Garmin zumo ?

[royal]

I'm picking my new '07 RT tomorrow or Wednesday. There was a special at my dealer which includes a free (I know, nothing's free) Garmin Zumo. I'm guessing that it is some sort of GPS thing. Anyway, I really like listening to music while I ride and the RT that I'm getting doesn't have a stereo already installed. The dealer said that I can get a Nolan Bluetooth helmet, add some interior accesories to the helmet and I will be able to play my IPOD through this Garmin thing right into speakers installed in my helmet. I know less than my dog about electronic stuff. Does this sound correct and if it is, does anyone know if the sound quality through this bluetooth system is any good ? Also, is there a way through this Garmin bluetooth system that I could get XM radio ? Baseball playoffs are coming soon and I would hate to miss my beloved Red Sox win it all. And if all this stuff isn't going to work, is there a way to have XM and an IPOD hooked up with some kind of aftermarket set up ? Thanks for any help, but please remember when you reply, talk to me in terms that someone of my very limited intelligence can understand.

Thanks, Roy

[D.Kinsey]

I'm picking my new '07 RT tomorrow or Wednesday. There was a special at my dealer which includes a free (I know, nothing's free) Garmin Zumo. I'm guessing that it is some sort of GPS thing. Anyway, I really like listening to music while I ride and the RT that I'm getting doesn't have a stereo already installed. The dealer said that I can get a Nolan Bluetooth helmet, add some interior accesories to the helmet and I will be able to play my IPOD through this Garmin thing right into speakers installed in my helmet. I know less than my dog about electronic stuff. Does this sound correct and if it is, does anyone know if the sound quality through this bluetooth system is any good ? Also, is there a way through this Garmin bluetooth system that I could get XM radio ? Baseball playoffs are coming soon and I would hate to miss my beloved Red Sox win it all. And if all this stuff isn't going to work, is there a way to have XM and an IPOD hooked up with some kind of aftermarket set up ? Thanks for any help, but please remember when you reply, talk to me in terms that someone of my very limited intelligence can understand.

Thanks, Roy

The zumo has an MP3 player(Ipod)and has XM capabilities with the optional XM antenna and XM subscription. Sound quality from the Zumo is so so. The zumo can be your complete Nav./sound system with the XM ant. and helmet/earphones. Hope this helps.

This is a good Zumo site http://www.zumoforums.com/

[jackd]

The Nolan Bluetooth i.e. The N-COM system is not stereo. At least not today. That also assumes that the Nolan helmet fits you and it's comfortable.

[pgeller]

I use a Zumo for all my on-board music. The optional XM antenna works great, as does the built-in MP3 player; I use a 4GB card for my music. Bluetooth for music works, but I prefer directly plugging in my Etymotic ER6i earplugs. Sounds just great.

pg
DD

[Beemerider]

Only problem is the BMW Zumo (http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/etc/utils.jsp?t=announcements&idx=0) does not have XM capability.

[hopz]

Welcome on board... as fate would have it, not only am I a zumo owner, I am the moderator over at the zumo forums....

Follow this link. Go there and ask again.
http://www.zumoforums.com/

The zumo is a great device for any motorcycle or car. It plays your tunes and navigates easily. You do not need a Nolan helmet to hear the tunes. I use another brand, but have the Cardo Scala Rider Teamset, which allows wireless bluetooth communications to my passenger, as well as to the zumo unit.

My cell phone uses bluetooth to the zumo so I can make and receive phone calls on the bike as well.

My initial advice to you is that if the zumo comes with the bike (I know there is a promotion right now) then take it. If it is an expensive add on option- think about it and make a decision that fits your style.

At this moment the music you may be able to play in your helmet will be mono, and of limited quality. (If you play your music on the zumo in your car it is full stereo and sounds great). Full stereo bluetooth is some ways away, and is not available on this gps unit.

[deputy5211]

Zumo 550 is a good unit, I got mine at Costco.com (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11230413&search=zumo&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=zumo&Ntt=zumo&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1) for $669.99 including delivery.

[painlessbob]

I have a zumo 550 and love it. My SO, who is not tech literate, sometimes puts it in her car for trips. She thinks the way it says "recalculating" is cool. I especially like the way it adjusts directions when I go off the designated route.

I have a Cardo Scala FM Rider. IMHO Bluetooth doesn't do music nearly well enough yet. But I've downloaded audiobooks to the zumo and it works great. For music I use an XM Inno and sync its transmitter with the Scala FM. The sound is much better than with Bluetooth.

[pugwash]

Hi,
I use them both (zumo 550 & BMW's helmet BT) & think you won't find the music quality a big deal at all..!
The bluetooth helmet speakers (earphones) are really made for listening to your pillion so they deliver a very flat mono sound which is brilliant for listening to something like, say news or the Mrs., but certainly not stereo music.
By the way, if you'll use the zumo's mp3 player, I'd go for 128 or less music bit rate as larger bit rates will cause the music to keep on skipping due to buffer under run.
Regards :)