Zumo 590
- Thread starter nerSTeve
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CYYJ
Michael
Yeah, there's kind of a funny story behind that car.
I bought it back in 2004 when I was riding my ST 1100 around in Germany. I had read an article about the architecture of the assembly plant in Dresden, Germany, and I rode over to the facility because I wanted to look at it. The staff gave me a personalized tour, and I was so impressed with the processes I observed when the car was assembled that I bought one of the cars. I didn't really need it - I had a Golf TDI at the time - but the Phaeton looked like it would have good "play value", meaning I could take it apart and put it back together again, like the motorcycle.
So, I ordered the car there, it showed up later at my Canadian VW dealer, and I wound up spending the last 12 years moderating the Phaeton owner's forum at the VW Vortex website, under the screen name of 'PanEuropean' (you can guess where that came from). I still have the car - it has less than 100,000 km on it - but I have put it away in winter storage, because after all these years there is not much left to do with it (play-wise), and I now have a new ST 1300 as my winter ride and 'take it apart and put it back together' toy. Too bad that finally gas is now cheap again, just when I have put that 12 cylinder VW away into winter storage.
The assembly plant in Dresden is quite amazing - I made an illustrated post that provides a visual tour of it, that post is here: A photo tour of the Transparent Factory in Dresden. Back in 2005, we organized an owner get-together in Dresden - everyone else brought their car, I couldn't do that so I showed up on my ST. That was kind of funny, photos of that are here. Note the ST 1100 at the front of the lineup prior to the departure of the high-speed autobahn run (with police escort) into the center of Dresden.
Michael
What appeals to me about the Phaeton is that most people just dismiss it as a nice Passat as they look close enough to a Passat for those not interested in VW. The car is above my pay grade but tonight after I win 649 anything is possible other than that the Phaeton is no longer offered in Canada
Gerhard
Gerhard
I'm in the market to replace my junk Zumo 665. I'm still looking into the 590 even with it's restrictions. Here are my main uses for my 665, in order of importance to me:
-Navigation.
-Weatherproofness.
-Weather radar maps
-Stream XM radio (music, as well as news)
And I connect via bluetooth.
I could probably live without the XM and invest a lot more money in music to load onto it instead, but I REALLY use the weather maps on the 665. I ride in all weather, and either route around the bad stuff if I know it's ahead, or at least know what I'm getting into if I have to go through it.
I see several people mentioning the phone link apps. If I use these, wouldn't I then have to have the phone mounted where I can control it, which puts it out in the weather...as well as having another confusing device to have to operate while riding? Which, by the way, doesn't work with gloves on, so that would add yet another problem. Plus I spend at least half my time where the phone doesn't work- I have tried it in my work van and there is no way music, weather, or maps over the phone is at all useful while moving. I just end up with silence and a "no data connection" message most of the time.
It sounds like if I went with the 590, what I would be gaining is a fast GPS that has a few nice features (sleep, fast response, larger screen) but I would be giving up music and weather. I'm not sure how Garmin can justify a higher price for a GPS that has fewer important features, but for use on a rally bike, a reliable GPS that responds quickly, and calculates routes quickly is of prime importance (both of which the 665 is terrible at).
So I need to decide if the speed and size of the 590 is worth the change, or whether to buy another 665 and hope all my problems have been due to a faulty unit from day 1.
-Navigation.
-Weatherproofness.
-Weather radar maps
-Stream XM radio (music, as well as news)
And I connect via bluetooth.
I could probably live without the XM and invest a lot more money in music to load onto it instead, but I REALLY use the weather maps on the 665. I ride in all weather, and either route around the bad stuff if I know it's ahead, or at least know what I'm getting into if I have to go through it.
I see several people mentioning the phone link apps. If I use these, wouldn't I then have to have the phone mounted where I can control it, which puts it out in the weather...as well as having another confusing device to have to operate while riding? Which, by the way, doesn't work with gloves on, so that would add yet another problem. Plus I spend at least half my time where the phone doesn't work- I have tried it in my work van and there is no way music, weather, or maps over the phone is at all useful while moving. I just end up with silence and a "no data connection" message most of the time.
