| Author | Message | ||
     Iman501 |
so i've been thinking about getting some sort of 2 way bike communication device (and talk my friend kyle into getting one also) i know there is the chatter box, but what other brands devices do you guys suggest, or know work well? I'm not to sure i want a strict blue-tooth device due to it wasting my cell phone battery and using up my minutes while riding. we tend to go on somewhat lengthy rides that would waste a cell phone battery p.s. the less expensive it is the better!  | ||
| Dcc46 |
i just picked up a sena smh-10. i got it mainly for wireless blutooth for music and it works great | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Work out a few simple hand signals between you & stop to talk if you need to. The last thing I want is somebody yapping in my ear when my attention needs to be focused elsewhere. Just my 02c worth. Oh & my way is cheaper too. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The chick and I use a Chatterbox setup, but once funds allow we'll go to some kind of wireless/blutooth setup. BTW - not all the blutooth headsets work via your cell phone. I know the Chatterbox and Scala blutooth headsets do not use your phone. Check WebBikeWorld.com for reviews - they've been staying on top of things. | ||
| Babired |
I have the Chatterbox and use the blue tooth with my Blackberry so it is compatible to blue tooth things I don't like about it fumbling around with my fingers trying to answer it. | ||
| Spike240sx |
I picked up a Scala Rider G4 powerset a few week ago before my trip to the dragon. A buddy of mine bought the other one off of me and we use them everytime we go out. Clarity is awesome. at 80 on the interstate i can even tell he is on another bike. As far a s phone conversations go the wife calls me the most often while im on it. She claims that it sound like im in my truck. For the money i think its a great set and has served me well. and the battery seems to last forever. | ||
| F_skinner |
We use the Blueant Interphone between two bikes. It really does improve safety where hand signals just do not cut it. My only complaint about the Interphone is low battery life and not being able to charge it from the bike. (the new ones allow this but not while in use)... Froggy has the Scala Rider and I liked it when I saw it at Homecoming since it allows you to charge it while using it (I think)... He can provide better info than I can on that model... I will be trying one soon. Think about your requirements. Phone connectivity Bike to Bike Battery life user friendly etc.. Frank | ||
| F_skinner |
Also think about how many bikes or units you need to connect to as they vary with different types. Spike240sx, that is the set I will get soon. Thanks for the review. | ||
| Greatnorthrider |
I have the Scala Rider G3. Works great! My buddy and I can really make the miles when we don't have to stop to communicate. I also feel it is a safety device. When I am leading and run across something in the road, I'll tell Jim so he is prepared for it. | ||
| Dfbutler |
+1 on the Scala G4! It is backwards compatible to some earlier Scala Riders so you can talk to earlier models too. I use mine every day to listen to music during my commute via BT from the MP3 player in my phone. Scala will upgrade the software via downloads (several already) including the ability to set FM stations circumventing the tedious process as delivered. Battery life on both my phone and the G4 is adequate to listen to music all day. | ||
| Froggy |
F_skinner, I was kinda puzzled when you asked about the charging while riding thing before, but I didn't even think about battery life. I have never killed my Scala Q2 in a single day on the road. The website says it has a talking time of 8 hours before it runs out. Sounds about right, I use the FM radio feature for about an hour a day commuting back and forth to work, and I get around a weeks worth out of it before it dies. The new G4 claims 10 hours of talk time, so it should last even longer. | ||
| F_skinner |
Yep Frank, that is why I was asking. I like everything about the Blueant save the battery life and as they get older the battery gets weaker. Mine is only good for about 300 miles... Lynn's (a newer one) last about 400 miles... The Scala G4 will be our next one.... | ||
| Poppinsexz |
Scala Q2 for us and works great. Yes it BTs with our phones and plugs into the ipods. Wife and I love them. You really can't tell that I'm on my bike in a phone call. Only bad is the FM Radio sucks and music volume has to be controlled by the ipod not the headset. | ||
| Iman501 |
it seems that the general consensus is that the scala G4 is the way to go. i've read a few reviews on it, and it seems like a lot of people are complaining about something or another about it, seems like a lot of people were having trouble using the radio or ipod feature....anybody have anything to say about that? | ||
| Danger_dave |
What do you girls chat about while you are riding? :-P | ||
| Bartimus |
I use the scala Q2 for me and Debbie. I works well, we get a good 8 hours out of them easy. We used them going to the 25th homecoming and managed an 800 mile day and the batteries held up well. I've received a few phone calls, and the caller couldn't even tell I was riding a bike at about 80mph, At least until I went into the canyon and the cell signal went dead! The Scala's are small, very versatile, the batteries hang in there all day, and the price is right. The G4 is the latest and greatest model... | ||
