What Communication devices do you use between rider/pillion & other riders in your group?

[RapidSpyder]

Cardo Palktalk Bold here.

 

[djh3]

We have had the SENA SMH 10 for cant even think how many years now. Multiple rain storms (we live and travel in Fla). Have not tried to pair with groups as we have not rode with others enough to need to. I have been able to get it to pair with the bike. I use in ear monitors that plug into my Bell Mag 8 SENA for better sound, and noise reduction on trips. The wife still uses the oem speakers.

 

[Leaping1]

As a long time user of CB that has recently changed to Sena. Would never go back to CB.
Leon

 

[PaGoose]

Had a Sena 10 but my wife just couldn't get the interface to the intercom, to may buttons to push. We switched to a XGP dual headset and its perfect for us. Share pretty much everything and for the 2-pack price of $119.99 from Amazon can't beat it and it just works which is great. May not be for everyone but for the two of us who like to talk once in a while and have music (separate or shared stations) it's perfect. I gave up on trying to interface with BRP GO and just connect via phones.

 

[CrazyCooter]

I started with Pactalk Bold becuase it was waterproof, but upgraded to Edge when the wife started riding. No complaints overall except we could use a bit more range at times.

I have been looking at possibly adding bluetooth UHF radios to the mix to stretch things out, but it's just 2 more devices to charge?

 

[RayBJ]

The group I ride with found the Mesh on the Cardo Edge a bit better for distance between riders than the Sena 50 Mesh. We have one guy that gets a bee in his bonnet and takes off from the group around the twisties. We can hear him giggling and hooting a half mile away - around the mountains. Senas drop out after 100-200 yards in same scenario.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

We LOVE our Cardo Freecom 4+.

Those ear speakers by audio giant JBL is clear as a bell and is a game-changer.

 

[Gwolf]

The usual hand signals, just like I always did before there was any way to communicate while riding.
I also keep the cell phone turned off. The fewer distractions the safer the ride will be.

I do not ride with unfamiliar groups. Too many people show up for the sponsored group rides that don't know how to ride with a group and would not ride any better if they had verbal communications with the whole group. Used to ride some of the toy rides or memorial rides, but even then, I hung back and went last or close to last. I don't ride any group rides with people I have not ridden with a lot now. They always pack up too tight, and if they don't slam on brakes ahead of you, they will hit you from behind when a dog or a deer crosses the road.

 

[WisconsinDavid]

Use both the old Sena SMH10... still going strong with a battery change ... and the Sena 50s. The newer mesh 50s makes linking up a group easier and range longer as it daisy chain hops between riders. For 2 with wife on back, the SMH10 are great and they were good even in our group of 4 helmets connected for years of riding together. It is great to be able to talk as a group to warn of road hazards and to talk about upcoming turns, who needs gas and who needs the restroom. We're all getting older so that has become more frequent over the past 10 years. LOL The Sena 50s speakers are much improved and make listening to music nicer too. I don't phone talk unless I'm off the road.

 

[troop]

I just installed a new Cardo Freecom 4X in my new LS2 Drifter helmet this morning. This Cardo unit comes with JBL 40mm speakers and natural Voice control. I also have a Shoei J Cruise 2 helmet with a Sena SRL Mesh system installed. It comes with Harman Kardon 40mm speakers and Sena voice control. Comparing the two helmets/systems side/side today (in my house), I can say two things:
1.) The JBL speakers play quite a bit louder and clearer than the Sena HK speakers. They are also bit heavier than the HK speakers.
2.) The Cardo Natural Voice system is much more responsive than the Sena Voice system.
I'm surprised about the speakers, as JBL is owned by Harman Industries. I'm surprised Harman would let the JBL speakers perform better? Hmmmmm

 

[Motorcycledave]

What do most of you use for communication with co rider and or other bikes in your riding group? Sena, Cardo, or CB? I have been using a CB since the beginning of time but am finally running out of material to set it up. I currently ride a Can Am Sea to Sky and have installed a J&M CB on it with various results. Now it is giving up the ship and will no longer transmit. Looking at Sena (new 60s is intriguing) and Cardo Edge and getting confused with all the claims of excellence and complaints by others. What works for the majority of Spyder riders?

