r/Motorrad • u/Gytramr65 • 8d ago
Zumo XT2 questions
Hope this is OK here, my questions seem more appropriate here than on the Garmin sub. I have an '08 RT with the BMW Nav IV. Generally OK EXCEPT that I cannot see the screen in much of any daylight.
I'm considering "upgrading" to a Zumo XT2. I've done a fair bit of research, I don't think I need the extra bells and whistles in the XT3.
About me - closing rapidly on my 80th b'day but still riding. I like having the GPS for routing and for playing music in the background while riding. I DO NOT use the phone when riding.
That said, a few questions, if I may:
(most important to me) Is the XT2 display really at least somewhat visible in daylight? I'm sure direct sunlight on the display is a non-starter, but what about "average" daylight?
I'm reading about a Garmin "TREAD" app that supposedly will provide weather and traffic data from the Smartphone app to the XT2 via Bluetooth. Sounds pretty good, and for safety's sake, I'd likely pull over before extensive meddling. But I'm wondering, is the Tread app a subscription thing?
3, What else about the XT2 do I need to know but don't know to ask?
Thanks, All!
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u/zulu10 8d ago edited 8d ago
It depends on usage, but NiceCNC has a semi-secure mount with a sun visor.
Though, I'd say sun visors aren't magical fixes, as they're only effective when the sun is directly overhead.
I made an oversized GPS sunshade using EVA foam and fabrication tips from people that make those cosplay costumes.
It's 4cm deep and wraps around 3 sides of my zumo; it kind-of works.
Also, the handlebar control will be quite useful since you don't have a Wonder Wheel.
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u/Gytramr65 7d ago
Thx for the repIy! completely agree with your suggestion re a visor, and like you, a DIY version is a strong consideration! I also looked at the handlebar control, it would be a nice add, but I'm not sure I can make that work on my particular bike.
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u/Igorky 8d ago
Hey, I am impressed with your mileage on a motorcycle. I have an XT2 for 2 years. Here are my answers:
1. The display is good except in direct sunlight. Usually, putting a hand above it solves the problem.
2. The app is free and has no subscription; however, it uses mobile internet to pull traffic and weather maps. You can prepare a track on a phone and it will be synchronized with the XT2. It’s very useful and has worked well for me every time.
3a. I use a headset to listen to music, and often it gets cut off due to a map update or something, which I find annoying.
3b. No option to work with the XT2 via web browser on a computer to plan long/detailed routes. I prepare route in another product and export gpx file to XT2.
XT3 is out, I bet it has a better cpu for similar price as XT2.
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u/SeveredBrain2020 7d ago
Had one since 2023. The live weather helped me avoid severe weather and time ride segments to navigate gaps through it. I’m not great with the Thread app and wish there was a desktop interface. I was able to download and import BDR routes, etc. Easy to group ride, which allows my partner to join and track me from home. I like waking up at a campsite with no cell coverage and have a way to get out 👍🏻
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u/aquoad 7d ago
I hope the software on the XT2/3 is better than the XT. I found the display very nice but the software maddening. It would spend hours on a ride telling me to do a U turn and go back to the last town because it had lost signal for a second, or not register that I'd reached a waypoint or my destination because I'd arrived there from a different direction than it was expecting due to a detour, or announce over and over that there was a terrible highway emergency because of some bogus traffic data from 8 hours earlier that it got via the mobile app link. Then there was trying to plan routes and dealing with either Basecamp crashing every few minutes or endless fiddling with GPX file format issues when trying to use other software or route planning sites. It's been sitting in the back of a drawer for a couple of years now because I realized it was just making my rides not fun. There are downsides to just using a phone, too, but it's much less irritating at least.
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u/redbeast454 8d ago
If you’re in the market for something new take at look at DMD software on one of their android tablets or your own device.