Bluetooth Helmets Or Attachable Bluetooth?

Cardo and Sena seem to be the best but you can get much cheaper bluetooth headsets on Amazon ,If its just for listening to music or sat nav instructions the cheaper options would be ideal

 

I use a Cardo Freecom 4 (now Freecom 4 +). Which is great for inter bike coms and satnav (Waze). Not interested in listening to music or radio which it will do. Battery life is good, not had it expire on me yet. If it does drop out of range three taps on the rearmost button will autodial a default mobile number that you will have previously set.

We generally ride as a group of 4. 2 with Freecom 4s and 2 with Packtalk Bold mesh units. We found linking them all together was, initially, a total pain. But you live and learn.

There were reports that Sena units were not entirely waterproof.

Do not believe any of the various manufacturers claims to the connectivity range of their units.

I would not let the Bluetooth connectivity features influence my selection of a helmet. Keep the two components separate and pick the best from each category.

 

separated

 

No, I am using the word as an adjective.

Separated is the past tense of the verb or can be the past participle which could be used as an adjective in the past tense but I was referring to the present tense or even the future tense because the product selection had yet to be finalised.

There is the Queen’s English and there are mistakes.

 

I'm not one to have to the newest, latest, & greatest stuff so mine are separate. I change helmets every 5 years unless, but I have had the same Sena a lot longer - it does what I need. Keep them separate is my opinion.

 

Definitely the way to go.

From what I remember Arai recommend it’s 7 years from date of manufacture or 5 years from date of purchase which I tend to push a year or two due to the limited mileage I do and when not in use my lid never sees daylight.

 

I have a Sena Stryker helmet with integrated Harmon Kardon speakers and microphone. I just use the phone, music and navigation side of it, not the intercom.
I found it a bit of a pain to get it all working but once connected it has worked very well.
I found this method worked best.
1.Pair phone to bluetooth module
2. Turn off phones bluetooth
3. Pair Sena to bluetooth module, once connected power off the helmet
4. Turn off bike
5. Turn phone bluetooth back on
6. Turn on bike and wait till you see the bluetooth icon on the dash is connected
7. Turn on Sena

 

I like my Sena. Tough as nails. Waterproof? Has never let me down.
I have a Garmin, but don’t like the constant navigation updates interrupting my music. I can see it on the Garmin, so no need for audible cues.

I have easily paired the Sena with a pillion and another rider (I had actually given my brother my old 10S headset when my wife and I bought new helmets and the new at the time 20S headsets) and it wasn’t at all complicated and made that one weekend quite enjoyable. That was the only time I had ever paired with another rider. I’m always riding alone, and doubt I’ll ever have another pillion. Not her thing.

I think the sound quality of the Sena system is as good as I could ask for, for music. The trick is to ride slow enough that the wind doesn’t drown it out, or manage your wind via a proper windscreen. At 80mph that’s not easy to do. I wear earplugs, and keep the volume just shy of maximum until speed allows a lower volume to be heard. I’m not going to ruin my hearing being stupid about it. There are volume limits set.

 

In the case of standalone coms, if it keeps doing what it says on the box is there any real need to change it when it’s time for a new lid?

With regard to your procedure above, do you have to do that every time you ride the bike? I suspect that the majority of forum members reading this do not have a Bluetooth capable machine, and even if they do it’s a bit of a faff isn’t it? Surely there must be a simpler method?

 

In the case of standalone coms, if it keeps doing what it says on the box is there any real need to change it when it’s time for a new lid?

With regard to your procedure above, do you have to do that every time you ride the bike? I suspect that the majority of forum members reading this do not have a Bluetooth capable machine, and even if they do it’s a bit of a faff isn’t it? Surely there must be a simpler method?

 

Having to constrain your riding in order to enjoy your music surprises me. My Arai RX7 is not renown for its quietness but it has never restricted me in that way. Are you sure that your lid is fitted properly?

 

I've used Sena products for years for in-helmet communication and music. I've liked most of them, with the exception of the integrated Sena unit in the Shoei Neotec, which I detested for a laundry list of reasons. I'm currently using a Sena 50s, and it's my favorite thus far.

I'd definitely advise against going the route of a helmet with an integrated bluetooth system, mostly because then you're in the situation where damage to the helmet, or malfunction or obsolescence in the integrated unit means you now have to replace both helmet and communications unit.

Also, I don't know about you, but I have multiple helmets (at least one suited to each type of bike or riding that I do), and I want music or communications in all of them. My solution is to buy one Sena unit, and multiple helmet/speaker attachment sets. Then I just pop the sena off of whatever helmet it's currently on, and attach it to the helmet I'm going to wear on any given day. And, if I replace any of those helmets due to wear or age, I just swap the in-helmet pieces and I'm good to go with the new lid.

 

Only for initial setup, although I always turn it all on/off in a specific order.

 

No constraints here! I love my music and I haul the mail everywhere!
My little old Speedmaster with a flyscreen makes less wind noise than my T120 with the Madstad screen. It’s okay at speed, just not as audible at 80 mph as it is at 50. I’m not slowing down for that.

 

I have used Cardo for years and have mounts on my Shoei GT Air and Neotec. I have no problems hearing music or satnav direction at speeds above the national limit on motorways, as the sounds increases as the speed increases and reduces as I slow down. The charge time is quick and the battery lasts really well, only requires charging every couple of days when touring. So for me separate units is my recommendation.