Hi Saffy. Never put your actual home address in any Sat Nav. The reason being if your bike (or car) gets stolen the thieves can interrogate the device to find out exactly where you live, with the added issue that you are away from home therefore the house could be uninhabited and a burglary opportunity for them.
I have the Address of my (very) local shop, 1That it guides me home with a time to home, 2 The shop has great CCTV out side, so the scum that are trying the keys to flat above will be on camera and you never know I might even be getting my milk, so I can chat to them about their career choices
Yeah… the thief will call his/her cousin in the UK, from Portugal or likewise to have travel to.. a certain „home“ adress 100 or more mls down the road, to „have go“ to „some“ place where nobody „might“ be at home.. exept for the partner, dog(s), other renting people, neighbour or whatever… The theoretical chances are bigger to get killed on a pedestrian crossing imho….
@@motolab.EuropeanMotorcycles Mate, you're missing the point. Your car or motorcycle could get nicked in your home town or city. This isn't necessarily about foreign travel. Would YOU want anyone with criminal or malicious intent to know exactly where YOU live?
That complaint part was interesting… I left the garmin hemisphere a couple of years ago and went with thork racing tablet and DMD2 . That system allows me to use google maps as well as any other android based mapping …
Brilliant, honest, lived-with-it review. I'm looking for a gps so I don't have to rely on my phone for everything. Had a borrowed Garmin for Scotland trip in September. It was useless.
Mate great review/rant hehe I’ve given up on tech maps just use paper maps and compass these days but we go to places where the tracks are grown over or changed due to logging or mining operations have a great new year budy cheers
Appreciate the review. I own the XT model and the Tread version came out right after I bought it. Really would like to upgrade for the Tread app use and the Explore tie-in. On a side note: You really should consider protecting your eyes out there in the sun. You may come to regret it when you get older if not 😉
I agree that it seems a little greedy on Garmin's part to have two separate pieces of hardware to distinguish software. I have the Zumo XT and it seems to me, would be very easy to load their off-road software onto it. The Zumo XT is also built to military standards for impact protection and durability and has the same mount as the Tread, so it does seem a bit odd that they'd make two nearly identical pieces of hardware. On the other hand, I don't have any issue charging the unit on its own (away from the motorcycle) via USB, and for the times the software needs updating. The original power cable that came with mine didn't work very well and would intermittently lose power due to some defective contact pins. I contacted Garmin and they sent a new cable to me after I took pictures of the original one, and it has worked flawlessly ever since. I really do enjoy using the Zumo XT and so far, have no regrets.
Hi Saffy, I find this a concise informative review outlining all the pitfalls and advantages of this product, however I am astonished that you chose to sit on beautiful day with a gentle breeze perfect riding weather, to film this segment ?? after last weeks video 🤯😋🤣😂🤣 lots of hugs, happy new year Saffy 🤗😘❤
There would be an in ignition supply to connect which would only be live when ignition on. It’s currently connected direct to the battery supply, hence the battery drain
Thanks for the great review, I'm now 99% certain the Tread isn't the way to go for me, due to the lack of onroad navigation, I need a device that will do both on & off. Maybe the Garmin Montana or the DMD2 system is the way to go, the search continues.
I have a Garmin Tread XL, but I still use the old Garmin Zumo 660, of which I have several cheap secondhand ones from eBay. The Tread is a good piece of kit, but it is quirky to use compared to the older Garmin SatNavs. 16:12 I find I have to use the Zumo with the Tread, because the Tread will send me down some odd cross-country routes, as it likes to take the scenic way round, rather than the most direct route, despite whatever I have set it too. I will even have Google Maps running on the mobile, as a triple check on which SatNav is taking me where I want to go. 13:05 The initial set-up of the Tread, its subsequent updates and charging have all been possible off the vehicle and via any USB C - USB A 3.1 fast data cable. I haven't needed to leave it installed in its docking mount for charging and updates to happen. However, the battery life on the Tread is abismal and it cannot be run without it being plugged into a continuous charging source. Without it being plugged in, the Tread will go into sleep mode very quickly and become unusable until it is plug back in. 10:10 To get your apps to update between the InReach and the Tread, rather than via the home / van WiFi, you'll probably need to tether both devices to your mobile, either via WiFi or via Bluetooth.
Hi Saffy, nice review. I have the Tread 2 and have had several Zumo XT/Zumo XT2 units as well as the unit Garmin made for BMW bikes. I literally just grabbed my Tread 2 off the bike in the garage and plugged it in (wall charger) and it charges just fine. You may have used a USB-C cable that was not up to snuff or a power bank that was underpowered. Many bikes have auxiliary power connections that you can use for GPS units, and are generally switched off with the ignition. There IS overlap between the Zumo XT2 and Tread 2, but they are not identical. The latter has twice the memory and comes with far greater trail and property information (at least in the US). It is basically equivalent to the Outdoor Maps+ that Garmin offers as a subscription for some units (not the Zumo series). Apart from a few motorcycle specific features on the Zumo XT2 I think of the Tread 2 as a Zumo XT2 Plus. The various third party mounts vary in design and price (but I find they do benefit from attention when used on rough roads or off road. It’s worth carrying tools as well as cable ties and possibly extra screws). There Garmin portion (base plate, fuse link, wires) is widely available and not very expensive. I think one of the top features of these devices is how tough they are , against breakage as well as dust and water ingress. The only issue I’ve had (and I think it is universal to consumer level GPS units) is difficulty using them above the Arctic Circle (and presumably the Antarctic Circle- - have not ridden there yet😊). Both the Zumo XT series and the Tread 2 have on-road navigation. You can tailor what types of roads (or trails) they will send you to in the settings. I think the use of the same case size and connection is a bonus for those moving between units or bikes, since nothing else is required. I also use a third party shade that fits both units. I also think that, if you spend some more time with the unit (and perhaps contact GPS training in Rothbury), you will discover ways to get more out of it and to avoid frustrations.
