Garmin Zumo 396 Lmt-s Navigator Motorcycle Gps Review
Date reviewed: June 2018 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £349.99 | https://buy.garmin.com
Garmin'south new 396 LMT-S and 346 LMT-S are rugged saturday-navs with a iv.3" display designed for motorcycle use, with features including WiFi updating, adventurous routing, live traffic, speed cameras and weather, as well as notifications from your phone.
I've been using the 396 over many journeys – information technology costs £50 more the 346, simply comes with mapping of total Europe rather than only Western Europe, and includes a car mountain…
Features and mapping included
The Zumo 396 LMT-S includes 'lifetime' maps giving full coverage of Europe – this means that for the 'useful life of the device', and as long as you update it at least every two years, the maps that came with your device will be updated for free. If you buy any further maps, these volition exist a 1-off buy and won't include free updates (worth bearing in mind if yous cull the cheaper 346, which has Western Europe only), or if you're planning to use it in elsewhere in the globe.
A Ram mount organization is included for fitting to your bike's handlebars, besides as a bracket with suction loving cup for your machine.
Features include:
• Alive traffic data
• Media player
• Notifications from your smartphone
• Make and receive calls from your phone when connected to a Bluetooth headset
• Alive weather throughout your route
• 'Adventurous routing' for journeys taking in curvy, hilly roads and avoiding highways
• Switchable alerts when approaching precipitous curves, speed cameras, rail and animate being crossings, schools and slower traffic
• Incident notification, to alert the contact of your selection in the effect of a crash by sending them a link to your location (requires smartphone connection)
• Switchable fatigue warnings that offer you suggested stops nearby
• Ability to avert specific areas and roads when planning routes
• Fuel notifications and route planning based on your predicted fuel economic system
• Trip Advisor app congenital in tin can requite overall ratings of nearby restaurants, hotels and things to do
• Foursquare app for a list of restaurants and things to do nearby
The supplied mounting kit allows you to fit the Garmin to practically whatever bike, though the wiring tin can be a little bit fourth dimension consuming to install
Mounting to the bike
A Ram mountain kit is supplied, which should allow the Garmin to be fitted to pretty well any bike. The power cablevision needs to be run through your motorcar before screwing into the mountain, and in that location aren't whatever ring connectors on the cable to fit to your battery terminals, so you'll demand to add some yourself if not wiring into an ignition-switched supply.
Near the supply finish of the cablevision is a fuse, and a box that steps the 12V battery power down to 5V – information technology'southward not besides bulky, just you do need to find infinite for it. At that place'southward also a suppressor on the cable, which adds a piffling to the majority. Plumbing equipment requires a small PH0 screwdriver and a PH2, as well equally 7mm and 11mm spanners.
It's a shame Garmin doesn't offer a locking bracket for the 396, but an aftermarket manufacturer is sure to produce one – it gives peace of mind when yous popular in to pay for fuel.
Connecting to a smartphone gives live traffic and many other features for very piddling data use
Set-up and updating
Setting upwards and updating is very easy thanks to the 396 LMT-South having WiFi congenital in. I turned information technology on, connected information technology to my wireless router and plugged it into a USB charger to have everything update itself – a lot less hassle and much quicker than downloading maps to the computer, and so having to upload them to the device.
A smartphone app for iOS or Android is required to display to the traffic data and weather. Y'all can register and update the sabbatum-nav using the app, only I establish information technology just every bit easy on the device itself.
Being able to control music from the device is a great feature
Touchscreen sensitivity
The traditional touch screen is responsive regardless of what gloves you're wearing. Some of the buttons (like the one to shut notification windows) tin exist a picayune small, merely you lot before long develop a deft bear on for the right place.
Like other devices, many of the menu items tin can also exist scrolled, and so y'all need to rest your hand on the device every bit yous click, to prevent your finger shaking and moving the choice, rather than activating it.
The display is easy to read in most lighting conditions
Display layout & clarity
The Garmin uses the same layout as has been on its devices for many years – much of the information can exist customised, and the left sidebar can display a range of different options, including height, traffic and other items similar fuel ahead, trip data, weather, phone and the media role player.
Being a traditional touch-screen, rather than the capacitive screen used in your smartphone, the brandish lacks a piddling dissimilarity. On the road, it needs to be at full brightness, but then it tin be easily read in most atmospheric condition; only with the sun backside you on a articulate day does it wash out fully.
The text is clear and easy to read, fifty-fifty when wearing my long-distance spectacles (which run across me struggle close-up with some other devices), and much of the displayed data can be customised.
Waterproofing
The Garmin is well sealed from the atmospheric condition, and never caused me any issues while riding in the rain. The screen is completely unaffected by water, regardless of how heavy information technology is, so you can confidently utilize the 396 in all weathers.
