| Author | Message | ||
     Tommy_k |
Looking for some personal reviews of any decent bike to bike comm.s out there. Chatterboxes any good? Also, I currently ride with earplugs, but I assume using an intercom will kill that...at least one of them. Thoughts and opinions please. TIA, TK | ||
| Darthane |
I own a pair of Chatterboxes, and like them just fine. They have good range, the audio quality is decent, and they've got a wide frequency range as well as the ability to hook your MP3 player/cell phone into them. I also ride with earplugs. Ironically enough, it is EASIER to hear what people are saying when I'm wearing them. Wind noise is what makes it difficult to make words out, and the plugs largely remove that from the equation. I took the speakers that came with them and removed my helmet cheek padding, sliced the cover off, and then carved a niche in the styrafoam to house the speakers. Glued them in, buttoned up the covering and then put the pads back in the helmet. Voila, stealth speakers. Things I don't like about them: 1) If you don't do something similar with your helmet, the speakers are a PITA. The little velcro piece never holds the speakers in place when you put the helmet ON. 2) The VOX function is very difficult to adjust properly to account for differing riding conditions. As such, I prefer to simply use the PTT button. 3) I wish you could use regular old headphones/microphones with it, but the connection port for the damned things appears to be proprietary. The only problem I seem to have with understanding people is when we're all on the highway cruising at speed...but there's not really anything you can do about that short of sealing your entire helmet.  | ||
| Dmextreme |
I agree. The Chatterbox is a great item to be using. I have the GMRS-X1 with a few accessories and manual. If you would like, i can sell to you for 250 bucks. :P I think retail is around 329.99 or so. It's in fantastic shape. no broken pieces and helmet clip. 5 mile distance. http://www.hjc-chatterbox.com/freetalk.htm Check it. | ||
| Beachbuell |
I have been checking into the Chatterbox and similar type systems for months now. From what I have been seeing and hearing from people that have and use them is that they are Ok. Lots of static, clumsy to handle when riding (push to talk), also the hands free is iffy at highway speeds (wind noise activates it) and they are also hard to hear at speed. Again, from what people have told me with first hand experience. Last month one of the sport bike magazines also reviewed the new Chatterbox and had issues with it also. I'm not sure if I want to spend that kind of money on so so communications IMHO. | ||
| Gowindward |
Take a look at Autocom. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I have a pair of chatterboxes also. with the louder pipes they can be hard to operate on the vox at highway speeds. they do work well with the ptt there. Around town they work fine with the vox. with a noisier helmet (I wear an arai astral-x) that may not be the case so as usual YMMV. | ||
| Ride365 |
You can always find a good deal on some Chatterboxes on Ebay! Brand new =$379ish, Ebay usually around $150-200 for the newest and best | ||
| Curtyd |
Why would I want to "chatter" while riding? Recent Divided attention tests says that folks talking on cell phones, etc. and driving have as many errors from divided attention as do folks that are DUI. Dangerous business when even one error in this past-time can have drastic consequences But heck, it's up to you, after all, but thought you might want to consider this first. | ||
| Tommy_k |
I don't think the object of these is to be "chatting" away mid corner or while lane-splitting at high speeds. It would be a huge benefit when needing to refuel on the highway, engine problems and need to pull over, missed a turn...etc. Or just so I don't have to YELL at my friends who don't have flip up helmets while stopped. The PTT can't be any more distracting at the right place than say hitting the trip meter, or checking the time. I'm sure everyone has done that at least once while moving. TK btw, thanks for the comments | ||
| Diablobrian |
It is nice to be able to say: hey, I have a problem if you are the bike to the rear. the next turn is the one we need to take your tail light is out....etc. | ||
| Darthane |
What Diablo said...and when not saying something relavent to bike operation or directions, it's nice to have the MP3 player going. | ||
| Pinball |
I`ve heard good things about "Collett Electronics" ! | ||
| Bake |
Our Chatterboxes have been so much trouble I don't know if I will ever bother with them again! | ||
| Morgans |
At my shop, we have been selling a lot of the Firefox voice box mikes. They hook up to a set of small walkie talkies and have a push to talk button on a velcro strap. Most of our customers mount the button on their bars or wrap them around the gloves for easy access. The throat mikes work great and aren't affected by wind noise. You can get them out of the Parts Unlimited catalog. | ||
| Pisymbol |
Can you use any headphone you want with the Chatterboxes? i.e. if I have an IEM or custom fitted ear piece, can I plug in via a standard mini-jack etc. | ||
| Rubdoggy |
a little off subject, i'm pretty stoked for the $93 total new off ebay. http://www.cardowireless.com/scala_rider/specs_and_features.php it's all about the bluetooth baby! |