Hi Saffy. I have several Garmin sat navs with my latest being the same as yours. It CAN be charged using the supplied USB cable plugged in at home. From memory if totally flat from new leave it for a few hrs to wake up. Then disconnect - when you reconnect it shows a screen with a file transfer option & I think you come out of that & should work... I think. Once you work it out it's no problem
All this blooming modern technology. Nothing wrong with using an old school paper map, read road signs and using one’s brain! Yes I am from the fifties…..lol
In the late 80ies and 90ies I do RC car racing. To go to the competitions I need a paper map, too. I write my motorway numbers, State street numbers and the link for it on a sheet of paper additionally. Finally the street names where to go. As I start working was the same for some years. Then the first Navi (maybe 2003) arrived for cars. Working with CD. From Germany to south of Switzerland (as an example) I was forced to change two times the CD to the destination. Nowadays my TOMTOM include from Iceland to Polland, Northcap to Kroatia and much more in on device. Once in 2009 it was the very last time that it was necessary to work old school with paper maps. The lonely company car without Navi I get for one duty. The moment of the "good old days" and you know why you will never go back to this time (technic wise).
Yer me too and my grandson still keeps telling me to buy Tek for my rides. I still end up where I need to be and getting a little lost is all part of a bikers life 👍...
@@erikgeldner9593 The first GPS for cars was introduced by Mazda in 1990. I always bring paper maps. A paper map is easier and faster for general route planning on the road when on holiday or on a weekend trip. Then I enter the route into my GPS with some way points. I did some camping trips to Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France in the late seventies on my Suzuki GT550 with my girlfriend riding pillion. The main difference today is that the fuel economy is much better on my SV650. I don't need most of the technology that we have gotten since. I now have a credit card valid almost world wide but we had more banks back then. I don't need a mobile phone. Life is a bit easier in some ways today and worse in others. The nature of evolution.
Healtech Thunderbox is what you need the box wires direct to the battery all your accessories connect to the thunderbox no power is sent from the box to the accessories till the engine is running and goes off after 5 seconds or so when the engine is turned off
On the charging issue, the cable that comes with all garmin GPS is a data cable (it should have 4 pins in the connector ) specifically for use with a computer for downloading updates Etc, any ordinary type c charging lead (only 2 pins ) Should allow more rapid charging, from pretty much any phone charger at home, i have even used mine on the road with a powerbank.
If your motorcycle does not have a power outlet that turns off with the engine you can mount one. I have one from Thunder Box on my 2018 SV650. Then you don't have to remove your devices when you take a short stop.
I feel the same about my garmin XT, great bit of kit but feel garmin focus is perhaps on its aviation or sea devices .. I have no problem charging from my usb lead, maybe worth trying a XT lead? Great honest review Saffy 👍
Great Vid, Saffy. So Why don't you splice the base mount wires into your Headlight circuit, so that when the headlight goes off, the base mount also turns off ??? Stay Safe
I had a garmin. When it broke, I realised that my experience with the garmin had been (overall) a pain. I switched to my phone for navigation, and after a couple weeks of experimentation I found apps which work for me. I won't go back to garmin. (if I were to get more serious about nav, I would move to a 7" tablet, not a dedicated nav device)
I’ve had quite a few Garmin products, Satnavs, watches and gps units. The hardware is generally pretty good. Everything else from data connection to user interface to software/apps is ropy at best!
Yes! Exactly this! It's a shame because if they polished it off a little bit better in terms of cloud connectivity and the software, it would be an immense product
You can wire the power cable to a KEY ON power only wire, in this way, when you turn off the bike the battery will not be drained. I have the same unit and mine came with a MIC so I can talk with my other friends that have the same unit... That is why it has the Antenna.
Yeah, i’m glad i purchased the XT2, charges in my house, works great with the tread app and the mini works the same way with it. You should try to figure out how to wire that in so it only provides power when the ignition is turned on., or at least get the cable from quad lock that has smart technology and will only provide power if the ignition is on
I've never had an issue charging from usb cable, but It won't charge whilst completely powered off, it has to be in standby, it's designed that way. Mine also powers off in its powered mount with the ignition key, because I wired mine from the "Ignition live" not the battery live. There is a spare blanked power plug under your front fairing to connect to on the CRF300. I've also no idea why they moved away from the explore app to the tread app, explore was better. I got rid of the ball mounts too & bolted it straight to my dash on an AMPS adapter, I hate those ball mounts, they always slip, especially off-road. Tread base 2 & Zumo XT2 (not Sumo) are far better devices, the software is improved & they're more powerful (cpu) devices. I love my 'tread base', I green lane in the UK & use the full Ordinance Survey 1/25k map card, it looks great on the 5.5" screen. The Zumo XT2 is better at on-road than the tread1, and better at off-road that the ZumoXT1.
My device arrived with a completely flat battery and wouldn't charge! I swapped it out for another unit and it had the exact same fault, It was too flat to turn on and wouldn't charge. I couldn't charge it from my bike because the bike hadn't arrived and it wouldn't charge from any other device. The only way for me to get around it was to splice the cables and use a make shift plug
@SaffySprocket Happy New Year!.. I think you need to reach out to Garmin, to see if they can send you a "Garmin Tread 2 & Garmin Handlebar controller" to review, there is a serious shortage or reviews as they're so new. I've not found any video reviews & they've been out since November.
Hi Saffy, I only ever had 1 Garmin satnav and it was totally useless(too many problems to go into) so now rely on combination of TomTom and google maps depending on where i am. As for hard wiring accessories direct to the battery, that is a big NO. I use two 5 gang Wago lever connectors on my bike. One 5 gang is connected to a switched live fed through an inline 20amp fuse and the other 5 gang Wago is connected to an earthing point. That then gives you the ability to connect up to 4 accessories which you can individually use an inline fuse on the live side depending on the required current draw and, because the Wago connectors are fed from a switched live they have no power when you switch the ignition off. Simple. I could send you a wiring diagram for this if you wanted. You can buy Wago connectors from places such as CEF or online and they are very inexpensive and easy to use. I am enjoying watching you improve your offroad riding skills, very impressive and a lot off tenacity. Keep going and improving Saffy.
