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Cruiser
Posts: 155
Stockton, California | Now is the time to buy a Zumo if you have been looking. Garmin has just put out a $100.00 rebate for the Zumo series GPS. Here is the link
http://garmin.blogs.com/promotions/2010/04/zumo-rebate.html
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | Purchased a Zumo 665 today from MegaGPS.com. Price is 819.95 after the rebate. I will post more info regarding functionality on the 2010 Vision once I have installed it. The bracket and wiring harness are already installed on my bike so it shouldn't take too long to plug it in and start playing with the thing. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | Got mine from GPScity for $740 after the rebate. Best deal I could find and used a price match to get it. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 297
VA | For those of you that have bought the Zumo 665, could you please answer some questions for me after you get them and play with them. The first is, does the factory harness and factory mount work with the 665? I want to know if I get this if I have to cut off the factory plug and hardwire it in. Also, someone here said that there was a new harness and that it might be stereo sound from the GPS.
These questions lead to the bigger question. I was looking at getting this because I really wanted to have XM radio, and I know the 665 comes with a XM antenna. Here's the big one, does the XM code to the unit, or the antenna? I read at another site that the antenna has a radio ID number, and that when you activate XM, it's this number they want, not a number on the unit. I want to have XM on the bike, but I also wanted to take this into my car and have XM there. If the other post was correct, I would have to take that antenna with me, or buy a seperate subscription for the second antenna that I use in my car.
Plus, just overall impressions. I have a TomTom car GPS that I have mounted on the Vision, and I really like the interface with the Tom Tom, or maybe I am just used to it, but I have played with Garmin Nuvis and I haven't been that impressed. Please let me know what you guys think, and more importantly, the XM related questions. Thanks in advance.
Marc | |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | I got mine hooked up to the vision and so far I love it. There are a couple shortcomings at this point, but I think those will be overcome in the near future. I will try to answer some questions for all interested by responding to dive's questions below.
divesharc - 2010-05-09 12:48 AM
For those of you that have bought the Zumo 665, could you please answer some questions for me after you get them and play with them. The first is, does the factory harness and factory mount work with the 665? I want to know if I get this if I have to cut off the factory plug and hardwire it in. Also, someone here said that there was a new harness and that it might be stereo sound from the GPS.
These questions lead to the bigger question. I was looking at getting this because I really wanted to have XM radio, and I know the 665 comes with a XM antenna. Here's the big one, does the XM code to the unit, or the antenna? I read at another site that the antenna has a radio ID number, and that when you activate XM, it's this number they want, not a number on the unit. I want to have XM on the bike, but I also wanted to take this into my car and have XM there. If the other post was correct, I would have to take that antenna with me, or buy a seperate subscription for the second antenna that I use in my car.
Plus, just overall impressions. I have a TomTom car GPS that I have mounted on the Vision, and I really like the interface with the Tom Tom, or maybe I am just used to it, but I have played with Garmin Nuvis and I haven't been that impressed. Please let me know what you guys think, and more importantly, the XM related questions. Thanks in advance.
Marc
The answer to the harness connection is no. The motorcycle harness that comes with the Zumo 665 is not designed to interface with the Vision system. I won't say you can't make a direct connection to the harness and make it work but as shipped it won't work. I'm going to do some research and see what it would take. I know it's possible, just needs to be figured out.
What I have done in the short term is I have one of the Victory/Garmin 660 harnesses an my Vision already and the new model 665 works great with the Vision system through it. And it does play all functions in stereo through all four speakers. Of course you would have to lay out the cash for the Victory harness.
The only drawback is that the XM receiver does not work when the unit is plugged in through the Victory harness. The wired usb plug on the victory harness is only set up to work with the optional Garmin traffic alert antenna, and this does work fine. I am willing to bet that within a few months Victory and Garmin will be offering a Vision specific harness for the Zumo 665 and this will be a simple problem solved. With each upgrade of the Zumo GPS that's been offered Victory has contracted for a compatible harness for the Vics.
Now having said that, the 665 actually comes with two mounts, one for bikes and one for cars. Both can be used in cars, the motorcycle mount is just designed to withstand the elements and is much more robust and weather proof. If you have other vehicles you would like to use the 665 in you wouldn't need to buy any additional mounts as you would already have them. By the way the 665 comes with an assortment of mounting hardware, including ram ball mounts and clamps, and suction cup mounts, so you could use the included motorcycle harness on another bike, four wheeler, snowmobile, bicycle or whatever. It does have an internal battery also for use away from a vehicle for about 3-4 hours.
