Ducati Monster Forum

So i know some of you older die hards are going to bash me for wanting to stay connected to the outside world while riding instead of enjoying the grumble of the monsters engine and the whistle of the wind. Dont get me wrong, i love that...i love the sound of my engine (Full Remus Exhaust) but luckily its loud enough that even with skull candy ear buds in with music playing i can easily hear my pipes  [thumbsup] however i have been looking into these blue-tooth headsets for full face helmets for some time now...and many of the reviews have come back either amazing...or horrible....and the things aren't cheap! so if i do buy one i want to get the most for my money of course...l [roll] The reason for wanting the system is for when i take my girl out on the bike with me....surprisingly enough i actually enjoy her company and wouldn't mind sharing our experiences while we ride...not just reminiscing after we stop. Also it would be nice to take calls while im on my boring straight line commute too and from work....and not to mention i love listening to music while i ride...i just feel that a little rock playing in my ears makes me feel a little more aggressive through the twisties...as well as making wind noise and the bore of SoCal freeway riding more bearable....

So let me know what  you guys may have, have used, have heard of....what you think...and what you would recommend! The ones ive looked at so far are the Blinc M1 blue-tooth headset, The chatterbox Xbi2, and the sena SMH10, the Sena looks like the best for the money...but idk...

Let me know what you guys think!! [popcorn]

i have the oneal tirade. I think its a amazing helmet for the price (and i have a shoei x12).  The wind buffetting, or lack thereof is great. Weight? pretty good. Looks? AWESOME!  Plus it has Bluetooth. To be perfectly honest, the phone feature doesnt work.. im sure because my pipes are too damn loud.  (m1100 w/akro db killers removed).  So i pull over to make phone calls. I can somewhat here the music when im riding, kinda like background noise.. so it doesnt interfere with road/car sounds.  What i mostly use it for though, gps. works pretty well since, it only speaks when Im approaching a direction change, then I just glance at my phone .. which is mounted on my top triple.  Summary: phone calls, not audible above 20-25 mph?  Your experience may likely be different.

I've been using this helmet for almost 2 years (not exclusively though). 

(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae71/datdudeHX/Blogs/41ChCdLop8L_SS400_.jpg)

It's pretty good, nothing spectacular.  Volume is ok, sound quality is decent.  It's nice to put on music on my way in to work.  I start work very early in the morning, so there are not too many cars around.  On my trip home I usually just sync it to my phone without music.

Ever since I changed my slip on, I haven't been able to hear the incoming call notification sound.  [evil]

I have the SMH10 and it works great. I have a loud helmet (soumy spec1) and use earplug and I have no complaints on the volume and clarity of these units. Pairing with my IPhone was simple and I am able to listen to music and make calls handsfree. Unit to unit coms work great too, used it at 110+mph with no problems (boring endless dessert). Range is good too as long as there is a line of sight with other unit.

I've had a Vega V-Tune for over a year, and I've beaten on it pretty good and its stood up to the beating.  Overall, I've very pleased.

This is something I have been looking into for quite sometime and I have looked into the V-Tune and the O-Neal bluetooth helmets. I have found thru various searches that its quality is hit or miss. But just recently I have found a helmet that has been reviewing quite well and its bluetooth unit is removable and replaceable. Which to me is a must  since electronics break and I want to be able to replace it. The helmet is called the Nolan N43 Trilogy the bluetooth doesn't come with the helmet but is a accessory. I think they are on the right track because the same bluetooth module fits into there other bluetooth capable helmets. So if you want another helmet you aren't SOL in features. Here is the link to the helmet I'm sure you can find more but it has reviewed well.



http://www.revzilla.com/product/nolan-n43-trilogy-helmet (http://www.revzilla.com/product/nolan-n43-trilogy-helmet)

I am very old school so you may have an idea where this is going........

If you want to stay in constant contact with the outside world ...... to hell with it (putting it nicely)... stay in your car, or better yet, at home.

I don't even abide music. That's another car deal.  Motorbiking ... you got the wind, the road noise and your engine/exhaust.  That's all I want and all I think you need. The outside world forces itself on me enough all week long without having to come into my riding.

Call me a Luddite. I don't give a shit. Just my two cents. Or common, basic sense if you will.

Look at all your personal forum information layout text ..... maybe you want to re-phrase some of that --- LOL

And just so you know...... no hating here....... just an opinion & finding irony (for lack of a better description) in the original post.   ;D

 I agree with you. I origanly got my headset because I'm a caregiver for my mother and I have to be reachable most of the time. With this bit of tech I'm able to able to enjoy the free time I have and still be contacted if needed.
 The other features of the Sena were not that important to me, but as I used them I started to enjoy them greatly.

Hi,
I have been using the U-Clear HBC100 on a Shoei RF1100 for the last 5 months and have been very happy with it. It is used mostly for listening to music stored on my phone, but I have tested the intercom feature with a passenger on the back - nice and clear sound. I have taken calls on it, and that works pretty good too. One of the advantages of the unit is that it does not have a boom mic in front of your mouth - the mic is very small and embedded into the ear speakers.

I just got back from a 1,400 mile road trip and this thing was a godsend!

