Rider Communication

[t-man403]

Considering this set up but would like to hear (no pun intended) a review or two if anyone has gone this route.

https://domiomotorsports.com/motorsports/

I have the Scala set up which works but have never been pleased with for several reasons. Poor sound, hard to link, amplified road noise.

[msb]

Interesting... I wonder if the "you can not only hear the sound transmission but you can actually feel it" would be bothersome or not. I typically don't listen to music when riding and never use my phone, but I do like to communicate with the Mrs when she's with me.
It sounds like a great idea, and the price is not out of line for a quality Bluetooth headset... if the marketing is true (24 hour battery life, range, sound quality/volume). Is it only available online? Again with the marketing... not sure about the "don't order more than 4 units as they are limited and  we want to get them out to those that need them". I'm always leary about this type of marketing.
If it does all it says it can do, I could see this as an option for my new full face modular. Our Senas have worked great, but the boom mike is a bit of a pain at times, and battery life is not what it purports to be...have replaced them a couple of times.

[Rams]

Considering this set up but would like to hear (no pun intended) a review or two if anyone has gone this route.

https://domiomotorsports.com/motorsports/

I have the Scala set up which works but have never been pleased with for several reasons. Poor sound, hard to link, amplified road noise.

Well, I hope someone tries it out.   Looks interesting to me.
Won't be me though.   Went down this road before as the guinea pig and got burned.   It is, what it is.
Live and learn.

Rams

[t-man403]

Starting to understand how they work a little better as a few riding buddies have received theirs. Apparently, the unlimited range is because the communication part is done thru a free phone app. So i figure if my buddies need to talk to me, just call and my Scala will receive the call via bluetooth just like theirs does. I'm sure I read somewhere on a Q&A that the app works with other brands.

I think my money is better spent upgrading the speaker system on my Scala's.

[Jess from VA]

I never had any of that fancy electronic communication with my back seater,

She would smack me on the back of the helmet (the harder the smack, the more important the communication), and then lean in and yell in my ear.

I could either nod an affirmance (good), or shake my head in the negative (not as good, and might lead to more smacking).  

It worked.... and it's pretty cheap too.    

[msb]

I never had any of that fancy electronic communication with my back seater,

She would smack me on the back of the helmet (the harder the smack, the more important important the communication), and then lean in and yell in my ear.

I could either nod an affirmance (good), or shake my head in the negative (not as good, and might lead to more smacking). 

It worked.... and it's pretty cheap too.   

lol Jess... BHS (before head sets... I know how you guys down there like to have acronyms for everything ), our signals were... tap on the Left thigh, hazard to the Left... tap on the Right thigh, hazard to the Right... Punch in the  back, "Slow Down!" ... tap on the back of the helmet, "I've fallen asleep" 

[carolinarider09]

I know this is sort of off topic, but just my experience.  

I worked with electronic gadgets since I was 14 (1950's).  Built lots of stuff.  Always liked to do it my way.  Most of the time it worked but, doing it my way, meant it was different and once you got beyond simple communications one on one or the need to communicate with a group on a moments notice (well for a planned trip) there are only two ways that will almost always work.

One is using a CB radio.  The radio's exist, they are not cheap for the Goldwing but J&M sells one that can be adapted to any bike.  It ensures always on communications.  If the radio is operational, and set to the correct channel, communication for a biking group, is almost guaranteed 100% of the time.  

The receipt of these communications then becomes the issue.  There are speakers on the bike that will work (draw back is that they are so loud sometimes that they really disturb those you are riding with).  

There are then in the helmet speakers.  These too work well if properly adapted to the helmet and the position of your ears in the helmet.  The only real drawback to these two methods of hearing things on the bike is the fact that you should be using ear protection (I know not necessary "legal" but.....).  Ear protection requires increasing the audio level of the on the bike speakers making them really, really loud and/or increasing the audio level of the in the helmet speakers (not a real problem since only you can hear it so......).