Regarding the XM antenna. It is also the receiver and connects by a mini usb plug only. You would have to move it between vehicles with the GPS. Nice thing is it comes with a magnetic base that makes for quick transfers. Additionally it is specifically designed to also receive the Navtrafic and Navweather signals from the XM provider. This is a great feature because you can receive live weather and traffic/road condition maps while you are traveling. For long trips this could be a real life saver out on the open road on a bike.
Now for some additional info I can say the 665 is awesome functionally. It is packed with features and all are very easy to access and utilize even while riding. The bluetooth system works great with my bluetooth helmet and with my cell phone at the same time. Even with the GPS active on a route I can make and receive calls from the GPS screen directly into my helmet and the phone is in the back trunk plugged into the charger. You can even access you phone contacts from the GPS screen. The 665 comes on and off automatically with the ignition key and connects to my helmet and phone without any additional input, as long as the helmet and phone are turned on. It is a very seamless system.
The GPS has a slot for a micro SD card up to 16 gigs, on which you can store a ton saved routes, waypoints, and even music, pictures viewable on the screen and audio books or recordings you can listen to while riding. Any of this stuff can be accessed and listened to while still using the GPS going down the road. When it sends audio instructions through your helmet or the bikes stereo speakers, the other audio is paused and then picks back up after the instructions have been completed.
It also has an awesome trip computer that is one touch away on the screen while in route that stores a wealth of info for the trip and predictive info as you continue in route.
Lastly when you get home from a trip you can connect the 665 to your home computer and log on to Garminconnect.com and it will upload all the saved data since you last logged on to a personal data base. You can then see tons of info about your trip, every leg of your route, time sequences, stops, time laps info and so on, to analyse your travels. It even shows a visual map of every part of your route and graphs your running altitude for those trips in the mountains.
I realize this system carries a fairly hefty price tag, but wow, I'm already hooked to the point that I won't travel without it,
Again I think we will see something from Victory before too long regarding the harness XM connection. In the mean time maybe we can come up with a functional patch. Otherwise this GPS/Bluetooth/MP3 playing/XM radio weather traffic map/communication system is the best thing that could happen to a Vision or CC.
By the way if you can get the same deal as Flint350 talks about above I would jump all over this thing, you will love it! 
Chris | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | I'm not nearly as optimistic as you are about Victory/Garmin coming out with a special new harness. They have yet to make a simple harness or even a small adapter to connect the new 665 to an '08 Vision. It is not compatible and needs to be re-wired by the consumer. That is just terrible planning and marketing. Plus, they want $150 for a new mount bcz the old one, just like the harness, for the StreetPilot won't work. The new one is a hair taller and ridiculously priced for what it is. There are posts on various forums about how to cut off the connector and make a new one with crimping, soldering, heat shrink wrapping, etc. I don't know about you, but even if I wanted to go through all of that, it is something that should not be required. I like the new Zumo, but either Victory or Garmin or both have handled the upgrade process badly. I'm sure they each point the finger at the other, but the bottom line is this situation is unacceptable. It's not a matter of being able to personally make the repair - those that can are welcome to do it, but they shouldn't have to. And the rest are left with a crippled installation or an expensive trip to a tech to work it out. | |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | flint350 - 2010-05-10 3:58 PM
I'm not nearly as optimistic as you are about Victory/Garmin coming out with a special new harness. They have yet to make a simple harness or even a small adapter to connect the new 665 to an '08 Vision. It is not compatible and needs to be re-wired by the consumer. That is just terrible planning and marketing. Plus, they want $150 for a new mount bcz the old one, just like the harness, for the StreetPilot won't work. The new one is a hair taller and ridiculously priced for what it is. There are posts on various forums about how to cut off the connector and make a new one with crimping, soldering, heat shrink wrapping, etc. I don't know about you, but even if I wanted to go through all of that, it is something that should not be required. I like the new Zumo, but either Victory or Garmin or both have handled the upgrade process badly. I'm sure they each point the finger at the other, but the bottom line is this situation is unacceptable. It's not a matter of being able to personally make the repair - those that can are welcome to do it, but they shouldn't have to. And the rest are left with a crippled installation or an expensive trip to a tech to work it out.
I understand the frustration some are having with the older radio systems' poor performance. They should work like any typical vehicle radio when purchased. If there are malfunctions or substandard performance due to design flaws, the company should make it right. Now get ready cause I'm going to spill a little of my feelings about the subject. Please no offense intended.
