1200 What Bike Comms?

After much reading and researching for (literally) years, I was convinced to try a BT solution (although everything told me that wired comms was the way to go). I went for the Interphone solution (F5). Although I went for the rider-pillion set, lacking a standard pillion for travel, I can only comment on the solo rider experience. For what you will read here, I assume that when travelling you use a set of earplugs, ALL the time. These headsets are designed with that in mind (actually without earplugs they are way too powerful, even on their low volume settings, although I am known to have a more than sensitive ear).

First of all, why I went for this instead of other renowned firms? It all comes down to one thing: waterproofness. It really bugs me that since this is a device addressed mainly to those that travel with their bikes, most of them are NOT waterproof. Not even water resistant. I really don't get it. And this one actually IS (tried and tested). I have actually thrown away other devices that have not been waterproof and where washed by the occasional rain.
It's microphone does an excellent job of cancelling wind/bike noise. I have talked on the phone with people while riding at 160 km/h and they had no clue I was on the bike. The quality of the speakers though leaves a lot to be desired. It's not that it's difficult to hear but when playing music, the quality is below par, at least to my ears. But maybe I am a bit picky. When I demand some more volume the distortion on treble is very evident. Not really a deal breaker but something to have in mind.
There are a lot of functions and it has an FM receiver which I use very often. I did not have any connectivity issues, either with a smartphone or with the pillion.
In order to talk to the pillion (or select any other function) you need to press the central button. This is the biggest nuisance for me. The central button is quite vague, especially with gloves on. And it means that you get your hands of the bar every time you need to change something. This is fiddly as well as dangerous. However, it works. The other buttons (up, down, left, right) are much easier to operate. This is all due to the hard rubber for water protection.
There are a lot of memories for storing FM stations.
A full battery will last for 4-5 hours. I find this quite good.
When travelling I may have, a navigator running, together with playing music. When an instruction is about to be played, the music pauses and the GPS comes into play. As soon as it finishes, the music continues. If you receive a phone call, it takes precedence over everything else. Answering a phone call is the only thing you can do with voice command. You just shout something at the microphone and the call is answered and you can start talking. This whole thing works actually very well.

What I would really like:
The outside speaker function that I think exists in one of Sena's models (correct me if I am wrong). When stopping at tolls, it would be great to just stop everything playing and switch the helmets' speakers to outside noise (whoever is talking to you). It would really be great (or at a petrol station for example).
Voice commands. It's techonology that has been tested now and it should be implemented in all such devices. Also starting a conversation with your pillion without pressing any buttons would be great.

If you need more info on the specific model I have, let me know.

P.S. You definitely need an intercom. It's one of the best gadgets to have. And go for the BT. Wires don't cut it anymore.

 

Just come home from a 3k mile tour using a scala rider sho-1 and a scala rider g9x and cant recommend them enough, quickly change from intercom to music/radio with easy voice commands, all day battery life (8-9 hrs) dont take long to charge, good speaker volume
Great piece of kit

Only used these bike to bike but i imagine rider to pillion would be just the same

 

I've got a Scala G9x system that me and the other half use bike to bike. It's been pretty good although the range can be a bit hit and miss.
The only problem I have now is that since getting my Panigale, the VOX function is activated every time I accelerate hard :Wideyed:
Think I'm going to have to just use the buttons from now on and disable the VOX :Bookworm:

 

I've done many thousands of miles using Sena SMH5. Generally very good, easy to use, and the newer style (larger) speakers are loud enough at motorway speeds. Battery life is literally all day - 10hrs+.

Only slight issue we've had is twice water has got in. However, I plan to apply silicone grease to the main connector port before our next trip, and I think that'll cure it. Last time we forgot to charge one of the headsets before we left, so I was charging it while we rode, and I think some rain got in to the audio socket while it was unplugged (and I was fumbling around with it in the pouring rain). This interrupted audio. However, a couple of hours later we were out of the rain and it had fully dried out in my tankbag (we were in the South of France by then, and it was warm!) and it was fine. We've done several thousand miles since with zero problems, and are generally exceptionally happy with our choice.

We love having an intercom - makes a massive difference, and it's the one essential thing we'd never do without.

I believe Autocom do a BT system now. I had a wired Autocom unit years ago and it was really excellent. I'd seriously consider that, although it's pretty expensive.

 

starcom for me ...5000k round trip to italy...system worked perfectly...its got the capability to wire in phone..music etc but i didnt bother with that...as a rider to pillion intercom it rocks !

 

interfone F5
italian supplier on ebay cheapest by far. the 2 pack (matched pair) is the best value

 

Got my Sena 20S 2nd hand-great for all I need, especially linking with other make intercoms

 

Cheap ebay one £30

 

Schuberth C3 with the SRS collar for coms. Great helmet, great coms. Thats all! Jon.

 

I've been looking for a intercom to talk to my pillion whilst riding. I don't require any other functionality than just being able to check that my lad is ok on the back. Reluctant to pay out big bucks on a intercom I installed the motochat app on my phone and my lads phone. We're both using the app with the apple headphones and so far I'm impressed. We are able to hold a conversation over the engine noise of my 848. For £1.49 it was well worth the app if you just need to chat to your pillion.

 

Sold my scala G4's having issues with connection on the DVT ... If thinking of scala I wouldn't go for anything less than the G9's as they seem to work at least. Anything less than that I think you'll have issues.
I brought a new set of Interphone 4's Pro Sound and they work as they should and the sound is so much better than my old tinny Scala's to a point they were annoying. Can hear over 100mph + with Interphones ..great bit of kit.