Garmin’s Motorcycle Sat Nav Systems – Zumo 550 & Zumo 660 Compared
See also: Choosing a Motorcycle GPS Sat Nav System
I’ve had a Garmin Zumo 550 for 3 years or so now which has regularly been used on my motorcycle and in the car – great Sat Nav, very happy……but curious as to what’s changed with the new Zumo 660. Here’s a comparison of the two motorcycle GPS systems (data picked up from Garmin retailer)
The main changes, Zumo 550 vs Zumo 660, differences between the two GPS Sat Nav systems are:
# Waypoints or favourites: while the Zumo 550 permits you to add just 500, the 600 provides you with double the limit. Both these units provides you with regular voice directions along with visual instructions.
# Display: the Zumo 660 has a wider 11cm / 4.3-inch screen (diagonal measurement) as compared to the 500’s 8.9cm / 3.5-inch one and upgraded TFT screen (QVGA color TFT to WQVGA colour TFT).
# Dimensions: the Zumo 660 is slimmer than the 550.
# Overall: the Zumo 660 is equipped with a few additional features that the 550 is missing. It has a lane assist functionality that is absent in the Zumo550 and the 660 can display major building and landmarks in 3D formats providing you with a better orientation and view of the place. While the Zumo 550 does not have a speed limit indicator, the 660 has this function.
Additional comparisons below
+ Garmin’s description of their new motorcycle Sat Nav system
Garmin GPS | ||
| Unit dimensions, WxHxD: | 4.8″W x 3.9″H x 1.6″D (12.2 x 9.9 x 4.1 cm) | 5.3″W x 3.3″H x .9″D (13.5 x 8.4 x 2.3 cm) |
| Display size, WxH: | 2.8″W x 2.1″H (7.2 x 5.4 cm); 3.5 diag (8.9 cm) | 3.75″W x 2.15″H (9.7 x 5.7 cm); 4.3″ diag (11 cm) |
| Display resolution, WxH: | 320 x 240 pixels | 480 x 272 pixels |
| Display type: | QVGA color TFT with white backlight | WQVGA colour TFT with white backlight |
| Weight: | 10.6 ounces (300.5 g) | 9.5 ounces (270 g) |
| Battery: | removable, rechargeable lithium-ion | removable, rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Battery life: | up to 4 hours | up to 5 hours |
| Waterproof: | yes (IPX7) | yes (IPX7) |
| High-sensitivity receiver: | yes | yes |
| RoHS version available: | yes | yes |
| Preloaded street maps: | yes | yes |
| Ability to add maps: | yes | yes |
| Built-in memory: | internal solid state | internal solid state |
| Waypoints/favorites/ locations: | 500 | 1000 |
| Routes: | 50 | 20 (additional storage on microSD™ card) |
| Basemap: | yes | yes (Europe) |
| Accepts data cards: | SD card (not included) | microSD™ card (not included) |
| Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”): | yes (using included mount(s)) | yes (internal speaker) |
| Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”): | yes | yes |
| Voice-activated navigation (operate device with spoken commands): | no | no |
| Lane assist (guides you to the proper lane for navigation): | no | yes (with junction view) |
| 3-D building view (displays buildings in 3-D): | no | yes |
| Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): | yes | yes |
| Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): | yes | yes |
| Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): | yes | yes |
| Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): | yes | yes |
| Bluetooth® wireless technology: | yes | yes (with A2DP technology) |
| Garmin nüLink! Services: (receive accurate real-time travel information): | no | no |
| FM traffic compatible: | yes | yes |
| MSN® Direct compatible: | no | yes |
| XM® compatible for U.S: | yes (radio and traffic) | no |
| Speed limit indicator (displays speed limit for most major roads in the U.S. and Europe): | no | yes |
| Where Am I? (find closest hospitals, police & gas stations, nearest address & intersection): | no | yes |
| Garmin Locate™ (marks position when removed from windshield mount): | no | no |
| ecoRoute™ (calculates a more fuel-efficient route) : | no | no |
| Qwerty or ABC keyboard (choose keyboard layout): | no | yes |
| Multimode (switches modes to drive, hike, bike or boat): | no | no |
| Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): | yes | yes |
| Garmin Garage™ vehicles compatible (download car-shaped icons to your device): | yes | yes |
| Garmin Garage™ voices compatible (download custom voices to your device): | no | yes |
| Photo navigation (navigate to geotagged photos): | no | yes |
| World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator: | no | yes |
| Picture viewer: | yes | yes |
| MP3 player: | yes | yes |
| Audio book player: | yes | yes |
| FM transmitter: | no | no |
| Headphone jack/audio line-out: | yes | yes |
| Garmin Lock™ (anti-theft feature): | yes | yes |
| Touchscreen: | yes | yes |
| Dead reckoning: | no | no |
| Motorcycle-friendly: | yes | yes |
| Trucking-friendly: | no | no |
| Marine-friendly: | no | no |
| Geocaching-friendly: | no | no |
| Additional: | This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows® XP or newer and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later. | This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows® XP or newer and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later. |
More comparisons between the Garmin Zumo 550 and the newer Garmin Zumo 660
- The z??mo 660 display really stands out when cranked up: the z??mo 550 display lacks the same range.
