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Review Getting started with Garmin Zumo XT

Photo: Garmin

Last winter, I finally broke down and decided it was time to buy a proper GPS unit. For years, I’d been making do with a cellphone for street riding, and a Garmin eTrex Legend Hcx for offroad. It was time to upgrade!

After digging through my couch cushions for change, and robbing the kids’ piggy banks, I had enough money for a Garmin Zumo 396. But, just before placing the order, and just before a couple of planned motorcycle adventures, I was asked if I wanted to review a loan Garmin Zumo XT.

The Garmin Zumo XT debuted in early 2020, as an adventure-focused motorcycle GPS system. Previous Garmin units had the option to select the twistiest roads automatically. The XT takes things a step further, with “Garmin Adventurous Routing.” Use this option when automatically mapping a route, and you can incorporate unpaved roads, 4×4 trails and other fun, while staying inside public land boundaries (a very important feature in the U.S.).

The Zumo XT comes with pre-loaded on-road and off-road maps for U.S., Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Bahamas. With wi-fi updates, you can also download BirdsEye Satellite Imagery, at no charge. Several travel-oriented apps come built-in as well.

I installed the Zumo on almost every bike I’ve ridden this year, including this KTM 390 Adventure. It’s easy to attach it to the battery; just run the cable through the bodywork and into the handlebar mount. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

Installing the Garmin Zumo XT

Wet, soggy days are no problem for the Zumo XT. Neither are suspiciously unmarked public roadways. This ancient route through New Brunswick’s Acadian dikes was on the map, and even a long-disused trail to the abandoned town of Grole (re-settled in 1970!) when I was in Newfoundland. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

Basic usage

You can connect your phone to the Zumo XT for navigation purposes, or for communication or even music playback control. Photo: Garmin

In-flight entertainment

I typically mounted the Garmin to the left handlebar, as this made it easier to control with a non-throttle hand if needed. Photo: Zac Kurylyk

All jammed up

What i didn’t do with the gps.

The Garmin Zumo XT also works in portrait mode, but I preferred landscape mode. Photo: Garmin

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Planning a trip on the Zumo XT using MyRoute App

• Add to quote
• Log in to your MyRoute App account on your desktop or laptop.
• After you build your route, open your MyRoute App on your phone.
• Open your route on your phone.
• “Save As” the route as a gpx 1.1 (track, POI). DO NOT save it as a Route.
• “Garmin Drive” will be one of the choices to save it to. Select “Garmin Drive”.
• The Garmin Drive screen will appear and ask you if you want to save the track to the Zumo XT. Select yes.
• On the Zumo XT, go to “Apps”, then to “Tracks”, then select the tracks you just imported.
• On the next XT screen, select the wrench icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
• Scroll down and select “Convert to Trip” then select either “Start to Finish” or “Finish to Start”.
• The next screen allows you to rename the trip, or you can just select “Done” to keep the name.
• When you are ready to use your new Zumo XT route, turn on your XT and select “Apps”, then “Trip Planner”, then “Saved Trips”, and select your trip. You are now ready to go.

I use Basecamp on my Mac all the time... some of the functions are slightly different than in a Windows format, but it works for sure. Just FYI... BTY - I love my Zumo XT, it is the best GPS I have ever owned and I have been running a GPS on bikes way before it was popular to do so.  

Neither my Macbook Pro or my iMac will recognize the Zumo XT when I connect it via USB cable. ls there another version of Basecamp that will work with Basecamp. However, with my experience with Basecamp over the years, I can't imagine it being easier to use than the MyRoute App program. It is so easy to use and now that I've figured out how to transfer routes (tracks actually) via my iphone and Garmin Drive app, Basecamp will have to really shine for me to switch back.  

I’ve used the MyRoute system for a few years now. It’s a great tool for route planing and documentation. I load routes into my Garmin Zumo 395LM via USB connection direct to my laptop. Otherwise, what you describe is basically the process. Load the route as a track and then convert to a route inside the Garmin Zumo. Be sure to turn off the auto recalculate option in the Zumo. My wife uses the MyRoute Navigation app on her iPhone to access the routes I have created. All in all, it’s a great system and well worth the subscription.  

I used the same process with my former Garmin Zumos, however, at least on the Mac platform, Basecamp does not connect with the XT. Using MyRoute app and Garmin Drive app has made it so easy. Garmin has no information on this process. Their user's manual is very complex and incomplete that it's impossible to make sense of it, especially in the Mac environment.  

