I want to talk to my pillion

[tigersaw]

I would like to be able to chat with my pillion as we ride around, and want the headset to be robust, very easy to fit and comfortable, (either each time or a permanent install), and most of all it to do what it says on the tin.

A quick look on the interweb and also from memory, the Autocom system seems to be favourite, Autocom 200 Dual? (about £200 rrp or half that on fleabay used). Other ones i have noticed are the scala bluetooth jobbie, they are about £120 a pair.

I like the idea of connecting to sat navs, phones, walkie talkies, cassette players or whatever - thats all a bonus, but a dependable system that actually works properly is most important.

Any reccomendations or thoughts, based on my requirements?

[Nobbylad]

I'm after the same, although not really fussed about mp3/walkie talkie (unless it's required) but wireless is important.

Ideally something that has a handlebar button for me to press to talk to the pillion - again wireless/bluetooth.

Anyone got any experience of those 'bridge to engine room' set ups that are basically tubes between lids (bit like tin cans & string I guess) - although not 'wire/tubeless'

[Jayneflakes]

:smt045
Great idea. Carol and I use a system like this, but it does have a couple of draw backs.

The positive aspects are that we can talk to each other, I can tell her when I want a wee etc. There are so many different meanings to tapping a shoulder that voice communication can over come. We can plug our Sat Nav into the the device to hear where we should be going.

The negative of the system though is wind blast. When the bike is going over about sixty, the wind blast muffles the sound from the ear piece. The Sat Nav does not go loud enough to be heard. This is why we got lost in Birmingham when we went to see Carols uncle.

The other aspect of this is you can hear the singing, burping and coughing of your rider if you are a pillion, which is great until they start to sound like they are dying, then what do you do? Wait until they kark it before grabbing the bars?

Our system came from a gadget shop and cost under a tenner, it runs two AAA batteries and works really well, even when it is raining. It is a Tronic H3050.

https://www.esources.co.uk/img/m/173_l.gif

[injury_ian]

I have the gadget for you!

a rider pillion headset with the option to connect a tape / mp3 player.

I never got on with it, and she stopped pillioning after she passed her test, barely used.

*googling for images*

edit.... thats the one above! open to offers.

[startrek.steve]

Jeez! one of the attractions for me years ago of long distance biking, was that I couldnt hear the wife (then girlfriend) wittering away/ telling me to slow down etc...

Steve

[Jdawg]

Autocom, definitaly. Better than any of the other stuff you will get out there. The only other one to go for seems to be the starcom.
Ive got the kit 300, my dad has the kit 200, and we both have Kenwood radios, and we can talk for ages. Even when miles apart! Also works up to at least 120mph amzingly! (tested on a private runway obviously)
They are expensive compared to others, however, you definately get what you pay for.
HTH.

[neio79]

Looking at the 150 Autocom dual kit as it has all i need, rider to pillion and ability to listen to music.

Question for Autocom users, If i have a pillion and MP3 player connected , does the music play and when you speak cut out so you can communicate etc??

[custard]

MP3 volume is reduced when you speak and it is overall very slick in my opinion.

do not be tempted to get the Oxford bike mike! utter crap!

invested in an autocom duo thingumy and it is spot on. crystal clear up to the ton. vox operated that actually works and doesnt cut in with wind noise.

only problem i had was getting the headset in the helmet a bit of a faff.
sound quality on MP3 is superb.

[tigersaw]

MP3 volume is reduced when you speak and it is overall very slick in my opinion.

do not be tempted to get the Oxford bike mike! utter crap!

invested in an autocom duo thingumy and it is spot on. crystal clear up to the ton. vox operated that actually works and doesnt cut in with wind noise.

only problem i had was getting the headset in the helmet a bit of a faff.
sound quality on MP3 is superb.

So I take it the headset lives inside the helmet, and there is just a dangly wire sticking out?

[neio79]

MP3 volume is reduced when you speak and it is overall very slick in my opinion.

do not be tempted to get the Oxford bike mike! utter crap!

invested in an autocom duo thingumy and it is spot on. crystal clear up to the ton. vox operated that actually works and doesnt cut in with wind noise.

only problem i had was getting the headset in the helmet a bit of a faff.
sound quality on MP3 is superb.

cool sounds just like what i need. I want to get my nipper on the bike and to make it less boring and safer for her i want full comms with her and to be able to listen to music.

