Should I Use A Garmin On My E-Bike?

 

I have had Garmin automobile GPS devices for a number of years. Last year I bought a Garmin Zumo XT for my Can-Am Outlander 450 ATV.

Yesterday, I bought two Gazelle Ultimate C380+ e-bikes for my wife and I to use. While I have a few Garmins, my Garmin Nuvi 500 and Zumo XT are probably the most weather resistant.

Should I get a mount for either my Garmin Nuvi 500 or Zumo XT and use it on my e-bike? How long is either one likely to work on its internal battery in the real world? (I know the website shows BATTERY LIFE: up to 6 hours and up to 3.5 hours at 100% backlight) It appears as if Garmin Zumo XT can be powered off an Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000 power bank. How can I determine how much additional run time that will give me?

I wouldn’t

It’s probably going to be more of a safety hazard than anything else.

consider a hiking handheld with a handlebar mount

Take a look at Garmin's bicycle specific GPSs. Also consider a hiking handheld with a handlebar mount.

Garmin for eBike

I have a 2017 Gazelle Arroyo eBike that I absolutely Love. I did put a mount on it for my old Oregon 550 and used it the first couple of years. I didn't really use the mapping or routing on the Oregon. The main thing I liked was that its barometric altimeter would display elevation and keep track of elevation changes. It was also kind of fun to capture the track log and display it on a map. Most of the other measures (MPH, distance travelled, etc.) were also on the Gazelle's Intuvia display.

A couple of years ago I updated my Gazelle's Intuvia display to the first generation Bosch Nyon display which has mapping, routing, track log and also monitors cadence, elevation, amount of motor assist and many other functions. The nyon display is very customizable, so you can show just the information you want to see while you are riding. It then syncs with Bosch's eBike Connect app to keep a cumulative record of all the data from you rides. So since I installed the Nyon, I rarely mount my Oregon on the Gazelle any more. I really like the Nyon display.

If you want to use a Garmin device on your ebike, the best choice would be one of the Edge models. They are designed specifically for bicycles and have bike specific map and routing features. You can get specific sensors to keep track of things like cadence, heart rate, etc. I know the Edge devices are quite expensive, but I think they have enough bicycle specific features to make it worth it. I think I still prefer the Nyon over having two displays mounted, but the Nyon upgrade is also expensive (and worth it IMO).

Since you are new to ebiking (an assumption on my part) and will be riding with your wife, I will make another recommendation. Get yourselves a couple of Sena R1 Evo smart helmets. These bike helmets not only protect your head if you have an accident, but they have a built in speaker/mike intercom system so you can communicate with your wife while riding. It's range is up to 1/2 mile and it works very well. Again, they are not cheap helmets but well worth it and really increase the joy of riding with one or more others. I now have 4 of these helmets because my son and son-in-law often join us on our rides, so we can all communicate with each other, even when we get a little spread out.

Edit: I bet our fellow POI Factory member and friend Bdhsfz6 will weigh in on this thread. He is a much greater expert on ebikes and biking in general than I am and is how I learned about the Sena helmets. I might also suggest if you haven't done so already that joining the ElectricBikeReview forum (https://electricbikereview.com/forums) is worth doing. Like POI Factory is with POI's and GPS devices, the ElectricBikeReview forum is the place to go for information about "all things eBike".

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Cycle Map North America

I an still giving a bit more thought to what I want to use on my e-bike. I know some people simply use their smartphone in a mount on the handlebars. That might not be a bad way to go.

If I go with a dedicated GPS, I am inclined to either use my Garmin Zumo XT or buy a Garmin Edge. With regards to the Garmin Edge series, is the Garmin Cycle Map North America worthwhile? It looks like it comes preloaded on Garmin Edge devices.

If I use my current Garmin Zumo XT, I need to get a mount for my handlebars. Would there be much value to adding the Garmin Cycle Map North America? Is that just an overlay on top of Garmin City Navigator?

Good Advice!

alandb wrote:

I have a 2017 Gazelle Arroyo eBike that I absolutely Love. I did put a mount on it for my old Oregon 550 and used it the first couple of years. I didn't really use the mapping or routing on the Oregon. The main thing I liked was that its barometric altimeter would display elevation and keep track of elevation changes. It was also kind of fun to capture the track log and display it on a map. Most of the other measures (MPH, distance travelled, etc.) were also on the Gazelle's Intuvia display.