Ease of route planning
Destinations are hands programmed, and the keyboard can be displayed with minor keys across 1 screen, or with ii pages showing larger keys. Choosing a route is quick and piece of cake, though information technology won't programme until there are satellites – this is irritating if trying to set the device up indoors earlier leaving, and especially so at difficult locations similar airport car parks. One time satellites are found, the route will be planned, but other devices volition plan a route based on the last known location, adapting it as necessary when connectedness is re-established, which also gives y'all a chance to modify information technology if yous need to.
Switching to 'GPS simulation' in options allows y'all to fully plan a route, but this turns off GPS, so you demand to go dorsum into options to switch information technology back on before you ride. You can however set one up by going to the 'Trip Planner' app, where you lot tin can save planned routes.
The 'apps' carte gives access to a huge range of options
The Garmin recognises when information technology'southward in a bike mount, automatically selecting the bike profile – auto, motorcycle and off-road profiles are built in, which impact the default route planning, map view, tools displayed, avoidances and off-route recalculation modes. Modes can too be inverse by clicking the pocket-size vehicle icon at the top of the chief menu screen.
Past default, routes can be planned every bit fastest, shortest, 'off-road' (which plots a direct line to the destination, to keep you heading the right style – potentially great if y'all want to explore on the way to a destination) and 'Adventurous'. The latter tin can be programmed to use ane of three levels of bend twistiness, altitude and to avert major motorways. Like the 'programme a thrill' choice on TomTom'southward Passenger, this tin give hugely enjoyable rides, though be prepared for some narrow and sometimes bumpy dorsum roads. As an chance bike rider, I beloved it, simply a sportsbiker looking for fast roads might be disappointed.
Adventurous routing offers up some slap-up rides if you like exploring back roads
It'southward a shame you can't change the adventurous options while planning a route to come across the effect they'll make (you have to become back into the setup menu to change them), simply the results are great – I used it to transform a 187mile ride that would have taken iii and a one-half hours on main roads, to a brilliant back-route nail of 207miles in six and a one-half hours.
Typically, I prefer to have my device prepare to fastest road – even on the wheel – because my day-to-solar day usage often involves getting across the country to meetings. Selecting Audacious routing requires it turning on in the menu, so there'south a gamble of forgetting to disable it later, though an alternative is to plan a route, then open information technology in the 'Trip Planner' app on the device, earlier switching it to an Adventurous route then saving it. Information technology's just a shame it'due south not as intuitive as TomTom'southward organisation, which gives similar results with its own dedicated menu.
Yous can too take the device suggest attractions for your route – it'due south a squeamish touch, though of class the results won't e'er exist of interest – while 'Round trip' planning allows you to go for a ride from the location of your choice, programming by distance, duration or a destination – a neat characteristic for when y'all have some spare time and fancy a blast.
Accuracy and ease of navigation
Planning a road is pretty fast, as is recalculation when you veer off course – it'southward quicker than the TomTom Rider up to the recent 450, though not as quick as the new 500/550.
Following directions is easy, with plenty of clear information in the top bar relating to the upcoming turn, a articulate map (which tin can be adjusted for detail), and the selection of illustrations of major motorway junctions, making information technology easier to sympathise which lane to be in. Positioning accurateness is of course very good, and lag (for instance when leaving roundabouts) is minimal.
A major benefit of modernistic saturday-navs connecting to smartphones is that they're able to use the device's data (it's only a very minor amount) to get the latest traffic updates; this can forestall you getting stuck in heavy traffic – for instance where filtering just isn't possible – and also navigate effectually closed roads. Disappointingly though, the 396 missed 2 airtight roads on one 200mile ride. It'south piece of cake to click 'change route' in the sidebar options in guild to detect an alternative, but a TomTom I also had running did display them.
The 396 failed to identify this closed road on one ride, despite existence connected to my phone
The smartphone connexion runs through an app on your telephone – I found this rather inconsistent on an iPhone SE running iOS eleven.3.1, not always connecting automatically, and also dropping the connection birthday several times during long journeys, then not reconnecting; this tin can be a real badgerer if you don't realise it's done it, as it could miss traffic problems along the route.
The traffic up ahead sidebar shows all is clear if the data connection has dropped out – after turning Bluetooth off and on over again, it showed a filibuster just two miles away
If y'all run off form on an 'Adventurous route', the Garmin will quickly recalculate how to become back onto it – this is much faster than the 'Winding routes' organization of TomTom's 450 and previous models, which recalculate the route from scratch and can take several minutes. Nonetheless, when I took a wrong turn and found myself on a dual carriageway, rather than wait for the next exit, the Garmin simply displayed the message 'Cannot summate route' and stopped navigation. This happened twice more while riding off course in the New Forest, where I had to access the road planner to start it again. As I like to explore areas when something interests me, this is a bit disappointing.
