| Author | Message | ||
     Cruisin |
I picked up a Cardo Systems Scala Rider headset to try out. With a 35 minute commute during the week and some long rides on the weekend, I thought it would be nice to have. Installation was easy - there's a piece that slides up between the insulation and the outer shell, then tightens down with allen screws. Once tight, the base will not budge. The earpiece is very thin and has a long enough cord to be routed out of the way. The mic is on a flexible boom so it can be used with 3/4 or full face helmets. The real test was actually using it, which I got a chance to yesterday on a benefit ride. My mom was babysitting and we had a few hours on the bikes. At speeds up to 60 (full face helmet) I could use the voice dialing of my phone to speak the digits - name dialing works well at slower speeds. I was able to call and check in with my mom with no problems. I called and checked in with another friend as well about some plans for a later date, and I was able to take a call from a friend that I had been waiting for three days to get. We were able to discuss details for a party I'm planning and have her research more info. If I missed that call it could have delayed planning for days. I run a special ops pipe, so my bike isn't quiet by any means. Even at 50 - 55 the caller can't hear any wind noise or engine noise. The headset has a piece that slips off the base to it's easy to bring with for charging. It was raining all day yesterday, but the Scala Rider wasn't affected by weather at all. The volume was definitely loud enough - I can even hear the caller when going 75 on the interstate. It automatically boosts the volume if the ambient noise increases. If you've looked for a bluetooth headset for the bike, this is definitely one I'd recommend. For an extra $15, you can get a bluetooth adapter that plugs into your regular phone headset jack to make it bluetooth compatable. http://www.cardowireless.com/scala_rider/ | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Nice review, thank you! and ride safely | ||
| Southern Marine |
Thanks for that review. I was wondering about the quality of these. Now I know that it could be well worth purchasing one of these. | ||
| Freeflyer |
All I can say is you cant give 100% attention to both the ROAD and talking on the phone at the same time. We need all the reaction time possible. Hands free dont mean shi* cause your mind is whats tied up. Really though think about how many people you see causing accidents by talking on cell phones, somebody needs to pay attention | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
What is the real world battery life like? | ||
| Cruisin |
It was freshly charged before Sundays ride. It's been on for 5 hours (turn it off when I'm off the bike for a bit) with probably at least 45 minutes of talking (I was using the group ride time Sunday to get some stuff done). It's still going strong. Used it this morning to let my coworkers know I'm stopping off at a remote site before coming in, etc... Freeflyer - I hear you, and I do agree to an extent. Some people can handle talking more easily than others. Most of the accidents that happen when people are on the phone are either dialing or aren't looking because it's awkward to turn when you're holding a phone. Handsfree helps alleviate a lot of this with voice dialing and no handset to hold, but I've been run off the road by people who just plain don't look...the guy just didn't bother to check his blind spot and ran me out of my lane. I think a motorcyclist can benefit from something like this because it allows them to be in contact while on a bike. If it's a place that someone needs to pay attention, they can tell the caller they'll call them back later (or just ignore the call and check the phone later). Quick calls and simple conversations have little impact to someone who is putting paying attention to the road first. If I get on the road on the bike and my wife calls to tell me to go straight to a friends house, I could waste a lot of time going home first, then getting the message on my cell phone, then going to where I should have gone. Used properly, a headset can be a great benefit. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
If I get on the road on the bike and my wife calls to tell me to go straight to a friends house, I could waste a lot of time going home first, Think of the riding time you'll lose doing that!  One of the things I love most about riding is precisely that I DON'T have the phone ringing, it's just me the bike & the road. | ||
| Djkaplan |
It should be against the law to talk on a cellphone while operating any kind of vehicle on public roadways. It is already forbidden to use a cellphone while driving on military installations (at least on Ft Benning). | ||
| Pwnzor |
Thanks for the thorough review, I always wondered about those headsets. I agree with Mr. Grumpy though, I don't want to be on the phone on my bike. And listening to music just makes me paranoid that cagers are doing crazy things around me and I can't hear it. I only have one tiny mirror to keep John Law at bay. | ||
| Cruisin |
There are times when not being in touch is nice. For times like those, you leave the headset off. You don't have to turn it on every time, but some of us have to stay reachable...riding a bike may hinder that, but with a good headset we can still take the bike and be reachable. It's a matter of finding a balance and being SAFE when you do... | ||
| Dfbutler |
I've tried both the Motorola and Cardo versions. The Cardo is far and away the better of the two. It installs cleaner, the helmet speaker is smaller and you can voice answer. The one plus with the Motorola, which I have not tried, is that you can link two together and use as an intercom up to 50'. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
You mentioned that there is plenty of volume. Is that while wearing earplugs? What helmet did you install it in (arai? Shoei? HJC?) How do you answer a call? I read on their website that you can use voice commands, but they make no mention of a button to do the same. And for those of you that are against cell phone while driving, I agree with most of what you are saying. But can we please avoid the anti cell phone debate in this thread. I just want to hear some more about this headset, without all of the debate. | ||
| Bake |
My job allows me lots of free time as long as I am in cell range, this would have been perfect while out dirty biking this afternoon. | ||
| Cruisin |