As I understand it you can get in the helmet speaker systems that are connected to these bluetooth systems.  

Now comes one problem with any bluetooth system.  That is power.  They are, if I remember, battery powered.  They have a set life.  You have to make sure they are charged and if you ride longer than the battery can last you lose communications and music and audio, ect.  And you have to remember foo charge them.

Second, is the "pairing".  While its cool to have a system where you and I can walk up to each other and push some buttons and "pair" or bluetooth devices the question them becomes how many things you can pair.  Just you and your rider, just you and the other biker with you, how many can you pair, 2?  3?  5?.

Bluetooth is cool when I want to put on my ear protection to mow the yard/woods/fields or eat some weeds with my weed eater.  I just put on the headphones, power them up and wala, they connect to my iPhone and I can listen to Pandora or whatever.  

So, while I have considered bluetooth systems, and bluetooth communications, the only 100% reliable method of communication for a group of four or five (or more if you want) is a CB radio tied to my Autocom communication system using in the ear speakers (aka earphones).  

The Autocom box allows me to tie in my bike's comm system, my GPS, my radar detector, my cell phone and CB radio.  Plug and play (well sort of).  

Never have to worry about batteries.  And the only issue is the cord from my helmet to the bike.  I can live with that for easy of use and reliability.

Oh, did I tell you that the Autocom system adjusts the volume supplied to my earphones depending on the outside ambient noise it senses.

And, it also adjust the level of sound needed to access the microphones so that when we are riding there is little or no wind noise form the mikes.  

Oh, and the audio is very clean and dynamic range is good.  

Sorry for the long post.  

[Rams]

The Autocom box allows me to tie in my bike's comm system, my GPS, my radar detector, my cell phone and CB radio.  Plug and play (well sort of).  

Never have to worry about batteries.  And the only issue is the cord from my helmet to the bike.  I can live with that for easy of use and reliability.

Oh, did I tell you that the Autocom system adjusts the volume supplied to my earphones depending on the outside ambient noise it senses.

And, it also adjust the level of sound needed to access the microphones so that when we are riding there is little or no wind noise form the mikes.  

Oh, and the audio is very clean and dynamic range is good.  

Sorry for the long post.  

Yep, and I agree but, will it do all this?

I never had any of that fancy electronic communication with my back seater,

She would smack me on the back of the helmet (the harder the smack, the more important important the communication), and then lean in and yell in my ear.

I could either nod an affirmance (good), or shake my head in the negative (not as good, and might lead to more smacking). 

It worked.... and it's pretty cheap too.   

lol Jess... BHS (before head sets... I know how you guys down there like to have acronyms for everything ), our signals were... tap on the Left thigh, hazard to the Left... tap on the Right thigh, hazard to the Right... Punch in the  back, "Slow Down!" ... tap on the back of the helmet, "I've fallen asleep" 

 

Rams

[trout dude]

Man give Linda A stick to bang you in the helmet then she can lean over and talk to you lol
Hope y’all are doing good Terry and you find what you are looking for my friends

[carolinarider09]

Rams,

Funny you should ask.  I had an opportunity to ride with someone who did not have a helmet with the Autocom system built in.  I did have an Autocom interface to use with earphones that did not require the mic.

So, that person could hear everything and communicated as noted above.  Tap on left shoulder for volume up.  tape on right for volume down.  Multiple taps for "you got it". 

Oh, the earphones were some I carried along for just such "emergencies". 

[Rams]

Rams,

Funny you should ask.  I had an opportunity to ride with someone who did not have a helmet with the Autocom system built in.  I did have an Autocom interface to use with earphones that did not require the mic.

So, that person could hear everything and communicated as noted above.  Tap on left shoulder for volume up.  tape on right for volume down.  Multiple taps for "you got it". 

Oh, the earphones were some I carried along for just such "emergencies". 

Sounds like a plan to me.   