Morning Staffy. Very informative. Wishing you and your followers a very Happy New Year and happy safe riding throughout 2025! See yer in the next one 👍...
Happy hollydays! I've been using Garmin for more than 10 years, and yeah, Garmin hardware shines, Garmin software sucks! (try Basecamp 🙃) I am still a Garmin addict though. According to The Thread manual, you should be able to charge it from the usb. It can however take very long time if you don't turn it completely off. You turn it completely off by pressing the power button for at least 5 seconds till a question appears on the screen (this is the only way I believe). This is exactly how my two different zumos (590 &XT) on my two bikes works also.
I agree that Garmin could do better on providing value. Years ago, I bought a new bike that came with a Zumo. It had a charger, a carry case and a lockable mount for the bike. The expensive Garmin Zumo XT I bought a couple of years ago came with none of those things.
If you have devices that are wired straight to the battery you can add a relay (with proper fuses to protect everything) with the arming leg attached to a circuit that will open the relay only when the key is on. The relay may add up to an amp of load to whatever circuit you tap into, be aware of that. You can get a relay up to 30 and 50 amps cheap from an automotive parts store. Pick up some fuse holders while you're there. I use one relay for all of my direct-to-battery wired accessories. One fuse beforehand at the relay's rating. Each item connected to the output side has its own properly rated fuse. Be aware not to overload the relay, add up all the output circuits, and make sure they do not exceed the rating of the relay. It's not that difficult to install and can save you from a dead battery. No idea why manufacturers don't plan their installs better.
Not really a ' premium ' product. They may charge the premium price to make it feel special..... If it was premium, it would go something like this, buy, unbox, turn on, put bracket on bike in under a minute, go for a ride... Hope you had Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Great New Year. 👍👏🍻
@SaffySprocket really good video Saffy ^_^ one thing worth checking out is the Healtech thunderbox Saffy. I bought one for our nx500 gives you a switched power supply that is easy to fit for accessories so when you turn the bike key off it cuts the power to any devices I’ve got my zumo xt an other accessories into one so it doesn’t drain the battery :) they do two different types with more connectors, an it’s easy to remove when you buy a different bike. I’ve had it on a few bikes now.
@ you mentioned it took some damage when you dropped it but i understood that to mean it got damaged because it wasn’t secure. (Not the other way round).
So my dmd tablet setup uses an adapter that eliminates the ball joints. You should be able to do the same. That would make it more secure and you’d be putting less torque on the bar.
Garmin, you seem to buy into them and get poor return, great review... I am looking for something, took my Zumo off because of the continuous lagging and syncing... my phone is doing the job pretty well at the moment even for off road. I love the tread app but as you say the app integration isnt great.
Good review but; 1. Don't connect to your battery - use something like the Healtech Thunderbox. Power will only go to the gps after the bike is started. 2. If your mount keeps loosening it's a crap mount. There are plenty of good mounts which don't loosen.
It loosened after thr satnav hit a rock after I crashed it, it wasn't so much as "loosening" as 'impact damage'. I do think that one was more on me for coming loose but it was just a pain because I couldn't find the tools on the road to tighten it again
True (negative) points about Garmin usability. It seems they are still stuck in the 90ies with their user interface. I am gald that the Swiss Army thaught me well using a paper map an navigate by them. A good alternative, more road oriented, might by tomtom rider 550? Not perfect but ok. And Eastbound's motowinch to lift your bike Saffy. Ride safe!
Hey saffy,Major flaws maybe design indifferences..you can buy it out the box charge& update via Macdonald's WiFi with ignition off and you inside having a coffee
I stick to connecting my phone to the motorcycle 🏍 but single not great wish they would have sat nav built in Garmin is like having toast with no butter don’t work 😂
Rather than wire it straight to the battery the rally has a switched power socket at the front of the bike and 10 amps 😮 , I’ve gone down the route of buying a cheap power lead with duo usb sockets then bought a cheap car play Chinese sat nav although I keep away from trails for my rally
I have a Garmin Tread Overland. Overall it has been a disappointment. It would be nice if Garmin would contact people that own and use their products in the wild to gain feedback for improvements. I find that my Zumo XT, while far from perfect, is easier to use. It connects to my inreach mini 2 and I can load GPX files with the Drive app.
You can charge it at home but not through a usb wall charge. Turn your laptop on and charge through your laptop it will charge that’s how a charge mine.
It was plugged into my desktop pc, my battery pack, my laptop battery pack and my car charger. None of these work. The only way for me to get it up and running was to splice the cables and create a make shift plug
Map and a compass every time, plus a bit of common sense. But I learned navigation in the fifties and sixties of last century, so maybe that does not work anymore in our modern environment.
They will charge with usb if you turn it off. I did have mine so dead that you couldn’t get to the shut down screen before the battery died. When it’s on the battery drains faster than the usb will charge
Diddo!! I'm 63 so I'm not computer literate. My wife My wife gave me a new Garmin last year Christmas Love it But some of the applications are a little fiddly And you almost have to be a better idea to pull over and deal with it then It while you're riding I also carry a spiral bound Atlas of the United States with me and use google maps (yuk!)
Why would you buy this device instead of a tough case for your phone and an app? I prefer maps myself but if you go the tech route i wouldn't buy this based on your experience. Ride safe 👍
I've been using my phone as a satnav up until this point and it worked great to be fair. I used an ultimate add-ons set up. The reason I stopped was because I was almost bike-jacked at traffic lights and realised that if my bike was stolen, my phone would be stolen at the exact same time, and likely it would be unlocked when it was stolen. I have a lot to loose in terms of my social media accounts, private email, banking etc I made the decision that if I was ever robbed, I would rather lose a SatNav than my social media accounts. The other reason I stopped using my phone as a satnav is that after I came off my bike and broke my ribs, I couldn't reach my phone to call for help! Other than that, the phone is ace tbh . I suppose another way around it is to buy a second phone and use it solely as a satnav with no access to my accounts but for me, I already struggle to remember to keep my phone charged on a daily basis, I feel like it would be mission impossible with 2! With the Satnav, I just leave it on the bike all day and the battery is far better than a phone battery
I’ve had a couple of Garmin products, I will never buy another. They are a pain and difficult, expensive and have stupid issues just like you have found. Supposedly big top brand yet they seem to integrate problems. They are definitely not user friendly to complicated.
