Garmin Zumo 220: A Well-Rounded, Rugged Motorcycle GPS Unit

The Zumo 220 comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen that resists reflections decently but offers disappointing off-axis viewing; details become hard to see. The screen feels pleasant to the touch, but a small lip on the front of the unit could present challenges in reaching corner icons while wearing gloves. In general, though, operating the unit with gloves was just as effective as using a finger or stylus.

The exterior of this motorcycle GPS can withstand weather, road grime and fuel splashes without a problem. The IPX waterproof rating of 7 indicates that it can be immersed in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes with no damage, although the same can't be said for the rest of the bike.

The Garmin Zumo 220 includes mounts for use in a motorcycle or car. The former uses a U-bolt and bracket system, and the latter offers a cradle and ball mount plus suction cup. Both systems proved easy to install, and transferring the unit from one vehicle was relatively quick and painless.

With large text and bright colors, the interface is easy to understand after a quick glance. The well-designed menu system makes navigating simple, but the keyboard feels a bit awkward because it's arranged alphabetically rather than following the typical QWERTY pattern of computer keyboards. During driving, the custom routes, quick re-calculations and lane guidance worked well and felt easy to operate. A digital fuel gauge tracks how far you've travelled and warns you when you'll need to refuel soon, which is a handy feature for motorcycles that lack a fuel gauge.