A couple of years ago I updated my Gazelle's Intuvia display to the first generation Bosch Nyon display which has mapping, routing, track log and also monitors cadence, elevation, amount of motor assist and many other functions. The nyon display is very customizable, so you can show just the information you want to see while you are riding. It then syncs with Bosch's eBike Connect app to keep a cumulative record of all the data from you rides. So since I installed the Nyon, I rarely mount my Oregon on the Gazelle any more. I really like the Nyon display.

If you want to use a Garmin device on your ebike, the best choice would be one of the Edge models. They are designed specifically for bicycles and have bike specific map and routing features. You can get specific sensors to keep track of things like cadence, heart rate, etc. I know the Edge devices are quite expensive, but I think they have enough bicycle specific features to make it worth it. I think I still prefer the Nyon over having two displays mounted, but the Nyon upgrade is also expensive (and worth it IMO).

Since you are new to ebiking (an assumption on my part) and will be riding with your wife, I will make another recommendation. Get yourselves a couple of Sena R1 Evo smart helmets. These bike helmets not only protect your head if you have an accident, but they have a built in speaker/mike intercom system so you can communicate with your wife while riding. It's range is up to 1/2 mile and it works very well. Again, they are not cheap helmets but well worth it and really increase the joy of riding with one or more others. I now have 4 of these helmets because my son and son-in-law often join us on our rides, so we can all communicate with each other, even when we get a little spread out.

Edit: I bet our fellow POI Factory member and friend Bdhsfz6 will weigh in on this thread. He is a much greater expert on ebikes and biking in general than I am and is how I learned about the Sena helmets. I might also suggest if you haven't done so already that joining the ElectricBikeReview forum (https://electricbikereview.com/forums) is worth doing. Like POI Factory is with POI's and GPS devices, the ElectricBikeReview forum is the place to go for information about "all things eBike".

Good advice from Alan above.

I used a Zumo on one of my ebikes before switching to a Montana 700i. In both cases, I powered the GPSr's from the USB port on my ebike's display. Check your bike to see if it has this feature. If so, your Zumo would be a good choice with an appropriate handlebar mount.

In the past, I've tried several automobile GPSr's on my bikes with less than satisfactory results. The battery life was only an hour or so at best and the screen brightness not adequate. The Zumo was useable though.

If your ebike does not have a USB port, there are USB converters available as well as 12V adapters for 36 and 48V ebike batteries. Some DIY is required to tap the wiring, including soldering skills.

As Alan suggested, try EBR.com and do a bit of searching. You'll find a wealth of ebike information on the site. There are sub forums pertaining to almost every ebike brand on the market. If you are going to get into serious ebiking, better yet, become an EBR member.

If your bikes lack USB ports, here are a couple of links to posts on how to add one:

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/adding-usb-por...

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/5v-usb-port-on...

Many riders carry USB powerbanks to power phones and GPS r's as well.

I agree just as long as you

I agree just as long as you practice safe riding bike rules and practices

--
NickJr Nuvi 3597LMT

Given the short range

of an electric bike, do you think you can get far enough to need a GPS to find your way?
Just wondering?

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

Go For It

Go for it as you cannot have too many gadgets. razz

Range

I regularly ride 60 miles on an outing with my ebike. I usually carry two batteries and my maximum range is close to 100 miles. I use the GPS more for statistics than for directions.

Ebike range.

Melaqueman wrote:

of an electric bike, do you think you can get far enough to need a GPS to find your way?
Just wondering?

The range you get out of a battery charge on an ebike is based on several variables ... type, size and draw of motor, battery size and condition, and mostly the riding conditions ... wind, elevation changes, riding surface (paved/gravel), amount of motor assist vs pedal power used by the rider, number of starts and stops, riding speed, etc.

I ride my Bosch powered ebike mostly on paved rail trails which are relatively flat and therefore use mostly the lowest assist mode called "Eco mode" on the Bosch system. In that mode, the motor provides about 40% of the power (on average) and I provide the other 60% through the pedals. I can regularly get 60 to 70 miles out of a fully charged battery.

But to answer your question ... Yes, if you are riding on streets and roads or complex trail systems, you can get enough range on an ebike where you might need navigation assistance. My rides are generally short enough (30 miles or less round trip) and on familiar trails, so I don't really use the routing or navigation functions on my Bosch ebike control system.

--
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Sure, go for it! Just be

Sure, go for it! Just be careful and don't get distracted.

Should I Use A Garmin On My E-Bike?