I use a different method: I push one button and say, “Hey, Siri-give me directions to ___ . ”  

That works great too, and I use that method when I'm looking for a quick route to a specific destination, but you don't have the option to plan extended routes on the roads you choose instead of Siri & Apple maps choosing the roads for you.  

very helpful, thanks  

The MyRoute Navigation app will be available in apple carplay soon.  

That will be great!! I'll be watching.  

@Gregsgoldwingdct excellent write up and info I will put into my notes. I recently purchased the life time with MyRoute App and have used it on my GXT. Love it! Thanks for sharing!  

Hope it works on the GTX for you as easily as it does for me.  

Ordered mine a week ago, current sale is $100 off For $399.  

That's a good price.  

I received one for Christmas. I installed it on my NC700 and I am very pleased with it. Bright and easy to use. I can live with the GPS on the Wing. I usually just make some paper instructions anyway. I am feebleminded and want as few distractions as possible when riding.  

Gregsgoldwingdct said: For those like me that really detest the 18 & newer on-board GPS, I solved all those frustrations by purchasing a Garmin Zumo XT about a year ago. I’ve had several Garmins over the years, my last being a Zumo 595. The XT is light years ahead of the former Zumos, in my opinion. Basecamp does not recognize the XT on a Mac and XT does not work well with a PC either. I’ve tried several methods and finally came up with an easy way to plan routes on the computer or phone & transfer them wirelessly to the XT using MyRoute App and the Garmin Drive app on my phone. MyRoute App has a multitude of video and written tutorials that come with the program, is very intuitive and easy to learn to use. It is a subscription program if you want all the good stuff, but is reasonably priced and to me worth every penny. I have the “Gold” subscription. For this method to work, you will need to go to your phone app store and download the “MyRoute App” app and the “Garmin Drive” app to your phone. (both are free). You will need to establish blue tooth connections from your phone to the Zumo XT and also link the "Garmin Drive" app to your XT. That allows everything to transfer wirelessly. Here’s the process I use: (The info below is assuming you used your desktop or laptop to plan your trip. You can do it all on your phone though. I prefer the bigger screen of the desktop or laptop.) Log in to your MyRoute App account on your desktop or laptop. After you build your route, open your MyRoute App on your phone. Open your route on your phone. “Save As” the route as a gpx 1.1 (track, POI). DO NOT save it as a Route. “Garmin Drive” will be one of the choices to save it to. Select “Garmin Drive”. The Garmin Drive screen will appear and ask you if you want to save the track to the Zumo XT. Select yes. On the Zumo XT, go to “Apps”, then to “Tracks”, then select the tracks you just imported. On the next XT screen, select the wrench icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Scroll down and select “Convert to Trip” then select either “Start to Finish” or “Finish to Start”. The next screen allows you to rename the trip, or you can just select “Done” to keep the name. When you are ready to use your new Zumo XT route, turn on your XT and select “Apps”, then “Trip Planner”, then “Saved Trips”, and select your trip. You are now ready to go. I hope this info will be useful to some of you. I’ve gone through a lot of trial and error (and frustration) to get to this point, but now planning and loading a trip on my Zumo XT is a piece of cake. (Note: If you want to build a route directly on the XT screen, Cruiseman has a good video on YouTube on how to do that.) Click to expand...

So far I’ve not had that problem. Hope you can get it resolved.  

Up until trying yesterday I was able to go from the route that I had made to exporting it in to my zumo xt and now the Myrouteapp does not recognize my XT even though my laptop recognizes it while it is connected to my laptop via the usb. I have exported several routes from the myrouteapp to my zumo 590 with no issues and only did my XT 3 times. Now the myrouteapp does not recognize the gps. Kind of frustrating to say the least. I will try your way but seems like its a long way around to do something that should and has been direct before. I have sent myrouteapp support an email.  

@Keithg64 Interesting, do let us know what feedback myrouteapp provides if any.  

I'm traveling next week and preparing some MyRoute app routes currently. When I turned on my Zumo XT, it said there are new maps and firmware, so I'm updating. Will see what happens later today.  

I updated my xt yesterday. Let us know how it goes.  

• Log in to your MyRoute App online account.
• “Save As” the route as a gpx 1.1 (track, POI). Don’t save it as a Route.

@Gregsgoldwingdct Why thanks, and appreciate you taking your time and sharing the information!  

Yes thank you and I'll try again soon.  

