intercoms

[running biker]

could anyone tell me the best coms to connect my tomtom rider and pas and driver together.Will hard wire autocom or bluetooth work.And is it easy to fit to r1200gs

 

[Pukmeister]

FWIW I have had Autocom Pro7 Sport on both my 1200's, wired off the accessory socket under the seat for rider to pillion and also bike-to-bike radio comms plus mp3 audio, I don't use the audio output from my TT Rider as I can't stand it in sat-nag mode, the pictures on screen are more than enough for me.

This should really go in the bike comms section of the forum.

 

[VAL. H.]

Have a really good look at the Scala Rider 'Team set' rider to passenger set up. No wires 'all bluetooth'
If you're lady rides her own bike the Q2 is the one (can be used as passenger).

Probably the easiest set up out there, just fix it to your helmet and ride.


Val.

 

[Coolcarbon]

These are quite good too....

 

[Wapping]

They are all pretty good these days, whether it's hardwired (Autocom, Starcom etc) or the latset breed of bluetooth (Scala etc).

If you don't want a lead, go bluetooth. It is easy to set up and reasonably reliable.

If you don't mind a single lead and maybe want to fit an bike-to-bike radio (like a Kenwood) go for the Autocom or similar. again, reasonably easy to set up and reliable, too.

It's horses for courses.

 

[Rasher]

I am a big autocom fan, try Chainspeed for anything Autocom, the guy knows the kit inside out and can almost certainly advise on fitting (or do it for you)

We get clear chat well beyond 3 figures on the ZZR and can hear music clearly up to about a ton, 80-90 cruising gives decent music, easy chat without shouting and sat-nav directions come through.

We also use sat-nav as media player so can change music on the go, turn it on and off etc.

Would like wireless, but when riding for days on end not having to charge anything is pretty handy, if your on / off bike a lot you may find wires annoying, but it is just part of riding to me, takes far longer to put in earplugs, do up helmet and pull on gloves, 5 seconds to connect a cable is not really a hardship.

 

[RichyEstonia]

I have tried the bike wired systems (Starcom) and went back to my older Intephone F4 and the talk quality and bluetooth connection of the newer Bluetooth systems seem far better than the bike wired systems, will try out a Scala G4 next year so I can also chat bike to bike.

I run a iPHONE connected to Zumo 550 connected to the Interphone and it works flawlessly every time.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

this may have changed with recent models but when I was looking none of the BT intercoms could connect GPS/phone at the same time as the intercom where the wired type does even if you connect your GPS via BT to the autocom or whatever. The BT headsets rely on swapping connections giving priority to the GPS unit so your having a conversation and it gets cut when you get directions. Other than the lag that you get, this wouldnt be so bad but if you play music on the GPS unit then its impossible to use the intercom unless you manually switch connections. I belive all the hard wired units will do both at the same time although how they do it I dont know as I have never used one yet but a hard wired system is on the wish list. Course it all depends on how you intend to use the system and none of the above might bother you. Right now I use a Midland BT2 and it works very well barring the above.

 

[Sleepy]

How long do the batteries last on the Blue Tooth whatsits?.. do they use disposable ones?

 

[Rasher]

The Autocoms have several inputs (depends on model) and options for how they work, for example when talking some inputs mute 50%, others do not.

The more expensive ones have more flexibility but I have a 4 year old Autocom 200 which was a mid-range unit, it only has 3 inputs, but I have never needed any more, the Pro systems have more inputs and better VOX (Speed sensitive auto-adjusting) but once setup mine has been perfect for nearly 4 years.

I know the Starcoms are not as loud as friends have had them and been envious of my 100mph music and not having to shout to chat at motorway speeds.

Recently Starcom have bought Autocom, so would expect next range to have best of both products in one.

The charging of batteries, chances of them going flat half way through days ride and the pairing of devices all put me off the wireless, I expect for chat they may be better but for connecting lots of devices and playing music all day I doubt I could beat my wired system.

 

[Wapping]

How long do the batteries last on the Blue Tooth whatsits?.. do they use disposable ones?

Disposables? Don't think so.

Longevity? Probably most of a day's ride. Turn it off when not in use, obviously, many bods don't. The more you gabble, the more power it uses.

For long distances / multi-day / lots of gabbling, you can always work around it two ways:

1. Take your charger with you and plug it in at a cafe when you stop for half an hour.

2. Buy a second battery. Charge it via a mini-USB connection on the bike. PowerMonkey do a couple of neat devices to have in a tankbag. Swap / charge batteries as required.

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/000193/

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/000239/

No doubt Maplins (or others) do something similar and cheaper.

If you just want to listen to GPS instructions and don't want to gabble, there are bluetooth dongles about that seem to last all day and are as cheap as chips. Judge of this parish did a thread on them, I recall. A search will turn it up, no doubt.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

They are rechargeable and the Midland BT2 lasts for over 8 hours permanently on intercom, don't know about others but they will probably all be roughly the same. You can charge them via the accessory socket on the bike if you need to but then it isn't wireless.

 

[madmax]

I use the autocom pro7 for rider/passenger, ipod and TomTom. Xlnt sound quality for both speach and music, easy to fit, and because it's wired to the bike no batteries to go flat half way through a road trip.
Just my opinion on the kit I've used for the last 3 yrs.

 

[Funners]

I've had the Scala Rider teamset for the last few years and it's a nice piece of kit, sound levels are fine and the unit itself is advertised as 8 hrs continuous use.we used to get 2 1/2 DAYS before it went flat.
I have however just changed to a Starcom system as the Sat Nav cutting in was a PITA with a pillion and so far it IS better, I have in ear monitors so literally conversation at ANY speed you want without shouting and no one knows I'm on a bike if I take a phone call.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

The Autocoms have several inputs (depends on model) and options for how they work, for example when talking some inputs mute 50%, others do not.

.

Thanks for the info Rasher, I thought the wired type worked like that but wasn't sure.