| Rcf2 |
+1 for Scala Rider Q2, good sound and long lasting batt. used primary for advise a buddy in another bike about any warning necessary and a bit of chat while driving. never use or intend to use in FM mode or to pickup cell calls. | ||
| Iman501 |
alright so i've been looking on amazon and ebay and reading reviews and such. this may sound dumb but i do have a question about these. they all say BT enabled and intercom, and ipod and radio and other such things, but it seems like some are just bluetooth (meaning that you'd have to use your phone's minutes to be able to communicate with others) and others seem like they are more of a walkie talkie type thing. it sounds like scala has a good product according to all of you, so i probably will go with either the q2 if i can find one or wait a bit more and go for the G4. are both of those the "walkie talkie" type set up, or do they in fact use BT buy using up your cell phone minutes? | ||
| Xl1200r |
I think you'll find that most do NOT use your cell phone to communicate with another rider. I know the Scala units do not. Think about it - if it can use blutooth to talk back and forth with the phone, it can do it with another unit. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I like the Scala as well (we have the G4's). Yes, they BT to each other, not via phone. Range is pretty decent if you remember to pop up the antenna. Rider/passenger is no problem, bike-to-bike can get a little short especially in the mountains if your antennae are down. My battery lasted for all of WVBR - over 1k miles in a 3 day weekend, BT connected to music on my Blackberry the whole time Commuting with music, I typically get over a week - sometimes two - on one charge, and it charges with a micro-USB cord same as my Motorola handsfree earpiece. The only "issue" I've noticed is, if I hook it via wire input to my GPS, and I'm using BT for music...the priorities are goofy and I don't hear the GPS. And it "turns off" the music when the GPS talks. Same thing with the intercom. It prioritizes the intercom over the BT or the hardwire...and stops the music on my blackberry. That, actually, may be a blackberry thing now that I think about it...it could be seeing a wonky BT signal because of the "audio controls" protocol. I'll have to look into that... My end-run on the music thing for now is, I made a harness that plugs to both the GPS and to the Blackberry. Now I hear music, and when the chick in the GPS starts yapping that I need to turn, she pops into my left ear with no musical interruption. Factory recommendation is, if you have a GPS with BT, to pair both your phone and the Scala to the GPS, and NOT pair your phone TO the Scala. That way you single-source things as far as the Scala is concerned, it's all coming through the GPS. But...(easy now Froggy)...my GPS doesn't have BT. So, I did the same thing but with wires | ||
| Pammy |
+ a million on the scala. Wes and I and most of our friends use this system. G4 is awesome! Also the Q2 and the G4 connect to one another. Us "girls" don't particularly care to "chat" while we are riding, but it is nice to be connected to ones phone when without that one would be trapped at home or in the car with cell phone handy for family calls. (sick folks). Also it has come in handy when turkeys and hogs are out and about...not to mention sand, gravel,law enforcement, etc... I don't find being a girl such a bad thing...of course, I am probably too old to be considered a 'girl'. Now when youse start making derogatory remarks regarding older, mature, women, watch out! ;o) | ||
| Pammy |
If some of you wanted to do some sort of group buy...I could see what I could do. | ||
| F_skinner |
Plus 1 Pammy, I would be interested in participating in the group buy. We will need a pair of the G4s. | ||
| Dfbutler |
All of you guys using the G4, make sure you check the Scala website for downloads. The first one allowed setting FM stations from your PC, which I had not bothered doing because it was such a PITA. I downloaded 3 or 4 since I've had mine, but Scala will not tell you what the D/L do. One thing I know it does is smoothing the volume ups and downs based on the background noise. Your rider does charge while you're fooling with the download. | ||
| Froggy |
Pammy, count me in for a single unit G4. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Yeah we're all different Pammy. Having anyone else talking in my helmet would really give me the s***s. If it works for you old ducks - good for you :-P | ||
| Stalker |
I might be interested in 2 G4's. Jenny and I use the Q2 multiset, picked it up for $235 off amazon. They work great, we do all sorts of chatting while riding, after using them its kinda boring riding without them now. The only bad thing I can say about the q2,is when I am listing to a good song and start to sing along it cuts out and wants to go to my phone.However I can MAKE a phone call without using my hands. great product | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Pammy, if you do a group buy, Count me in on at least 2 G4s, maybe 3 if the price is right. | ||
| Sleez |
g4 was perfect for our ride to homecoming and back, used an fm transmitter plugged into the acc socket to listen to the ipod!!! | ||
| Argentcorvid |
I'd be in for one, maybe up to 3 depending on if a guy at work wants one for him and his wife or not. |
