Motorcycle GPS vs IPhone | Garmin Zumo XT Review

Garmin Zumo XT -- imp.i104546.net/5bd6OL
The Garmin zumo XT has some really nice features, but do you really need a separate unit. Why not just use your phone? Is having a separate GPS device worth $500? Today in the shop, we look at some of the reasons why we keep our phones in our pockets for long trips.
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[@keithkamps77]

I prefer a device specifically designed for its job, i will use the phone as an emergency backup.

[@Drfudd]

OC: I study google maps and memorize it, of course I come from the days where paper maps was the main tool. if I ever get lost, I consult the phone, but rarely do I use turn by turn navigation, I always turn off voice navigation when using phone navigation as I'll consult it when needed. I found that the more I use turn by turn navigation, the more i need it as I won't remember the route, if I go a route once without , I always remember that route.

[@MotoVania]

I used just my phone for a while, but after getting the Zumo XT, I really love it, especially the adventurous routing feature. When I am up in the mountains and am ready to head home in no hurry, I crank it up, update the settings to allow dirt roads and see where it takes me. It's been a really cool way to find new roads.

[@DesolationJF]

OC: I've been using the Zumo XT for the last 4 months. No issues so far with the unit or any features. Pairing with phone and Cardo is seamless. Definitely recommend for anyone in the market for a dedicated GPS.

[@djkak5320]

I run a Zumo XT. When I’m planning rides through places like TN and the Carolinas, every turn throughout each day is pre-planned. I’ve been using Garmin BaseCamp for years to plan my rides; it’s free and it is amazing. The learning curve for BaseCamp is a little steep, but there are a lot of YT vids to bring you up to speed.

[@Nceb]

Highly recommend the Garmin Zumo XT. I rode out to South Dakota, and I no longer had cell phone service, so I couldn't GPS it there with my cellphone. Luckily I bought a dedicated GPS unit, and I was able to continue my ride and navigate.

[@Gashvah]

Cell phone Service is Not required for gps functions on your phone. But you dont have any live map data, thats true.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Where a dedicated GPS unit excels, you have to jump through hoops to make a stupid (smart) phone do the same things.

[@MotoFeelz]

I started having a look at gps units yesterday and this one stood out. Looks awesome!

[@getrollin2471]

Great Video! I've have the the Touratech mount for the Zumo XT on my Tiger 800 XCa and highly recommend it.

[@TomasBrunclik-tk2ri]

I once was considering the Zumo XT and I almost bought it but after reading a lot of discussions and reviews I decited to buy a cheap used 150$ rugged Samsung smartphone to work as my GPS. Its waterproof, shockproof, light and pretty versatile, since I can chose from a really wide variety of map apps which can work offline. Meanwhile my expensive iphone is safely hidden in my chest pocket. I use Google maps for on-road navigating and Locus map for offroad(adv) riding. This setup showed to work really nice for me and I saved a lot of money.

[@whitedrguy6503]

Cheaper just to buy a cheap phone with off line maps and use a paper map to plot a route then just use the off line maps to tell you where you are. Half the adventure is working out yourself where to go and how to get there, otherwise you just become a robot programmed to follow a blue line. Get adventurous and live a little.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Great video review. Direct and to the point, and a practical discussion of why a good dedicated standalone GPS should be considered instead of using a phone as a GPS - I feel exactly the same way regarding potential loss of the phone vs a GPS. I have a BMW Navigator VI which in addition to the functions of the XP, integrates with my bike’s systems for extra info. However the Nav VI has been known to have screen issues even though it costs almost twice as much. This is a great alternative. One great feature of the Nav VI is the brightness of that screen, and I suspect the screen on this unit is similar. That is the only part I think the review missed. 🙂 Kudos on the review though!

[@TheRealChetManley]

Good video, I did not expect to enjoy that, but glad I clicked and watched. I like the host, I know he’s been around a while but it’s the first time I’ve watched one of his videos. Good job, I’ll definitely be watching now.

[@timothyholtjr.8600]

OC thanks for the informative video!! Much appreciated and safe travels

[@matt_kelly]

With my zumo I have ridden in the rain, dust, and on hot days which would make my phone shut down, sometimes it’s just nice to use a dedicated piece of hardware. I’ve had no troubles with mine, though the main issue is that I find myself checking it when I should be paying attention to the road. I still use my phone as a plan b, it’s always great to have a backup. But if I’m remote or in another country then I want to reduce the risk of messing up my phone so it stays in my backpack. If something happens to it I have AppleCare, but I can’t be without my phone since it handles so many other functions.