Which system do you have?

[cooky]

Have you thought about the Dainese DNect infinity lid. It has a 40 metre vhf range for rider to rider coms. Also bluetooth connection for rider to pillion coms. Will connect to sat nav and phone at the same time. I've just bought one and its a nice lid very light even with the built in tech stuff.

Check out the link below, The helmet is a Beta tester but i'm told will be on general release by october.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7301/

[TEC]

Been using autocom for years and will always recommend them over the others, their after sales service is excellent and if you have a problem fitting stuff paying them a visit is never the wrong thing to do :)

[MR UKI (1)]

Have you thought about the Dainese DNect infinity lid. It has a 40 metre vhf range for rider to rider coms. Also bluetooth connection for rider to pillion coms. Will connect to sat nav and phone at the same time. I've just bought one and its a nice lid very light even with the built in tech stuff.

Check out the link below, The helmet is a Beta tester but i'm told will be on general release by october.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/7301/

Nolan NCom helmets also have 'chat' facility.

[insideyou]

i have kit200...full proof ..... :D

http://www.autocom.co.uk/

regards

[tigersaw]

Ta for all responses. Looking at autocom 200 Dual, seems like it will do the job

[carty]

I'm also thinking of getting an Autocom Active Rider Duo so I can chat with the Mrs and also connect to my MP3 player and sat-nav (when I get one!) If you install it under the pillion seat where do you route the wires coming out to the headsets? Out of the pillion pad or out of the rider seat?

I'm afraid I'm not mechanically minded at all - is it easy to connect to the bike battery? Do you use one of those inline splice thingummies?

Cheers,
Matt

[neio79]

Got a barging . got a auto com pro7 sport( older version) used once with 2 headsets and full VOX operation for £60 today of a bloke on my ninja forum!! happy days

[custard]

sorry cant remember the model, think it is the 200 duo

i got mine here http://www.chainspeed.co.uk/

if you are in any doubt phone the bloke (sam i think) and he will talk you through features etc.

also check out the vids on the website of the different systems. think they compare the autocom and the starcom. http://www.chainspeed.co.uk/demo.htm

have got 200 duo.

[Davies]

I'm looking at getting one of these systems (http://www.cardowireless.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=261)


Has anyone tried the Scala Rider?

[dirtydog]

I like the idea of connecting to cassette players






Cassette players? blimey are you stuck in the 80's? :confused: lol


the autocom is a top system i used mine for taking phonecalls when i was doing a bit of courier work and for listening to MP3 player. The only reason i took it out of my lid was becuase i found the speakers uncomfortable in my Shoei

[custard]

thos bluetooth jobs do look pretty good. dunno how well they do it though.

thing that got me about autocom if you plug a radio in you can talk to whoever you want at what ever speed you are doing. they are also pretty handy if you go to GP,s etc. all the people i ride with have them and if you ever get split up at an event you can use them.

plus. they are walky talkies in the best way. (small child in me coming out there)

[454697819]

I would like to be able to chat with my pillion as we ride around, and want the headset to be robust, very easy to fit and comfortable, (either each time or a permanent install), and most of all it to do what it says on the tin.

A quick look on the interweb and also from memory, the Autocom system seems to be favourite, Autocom 200 Dual? (about £200 rrp or half that on fleabay used). Other ones i have noticed are the scala bluetooth jobbie, they are about £120 a pair.

I like the idea of connecting to sat navs, phones, walkie talkies, cassette players or whatever - thats all a bonus, but a dependable system that actually works properly is most important.

Any reccomendations or thoughts, based on my requirements?

i use a bike mike 3, mid priced at £55 and works excellently, infact use the right ear plugs and you can still her the voice crystal clear.. the mp3 player plug works well too!

[custard]

i tried a bike mike and it failed within about 3 hours...

[454697819]

i tried a bike mike and it failed within about 3 hours...

interesting, was this linked to the battery or off the battery attached to the unit?

[custard]

we are talking about the oxford bike mike yeah?

was just off its own battery. the whole thing was shoddy, bad connections on the leads poor sound, and crap mics.

[Mousetrapper]

Autocom works really well for me, the mp3 volume decreases when talking and if the phone goes then the music cuts out. The other nice part is an optional extra of a lead which you can plug headphones into. With a pair of headphones / ear plugs you get maximum benefit.

