My very old Garmin GPS is not usable in sunlight, will newer ones work better?

[VryGryFox]

Hi, I mounted my ~14 year old Garmin 3590 on my handlebar of my Spyder and it looked great in the garage... However, out in the sun, the screen is not usable! Uggg.

I was hoping to be able to use a GPS. Does the Garmin Zumo XT family have a bright enough screen to use on a sunny day?

 

[Woodaddict]

thats because in part the 3590 is NOT a motorcycle GPS. Its made for auto and NOT waterproof. You might be able to fashion a hood or sunshade for it, but probably NOT find a sunshade because its for inside use in auto and doubt anyone would make one

 

[Peter Aawen]

All screens will have their visibility affected by the sun to some degree, altho there's no denying that the newer GPS units are much better than the older units!

That said, if your current GPS runs up to date maps and does what you want it to do, have you thought about making/buying a shade for your existing GPS and using that instead of laying out for a new GPS?? :dontknow: Quite a few here have done that; in the large, very successfully! :thumbup:

But there will come a time when your old GPS &/or its maps are no longer supported, so you're very likely going to need to update sometime, and the Garmin Zumo XT-II's are very good GPS units for motorcyclists with much better visibility in all conditions over your older unit. hyea:

 

[KW1M]

I had the Zumo and then the newer Zumo XT -- that is noticeably brighter and worked well until I made the switch to 2024/ACP.

 

[LALoner]

My Zumo works with no problems sunlight or dark .

 

[ricford]

I'm having a hard time finding amount for the Garmin XT2. I don't even know what the strange back of the Garmin attaches to. I also can't find a mount to attach any other GPS to the bike. I searched all say the past three days and have found many devices but don't know which is the best. I could use some help finding what I need to mount the Garmin XT2.

 

[racoon]

It looks like the Zumo XT2 has the same squarish mounting plate on the back, the same as my Zumo XT. The XT2 has a bigger screen.

I found an unboxing video of the XT2, and it shows all of the mounting hardware you should need.

And the Installation chapter of the Zumo XT2 Owners Manual I found online shows how to mount it.


My 2024 Spyder has a bigger handlebar, which the brackets for my Zumo XT wouldn't fit.
So in this picture, the ring around my handlebar and the ball are parts I bought from Arkon, but the rest of the pieces are Garmin.

Note that the square plate has the protective rubber cover in place over the center where the pins are, which you have to remove before snapping the GPS into place.

 

[troop]

My Zumo XT(2) came with a square RAM ball plate. Any 1" RAM arm and 1" RAM ball mount should work. The one pictured comes in several sizes, up to 1.5" diameter bars.

 

[LALoner]

The U bolt that came with my XT 2 would not fit over the handlebar. I went to Home Depot and bought on that would fit, sprayed some plastic dip on it, and it works fine.

 

[YIRYDE]

I'm having a hard time finding amount for the Garmin XT2. I don't even know what the strange back of the Garmin attaches to. I also can't find a mount to attach any other GPS to the bike. I searched all say the past three days and have found many devices but don't know which is the best. I could use some help finding what I need to mount the Garmin XT2.

Lamonster sells items for the XT and XT2, https://www.lamonstergarage.com/z-mo-xt2-motorcycle-gps/

 

[Jetfixer]

Check out the For Sale section here. There is at least one Zumo XT2 for sale. One even comes with a Kradellock. I have the Zumo XT2 on my RTL and it is very much sunlight readable and waterproof. One of the features I really like is the ability to download what they call Birds Eye imagery. It gives you a satellite image instead of the cartoonish map. This makes it much easier to navigate in unknown territory, since you can see the actual buildings where you're riding.

 

[djh3]

Hi, I mounted my ~14 year old Garmin 3590 on my handlebar of my Spyder and it looked great in the garage... However, out in the sun, the screen is not usable! Uggg.

I was hoping to be able to use a GPS. Does the Garmin Zumo XT family have a bright enough screen to use on a sunny day?

I have a Garmin 765 that is about same vintage. I have used it for years on the bike. In settings there should be a way to brighten up display. Also you can make a "hood" that goes over it that will help. As for the waterproof, quart zip lock if need be.