Brilliant devices. I have a 450.
Route avoidances.
Navigation on the fly.
Choose a destination then add waypoints
Export places from your computer to the zumo.
Create routes in Google maps then export them to a GPX file. Recently the only browser allowing for map conversions using
gmaptogpx is
Pale Moon.
Caveat: the conversion needs to be fine tuned using Garmin's software, MapSource. Erroneous or redundant waypoints, etc. Not critical but it makes following your route much simpler. ALSO when using google maps do not create any waypoints other than beginning and ending. the conversion utility will treat each two waypoints as a separate route. Thus three waypoints are now two routes. You can drag and drop the route without making the 'bubble marker' a waypoint.
Tips:
Keep saved routes on the sim card NOT loaded on the zumo as routes you can choose from. Too much overhead. You would 'import' whatever route you want so it can be available for selection. Also, keeps routes around 500 miles each. Routes much larger than that tax the computing capabilities of the zumo and cause a SLOW recalculation when you request one or take a wrong turn.
For YEARS I've made routes for my travels. Chy, Greg and Mike always remind me these days to make sure I avoid routes that have dirt roads, and to ensure pavement has painted lines. Okay. Most anymore I ride and navigate on the fly. Favorite options are
1. Avoid Interstates
2. Faster time
3. Avoid Toll Roads
Now choose your destination and go!
While reviewing the route zumo has chosen, take a gander at map of it and if you see a windy rural road, 'touch it' (while the route is active) and select "add as waypoint" .
I ride on the fly due to a MAJOR history of saved 'favorites', that, and a large inventory on my sim card of routes I created. All those places that I took a breather at, all over the country, are saved as favorites. When riding near those places they appear on the zumo screen. The favorites could be a cool road, etc. Stopping in a wood for a snack and drink is way better than any stuffy gas station or other concrete jungle.
For example, when riding up to Dahlonega this coming May 10'ish, I'll want to swing by Columbia SC and try to roust a certain english yankee. So I'll select his house and roll. Along the way I'll see all the spots I took a rest at, or stopped to eat something and have some water. So setting Greg's house as a destination will create a route. Then your use zumo and search along your route for favorites. Brilliant function of the zumo.
Dave, I'm just scratching the surface of the varied uses, ways to use the zumo. Heck yours is light years ahead of mine. I've run an audio cable under the tank so I can listen to music from the 450. Yours has Bluetooth most likely. The sim card holds the music btw.
Another brilliant use of the zumo is to find lodging, gas station, restaurants, etc...
Say you are traveling in an area sparsely populated or an area you unfamiliar with. Thus not many gas stations or you don't know if there are any or where they be. You have no route loaded as you know where your destination is and how to get there on non slabs. But you need gas. Or you want to grab a cup of java and a doughnut. If you search your zumo for gas stations of doughnut shops, you will be presented options AROUND your present location. However, if you create a route to your destination, you can then ask zumo to show you those choices ALONG your route. Once you have found a place you want to stop at, choose it as the destination.
Remember creating a route is a simple as finding a place on the screen and touching it, then selecting 'set as (new) destination'.
Literski says that the zumo is great for freelance riding. Ride wherever with no destination in mind. Explore. Then when you want to get somewhere, like home, select that and the zumo will map you there. Also, you can look for places at anytime. Zumo allows you to
see forward (or around you) for restaurants etc...
Happy Trails
P.S.: you can create routes directly on your zumo, with multiple waypoints. Among the choices of route waypoints is 'recently found'. That is a tool invaluable when using the zumo to create AND save routes.