[Gazza77]

I'm looking at getting one of these systems (http://www.cardowireless.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=261)


Has anyone tried the Scala Rider?

I have, and with my Zumo 550. I find it works well with each, but there are problems with a pillion and the satnav at the same time. The satnav interrupts the pillion, then you have to manually reconnect. I'm sure there is a way round this, but I'm yet to work it out; it's difficult to mess around with coz the satnav is silent unless giving directions, in which case you're on the move and fiddling with it all becomes more difficult!

Edit: given the above issue and the link, I've emailed them co to ask!

[Ch00]

I had 2 Scala Riders the 1st one didnt work and the 2nd one I couldnt hear it over 30 mph with ear plugs in so it went back too!

Ch00

[Gazza77]

I had 2 Scala Riders the 1st one didnt work and the 2nd one I couldnt hear it over 30 mph with ear plugs in so it went back too!

Ch00

Strange. I can hear mine with no problems at the legal limit (of course, no higher) perfectly, even with ear plugs in. You have to position the speakers well though, ensuring they are right by your ears.

[custard]

can have a normal conversation above the ton.... well does oh **** ho **** oh **** count as normal?

[Biker_Billy]

Dont know if this will help anyone, but some offers here at M & P - not got any experience of them myself...

http://www.mandp.co.uk/offers.aspx?title=Special+Offers&offers=special

[Essex of Essex]

Another vote here for the Autocom, I run it with GPS, ipod and telephone, it fades the music when you talk and has performed well for the last 2 years.

[Davies]

Strange. I can hear mine with no problems at the legal limit (of course, no higher) perfectly, even with ear plugs in. You have to position the speakers well though, ensuring they are right by your ears.

Managed to pick one up off ebay for £37 delivered on Friday.......result, just hope it works. Do you know if you can listen to music through your bluetooth phone (Nokia N95) on it?

[Gazza77]

Managed to pick one up off ebay for £37 delivered on Friday.......result, just hope it works. Do you know if you can listen to music through your bluetooth phone (Nokia N95) on it?

Don't see why you couldn't, but can't say i've tried....

[Gazza77]

Managed to pick one up off ebay for £37 delivered on Friday.......result, just hope it works. Do you know if you can listen to music through your bluetooth phone (Nokia N95) on it?

Don't see why you couldn't, but can't say i've tried....

[Mark_h]

Autocom or Starcom1 are the two professional systems. If you're going to use it a lot (I use it for for rider training so has to be reasonably good) it's well worth investing. The bluetooth ones are nice and simple to connect being wireless however if you go away for more than a day you need to mess about with chargers and often run out of power after 2-5 hours. Professional ones take power form the bike so do not have the same problem.

Autocom and starcom also have fancy features like turning up when you go faster so you're not deafened when you stop.

Both have features to set the relative priority of devices so for example your sat-nav will interrupt the mp3 but not interrupt your pillion complaining about your last overtake.

The cheapey ones are often on offer in Lidl for a few quid and fine for occasional use but very uncomfortable and only really much use over about 50mph if your pillion particualrly wants to make constant wind-noise sounds in your ear.

Problem is all this bike tech gets addictive. Suddenly you've got a garmin, a pillion, an mp3 and a phone all trying to talk to you when really you should be concentrating on what you're doing. suddenly you take stock of what riding a bike is all about, rip it all out, stick a map in your tank bag and go have fun instead.

If you want a cheaper bike to bike and rider to pillion system the Alan 456r radio (about 40 quid from Maplin B-grade) includes a pillion port. Before I got my Starcom1 unit I used to plug the sat-nav into the pillion port and it worked a treat. Never felt the need to talk to a pillion as the one squeeze for slower, three for stop seems to work quite well enough for me.

Oh and if you want to connect anything else to your Autocom/Starcom system it'll almost certainy need a "special" wire. About 20 quid to plug your pmr radio in and same again if your MP3 or sat-nav is powered from the bike to prevent ground-loop differential DC gubbins melting your sat-nav.

Starcom wires are industry standard svhs and ps2 plugs and sockets so you can adapt bits if you like. Not sure about autocom connectons but I think they are different.

Enjoy....

[neio79]

Got my Auto com today, fitted it and its fits like a glove in the helmet. Just need to go on a ride and set the Vox now.