I heard back from MRA and we are working through a solution. Also through a suggestion from them I am able to "save as" my route into a created folder and click and drag the route into the zumo xt while the xt is connected to the laptop. That way works but I still would like to "export from MRA right into the Zumo as I have been able to do before. This morning I deleted the drive app on my phone and reinstalled it and reconnected to the zumo xt, my phone says the the drive is connected. Then I go to the MRA and open the route on my phone and "save as", .gpx 1.1 (track, POI). The route downloads into my files. But when I click on the route in my files I get an icon that says the "drive app has stopped" and the drive app icon on the gps disappears. It then says to re-open the drive app or send feedback, I then send the drive app feedback as I have about 5 times now. So I have been able to find a way to "save as" routes into the zumo from MRA but not as straight forward as "exporting" the route right from MRA. I have deleted and reinstalled their connector for windows to make the exporting able to happen with still no luck. I'll see where we go from here.  

On my latest post, #28, I failed to mention I am using a Mac computer & an IPhone 11. Everything works smoothly on that platform. Haven’t tried it on windows or android. Hope you get it figured out.  

I am using a galaxy s7 android with windows 10 pro in my laptop. Have you tried to export your route through your computer to your gps ?  

My Mac will not recognize the Zumo XT. The only workaround I've found is the method I listed on this thread.  

Drgsin "seems like a waste of money to buy the garmin...especially if youre going to use this app. this is all you have to do, right here" @Drgsin my bad senior moment, I download the myrouteapp to my GPX file folder on the desktop and transfer it to my XT via USB from the file. Works flawlessly. (Edit Added content) I also can create the route in MRA and connect the XT to the Desktop and transfer it right from MRA....I saw another poster mention that is how he transfers and now I remember doing that. Getting old is not fun. Of course, I need to spend more time learning this techy stuff.  

hahaha...we all have them. why not just load the gpx file straight to your honda nav? whats the advantage of using the garmin? i guess its me having the moment, since i dont get it.  

Well, we got the exporting from mra to the xt figured out. When I take the SD card out of the xt the exporting works every time. When I load songs onto the SD and put it back into the xt the exporting does not work. I still can't save as with my phone and use drive to import into the xt, it drops the drive app every time. I use an android.  

Do you use your USB cable to export to the XT? Being as my Mac won’t recognize the XT attached by USB, the wireless transfer from MRA mobile app through Garmin Drive app is the only way it will work for me. The whole process is easy & takes about 10 seconds to transfer from the mobile app to the XT.  

Yes I use a USB from my xt to my laptop. It's a ThinkPad. I just got a new phone and tried the wireless way with no success. I'm happy with the way in used to also.  

After some digging on garmin’s website, garmin acknowledged that Mac OS won’t recognize the XT. The solution they offered didn’t work. I hope you get the kinks worked out on yours.  

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Article   Zumo 590 & 595 Trip Planner & Basecamp - What Goes Wrong and Why

• Thread starter jfheath
• Start date May 11, 2017

A detailed analysis of how the later Zumos (with the Trip Planner App) work together. This is the result of many hours of working out how my Zumo 590 and 595 behave with routes created in Basecamp and results in some recommendations for trouble free route planning. The on-line Issuu version has long gone due to changes in Issuu's terms of service. I have since made it freely available on ZumoUserForums.co.uk on which I help to moderate. There's no reason why it cannot be posted here as well.  

Attachments

• Zumo 590, 595 & Basecamp V43 ZumoUserForums 3.pdf 2.2 MB Views: 7

Thanks for doing this, it helps understand more about how my 590 and Basecamp works (or doesn't). Nice work, very thorough!  

I will have to watch these. I like my 590, but my old 550 seemed easier to use. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk  

SteveST1300

I have been stocking up on 550s and now also have a 665 I like the way they work and will use them as long as I can.  

Jeff there is a guy over here called the PalmDr who repairs GPS's He did one of my 550's recently it lost the XM radio it just disappeared well it was not expensive and the service was very fast he also replaced the internal battery which speeded up the device dramatically. I haven't had a chance to use the 665 yet but will soon.  

I've started calling my 665 "HAL."  

I finally had some time to read through this last night. After using a 550 for many years and upgrading straight to a 590, the learning curve has been steep. I was starting to figure out the via point difference and some of the other changes. This article helped speed up my learning curve. Thank you for taking the time to capture this information and share it a very easy to understand format. This kind of stuff is what makes this forum great. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk  

jfheath said: Yes - it does go on a bit doesn't, it? Click to expand...