Now I understand your logic. You want us to waste our money buying one and join you in complaining about the worst piece of on-bike technology in history 🤣 I suppose if you are willing to buy an Apple product then this doesn't seem so bad. Haha. There are a number of power control units available which cut 12v to connected devices when the bike isn't charging or when the ignition is off. Except for an emergency fix, never connect anything directly to the battery unless it does its own sensing and shuts down automatically! To be fair, your negative points are enough to put off anyone who is tech-savvy from the purchase just leaving the Muggles to pay the price. Don't stop doing these kinds of reviews as your real-world experiences are invaluable. Sending love 💜
☺️ho, ho, ho. Apple hardware, windows software 💅💅💅💅 (Apple laptops are solid metal and fairly Sprocket-proof so they make fantastic field machines, but Apple OS makes me want to vomit so it's been reformated with old billy gates)
@ but it’s down to whether you wire it to a switchable power or an always on power. My ktm has both - I chose the switchable one. Don’t know what the Honda has - but unless a switchable power is connected then the Garmin can’t know if the ignition is on or off and react accordingly. I think the tread is interesting - but my Garmin xt seems to do everything the tread does (except group ride which I don’t care for). And based on your review it seems to do on road stuff better as well. Love your content - wish I was in Europe and could check out some of the places I’ve seen in your videos.
I would never buy a Garmin for motorcycle GPS, all I hear are problems about them. I use Tomtom, also not the best but at least it works most of the time.
find a switched 12volt to feed the xt2 (most easy the brake switch ) fusebox , feulpump ? Cash cows we are for sure, why did the xt1 not get the treat update/ functions (Cashflow ??) SOFTWARE TERROR All ...TO PLEASE THE STOKHOLDERS
Garmin neither care or will bother to change any of those (very valid) points. The only way they'll change anything is if every garmin user, scraps them and goes with a different company. Useful for me because I've heard nothing but negative about Garmin and I'll not touch them.
You know you're getting old when this technology fountain means nothing to you and you realise you just don't care. I have a Garmin Zumo XT on my RT (adapter plate to fit the BMW cradle) which has been flawless for the three years I've had it. Don't use anything on my dirt bike (well, Google maps on a phone buried in my jacket if I'm desperate), but then again, I haven't tried to ride it in Spain. Watching your experience I think it would be cheaper for me to pay a local guide. I enjoyed your film though. Say it as you see it. ATB
I must have a different Garmin because I can charge mine and connect it to my PC, I've never taken you for someone who would lie, so F them, stay honest
I have a Garmin Zumo. I will not buy another one when it breaks. It’s too much crap to work it. Garmin are tooooo rich check their results. They don’t care……
@ yeah you just can’t trust them. There is a video here saffy on the alternatives. And btw, so happy to see the channel pick up. Well done. Enjoying the content.
Don’t permanently wire to battery. Hardwire it into ignition so only comes on when key is turned on! You need to do ya research lol Plus wat 3 words on phone is way better than wasting money on all that shit
I use to be such a coffee snob in my youth, hand grinding my beans, brewing then at certain temps but now I'm in my granny era and I wanna enjoy my sugared milk without judgement 😂😂😂
Hi Saffy. Never put your actual home address in any Sat Nav. The reason being if your bike (or car) gets stolen the thieves can interrogate the device to find out exactly where you live, with the added issue that you are away from home therefore the house could be uninhabited and a burglary opportunity for them.
I always use my real home address for this reason. It saves on dog food.
That is an excellent point and one I didn't know about!
I have the Address of my (very) local shop, 1That it guides me home with a time to home, 2 The shop has great CCTV out side, so the scum that are trying the keys to flat above will be on camera and you never know I might even be getting my milk, so I can chat to them about their career choices
Yeah… the thief will call his/her cousin in the UK, from Portugal or likewise to have travel to.. a certain „home“ adress 100 or more mls down the road, to „have go“ to „some“ place where nobody „might“ be at home.. exept for the partner, dog(s), other renting people, neighbour or whatever…
The theoretical chances are bigger to get killed on a pedestrian crossing imho….
@@motolab.EuropeanMotorcycles Mate, you're missing the point. Your car or motorcycle could get nicked in your home town or city. This isn't necessarily about foreign travel. Would YOU want anyone with criminal or malicious intent to know exactly where YOU live?
Appreciate your candid and honest real life review
Thanks!
Wow thank you so much for your support ❤️💟
Thank you for producing such great content!
That complaint part was interesting… I left the garmin hemisphere a couple of years ago and went with thork racing tablet and DMD2 . That system allows me to use google maps as well as any other android based mapping …
Brilliant, honest, lived-with-it review. I'm looking for a gps so I don't have to rely on my phone for everything. Had a borrowed Garmin for Scotland trip in September. It was useless.
Thanks for the honest review, Saffy!
Glad you enjoyed it ❤️❤️❤️❤️
HAPPY NEW YEAR SAFFY x
Mate great review/rant hehe I’ve given up on tech maps just use paper maps and compass these days but we go to places where the tracks are grown over or changed due to logging or mining operations have a great new year budy cheers
Appreciate the review. I own the XT model and the Tread version came out right after I bought it. Really would like to upgrade for the Tread app use and the Explore tie-in.
On a side note: You really should consider protecting your eyes out there in the sun. You may come to regret it when you get older if not 😉
I agree that it seems a little greedy on Garmin's part to have two separate pieces of hardware to distinguish software. I have the Zumo XT and it seems to me, would be very easy to load their off-road software onto it. The Zumo XT is also built to military standards for impact protection and durability and has the same mount as the Tread, so it does seem a bit odd that they'd make two nearly identical pieces of hardware. On the other hand, I don't have any issue charging the unit on its own (away from the motorcycle) via USB, and for the times the software needs updating. The original power cable that came with mine didn't work very well and would intermittently lose power due to some defective contact pins. I contacted Garmin and they sent a new cable to me after I took pictures of the original one, and it has worked flawlessly ever since. I really do enjoy using the Zumo XT and so far, have no regrets.
