[brightonrider]

Just bought a new Garmin Zumo 550 GPS.
Thought I could power it with the cigarette lighter like I did with my Nuvi.
Turns out the adapter that comes with it only works in the automobile mount...bummer!
Any way to get around this?
If not what's the easiest way to wire it up...I'm not too mechanically competent.
Thanks.
RonC

 

[dklanecky]

Nuvi 550

I had a similar issue with my Nuvi 550, I could power my cigarette lighter element from the lighter plug, but not the Nuvi or the Satellite Radio either.

I asked the dealer why it wouldn't work. They took the fairing off and switched the wires on the back of the lighter plug, and now everything works from the lighter plug.

Apparently the lighter element doesn't care about polarity but everything else does.

 

[cincyMAT]

Use the cable that comes with the 550 and an adapter from Harley that connects to the spare accessory connector under the seat in front of the battery. Doing this allows the power to turn on and off via the accessory switch on the dash. It's not too hard to do.

Harley Part number is 91843-97

 

[RoadGlideRider]

What is the difference between the 550 and the 650? (Or even the 600?)

 

[dklanecky]

Use the cable that comes with the 550 and an adapter from Harley that connects to the spare accessory connector under the seat in front of the battery. Doing this allows the power to turn on and off via the accessory switch on the dash. It's not too hard to do.

Harley Part number is 91843-97

This part number is just an extra accessory lighter socket, right? I hard wired my Nuvi 550 directly to the back side of the stock cigarette lighter using butt slices and shrink tubing. Very easy to do, and provides a nice solid connection, while the lighter plug is still available on the outside of the fairing. The step down voltage box is just siliconed to the upper part of the inside fairing,plenty of room up in there on the sides.

 

[dklanecky]

What is the difference between the 550 and the 650? (Or even the 600?)

Mostly price, but there is a significant tradeoff in features. The Nuvi 550 has a price of about $260. The 500-550 were some fo the original Nuvi's that work on motorcycles,and were flagged in the Garmin Product list as "motorcycle friendly" meaning primarily waterproof,and have the ability to sort multiple destinations. I like mine a lot.especially for the cost.

 

[cincyMAT]

This part number is just an extra accessory lighter socket, right? I hard wired my Nuvi 550 directly to the back side of the stock cigarette lighter using butt slices and shrink tubing. Very easy to do, and provides a nice solid connection, while the lighter plug is still available on the outside of the fairing. The step down voltage box is just siliconed to the upper part of the inside fairing,plenty of room up in there on the sides.

That's right, I didn't use the lighter socket part of the kit. Just the connector and wires. I like being able to shut it off via the accessory switch. The step down transformer can fit in the plastic wire way under the fuel tank.

Mark
09 FLTR

 

[FLTRI]

I wired mine right to the empty hot and ground wire near the headlight wires. It's there for the international bikes, I think. It's switched with the ignition. Hot when running and accessory, off when well, off... All I had to do was put a couple of spade connectors on the Garmin wiring harness. Quick. Simple, easily removable and no cutting or splicing of the factory wires.

The hardest part is wrestling the fairing back on. The easiest way is to pull the headlamp assembly, put the fairing on, and snap in the headlamps. Pretty common trick for a Road Glide...

You're gonna love it, BTW. It's a great GPS!

 

[Wes10RG]

Just bought a new Garmin Zumo 550 GPS.
Thought I could power it with the cigarette lighter like I did with my Nuvi.
Turns out the adapter that comes with it only works in the automobile mount...bummer!
Any way to get around this?
If not what's the easiest way to wire it up...I'm not too mechanically competent.
Thanks.
RonC

I bought a Nuvi and have only had it on my bike one or two times and it's found a happy home in my car. Been thinking about getting a Zumo for the bike, how do you like it vs the Nuvi?

 

[HoMa506]

I wired mine right to the empty hot and ground wire near the headlight wires. It's there for the international bikes, I think. It's switched with the ignition. Hot when running and accessory, off when well, off... All I had to do was put a couple of spade connectors on the Garmin wiring harness. Quick. Simple, easily removable and no cutting or splicing of the factory wires.

The hardest part is wrestling the fairing back on. The easiest way is to pull the headlamp assembly, put the fairing on, and snap in the headlamps. Pretty common trick for a Road Glide...

You're gonna love it, BTW. It's a great GPS!

THANK YOU! Out of all the different ways I've been reading about how to wire this up THIS was the easiest. I saw the big red plastic cap next to a black wire. I took a hot wire probe to confirm, rough wired it for a function check and everything was good to go. Sealed the job with the spade connectors and shrink tubing then reinstalled the fairing.

 

[FLTRI]

THANK YOU! Out of all the different ways I've been reading about how to wire this up THIS was the easiest. I saw the big red plastic cap next to a black wire. I took a hot wire probe to confirm, rough wired it for a function check and everything was good to go. Sealed the job with the spade connectors and shrink tubing then reinstalled the fairing.

Cool, glad it worked out. It's pretty easy to do, and makes it easy to remove when you swap bikes.

 

[roadkingedout]

Mostly price, but there is a significant tradeoff in features. The Nuvi 550 has a price of about $260. The 500-550 were some fo the original Nuvi's that work on motorcycles,and were flagged in the Garmin Product list as "motorcycle friendly" meaning primarily waterproof,and have the ability to sort multiple destinations. I like mine a lot.especially for the cost.

Where can i find a 550 for $260?
thanks

 

[FLTRI]

Where can i find a 550 for $260?
thanks

Old thread.

They are no longer being made and are in demand. The dual sport crowd loves them, as they are more rugged than the 660/665's are. I have a buddy that still has an old 550. Another buddy that dual sports, is up to $450 and he only wants the head unit. Buddy #1 won't sell it to buddy #2...

So yeah, good luck finding a 550 these days for under $500....

 

[Wharf Rat]

I bought a Nuvi and have only had it on my bike one or two times and it's found a happy home in my car. Been thinking about getting a Zumo for the bike, how do you like it vs the Nuvi?

I originally bought my Nuvi (cost all of $125) to use in my truck. I bought the RAM parts and swapped between truck and Glide. New car has integrated nav, so the Nuvi stays on the scoot.
Just can't justify the cost of replacing it. It's been everywhere, man. It's crossed the desert's bare, man. It's breathed the mountain air, man. Of travel it's had its share, man. It's been everywhere.

 

[DennisT]

If the Zumo 550 has a USB cord that goes to the computer, buy a lighter plug that has USB slots.