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Short answer: the Garmin zumo 595LM is the better of the two. It added Adventurous Routing, rider alerts and much deeper phone integration over the 590LM. But both are now long discontinued, and in 2026 the smarter buy is Garmin’s current zumo XT3, or the zumo XT2 if you find it discounted. This page covers what changed between the 590LM and 595LM, whether a used one still makes sense, and what to buy instead.
zumo 590LM vs 595LM at a glance
| Feature | zumo 590LM | zumo 595LM |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 5-inch glove-friendly touchscreen | 5-inch glove-friendly touchscreen, higher resolution |
| Lifetime maps (“LM”) | Yes | Yes |
| Adventurous Routing | No | Yes, with an intensity slider |
| Rider alerts | No | Sharp curves, speed and red-light cameras, animal crossings, school zones |
| Music | More limited | Streams from your phone, including Spotify and Pandora |
| Phone notifications | More limited | Calls, texts, weather and traffic on screen |
| Fuel and maintenance | Not a headline feature | Fuel stops based on tank range; service history log |
| Status in 2026 | Discontinued | Discontinued |
The 595LM launched in 2016 at around $900 in the US, replacing the 590LM. Both are now off sale new from Garmin.
What the 595LM added
Adventurous Routing
The headline feature. Instead of the fastest route, Adventurous Routing avoids highways and favors twisty, hilly side roads, with a slider to set how adventurous you want it. Garmin still uses it in current units.
Rider alerts
The 595LM warns you about sharp curves, speed and red-light cameras, animal crossing zones and school zones, and can even flag when you enter a US state with a helmet law.
Better phone integration
Paired with your phone, the 595LM can stream music (including Spotify and Pandora) to your Bluetooth headset, show texts, and pull weather and traffic data. If you ride with a communicator, see our best motorcycle Bluetooth headsets.
Fuel and service tracking
It can suggest fuel stops based on your tank range and keep a service history log, which is handy on long tours.
Should you buy a used 590LM or 595LM?
Only if it’s cheap and you accept the trade-offs. These units are years old, so batteries are likely tired, screens and processors are slow by today’s standards, and you’ll need to check that map updates still install for the specific unit. Mounts and cradles can also be hard to find. For most riders, the money is better spent on a current Garmin or a good phone mount with a navigation app.
What to buy instead
Garmin zumo XT3: the current pick
The zumo XT3 replaces the XT2 with a new processor, a lighter body and two screen sizes, 4.7 inches (7 oz) or 6 inches (12 oz), both at 1280 x 720 resolution. It’s IPX7 waterproof with a MIL-STD-810 drop rating and up to 7 hours of battery life (about 5 at full brightness). You get 64GB of internal storage plus microSD support, preloaded street and topographic maps, downloadable BirdsEye satellite imagery and the Adventurous Routing the 595LM introduced. It works with Garmin’s Tread app for route planning, and it comes with mounting hardware and power cables.
Who it’s for: anyone replacing an old zumo. It does everything the 595LM did, with a better screen and newer software.
Garmin zumo XT2: the discount option
The XT2 is the previous model, with a 6-inch 1280 x 720 glove-friendly screen, IPX7 waterproofing, 32GB of storage and the same 7-hour battery rating. It has preloaded street and topo maps, Adventurous Routing with four difficulty levels, Popular Paths, ride summaries in the Tread app and support for inReach satellite messaging. RevZilla lists it at $599.99, so it’s worth it only if you find it discounted below the XT3.
Who it’s for: riders who want a big screen and can get an XT2 at a good price.
Comparing brands? Read our Garmin vs TomTom comparison. If you’d rather use your phone’s apps on a bigger screen, see the best motorcycle CarPlay screens, and Harley riders can check our best phone mounts for Harley. Planning a big trip? Our list of things you need on a motorcycle tour helps. For current specs, see the Garmin website.
FAQ
What’s the main difference between the zumo 590LM and 595LM?
The 595LM added Adventurous Routing, rider alerts, better phone integration with music streaming, and fuel and service tracking.
Are the zumo 590LM and 595LM discontinued?
Yes. Garmin’s current motorcycle GPS is the zumo XT3.
What does “LM” mean?
Lifetime Maps: free map updates for the life of the device.
Is the zumo XT3 worth upgrading to?
If your old zumo is slow or its battery is fading, yes. The XT3 has a sharper screen, more storage and the same rider-focused features.
Verdict
Between the two, the zumo 595LM is clearly the better device thanks to Adventurous Routing, rider alerts and phone integration. But neither is worth buying in 2026 unless it’s very cheap. The Garmin zumo XT3 is the one to get.
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