Love this video, nicely done and no BS. Subscribed
Glad you enjoyed!
Thank you for your rants ! You just saved me from making a expensive mistake.
Hi Saffy, I find this a concise informative review outlining all the pitfalls and advantages of this product, however I am astonished that you chose to sit on beautiful day with a gentle breeze perfect riding weather, to film this segment ?? after last weeks video 🤯😋🤣😂🤣
lots of hugs, happy new year Saffy 🤗😘❤
When I filmed this, I was waiting around for the ferry and took sore to ride 😂
Nice review! Question, why did you pick the Tread over the Zumo?
There would be an in ignition supply to connect which would only be live when ignition on. It’s currently connected direct to the battery supply, hence the battery drain
Nice video. Nope i use my phone lol. If a big Tech company like Garmin cant make a usb c port to charge it then need to redesign it lol
Absolutely agree. No excuse not to use Type-C in this day and age
@@SaffySprocket which is totally strange that they'd do that when the zumo has a USB c for external charging!
Thanks for the great review, I'm now 99% certain the Tread isn't the way to go for me, due to the lack of onroad navigation, I need a device that will do both on & off.
Maybe the Garmin Montana or the DMD2 system is the way to go, the search continues.
I have a Garmin Tread XL, but I still use the old Garmin Zumo 660, of which I have several cheap secondhand ones from eBay.
The Tread is a good piece of kit, but it is quirky to use compared to the older Garmin SatNavs.
16:12
I find I have to use the Zumo with the Tread, because the Tread will send me down some odd cross-country routes, as it likes to take the scenic way round, rather than the most direct route, despite whatever I have set it too. I will even have Google Maps running on the mobile, as a triple check on which SatNav is taking me where I want to go.
13:05
The initial set-up of the Tread, its subsequent updates and charging have all been possible off the vehicle and via any USB C - USB A 3.1 fast data cable. I haven't needed to leave it installed in its docking mount for charging and updates to happen.
However, the battery life on the Tread is abismal and it cannot be run without it being plugged into a continuous charging source. Without it being plugged in, the Tread will go into sleep mode very quickly and become unusable until it is plug back in.
10:10
To get your apps to update between the InReach and the Tread, rather than via the home / van WiFi, you'll probably need to tether both devices to your mobile, either via WiFi or via Bluetooth.
Hi Saffy, nice review. I have the Tread 2 and have had several Zumo XT/Zumo XT2 units as well as the unit Garmin made for BMW bikes. I literally just grabbed my Tread 2 off the bike in the garage and plugged it in (wall charger) and it charges just fine. You may have used a USB-C cable that was not up to snuff or a power bank that was underpowered.
Many bikes have auxiliary power connections that you can use for GPS units, and are generally switched off with the ignition.
There IS overlap between the Zumo XT2 and Tread 2, but they are not identical. The latter has twice the memory and comes with far greater trail and property information (at least in the US). It is basically equivalent to the Outdoor Maps+ that Garmin offers as a subscription for some units (not the Zumo series). Apart from a few motorcycle specific features on the Zumo XT2 I think of the Tread 2 as a Zumo XT2 Plus.
The various third party mounts vary in design and price (but I find they do benefit from attention when used on rough roads or off road. It’s worth carrying tools as well as cable ties and possibly extra screws). There Garmin portion (base plate, fuse link, wires) is widely available and not very expensive. I think one of the top features of these devices is how tough they are , against breakage as well as dust and water ingress. The only issue I’ve had (and I think it is universal to consumer level GPS units) is difficulty using them above the Arctic Circle (and presumably the Antarctic Circle- - have not ridden there yet😊).
Both the Zumo XT series and the Tread 2 have on-road navigation. You can tailor what types of roads (or trails) they will send you to in the settings.
I think the use of the same case size and connection is a bonus for those moving between units or bikes, since nothing else is required. I also use a third party shade that fits both units.
I also think that, if you spend some more time with the unit (and perhaps contact GPS training in Rothbury), you will discover ways to get more out of it and to avoid frustrations.
Saffy, how about the Zumo XT2?
I don't own it yet, but I can pick one up and review it after my new bike arrives!
Hi Saffy. I have several Garmin sat navs with my latest being the same as yours. It CAN be charged using the supplied USB cable plugged in at home. From memory if totally flat from new leave it for a few hrs to wake up. Then disconnect - when you reconnect it shows a screen with a file transfer option & I think you come out of that & should work... I think. Once you work it out it's no problem
It didn't charge and it specifically states in the tread instructions that it doesn't charge via USB
All this blooming modern technology.
Nothing wrong with using an old school paper map, read road signs and using one’s brain!
Yes I am from the fifties…..lol
In the late 80ies and 90ies I do RC car racing. To go to the competitions I need a paper map, too. I write my motorway numbers, State street numbers and the link for it on a sheet of paper additionally. Finally the street names where to go. As I start working was the same for some years.
Then the first Navi (maybe 2003) arrived for cars. Working with CD. From Germany to south of Switzerland (as an example) I was forced to change two times the CD to the destination.
Nowadays my TOMTOM include from Iceland to Polland, Northcap to Kroatia and much more in on device.
Once in 2009 it was the very last time that it was necessary to work old school with paper maps. The lonely company car without Navi I get for one duty.
The moment of the "good old days" and you know why you will never go back to this time (technic wise).
Yer me too and my grandson still keeps telling me to buy Tek for my rides. I still end up where I need to be and getting a little lost is all part of a bikers life 👍...
@@leswatson8563 never lost, just discovering places you have not been before.
