Posted on Wednesday, January 07 2009 @ 21:10 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Garmin has introduced a new GPS for bikers: the zümo 660. This ruggedized and waterproof unit features a 4.3" sunlight readable and customizable touchscreen, a glove-friendly design with left handed controls and oversized touchscreen buttons. The Garmin zümo 660 will ship later this quarter for $799.99.
“The zûmo can change your entire experience of touring or everyday rides because it helps you find amazing places to explore,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether you’re charting your own course or you plan your trip from your computer and download the route to your GPS beforehand, your ride will be more enjoyable and stress-free because you’ll have peace of mind knowing the zûmo will help you find your way home.”
Ideal for a weekday ride or weeklong trip, the zûmo 660 has features motorcyclists will appreciate like a 4.3” sunlight readable and customizable touchscreen display, glove-friendly design with left handed controls and oversized touchscreen buttons. The ruggedized and waterproof (IEC 529 IPX-7 standards) device comes loaded with detailed, street-level maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico that have over six million points of interest including gas stations, lodging, restaurants, attractions and more. The zûmo 660 speaks street names so riders will receive turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions, such as “turn right on Main Street,” via the built-in speaker or through a compatible Bluetooth helmet or headset.
The zûmo 660 also comes equipped with advanced routing capabilities. Lane assist with junction view guides riders to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, and realistically displays road signs and junctions on the route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation. In some major metropolitan areas, surrounding buildings are displayed in a 3D transparent view. A new multiple routing feature customers can see a map preview of the proposed fastest route, shortest route and off road route prior to choosing to navigate it. This capability gives riders additional situational awareness before they begin their journey.
The zûmo 660 also has enhanced Bluetooth Wireless Technology (A2DP) that amplifies audio for a crisp sound, and makes it possible to receive and place phone calls as well as receive navigational cues wirelessly to Bluetooth enabled headsets or helmets. The zûmo supports over 200 Bluetooth enabled phones so riders can retrieve and dial numbers using a supported phone’s contact list or from the phone’s call history log. A user can also make calls from zûmo’s huge points of interest database.
While riding, it is easy to access trip information directly from the zûmo’s trip information page like speed, heading, altitude, and a customizable fuel gauge that can be modified to the motorcycle’s maximum fuel range. If a rider wants to leave the pavement for the trail, the zûmo accepts Garmin’s MapSource® U.S. Topo maps for off-road navigation. Sharing rides with others or keeping a detailed log of trips is also easy thanks to zûmo Connect, an online community of routes and riders. Zûmo owners can also plan routes online through Google or MapQuest and send the routes or points of interest to the zûmo before they begin their journey. In addition, riders can swap routes and waypoints with other zûmo owners via the unit’s microSD card slot.
Like other members of the zûmo family, the zûmo 660 has many security features. The mount is designed to withstand the severe vibration environment commonly experienced in motorcycle riding. The zûmo also includes Garmin Lock®, a unique theft prevention system that disables the zûmo from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location. If the user does not know the PIN or secure location, the zûmo will be inoperative.
