk on the Cell through my mic. If I bought a headset today I would buy the Edset and the Zumo attachment so that I could use the helmet/headset on the Wing and the VFR.

Too bad there is no standard so that one headset will work with another guys attachments. :pissed:

The speakers in my HJC are right next/flush to my ears. I have to turn the Zumo volume down when I ride without earplugs. Noise level is not too bad now that I have replaced a missing bolt for the visor on one side.

With high quality foam earplugs the sound level is adequate but needs a jolt to be first rate, especially at warp transit speeds. I purchased some different earplugs which are supposed to cut wind noise but not attenuate voice. Sure?! :unsure: I may have to get a powerbooster of some sort, but I will most likely get one once I get my RD.

This part bolts on the brake reservoir and replaces the stock cover and looks like it works on all modern Hondas.

..

I am considering this RAM mounting option, not for my Zumo but for future electronic warfare devices

I am looking for another RAM mount as it would be nice to be able to use both my camera and Streetpilot at the same time. Not sure though if this brake reservoir ball mount has enough clearence to the windscreen when the bars are at full lock :goofy:

The RAM mount that is packaged with the Zumo works well on the left grip. Works great for a camera as long as you have a Long Arm.

Here is another shot of a camera (now defunct) with long arm on left grip and the Zumo on center ball with med arm.

Way too much distortion on VFR screen to shoot thru. Have to use a long arm on a camera from left grip.

I also tried using the two Ball mount on the left grip which I use on the other bike.

Two Ram Ball on left grip of my other bike - what is it called but it does have a SSSA? Both the camera and Zumo are on the left grip RAM two ball mount.

Too bad that there is not enough clearance with the VFR tank for the two ball mount - so that is out as an option!

You could use another mount on the right grip but it had best be used with gear that does not need much handholding so to speak! Maybe a RD?

Brake reservoir plate, I think would work/clear if you use/reverse it so the Ball Mount is on the right side of the reservoir.

I like Sport Riders idea of three balls (how could you not like three balls). :thumbsup: However Cyclegadgets warns that the load may be too great for MC use. :goofy: <_<

SR do you have a picture??

I'll second every good thing about the Zumo.

I'll add that I had powerlet fashion a steering stem cord for the zumo and the sirius. Simplifies wiring.

I'm also trying Ram's triple ball mount -- it allows me to mount the zumo and the sirius radio off the gas tank ball mount.

I only have two short stems, so I used a medium off the gas tank ball mount, and then the two short stems for the gadgets.

Seems to have worked ok on my recent 4 day/2600 mile tour. :thumbsup:

This thing?

Here are a few observations and Zumo lessons learned from my recent VFR California tour

The bottom line is - it is a must on tour for me ........ranked right there with heated grips, electric vest, a Sargent and good tires. :thumbsup: :blink:

Mounting Considerations:

I started out using the RAM med arm on the center tank RAM mount. You can see the Zumo sticking out. It is quite protected in there and is less susceptible to damage.

I switched to the long arm when my RAM mounted camera crapped out. After two days of using the long arm, I find that I prefer that setup with my touring tankbag. It provides slightly better screen visibility and allows better access to my stem mounted Powerlet power plug. When using a big tank bag, you can place it more perpendicular to your line of sight which also helps reading the display. I am 6ft short.

Long Arm – note that your view of the VFR gauges is not blocked.

The medium arm works well for the smaller tank bags, which I run with when not on tour.

There are some very clean looking RAM compatible options out there including this rig which I saw on the weekend on a group of ST1300s. :rolleyes: This part bolts on the brake reservoir and replaces the stock cover and looks like it works on all modern Hondas.

I am considering this RAM mounting option, not for my Zumo but for future electronic warfare devices

Cyclegadgets.com and RAM itself have derivatives of the same basic replacement reservoir plate.

I still like the switched power to the Zumo through the Bluesea fuse box that I previously described.

I may alter how my Garmin power cord is plumbed. The original install gave me the option of rigging on the center tank mount or the left grip, which is capability I will not use now.

Too bad nobody makes a shelf/dash rig like this home made contraption on my tour compatriots RT 1100.

My install on that other bike.

More on routing, day to day use and getting the sounds out.

This thread got me. The content is amazingly helpful. :thumbsup:

PCNation now has one less Zumo to sell.

Thanks - plan on a "Lessons Learned update" from my recent CA tour.