[@VoltVandal]

hi, thx for the video, tried the zumo out last year, what i could not stand, is the bad voice navigation/guidance quality, like 80's phone, interrupting music and cardo discussions, and yes cardo was connected correctly, music was perfectly fine, voice and music are coming through different BT protocols/channels from the xt, and that how it works, garmin said, not sure why garmin is doing this that way, i returned it. Finally ended up with a rugged android phone, waterproof with a quad lock, perfect solution, if u ask me. music, voice all in perfect quality, got a 256gb sd card for all the offline maps and freedom of using any app i want to try out. And much cheaper after all. And just the display is not that great, but i can live with that.

[@Supermankev2001]

Thanks for the info. I need one to go on a long trip this summer. I hate using my phone always afraid it will fall off.

[@Kenrock87]

OC: I use Google Maps. I am just used to the way it's set up and I always already have my phone on me anyway. I am also a fan of the live traffic updates which is one of the main reasons my old TomTom hasn't seen the light of day in probably a decade.

[@DonaMane]

OC: I have my Zumo XT for about 2 months now but I also have an Evotech Performance mount for my Tiger 900 as well for my XT! Today, I've installed the mount on bike but as far my GPS itself goes, it will be hardwired into the battery by a professional!

[@sandtiger47620]

OC: I still use my phone, Waze and Highway Radar for those times when I am going to do some more *ahem* spirited riding.

[@JimMontanus]

Thanks for the great video! Does the Zumo include maps down to the state forest road/back country dirt roads level?

[@sanxi34]

OC: I usually get to google maps and I map it out just trying to find the curvy stuff, then I get a piece of paper and write the name of each one of the villages, I tape the paper to the gas tank, and USUALLY that allows me not to get too lost. But the times that it has, it was for a more fun adventure =D... Only when I need to get somewhere at some time I do use my phone as a GPS

[@kristaps2010]

I have zumo XT. But I really like google maps as everything, every place is easy to find.

[@steffex]

I'm in the Netherlands where offroading is not something most riders do. Here we have "TomTom Rider" for riders that stay on the road, but do want to have a dedicated device. It's also available in the US and a bit cheaper than the Zumo XT. It has similar features regarding navigation, but are not that good for offroading. Just want to trow in another option :)

[@MinnowMoto]

I use to just use google maps. Have not found a good way yet to use a computer and upload the the zumo if you wanna dig into that :)

[@kendil22]

A good reason to not use the Iphone or high end Samsung phones is that the vibrations from your bike will kill your camera after a while if you mount it to your handlebars.

[@comeandgetit2418]

I have to say the roc form is great for the phone. no issues and I ride with it all the time but i ride street only for trips.

[@getty6974]

Main issue personally with rokform and quadlock is the phone specific case and their options are basically limited to iPhone and Samsung so no luck for me as i currently dont have neither and dont see myself having one on future either.

[@zombiejase]

Does this show live traffic so you can re route if you see traffic up ahead?

[@paulcole7871]

Hi Could you get me a bit more detail of how to connect Garmin to a G 900 Pro Cheers

[@gavinfraser7784]

Why didn’t you use triumphs on navigation or is that still just on the 1200 model

[@kyle_3232]

Whatever happened to the review video for the forcite helmet

[@Thepianoman77]

I think dedicated GPS systems have a place. For example, in adventure riding, if the area you're going to has really bad cell reception, usually a GPS sytem will do a better job to stay connected.

[@getty6974]

Also simply If you are going abroad and mobile data gets expensive. In this scenario if you want a real time navigator i think GPS is pretty much the only valid option. For My current personal riding there is 0 need for GPS thought

[@opmike343]

Lots of cell phones don't like direct, sustained sunlight. They'll start dimming the screen and eventually shut off. This happened to me on a HOT day after using my cell phone for years. And of course it shut down at the worst possible time when I was in the middle of nowhere Tennessee completely devoid of street signage.

[@susierebelryder492]

Smartphones have and receive the same GPS signals as a Garmin. Using a dedicated GPS app with downloaded maps will do the same and more than a Garmin.

[@KingJreff]

@@susierebelryder492 Yup. Nav tabs and nav phones are plenty, more robust, have more features, and are cheaper than basically every motorcycle-focused Garmin out there. Dedicated GPS units are anachronistic.

[@steelfoe]

A cheap burner phone does a better job.

[@roro803r]

Can you pair the garmin and a phone to a cardo at the same time?

[@AndrewWilsonOz]

Planning, for fun rides, I just follow my nose. For destinations, my GPS. For fun rides to destinations, my GPS has a fun ride mode, which I sometimes use.

[@uttamgala7186]

The big sell for a GPS unit here on Vancouver Island is terrible network coverage.

