Bike to Bike communications
 

Could you advise what you think is the best system/ product/s for bike to bike comms

I would suggest that there is a choice of two options for the best bike to bike comms:

Autocom or Star Com. Personally I have never used the Star Com unit although I know of people that have who highly rate it. I have used an Autocom system though when I was working as an instructor and I simply cannot fault it, the VOX capabilities were nothing short of perfect. It isn't cheap but it's worth the money.

Scala Q2 is a very good system which I use.

It is bluetooth and you can keep in touch well over 500m if you are in sight of the other rider.

I use Autocom in conjunction with Motorola Talkabouts. VOX works OK but it's best to have Auocom's handlebar mounted PTT (press to talk) button.

Tim

We use Dainese helmets with built in bluetooth. No messing trying to fit after market kits, no wires and stuff to plug in every time you get on and off the bike. One charge does 8 hours of use. Works great up to at least 100 metres and further depending on conditions. They will also link to a bluetooth phone so if you are out of range you can still be in touch if you need to be.

I use an autocom 300 pro avi together with a kenwood tk3201 radio powered direct from the autocom unit.A zumo 550 is connected to the autocom by bluetooth as is a mobile phone.I would also suggest that you include a ptt in your system as you can have the option of vox or ptt.I have used this system to talk with four other bikes in a recent trip to france and spain and feel the ptt option was the method I used most of the time as vox has to be set up just right and other factors can affect the quality so you need to take a little time to adjust carefully. the only problem we had on the trip was one of the guys using his vox and having to adjust his mike levels at every petrol stop as the wind kept activating it.Although his was a system a few years old ,the lack of the latest background sensor meant his mike was very sensitive ,and for the rest of us a real pain.Its probably something to bear in mind if you are going to ride with a group of friends, compatible systems of a similar vintage and test the units before your trip to sort all the niggles out

This intercom stuff is a maze to me. I've bought some 5w UHF radio's and a throat mic and they work brilliantly. Only thing is that there is so much wire I want it all bluetooth now. Big $$$ and it's still going to require modding, so I'm working on building my own now.

I use Interphone (bluetooth) line of sight will reach up to 1 mile.

Had some niggles with connections dropping and static, but found it was due to slightly bent contact in the plug..

Great system, no wires, excellent sound quality, battery life is somewhat limited, but 6-8 hours of speaking time is not all bad is it?

We rode all around Japan with these and found that the main problem was that after a day of chatting away the batteries would go flat when we were looking for a hotel in the dark :oops2:

Autocom 200 kit with cobra mics. VOX sensitivity varies between helmets/wind noise so you need to play around with them. And remember not to sing along and annoy the other person too much.:(

Anyone ever used something similar to this:

https://www.evotactical.com/index.ph...a60594d57000dd


I'm in the research process and already own a pair of Motorola's small radios.
So I would like to use them...I don't really mind the wires, so far, maybe that'll change...?c?

Hate those wires
 

Tmotten

I know where you're comming from - you want to talk, but those bloody wires - for all the world you'd think you'd remember but . . .
Scala Q2 - have a look and ponder. No wires, clever electrics and features, and lots a guys on various forums that have tricked them up to do more.
I rate them

H

I use Scala Q2 and works perfect within 400m!!!Very happy with their solution, I´ve mine connected to my Zumo with my phone and music.

Hello,

I have just come back from a little tour of europe using bike to bike communication.

Both bikes are running Autocom Active 7 intercoms (well I think they are Active 7, but they are quite old and they keep updating them and changing names!! :cool4:) But they are just the simple bottom of the range items.

They are linked to Kenwood Funky radios (also old and now out of production, but basically cheapish £60 PMR radios) using voice activation. These radios use x3 AA batteries, but I cheated and fitted them with a wooden dummy battery and wired them into a 5V USB transformer. This gives them plenty of power and worked perfectly.

Once they are wired into the bike power you need to fit a GROUND EFFECT ISOLATOR otherwise there is too much hum on the system. I bought these off of eBay for around £3.75. I needed to graft this into the lead from the radio to the Autocom but it wasn't difficult and only involved cutting the audio wires and wiring in the isolator.

Everything was then strapped under the seats and off we went.

On the whole everything was fine and worked well. Had a few problems with power plugs unplugging, but that can all be solved easily and fitted into one box when I have time.

We did have an issue with distance especially in the Alps with a few corners between us. But on the whole I would recommend using them and will look at upgrading to Intaride PMR radios as they are delivered at 0.5 watts but you can unlock them to 4 watts! and fit external aerials! I've been told the position of the aerial is pretty important. If yours in laying flat then it is best that the person you want to talk to is the same.

Cheers,
Simon :scooter:

How Much?
 

Starcom1
 

I have a starcom 1. However, earlier models are not compatabile with a Blackberry, which is a huge shame as i have one which does music, phone, and sat nav all in one unit and If it worked, it would only be one wire!

Starcom have said that hey will look at the unit to see if it can be upgraded, but i imagine that there will be a cost!

I used to run a Nokia N95 through the unit but this needed a converter from stereo to split mono to make it work.