Rams

[MarkT]

Like Jess - the bike is my time for peace and quiet.  Don't want to hear any voices beyond my music and the sweet sound of the Valkyrie.  Not opening a channel for complaints, "too fast" "turn here" etc. If you need to stop just tap, maybe point. Not listening to liberal politics, woke narratives, what your mother or girlfriend said... Been "salisburied" on too much crap. (first ex who could burn water served up TV dinners of salisbury steak once a week) Sorry can't advise on intercomms, JS.  Now setups on music & audio systems, yep I have some suggestions there.

[Jess from VA]

This is just an example of old school bike communication.  (in an old show)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwSh0dAaqIA

[Jess from VA]

My reluctance to have electronic comms with my back seater was strongly influenced by the number of times (early on) she wanted to stop at stores, garage sales, flea markets, or anything else that caught her interest. 

This is a riding hobby babe, not a shopping hobby.

And I would never mind having a brief discussion on any particular subject, but I don't ride to yack my head off all day either. 

[msb]

My reluctance to have electronic comms with my back seater was strongly influenced by the number of times (early on) she wanted to stop at stores, garage sales, flea markets, or anything else that caught her interest. 

This is a riding hobby babe, not a shopping hobby.

And I would never mind having a brief discussion on any particular subject, but I don't ride to yack my head off all day either. 

I ride a fair amount solo, but also a lot two up. The night I first met the Mrs over 40 years ago she helped me push my then HD to get it started, hopped on the back fender, and we went for a coffee. Has been a lot more comfortable on my subsequent bikes, but she's always enjoyed  being the passenger on sort or long rides, and I've always enjoyed having her along. We don't listen to music or use the phone when riding, and we don't just yak back and forth either... it's just nice to be able to communicate a bit easier when we want  to figure out where to stop for the night which road to take, etc. I guess since we've been riding together so long, we're always in the same headspace.

[Avanti]

We talk about our surroundings as we ride and sometimes sing.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My reluctance to have electronic comms with my back seater was strongly influenced by the number of times (early on) she wanted to stop at stores, garage sales, flea markets, or anything else that caught her interest. 

This is a riding hobby babe, not a shopping hobby.

And I would never mind having a brief discussion on any particular subject, but I don't ride to yack my head off all day either. 

I ride a fair amount solo, but also a lot two up. The night I first met the Mrs over 40 years ago she helped me push my then HD to get it started, hopped on the back fender, and we went for a coffee. Has been a lot more comfortable on my subsequent bikes, but she's always enjoyed  being the passenger on sort or long rides, and I've always enjoyed having her along. We don't listen to music or use the phone when riding, and we don't just yak back and forth either... it's just nice to be able to communicate a bit easier when we want  to figure out where to stop for the night which road to take, etc. I guess since we've been riding together so long, we're always in the same headspace.

+1

[VanCityValkyrie]

Let me tell you about my experience with Domio...

I was one of their early backers on Kickstarter, I think it was in late 2018 when I jumped on it.
I was "lucky" and got the product, there are hundreds of early backers worldwide who haven't received their unit yet. Some were lucky and got their money back after contacting their credit card company.
Domio now has also changed their name due to all the bad reviews they got. Just look up their Instagram or Facebook. Every post has a high amount of comments, when you want to see the comments it only shows 2. They delete all the bad feedback.

Now to the device itself...

it is big and the music is louder on the outside of the helmet than it is inside the helmet. I was super impressed when I tried it in my living room. Great sound and bass. On the bike... as soon as you go over 35mph it is basically useless. The microphone came with a loose battery and nobody can hear me on a phone call.
Depending on the shape of your helmet it can be a pain in the ass to get it mounted flush.
I used it 3 times and then got myself a Cardo Packtalk Bold and I am very happy with it.

Several of my buddies were interested and tried it out as well. Nobody wanted it, not even for free.

[msb]

and sometimes sing.

 

[AwesomeDad]

We have had good luck with cardo systems, only use it for music, podcasts etc... She usually has her own stuff playing and only speaks if asked a question...

JJ