Posts in category

Motorcycle Intercom Reviews


Big Button Remote for UClear Intercoms UClear took their own unique path with the new HBC Remote, introduced at the 2015 AIMExpo (report). It works with any UClear HBC100 (review) or UClear HBC200 (review) intercom system. The intercoms must have the new “Sawtooth” firmware installed first. The remote has a strip of hook-and-loop that fits over the hand grip and …

Ruggedized Interphone Off Road Intercom for Adventure Touring November 2014 (Press release edited by webBikeWorld.com) – Interphone announced the “World’s first  intercom system designed exclusively for the world of off-road travel”, the Interphone Off Road. The system has some unique features that should make it very useful for off-road adventures. Following is an edited press …

SR10 Features Part 2: SR10 Features The SR10 impresses. It is the solution for connecting and managing multiple devices and leverage the advantages provided by a common radio while still maintaining a wireless connection with the helmet, with portability and multi-system compatibility. Does it do everything I expected? Not completely. But considering Bluetooth features and limitations, along …

Sena 20S Intercom Review Better, much better… Going down the road with the new 20S system is much smoother than what we reported upon in the initial Sena 20S Review Part 1: First Impressions posted way back in July of this year. The Sena team deserves kudos for their continued updates and evolution of this new system; …

Sena SR10 Form, Fit and Functionality Part 3: Sena SR10 Form and Function All of the nitty-gritty details regarding the construct of the SR10 were provided in Part One of the Sena SR10 review, so I won’t repeat everything here but will instead focus on what I see as some salient form observations. The SR10 is …

Using the SR10 Part 4: Using the Sena SR10 This is “where the rubber meets the road: in a sense. And with a lot of time spent in testing and using the SR10 adapters with many different devices over the last several months, its strengths, weaknesses, limitations and “bugs” become evident. Two of the radio …

SR10 Software Management Part 5: Software Management As lamented at the end of Part Two: Sena SR10 Features, a few issues and observations impacting SR10 functionality and performance remained outstanding, so I was really looking forward to the first firmware update. Nevertheless, continued use of both SR10 systems, along with a growing list of Bluetooth helmet …

SR10 Compatibility With Other Intercoms Part 6: SR10 Compatibility With the version 1.1 firmware incrementally loaded, I repeated most of the common pairing and functionality tests with the updated SR10 devices and Bluetooth headset systems. As applicable, observations regarding functionality and performance between the two firmware versions and the respective Bluetooth systems paired with the …

Midland BT2-D Bluetooth Motorcycle Intercom This section describes the BT2-D system in use, along with a summary of the features and the conclusion. Using the Midland BT2-D System The BT2-D intercom works seamlessly. Whether in VOX or manual mode, session initiation takes only a second or two. A session can be initiated by either user, …

New BMW Motorcycle Zumo Navigator GPS System Based on Garmin Zumo Ever since the introduction of BMW’s original Motorrad Navigator several years ago, sales of paper maps to BMW riders have fallen dramatically. Subsequent generations of Navigator II, Navigator II Plus and Navigator III GPS systems further revolutionized long distance route finding for riders with their fast …

Cardo Scala Rider G9 Intercom Review The new Cardo Scala Rider G9 has excellent build quality and it’s loaded with features. The intercom is available in a single kit or as the PowerSet two-pack, which comes paired and ready to go from the factory. The sound quality and volume is also excellent and the G9 …

BikeComm Hola Motorcycle Intercom Review The BikeComm Hola series motorcycle intercoms feature small Bluetooth modules with just three user buttons, standardized headset components and simple mounting options. System configuration is simple and the intercoms are easy to use and the Hola intercoms can be quickly mounted on most motorcycle helmet types. A specific focus for …

UClear HBC100 Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom Review The UClear HBC100 is a new system that successfully utilizes proven technology packaged in a very small form factor for efficiency, portability and versatility. The HBC100 intercom performance borders on spectacular with audio output on par with the best helmet systems we have evaluated to date. The system doesn’t …