While they can be disabled, many features rely on pop-ups, which can be a picayune distracting, and can involve more interaction with the device while you ride – the best bet volition be to work out which y'all want to utilize (like the accept a pause feature, which suggests nearby places to stop), and enable them only.
Finding fuel
Fuel tracking recognises when the device is in the wheel mount, and will rail the distance covered, suggesting fuel stops based on the distance you tell it that can be covered per tank. When you terminate, information technology will as well ask if yous've filled up – click yes and it'll reset the tank. This is potentially an excellent feature if y'all're riding in the deepest wilds, where fuel stops might be few and far between, though it'due south at its well-nigh useful when you're travelling at a reasonably consistent pace – I've seen my wheel give 71mpg on one day, 58mpg the other, so prepare it upwardly based on your lowest expected economy.
Pop-ups can be handy in many cases, merely irritating also…
The device tin can exist a chip eager to ask if you've reset or if you demand to find a filling station – at 1 betoken I clicked on the fuel alarm notification and selected a filling station nearby… When I stopped to make full upward, it warned me once more that fuel was low and asked if I wanted to search for fuel once again. Also, if you run off course, every time the Garmin recalculates, a popular-up window covers the mapping, asking if you want to search for a filling station; this soon gets annoying.
Unfortunately, the Garmin database of active filling stations doesn't appear quite as upwards to appointment as it could be – on a 200mile ride I passed 1 location that the device said was a filling station, but hasn't been for many years. Afterwards in the day – when I urgently needed fuel – the 396 took me to a corner shop that too had no petrol pumps (and didn't show any sign of having had them for a long time).
Filling stations can be searched on a map or by a listing
You find filling stations equally a list (showing distances) or on a map, so getting to them is easy, and y'all tin can too evidence the 'upward ahead' sidebar when riding, which volition display three items that are coming up nearby, from a choice of speed camera, motorcycle locations (dealers etc), restaurants, petrol stations, banks and cashpoints, attractions, parking, roadside services and lodging. Run into i you desire and you can click on it to exist taken to a menu that volition let you to add it to your route. Having used the scrolling sidebar of the TomTom though – which constantly lets you know when the next two fuel stops are available on your road – it doesn't feel quite as elegant as it could for the average rider.
Speed camera notifications
If you're going too fast, the speed display will glow blood-red, while upcoming speed cameras are notified with an icon on the map. As you lot approach them, the display'south meridian bar volition show a warning, though the device doesn't show your average speed while riding (or driving) through sets of average speed cameras.
Adapting your route / detours
Tapping on the map allows you to see an overview of the route, or enter 'route shaping,' which lets you lot zoom in and add waypoints to your planned destination; if you want to add specific locations through search, you lot can do this by going back to the menu screen, finding the location and calculation information technology to your route.
Culling routes are suggested via a popular-up window when traffic is ahead – it's a useful arrangement, just takes a few clicks through small menus to get to the alternative. At the time of writing, a small glitch gave incorrect time data on the alternative route menu, though it worked fine when programmed.
Did y'all know? Having live traffic data is vivid when driving a automobile, simply information technology can also be very useful on a cycle. For instance, knowing of seriously heavy traffic on a motorway tin can give you fourth dimension to get off the route, rather than end up trapped at the front of the queue after an accident has shut the road.
Additional features
Smart notifications can be displayed while riding – these tin include alerts of emails, missed calls, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and other notifications that would appear on your smartphone's screen. You can select what categories of alerts are shown, or turn them off altogether, and while some might not want them, they're a useful improver and very comprehensive, even letting me know when the Blink security system at home had armed.
When a notification comes through, it slides in on the correct of the screen – click it and it'll be read out through the born speaker, or through your Bluetooth intercom. It very useful if you want to stay connected, though the notifications don't disappear after a period – y'all accept to click on the pocket-sized push to dismiss them. You can admission previous notifications through the Apps card, though too often the Bluetooth connection drops out and needs forcing to reconnect.
The weather along your route is a genius characteristic
• I dandy extra that can exist accessed via the side panel is weather – every bit long every bit the Garmin is connected to your smartphone, information technology'll prove you the expected weather at three points forth your planned route – great if you lot need to know when to put your waterproofs on, or are simply deciding where to go next.
• Assist is built into some of the menus, which is a neat touch on to guide new users through the device.
• The Trip Advisor app is slow to search, but a handy way of finding things to do nearby (though it'due south non equally comprehensive as the website). I prefer to use my phone for things like this, but the data is embedded in the Garmin, so y'all tin yet use it without having a data betoken. Unfortunately you lot can't click through to read any reviews, but if your smartphone's connected, you tin can run into the weather at the location now and for the next v days.
