Bike to bike intercom?

[stevierst]

I'm looking at buying a bike to bike comms device and currently doing a bit of research on it.

I'm considering either a Bluetooth type device, or a walkie talkie type radio.

Do any of you guys use them? If so, what is it and what are the pros/cons.

I'd also like it to be used as a rider/pillion too if possible but not a priority. Its so I can hear the missus complain about my last dodgy overtake

[adeejaysdelight]

my friend and I are touring Europe next month, and going to the Nurburgring (had to throw that in, sorry). We decided to invest in an intercom set so we can chat, listen to music and get directions from the sat nav (if needed). I did a bit of reaserch and decided that the smart money was going on

[adeejaysdelight]

Sorry, as I was saying... http://www.amazon.co.uk/bike-intercom-rider-pillion-2012/dp/B005FNH29E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375960487&sr=8-1&keywords=bt+bike+intercom
 
I bought them from the company to the right - UKDIGI4U. Very good service. I had though about radio comms, but it is old technology and you are restricted to using it ONLY for one radio to another. Where as the Bluetooth intercom you can use indipendantly, with your mate, and you can have a third one for the wife. Music, GPS, Intercom. Its perfect. I left a review of the product on amazon, and here it is -
 
My friend and I halved in for this pair of intercoms as we are going on a Euro-tour on our motorcycles. We had considered radio communication, but decided that as these units can be used with our phones or any other Bluetooth device, without the other intercom unit around, that we should go for these. That way we can get the benefit of the unit when we are not together, and we can each listen to music or sat-nav on our trip without the other pilot being disrupted. Handy if you get lost or separated.

We have tested the units for a few weeks now, both together and on our own. I recently upgraded my phone from a Blackberry Bold to a Nokia Lumia. This change had made a huge difference to the volume coming through the headset. I now have the unit set to around 70% volume, when it was 100% and still not enough with the Blackberry.

The volume from one unit to the other is slightly low if you are traveling at speed. We both ride sports bikes, so this should be less of an issue with a large screen on a touring bike. The distance that these units communicate with each other on the other hand is great. On our test run, my friend led by +1 kilometre without breaking up. It was only when he turned a bend and over the crest of a hill that he dropped out. And it was as clear at full distance as it was beside one another in traffic.

I am a sound engineer to trade and I would recommend that you take some time fitting the headset speakers in the correct place within your helmet. Take all the lining out and mark where the holes in your ears are and fit the ear pieces there. It makes a huge difference, honestly.

Overall I would recommend these units. The build quality is great. Fitting is easy and value for money is 5 star. My only issue is the intercom to intercom volume which would benefit from having more volume on tap. However, knowing this I would still buy them again.

[Mick-H]

I've had a Cardo Scala FM for a good few years and I'm very happy with it, listening to music and phone call are both very clear up to 70mph above 80 it's not as good and I find I have to almost shout to get myself heard, I reckon this is in part due to me not having the mic in exactly the right place and turbulence from the screen.
A good read source of info
 http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/bluetooth-intercom.htm

[Loz]

We have the scala rider too, have used them for both bike to bike and when I am being lazy, bike to pillion, for about 4 years now, can't fault them to be honest 

[mickvp]

Sena SMH10 for me. Its got 1 big button which does just about everything, dead easy to work through gloves. fairly good range (~1km), and also lets you listen to music/sat nav etc.

[stevierst]

That's a lot of Bluetooth kit. I've read that they are quite sensitive to 'line of sight' only do any of you lose comms with your fellow bikers because of for instance treelines, buildings etc.?

[Exupnut]

Been lookin at this radio ptt system. Anyone had any exp with these?

http://bit.ly/15hQkW7

[Loz]

Yes you do start to lose signal once the other person is out of sight on the scala anyway, you can hear it start to distort as it starts to lose, but in a straight ish road probably about a mile 

[simonm]

Sorry, as I was saying... http://www.amazon.co.uk/bike-intercom-rider-pillion-2012/dp/B005FNH29E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375960487&sr=8-1&keywords=bt+bike+intercom
 
I bought them from the company to the right - UKDIGI4U. Very good service. I had though about radio comms, but it is old technology and you are restricted to using it ONLY for one radio to another. Where as the Bluetooth intercom you can use indipendantly, with your mate, and you can have a third one for the wife. Music, GPS, Intercom. Its perfect. I left a review of the product on amazon, and here it is -
 
My friend and I halved in for this pair of intercoms as we are going on a Euro-tour on our motorcycles. We had considered radio communication, but decided that as these units can be used with our phones or any other Bluetooth device, without the other intercom unit around, that we should go for these. That way we can get the benefit of the unit when we are not together, and we can each listen to music or sat-nav on our trip without the other pilot being disrupted. Handy if you get lost or separated.

We have tested the units for a few weeks now, both together and on our own. I recently upgraded my phone from a Blackberry Bold to a Nokia Lumia. This change had made a huge difference to the volume coming through the headset. I now have the unit set to around 70% volume, when it was 100% and still not enough with the Blackberry.

The volume from one unit to the other is slightly low if you are traveling at speed. We both ride sports bikes, so this should be less of an issue with a large screen on a touring bike. The distance that these units communicate with each other on the other hand is great. On our test run, my friend led by +1 kilometre without breaking up. It was only when he turned a bend and over the crest of a hill that he dropped out. And it was as clear at full distance as it was beside one another in traffic.

I am a sound engineer to trade and I would recommend that you take some time fitting the headset speakers in the correct place within your helmet. Take all the lining out and mark where the holes in your ears are and fit the ear pieces there. It makes a huge difference, honestly.

Overall I would recommend these units. The build quality is great. Fitting is easy and value for money is 5 star. My only issue is the intercom to intercom volume which would benefit from having more volume on tap. However, knowing this I would still buy them again.

I can recommend these as great value for money.  They do A2DP so you can listen to music too.  One vitally important thing to note is that the volume (even though it's bluetooth) is controlled from the phone.  Make sure your phone is on maximum volume before using the on headset controls.  As a budget solution they tick all the boxes for me.

[Exupnut]

Reply topic.... Hehehehe. REPLY STOPPPPP

[MEM62]

I had a Scala unit that worked well but only ever used that as a single unit.  I 'upgraded' to a pair of Interphone F3's when my girlfriend started riding with me on a regular basis and they are utterly useless.  Two tin cans and a piece of string would be more effective. 

Currently looking for something else and hope not to make a second expensive mistake.   

[Borderraider]

Sena SMH10 for me. Its got 1 big button which does just about everything, dead easy to work through gloves. fairly good range (~1km), and also lets you listen to music/sat nav etc.

Another for Sena, you can link it to 4 headsets.

[Exupnut]

Any one used radio ptt systems?

[simonm]

Any one used radio ptt systems?

I have when I went skiing :-P

[Borderraider]

Any one used radio ptt systems?

Yes, use them when I do CBT training, work well but it becomes a pain storing radios & having to push button to talk.

[simonm]

On a theoretical basis I have some less than useful input.

Ptt will probably be better as its purpose designed and has been around a lot longer.  The aerials are generally larger, as are the units,batteries and transmitters.

Bluetooth is cheap as chips but is VERY prone to signal breakdown as the aerials are very small and the amplifiers and transmitters are not powerful either due to the size of the units.  I have found that my Bluetooth headset, when communicating with my phone stored under the seat, is subject to a considerable amount of electrical interference.  Also because Bluetooth does more there is more to get wrong, more concentration to use and more charging as the batteries are smaller.

Just my useless 2p.