| Author | Message | ||
     Dmcutter |
I recently put hands free Bluetooth receivers in my work truck and car and really love it, since I have to spend so much time on the phone while driving from site to site. One of the things I always loved about riding a bike was freedom from the phone, but if I'm going to ride it for work I suppose I have to entertain the idea of a Bluetooth helmet. Anyone use one, and what is the general opinion of their utility and function? I know, of course, that talking on the phone, even hands free, decreases focus and that is a bad thing, especially on a bike so I'm not completely committed to the idea, but like I said, I at least need to consider it... | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've got a Scala Rider. It's great for streaming music from the Blackberry  Phone calls...um...I guess I could make them if I needed to... | ||
| Dmcutter |
I do love my Pandora... much more interested in tunes than phone calls. | ||
| Redtail |
+1 on the scala rider. I use it with my xm radio and phone. | ||
| Whitelightning99 |
I have the Sena, and it works really well. I'm using their earbud adapter instead of the supplied speakers. Two advantages; much clearer sound and huge noise reduction. I don't have to turn it up to max volume, so I can hear ambient sounds better. | ||
| Towpro |
I also have the Sena (for both helmets). Love it. | ||
| Thumpthump |
I too have the Sena, great for talking on the phone and communicating with your passenger. | ||
| Thumpthump |
I also use it listen to music on phone via the blue tooth connection. | ||
| Uly_man |
Bluetooth on a bike? Music fine. GPS info fine. Phone not fine. The reason? Music and GPS info is a "incoming only" thing. Phone calls are "both ways" and because you are thinking about what you are saying you are taking your mind off the road. A car is one thing but on a bike you are asking for trouble. | ||
| Froggy |
There is no difference between using a phone in a car and phone on a bike. I use the Scala Rider products, I like both the G4 and G9, but oddly my G4 seems to have a better range than my G9. | ||
| Uly_dude |
I've got a set of G9s on my xmas list. Crossing my fingers! | ||
| Uly_man |
"There is no difference between using a phone in a car and phone on a bike." Not in its "physical" use that is true. On a highway with space around you and the time to avoid a problem that maybe ok but in bad riding conditions it could be a problem. There are few things in this world (if you want to stay alive) that concentrate/focus the mind as well as riding a bike. About 4 years ago a guy, here in the UK, ran into the back of a bus at about 30 mph. The Police did there thing and proved through his phone logs that he had been using his phone before (same call) and at the time of the accident. The pillion, his Wife, died at the scene and he lost all of his left leg and his right foot. The insurance company would not pay out for the totaled bike, the bus company sued him for the damage to the bus, his wifes folks sued him, the law took away his ticket for 5 years (car and bike here is the same) so he lost his job and they have just put him away (jail) for two years. He was also fined £5000 for dangerous driving and he had to pay about £15,000 to the lawyers. And the best bit of all was that he was trying to re finance his house, they read out the transcript of the call in court, and the company he was talking to refused his loan application anyway. And now he has NOTHING. His kids are not very happy either. | ||
| Froggy |
Right and odds are he still would of plowed into the bus if he was in a car instead. Using a phone while operating a vehicle can be dangerous, it has nothing to do with being on a bike or car is my point. | ||
| Uly_man |
Cool. Thanks Froggy. | ||
| Redtail |
What is the difference between talking to your wife behind you or talking to her at home while on a bike with a headset? I am on call 24/7 got to work still, the ringing in my ear lets me know I have a call. Most times I stop and call back but I do answer sometimes. I never call out on the bike that would be playing with disaster. The selling point on the Scala for me was not the bluetooth it was the FM receiver, lets me listen to XM radio. My singing and humming to myself days are over. | ||
| Hdxbones |
I bought a bluetooth helmet from Cycle Gear a month or so ago. So far, it's been fantastic. Stereo music, GPS voice guidance, and the ability to place and/or receive calls. Volume and clarity are better than I expected. I don't initiate any calls while I'm riding, but I will accept select calls. I almost always find a safe spot to pull over to complete any call I take. I'm finding it very convenient to use on the Uly, although I'll probably stick with the corded headset on the Roadglide. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I got the Scala mainly as a rider/passenger intercom (back when I had a passenger). Now it mainly serves music duty. IF I get a call, I look at my phone (usually on top of my tank bag, in the map sleeve so I can see my screen) to make the "answer/pull over/go to voicemail" decision. Usually it goes to voicemail. I don't like to be interrupted...but if my folks call (aging parents), I answer, regardless of time or other activities. I NEVER call out, even though I *think* there's a voice-dial feature. | ||
| Glenn |
I've been thinking about going wireless too, but my Garmin 276 still works great. I've got a Blackberry and would love it for Pandora. | ||
| Uly_man |
Ok so long story short. Get the system as its worth having. But as a "Consulting engineer" I would think that you present high talk time is a lot of thinking about work. I have done this sort of thing and it was bad enough in a car. You asked the question so you know it could be a problem. I would, if it was me, answer the call (because thats what people like in work) saying you will call back, pull over and call them if needed. Its just me but I make a point of not letting anything detract from my concentration, while riding a bike, even to the point of a dirty visor or tight boots. The last thing I need is someone asking me to do math (or other) in my head while trying to deal with all the problems of trying to stay alive on a bike. Maybe others can though. | ||
| Dmcutter |
I read years ago that riding a sport bike was second only to flying a fighter jet with respect to the amount of data that had to be processed almost instantaneously. I find that when I'm driving and talking work, even hands free, that I am scanning and processing subconsciously, but a lot of my brain is occupied with the work stuff. I have not had a close call while driving, mostly because I am anal about maintaining safe following distance and looking way ahead for brake lights. But being on autopilot on a bike really is a lot more dangerous than in a car...environmental factors have more effect, stopping distances are generally longer, and you don't have that protective cage. When I rode to Mt Rushmore 5 years ago with my sister, she gave me endless shit and misery about my MP3 player because she thought it would diminish my situational awareness. And honestly, that's why I would never consider wearing ear buds on my bicycle...I am starting to feel like just checking my voicemail when I get there is the best idea. | ||
| Uly_man |
Many years ago I bought, and still have, a set of "made to fit" racing grade ear phones but balanced for music/radio/comms. I only used them on the bike two or three times before I found them to be a distraction to my riding. But that was just me. What others do is up to them. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Here's my wish list for a BT setup. Small, easily controlled radio mounted to side of helmet. 3.5mm jack so I can use MY choice of in ear, noise isolating hear phones (I LOVE my Etymotic's). Noise canceling mic that mounts inside the helmet for when I feel like talking to someone else be they a fellow rider or on the phone. Remote BT controls for volume, phone, tunes controls, etc. mounted on handle bar. I much prefer the in ear noise isolating speakers over the normal in the helmet speakers. The Etymotics have over -30db of noise reduction, this means you have the volume of what ever you are listening to MUCH lower. Plus when you are not listening to anything they are very comfortable ear protection. |