The Trip Advisor app works without a connection to your phone
• The new incident notification feature is designed to send a text message with your location to a contact in the effect of an accident. It won't send a message if y'all don't have satellite coverage, and will display a alarm for lx seconds before sending the SMS via your phone, though it's not clever enough to register any speed, so can't tell the departure between dropping the device onto a desk, or an actual crash. During my testing, the letters failed to ship, asking me to confirm my telephone was continued (it was).
• The media player is a groovy extra feature – unlike its competitors, the Garmin can directly control playlists and tracks from your smartphone via Bluetooth – or music that you copy onto a micro SD card and install in the device – to play through on your intercom.
• The Trip Planner app allows you to alter your routes, change the order of stops and salve them for the future – it'south not as quick to access equally it could be, but it creates a useful place to sort and organise your journeys.
• When connected to your phone, y'all can invite people to spotter your route using the LiveTrack app – they'll be sent a link via electronic mail to spotter online, and an alert on the card volition remind yous that it's recording – it's a swell characteristic if yous want to share a big adventure, and y'all can notwithstanding run into the journeying after it'southward completed, with graphs of elevation and speed bachelor, though it does depend on having a stable connection through your smartphone, or the tracking volition finish.
• Using the app on the 396, you can also share routes to other Garmin devices using Bluetooth, or download a GPX to your smartphone, which can then exist sent via email, AirDrop, SMS etc.
Battery life
The fully-charged battery has more than than enough power for plotting routes, simply later virtually an hour and a half, the screen reduces to forty% effulgence (too dim for exterior employ), before shutting down after a total of around 3 hours. The Garmin 396 would exist fine for curt rides without a powered cradle, just anything more will demand the loom wiring in.
Motorcar apply
The 396 LMT-S includes a car bracket and cigarette-lighter power supply. Given the price compared to the contest, this is a smashing add-on, though information technology is just very basic – the cable has to be plugged in beneath the rubber flap on the back of the device before clipping into place; it's not as user-friendly every bit a bracket with its own ability connectedness congenital in.
The built-in speaker is clear and loud enough for navigation in the car, and if you utilise adventurous routing on the cycle, the Garmin volition recognise when information technology's plugged into the car charger (or whatever other USB supply) and ask if you lot want to switch to car manner, which can default to fastest route planning for instance.
When in car fashion, any smart notifications from your telephone tin can be read on the screen by clicking the 'passenger' button (on the wheel, they can only be spoken to you through a Bluetooth intercom). It'due south potentially useful, but I think information technology's a petty also tempting for hands-distracted drivers.
Verdict
The Garmin is a very full-featured motorbike sabbatum-nav; yous can customise many of the brandish options, and it'southward got a lot of extra bells and whistles, though how valuable you lot notice these is something simply y'all tin decide.
While I do love the power to see the weather along my route and being able to command my music, I don't tend to utilize most of the other apps, like Square or Trip Advisor. Information technology'due south unfortunate that the layout of the screen feels a lilliputian clunky compared to its competitor, and I detect the constant intrusion of popular-ups to be distracting; while yous can decide what's shown, information like upcoming traffic is something I desire to know, so would prefer a more considered solution, like TomTom's uncomplicated but effective scrolling sidebar.
Ultimately, there is no 'perfect' motorcycle sat-nav on the market – the Garmin is a solid, totally weather-proof device that offers a lot of options for navigating both on your bicycle and in your machine; and it can be personalised to a large degree. It's relatively good value for coin, though some inconsistencies in the software – especially the smartphone connexion and wrong filling stations – tin can go out it struggling in some areas against the more than expensive TomTom.
Why purchase a bike sat-nav?
Sat-navs designed specifically for motorcycles can be more expensive than motorcar devices as they need to have a touch screen that'll piece of work with gloves, the Bluetooth kit must be built in for connection to an intercom system, they must be waterproof and shock proof, they have to be resistant to UV rays and fuel vapours, and they should be clear enough to read in the sun. They as well need to come up with a secure, reliable mount – not just to preclude it falling off while riding, only for safety in the consequence of a crash.
Y'all could apply a motorcar saturday-nav in a instance and feed it with ability, or do the aforementioned thing with your phone; if you very rarely need to utilise navigation on your bike, this is probably the best bet, but speaking from feel, I'd advise that more than regular users really would do good from a quality bike device.
Using your telephone can bring interruptions when calls are received, as well every bit other distractions. If you don't have a skillful information signal, you can accept likewise issues with maps if y'all oasis't downloaded them to your phone (which tin can take upward a lot of space).
Ultimately, a quality GPS fabricated for your bike tin be an expensive option, but they likewise make excellent car sat-navs, not to mention accept many specific options for motorcycling – similar winding routes to keep you off the motorways.
Compare the features congenital in and processor speed, rather than simply looking at the most upkeep machine device, and you'll probable discover that the high-spec cycle saturday-navs are better value than you first thought.
Source: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/tested-garmin-396-346-lmt-s-sat-nav-review
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