Need Intercom Advice

[Bailegb]

Since I have traded up to a trike, my wife enjoys riding with me again. Wherever I go she is with me. I would like to get some kind of intercom system so we can hear each other during the ride. My trike is an ElectraGlide Classic conversion and it does not have the intercom setup installed. I notice that there are belt mounted battery operated systems out there but I need advice on which brand, what features I should look for. Any advice or experiences out there that can help me decide? I know that I could have the dealer install an intercom but I'm guessing that it would give me sticker shock.

 

[champsman97045]

Since I have traded up to a trike, my wife enjoys riding with me again. Wherever I go she is with me. I would like to get some kind of intercom system so we can hear each other during the ride. My trike is an ElectraGlide Classic conversion and it does not have the intercom setup installed. I notice that there are belt mounted battery operated systems out there but I need advice on which brand, what features I should look for. Any advice or experiences out there that can help me decide? I know that I could have the dealer install an intercom but I'm guessing that it would give me sticker shock.

look at this site as they have excellent products

J&M Motorcycle Audio

 

[trikermutha]

yea there are nice wireless systems out there now that use bluetooth..

 

[Bigbill]

Since I have traded up to a trike, my wife enjoys riding with me again. Wherever I go she is with me. I would like to get some kind of intercom system so we can hear each other during the ride. My trike is an ElectraGlide Classic conversion and it does not have the intercom setup installed. I notice that there are belt mounted battery operated systems out there but I need advice on which brand, what features I should look for. Any advice or experiences out there that can help me decide? I know that I could have the dealer install an intercom but I'm guessing that it would give me sticker shock.

Sena SMH10D. Sena SMH10D Bluetooth Helmet Communication System (Pack of 2) : Amazon.com : Automotive

About 285.00 for both helmets

 

[Gorilla]

something to consider while you are on this subject. do you ride with other people? do they have communication systems on their trikes/bikes? do you want to be able to communicate with them?

 

[screwball]

Glad you asked! Wife rides her own bike, it is nice to talk to here on occasion. We had the Scala Rider units, then the Sema. Sema hands down. First, the SMH-10 units have one BIG KNOB on the side. Smack it once, intercom comes on. Smack it again, intercom goes off. It will bluetooth to an MP-3 if it is bluetooth, or you can cord it to the 'egg'. It will also bluetooth to your telephone. The Scala Riders did the same thing, but they had 3 or 4 different buttons to do this. Not a problem if you ride without gloves, or fingerless. Big problem in the winter with insulated gloves. Kind of hard to feel the buttons. Wife has neuropthy in her hands and feet which limits feeling, so the BIG KNOB really works well for her.

About talking to others with blue tooth capabilities. The Scala and Sema units will communicate. The Scalas work like one big party line. When you tell your wife what a jerk the guy on the red Harley is, he can hear you. When the Sema units are bonded, units 1 and 2 are 1 tap, 1 and 3 are two, 1 and 4 are 3. Everyone can talk, just not at the same time, good and bad. Range and cost are about the same.

Just to confuse the situation, Sema offers several variations on the mounting plate. I ordered (about 30 bucks) a mount that doesn't have helmet speakers. It has a standard 3.4mm headphone jack. I bought a pair of Sony Professional studio headphones, removed the head gear, and velcro'd them in the ear wills of my helmet. Spaced so the foam just covers my ears. I also bought a Clear Sound stereo bluetooth transmitter and adapter. I can plug the clear sound into the CB plug through the adapter. Now, everything that comes out of my radio is bluetoothed to my Sema unit and into the headphones.... wirelessly. I can listen to anything I want with enough volume to make my eyes bleed and no one is bothered.

Hope I didn't get confusing. Good Luck!

 

[wannaB]

I'm confused....nothing new about that. If everything is connected via bluetooth, how does the unit decide what you listen to? If I'm listening to an iPod and my spouse starts talking or the phone rings, will the music volume automatically mute so I can have a conversation?

 

[screwball]

It's all priorities. Music is last. When you activate the intercom, it cuts off the music. Cell phone call will override both. When you are listening to music and the 'other' unit is activated you hear a beep, your music goes off and you can hear the other person. When they click off, your music returns. IF you sync your cell phone, you can add it as a phone, or music player, or both. Battery lasts at least 10 hours, that is the longest I've ridden between charges.

Good Luck.

 

[wannaB]

Thanks for the great review and your quick answer. Time to chat with friends to decide which direction we want to go.