Biker Com Bluetooth Motorcycle Intercom Communications System Common Radio Use With three sets of North American FRS/GMRS radios on hand and a lot of Biker Com connection cables (dual-pin L and K types) on hand I was eager to put the system through its paces. Determining if using a common radio system was going to …

Scala Rider G4 Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom Review Yes, the G4 is loaded with features. It is more advanced than previous Scala Rider systems and is a shining example of where the industry is going. No, the G4 is not the best performing system in my book. That decision is on hold, pending an extended evaluation …

Cardo Scala Rider G4 Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom Review The Cardo Scala Rider G4 (review) was released in early 2010. At that time, the company heralded the arrival of the G4 as the beginning of a new trend in delivering and continuously evolving their leading-edge Bluetooth helmet communications systems. That claim, and promise if you will, is clearly …

The Sena SMH-10: A Rider-to-Passenger Intercom Just to spice things up a bit, I added some photos of the Sena SMH10R, the newest Sena intercom that trades the “Jog Dial” for a new low-profile shape. We’ll have a review coming soon. A Long-Distance Trip I wrote two previous reviews of the Sena SMH10 intercom (“Sena …

2016 Interphone Intercoms Announced December 2015 (Press release edited by webBikeWorld.com) – Interphone announced three completely new intercom communication systems at the recent 2015 EICMA show in Milan. The Interphone Sport, Interphone Tour and Interphone Urban are each designed for specific segments of motorcycling. Interphone told us they contracted with the GFK Institute to conduct a detailed …

Sena SR10 Review: Part 1 of 6 The much-anticipated Sena SR10 Bluetooth “hub” has arrived! I viewed a prototype of the SR10 at the 2011 Dealer Powersports Expo (report) in Indianapolis back in February of this year. Sena has been working on the SR10 ever since and they sent a pair for this review. We’re …

Iasus GP3X2 Throat Mic System Review The Iasus GP3X2 helmet headset system is an extremely viable solution for those who do not need, or want all the latest bells ‘n’ whistles — wired or wireless. Well designed and well made, each component complements the other, forming a very functional system with impressive audio quality. The …

Intercom Microphone Cover Simple wind cover for motorcycle intercom systems helps reduce background wind noise. This is a tip adapted from the aviation industry. With so many variables it’s difficult to come up with a solution to headset wind noise that suits everybody. I’ve borrowed from the aviation industry for my solution. I ride a …

Connecting a Two-Way Radio to a Motorcycle Intercom System A case study in connecting a two-way radio to a motorcycle intercom system. Many motorcycle intercom owners would like to use their system to communicate with their friends, who may be using a different brand. Unfortunately, motorcycle Bluetooth intercom systems are not compatible. For example, there’s …

High-Tech Power Delivery for Today’s Motorcycles The Arboreal Systems Neutrino is the world’s first smartphone controlled power delivery system for motorcycles. It has six configurable circuits that handle up to 60 amps to connect and manage lighting systems, heated clothing circuits, GPS, radio, power outlets and other accessories The Neutrino eliminates or reduces the need …

MyFi XM Radio Review Seventy feet is 21.3 meters, or 841.5 inches.  That’s how much wire is used to connect the various accessories of the Delphi XM MyFi radio kit together.  It’s ironic that a device that most people consider to be wireless comes with 70 feet of the stuff. We received one of the …

wBW Special Report:  Choosing a Motorcycle Radio Antenna After my recent Jensen JHD-910 radio article was posted on webBikeWorld, an astute reader commented about the importance of the antenna. He and radio pioneer Marconi were absolutely correct, in that any radio depends on how well the antenna works. Because this article could be used for more …

Motorcycle Intercom Comparison Final Report Mea culpa, this Bluetooth Helmet System head to head is long (long) overdue. We are transitioning from the hot sticky days of summer to the cooler but more pleasant and colourful days of fall. This, along with prompts from the Editor, serves to remind me that a slightly reduced riding …

Part 2: 4,000 Miles With the Sena SMH-10 on the Trans-America Trail I loaned Chris another Sena SMH10 intercom pair for his latest adventure, a trip on the Trans-America Trail. This was the latest version of the SMH10, with the most recent firmware update. Chris is an experienced intercom owner and user but has limited …