The rider to pillion is good tho. Ideally, i would like a separate volume control to match varying conditions.

matt

Before I would spend money on Star Com, I would go down to the river and throw my dollars to the fish. It is a piece lowlife snake dung. Has never worked without difficulty, and the woman whose job is to rectify the problems said they had never had a complaint before so I must be imagining it. For 79.99 postage though, they would look at it and if it were broken, they would fix it.

It has sat now for three years in the "someday get it done box" and we use the Nolan com helmets without the wires. all built into the helmet. spendy, but about half what the piece _________Star Com advance kit cost us.

Scala Q2 +
 

I would recommend the Q2 to anyone who wants bike to bike comms, phone connectivity and FM radio or music while riding. I like it more the more I use it.

Paired with my Nokia N95 my Q2 does all of the above very well.

If I want to listen to my phones music collection I can.

The unit has very good battery charge stamina - easily enough for a days ride or longer.

About the only area I would like improved is having multiple set connections, rather than 3 max. I think this is being addressed in the next evolution.

H

I am also looking for bike to bike comms for a cross country trip with some friends. I looked at all the ones you guys posted. They main feature I am looking for is to use my own earbuds.

Chatterbox XBI2
 

We just bought the Chatterbox XBI2 and I am anxious to try them out. We previously had the Chatterbox HJC-90 and short of looking like aliens with the huge add on to our helmets these new units are really sleek and should work for us. The down side is again if we ride in a group we can only connect three units not more.... If your listening chatterbox please make it expandable...

Id also recommend the scala Q2 set, bluetooth, links to satnav phones etc.. input port for mp3 and built in radio.. easy to charge, easy to use and works of VOX.....

We've been using the Sena SMH10 since June. We only use them for bike to bike communication although they can also be used to connect via bluetooth to a GPS and cellphone. It's also possible to get a mount that allows use of your own earbuds. We've been happy with the performance. Used them for the HUBB meeting weekend in Petrolia, the batteries held up without recharging all weekend.

There is a long thread on ADVrider with lots of info (Sena SMH10 - Inmate's Special GROUP BUY! - ADVrider). We bought them from RocketMoto.com, good service and knowledgeable.

Another positive recommendation for the Cardo Q2. We´ve been using ours daily now for the last month, and they have worked trouble free. Even though we just use the bike to bike and mp3 function, they work perfectly.
I wasn´t a big fan of communcators till we used them and realized how beneficial they can be.

+5 Cardo Q2. All that has been said B4

I'd recommend the Sena SMH10. One nice thing about it is that the power cord has a USB end. Comes with a little brick that'll work with US power outlets BUT you don't need to use that. We have adapters for the bikes that'll give us USB outlets that we can charge it off of in the evenings.

I've owned the Scala Rider Q2 and the Sena SMH10 is much better. Slightly bigger speakers that're easier to hear. Easy to operate. Just whack the big dial with your hand and you connect. The battery life is good enough that we just leave them connected all day while we ride instead of connecting just when we want to talk because there's a full second delay between when you hit the button and when it connects, which can be a big deal when you're trying to warn someone about a road hazard.

I have an Autocom Avi Pro. It did work great even at motorway speeds. However now that the warranty has expired the vox light is constantly on. Even without helmets plugged in. Autocom have now been taken over by Starcom so I'm not sure how easy it would be to get problems sorted.

For those with Scala (and other wireless intercoms) how do you charge them for the next days riding? Ok if using hotels each night.

I've used restaurant stops to keep the charge up.

Ditto & have bluethooth connection to mobile also can bike to bike

Starcom1 Advance
 

Another vote for the Starcom1 Advance. I used one every day for a three month trip. Worked without fault.

The vox needed some set up and we used full face mic kit which worked really well and it took about 10mins to install in the lids.

The aux in for music was good up to about 80mph then it would cut in and out but I am told this could be due to my 10min setup time.

Blueant InterPhone
 

We use blueant interphone and highly recommend them.

Amazon.com: BlueAnt InterPhone Bluetooth Helmet Kit (Black): Cell Phones & Service

After 55,000kms and 30 countries, we have real-world tested them to work. Amazingly after all this time, the batteries are still holding their charge extremely well and last as long as when they were new.

Keep in mind that if you have open-faced helmets and travelling on the same bike you probably don't need an intercom.

Bluetooth is the only way to go IMO.

This is the set up I have developed for my girlfriend and I, might be of some use to you.

Bike powered Kenwood TK359 bike to bike setup. - ::. UKGSer.com .::

J.

Check out the Sena SMH10, Excellent unit
 

Bluetooth Stereo Headset and Intercom for Motorcycles - SMH10

Sena SMH10 Intercom - webBikeWorld

Scala G4
 

is anyone in a position to review the Scala G4?

5 failures with Sena SMH-10
 

we've just had our fifth hardware failure with the Sena SMH-10 in the middle of Mexico City. We gave up and bought the Cardo Scala G4.

Full details on all the failures here: SENA SMH-10 Motorcycle Headset Debacle | Corporate Runaways