Garmin XT heads up

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
I purchased a Garmin XT last summer and used the stock cradle. It worked great until it didn't. Last weekend, we were riding down the highway and all of a sudden the XP was gone. I knew where I had looked at it so I had the area it was lost. We spent the next couple of hours looking for it in along 5 miles of shoulder. Figuring it was operator error, I sucked it up and ordered a new one. When I got the new one, I put it in the cradle and it would not lock in.

I called Garmin support and have opened a ticket to see if they would replace my original unit due to a cradle failure. It is still in process so I am hoping they will do me a solid and send me a new unit. Fingers crossed.

I haven't ridden off road other than maybe 100 miles of gravel since I bought the thing.

My warning is to make sure you have a secondary failsafe in place to protect the Garmin unit. I ordered a Tourtech locking cradle (not cheap) to secure the unit for all conditions. A cheaper alternative may be the rubber band for a cell phone that goes on an X Grip.
 

fac191

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Joined
Jun 22, 2016
Messages
2,826
Location
London
Am going to get the locking unit for mine as well just to be safe. To be honest it's easy to think you have put it in right, I always try to pull it out when I clip it in just to see. It doesn't give me a lot of faith mind.
 

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
Am going to get the locking unit for mine as well just to be safe. To be honest it's easy to think you have put it in right, I always try to pull it out when I clip it in just to see. It doesn't give me a lot of faith mind.
I do too. The new unit will not snap in at all.
 

Wallkeeper

Paid Observer of drying paint and curing powder
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Aug 18, 2016
Messages
1,158
Location
Minneapolis
I am belt and suspenders guy on expensive stuff. While it is cool looking, I do not use the clip in mount. I do not like the idea of it falling out and it would be easy for someone to walk off with it.

I mounted mine in an SW Motech weather resistant, visored case then ram/lock mounted it to my accessory bar . Finally, I safety clip the case zipper to the windshield stabilizer.
IMG_0257.jpgIMG_0256.jpg
3K miles on it. Zero hassles and while it can still be stolen, it would not be easy
 

Cycledude

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Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
Have 13,000+ miles on my Zumo XT using the factory mounting system without any problems, the mount doesn’t seem as sturdy as the Zumo 595 mounting system but neither one has caused me any problems.
 

Lstayner

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Messages
72
Location
Central IA
Hmm i wonder if i could epoxy on a lanyard connection so i can terher mine to the bars....


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I looked at doing that option. I don't see anywhere on the unit that I would trust to fasten to. The back is ribbed and the top and bottom only have about a 1/2" flat surface.
 

yoyo

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Joined
Jan 30, 2016
Messages
915
Location
Swansea UK
Having moved from a Zumo 660 with a Touratech mount I wasn't overly impressed with the way the XT mounts, I used it 3 or 4 times and it seems ok so far but I've listed the 660 on ebay, as soon as it sells I'll pick up a locking mount for the XT. I'm used to walking away from the bike and not worrying about the Sat Nav and I'm going to forget about the XT!

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

gunslinger_006

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
961
Location
Seattle, Washington
Having moved from a Zumo 660 with a Touratech mount I wasn't overly impressed with the way the XT mounts, I used it 3 or 4 times and it seems ok so far but I've listed the 660 on ebay, as soon as it sells I'll pick up a locking mount for the XT. I'm used to walking away from the bike and not worrying about the Sat Nav and I'm going to forget about the XT!

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
I am the opposite. I live in a city with massive vehcile theft. Already had a guy remove and steal my topcase by kicking it with both feet while sitting on the tank. In. Broad. Daylight.

So i cant leave anything ever. It all comes off.


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B

ballisticexchris

Guest
I'm waiting for the bugs to get worked out of those units. My 595LM is amazing and I see no reason to change.
 

gunslinger_006

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
961
Location
Seattle, Washington
They all suck.

The zumo i had 10 years ago sucked and my brand new xt sucks for the same reasons:

Shit address matching: cannot resolve “se” for “south east”.

Piss poor interface.

Old school connections like emu usb.

Etc....

However: Everything else sucks worse. So its still the best choice.


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Cycledude

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Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
One thing I find really annoying with every GPS is the way so many roads that normally show up on the screen just fine disappear after You install a route to follow
 

PhilPhilippines

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Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
952
Location
Philippines
I go to google maps and put the distances and which direction on individual PostIt notes. I also go to "street view" to memorise landmarks at the turn off points and check if there are peculiarities to the junction. GPS sucks here.

NB: my funniest post yet....well, to Thais anyway. 5 in Thai is "ha" and they use it in msgs 555...
 
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fac191

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Joined
Jun 22, 2016
Messages
2,826
Location
London
I go to google maps and put the distances and which direction on individual PostIt notes. I also go to "street view" to memorise landmarks at the turn off points and check if there are peculiarities to the junction. GPS sucks here.

NB: my funniest post yet....well, to Thais anyway. 5 in Thai is "ha" and they use it in msgs 555...
Dude i dont know if you can do it where you are but in UK we can download that kind of streetview onto the XT
 

Don T

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
541
Location
Denmark
Lockable TT mount all the way.
Yes, it's expensive but to me it's worth it.
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