AKE Electronics PowerCom ROGER One Intercom System The AKE Electronics PowerCom ROGER One system works, period. It is a pure communications device for those who want or need to stay in touch. If requirements or budget are modest, this is all one might ever really need. While the wired environment allows for a single radio …

HOLD THE PHONE! Four Smartphone Mounts for Your Motorcycle  Many motorcycle owners are now mounting a smartphone on their motorcycle. Not that I’m advocating taking and making actual phone calls; indeed, most of us try to get away from that aspect of our lives when we ride. So no, that’s not what I’m talking about. …

An Intercom Bargain? The SCS ETC S-1 Helmet Bluetooth Intercom is a Bluetooth v4.1 based system. It features fast device pairing, excellent audio switching and very good audio fidelity. It also has an external auxiliary input that supports any non-Bluetooth device using a 3.5 mm interface. Audio from the wired interface is not interrupted by …

UClear AMP Go and Pro Intercoms UClear has revised its Bluetooth intercom lineup with the new AMP systems. The popular UClear HBC100 (review) and UClear HBC200 (review) will be gone when current stock is depleted. There are now three AMP systems: the AMP, AMP Plus and AMP Pro. That’s more or less a “good, better, best” hierarchy, with the …

You Asked For It! The Interphone Tour is the new top-of-the-line Bluetooth 4.2 intercom system from Interphone. It marks a new direction for Interphone, as the Tour is quite different from the Italian company’s previous intercom systems. The new design is available in three versions: the Interphone Tour, Sport and Urban. Each is built on …

HD Speakers for Intercoms and Audio Devices The UClear Pulse Pro Headset and Pulse Pro Drop-In Speaker kits deliver superb audio. The HD (High Definition) sound extends from deep bass tones that can be felt in the helmet all the way to unwavering high tones. Whether you want an upgrade to the standard UClear headsets …

The Packtalk for Smaller Groups The new Cardo Scala Rider Smartpack is nearly identical to the revolutionary Cardo Packtalk intercom system (review). The main difference is that the Smartpack system can connect up to 4 riders in the “Dynamic Mesh Network” rather than 15. Also, the Smartpack range in DMC mode is rated at 5 km …

High-End Bread and Butter. The Sena 10S is the successor to the groundbreaking and hugely popular Sena SMH10 intercom (review), first released in 2010. Sena has released a flurry of intercoms since then (along with other Bluetooth devices) and they had to get this one right. Good news, SMH10 fans: the 10S is better in every …

Max Volume With iASUS EAR3 Micro Amp and XSound 2.1 Speakers The brand-new iASUS EAR3 amplifier is the latest generation of iASUS amps. We reviewed the original iASUS Diablo mobile amp back in 2011 and the EAR3 is an update to that device. The EAR3 uses the same “mini” form factor as the Diablo and it includes …

A Low Profile 10 Series The Sena 10R now holds the middle ground in the new Sena 10 series intercoms. If it looks familiar, you’re right! This is similar to the Sena SMH10R (review), which introduced the low profile format. In this design, the intercom and battery pack are separate modules. Stick ’em on your helmet, …

A Nicely Designed Remote for UClear Intercoms Introduced by UClear at the 2015 AIMExpo (report), the Editor provided first insight into this simple but very functional remote, referring to it as the “Big Button Remote”. And now that we have one in hand for testing, the description is indeed very apt. It has to be the most …

Cardo Packtalk Distance Test Results This is an addendum to the Cardo Scala Rider Packtalk intercom review. webBikeWorld readers had many questions about the range (distance) of the Packtalk system under varied conditions and with different numbers of intercoms in the “Pack”. Some early adopters reported disappointing range when using the Packtalk intercoms and that was …

Neutrino Black Box “Intelligent Device Controller” Version 2 of the Neutrino Black Box Intelligent Device Controller is the newest and most advanced system from Arboreal Systems. It’s small in size but delivers a large payload. This newest variant has tremendous flexibility as either a set-and-forget or interactive system allowing automated, semi-automated or manual control of …