GPS Navigators Review

If you want a GPS for your big bike but do not want to spend too much with all the fancy features, the Garmin Zumo 450 is a good buy. The Zumo 450 has all the basic functionalities of a GPS without the high price. This Garmin device is the second Zumo model in the US, yet it is not one of the top of the line Garmin gadgets. Nevertheless, the Zumo 450 can effectively do what it has to do as a GPS device.

Sturdy Design

The Garmin Zumo 450 is a sturdy device especially that it is built for motorcycle mounting. It is IPX-7 waterproof so it doesn’t matter if it rains and the Zumo gets wet, it will still work properly. Other than the rain, this Zumo model is also designed to withstand other elements of nature such as the harmful UV light. Also, since this is a motorcycle device, it is safe from constant beating on the road and vibration. It is also made of plastics that are resistant to fuel.

Another notable design implementation on the Garmin Zumo 450 is how the buttons are laid out. They are big enough to allow ease of operation even with gloves on. The Zumo 450 also has its buttons strategically placed on the left side which lets you keep your right hand steady on the bike while operating on the GPS. To keep the Zumo steadily mounted, it comes with a 4-hold AMPS pattern motorcycle mount, power cable and a security screwdriver.

Excellent Features

The Zumo 450, although not the top of the line in the Zumo series, has many great features. One software feature that only a few Garmin gadgets, including the Zumo 450, have is their capability to save routes on the GPS. It is also possible to transfer the saved route to a memory card and share it with friends. This feature comes very handy when travelling with friends. You don’t necessarily have to travel in a tight group; everyone is free to drive at their own leisure yet still following the same route.

One motorcycle-specific feature of the Garmin Zumo 450 is the fuel gauge that warns you when the bike is getting low on fuel. And to provide further assistance, this device is also able to point the driver to a gas station nearest its location with the help of its relatively huge POI database.

With the Zumo 450, you will have peace of mind because of the safety feature built into it. It employs a Garmin Lock which only allows usage of the GPS upon entering the PIN you assigned.

This Garmin device is not like its brothers that have other extras such as hands-free calling via Bluetooth, MP3 player, traffic receiver, text-to-speech, etc. If you would want one of these, the Garmin Zumo 550 would be a good bet. However, if you’re only after the standard GPS functionality, and are ok with the price of $703.88 (that how much it costs on Amazon), this 450 model is enough to meet your needs.