Your information posted here was real helpful today on my way to OH-STOC. I made the mistake of converting all of my in between waypoints to silent shading points. I then made a side excursion and had the ZUMO recalculate. My custom route was wiped out. I them remembered your instructions about the Zumo changing everything between the waypoints which was my beginning and end, OOPS. So I then deleted the loaded route and reloaded the route from trip planner and all was well. I am now able to better understand what happens and why. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk  

Actually I found out that I had loaded the wrong version of the trip. So the route was different than I expected. Deleted that route and loaded correct route. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk  

Oh - that's good. I don't know if I wrote this in the pdf file, but another way of dealing with the recalculated route - when you are in an unknown area, is to save the route as a track in Basecamp and then export both the route and the track to the Zumo. There is an option to load the track from the main menu, and then in the 3 bar menu for the track, you can choose to show it on the map (in addition to the route being followed) and you can choose its displayed colour. Most of the time, you won't see it, because the route will sit on top of it. But as soon as you deviate, you will be able to see where the original route is in relation to the newly calculated route that your satnav is offering. Of course, the satnav can't navigate using the track.  

Re: Zumo Trip Planner & Basecamp - What Goes Wrong and Why Yes I believe that was covered in the .pdf, not that I would remember it when needed though. LOL Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk  

• Calculation Mode (Faster, Shorter, Curvy, OffRoad);
• Avoidances;
• Transportation Mode (Car, Motorcycle, OffRoad)
• Transportation Mode (Car, Motorcycle, OffRoad),
• Routing Preference (Curvy, Faster, Shorter, OffRoad)
• The Zumo Transportation Mode is switched to match the Profile Name from Basecamp (Regardless of which cradle is in use)
• The Avoidances that are set in the Zumo for the route’s Transport Mode will become active.
• The Route Preferences in the Zumo will be set to match the Route Preference set in Basecamp (Faster, Shorter, Curvy, OffRoad)
• The Display settings for the Transport Mode will become active.
• It is possible to edit the Route Preferences
• It is possible to edit the Transportation Mode
• It is possible to edit and move the points around and make Shaping Points into Via Points and vice versa.
• If the routing or transport is changed, then the entire route gets recalculated, and saved with the route.
• If the above happens, it is possible to delete the route and re-import the original from the Zumo.
• Only the current section of the route will be calculated, up to the next Route Point (Via, Shaping or End)
• The new route will take into account your riding trends and trafficTrends unless these are cleared or disabled.
• The new route will use the Zumo settings for Avoidances for the routes Transport Mode.(The Avoidances set in Basecamp are not used)
• The Transportation Mode switches to Motorcycle and the route is navigated with settings from the route(In effect the route is navigates as it it were in the motorcycle cradle)
• The setting for the car cradle become ‘Motorcycle’ even after the route is stopped.
• The next time the Zumo is placed in the car cradle, the unit will switch to Motorcycle Mode.
• But it is easy enough to switch back.

jfheath said: I wrote this document over a year ago when I first got my Zumo 590. It was driving me nuts in that it didn't behave how I expected it to behave. So I tested it, tried to find out when it went wrong and why, noted apparent changes in the way that Zumo define the way in which routing points are treated during navigation. Basically, I shook it until it started behaving itself. No - that's unfair. My Zumo behaves exactly as it did before, but I understand it better, and I know how to avoid the numerous traps that present themselves between planning a route and clicking 'Go' on the Zumo. And this is what the attached document is about. Loads of screenshots to illustrate the points, and hopefully written in a way that makes it clear. The issues discussed are peculiar to the recent Zumos that have the Trip Planner App - like the 590, 595, 390, 395. But there is stuff in here that is also relevant to the way in which Mapsource and the Zumo 500 series work. This thumbnail below will download the complete pdf file with all 4 sections. (35 pages). View attachment 188812 -------------------- I've also split the document into 4 separate sections, and these are attached below: Part 1 is to do with routes and how the Zumo treats the different type of routing points when navigating. Part 2 is a complete route put together in Basecamp and getting it to work correctly in the Zumo. There is a lot to go wrong - this will fix the issues. Part 3 is a reference section for both Basecamp and the Zumo. A series of "How To" descriptions - focusing on the things that go wrong - including why the carefully planned route ends up as something different in the Zumo; how to clear those unwanted routes, favourites and trip logs; Basecamp's 'Ghost' Points; ..... stuff like that. Part 4 is new (4 Nov 2017) - I've been looking at the use of Basecamp Profiles and how the routing affects the Zumo. It is quite a detailed look at what happens when the mode changes, and where the Zumo obtains its information in order to recalculate routes. Long but quite revealing. I will post a summary at the head of this thread. Part 4 currently a separate document, and not included with the full 27 page document. (The whole lot has ended up too large to upload) (Please excuse the crude covers - for some reason, these pages display any white part of the background of the thumbnail image as black. Hence the simple single colour.) Click to expand...