It sounds like if I went with the 590, what I would be gaining is a fast GPS that has a few nice features (sleep, fast response, larger screen) but I would be giving up music and weather. I'm not sure how Garmin can justify a higher price for a GPS that has fewer important features, but for use on a rally bike, a reliable GPS that responds quickly, and calculates routes quickly is of prime importance (both of which the 665 is terrible at).
So I need to decide if the speed and size of the 590 is worth the change, or whether to buy another 665 and hope all my problems have been due to a faulty unit from day 1.
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Jim I have a 550 but I also have my iphone 5s mounted on the clutch reservoir in a BioLogic case it is waterproof and I have a stylus that lets me use the touch screen if its something I can't get siri to do for me.
Jim, the German smartphone link app shows you weather using your phone connection and integrates with your current route. It's pretty slick. The only thing is you have to activate the app on the phone or it won't show as an option on the 590.
But that relies on the phone's data connection (which more often than not, I have no connection while riding) and means I have to have the phone where I can control it?
CYYJ
Michael
In order to recieve weather and traffic information, the phone needs a data connection. But, once you have launched the Garmin app on the phone first thing in the morning, you don't have to pay any more attention to the phone, the data is passed automatically. On a recent coast-to-coast trip, I kept the phone in the saddlebag... all that I had to do was launch the app first thing in the morning, nothing more than that. So, no, you don't need to have access to the phone, or control it in any way.
Well, the Zumo 590 is great for navigation, and it certainly is weatherproof. But, in my personal opinion, I can get far better weather information (graphics, forecasts, etc.) from a pair of iPhone applications that I use than I can from the Zumo 590. The two iPhone applications are called MeteoEarth and WeatherPro. MeteoEarth is a graphic application, it shows precipitation, winds, temperatures, pressures, etc. for whatever area you want (from city-size to intercontinental) from this moment out to 7 days ahead. WeatherPro is more of a textual application, it shows hourly weather forecasts for as many locations as you want from this moment out to 7 days ahead.
I have used these two applications for about 3 years now, and found them invaluable when making intercontinental ferry flights of aircraft. Together, they are more informative and easier to understand than even the most expensive custom aviation weather applications. Hence, they are perfect for long distance motorcycle touring. Because they run on the iPhone, it's not possible to use them when actually riding the moto (unless you want to be operating an iPhone while riding), but I stop every couple of hours for fuel, and I check them then if the weather is iffy.
The weather services (graphics and text) provided on the Zumo 590 are good, but these two applications are downright excellent. Total cost for both is about $15 a year (they run on a subscription). You can get 'basic' versions of both for about $7 a year total, that will give you a 4 or 5 day outlook. There is a small in-app purchase available to get a full 7 day outlook that brings the total annual cost up to about $15.
So... if you are thinking of getting a Zumo 590 because of the weather graphics and forecasts, these two apps might meet your needs for a heck of a lot less money.
You can preview MeteoEarth at this website: MeteoEarth. What you will see there will give you a rough idea of what you will see on the iPhone app. The precision and granularity of the iPhone app is better than the web preview.
Michael
Yes, the phone's data connection sounds like your issue. As stated above, you access the weather details via the 590's screen once connected to the app.
And I would also have the same issue. As populated as the east coast states are ... a quadrillion cell towers can be found ... I ride in many areas with no cell service whatsoever. In some parts of WV, I have found cell service is sometimes available, but only from a single provider such as AT&T. I'll stick with my Z665.
As someone that has done a lot of riding in WV over the past several years, I can attest to the lack of cell phone coverage. Has a lot to do with Green Bank Observatory, and the rest is just the isolated areas in WV. It is a beautiful state to ride in though and I can't get enough of it.
I am due for a new phone and was planning to get the Note 4 and use that as my primary, with the older 4.3" Garmin as my backup. However Santa was good to me this year and I ended up with a 2797LTM. My aging eyes will now be able to see where I am navigating a lot better with the 7" screen.
