Scala Rider ?

[Lofty]

All,

I've just upgraded to a Zumo 550 from a 2610 and now face the choice of how best to match my comms outfit - I regularly carry a pillion for 120 mile rides back to boarding school so I need the functionality of phone, music and GPS really just for time to run etc.

I currently have an early Autocom which is great even allowing for the wires but I fear I may struggle to upgrade it enough to cope with all the Zumo features without spending significant wads of cash. I fancy a bluetooth helmet fit even allowing for the mono only feature of the current Zumo 550 link. What is the prime difference between the Scala Rider teamset and the Q2 teamset? And just how susceptible are they to rain?

I've read so many reviews that I'm really not sure what to get ... any advice gratefully accepted.

 

[gort]

autocom or not?

hi there i too have had the same dialema, i got a tom tom rider v2 which is bluetooth, suplied with its own headset. my coms is autocom rider plus,i bought an autocom bluetooth dongle 70 hard earned smackers, and its usless, wont connect to tom tom. more sinister is that niether autocom or tom tom will answer my e mails. I personaly would go for a star com system which is bluetooth, but check and double check its compatable with zumo. I will not be using autocom again. stay lucky

 

[Sparky]

The difference between the Scala Rider Teamset and the Q2 is that the Q2 has a built in FM radio in both headsets and the Teamset none.
Having purchased the Q2 twin set early on last year, I've had no problem with them. They will last over 8 hours with the radio on, in heavy rain as well.

The rider's unit connects to the Zumo 550 just fine as well as bluetooth phones. So the rider has the choice of playing Zumo MP3's, Zumo directions, internal FM radio as well as communicating with the pillion ( Or other close by Q2 ,or Teamset unit), hands free phone road instructions.

The pillion set can communicate with the riders unit ( Or other close by Q2 or Teamset unit), hands free bluetooth phone and internal FM radio.

The FM radios aren't the worlds best but seem to work reasonably clearly up to motorway speed. They are auto seeking with no dials only push up, push down to find stations.

Altogether a reasonable wireless solution for the money.

 

[billynomates]

Also use the Q2 set with the TT europe,rode down to Italy with the pair and found them very good.
One thing I did find was that the TT would'nt always connect with the headsets if the headsets were already both on sometimes had to go into the menu and press reconnect headset on the screen,but apart from that they worked perfectly especially finding Hotels at the end of the day.
Only once lead me the wrong way through a pedestrian precinct under some Roman arches in Aosta got some very funny looks.
ian

 

[andyclift]

Is using your Autocom really a problem? You only need two wires from the Zumo, one for audio out and one for a mic. Then you can listen to music, hear the route voice prompts and make phone calls (from a Bluetooth phone).

My Autocom is rather old but I bought an adapter from Autocom which takes both the audio and mic from the Zumo and then plugs into one of the outputs in the Autocom. I can't remember the part number but give Autocom a call, they can be very helpful.

I have also used the Scala Rider and have given up on it. It's a nuisance having to remember to charge it. If you have a helmet with a neck skirt you have to glue it on as the clamp won't work. I have broken two mic booms as it's vulnerable tucked under the edge of the helmet and often needs tucking back in after putting helmet on (they are not nearly as tough as the Autocom boom which, in any case, is totally inside the helmet) and you need an extra long boom for flip helmets. It works OK but the audio is not as good and clear as my Autocom.

Also if you are going to have pillion comms you will need two - much more expensive than the bits needed to make the Autocom work.

My wife also used the Scala Rider that came with her Tomtom Rider but has given up and just relies on looking at the Rider screen. Same problems as me but mainly remembering to charge the damned thing. She will be changing to Zumo as well soon as the Rider is very poor in comparison and she can use the Zumo with her Autocom.

 

[how much]

using scala rider FM with Zumo 550 and Nokia phone.

works fine. phone calls clear, zumo clear, radio a bit "tinny" but then its just background music really and thats all thats wanted.
just have to remember to accept the bluetooth connection on the zumo and phone screens before setting off

not given it a good soaking yet..... but it will happen!

hm

 

[Jacal]

Is using your Autocom really a problem? You only need two wires from the Zumo, one for audio out and one for a mic. Then you can listen to music, hear the route voice prompts and make phone calls (from a Bluetooth phone).

My Autocom is rather old but I bought an adapter from Autocom which takes both the audio and mic from the Zumo and then plugs into one of the outputs in the Autocom. I can't remember the part number but give Autocom a call, they can be very helpful.

I have also used the Scala Rider and have given up on it. It's a nuisance having to remember to charge it. If you have a helmet with a neck skirt you have to glue it on as the clamp won't work. I have broken two mic booms as it's vulnerable tucked under the edge of the helmet and often needs tucking back in after putting helmet on (they are not nearly as tough as the Autocom boom which, in any case, is totally inside the helmet) and you need an extra long boom for flip helmets. It works OK but the audio is not as good and clear as my Autocom.

Also if you are going to have pillion comms you will need two - much more expensive than the bits needed to make the Autocom work.