I have not tried it while wearing earplugs...that might mute it too much, but maybe not...I know I can't have it at the highest volume setting even at 75, it's too loud, so maybe...I'll test it tomorrow. I installed it in one of the Buell helmets (a KBC), but it will go in any. There's a thin clamp that slides up between the padding and the outer shell, then tightens down. Once on, the base won't budge. To answer, the main button on the side does also pick up the call (just tap it briefly when you hear it ringing). To end the call, there's another button towards the back to push (or you can push it when you hear ringing to ignore the call). The voice commands basically listen for you to speak something and it will pick up. If you don't say anything, it will ignore the call. | ||
| Dfbutler |
Corporatemonkey, I installed mine on a Shoei Syncrotec after trying the Motorola's version first. The Motorola's speaker is much bigger and would rub my ear. I went so far as to order new cheek pieces that I was going to modify to accept the speaker until I got the Scala Rider whose speaker is considerably smaller and easier to hear. A couple of other things, I ride with ear plugs and can actually hear the phone conversation better with them than without because they block out the wind noise and the speaker is right next to my ear. As far as the verbal answer, typically wind noise, if you use the smaller of the included foam mic covers, will initiate an answer and you will hear hello, hello in your ear possible before you heard the ringing which gets progressively louder. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
"if you use the smaller of the included foam mic covers, will initiate an answer and you will hear hello, hello in your ear possible before you heard the ringing which gets progressively louder." This sounds like a bad thing. Last thing I would want is it answering automatically. Is there are setting to make it 100% manual? Another question, is the headset case weatherized in any way? I would hate to be caught out in the rain, and have $150 worth of gear short out. | ||
| Spectrum |
I have this on my Nolan M100 helmet (same helmet pictured on the Cardo website) and it works well with my Razr. Voice dial works up to about 40-45mph. Wind noise is audible to my callers above 60mph, but they can still hear me fine. I can hear my callers well all the way up to 75mph. Buttons are a little difficult to operate with my riding gloves, but not too much of a problem. I like the auto answer feature and its much better than having to take hands of the handlebars. But you can disable it. I should point out that auto answer requires a voice response. In other words if you remain silent it does not answer the call. Cardo claims the unit is weather resistant. Documentation says it is fine for light rain and snow. But should not be used in heavy rain. I must say I do find talking on the phone while riding distracting. I try to minimize it or find a safe place to pull over if its going to be lengthy conversation. | ||
| Cruisin |
As Spectrum said, you can turn off the voice answer and just push the button whenever you want to answer the call. It's easy to find. They do include two foam mic covers - the bigger one is what I use and it reduces the wind noise. The headset itself is very weather resistant. I used it last Sunday in pretty consistent soaking rain (for a few hours) with no issues. The only real opening is the power outlet which has a rubber plug to seal it off. | ||
| Daves |
Maybe it's just me but you guys that want a phone you can talk on while riding are crazy! Just check your cell phone when you stop for gas! Talking while riding is not only dangerous it is just "wrong"  | ||
| Spectrum |
Daves, I don't disagree with you. But for some of us, being out of phone reach means little or no ride time options. I can't see giving up either my job or my bike. (Message edited by spectrum on August 24, 2006) | ||
| Daves |
I hear ya, heck I take my laptop and cell phone on vacation so I can keep up with work! I'm just not going to answer or talk on my phone while I am riding. I do, sometimes, take my phone out,flip it open to see if I have missed any calls and then I can pull over and call that person back if it needs my immediate attention. If I set my phone to "vibrate" I can feel it ringing in my inside jacket pocket and know I have just missed a call. I can then check it to see who it was and what they needed. | ||
| Easy_rider |
I had an afternoon where I was in and out of coverage. It seemed like we'd stop and I'd be out of coverage, but be able to see that I had received a call from the boss (we were going out for a dinner that evening). Ever since then I've wanted headset capability for my phone. We all ride in very different areas for very different reasons. Those combine to make the safety of and desire for phones/tunes/accessories different for everyone. I should just stop here...... | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Easy_rider, That is one of the major reasons I got my Buell its own cell phone (funny huh...) I use Tmo for personal/business stuff. I have a basic verizon phone for the bike. Rarely I have been anywhere where at least one of them didn't work. I just forward the tmo # to the verizon if I am "unavailable" (meaning tmo can't locate me) Now a question about the headset along this line. Most bluetooth headsets alert you when your phone is out of service (most beep very softly). Does the scala do this? It would get kind of old to hear soft beeping while riding when out of service. | ||
| Cruisin |
Yup, it does beep every few seconds when there's no signal. Took me a minute to figure out what it was...but it is very soft...most of the time I would hear the click of the speaker turning back off, and not the beep itself. (Message edited by cruisin on August 29, 2006) | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Can you disable the beep? If not than that might be a deal breaker. I ride a lot in areas with spotty service. A beep would get old fast. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Daves, I once pulled over to check my cell phone and return a call that I had missed. While I was dialing, I reached down to drop the sidestand and accidentally kicked the bike into gear. The bike lurched forward, bucked me off, and fell over. I landed flat on my ass next to the bike, but I held onto the cell phone. Lucky for me, the bike fell in grass, so no damage. That unfortunate event would never have happened had I not pulled over to check my cell phone. Be careful out there. Never check your cell phone on the rode.  |