@@erikgeldner9593 The first GPS for cars was introduced by Mazda in 1990. I always bring paper maps. A paper map is easier and faster for general route planning on the road when on holiday or on a weekend trip. Then I enter the route into my GPS with some way points. I did some camping trips to Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France in the late seventies on my Suzuki GT550 with my girlfriend riding pillion. The main difference today is that the fuel economy is much better on my SV650. I don't need most of the technology that we have gotten since. I now have a credit card valid almost world wide but we had more banks back then. I don't need a mobile phone. Life is a bit easier in some ways today and worse in others. The nature of evolution.
Thank you for you advice and experiences. I will be getting my Honda 300 Rally delivered in 4 days then i will be off traveling my self .
Healtech Thunderbox is what you need the box wires direct to the battery all your accessories connect to the thunderbox no power is sent from the box to the accessories till the engine is running and goes off after 5 seconds or so when the engine is turned off
22:23
Your critical reviews are good.
Thank you so much 😊😊😊😊😊😊 I was a bit worried I may be too critical 😅
On the charging issue, the cable that comes with all garmin GPS is a data cable (it should have 4 pins in the connector ) specifically for use with a computer for downloading updates Etc, any ordinary type c charging lead (only 2 pins ) Should allow more rapid charging, from pretty much any phone charger at home, i have even used mine on the road with a powerbank.
If your motorcycle does not have a power outlet that turns off with the engine you can mount one. I have one from Thunder Box on my 2018 SV650. Then you don't have to remove your devices when you take a short stop.
I feel the same about my garmin XT, great bit of kit but feel garmin focus is perhaps on its aviation or sea devices .. I have no problem charging from my usb lead, maybe worth trying a XT lead? Great honest review Saffy 👍
Great Vid, Saffy. So Why don't you splice the base mount wires into your Headlight circuit, so that when the headlight goes off, the base mount also turns off ???
Stay Safe
This bike was a temporary loan for 6 weeks :)
I use my Zumo XT2 for off-road from what I can see it does everything the tread does and it charges via the supplied usb cable 😊
I had a garmin. When it broke, I realised that my experience with the garmin had been (overall) a pain. I switched to my phone for navigation, and after a couple weeks of experimentation I found apps which work for me. I won't go back to garmin.
(if I were to get more serious about nav, I would move to a 7" tablet, not a dedicated nav device)
Saffy doesn't the garmen tread xl have off road on it.
It's off-road by default, it's on road really badly
As an alternative for charging-don't plug into a home USB socket use a power bank and it will power up fairly quickly. Good luck
I’ve had quite a few Garmin products, Satnavs, watches and gps units. The hardware is generally pretty good. Everything else from data connection to user interface to software/apps is ropy at best!
Yes! Exactly this! It's a shame because if they polished it off a little bit better in terms of cloud connectivity and the software, it would be an immense product
You can wire the power cable to a KEY ON power only wire, in this way, when you turn off the bike the battery will not be drained. I have the same unit and mine came with a MIC so I can talk with my other friends that have the same unit... That is why it has the Antenna.
Yeah, i’m glad i purchased the XT2, charges in my house, works great with the tread app and the mini works the same way with it. You should try to figure out how to wire that in so it only provides power when the ignition is turned on., or at least get the cable from quad lock that has smart technology and will only provide power if the ignition is on
I've never had an issue charging from usb cable, but It won't charge whilst completely powered off, it has to be in standby, it's designed that way.
Mine also powers off in its powered mount with the ignition key, because I wired mine from the "Ignition live" not the battery live.
There is a spare blanked power plug under your front fairing to connect to on the CRF300.
I've also no idea why they moved away from the explore app to the tread app, explore was better.
I got rid of the ball mounts too & bolted it straight to my dash on an AMPS adapter, I hate those ball mounts, they always slip, especially off-road.
Tread base 2 & Zumo XT2 (not Sumo) are far better devices, the software is improved & they're more powerful (cpu) devices.
I love my 'tread base', I green lane in the UK & use the full Ordinance Survey 1/25k map card, it looks great on the 5.5" screen.
The Zumo XT2 is better at on-road than the tread1, and better at off-road that the ZumoXT1.
My device arrived with a completely flat battery and wouldn't charge! I swapped it out for another unit and it had the exact same fault, It was too flat to turn on and wouldn't charge. I couldn't charge it from my bike because the bike hadn't arrived and it wouldn't charge from any other device. The only way for me to get around it was to splice the cables and use a make shift plug
@SaffySprocket Happy New Year!.. I think you need to reach out to Garmin, to see if they can send you a "Garmin Tread 2 & Garmin Handlebar controller" to review, there is a serious shortage or reviews as they're so new.
I've not found any video reviews & they've been out since November.
Hi Saffy, I only ever had 1 Garmin satnav and it was totally useless(too many problems to go into) so now rely on combination of TomTom and google maps depending on where i am. As for hard wiring accessories direct to the battery, that is a big NO. I use two 5 gang Wago lever connectors on my bike. One 5 gang is connected to a switched live fed through an inline 20amp fuse and the other 5 gang Wago is connected to an earthing point. That then gives you the ability to connect up to 4 accessories which you can individually use an inline fuse on the live side depending on the required current draw and, because the Wago connectors are fed from a switched live they have no power when you switch the ignition off. Simple. I could send you a wiring diagram for this if you wanted. You can buy Wago connectors from places such as CEF or online and they are very inexpensive and easy to use. I am enjoying watching you improve your offroad riding skills, very impressive and a lot off tenacity. Keep going and improving Saffy.
Morning Staffy. Very informative. Wishing you and your followers a very Happy New Year and happy safe riding throughout 2025! See yer in the next one 👍...
Happy new year! Hope you have a great one!
Appreciate it Saffy 🙏👍
Sad to see that you feel intimidated by people opposed to your right to have an opinion.
The consequences of being bullied by others unfortunately 😂
Used garmin and hated it. Now using DMD2 and never turn back. Give it a try!
Happy hollydays! I've been using Garmin for more than 10 years, and yeah, Garmin hardware shines, Garmin software sucks! (try Basecamp 🙃) I am still a Garmin addict though. According to The Thread manual, you should be able to charge it from the usb. It can however take very long time if you don't turn it completely off. You turn it completely off by pressing the power button for at least 5 seconds till a question appears on the screen (this is the only way I believe). This is exactly how my two different zumos (590 &XT) on my two bikes works also.