Waterproofing has not been a big concern of mine as I typically need waterproofing about 2-4 hours a year and a plastic bag does the trick. (I will need a larger bag now!) The new GPS also links to the cell phone apps for weather and other features. I still need to do some sorting out about what to Bluetooth and what to direct connect to the Scala G4. At this time, the phone is Bluetooth and the Sirius is direct connect, with no audio from the GPS. But that has worked for me, for years.
Good luck in your quest to find the right system for your needs. I've come to realize it is a very personal choice with lots of trade-offs on price, size, style, and features. My choice is made, at least for the next couple years.
JohnConner
I am due for a new phone and was planning to get the Note 4 and use that as my primary, with the older 4.3" Garmin as my backup. However Santa was good to me this year and I ended up with a 2797LTM. My aging eyes will now be able to see where I am navigating a lot better with the 7" screen.
Waterproofing has not been a big concern of mine as I typically need waterproofing about 2-4 hours a year and a plastic bag does the trick. (I will need a larger bag now!) The new GPS also links to the cell phone apps for weather and other features. I still need to do some sorting out about what to Bluetooth and what to direct connect to the Scala G4. At this time, the phone is Bluetooth and the Sirius is direct connect, with no audio from the GPS. But that has worked for me, for years.
Good luck in your quest to find the right system for your needs. I've come to realize it is a very personal choice with lots of trade-offs on price, size, style, and features. My choice is made, at least for the next couple years.
JohnConner
Quick question for those with the 590 - how's your battery life? Specs say up to 4 hrs. Bought one but would last only about 30 min on repeated full charges. I realize it would be wired to the bike on the moto mount but 30 minutes of battery life is unacceptable to me - so I returned it. Did I get a defective unit? Guess I will have to go back to my current setup - Nuvi 760 with audio out to the Sena SR-10. Kinda bummed cause I was hoping to use it with my iPhone and Sena 20S.
CYYJ
Michael
The Zumo 590 uses data via the cell phone for two purposes, traffic and weather. If you are riding in an area with poor or no cell coverage, then a priori, traffic is not going to be a concern for you (in other words, if there ain't enough population around to warrant cell coverage, there won't be enough vehicles around to warrant traffic notifications).
As for weather... like I mentioned in post #88 above, the Zumo 590 does a decent job of fetching weather, but the two iPhone applications I described do a much better job. I normally refer to these applications first thing in the morning, or last thing at night, or while taking coffee breaks during the day. In all three of those circumstances, I will almost always have Wi-Fi coverage available from the hotel, motel, restaurant, or truck stop; which means that availability of cell coverage is not a concern for me.
Michael
CYYJ
Michael
John:
In the picture you attached to your post #91 above, I noticed that you have your SPOT tracking device mounted in such a way that it is mostly vertical. I have used these SPOT devices for (quite literally) thousands of hours in aircraft, and found that they function much better (more reliably, fewer missed position reports) if they are horizontal rather than vertical. See the picture below.
I have seen discussions here in our forum in which SPOT users are critical of the reliability of the SPOT device, and now I am wondering if this is because of how users are orienting the thing. If you have experienced any problems in the past with SPOT position reports, you might want to try mounting the thing so that it is horizontal, and see if that makes a difference.
Michael
(sorry for the momentary thread hijack)
Orientation of SPOT device - it works well when it is flat.
In the picture you attached to your post #91 above, I noticed that you have your SPOT tracking device mounted in such a way that it is mostly vertical. I have used these SPOT devices for (quite literally) thousands of hours in aircraft, and found that they function much better (more reliably, fewer missed position reports) if they are horizontal rather than vertical. See the picture below.
I have seen discussions here in our forum in which SPOT users are critical of the reliability of the SPOT device, and now I am wondering if this is because of how users are orienting the thing. If you have experienced any problems in the past with SPOT position reports, you might want to try mounting the thing so that it is horizontal, and see if that makes a difference.
Michael
(sorry for the momentary thread hijack)
Orientation of SPOT device - it works well when it is flat.