I am still still giving some thought to what navigation device I want to use on my Gazelle Ultimate C380+.

I know that Garmin makes some dedicated cycling devices, like their Edge line.

I already have a Garmin Zumo XT, which I use on my Can-am Outlander Max 450 ATV.

If I get an appropriate mount, would that be a suitable e-bike GPS?

I gather that the Garmin Edge series have performance monitoring, but that really doesn't interest me at this time.

I also know that some people simply use a mount for their smartphone.

The other thing I am wondering about is bicycle maps.

I see that Garmin offers Cycle Map North America.

How helpful are those compared to Garmin City Navigator North America?

Their website does not list the Garmin Zumo XT as compatible with Cycle Map North America.

Does anybody here know why it is not compatible?

Are there other bicycle maps that cam be downloaded onto a Garmin Zumo XT that would work as well or better than Cycle Map North America?

Also, I didn't see any reference made to Garmin Cycle Map North America being a Lifetime Map, does it not get or need updating very often?

Is this essentially just an overlay to Garmin City Navigator?

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/169655/pn/010-D1555-01

How Can I Determine When My Garmin Zumo XT Is Fully Charged?

I have been using my Garmin Zumo XT on battery power. When I leave it on the charger overnight, I turn it on and the display goes to 40% as soon as I disconnect from power. The charger I have been using is a home charger that came with one of my older Garmin GPS navigators. The output shows 5 volt and 1.0 amp max. My suspicions are that it is not getting fully charged.

Is there any way for me to determine when the battery is fully charged?

Zumo Display Dimming.

I am guessing that the display on a Zumo device, like most of the older Garmin automotive series devices, just automatically dims when not connected to the power source. They are designed to be operated while plugged in, so they automatically dim on battery. I know my older nuvi devices like the 755T functions this way even though the battery is fully charged up.

If you have a portable power bank, one thing you could try is to see if the zumo will maintain its brightness when it is plugged into the power bank. If that works, it would resolve your issue and also give you added time on battery.

I have tried without success to use the USB port on the display of my Gazelle Arroyo ebike to power my Garmin Oregon. I had to buy a special micro USB to mini USB adapter cable to do this, but it still didn't work with the USB ports on either the Bosch Intuvia display or the Bosch Nyon display. Even though those ports are rated at 5V, 0.5A, I think they just don't provide sufficient power for the Garmin device. I also could not get it to work to recharge my cell phone off of the ebike battery. Some folks on the EBR forum have reported that they could charge their cell phones off the ebike battery using the Bosch display port, but from my experience I am doubtful and suspicious about those reports.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Nope..

Nope..

USB Rechargeable Bike Handlebar Extender

I am considering a USB rechargeable bike handlebar extender.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KZNH2SB/ref=ox_sc_act_t...

Handlebar extender.

Jim1348 wrote:

I am considering a USB rechargeable bike handlebar extender.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KZNH2SB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1R6WLV5P66GPD&psc=1

Looks interesting, but it would add some unwanted bulk on my Gazelle and actually I don't think it would fit with the Bosch display and handlebar system on my ebike. Let us know if you go with it and maybe include a picture of your handlebar cockpit after you install it.

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Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon

Should I Use A Garmin On My E-Bike?

I did some additional experimentation with this. I had been using a Garmin "wall wart" power supply had listed an output of 5 volts at 1 amp. I switched to the Vehicle Power Cable connected to a 10 amp 12 volt power in the house. The interesting thing is, the Garmin Vehicle Power Cable P/N 320-00239-22 also shows Output: 5Vdc 1A. (That Vehicle Power Cable may have actually come with a Garmin Nuvi 350/360 that I bought used years ago!) The Vehicle Power Cable seems to fully charge the Garmin Zumo XT, but the Garmin "wall wart" does not.

The Garmin Zumo XT does not go to 40% display right away when I use it on battery power and, in fact, I was able to use it on a ride lasting about an hour yesterday without it going dim.

The Garmin Nuvi XT webpage states:

LASTING POWER

With the backlight set at 100% brightness, the battery lasts up to 3.5 hours, and it can go up to 6 hours on regular settings. Or you can hard-wire to constant power for longer adventures.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/679804#overview

Garmin Cycle Map North America

I checked a bit more on this and it looks like my Garmin Zumo XT is not listed as a Compatible Device for Garmin Cycle Map North America.

Does anybody here happen to know why it would be incompatible? Or, if anything can be done to make it compatible?