Helmet Communications Systems - what are you using?

[crossbowme]

I own a new Shoei Neotec II helmet. I have owned many Shoei and this is the best. However, I had planned on buying a Sena SLR2 for it but the reviews suck. I have previously owned/own some J&M systems but the speakers are very hard and hurt my ears after a short while. What systems are you guys using or other recommendations? I'm willing to pay for a quality system.

[Little Blue]

Check out 'Motorcycle Dave'. He is a vendor on this Forum. He is very knowledgeable about your topic. Good Luck on Your Mission. ......

[K80Shooter]

Check out 'Motorcycle Dave'. He is a vendor on this Forum. He is very knowledgeable about your topic. Good Luck on Your Mission. ......

Make sure to call him, the last email I sent was never replied to (I guess it got sent to his spam folder or something) but he keeps his phone close by.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

You did take the fillers out, right? I use a J&M wired headset and don't feel any contact at all between ears and speakers. Maybe the newer speakers are thinner.

[rjinaz86323]

I ride with a group of 7 guys. We all use Sena 50's. Most of us have the 50S, but 2 guys have Neotechs and they went with the 50R because of how it attaches. We have all been very happy with them.

[Doc McCoy]

I have the SENA SLR2 and it works just fine. Stays charged when it sits in the garage. I have read that they had battery issues. I have not found that to be the case at all. My wife and I talk just fine, listen to bluetooth from the phone and use wize and google maps. If there is a turn coming up the map over rides the music and voice so you don't miss anything. No complaints so far for my wife and I.

[RayBJ]

Sena 50s here. Also have the older 20s. Both systems are excellent for intercom in groups or 2-up and phone/bike comm.
The 1st batch of 50s units had bad batteries - only ran for 3-4 hrs. Sena will RMA if you have one like that.

[Bartender]

I have a Neotec II also and with the best J&M speakers installed. I agree with the poster above that the speakers should not be touching your ears in that helmet. It is the most comfortable helmet I have ever had and especially in the space available for my ears. I also had a Neotec I and always had to run my fingers between the helmet an my ears to get the top of my ears past the liner or it would carp at my ears until they hurt. The Neotec II no such problems. I suspect that you didn't remove the spacers. I had Sierra Electronics install the speakers in the Neotec II. In the for whatever it's worth department, I own a 2019 RT SE6 Limited and installed a J&M 2003 CB with blue tooth to my phone. That allows me to have GPS, music and phone all in my helmet. I have not tried any of the other communicators because I don't always ride with the same people and the Honda GoldWing and Harley riders, I ride with, all have already paid for CB's. My set up works great for me.

Bartender

[Jetfixer]

We have the Cardo Packtalk Bold in our Neotec 2's with the JBL speakers. Works great, sounds great.

[Pooch]

Has anyone had any concerns or issues about the Sena units getting wet in a rain... or do you protect them with a rain cover ... or just take your chances?

Just curious. Still gathering brand info and personal experience info and am still on the fence as to which brand to purchase - Sena or Cardo.

Thanks for your input.

[RapidSpyder]

A review to consider: https://youtu.be/cgYxTeb3luw After watching this I went with the Cardo and don’t regret it. He does make a good point in that it might boil down to what other people you may be riding with use, since the two different units don’t play well together.

[Mikey]

I use a set of 20s in my snowmobile helmets, and 30k's in our bike helmets! Been caught in the rain with both, so far so good, they do have little seals around where the electrical connection meet the base. Don't think you could go swimming with them but just normal use there fine!!!

[rjinaz86323]

We have spent an entire day riding in the rain on a trip to Sturgis and absolutely no problems with our Sena units. It was raining so hard we almost canceled our trip.

Has anyone had any concerns or issues about the Sena units getting wet in a rain... or do you protect them with a rain cover ... or just take your chances?

Just curious. Still gathering brand info and personal experience info and am still on the fence as to which brand to purchase - Sena or Cardo.

Thanks for your input.

[troop]

I've used several Sena's over the years (SMH5FM/10S/5S/10C Evo), and never had any issues with rain.

[Piratezz]

We use a Cardo freecom+ duo, we don't ride in groups that often, but just two-up, and they work fine, phone/radio/gps, intercom, low windnoise, but we took the upgraded JBL speakerset.
I think either cardo or sena, is a personal taste, as the reviews, are quite the same.