😂 Garmin software sucks but they have us hook and lined for sure 😂😂😂 I'm probably one of their biggest cash cows 🐮🐄
I agree that Garmin could do better on providing value. Years ago, I bought a new bike that came with a Zumo. It had a charger, a carry case and a lockable mount for the bike. The expensive Garmin Zumo XT I bought a couple of years ago came with none of those things.
If you have devices that are wired straight to the battery you can add a relay (with proper fuses to protect everything) with the arming leg attached to a circuit that will open the relay only when the key is on. The relay may add up to an amp of load to whatever circuit you tap into, be aware of that. You can get a relay up to 30 and 50 amps cheap from an automotive parts store. Pick up some fuse holders while you're there. I use one relay for all of my direct-to-battery wired accessories. One fuse beforehand at the relay's rating. Each item connected to the output side has its own properly rated fuse. Be aware not to overload the relay, add up all the output circuits, and make sure they do not exceed the rating of the relay.
It's not that difficult to install and can save you from a dead battery.
No idea why manufacturers don't plan their installs better.
Not really a ' premium ' product. They may charge the premium price to make it feel special.....
If it was premium, it would go something like this, buy, unbox, turn on, put bracket on bike in under a minute, go for a ride...
Hope you had Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Great New Year.
👍👏🍻
That's the exact way I feel! Premium products should be ready to plug and play immediately. (And happy new year to you too!)
Great video... however I find my xt2 from garmin has none of these issues... can charge by usb, can quickly download maps and yes set up was quicker
Thanks so much for sharing this Saffy super appreciated ^_^
Glad you enjoyed it 💗
@SaffySprocket really good video Saffy ^_^
one thing worth checking out is the Healtech thunderbox Saffy.
I bought one for our nx500 gives you a switched power supply that is easy to fit for accessories so when you turn the bike key off it cuts the power to any devices I’ve got my zumo xt an other accessories into one so it doesn’t drain the battery :)
they do two different types with more connectors, an it’s easy to remove when you buy a different bike. I’ve had it on a few bikes now.
That clamp mount doesn’t look quite right saff. Shouldn’t wobble like that surely? 🤔
It's because I crashed it and didn't bring tools to fix it :) I think I mentioned it in the video (or did I edit that out?)
@ you mentioned it took some damage when you dropped it but i understood that to mean it got damaged because it wasn’t secure. (Not the other way round).
So my dmd tablet setup uses an adapter that eliminates the ball joints. You should be able to do the same. That would make it more secure and you’d be putting less torque on the bar.
Garmin, you seem to buy into them and get poor return, great review... I am looking for something, took my Zumo off because of the continuous lagging and syncing... my phone is doing the job pretty well at the moment even for off road. I love the tread app but as you say the app integration isnt great.
Good review but;
1. Don't connect to your battery - use something like the Healtech Thunderbox. Power will only go to the gps after the bike is started.
2. If your mount keeps loosening it's a crap mount. There are plenty of good mounts which don't loosen.
It loosened after thr satnav hit a rock after I crashed it, it wasn't so much as "loosening" as 'impact damage'. I do think that one was more on me for coming loose but it was just a pain because I couldn't find the tools on the road to tighten it again
True (negative) points about Garmin usability. It seems they are still stuck in the 90ies with their user interface. I am gald that the Swiss Army thaught me well using a paper map an navigate by them.
A good alternative, more road oriented, might by tomtom rider 550? Not perfect but ok.
And Eastbound's motowinch to lift your bike Saffy. Ride safe!
Hey saffy,Major flaws maybe design indifferences..you can buy it out the box charge& update via Macdonald's WiFi with ignition off and you inside having a coffee
Sounds like everything a Garmin Zumo can do. That is not as expensive. The zumo in the inreach mini 2 also can be used together.
Garmin i was told always got them lost Saffy ?
Don't think I can get more lost than I usually do to be fair 😅😂 you defo need to pay attention to it more than a satnav
I stick to connecting my phone to the motorcycle 🏍 but single not great wish they would have sat nav built in Garmin is like having toast with no butter don’t work 😂
Rather than wire it straight to the battery the rally has a switched power socket at the front of the bike and 10 amps 😮 , I’ve gone down the route of buying a cheap power lead with duo usb sockets then bought a cheap car play Chinese sat nav although I keep away from trails for my rally
I have a Garmin Tread Overland. Overall it has been a disappointment. It would be nice if Garmin would contact people that own and use their products in the wild to gain feedback for improvements. I find that my Zumo XT, while far from perfect, is easier to use. It connects to my inreach mini 2 and I can load GPX files with the Drive app.
You can charge it at home but not through a usb wall charge. Turn your laptop on and charge through your laptop it will charge that’s how a charge mine.
It was plugged into my desktop pc, my battery pack, my laptop battery pack and my car charger. None of these work. The only way for me to get it up and running was to splice the cables and create a make shift plug
A switched live feed won’t drain your battery.
Except it did 😂
That's weird, my xt2 charges with a USB lead in back of my iMac..... !
Map and a compass every time, plus a bit of common sense. But I learned navigation in the fifties and sixties of last century, so maybe that does not work anymore in our modern environment.
They will charge with usb if you turn it off. I did have mine so dead that you couldn’t get to the shut down screen before the battery died. When it’s on the battery drains faster than the usb will charge
Diddo!! I'm 63 so I'm not computer literate. My wife My wife gave me a new Garmin last year Christmas Love it But some of the applications are a little fiddly And you almost have to be a better idea to pull over and deal with it then It while you're riding I also carry a spiral bound Atlas of the United States with me and use google maps (yuk!)
Why would you buy this device instead of a tough case for your phone and an app?
I prefer maps myself but if you go the tech route i wouldn't buy this based on your experience.