True, traffic updates are meaningless in remote areas, but it is the Zumo 665's weather application which has me hooked. I love it ... and the many hours spent riding in non-cell areas, often with hillsides preventing a good view of incoming weather, keeps its value high IMHO. Weather conditions are often a deciding factor while riding ... which route to take, or whether to even venture out at all. Another aspect I dislike is the need for a "smart" phone. That is a device which is way down on my list of wants. For security reasons, I am not allowed a camera-capable phone where I work, and it is now difficult to find cell phones without a camera. While "smart" phones are trending, I am fairly certain the quality of my life will not suffer without one. Besides, my current cell phone plan costs less than $100 per year. The Zumo 590 may be a great option for many riders, but it does not satisfy my desires.
EDIT TO ADD: I must confess that while my cell phone costs are low, I do spend about $235 per year for the XM subscription which includes the Nav-Weather and Nav-Traffic services in addition to the basic XM radio channels.
Last edited:
amorley
Site Supporter
Santa was very kind!
Here is my new Zumo 590LM mounted on STA5. The dash mount uses a Migsel Mount.
For reference, here is the Zumo 550 mounted in the same position
Here is my new Zumo 590LM mounted on STA5. The dash mount uses a Migsel Mount.
For reference, here is the Zumo 550 mounted in the same position
Nice!
The 590 looks like a lot more screen in about the same size case.
The 590 looks like a lot more screen in about the same size case.
I would love a 7" screen, but as it is the 665 is borderline when I have to lower it in my home state (can't have anything higher than the dash...not even supposed to have a GPS at all, but keeping it low hasn't been a problem). I could hide the 590 though, but I doubt I could get the 7" screen low enough to keep from getting nailed.
When I bought my 665 I was able to justify the expense because it was replacing several expensive items at once- I was in need of a new XM radio ($$); I would need a bluetooth transmitter for the XM ($$); I needed some kind of weather tracker ($$); I needed to replace my dead 2720 GPS ($$$); and I needed a new system to tie it all together (either Autocom or J&M; lots of $$$ either way). While the 665 was costly, it replaced several items which, added together, would have been even more costly.
On the other hand, the 590 isn't replacing much; in fact, in the end I end up with...a $900 GPS. If it routes properly, doesn't lock up, doesn't randomly power down, and doesn't have extreme amounts of lag (all of which my 665 has), then it might still be worth it. When I had to sit near the beginning of a rally for an hour trying to get the 665 to do a very basic route, I vowed it was the last time I would use it for a rally...and it was. I'm still bummed that I would miss out on XM, because I really use it...A LOT...while riding. But I would just have to get used to MP3s.
I still don't see a realistic replacement for the sat. weather maps. I find phone based apps useless anywhere except in cities where there is plenty of coverage to run them. And in a city is the last place I really need weather info. I may end up keeping the 665 as a backup GPS if I can get the antenna to work for a while again, just to use for the weather maps.
It won't be happening this week...I just bought new Warm & Safe jacket and pants liners, and am ordering Gerbings insoles. A GPS will be the next big purchase though.
When I bought my 665 I was able to justify the expense because it was replacing several expensive items at once- I was in need of a new XM radio ($$); I would need a bluetooth transmitter for the XM ($$); I needed some kind of weather tracker ($$); I needed to replace my dead 2720 GPS ($$$); and I needed a new system to tie it all together (either Autocom or J&M; lots of $$$ either way). While the 665 was costly, it replaced several items which, added together, would have been even more costly.
On the other hand, the 590 isn't replacing much; in fact, in the end I end up with...a $900 GPS. If it routes properly, doesn't lock up, doesn't randomly power down, and doesn't have extreme amounts of lag (all of which my 665 has), then it might still be worth it. When I had to sit near the beginning of a rally for an hour trying to get the 665 to do a very basic route, I vowed it was the last time I would use it for a rally...and it was. I'm still bummed that I would miss out on XM, because I really use it...A LOT...while riding. But I would just have to get used to MP3s.
