Communicators & Intercoms, Which Brand?

[Wigglit75]

I do not get to ride solo very much ( my wife is a little concerned my beautiful SV might pick up another passenger)
Can anyone suggest a bike to passenger or bike to bike intercom/radio that does not cost a fortune. I have been looking around a bit but have no clue........ Does anyone have any hands on knowledge of what works or what is crap????????????
Any info would be great.

[DongYip]

The wife is asking for a communicator or Intercom system now that she is riding with me allot more. I don't want to spend any more than I have to, but at the same time I need to make sure that what ever I get will work even when I am going 75mph. I have read many manufactures claims, but want to know which ones work (consider getting) and which ones don't work (don't consider.)
I would like to get a communicator (bike to bike) so a couple of my riding partners and I can talk to each other.
Looked at:

Collett Communicator 49 mhz with Intercom system
Chatterbox (all models)
Nady (spelling)

Any input, poss. or neg. would help!

[SpankMe]

Mate!, one of the best things about having a bike is that the girlie can't nag your ear off. The last thing I would want is for my girlie to be constantly yapping directly into my ear while I'm riding. :(


Don't do it mate. Just tell her it can't be done. Interference with the bike electronics and all that. :blink:

[NoNoRicky]

I recommend a solo seat cover. :P

[DongYip]

I tried some safety related reasons why we should not get the comm gear, but she did not fall for it. Then a couple of buds and I were talking about getting the bike to bike type set ups, and her wanting a intercom turned into my way of getting the bike to bike setup! And it would all be for Her, because she asked for it. NOT that I want one at all, HONEST.
Anyway, she did put a deposit on the bike (as a welcome home gift) so the dealership would hold it until I got back from Iraq. After she did that I think I should let her yap every once in a while if she wants.
My first reaction was the exact same as your was!

[DongYip]

I have the same question in one of the other forums on this page. If I had seen yours I would not have posted mine.

I KNOW that the $50 (new) no name (brand), intercom system that I got off of ebay.com is a POS!!! Well that is not totally true. It works well up to about 25 -35 mph, after that it is crap.

[Morphias]

Funnily enough, a bloody Kiwi makes what I have found to be the best damn "in-helmet" kit I have ever scene/owned. :D

The quality, both sound and build, are superb.

Once you get the in-helmet stuff, all you need to do is pick the UHF handset to suit your requirements.

I run a 1watt/5watt swtichable unit, the Uniden UH050XR, at the main unit for me and a little cheap Uniden $99AUD 0.5watt job for the GF.

The bigger unit give me around 25km range (terrain dependant) on 5w with and external aerial mounted on the bike.

The small unit only has around 5km range (terrain dependant), but is more than satisfactory for when she is sitting right behind me.

Check then out at: http://www.amalgamate2000.com/sales

Having inter-bike comms is sweet. Makes those long, boring hauls a lot more tolerable.

You can also talk to all the truckies and find out where the cops are. :ryan:

[DongYip]

Why would you need to know were the Cops are? LOL

That may work. They sell "systems" much much like that here. But my main consern is with the wind noise. Any problems with that?

Thanks

[Morphias]

It is crystal up to around 130-140kph, after that is gradually degenerates.

That is entirely dependent on your helmet though.

I have an Arai RX-7RR4 and it generates a LOT of wind noise...as most Arai's are. :(

Mates of mine with Shoei's do not have the same wind noise issue and and fine for the better part of 200kph.

[BJAM]

I was badgered to buy an intercom for the missus when we went touring through France to Italy. £400 later I had a system that worked at speeds of over 100mph, played music and allowed me to talk on my mobile phone without the other person even knowing I was on a bike - fantastic.

Best bit is, day 2 of the holiday, riding through France, the missus fell asleep on the back of the bike (she had her hands through a pillion pal so was not falling off). When she woke up she discovered the intercom lead to her helmet had blown away. Day 2 of a 17 day holiday and the intercom was useless. 15 days of listening to music on my own - shame.

Intercom was made by Autocom http://www.autocom.co.uk/ best intercoms out there imho.

[DongYip]

BJAM666,

Thanks for the help! The local dealer/shop said AutoCom was supposed to be the best around. Then told me it would run me about $400 (USD)!!! And that was an intercom not a bike to bike system. I guess you get what you pay for. . . I will have to checkout AutoComs web page.

Have you (or anyone else) ever used ChatterBox, Nady, or a Collett Intercom/bike toobike system?

[Scudon]

DonYip

i bought the very cheap Chatterbox rider to pillion system which i must say works well up to 50mph. then its crap. :( Totally crap!
As the missus only goes pillion when its sunny and warm, i did not see a great use for it and decided not to spend loads of cash. you do pay for what you get , but for £15 it does the job at those speeds and the battery life would last all day.

I must say that she prefered to use the system than not and it also gave me the chance to warn her when using them immortal words,

"Hang on tight dear"

[DongYip]

Oh, Yes!