[Drwerner]

I own a new Shoei Neotec II helmet. I have owned many Shoei and this is the best. However, I had planned on buying a Sena SLR2 for it but the reviews suck. I have previously owned/own some J&M systems but the speakers are very hard and hurt my ears after a short while. What systems are you guys using or other recommendations? I'm willing to pay for a quality system.

My wife has a Neotec II (best helmet ever) and uses a Sena 20S (we have been very happy with it and have not seen a reason to upgrade). It mounted well and the mike does not interfere with the chin bar.

[ARtraveler]

I currently have two working sets of Sena SMH10's. One set mounted on Nolan n-40's and one set mounted on the Bell Magnum 9/Sena (built in from the factory). Also recently figured out how to get one of the Nolans paired up with the Bell set so that we can communicate three ways with a passenger. Have a grand daughter coming to visit in a couple weeks.

I have used Sena, Cardo, and n-com over the years. I am most happy with Sena. We use them to communicate only...no phones or music added. The current ones have three to four blocks of "straight" line communications. The noise level is none until you get to the end of the range. They run all day on a charge. And we can leave the circuit open for instant bike to bike communication.

Sena still has my vote.

[rjinaz86323]

They run all day on a charge. And we can leave the circuit open for instant bike to bike communication.

Sena still has my vote.

+1. I have also had both and Sena wins hands down. I currently run a Sena 50S as a group of us guys do multi day trips together and the mesh works great. The wife has a 10R so her and I can communicate if it is just the two of us.

[EdMat]

I own a new Shoei Neotec II helmet. I have owned many Shoei and this is the best. However, I had planned on buying a Sena SLR2 for it but the reviews suck. I have previously owned/own some J&M systems but the speakers are very hard and hurt my ears after a short while. What systems are you guys using or other recommendations? I'm willing to pay for a quality system.

That is one of my favorite helmets and mine has the SRL2 added. You do not feel the speakers. Sound quality is excellent. Battery life is all day. Talking on the phone at 70 MPH and folks don't know your riding. It is the one I grab the most for a ride. The only minor negative I have is I like the controls better on the 20S EVO but doing that would have destroyed the form factor.

[Mazo EMS2]

Happy with our Sena SRL's in the Neotec II's. Used our stimulus money to buy them this spring, so not a lot of experience using them yet....happy so far though

[ISPYD]

I have the same helmet. Super nice but heavy, but still love it. On this helmet I use the Sena 50R, works fantastic.

On my original Neotec I first used the cardio which we did not like at all on long trips or anytime.
I then changed. to the Sena 20 it was very very nice and used that for quite a while and now with my new Neotec II, like yours i use the center 50 R.

[Errolld]

I have been using Sena's for many years, most recently 50S daily commuting rain or shine and never any issues. Both Cardo and Sena are the top two Communication units they both have their Pro's and Con's. I went with the Sena 50S mainly because it had the better MESH communication, I know the Cardo has better water resistance and wind noise rejection, I believe the Sena has a stronger helmet to helmet connection.

"In my Opinion"

[1064nm]

I wish I'd read all the reviews on the Sena SLR2 before I bought it. Fitted to my new Shoei J-Cruise II and it died mid-trip after only 33 months use. Sena's customer support was basically "what do you expect us to do about it" Couldn't get any help from tech service which I could no have found myself from the manual. Now stuck with having to buy another comm system as I need one for a long group trip in 10 days time. I have used Sena systems for many tears butwWould NOT recommend the Sena SRL2.

[Tango]

I own a new Shoei Neotec II helmet. I have owned many Shoei and this is the best. However, I had planned on buying a Sena SLR2 for it but the reviews suck. I have previously owned/own some J&M systems but the speakers are very hard and hurt my ears after a short while. What systems are you guys using or other recommendations? I'm willing to pay for a quality system.

I just purchased a Neotec II myself. I also purchased the SENA specifically made for it. And It works great. Easily pairs to my phone, and my wife's helmet. I just checked the box, it is the SLR. Fit is perfect. Blends into the helmet, less wind noise also. We are happy with it. Tom