Communication

[Montiniauto]

Hi new to the group just purchased 2020 RT limited. Petrol blue. Coming from Goldwing. Looking for ideas on communication. Goldwing had CB radio and wired headsets. What are the best options for group rides and helmet to helmet communication. Just not sure about Bluetooth set up. Or go with Serrria Elactronics handlebar mounted CB with wired head sets.

[Luvs2Ride]

Welcome... and congrats on your Spyder!!

We came from CB communications on my 2012 RTS and my husband's HD TriGlide. When we traded those bikes for our 2019's (his F3L) and my RTL we went to Siennas. I know our units can be set to include a group of riders, but we are our own 'group' of 2... so I can't say how easy or hard it might be to make that change. I'm sure others will chime in with that info.

I can say that it is r-e-a-l-l-y nice to no longer be wired to the bike, and that our sound quality is excellent.
Ride Safe!
Gina J

[GOZFST]

Wife and I have been riding since the mid 60's tried CB's and walkie talkies, gave up. This year we broke down and bought Sienna's from Motorcycle Dave here on Spyderlovers. What a pleasant surprise how well they work.

[LongIsland]

We use Cardo Packtalk communicate with Cardo and non-Cardo devices with no problems.

[KX5062]

Sena.

I did the wired walkie talkie thing many years ago and it was good for the time, but the new wireless tech is way better. However, CB is something I've never warmed up to and didn't do so if you're wanting to stay in the CB range someone else might have specific knowledge.

[Lew L]

Senas for years. An old SMH5 that still works just fine for my wife and I gab as we roll along.

[ARtraveler]

We have been using bike to bike helmet communicators for many years now. No CB's or cell phones.

Have been through most of the brands. Cardo, Nolan n-com, Sena and one other brand with I cannot remember. On our third set of Sena now...the most recent came built into the Bell Mag 9/Sena helmets.

We prefer Sena because it is the least noisy, and gives us about three to four blocks (line of sight) communication between bikes. Have not used the group features, it is just her and I when the communicators are in use.

[pegasus1300]

+1 on the Sena. Wife and use them for our personal intercom. She has the smh10 and I have an evo20s with up graded speakers. When I bought the Sena to begin with I bought them as a paired set. Riding in a frog killer rain coming home from San Diego in March my 10 got drowned so I replaced it with the 20. You might want to consider a paired set what ever you go with. Motorcycledave.com a sponsor here will set you up. Tell him what you want to do and he will get you set up. You do have to call him for prices.

[RICZ]

Whatever one you get, be sure it's Bluetooth 4.1 so it will pair with others. I see a lot of used Sena 20S for sale on many sources, including this forum. I bought 4 of them that way and paid no more than $125 per headset. One was even brand new in an unopened carton. They work great and are easy to learn and operate.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Hi new to the group just purchased 2020 RT limited. Petrol blue. Coming from Goldwing. Looking for ideas on communication. Goldwing had CB radio and wired headsets. What are the best options for group rides and helmet to helmet communication. Just not sure about Bluetooth set up. Or go with Serrria Elactronics handlebar mounted CB with wired head sets.

Which way you go depends on who the communication group is. If it's just you and your wife then the recommendations about BT are right on. If you group ride AND enough others are using BT, then BT is the way to go. But if most of your group are CB users then the handlebar mounted CB is about your only choice. You probably know that CB is no longer a BRP option.

If CB communication is of secondary importance consider getting a good handheld CB radio and connect a Sena SR10 adapter to it. The adapter converts the CB input/output to BT. That way you can straddle the old proven technology of CB and the new world of sometimes problematic Bluetooth tech.

[RayBJ]

The Sena 50S is a Mesh Network and has been excellent for group intercom. It supports older BT also but the mesh has much longer range than BT and is crazy simple to connect to the network. Just power on, open whip, press button and you enter open mesh channel 1 which is all you need to do. You also can BT to the Spyder, phone, GPS, whatever.
You can go into a private mode and/or change channel if you get interference.

[volksbugusa]

went with CARDO pack talk....just installed two days ago..clear as a bell...

[Brad0414]

i use u clear i love them !!

[BigLenny]

Many years ago, we bought Cardo's and like using them, but they began to have issues, so the first year that Sena made motorcycle intercoms, we bought a set at the Bikes, Blues, and BBQ rally, and we have been Sena users ever since. We have had the set of SMH20's for a couple years now, and just did a 1200 mile ride this past week through northern AZ. southern UT, and southeastern NV, and they're still clear as a bell.

I recommend Sena.

[Flamewinger]

The problem with bluetooth headsets is they only work with each other IF PAIRED to begin with. They need to not only be the same brand but have the same features. A group of riders with multiple BT headsets won't have the communication CB users have. If it's just the two riders then Sena, Cardo, Uclear will work.

I use a Midland 75-822 handheld CB with Sena SR10 BT paired to my Cardo Packtalk headset. I use a USB to cig lighter adapter to power it and Sena PTT wired button. Works great. Most Spyder groups I have ridden with haven't even tried to use the headsets for group riding.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I'm in the process of finding out what JM Corp has to offer for Bluetooth connectivity. As of now I've been told they have a BT adapter for their JMCB-2003 CB radio, but it is a made to order item. As soon as I can get more info from them I'll post it. But it looks like they offer an option that parallels the handheld CB + Sena SR10 option.

[bluewoo]

I also came from a 2006 Goldwing and welcome to SL!!! Petrol Blue is the fastest color too
I got the Sena 20s evo Refurbished as a pair from Sena and love them. I showed the wife how to make calls/music streamed from phone and now its really nice, I haven't tried that yet as Im paying more attention to other things.

[charlesl]

2020 Spyder RTL - I just bought the dual pack Lexin LX- 4FM on Amazon $119.99. Pretty happy so far using them for intercom. I have not tried pairing with the Spyder or an i- phone yet.
Installed them on 3/4 helmets. Can not even feel the speakers. Running at 60 mph we could still easily communicate.
Lexin has newer model with more features coming out, but my main need was an intercom with my wife.