- The z??mo 660 has a comprehensive Help tool: the z??mo 550 lacks a Help tool.
- The z??mo 660 can do both 2-D and 3-D (with elevation data): the z??mo 550 is limited to 2-D only.
- The z??mo 660 has Sunrise and Sunset information; the z??mo 550 does not.
- The z??mo 660 has a World Clock and a World Map: the z??mo 550 does not.
- The z??mo 660 Trip Computer information is tailorable: the z??mo 550 ‘Dashboard’ fields were fixed except for the bottom information fields.
- The z??mo 660 has less of a tool hierarchy: more drill-down is needed to find the same or comparative features on the z??mo 550.
- The z??mo 550 supports XM: the z??mo 660 does not.
- The z??mo 550 has three selections under System (GPS, Safe and Garmin Lock): the z??mo 660 has four (GPS Simulator, Usage Mode, Units and Keyboard Layout).
- The z??mo 550 has a good Media Player for playing MP3s, viewing pictures and listening to Audio Books: the z??mo 660 has the same features, but music playlists can now be created or imported.
- The z??mo 550 Bluetooth audio stream was mono: the z??mo 660 features A2DP compatible Bluetooth, so audio from the Media Player is streamed in Stereo.
- The z??mo 550 can create and save up to 50 routes: the z??mo 660 is limited to 20 Custom routes.
What Garmin says about the Zumo 660
Take a ride on a new route and explore the open road with the z??mo 660. This motorcycle-friendly navigator was built to lead you on all of your two-wheeled adventures. Whether you’re on a weekday ride just across town or a weeklong trip to an annual rally with friends, the z??mo 660 is ready to show you the way.
Designed By Bikers For Bikers
Featuring a bright 4.3” touchscreen color display, the z??mo 660 puts all the information you need in an easy-to-read format as you travel down the road. The z??mo 660 also has a glove-friendly intuitive interface that makes entering information as easy as shifting gears. In addition, the wide sunlight-readable display makes for easy navigation — whether you’re riding during a bright day or a moonless night. And with a rugged waterproof case that resists fuel sprays and UV rays, the z??mo 660 was built for life on the road.
Go Your Own Way
Pick your path and hit the streets. The z??mo 660 is ready to go right out of the box. It’s preloaded with City Navigator® NT street maps and millions of points of interest (POIs) that include motels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and more. In addition, the z??mo 660 offers 3-D building view and lane assist to show you more of your surroundings and make sure that you’ll always know the right lane at the right time. The z??mo 660 also comes standard with a digital fuel gauge so you can keep track of how many miles you have left before it’s time to get gas.
Keep In Touch
The z??mo 660 features Bluetooth® wireless technology so you can stay in touch while you’re on the move. With it, you’re free to safely talk on your phone without having to remove your gloves or helmet. Simply connect your z??mo 660 to your Bluetooth-enabled headset or helmet and then pair with your cellphone to make and receive calls on the go. You can also call POIs through the z??mo’s Bluetooth interface — perfect for last-minute change of plans or a quick pit stop for food and fuel. And with spoken street names functionality, the z??mo 660 will also transmit voice prompts to your headset for wireless and worry-free navigation.
Stay Entertained
Have a long ride planned? The z??mo 660 is your all-in-one entertainment center. Featuring an on-board MP3 player and advanced Bluetooth A2DP technology, you’ll enjoy crisp and clean stereo sound with your compatible headset. The motorcycle mount also comes standard with a headphone jack so you can connect to your headphones or helmet headset and microphone. It’s also loaded with a picture viewer for taking friends and family on the road and it supports audiobooks to help break up the miles when you’re in for the long haul.
Plan and Share Your Rides
Found the perfect backroad to share with your riding buddies? Or perhaps you’re planning a cross-country trip and looking to avoid as much interstate as possible. With the z??mo 660’s powerful trip planning tools, you can create your custom routes via computer and then transfer your saved route directly to your z??mo. And when you’ve returned home, you can review your rides in Google™ Earth. In addition, microSD™ card expansion makes it easy for sharing routes and adding storage.
You can also visit z??mo Connect – our online community of routes and riders. It’s a great resource for finding new rides and planning trips.
Move Between Modes
Just because your bike’s parked doesn’t mean your day is done. The z??mo 660 also pulls double duty as an in-car navigator when you’re on four wheels instead of two. In addition to the included motorcycle mount, the z??mo 660 also includes a carrying case, vehicle mount and power cable. It’s like having two full-featured navigators for the price of one.