BMW System V Helmet with WCS-1 Bluetooth Communication System

[The Planner]

Michael

Did a bikesafe course a while back and the police taking the course reckoned that as the BMW style helmets did not convert to an open face Jet style they could not be ridden with the full visor up, unlike the Cajberg which can. Unable to find out if this is really true as I have seen the police riding with them up.
Anyone know for sure?
Nige

 

[Mick_rw]

Spoke...

to dealer, they are still adamant about the battery life, so yesterday purchased a cheap Bluetooth ear piece, modified it to fit to my helmet, using the Autocom ear pieces, charged it over night then this morning ran my mobile continuously playing music, started at 08:30 and it is still going strong.....it is now 13:55, so if the small battery in this little ear piece lasts that long don't see why the big one in the WCS-1 kit should run for less time. Will let you know when this finally gives up.

 

[PanEuropean]

...Did a bikesafe course a while back and the police taking the course reckoned that as the BMW style helmets did not convert to an open face Jet style they could not be ridden with the full visor up, unlike the Cajberg which can. Unable to find out if this is really true as I have seen the police riding with them up. Anyone know for sure?

Hello Nigel:

To the best of my knowledge, the System V helmet can be used with the visor in the 'up' position, and it still meets all the homogulation and approval requirements. I have seen this in writing 'somewhere' in the BMW documentation - I just can't find it right now, but I will keep looking for it.

In the meantime, here is some information that confirms that the System V helmet can be converted to an open face ('jet') style helmet. To retain full approval, you are required to fit the two plastic side covers to it if you remove the chin guard. I think this is simply to ensure that the little bits that retain the chin guard in place are not exposed - in other words, to ensure that the exterior of the helmet presents a smooth surface. The side covers do not appear to provide any additional protection, they just smooth everything out.

Michael

Full Face Configuration
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Configuration_1:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Configuration_1.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Full Face components removed
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Configuration_2:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Configuration_2.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Approval in writing for use as a 3/4 coverage Helmet


Side Covers (not supplied with helmet, cost is about $40)
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Configuration_4:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Configuration_4.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Side Covers Installed
A special visor for open face use can also be ordered.

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

to dealer, they are still adamant about the battery life, so yesterday purchased a cheap Bluetooth ear piece, modified it to fit to my helmet, using the Autocom ear pieces, charged it over night then this morning ran my mobile continuously playing music, started at 08:30 and it is still going strong.....it is now 13:55, so if the small battery in this little ear piece lasts that long don't see why the big one in the WCS-1 kit should run for less time. Will let you know when this finally gives up.

tell more.... any pics?

this sounds interesting

 

[PanEuropean]

...to dealer, they are still adamant about the battery life (problem)... so if the small battery in this little ear piece lasts that long don't see why the big one in the WCS-1 kit should run for less time.

Hi Guys:

A single robin does not springtime make... Obviously, this dealer is having battery life problems with their System V helmet, but I am having no such problems with mine. It has now been 6 days since I charged it, one full tank of gas worth of riding (about 300 miles), using the audio function constantly whilst riding, and the helmet has still not signalled me that it wants to be recharged (by blinking the light to indicate it is time to recharge).

Clearly, we don't have a lot of experience with this helmet yet - I have one, and this dealer in the UK has one. So, I think it is inappropriate to raise doubts about battery life until we have more 'actual user' reports. I'm not trying to shill for BMW here, I'm just suggesting that we maintain an objective approach to evaluating this product.

Michael

 

[Mick_rw]

Just....

tell more.... any pics?

this sounds interesting

playing with it at the moment if it works ok will do a proper job and provide details and pics.......

 

[Mick_rw]

it gave a

to dealer, they are still adamant about the battery life, so yesterday purchased a cheap Bluetooth ear piece, modified it to fit to my helmet, using the Autocom ear pieces, charged it over night then this morning ran my mobile continuously playing music, started at 08:30 and it is still going strong.....it is now 13:55, so if the small battery in this little ear piece lasts that long don't see why the big one in the WCS-1 kit should run for less time. Will let you know when this finally gives up.

battery warning after 8hrs 15 minutes of continuous audio output....

 

[JDH]

Michael, you've got me a bit confused now (not difficult to do )

'Here's some pictures showing all the bits involved in the BMW WCS-1 communication system - I took these photos as I assembled and installed it. It took quite a while (ca. 3 hours) to install it, it is a very detail-oriented and fiddley job. If you get one of these things, you will need a Torx 10 screwdriver that has a very strong bit on the end of it - I bent a few el-cheapo's out of shape before I gave up and went out and bought a $15 Snap-On Torx 10 screwdriver. You will also need a very brightly lit workbench - trying to install black components into a black helmet cavity lined with black fabric is like trying to find a black cat in a coal mine at night'.

Won't we be able to buy the helmet with all this gubbins (my attempt at technical speak) already installed? What took you three hours would take me 3 weeks

John

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi John:

The System V hamlet is available from BMW with all the WCS-1 components pre-installed, but only in the silver helmet colour. I kind of liked the matt magnesium colour helmet, so, I bought it and then bought the WCS-1 communications package as a stand-alone component.

Michael

 

[Dale]

If that was a dig at me I went into the dealer to buy the system not scrounge info, If I am told by the people who sell this kit tell me not to purchase because it has a problem I am not going to pay £240 on a piece of kit that might not work properly. That is why I put the info on here for two reason. To let people who were considering buying one of a potential problem and for people who were using the kit to let us know if there is a problem with the battery.