I don't get the unusual expectations some people are expressing who chose to buy earlier models of the bike and the GPSs that were offered at the time. I don't know of any manufacturer that has ever been willing to retro-fit older models to bring them up to the operational abilities of newer designs that have upgraded systems. I have a 2005 Ford F150 that at the time I purchased had all the latest bells and whistles. Compared to what Ford offers now in the electronics systems my truck is in the stone age - "CD player, you've got to be kidding me". According to some, Ford owes me a Sink System with Bluetooth connections and Satellite navigation and they should do it at cost or under warranty.
Come on people, let's get real! This is the modern electronics market applied to the touring motorcycle industry. Everything we buy today will be obsolete in a year or less. And nothing you buy today will work very well, if at all with something designed two years ago. Nobody at Victory or Garmin said it would and so nobody got cheated. The first IPhones sold three years ago are already in the trash for the most part. And those fools that stood in line for days to get one paid way too much for an inferior product.
Look folks, if there were a profitable market for upgrading old electronic consumer items companies would be all over it. This is a very small niche market we are part of, and I promise you nobody is going to stay in business trying to make everything old work like everything new.
Now having said all that, let's face it, if you are one of the people that had to buy a Vision when it first came out you must have known Victory and other suppliers would continue to improve their product over the following years, and that you would miss out on the improvements having bought and early model. If you aren't creative enough to make the modifications once the upgrades are revealed than next time wait a few years for the upgrades to come standard. Remember, Victory isn't even offering the 665 for their bikes yet.
I decided to take a risk and buy the new model Garmin 665 and try to make it work with a bike and mount that the older 660 was designed for. I did this because it's obvious that the 665 will replace the 660 probably in less than a year. I wanted the latest since we are planning to start touring a lot now that we have our Vision. That was my choice and it does work on my 2010 as I described. But I made that choice, and I made it knowing that I would probably have to make some modifications to make all the features of the 665 work properly. If I didn't think that was possible I wouldn't have laid down the money.
The Garmin 665 is the first GPS I've owned, and now for just four days and I can tell you I won't travel without it now that I know how good it works. It does everything the manufacturer says it will and it does it very well. The sound on the Vision stereo system is great and all features within the scope of the
model 660 mount work flawlessly. I will probably make the required changed myself and start enjoying the XM features as well.
My recommendation is if you are experienced and capable to make the needed mods and are willing, go ahead and get one of the 665s and start using it this season. It has great features that work on the bike and the truck and the car and while hiking. If not, just wait and see. If we are lucky they will work with the 2010s like the 660 currently does once a new mount is offered. If not, then we just bought too soon and we'll have to do without.
By the way the only difference between the Vic/660 mount and the Garmin/665 mount is the wiring harness to the USB connection to interface with the mounting base. On the Garmin web site the mount that comes with the 665 is also the one that comes with the 660. All Victory needs to do is have Garmin modify the wiring pattern of the USB harness for the mount they are contracted to make for Victory so the 665 XM module will connect through the base.
Good luck with whatever you all decide to do, in the mean time I'm going back out to play with my new GPS!
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | No offense taken by me - but: Your argument is flawed and contradictory. You believe the zumo wiring change is equivalent to an installed system in a car/truck. They are completely different. The change to the zumo, as you later admit and contradict your own point, is simply a change in pin-out wiring at the connector. That is the only thing that makes it "incompatible" with the earlier Visions. That is the reason that the wiring-handy types are just cutting off the connector and reconfiguring the wires and making it work just fine. If the average handy man can do that, then most assuredly Victory or Garmin can easily make an adapter that realigns the pins to match from new-to-old. It is good marketing and would increase sales and reduce frustration.
It is not a total re-design that would be required in your example of the F-150. I understand that and the difference. But, in this case, it's just a wiring change and not a hardware change or redesign. You call it "upgrading old electronics" when it is nothing of the sort - it is a rewire that is being routinely gotten around by knowledgeable consumers. It shouldn't be necessary and if you aren't "knowledgeable", you are faced with added expense and frustration. I would guess that some will not buy the new 660 or 665 due to this issue and that means fewer sales. You can't honestly believe that this connector couldn't be fashioned quickly, easily and very cheaply by Garmin/Victory if Joe-the-poster can do it for $3. As you say yourself - in contradiction of your own point - "All Victory needs to do is have Garmin modify the wiring pattern..."
So, I completely disagree with your take on this that we should just accept it and realize it is trying to design new electronics for old applications. It is nothing of the sort and you seem to say so yourself. Again, no offense taken, I just think you are incorrect and my offense is at Victory and Garmin.