Bartender

By Far the most popular and the best of them all is the SENA units, I have them all ar Spyder Lovers DISCOUNT PRICES
Give me a call 209-887-DAVE (3283) motorcycledave.com

I also have the CARDO brand ... all on DISCOUNT PRICE just for Spyder Lovers members
209-887-DAVE (3283)

 

[troop]

By Far the most popular and the best of them all is the SENA units, I have them all ar Spyder Lovers DISCOUNT PRICES
Give me a call 209-887-DAVE (3283) motorcycledave.com

Have to disagree with you here Dave. Current Sena units in my stable are: 10C Evo camera and 5S units with HD speakers and SRL Mesh with HK speakers on my Shoei helmet. My most recent comm pick up was a Cardo Freecom 4x with JBL speakers. BY FAR, and not even close, is the JBL sound quality over the Sena HK speakers. With the Cardo audio setting switched to Bass Boost, the sound is amazing from these speakers, with more than enough volume. Also, the Cardo voice commands are quite a bit more responsive on the Cardo versus Sena, with "Hey Cardo" tending to be more responsive than "Hey Sena". Hey Siri" is my go to on both the Sena SRL and Cardo Freecom 4x as they both respond pretty well to those commands.

 

[Jesster72]

Note - we have only used any of these for a driver to passenger intercom system. We have had Sena and Cardo. Of those two we preferred the Cardo with the JBL upgrade. Currently we are using Lexin GTX, purchased after the Cardo fritzed out. For the price, the Lexin is a decent intercom system I can't speak to its rider to rider performance.

 

[iSilentP]

I ride with a group of folks and we all use Cardo. I had the BOLD but last year upgraded to the EDGE. There is a big (good) difference after the upgrade. Everyone in the group has commented how much clearer my voice has become after the upgrade.

 

[Knizar]

Silence is GOLDEN! with a few tunes if the radio works, you can turn that off!

 

[Little Blue]

I am very happy with my SENA 50S. Been using them for 4 years now.
I purchased my SENA 50S from Dave on this Forum.

 

[Pandy]

Cardo packtalk, interfaces nicely with wife’s hearing aids and nice long battery life.

 

[Brainsprain]

I agree with using what your usual group uses. BUT!
The Cardo Edge is clearly a better unit than the Senas. I have both but have shelved the Senas (10, 20, &50) because the Senas ARE NOT WATERPROOF and WIND NOISE IS NOT SQUELCHED. The Cardo Edge IS both waterproof and the noise cancelation actually works.

The Sena's MESH is easier to re-connect and has an Open Mesh that Cardo doesn't have. It's amusing to be riding with your Sena group in Open Mesh and occasionally have other groups chime in as we get near.

Battery life on the Cardo goes all day, Sena requires re-charge at lunch for full day.

If you have a newer Sena, you can bridge to Cardo via BT and tie the systems together (as long as the BT pair stay fairly close).

We have had our Sena 50R for several years, before that we had older Sena models. We can go all day listening to podcasts, talking to each other, listening to music, and so on without recharging. We have had battery probs as they have gotten older. I found where I could buy new batteries and a video on how to remove and replace them. Works great and is fairly simple. The batteries are $20. Can't remember where, but I bought two. Already replaced my lady's. Mine hasn't shown any signs of problems yet. Sena had pretty responsive support last time I contacted them, about 3 years ago.

Sena's connect to our iPhones easily and pair with each other. We've not tried Mesh, as we seldom ride in groups. My Spyder is a 2017 and I've had no reason to buy the media pkg from them. I don't like radio. My hearing aids would connect, were I to need to do that, but I cannot wear them with my helmet, as it drags them off when I take it off.

 

[RayBJ]

Everyone has a different use for a headset.
Bluetooth intercom has shorter range but is much better battery ~6 hrs.
Any set that has BT will satisfy most phone/music/GPS needs
Our group of 4-6 riders used the 50S Mesh for intercom which required all to re-charge at lunch ~4 hrs. The Edge Mesh runs ~8 hrs consistently. IMHO, the Edge is best for all-day bike-to-bike group communications. YMMV

 

[Dutchy]

Cardo Pac Talk Black for my wife and myself have never had a problem with either sets