Really showing my ignorance here, so please bear with me and assume I know nothing. Whistle. The Multistrada 1260 Enduro I’ve recently picked up has come fitted with a TomTom Rider42, and from the Owners manual I understand the bike can Bluetooth to 20 devices. I’ve never even considered being able to take a phone call whilst on the move on a bike, likewise listen to music. But with this new(to me) bike I would like to be able to hear the instructions from the TomTom, and if I’m setting that up I might as well have the ability to listen to music or the radio via my phone, and even answer a call. I really can’t see Lady Nasher, or anyone else, wanting to spend long on the Pillion seat, and I don’t ever ride with anyone else, but I suppose it would be good to have the ability to talk to another rider if I did ever manage to make a friend or two! I don’t really know where to start to be honest. I’ve seen these which appear to be good value for money: https://jsaccessories.co.uk/product/interphone-ucom-3-bluetooth-59186 I’m assuming the intercom connects direct to the TomTom via Bluetooth to receive instructions. But then the intercom connects to my Phone via BT and my phone connects to the bike so the call details etc appear on the dash. Or does everything connect to the bike and it all sorts itself out. As mentioned I’m completely ignorant of this sort of thing, so be gentle with me and don’t chuckle at me too much. Thanks
Using the bike as a ‘hub’ gives you the use of the bike’s controls to select various options. No idea how good it is because I’m in the “why would you distract yourself whilst riding a bike” camp. Most posts on the V4 Sigic by Ducati say it’s crap, ending up with a bad case of CBA. Your TomTom will drive you insane (as will Garmin) with their own mapping software but MRA is proving to be the way forward (at a cost) if you really want to use the sat nav for guidance. After market helmet comms are divisive with Cardo and Sena dominating the current market but don’t talk to each other except in universal mode which uses the default lower technology. Standard bluetooth is being superseded by (their own version of) Mesh. If you are ever going to ride with friends, you need something with a good range. The Sena has voice command so you can operate your phone (pre set numbers) talk to google/siri on a paired phone and listen to the inbuilt FM radio and hear your sat nav directions but not all at the same time. Lots of useful info on sat navs, comms and like, you just need to find the right key words to search the forum …… and have several hours of free time Andy
Adding 2 cents: While ive not got a state of the art bike with all the new stuff. Ive done a fair bit of research on the comms side. This info wont be in order but more how it falls out of my head.... Up til last year i had an interphone f5 which i bought as pair with my mate. On that base statement its absolutely one of the best things you can have while riding a bike...period. The f5 went faultlessly up til last year, then i went back to the drawing board as i was looking around again. Initially i bought a Senna but sent it back as it didnt fit my simpson very well, plus one thing that i read but never luckily had the chance to experience is when they get wet they stop working...its even in the instructions ( i think they state extreme water ingress ).... I then went back to interphone and bought a UCOM16 https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/537620 - 2 of my mates have them as well, weve not had an issue. If youre one that goes to the TT there are some shops in Douglas that pop up for it...i got mine there as my F5 broke at the TT and they were 40 quid cheaper than the cheapest internet deal at the time...i think i paid 150 for mine... Oh the other thing is that the OS's that run senna and intercom are exactly the same....so they connect to each other with no issues (my mate has an inbuilt senna on his new lid)
I am not familiar with the 1260, but generally with my V4 Rally (and previous BMWs). I do the following... 1) Connect phone and helmet to the bike for calls and the Ducati App (if you want that). My Rally Bluetooth connection to Samsung S23/Schuberth C5 helmet is rock solid - a nice change from my previous bikes. 2) Connect the phone (data only, no calls/contacts) and helmet (audio only no calls) to the Navi and that kind of works OK, but not great! As commented on above, Sygic is "average" in my view. Using MRA and the Garmin will cause you less pain. Hope that helps, Peter
Thanks all, I appreciate your help. Andy, the only land based SatNav I use at the moment is the built in one in my Landrover. Anything has to be better than that. The Raymarine chartplotter on my boat on the other hand despite being way over the top for what I need is really intuitive to use. That comfysofa is interesting. I’m not sure I want to buy anything that would give up when wet, and my helmet at the moment is a Carbon Simpson Bandit, which fits me well and I’m really happy with, so don’t want to change it just yet. What was the fit issue?
The latest (and most expensive Sena) the S60 is now IP67 rated. You get two mounting options, Scottish sticky pads and a clamp that sandwiches the helmet shell. My independent Helmet City branch near Oxford has well informed and experienced staff. Other reputable helmet suppliers are, I’m sure, available. Andy
Yes, thanks Peter, of course, the Ducati App is something else I've no idea about, and no idea if I want or not.
Thanks Andy I have a J&S a couple of miles away, at least one of the guys in there is really helpful, I might pop in.
I've gone from a Sena 10U in my GTR air to an Sena SRL3 in my new Neotec 3. Both are completely within in the shell of the helmet so protected from the elements as well as any knocks the external wart style comms units aren't. No issue with the 10U, aside from a lead failure due to me swapping from one helmet to another (my bad), expecting the SRL3 to be as reliable. My touring buddy also has a 10U and is unlikely to upgrade any time soon so we have full compatibility for bike-to-bike. As to the question from @Nasher; re. connecting via the bike. I've never bothered, it's another connection, why bother when you can control via the sat nav. My experience is Garmin and MRA via the phone or an Android Auto panel though, not TomTom. Using the fiddly controls on the bike is more distracting IMHO. Tend to ignore the phone anyway when riding (one exception was when following a mate to hospital and the ambulance crew used his phone to tell me twice that they were diverting elsewhere). I only occasionally listen to music on long boring motorway rides.
The main thing (and only simpson owners would know) is the base of the helmet is very straight....if you put your simpson on a table (theres not much of a gap) between the table and the arch of the lid - the problem with the Senna was that it protruded down by about 3/4 of an inch...so when you put it on a table it rested on one side...and would scuff the bottom of the Senna. The mounting system of the interphone is on the side so, no issue. This is mine.... https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com...o_racing_helmets/speedway_shark/parts/770712C
There's a small gap under my Bandit, but not much: https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/products/motorcycle/helmets/full_face/ghost_bandit/parts/GBDLC And I'd have to fit it round the Tinted inner visor lever.
Looking at the S60, it’s more low profile than the S50 but I’d say it won’t fit your Simpson. This is the S50 fitted to an XS X-Lite. Andy
Thanks Andy. Looks like I'm going to have to rethink this! I also need to pull the lining out of the Simpson to see what space is in there. .