Edited by flint350 2010-05-11 9:15 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | I agree with you completely. I just think the subject of getting Victory to move forward with topics like this seems to be almost dead. I'm hoping Garmin will do the work because after all it's Garmin that's trying to sell GPSs to Motorcyclists.
Actually whats really missing in the harness is a couple wires in the USB connection. If you take the base apart the USB harness has two less wires (empty slots) in it than the one Garmin sends with the 665/XM kit. I think that all that is happening is with the Vic/660 base the XM receiver has no power feeding to it through the existing USB plug. I agree this will be a cheap and easy fix, for Garmin. But an adapter will not work because the two power supply wires will still be missing in the USB plug.
Long story short Garmin will have to substitute the USB plug (with power supply wiring) in the harness assembly they are selling to Vic.
I know there is some frustration out there, but I'm still optimistic, for those who don't like to mess with the tech stuff, that Garmin will come through. (Fingers crossed) This really is a sweet setup for the motorcycle traveler.
BTW Ray, you haven't said whether you like the features on the 665. I take it you have received yours?
I love the Navtravel and Navweather features on the XM. Like having your computer weather radar right there in the car with you. This morning mine was chiming in all sorts of warnings as I was driving to work (in the truck) in the middle of heavy thunder storms. When I touched the weather icon the map showed green, yellow and red storm cells all over the midwest.
Good luck with the GPS and the Vision, I'm in heaven when I'm on mine. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | Yes, I did get mine via Fedex yesterday (Tuesday) and spent the evening setting it up, loading the newly released 2011 maps (check your map updates, as this was just released and is free if you haven't done it). I also downloaded the free music and books they offer and have copied my music to it. I am going to spend today wiring the Vision for it and getting it mounted in place of my old Street Pilot 2820. I have yet to actually see or use the new features, but I have read about them and look forward to them. I am also hopeful that transferring my XM subscription to the new antenna will be easy and straightforward.
One feature I did notice was the new fuel gauge and low fuel reminder. When it goes off, it pops up a list of nearby gas stations to choose from. That could be useful. As a former pilot, I am looking forward to the weather radar overlay on the GPS. It's the closest thing to being back in the cockpit of a Learjet or a helicopter that I can imagine. :-) | |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | Those are the things I like most as well. We've never been on any long trips out west and one thing we all know is that weather can be touch and go out in the mid plains during hot summer days.
I got my updates downloaded and that was very easy. You may find the transfer of XM subscriptions a little more problematic. They love to rake in that start up fee for the XM coffers. If you get the right customer service rep when you talk to India you may get lucky. ;-)
I listened to the sample book excerpts that are included and I think that too is a cool feature.
The trip computer is nice. You definitely have a wealth of data before your eyes. A real neat feature for keeping track of your travels after the fact is to set up an account at www.garminconnect.com and plug your GPS into the computer and upload your data. It provides a tremendous personalized record with a wealth of statistical and visual info that is stored in the GPS from each route traveled. These records are permanently saved for your future use until you delete them.
One thing everyone should consider regarding the price is that you do get a lot of useful stuff included for the price. I know it's a little salty but with what you receive you can use in no less than two vehicles and connect to the computer for the added features on line.
I like your comparison to the instrumentation on an aircraft. After all most of us do feel we are in the "Cockpit" when we are riding our Visions.
Safe Riding! | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | My install is finished and everything works just fine. The XM transfer of service was very easy, but they do charge a one time fee of $15 to do it. It activated on the new antenna within 2 minutes. Both hardwire and bluetooth work fine and I don't miss the "integration" that the non-compatible $150 Vic harness supposedly offers. I'm content. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | I'm going to move to the 665 and understand it does not intergrate to the 08 Vision. So I'm assuming you find a power supply and then the audio out is through the AUX cable, is that correct? I want to get it for the XM weather read out. Plus with the MP3 and XM I can minimize on board equipment. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 189
Baltimore, Md | Yep, that's what I did. I tied it to switched power off the powerlet line under the console (though I did it through a separate fuze block - but you could just tie in direct if you want). I also used the aux line of the Garmin to the bike's aux - though, again, I did it through a slightly more complicated connection, using a MixIt2 amp so that I get all audio (radar, xm, gps) integrated into the bike aux. When I remove the trunk (and lose the comms) I just plug directly into the MixIt2. Or bluetooth is always an option with the Zumo. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Flint350, thanks for the reply. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Flint or HoosierVic, do you happen to have the name of the website that walks you thru the modification needed to get this to work? I just got my 665 today and am looking to hook it up to my 2011. | |
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Garmin Zumo Rebate