I still don't see a realistic replacement for the sat. weather maps. I find phone based apps useless anywhere except in cities where there is plenty of coverage to run them. And in a city is the last place I really need weather info. I may end up keeping the 665 as a backup GPS if I can get the antenna to work for a while again, just to use for the weather maps.
It won't be happening this week...I just bought new Warm & Safe jacket and pants liners, and am ordering Gerbings insoles. A GPS will be the next big purchase though.
CYYJ
Michael
I guess I didn't explain myself well when I brought up the subject of the two iPhone weather apps in post #88.
I've got a Zumo 590, and it has the capability of fetching textual weather information and generating weather graphics. In fact, the device is pretty clever about how it displays this information... if you have a route active, it will show weather information (both actual and forecast) for the cities along your route, which is a nice feature. But, despite the fact that the Zumo 590 will do this, and despite the fact that I enjoyed pretty good cellular connectivity during my recent ride from Toronto to California, I didn't make much use of the weather information on the Zumo 590 because I found the weather information on the two iPhone apps (WeatherPro and MeteoEarth) to be far superior in every way to what the Zumo 590 presented. In fact, the aircraft that I flew regularly (shown above in the picture in post #94) would fetch aviation weather in both textual and graphical format via the XM satellites (assuming I was over the continental USA or Southern Canada), and I found that the weather information on the two iPhone apps was also far superior to what came through on the aircraft system. That's saying a lot, because the XM weather for the aircraft was expensive (about $100 a month, if I recall correctly), and I was the person who designed and specified the whole avionics system (including specifying the weather service) for that aircraft before it went into production!
I very rarely use the cellular telephone system to fetch weather information via the iPhone apps. Just about every place on this planet that I sleep in, eat in, or relieve myself in has Wi-Fi connectivity nowadays. In the morning, or the night before, I fetch weather information with the iPhone apps when I am at the hotel. While riding during the day, I can fetch weather information anytime I stop for coffee or fuel.
For us as motorcyclists, weather forecasts are strategic, not tactical. In other words, we're not navigating through a line of thunderstorms on a minute-by-minute basis in the same way that an aircraft does, which means that we don't need instantaneous, high-res depiction of what is directly in front of us. What we need is an accurate and trustworthy "big picture" of the weather systems around us in the morning, before we set out, and periodic (meaning, every 2 or 3 hours) updates showing precipitation - most especially convective precipitation - as we ride along during the day. I get all that from the iPhone apps. What is most valuable to me is graphical forecasts (not current depictions) of precipitation, surface winds, and temperatures for the present day and next day. Neither the XM system nor whatever the Zumo 590 uses provide graphical forecasts. They provide graphical depictions of what is happening now.
I'm happy with the Zumo 590 as a GPS navigator. I think it's worth the price paid just for the navigation features, and a few other features such as quickly looking up the next gas station or hotel along the active route, playing music, displaying traffic info around big cities, and delivering phone audio to the helmet headset. I'm not certain that the weather information that is delivered by the Zumo 590 is equal or better to what the Zumo 665 delivered from the XM satellite. If weather information from the Zumo 590 is important to prospective purchasers, I suggest you very carefully evaluate the quality of the information provided (in real time) by looking at someone else's Zumo 590 before you lay your money down. But, having said all that, I don't think weather via the Zumo 590 matters at all, because I get far better weather info from the iPhone apps (via a Wi-Fi connection when I am not riding the motorcycle).
Michael
The only weather info I'm really interested in is the radar map overlay. I want to see where it is currently raining, or more importantly, snowing. A very accurate graphic of that is important to me. If I have to change direction by 5 miles to avoid snow on the road, I'll do it. I've found the maps on the 665 to be pretty darn accurate, especially for snow. Not perfect...but accurate enough I can usually tell when I am minutes from snow or rain. Now that I have a Roadcrafter I don't need the rain info quite as much- no stopping to don rain gear. But knowing where the snow line is, is very important to a northerner. I have a radar app on my phone that is pretty good, but doesn't seem nearly as accurate as what the 665 shows me.