Ride safe 👍
I've been using my phone as a satnav up until this point and it worked great to be fair. I used an ultimate add-ons set up. The reason I stopped was because I was almost bike-jacked at traffic lights and realised that if my bike was stolen, my phone would be stolen at the exact same time, and likely it would be unlocked when it was stolen. I have a lot to loose in terms of my social media accounts, private email, banking etc I made the decision that if I was ever robbed, I would rather lose a SatNav than my social media accounts. The other reason I stopped using my phone as a satnav is that after I came off my bike and broke my ribs, I couldn't reach my phone to call for help!
Other than that, the phone is ace tbh . I suppose another way around it is to buy a second phone and use it solely as a satnav with no access to my accounts but for me, I already struggle to remember to keep my phone charged on a daily basis, I feel like it would be mission impossible with 2! With the Satnav, I just leave it on the bike all day and the battery is far better than a phone battery
@SaffySprocket good point about the theft potential.
2nd phone is a good idea, as most people have on old one lying around somewhere.
Ride safe 👍
I’ve had a couple of Garmin products, I will never buy another. They are a pain and difficult, expensive and have stupid issues just like you have found. Supposedly big top brand yet they seem to integrate problems. They are definitely not user friendly to complicated.
Totally agree
Name and shame Saffy. They're getting too greedy.
The market needs a couple of competitors to start a price war
Review slash rant 😂😂
Sometimes you just gotta rant 😂
Now I understand your logic. You want us to waste our money buying one and join you in complaining about the worst piece of on-bike technology in history 🤣 I suppose if you are willing to buy an Apple product then this doesn't seem so bad. Haha. There are a number of power control units available which cut 12v to connected devices when the bike isn't charging or when the ignition is off. Except for an emergency fix, never connect anything directly to the battery unless it does its own sensing and shuts down automatically! To be fair, your negative points are enough to put off anyone who is tech-savvy from the purchase just leaving the Muggles to pay the price. Don't stop doing these kinds of reviews as your real-world experiences are invaluable. Sending love 💜
☺️ho, ho, ho. Apple hardware, windows software 💅💅💅💅 (Apple laptops are solid metal and fairly Sprocket-proof so they make fantastic field machines, but Apple OS makes me want to vomit so it's been reformated with old billy gates)
@@SaffySprocket They all try and lock you in. Apple is just a little higher on my wickedness scale 💜
The battery drain thing is only because you’ve wired it in wrong.
I followed the instruction manual, so if it's wrong, the manual is wrong
@ but it’s down to whether you wire it to a switchable power or an always on power. My ktm has both - I chose the switchable one. Don’t know what the Honda has - but unless a switchable power is connected then the Garmin can’t know if the ignition is on or off and react accordingly.
I think the tread is interesting - but my Garmin xt seems to do everything the tread does (except group ride which I don’t care for). And based on your review it seems to do on road stuff better as well.
Love your content - wish I was in Europe and could check out some of the places I’ve seen in your videos.
@16:20 brilliant that will suit you down to 'T' as your are always taking the weidest of minor roads leading to NOWHERE.
I would never buy a Garmin for motorcycle GPS, all I hear are problems about them. I use Tomtom, also not the best but at least it works most of the time.
find a switched 12volt to feed the xt2 (most easy the brake switch )
fusebox , feulpump ?
Cash cows we are for sure, why did the xt1 not get the treat update/ functions
(Cashflow ??)
SOFTWARE TERROR
All ...TO PLEASE THE STOKHOLDERS
Maybe they updated it after my complaint email I sent them a few weeks back 😂😂😂😂
Garmin need to listen to this and get a grip.
😂 I'm full of wisdom me
@@SaffySprocketHear! Hear! Wise young saffron.
Garmin neither care or will bother to change any of those (very valid) points. The only way they'll change anything is if every garmin user, scraps them and goes with a different company.
Useful for me because I've heard nothing but negative about Garmin and I'll not touch them.
You know you're getting old when this technology fountain means nothing to you and you realise you just don't care. I have a Garmin Zumo XT on my RT (adapter plate to fit the BMW cradle) which has been flawless for the three years I've had it. Don't use anything on my dirt bike (well, Google maps on a phone buried in my jacket if I'm desperate), but then again, I haven't tried to ride it in Spain. Watching your experience I think it would be cheaper for me to pay a local guide. I enjoyed your film though. Say it as you see it. ATB
I must have a different Garmin because I can charge mine and connect it to my PC, I've never taken you for someone who would lie, so F them, stay honest
Which one do you have? I have the Garmin Tread
@@SaffySprocket Zumo XT
I have a Garmin Zumo. I will not buy another one when it breaks. It’s too much crap to work it. Garmin are tooooo rich check their results. They don’t care……
When you really need it garmin will screw you over. Every time I have been in the sh*t it’s because of garmin. No more for me.
😂 I learnt that the hard way the day I got stuck on the mountain
@ yeah you just can’t trust them. There is a video here saffy on the alternatives. And btw, so happy to see the channel pick up. Well done. Enjoying the content.
You pay £60 a month for InReach? That's a ripoff. I pay less for a full Iridium Satellite phone. With that I can call anyone and everyone can call me.
That thing is overpriced. Full stop. Look at Willem Avenant´s navigation tablet. It probably blows the Garmin right out off the water.
Don’t permanently wire to battery. Hardwire it into ignition so only comes on when key is turned on!
You need to do ya research lol
Plus wat 3 words on phone is way better than wasting money on all that shit
StarBucks = Uggg expensive sugar drinks.
Seems like the Garmin Tread is a piece of junk.
I never put my home address in any GPS,...
I use to be such a coffee snob in my youth, hand grinding my beans, brewing then at certain temps but now I'm in my granny era and I wanna enjoy my sugared milk without judgement 😂😂😂
You are too kind to them.🧐
Is it just me who finds the expression ‘a little bit of a ball ache’ to sound just the tiniest little bit totally weird coming from a woman? 😂
Buy a cheap phone and use that for navigation.
Garmin products have always been terrible. A £50 Android device will out perform it
I use to use my phone but stopped since it's my back up sat nav / call for help
@@SaffySprocket just get a second phone.. still cheaper and you can make calls if you lose or break one.
:)