Mick

No No No No .... definately not a dig at you - apologies if I gave that impression! Agree with you wholeheartedly about spending cash on potentially troublesome questions. Was more ferrering to the local dealers who 1. dont have a demo unit (OK it has just been released), and 2. dont seem to be terribly interested in getting me info about it.

Cheers
Dale

 

[PanEuropean]

Well - the batteries finally ran dry today, after about 400 miles total riding. I started listening to MP3 recordings when I began riding today - figured that would put a load on the system, by keeping it working 100% of the time.

I think the helmet was trying to give me warnings that the battery was running out by interrupting the sound transmission briefly (for about 1 second). At first these 1 second interruptions were widely spaced apart (a minute or two), then they became closer together, then the sound system stopped working.

The quality of the sound when listening to MP3 recordings is, uh, not as good as I expected it to be (that is putting it in the most polite way I can). I'm not sure why this is so - the speakers are just installed loose in the ear pockets, as the instructions stated they should be. I think I might try getting some 1 mm thick foam padding, and enveloping the speakers in that, so they don't 'rattle' against the foam inner liner of the helmet. Perhaps that might improve things. The quality of the sound is quite satisfactory for intercom conversations, phone calls, stuff like that, but like I said, is not up to what I expected for music. Keep in mind, though, that this is a first impression only, the system is new to me.

I have heard that BMW issued some kind of technical bulletin (a recall) for early production versions of the WCS-1, this due to excessive hiss in the speakers. My local BMW dealer has been less than forthcoming with me about the story behind this technical bulletin. If anyone reading this has a good relationship with the service or accessories staff at your BMW dealer, could you perhaps ask them if they have received any memos from BMW about the problem of 'hiss' in the speakers of the WCS-1, and if so, what does the memo say about it?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Mick_rw]

Dale....

No No No No .... definately not a dig at you - apologies if I gave that impression! Agree with you wholeheartedly about spending cash on potentially troublesome questions. Was more ferrering to the local dealers who 1. dont have a demo unit (OK it has just been released), and 2. dont seem to be terribly interested in getting me info about it.

Cheers
Dale

I shouldn't be so touchy....no apology nessacerry...think I spelt that right....

Mick

 

[w00kie]

Anyone want to buy a hardly used Starcom1 Advance, as I think my new GPS (mid-april del.) might cause me to rethink my on bike arrangements ... ;-)

Hi Silvermog,

How much are you looking for your starcom? I could be interested (unfortunately, the forum software won't let me PM you).

 

[Allroad]

Hi Silvermog,

How much are you looking for your starcom? I could be interested (unfortunately, the forum software won't let me PM you).

you need to be a site sponser to pm

 

[w00kie]

you need to be a site sponser to pm

OK. In the meantime, you can contact me at [email protected]

 

[PanEuropean]

After about 2 weeks of using this thing, I have determined that the battery will last about 6 to 8 hours on a charge. Close to 6 hours if the system is working all the time (e.g. listening to music through it), closer to 8 hours if it is being used for GPSR directional guidance only.

I have not used it much for transmitting (talking to a passenger, making phone calls), so I can't tell you how the battery life is affected by transmitting.

It is necessary to read the owner manual carefully - in fact, to carry the manual with you for the first few weeks until you understand how the WCS-1 works. I think it is possible to accidentally leave it in 'search for other Bluetooth devices' mode - if this is done (green light flashing very quickly all the time), then the battery charge would probably be depleted more rapidly than if it was simply staying alert for transmissions from devices it is already paired with (phones, other helmets, GPSRs, etc.).

So far I am happy with it.

Michael

 

[TheJoker]

Thanks for the update, Pan!

 

[Den]

Im going to wait for greentooth to come out.
Apparently, you go in for a small operation and all the parts mentioned above are surgically inserted into the space between your stomach and your colon.
Nature has provided a space there for the growing of beer bellies and babies.
Most of you wont be able to do this as yours will be filled up already.
Anyhoo, a couple of scotchlocks are attatched to a handy nerve, in order to send the signal up to your ears, and another joined to your stomach wall, where it picks up the vibrations from your voice box and converts it digitally to suit the unit.
An ariel wire then is fed down and just protrudes very slightly from your arse and has a replaceable neoprene tip for comfort and hygene. These can be provided in differing colours.
Rubber push buttons are mounted under the surface of the skin and can be operated by gloved hands.
The unit is powered by a small DC generator attatched to your diaphram and charges the unit as you breathe.

Yip, thats the one Im getting. ...... with a green tip on the ariel.

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Everyone:

OK, here's the scoop on battery capacity of this helmet. I have now used it for a little over 2 weeks, and made some fairly long trips (500 mile days) with it.

The helmet will operate reliably for up to 10 hours a day and/or 500 miles a day. This is not a limitation, it's just that I have not used it for longer times or miles than this in one day.

If, however, I use it for 10 hours or 500 miles, and I do not recharge it before going riding the next day, then it will run out of battery power after a few hours of use the following day.

So, my conclusion about this thing is this: It has enough battery capacity to keep you going on the longest days, but you have to charge it every night if you have used it for more than (roughly) 2 hours since the last recharge. If you are just planning short trips each day (for example, 2 hours riding each day), then it is best to not recharge it at the end of each day - for technical reasons related to battery memory effect, it is best to just turn it on each day, and to not recharge it until it starts beeping to let you know the battery is getting low. It appears to give about an hour's advance warning (beeping) before the battery dies.

I have not been bothering to turn the helmet off when I stop for gas or a coffee break, but I do turn it off if I think that I will be stopped for more than half a hour.

Michael

 

[TheJoker]

Thanks, Pan! You're slowly building trust in BT helmets...