Apropos of Garmin's Basecamp application, I have learned (the hard way) that routes created using Basecamp will not display or function correctly if they are uploaded from Basecamp to the Garmin 660 series navigator. The 660 series can only (successfully) import routes from the Mapsource application (the older, now deprecated Garmin map management application). There is, however, a work-around for this problem, if users prefer to create routes in Basecamp rather than Mapsource: Create the route in Basecamp, then, open MapSource, and copy the route you have created in Basecamp into Mapsource, using standard Windows copy/paste commands. Save the newly-created Mapsource file, then upload the route from Mapsource to your 660 series. The ability to do this is important for me, because I have two ST motorcycles: an older one with a Zumo 660, and a newer one with a Zumo 590. I prefer to keep all my work (routes, waypoints, track logs, etc.) in the Basecamp application because it has greater capability than the Mapsource application. Michael  

After reading through all of this information (2 or 3 times) I now have an understanding of what is going on with my NAV V with custom routes (GPX imported). But I am wondering how the Zumo 660/665 handles the "off route" recalculation: Does it also abandon the route (like the 590) and recalculate to the next Via or is it somehow sticking to the original route by recalculating to a ghost point? I have friends that I ride with that have the 660 and they sometimes have issues and I am wondering if this might be where they are getting confused. For example, if there is a detour due to road construction my understanding is that my NAV V will abandon a custom route once you leave it (the route). To avoid this, I need to set auto recalculation OFF and somehow navigate on my own back to the route where the NAV will then once again continue with the route as planned. If I don't have auto recalc OFF then it will forget my route entirely and route me to the next Via using the navigation settings on the device (fastest, curvy, etc.). Does the 660 operate in the same fashion? Or, does it somehow route back to the original route by going to the nearest ghost points?  

WillH said: After reading through all of this information (2 or 3 times) I now have an understanding of what is going on with my NAV V with custom routes (GPX imported). Click to expand...

WillH said: But I am wondering how the Zumo 660/665 handles the "off route" recalculation: Does it also abandon the route (like the 590) and recalculate to the next Via or is it somehow sticking to the original route by recalculating to a ghost point? Click to expand...

WillH said: I have friends that I ride with that have the 660 and they sometimes have issues and I am wondering if this might be where they are getting confused. For example, if there is a detour due to road construction my understanding is that my NAV V will abandon a custom route once you leave it (the route). Click to expand...

WillH said: To avoid this, I need to set auto recalculation OFF and somehow navigate on my own back to the route where the NAV will then once again continue with the route as planned. Click to expand...

WillH said: If I don't have auto recalc OFF then it will forget my route entirely and route me to the next Via using the navigation settings on the device (fastest, curvy, etc.). Click to expand...

WillH said: Does the 660 operate in the same fashion? Or, does it somehow route back to the original route by going to the nearest ghost points? Click to expand...

• Zumo 660 Behaviour.pdf 916.2 KB Views: 52

Looks like I have a lot of reading material now. Thanks for all the info. Lyle  

TomStickler

I am so glad I still have my now non-supported Microsoft Streets & Trips for route planning! I plot my desired route in S&T, set intermediate waypoints by grabbing and rubberbanding the route at critical turning points, then export as a .gpx file to my download folder in my computer. With my Zumo 550 connected to a computer in mass storage mode via USB cable (having removed the SD card before connecting), I merely drag & drop the S&T created route files from my PC to the Garmin/GPX directory in the Zumo, dismount the Zumo, disconnect it, then turn it back on. Zumo informs me that new routes have been loaded -- do I want to import them? I tick the checkboxes, Zumo calculates the routes, and offers a preview. When riding, I load the desired route. If the internal mind of the Zumo finds a little shortcut on an inadequately pinned-down route, I just ignore the turn notice -- and "recalculating!" Makes no difference if the 550 is on the bike cradle or the car cradle. No audible cues while on the bike unless I am pairing a Bluetooth earbud. The process to be able to access the entire North America is a bit of a PITA with saving to a computer, then transferring to an 8GB SD card, but right now it is working exceedingly well.  

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