Intercom two-up riding

[47744]

Anybody had intercom experience? I have a Maxon model 49-F5 with a earphone mic and vox and push to talk etc etc. Basically it's a 49MHz radio. It's fine sitting at a stop light but the wind noise (we use open face helmets) all but drowns it out when moving. Our kids use them to play with walking around rally grounds. I gave up trying to make them work on the bike.

I just got a fire fox road warrior which sounds like a nice unit in the advertising. They use a throat mic and plastic tubing to the ear speakers you plug in your ear. The instructions said to make good contact with the mic you may need to bend the mic ends in toward your throat. I tried that and the mic end just snapped off. Firefox said the instructions didn't say to bend the mic ends--go figure?? We taped the mic end back on and tried it out. Too much wind noise and voice distortion. When the volume is turned down to eliminate the distortion, the wind noise drowns out the voice. When you turn the volume up to drown out the wind noise you hear a lot of gobbly-gook.

Anybody tried a Baehr Verso???

 

[chaspoebmw]

Is there anything available yet with Bluetooth?

 

[hlothery]

I keep it simple.....use a Chatterbox basic intercom mounted on my helmet, with mic and speakers inside the helmet. Wife plugs into the unit on my helmet. So does the GPS, if we want, or the MP3 player, or cell phone, though we seldom use that. Works well, is cheap enough for me to carry a backup on trips if the unit fails (never has). A charge lasts for about 14 hours of continuous use, and it recharges in about 3 hours. The problem with bluetooth is the power drain/need for frequent recharges, IMHO. But this is definitely a YMMV issue.

 

[GSJimE]

I have an older model Autocom(pre-volume control). It works great. I think the new ones have the volume control. I use the intercom, satellite radio, cell phone, and gps with it. Ear phone placement is very important!

Good luck!

 

[ppaintguy]

Chatterbox really is about the simplest offering and economical when compared with some of the other options. If you never need bike to bike, then you can get a setup specifically for the passenger, a cheaper option than two bike to bike radios. I have a GMRSX-1 and can set it up to hook into my passenger's headphones and mic, and we can chat with another bike too.

 

[BRADFORDBENN]

I am really happy with my AutoCom. I even use it to make cell calls while riding without a problem. My wife likes it also cause I let her pick the music when we ride together.

 

[ppaintguy]

I am really happy with my AutoCom. I even use it to make cell calls while riding without a problem. My wife likes it also cause I let her pick the music when we ride together.

I would agree with you Brad on the superior functionality of the features of Autocom, and if I had to over I would choose that one for sure. When Autocom came out I already had enough invested in Chatterbox to make it pointless to get another.

 

[DEANCOX]

My wife won't get anywhere near my bike...so I talk to myself. Never quite sure whether it is just inside my head or just inside my helmet.

 

[RTRandy]

Autocom and full face helmets are the way to go. The clarity is great plus it makes two up riding far more enjoyable keeping your eyes on the road and not having to turn your head and shout.

 

[MUSICMAN]

anyone use IMC MIT 10?

I've been looking at the MIT 10, I use their speakers but wonder how their two up comm is.

Andy

 

[airhead6]

any hardwire solutions---

I too have gone through several crappy solutions. Does anyone know of a hardwire solution I can run off the bikes battery?

Gmac

 

[tomrogers]

I just purchased a set of Chatterbox FRS/X2. One for my bike and one for my wife's bike. I'm expect them to arrive soon. My needs are for bike to bike and intercom for me and my passenger. After I get them installed, I can let you know how they work. I made my purchase based on features, price, and a review done by Motorcycle Escape magazine.

 

[GSWayne]

I have had good luck with the StarCom system for Music, GPS, and intercom functions.

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=STAR1

 

[kniivila]

Anybody had intercom experience? I have a Maxon model 49-F5 with a earphone mic and vox and push to talk etc etc. Basically it's a 49MHz radio. It's fine sitting at a stop light but the wind noise (we use open face helmets) all but drowns it out when moving. Our kids use them to play with walking around rally grounds. I gave up trying to make them work on the bike.

I just got a fire fox road warrior which sounds like a nice unit in the advertising. They use a throat mic and plastic tubing to the ear speakers you plug in your ear. The instructions said to make good contact with the mic you may need to bend the mic ends in toward your throat. I tried that and the mic end just snapped off. Firefox said the instructions didn't say to bend the mic ends--go figure?? We taped the mic end back on and tried it out. Too much wind noise and voice distortion. When the volume is turned down to eliminate the distortion, the wind noise drowns out the voice. When you turn the volume up to drown out the wind noise you hear a lot of gobbly-gook.

Anybody tried a Baehr Verso???

I have had an Autocom that I have installed on 4 bikes. Never a problem, it has a volume control that you seem to set only once, then never again. Great product.

 

[chilei]

I LOOOOVE my Autocom, cant beat it for the price and I don't have that abomination on the side of my helmet that everyone with Chatterbox have. I can throw my helmet on and if I don't want the system, it is a simple short cord that just hangs, not a brick on the side of my head.

Stereo sound, quality, easy to install (I installed mine within 20 minutes of being delivered to my house and this includes figuring out where to mount and how to get to the battery on a new bike).

 

[hlothery]

Update, simply enough

I have decided to forgo simple, at this point. Even though I was never bothered by the "abomination" of the chatterbox, and it worked very well most of the time, I have had repeated little aggravations. Batteries seem to die quickly, headsets seem to malfunction a lot. I'm tired of being nickle and dimed. After another failure this past weekend, I have ordered a Baehr unit which RhineWest will install for me next week when they do my 12,000 mile service. Will let you know how I like it.

 

[dpmonk]

Autocom and batteries

After much duress I am going to finally purchase the EZ-7 Autocom.
Back when I rode Harley's I always poked fun at the Honda riders who had to plug in and do a little dance before they got on the bike but it is now crow eating time I guess. I really don't want to deal with wiring to the bike and was wondering how long a 9volt battery lasts.

 

[robdogg]

After much duress I am going to finally purchase the EZ-7 Autocom.
Back when I rode Harley's I always poked fun at the Honda riders who had to plug in and do a little dance before they got on the bike but it is now crow eating time I guess. I really don't want to deal with wiring to the bike and was wondering how long a 9volt battery lasts.

the 9v will last one day; if your lucky and your day is realatively short; those units really suck up the juice

if you don't want to mount it; do what others have done and run power to your tank bag (if you have one) I love having a powered tank bag; I can power up all my gadgets right there in one place; it gets a little busy with all the cords, but those can be manged

 

[dancogan]

the 9v will last one day; if your lucky and your day is realatively short; those units really suck up the juice

I've had a substanially different experience. My battery will last for probably 2-3 weeks, if I ride a lot on weekends and moderately through the week. Just been too lazy to wire it up, even though the battery on the RT is so easy to access.

 

[EricJRW]

Is there anything available yet with Bluetooth?

That is what I'm wishing for... If these things (Bluetooth hands-free headsets) can go from phone to headset, why not headset to headset? I've seen that some helmets now have the Bluetooth built in, but I'm only interested in two-up comm. Guess there is no decent Bluetooth solution (yet) with noise reduction.

I may go with the new Autocom, but I really don't want to deal with the wires...

Eric