My wife also used the Scala Rider that came with her Tomtom Rider but has given up and just relies on looking at the Rider screen. Same problems as me but mainly remembering to charge the damned thing. She will be changing to Zumo as well soon as the Rider is very poor in comparison and she can use the Zumo with her Autocom.

Sorry mate but I think you'll find that if you total the cost of the Autocom and then the ridiculously priced extra dongle/dingly thing, you may need smelling salts

 

[Beemerman59]

I have 2 x Scala Rider Q2's and are very happy with them. No problems in the rain either but I do put some silicon grease over the plug that keeps the water out.

It may be standard now I don't know but I upgraded the headset to the new larger version which also has a stereo jack socket. Playing MP3's is not the best via Bluetooth and sometimes I want better quality and stereo which by using the cable works very well. Other times I'm happy with the bluetooth just depends on my mood.

 

[Invicta Moto]

Is using your Autocom really a problem? You only need two wires from the Zumo, one for audio out and one for a mic. Then you can listen to music, hear the route voice prompts and make phone calls (from a Bluetooth phone).

My Autocom is rather old but I bought an adapter from Autocom which takes both the audio and mic from the Zumo and then plugs into one of the outputs in the Autocom. I can't remember the part number but give Autocom a call, they can be very helpful.

I have also used the Scala Rider and have given up on it. It's a nuisance having to remember to charge it. If you have a helmet with a neck skirt you have to glue it on as the clamp won't work. I have broken two mic booms as it's vulnerable tucked under the edge of the helmet and often needs tucking back in after putting helmet on (they are not nearly as tough as the Autocom boom which, in any case, is totally inside the helmet) and you need an extra long boom for flip helmets. It works OK but the audio is not as good and clear as my Autocom.

Also if you are going to have pillion comms you will need two - much more expensive than the bits needed to make the Autocom work.

My wife also used the Scala Rider that came with her Tomtom Rider but has given up and just relies on looking at the Rider screen. Same problems as me but mainly remembering to charge the damned thing. She will be changing to Zumo as well soon as the Rider is very poor in comparison and she can use the Zumo with her Autocom.

I've been using a Scala headset for about 2 years to make my Quest into a bluetooth connection system rather than a wired connection.

I tend to charge the Scala whenever I get to a hotel or whatever.

I went to Assen this weekend and a single charge on the rider part of the Team Set I bought recently took me there and back, plus the trip to and from the circuit on Saturday.

Not bad as I estimate it was on for about 13 to 14 hours without a charge or about 850 miles.

 

[Lofty]

Thanks all, I've decided to get a new Kit 300 and stay with Autocom mainly to keep the music mad teenager happy on the back. He's not keen on music in mono ...

 

[andyclift]

Sorry mate but I think you'll find that if you total the cost of the Autocom and then the ridiculously priced extra dongle/dingly thing, you may need smelling salts

The original question notes that the Autocom already exists so no costs there and I guess the headsets are already in the helmets. The add on to allow the satnav to work with one of the aux sockets cost me about £30.00.

Two Scala Riders cost £230.00. No brainer on the cost front. Even if a new Autocom is purchased the costs are comparable and my experience is that the Autocom provides superior audio + other benefits.

I am not saying the Scala Rider is a bad system, I just don't think saving the couple of seconds it takes to connect the headset cable is worth the aggro of recharging and having a big lump stuck on the outside of my helmet.

 

[billynomates]

The original question notes that the Autocom already exists so no costs there and I guess the headsets are already in the helmets. The add on to allow the satnav to work with one of the aux sockets cost me about £30.00.

Two Scala Riders cost £230.00. No brainer on the cost front. Even if a new Autocom is purchased the costs are comparable and my experience is that the Autocom provides superior audio + other benefits.

I am not saying the Scala Rider is a bad system, I just don't think saving the couple of seconds it takes to connect the headset cable is worth the aggro of recharging and having a big lump stuck on the outside of my helmet.

The benefit with Q2 is it can also be used bike 2 bike plus with a spare mount my wife can use the TT R2 on her bike with no additional costs, something that when buying from scratch needs to be taken into the cost equation.
ian

 

[gort]

Sorry mate but I think you'll find that if you total the cost of the Autocom and then the ridiculously priced extra dongle/dingly thing, you may need smelling salts

im with you jacal on this one the dingley dongle thingy is usless. think autocom are avin a geraff ive used autocom for years but i think the end is nighe.

 

[Lofty]

I do have an early Autocom which has been working very well with the 2610 but I've now gone for a Kit 300 and I'll offload the old kit with the 2610. Cheers all, seems to have sparked a few opinions !

 

[Jacal]

Yep some peeps are happy enough spending 3-4 hundred pounds upwards only to find out it doesn't do all that it promises and then thier happy enough to be told that it's not Autocom's fault but the Zumo's audio or bluetooth, it may well be, but they don't tell you that when your parting with your hard earned.

I REITERATE! when you cost both, the Autocom comes out obscenely expensive!

Oh! by the way, how much is that dongle thing? and then compare it with most in car BT, Parrot etc