[@ptwj1987]

Hey homies, when is the next Ride + tee shirts going to come in? This dude needs some

[@flightofthebatweazle4020]

I live and ride in Taiwan, and I'm not using the standard Garmin maps. Instead I'm using custom maps from OpenMTBmap. These are specially-customized maps optimized for off-road use. I've created a number of waypoints and pois for the local area, but turn-by-turn routing has been a problem. Creating routes on BaseCamp doesn't always work, either. I'm not sure exactly where my problem lies, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone has used a similar approach. Sounds like I should try navigating by tracks rather than routes? Maybe I'll give that a go. Yes, I agree that saving the phone is important, and yes, that was my reason for using a dedicated GPS. This one replaces a "legacy device", an old Garmin Dakota 20. I used custom maps on that one, too with no issues. Thanks!

[@Swizzenator]

My favorite trip was at a 1981 Dead concert. I think.

[@williammoomaw5027]

Learned smth new...( Sub'd ). I switch my Garmin unit between auto and moto regularly. Ha!~Garmin has 'profiles'...problem solved. I plan/research moto routes with Butler Maps, Rever, Google and Gaia. I recreate tracks using the Basecamp APP and use the Garmin this on-ride, a more robust device, phone in pocket as backup. Must say...very impressed with Gaia; it has pushed Rever aside when I have a Butler paper map to reference.

[@bobman7881]

No cell service in north Georgia mountains

[@jackson_foto]

I was just looking at one of these… 👀 get out of my brain Beau!

[@guidoserrano2629]

Is that a mini usb port?

[@aminsaadalla2335]

OC in da house

[@Smallbore2wheels]

OC: my bike trips are usually commuting or short rides so i use my phone and Google maps. But i definitely see the use case for a standalone GPS For longer trips

[@pauljirinec2772]

Dedicated device will always be better at the specific task than a "jack of all trades".

[@m3ld4r10n]

The garmin needs you to buy the maps. Better to just use an old phone and tether

[@Chinhnguyen0497]

expensive aswell. Do you have any advice for cheaper price? the phone is very cheap now, it just can't make a route when offline, but it still has gps every timne

[@KingJreff]

You can download offline maps to your phone using whichever software you like (Gaia, etc). I can recommend some stuff below, but it will be marginally cheaper at best. However, they can otherwise be used as a fully-featured android tablet/phone, any software/maps you like, instead of a Garmin where you get locked into their ecosystem (and lose map updates after a few years...) Thork Racing DMD, Carpe Iter, Tripletek, Hugerock, or various rugged smartphones (just be wary about what sustained brightness they can do - you want 800nits or more for sunlight use).

[@anneambrose4840]

I destroyed 3 iphone cameras shock mounted on a motorcycle. Apple came out and said not to use them on motorcycles. Maybe they've addressed the problem.

[@eatonjb]

but the Zumo is slow, the traffic updates are never acurate, cant tell you how many times a road has been closed for months, but it will still try to route me. It's slow, the only thing I like about it is life maps, and that its bright enough and also uses gloves.. other then that, i will never get another one. I will just get a second phone for GPS that is Cheeper anyways!

[@_Corsa]

The only reason I put the XT on my GS is if god forbid the bike goes left and I go right, I have a cell phone in my pocket for help.

[@JohnBorgJacob]

for 499$ why not buy a second phone?

[@marshall3498]

OC I use Google maps alot but I cailmoto app for twisted road riding alot. It's a great app and it's free. I have a Garmin xt zumo also but I haven't wired it up to my 2022 Kawasaki klr 650 yet.

[@deepdiver51]

Do you realise you have your cap on backwards?

[@joemamma9642]

$500?!

[@mavieskizz]

I was using a garmin zumo 660 and was constantly having trouble finding satellites. The navigation was broken and the service couldn't fix it, so I paid some more money and bought a zumo 595. I was hoping they would have fixed the satellite problem, but this one has the same problem. Definitely not even close to the phone, terrible navigation. In the new product, instead of using type-c input, they used the old nonsense input. They are far behind the times in motorcycle navigation.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Honestly, I hate that so much of life is dependent on the stupid smart phone. Anything to reduce dependency on that device I'm all for it.

[@charlesm.8807]

Recommend 1.75x

[@lanceolot007]

I'm looking for a display on my handlebar for my dirt bike with navigation. (I don't want to use my phone) I was thinking of a watch vs. Traditional GPS or another junk phone/ipod. What's the best move? Trying to avoid connecting anything to my bikes battery and additional cost to phone bills

[@priyesbamne9112]

Get a spare android phone

[@obageegee]

Google maps suck