Ride Magazine Intercoms Reviewed

[Aidjay]

Argubly the two biggest players in the bike intercoms market are Autocom and Starcom. There is enough banter and opion within these threads to sway anyone from one to the other.

So in the latest issue of Ride Magazine (Nov 08), they test drive 10 different bike communication kits. Autocom is there, but Starcom was ignored for some reason. Of course Autocom won hands down (1st and 2nd (somehow testing two versions of the same kit doesn't really make a whole heap of sense, but there you go)).

Why was a Starcom kit not tested? A head-to-head test between the two is exactly what I was looking for. Me thinks a word with the editor is required...

Right, where's the step off this soap box?

 

[Pukmeister]

I heard about the preferential reviews given by motorcycling journo's from someone who had first hand dealings (as a bike trader), hence I now take most magazine articles with a large pinch of salt..

 

[shuck raider]

Argubly the two biggest players in the bike intercoms market are Autocom and Starcom. There is enough banter and opion within these threads to sway anyone from one to the other.

So in the latest issue of Ride Magazine (Nov 08), they test drive 10 different bike communication kits. Autocom is there, but Starcom was ignored for some reason. Of course Autocom won hands down (1st and 2nd (somehow testing two versions of the same kit doesn't really make a whole heap of sense, but there you go)).

Why was a Starcom kit not tested? A head-to-head test between the two is exactly what I was looking for. Me thinks a word with the editor is required...

Right, where's the step off this soap box?

Some strange decisions about kit reviews in RiDE. They tested all-weather boots recently but for some reason Daytonas were not amongst them - the second time that brand has been omitted from a review.

And guess which boot came second in readers' opinions in this month's Rider Power survey............

 

[Slowdown]

I've seen discussions on this in other forums.

From that it appears that sometimes, for reasons known only to the editors/journos of the magazines, they only contact certain manufacturers and not necessairly the ones you'd expect. Of course, the stuff is provided FOC, so perhaps some companies just don't want to stump up

But yes, I like to see Autocom v Starcom and Daytona v Altberg and many other of the popular brands pitched against each other.

But that ain't gonna happen......

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

Palms crossed with silver maybe..... but who would be so cynical to think that in this day and age

HI-FI mags have always been the worst.... the latest new thing was always the greatest that HI-FI i got 25 years ago sounds unlistenable now

 

[GSrich]

Just to set the record straight Starcom were given the option for sending some of their comms in for testing as Ride approached everyone really in the comms world. To why nothing was tested from their side I do not know its something you will need to speak with direct.

Aidjay the Easi and Active are two very different systems btw

Rich

 

[Slowdown]

... Starcom were given the option for sending some of their comms in for testing ...

Then it's their loss.....

 

[ukaloon]

Why was a Starcom kit not tested? A head-to-head test between the two is exactly what I was looking for.

If I made a bike intercom I wouldn't want it put up against Autocom either, why pick a fight I know I'm gonna lose?

 

[Aidjay]

Just to set the record straight Starcom were given the option for sending some of their comms in for testing as Ride approached everyone really in the comms world. To why nothing was tested from their side I do not know its something you will need to speak with direct.

Aidjay the Easi and Active are two very different systems btw

Rich

Well there you have it. It's unfortunate that Starcom decided not to get involved. If that's the case its also probably fortunate Ride Magazine don't mention in their publication that Starcom opted out of the test. That wouldn't be the best marketing strategy.

 

[beemerboy9]

Autocom did not place an advert in that particular issue of RiDE, whereas Starcom and Interphone did.

 

[Interphone UK]

and somehow they gave Interphone 1 out of 10 for ease of use...

Obviously I'm a bit biased, but 1 out of 10???

In my book that means completely unusable - which I done think is the case.

I suppose I'm exposing us a bit here - but I'd welcome the feedback - given that BMW dealers sell more Interphones than anyone else.

 

[karlp]

If I made a bike intercom I wouldn't want it put up against Autocom either, why pick a fight I know I'm gonna lose?

Depends which Starcom you are refering to.

Starcom Digital has a remote
Is good quality
Smaller than Autocom - so will fit easilty in the tool tray without butchering it.
Starcom has a better range of headsets.
Starcom has bulkhead fittings - so makes the installation look a lot neater.


Autocom advertised a remote system - WHERE IS IT !!!

 

[GSrich]

Well ive never had to butcher a tool tray to fit any of our sytems? So I do not know why you seem to think its needed?

Our range of headsets are fine, can you supply a bit more detail on what you are meaning here?

We do not recommend bulkhead fittings mainly for safety reasons, also not everyone has the room to A fit them on the bike and B want to effect the after sales of the bike to holes being left in panels if the comms are removed.

As for the remote system you will be finding out very soon

Rich

 

[karlp]

Rich

I have not tried to fit one of your systems but a good number of posts on here seem to suggest that the tool tray needs removing and that the new system is bigger.

My reading of the brochures indicates that you can only get a boom mic (maybe I have got it wrong) whereas my starcom system is very easy to fir in a flip front without adjusting a boom everytime.

My Starcom is approx half the size of the Autocom.

Bulkhead fittind make it much easier to connect and do not need to drill - just added the bracket or use removable panels as I have done.


The brochures were printed at the last NEC but the units were not available until much later - the remote system is not available even now.

I would have bought a remote system but how long do you wait and all I have gor from Autocm since April is --- SOON.


My post was to show that do not assume that Starom is rubbish but if I am honest

When the Autocom remote is finally launched I will most likely sell my Starcom and BUY ONE because I do think they are better overall.

 

[GSrich]

Hi Karl,

No worries our Super Pro AUTO fits in the tool tray fine on the 1200GS's so I am unsure on why people think they need to be removed. We made sure they fitted before they were released onto the market just to be safe as we fit so many 1200's.

Our boom mics are very universal and I think with any headset with a boom mic they would need to be moved to allow for the helmet to be taken off or put on.

As for the RC's we have spent the year finialising the overal design and layout on the system and we are nearly there so watch this space pretty much

Rich

 

[Canuck]

I just bend the mic towards the chin piece when taking the helmet off and bend it back when the helmet goes back on. Takes about 3 seconds. I suppose it depends on how your take your helmet off... I always do it like it is a full face helmet... instead of sliding the helmet back... not that I use the flip helmet anymore so maybe I'm talking bollocks!