bike 2 bike com system

[martin_14]

I remember there being plenty of info on the old forum (RIP) but here I could not find much. What is out there to communicate with your riding mates? What are you guys using? Any info would be greatly appreciated. And if you can also tell me how do you couple it with the navigation system.
Thanks!

[Jeremy Mitchell]

I love my Sena SMH-10.  I have it paired with my Android phone for navigation (Navigon app), MP3, and sometimes I'll even answer the phone if my wife calls.   

The range is supposed to be around 900 feet but I have only tested it out to 100~ meters.  Clear as a bell and the battery life is very good at around 12 hours while listening to music and getting turn by turn prompts.

[ZG]

I remember there being plenty of info on the old forum (RIP) but here I could not find much. What is out there to communicate with your riding mates? What are you guys using? Any info would be greatly appreciated. And if you can also tell me how do you couple it with the navigation system.
Thanks!

Lot's of good info on this thread below Martin, happy hunting!
 
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=328.msg35360#msg35360
 

[556ALPHA]

I love my Sena SMH-10.  I have it paired with my Android phone for navigation (Navigon app), MP3, and sometimes I'll even answer the phone if my wife calls.   

The range is supposed to be around 900 feet but I have only tested it out to 100~ meters.  Clear as a bell and the battery life is very good at around 12 hours while listening to music and getting turn by turn prompts.

+1

[VirginiaJim]

+2  I like that it can be upgraded internally via firmware now.

[bbhzx12]

I use the brake light to indicate I'm stopping, and turn signals when I need gas.

Seriously I have a Cardo Scala Rider and it's OK, not great.  Seems to give a lot of background noise when connected to another headset, and audio volume doesn't get loud enough.
Good luck.

[roadie]

I started with the Scala Q2, was great, but could not stream music via bluetooth from my iphone.  Upgraded to the G4, and its amazing.  bike-to-bike with my son is awesom (he's still on Q2), volumn is great...sometimes I even have to turn it down.  Streaming music-->awesome.  It interfaces with my Tom Tom Rider 2, but I generally don't do it.   Voice commands work on both for making calls, etc.   I give it two thumbs up.

[dgshaffer]

I'm so friggin old school it's not even funny anymore!

I have an Autocom AVI PRO as a comm unit. Through that I have my Zumo 550 which includes my XM, and radar detector. For bike to bike I have a Kenwood 3101 GMRS that has a near mile range through the twisties, more on the open road. It's setup up with a PTT switch so the conversations with the wife don't get broadcast.

I ride two up most times so it was a necessity to have a good comm unit that works at speed which most in the past didn't do very well. We can talk "and be understood" at triple digit speeds. Autocoms noise canceling mic and software at one point was the best you could buy other than the Baher units.

I once took a call from a customer and held a conversation for 20 minutes while traveling at 70mph on the highway and he never knew I was on my bike.

[C14_Rider]

Five of the Bluetooth helmet communication systems were reviewed in Rider mag in the July issue, also available on-line minus a few of the photos: http://www.ridermagazine.com/motorcycle-gear-buyers-guides/bluetooth-helmet-headset-buyers-guide.htm

[Rhino]

I have a BlueAnt F4 and I definitely do NOT recommend it. I have used it with some success with my son but it is a PIA to use and the sound quality is marginal. It has difficulty pairing with another F4 unit. It takes a couple of minutes to do it and it will only pair with one other F4 device. So if you want to talk to more than one other person forget it. I got primarily for bike to bike but did try it with my phone. It pairs fine with my Android phone but does not work as advertised. Only through trial and error have I gotten it to receive a call and outgoing calls forget about it unless you do it from the phone itself. Don't really care about that because I don't really want to talk on the phone while riding. I can play music from the phone but cannot control the music from the F4 unit. So before I start riding I have to start the music app on the phone, pick the playlist and start the music. All the built in voice commands in the unit and controls from the 3 buttons do not work well with my android phone. What I really want is a bluetooth system that can communicate with multiple riders. But that doesn't seem to exist yet.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

[snip] What I really want is a bluetooth system that can communicate with multiple riders. But that doesn't seem to exist yet.

You mean like a Sena or Scala?  My Sena can pair with up to three additional units IIRC.

[ZG]

You mean like a Sena or Scala?  My Sena can pair with up to three additional units IIRC.

Yep, my Scala G4 connects 4 as well...

[Rhino]

Well ok then, I apparently bought the wrong unit. Will definitely look into a Sena or Scala. Problem is I have 3 other riding buddies that already have BluAnt. I'll have to talk them into changing.

[wally_games]

Looking at the Sena website and found a "new" product, the SMH5.
http://www.senabluetooth.com/products/smh5.php?tab_menu=overview

Swapped emails with a Sena "Customer Support Engineer" and found that this is new and hasn't been released yet, but I think it's definitely worth thinking about. Less range bike-to-bike and slightly less talk time, but much lower cost. I'm sure there are other differences, but I don't really know enough about the technology to be sure if it's "better" or not. Maybe some of you guys can comment.

Although Sena doesn't show it for sale on their site yet, I found it online for preorder and expected release later this month.
http://www.jcmotors.com/p-30350-sena-smh5-motorcycle-bluetooth-headset-and-intercom.aspx
$114.75 and free shipping!!