Motorcycle to Car intercom
Discussion
For my birthday this year myself and 2 friends are booked in an AirBNB in the Welsh countryside.
I'll be on my Suzuki GSR750 and they'll both be in their cars (RX7 FD and a BMW 335i), riding from Kidderminster to the Welsh Coast.
The purpose of the trip is to enjoy the Welsh roads and scenery so the driving / riding side is the main attraction but I've never had a headset or intercom before and I'm not sure how I'd be able to speak with them in their cars while I'm riding with them.
I have a quadlock and will be using my mobile as a satnav / music streaming. Ideally I'd like a headset where I can call them from the bike to discuss stopping places, things we want to check out on the way etc. Then switch back to whatever I was listening to previously.
No doubt it's a very simple setup, but could somebody link me to a decent intercom that will serve this purpose? I'll still use the other headset that it'll probably come with as the guy in the 335i also rides bikes (just not this far). I have a Shoei X spirit 3 and a AGV K3 SV-S helmet if that matters at all.
Thanks.
I'll be on my Suzuki GSR750 and they'll both be in their cars (RX7 FD and a BMW 335i), riding from Kidderminster to the Welsh Coast.
The purpose of the trip is to enjoy the Welsh roads and scenery so the driving / riding side is the main attraction but I've never had a headset or intercom before and I'm not sure how I'd be able to speak with them in their cars while I'm riding with them.
I have a quadlock and will be using my mobile as a satnav / music streaming. Ideally I'd like a headset where I can call them from the bike to discuss stopping places, things we want to check out on the way etc. Then switch back to whatever I was listening to previously.
No doubt it's a very simple setup, but could somebody link me to a decent intercom that will serve this purpose? I'll still use the other headset that it'll probably come with as the guy in the 335i also rides bikes (just not this far). I have a Shoei X spirit 3 and a AGV K3 SV-S helmet if that matters at all.
Thanks.
Cardo and Sena are the two big names in motorcycle intercoms but I'm not sure that is the best approach. They work on Bluetooth and I'd worry about range from the inside of a car.
I'd think that you having a headset connected to a phone on the bike then, simply calling the cars would be the better option, especially if, like me, you never use all of your free call minutes on a monthly plan.
That would mean your headset would just need to connect to the phone, and not another headset.
PS I use a Cardo PackTalk on the Old Gits trips to connect to the other Old Gits. It works really well but does have range issues.
I'd think that you having a headset connected to a phone on the bike then, simply calling the cars would be the better option, especially if, like me, you never use all of your free call minutes on a monthly plan.
That would mean your headset would just need to connect to the phone, and not another headset.
PS I use a Cardo PackTalk on the Old Gits trips to connect to the other Old Gits. It works really well but does have range issues.
I'll second (third?) the advice above.
I've got a Sena intercom helmet, and it has three "speed dial" numbers which you can call at the press of button. Only caveat i'd have is that mobile signal can be erratic in the North of Wales and Sod's Law says that you will be out of signal just when you need to stop for petrol.
If you want to do intercom, then the issue will be finding a unit that they can use in the car. All the ones i know of are speakers and microphone designed to fit into a helmet. As I doubt your drivers will be wanting to wear crash hats the whole trip, some other system would be required.
I've got a Sena intercom helmet, and it has three "speed dial" numbers which you can call at the press of button. Only caveat i'd have is that mobile signal can be erratic in the North of Wales and Sod's Law says that you will be out of signal just when you need to stop for petrol.
If you want to do intercom, then the issue will be finding a unit that they can use in the car. All the ones i know of are speakers and microphone designed to fit into a helmet. As I doubt your drivers will be wanting to wear crash hats the whole trip, some other system would be required.
Thanks for the replies, I think I'm going to go for a Cardo Packtalk Bold and use it to make calls to the guys in the cars.
I can then use it as an intercom when my friend is out on his bike with me or if my wife fancies riding pillion.
I did consider the lack of signal in Wales, I think we'll agree before we set off that I'll ride ahead and will pull into petrol stations as I need them, if I have signal I'll call them to let them know and if I dont - tough. We're in absolutely no rush to reach our destination so if we need to pull over fairly often that's fine.
I can then use it as an intercom when my friend is out on his bike with me or if my wife fancies riding pillion.
I did consider the lack of signal in Wales, I think we'll agree before we set off that I'll ride ahead and will pull into petrol stations as I need them, if I have signal I'll call them to let them know and if I dont - tough. We're in absolutely no rush to reach our destination so if we need to pull over fairly often that's fine.
boyse7en said:
I'll second (third?) the advice above.
I've got a Sena intercom helmet, and it has three "speed dial" numbers which you can call at the press of button. Only caveat i'd have is that mobile signal can be erratic in the North of Wales and Sod's Law says that you will be out of signal just when you need to stop for petrol.
If you want to do intercom, then the issue will be finding a unit that they can use in the car. All the ones i know of are speakers and microphone designed to fit into a helmet. As I doubt your drivers will be wanting to wear crash hats the whole trip, some other system would be required.
As a resident of North Wales, I'd be ecstatic if the mobile signal was erratic. Non existent across whole swathes of it would be my description.I've got a Sena intercom helmet, and it has three "speed dial" numbers which you can call at the press of button. Only caveat i'd have is that mobile signal can be erratic in the North of Wales and Sod's Law says that you will be out of signal just when you need to stop for petrol.
If you want to do intercom, then the issue will be finding a unit that they can use in the car. All the ones i know of are speakers and microphone designed to fit into a helmet. As I doubt your drivers will be wanting to wear crash hats the whole trip, some other system would be required.
Only EE works where I am, just across the border from Chester, and it doesn't get any better.
Our kit car trips use bluetooth headsets as something is better than nothing, but they tend to fade out over ¼ mile
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