Have a look:
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/uclear-hbc-100-bluetooth-communicator (http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/uclear-hbc-100-bluetooth-communicator)

Patrick

Agreed, I can't imagine yaking on the phone while I'm on my bike.  What's next?  Cupholders?  Built in DVD player?  Heated and cooled seats?

I have a cheapo VCan with Bluetooth built in.  The helmet was a little over $100, and it already has Bluetooth, and it's ECE something or the other spec.

It's not the most plush helmet -- the quality of the lining is more like a basic dirt bike helmet, kinda thin, but for a hundo...

The Bluetooth works well with my iPhone 4, and it communicates with another helmet (got one for Mrs M900 too -- actually, she bought the pair) without a hitch.  Music plays well, but the sound quality is poor, then again, high f fidelity is probably not my concern while blasting The Stooges into my helmet.

Either way, for longs trips, I'm still taking my Schuberth because it's my most comfortable lid.

(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r41/96monster900/8e49cac0.jpg)

I don't know what to think about all this negativity toward embracing technology. I am sure every previous generation hates new things the current gen has newly available. I bet when Automatic Transmission cars came out all the old school people thought it was lazy and dumb or whatever.

I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here but if you opinion is valid then mine is equally as valid just on the opposite side of the fence. The Monster 796 I just got has ABS I see tons of people say ABS is not good etc etc I myself prefer to have it and I can turn it off anytime I want. Maybe I see things differently because I am in the IT field and have a passion for new things but thats just my opinion.

I do completely agree with anyone that says if you can't hear or become distracted then it could be a safely issue for a rider. That is a given and a very valid point with any audio device a rider uses. Just to point out something how many of yall wear earplugs? Doesn't that block sound too?

I know text doesn't have tone so I'm not trying to start anything just wanting to make anyone that reads this to really think about what they are really saying.

i'm old school, i don't even listen to my ipod. it's just looking ahead and listening to the road and my surroundings. i actually feel more at ease when i'm on the bike and i feel like these things would take away from it.

  I just bought the SHM-10 dual pack a week ago for me and my friends ride to Moto Gp next week. I used them for about an hour so far and they work great and seem well built and very easy to use and set up, I bought the newer version with firm ware upgradable software and also ordered the earbud accessory instead of the regular speakers.
 The only problem we've had is that my friend bought the cheapest helmet(cycle gear, bilt $70) since he uses half helmets with his cruiser and there is loud wind noise from his helmet and we are looking for a wind blocking solution, other than that, my set works great.
 

Isn't that called a Harley [cheeky]

I'm old school, just about as old as dirt, but I'd like to be able to have reliable bike to bike communication.  Several years ago my girlfriend and I road from Alaska to the Grand Canyon and tried out a 2 way radio system.  It was a real POS, but when it worked is was very useful.  We didn't spend time with small talk only important stuff like, "would you pull over at the next bush, I got to pee like a damn river."  So, I'm interested in a simple system for bike to bike communication.  Any recommendations.  Something I can use with my Shoe RF-1000.  It be nice if it used earbuds that block our noise like earplugs do. 

not for me.. one of the main reason I own the bikes is to get away from the cell phone calls

also I think if you are taking calls on your bike you have no room to complain about those doing it in their cars...and I complain about that a lot....

saw a guy on an R1 the other day w/ no gear but he had an i-pod...you could tell his body was on autopilot while his brain was focused on the music....oblivious to his surroundings

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35667.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=35667.0)

BlueAnt F4 here... works great. Tho, I think Interphone isn't making them anymore.

As for the whole "focus" discussion... I find that having the music while riding actually helps me focus on my riding, especially on longer travels.

I agree that phone calls can be distracting when operating ANY motor vehicle. Phone calls can be ignored... same as in a car. But to talk about the functionality of it... I have taken calls while riding (and made calls, via voice), and have had no issues. One button connects the call, and music automatically starts back when the call ends. 

I agree with you in past rides I would get fatigued and lose focus just because my mind wasn't being engaged enough. I haven't rode listening to anything yet but when I get to the states in Sept I will totally try it and see how I feel about it.

One of the main reasons I want Bluetooth audio in my helmet was to link my GPS up to it and talk to my GF on trips. Music was just a secondary thing and wasn't even important to me but if I'm alone then music would be something I would listen too more often then nothing.

As far as a phone all I have is a 3g iPad and not a cell phone. I prefer the large screen size because of my very large hands and want to just carry one device. I use Skype or Google Voice to make or receive calls and would use that with a Bluetooth helmet. I would rather someone text me or sent me a IM via Gtalk and even then I would respond when I felt like it if at all.

I use the Scala by Cardo. They work really good. I use them for riding with my family. It's cool to be able to communicate with eachother while on a ride. And I can connect to my cell or gps with bluetooth or mp3 via cord. I don't use the cell or anything, I just like being able to tell everyone I have to pee. 

Midland Bt2 here.  Works good.  Took a while to figure out how the buttons worked with my phone (using phone for GPS, MP3 and receiving calls), but I eventually got it to work.

Sena SMH10... love it. Got it for the longer week long trips with my buddy trips with. I also got it to ride with my wife. She's a new rider and it's great because I can help her and give her tips while she rides her ninja 250....