I used to yell, "Hang on, Lover!" But it got to the point that every time I turned my head she thought that I was yelling at her to hang on. And the frantic tapping when she needs to go to the bathroom (Water Closet) is miss understood as "slow down, not so fast . . . "

Thanks

[waldekpd]

I am planning to buy one for me and my lady - she drives an SV650 ('01). We need a bike to bike communicator. Surfing the web I have found:
- PLATINUM 900 from Collett Electronics at $199 (US) on their own website
- FRS X2 from CHATTERBOX for 236$ (US) on www.ridegear.com
- HJC-FRS also from CHATTERBOX for 236$ (US) on www.reidegear.com
:mellow:
Does anyone know those products or have been using them?
Can you rate them?
Do the prices I have found seem reasonable?

I'll appreciate all help!!!

[rjk]

I have a Collett 900 model (older, but I think about the same). It works pretty well, but over 80-90 mph, forget it. Too much wind noise. I didn't like having to clip something to the helmet though or have to cut out part of the inner helmet so the speakers wouldn't hit my ears. And ear bud type speakers wouldn't cut enough wind noise.

Motorcycle Consumer News likes this: www.rocketquality.com It works with your existing FRS radio and the price is right. If the speakers were thin and loud enough, this is one I'd consider.

[waldekpd]

Thanks for the hint rjk!
If I can take you a minute I'd like to ask you a couple more questions. :unsure:
You wouldn't know by any chance if the price I found on Collett web is OK?
Do you know if it is possible to get the Collett 900 without the speakers and microphone?
Is the RocketMate K15 Series kit working with the Collett 900 and is it available on any online store you would recommend?
Sorry for the trouble and many thanks again.
:)
PS
I will be off now... it's almost 10PM here and i need to get to check in to my hotel.

[rjk]

Thanks for the hint rjk!
If I can take you a minute I'd like to ask you a couple more questions. :unsure:
You wouldn't know by any chance if the price I found on Collett web is OK?
Do you know if it is possible to get the Collett 900 without the speakers and microphone?
Is the RocketMate K15 Series kit working with the Collett 900 and is it available on any online store you would recommend?
Sorry for the trouble and many thanks again.
:)
PS
I will be off now... it's almost 10PM here and i need to get to check in to my hotel.

That Collett 900 is sure much different than the one I bought...and the whole thing for $199 USD seems very reasonable. As for compatability between the Collett and RocketMate, I do not know. My guess is no since the boom is built into the Collett unit and the speaker outlet is just speakers.

Why I like the RocketMate option is that you can use any two way radio and cell phone too...and that it does not attach to the helmet. I have not researched anything more on this...when I do I'll report.

And no trouble at all!! If you have any further questions, feel free to e-mail me too. Happy riding...Bob

[SVRanger]

I have the Chatterbox GMRS-X1 system in my Shoei RF-900. I have used it for about a year, before I got deployed... the GOOD thing about it, is it allows riders in your group to communicate roadside hazzards and such... the downside is the VOX (Voice Activated) system. On my TLR, with the YOSH RS3s... anything above 65 mph was too loud, I had to turn the sensitivity down so that my voice would not activate it. I had the PTT (push to talk) switch, but that was awkward. I contacted Chatterbox, and their customer service is top notch. They sent me the "noise cancelling" microphone... but, it didnt help much. I wound up wrapping the mic with cotton, from a cotton ball and it seemed to cure the issue.

The range on the X1 is good to excellent. There are plenty of talk channels, and groups, you can program. It also has a cool feature for road trips... you can plug your MP3 player into it, and listen to music. When someone talks to you, the music instantly stops, and lets their voice be heard.

You can also jack in a passenger chord, so your pillion can talk to you. This could be good, could be bad. As long as you tell your pillion not to jibber jabber all the time, and only talk if there is something wrong... or they have to stop, or something, it is worth it.

Just my .02 worth.

I enjoy mine, alot of my friends have them. But, they do stick off the side of the lid a bit. The bracket used to be easy to break... a few of my mates made attachments directly on the bike...

[redbull_pilot]

This was discussed in this thread here (http://www.sv1000.zyns.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5719&highlight=nady), good luck...

[LVNLRGR]

I have a Collett 900 model (older, but I think about the same). It works pretty well, but over 80-90 mph, forget it. Too much wind noise. I didn't like having to clip something to the helmet though or have to cut out part of the inner helmet so the speakers wouldn't hit my ears. And ear bud type speakers wouldn't cut enough wind noise.

Motorcycle Consumer News likes this: www.rocketquality.com It works with your existing FRS radio and the price is right. If the speakers were thin and loud enough, this is one I'd consider.
I have owned several chatterbox frs muti sports and have had good luck with them when using semi quiet hjc helmets and keeping the batteries full. The range claims are a little exagerated but perfectly reasonable. Had less luck with the new x1 which i purchased used for the extra features but I think it was a lemon. They can also be purchased direct from chatterbox for $120 usd plus the mic setup you need. That may have been for a refurb I can't recall.

[Usefuluser]

I take my 8 year old on the back, and regularly go out with a very experienced and very inexperienced rider, for both, I can see a useful need for bike to bike and/or passenger communications. I have been looking at the Starcom - anyone have any experience of this system? It is a lot cheaper than the Autocom

[simon.w]

Anybody have any experience of the Autocom Bike to bike systems?