Rider-passenger intercoms

[Argon0639]

Hello!  Do any if you have experience (good or bad) with rider to passenger intercoms? Wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.  Looking to get something so my wife and I can communicate when we ride two-up. Don't want to spend 10 grand, but I'll pay for something good. I should not that I don't wear a full face helmet as well.

Thanks!!

[Gryphon Rider]

Regardless of what brand, get Bluetooth headsets. Wires and connectors are a pain that you don't need to deal with these days. Check reviews for what looks good to you, but I can say my Scala Rider G9 units works for me (with minor glitches, but not a big concern), and we can talk for a full day's ride on a battery charge. You'll find thorough reviews for some on webbikeworld.com.

[beartooth]

My wife and I have been using Bluetooth headsets for several years now. The first ones we used were Blueant interphone. They worked good and we used them for probably four years. A friend I ride with also had one and we talked while riding. Made the rides safer and more fun. The company seems to maybe getting away from the motorcycle headsets and customer service was not real good. The  Blueants had thin wires at the helmet unit and they finally broke from take the units on and off for charging.

When it was time to buy new units this time the wife, myself and our friend got Sena Bluetooth units. They seem to have larger wires and they preform great. The speakers are larger also. They also allow for Bluetooth MP3 , GPS and phone use. They also let you connect to as many as six riders at once (I think). The Sena cost a little more but I believe the customer service  is better. I would recommend Sena.


I see a lot of good reviews for G9 headsets from Scalia but have no personal experience with them. Like Gryphon Rider said go Bluetooth. Hope this helps a little.

Beartooth

[BRIANinONTARIO]

Bluetooth it is. My wife & I bought Chatterboxes about 4 years ago, and although acceptable, they had a relatively short battery life, were rather fragile & were NOT WATERPROOF.
We are now using Sena's, and can run a 600 mile day listening to music, answering 'phone calls & speaking to each other via intercom without running the batteries down. As previously mentioned they also have decent speakers, better than others we tested before we bought. We have also used them in some horrendous downpours without a problem, and find the controls easy to use, even wearing gloves.

[specialdose]

    Argon, I have 2yrs experience with a scala rider team set pro. Mine works great for me and my grandson. Blue tooth phone function works perfect. Best $160 investment I've made in riding gear. Nothing fancy, just a good 2 way headset and phone function. Good battery life.  
          Larry, Atlanta

[BudMan]

We have a set of Scala headsets that we like a lot. We purchased them as a pre-paired unit. That was nice. The only problem I have ever had was once I got it speaking French and like to never got it back to English! (Why couldn't it have been Spanish where at least I would have had a slight chance of understanding it.)
They interface well with my phone and I use it from time to time solo just for the phone interface.
It will play music and has good stereo sound. Personally though, I don't like listening to music that way. It cuts me off too much from the rest of the world. Oddly enough music blaring from the Valk speakers doesn't give me that isolated feeling.
I have a Scorpion modular helmet and they function equally well with the chin bar up, down , or removed.

[nogrey]

Absolutely LOVE my Sena SMH-10's. So good that all of my friends, brother, sisters etc have purchased them. Great sound, great integration with: GPS, Cellphone, music, com, etc. And they provide free firmware updates. They just keep getting better and better. Sound canceling microphones (for wind noise), com with up to 4 people, group com, voice phone answering, 1000 meter talking distance, best bluetooth unit available IMHO.

[scooperhsd]

We just bought a pair of the Sena SMH10's  - we haven't actually tried them out yet - got to get her out with me. The Chatterboxes were junk.

[lordofchaos]

I just received the new Sena 20S a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely love it. Bought the set so the wife has one as well. The sound quality is outstanding, the ability to multi-task sound sources (intercom, music, phone and GPS) is great. Used it mostly on the commute to listen to podcast/audiobooks, but I got nearly a week with running an hour a day without needing to charge it. So far, I highly recommend it.

[Kep]

Had a pair of Chatterboxes...JUNK..sent them back...Now have "pre-paired" Cardo Scala Rider G9X and LOVE them. Great phone app that I can control/program everything from my phone, we use ear buds with them that plug into the speaker output (great feature), great "voice activated" hands free operation..Only drawback to them is the Bluetooth feature has a slight interference with my GoPro camera that causes a bit of a random "click"

[Hotrodwing]

I have the SENA SMH10 for a few  years now and is outstanding.  Like others have said firmware updates and functions are great. The only thing that I have to complain about is the battery life, It last to long my riding buddy thinks he has to talk all the time. 8 hrs straight and kept going Hope to buy the new 20s model soon .

[Argon0639]

Some really good info guys thanks!!  I was leaning toward Bluetooth anyway. It would be really nice to be able to communicate on long rides, especially with a group of bikes. The prices seem reasonable too. I never got anything in the past because Bluetooth wasn't a thing back then, and the other units were either junk or 10 grand. Lol. It's so nice to be able to come to this board and get real opinions!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Some really good info guys thanks!!  I was leaning toward Bluetooth anyway. It would be really nice to be able to communicate on long rides, especially with a group of bikes. The prices seem reasonable too. I never got anything in the past because Bluetooth wasn't a thing back then, and the other units were either junk or 10 grand. Lol. It's so nice to be able to come to this board and get real opinions!

Oh you'll get real opinions alright . I have the standard wired intercom on the I / S and like it fine. But I'm not a phone talker or GPS kind of guy, when I ride with the SoCal group most have the CB to communicate but for me it's not that clear to understand .

[Ice]

Hey Argon, I know Robin was selling a  Scala G4 for a real good price a while ago on the classifieds, may want to check and see if its still available.

[Argon0639]

Sweet! I'll check it out. Thanks!  

EDIT: Found it and emailed. Thanks!

[Colin]

Take a look at the Scala copies in eBay. I have a set of those and they work well and they even link with a friends Scala at a much cheaper price. There are 2 versions a long range and a short range, I have the long range although have never got the range suggested. Links by Bluetooth to my phone and satnav without issue.

[TDL]

I have the uclear. I like the boomless mike feature. Works great with Samsung s3 phone. I use phone for gps and ihart radio. You can answer phone hands free. Speakers have a very clear sound.

[czuch]

I use duct tape and enjoy the music of my Valk and the sound track of the ride.

[Willow]

I use duct tape and enjoy the music of my Valk and the sound track of the ride.

[mike72903]

Take a look at the Scala copies in eBay. I have a set of those and they work well and they even link with a friends Scala at a much cheaper price. There are 2 versions a long range and a short range, I have the long range although have never got the range suggested. Links by Bluetooth to my phone and satnav without issue.

Out of the 1000's of knockoffs on eBay do you have a particular name or link to the product you have had good luck with?

[Argon0639]

The music part is ok, but it's more the rider to passenger communication. The unit on the classifieds was sold FYI, thanks though. I'll post again with a review when I get something which should hopefully be pretty soon.