Bike to Bike Communicators

[sprint_st]

I'm researching bike to bike communicators.  I'm only going to buy a single set but would like to be compatible with as many other riders as possible.  Most, if not all will not communicate with other brands so I'm trying to determine if there is a predominate unit. Please add what type you have if you choose other.

[SLK50]

You know, it's funny. Just a few years ago lots of riders
used Motocomm headsets with FRS radios. It allowed
full multiplexing of unlimited number of riders for several
miles for less than 100.00 per rider.
Now, everyone wants BT which allows fewer riders over
shorter distances unless they're daisy-chained within
the same brand and at much higher cost.
So much for progress.

I think you'll find the the Sena units rather popular.

[sprint_st]

You know, it's funny. Just a few years ago lots of riders
used Motocomm headsets with FRS radios. It allowed
full multiplexing of unlimited number of riders for several
miles for less than 100.00 per rider.
Now, everyone wants BT which allows fewer riders over
shorter distances unless they're daisy-chained within
the same brand and at much higher cost.
So much for progress.

I think you'll find the the Sena units rather popular.

I could still cobble up something but what I want is to get off my bike, flip up the visor and go to the can without any wires attached. But like you say, we take one step forward and two back.  I tried AutoComm and FRS.  As long as you bought pricey Kenwood or Motorola gear you could get yours to work.  Then came getting other riders to sort out their problems.  BT ain't perfect by a long shot but at least it is possible to get a group of riding buddies to settle on one setup.  If they don't then they don't talk to some people.

[Cablebandit]

I voted Sena before reading the purpose of your post.  Now I'll say Uclear.  









 







The lack of wires and ability to stream/control mp3 players is the real advantage to any Bluetooth setup.

[MidLifeMike]

Predominant - I'd still say Scala in one flavor or another. That is coming from what I observe on the street and what I see retailers carrying. Don't forget that to a retailer a product's features and quality are often outweighed by the margin they can make on the unit and other dealer incentives. When they switch brands it's often because the previous brand's distributors wouldn't play ball on discounts. I've seen this first hand this year with headsets and cameras like the GoPro vs Contour.
Then there is the 'easy sell' when a new customer walks in and asks for a "Scala" like they are asking for a Kleenex. Why mess with that? was the answer.

Function
Personally I have a pair of Sena SMH10 in the original version that were initially for chat with my novice passenger/girlfriend so she wasn't just luggage until the next pull over. On solo, I was just really impressed at the simplicity and sound quality of taking a phone call via BT to my smartphone.
None of my riding buddies has the least interest in communicating so I still can't comment on that score.
Definitely wear ear foam when using them. Sound clears up significantly and there is plenty of volume. Play with speaker positioning before concluding there is a lack of volume.

Construction
The unit has taken some abuse including being totally immersed in water and it kept operating but I couldn't shut it off so the battery eventually depleted. Once it dried out on its own - maybe two weeks - it fully recovered and that was 18 months ago. The little phone button felt mushy then recovered so maybe the rubber contact cover got filled with water and needed to dry out.
It also took a blow or two and some small scratches when my helmet rolled on a parking lot. In all the only mechanical issue has been the strain relief for the boom mic separated from the main unit so the mic would droop. Silicone repair wasn't stiff enough - I went with some epoxy and poked it back in.

Yup, would be good if the manufacturers would play nice and use a standard comm of some kind, like Beta or VHS -  

[Stripes]

I chose other. I liked Chatterbox products in the past, but now I love the BMW Bluetooth Communications Systems.  You asked...

[dorklord]

You know, it's funny. Just a few years ago lots of riders
used Motocomm headsets with FRS radios. It allowed
full multiplexing of unlimited number of riders for several
miles for less than 100.00 per rider.
Now, everyone wants BT which allows fewer riders over
shorter distances unless they're daisy-chained within
the same brand and at much higher cost.
So much for progress.

I think you'll find the the Sena units rather popular.

My wife and I tried the MotoComm headsets, both of the headset systems had failed by the end of our first trip (3 day weekend ride, no rain), plus you have to deal with the PIA of wires running all over, and having somewhere to put the radio itself...

We're using some older Scala bluetooth units now, which worked much, much better. If someone made something that was like these bluetooth headsets, but using FRS radio instead of bluetooth for semi-long-range communication, they would probably sell pretty well.

I know that there are now some newer units that our Scala set, and I assume they are probably better as far as range or features, but the Q2s work well, we haven't really had range issues (we tend to stick fairly close together on rides, though, and I understand not everyone does this).

FRS might be nice when it is more than the just the two of us, though the other people we ride with have Goldwings, so they all use CB radios...

[Rincewind]

I'm an Interphone F5 user.  I installed an F4 on my wife's helmet as well, but heck if we communicate much with it anymore.  I know of only one other local rider using Interphone.  Quite a few of my STN friends use Sena, so that seems the most popular choice to me.  

The one thing that irks me somewhat about the F5 is that it won't run for an entire day of riding if I stream music.  It dies after maybe 8-9 hours.  I used an Autocom/CB wired system before - sure you have to deal with wires, but with that you don't have to deal with chargers and limited battery life.

[M.Brane]

  Viffergyrl, and I use a pair of Midland GXT1000 GMRS radios. Range is excellent. They've been rained on multiple times, and still work fine. Less than $200 for the whole setup (both bikes).

  The only downsides are the wire, and we sometimes get other traffic on the channel. I've been looking for a way to integrate the radios into a wireless headset/mic setup with additional inputs, but the only stuff I've seen that looks robust enough to survive is very pricey. For now I'll live with the wire.

[Rincewind]

There is a radio/BT device from Interphone called the Tribe, but I don't know if it's available in the US.

[pcrdude]

I had a Scala G4, and now have the Sena "B" model.  The Sena is $100 less, has almost all the same features (sans auto-volume), and is easier to operate.

The Scala?  Well, lets just say they are not designed to last:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,73207.0.html

YMMV

[Andrew]

A few years ago I had a FMRS-GMRS radio connected to my Starcom, using a PTT button next to grips. Worked well but hated the chatter (Bla Bla Bla Bla OH look at that, WOW I haven't seen a gas station like that, I know we just stopped 3 miles back but I have to pee)
   That was the end for me. I took it off  the bike as soon as I got home. I do however have the cell connected BT to the GPS and wired to the helmet (the wife likes to check in now and then and being she is staying home with the kids I have no issues)