Cardo Scala G9

[nitemask]

Anyone use it yet, and anyone know where to get a good deal? If you have used, what is your assessment. I'm between the SNH10, Interphone F5, and the G9.

[Kirkster]

Originally Posted by nitemask

Anyone use it yet, and anyone know where to get a good deal? If you have used, what is your assessment. I'm between the SNH10, Interphone F5, and the G9.

My dual pack is sitting at the house right now. Will be using them next week for a 9 hour ride to NC...

Will definitely be putting up a report here when I am done...

[nitemask]

Thanks. Need a set for my trip to NC the end of the month as well.

[Kirkster]

According to my friends the voice quality is good.

It is a bit fiddley to operate but that may be more me not having read the whole manual.

Battery life may be marginal. I killed it in 7 hours listening to music and just a few calls. The trip home will let me know about the battery life...

Will do a full write up when I get home.

[nitemask]

Just got back from 1600 miles using the G9. Did NOT use the intercom feature as I have a single set. When I received the system, I charged it, put it on my helmet, and then over the next three days, completely drained it by using the radio and letting it drain out, then recharging it. Did this three times before my trip.

Battery Life - Used it 6 hours the first day, charged for about 30 - 45 minutes the next morning while packing up the campsite , then rode for another 9 hours. Never died. Day three, charged about 45 minutes at breakfast, and it lasted another 7 hours. Did not use day 4 and fully charged that night. Next day, rode another 10 hours, and it never died. Battery life for me - Excellent. MY use was radio the entire time, and calls once in awhile from the family.

The auto volume control worked rather well. Sound was loud enough but not enough bass. Not sure if this was the speaker or my phone. Mount stayed firm the entire time (screw on backplate and not glue).

One thing is you need to power on your phone's bluetooth BEFORE the G9. I had issues when first testing before the trip and this resolved my problems. If you swap the phone battery , turn off the phone, or just turn off the bluetooth, make sure and power off the G9 first, then power on the phone's bluetooth and then the G9.

Only issue I had was the music restarting. The music would be on, and as long as I received a call and let the other party hang up, it all worked fine and the music would automatically restart. If I initiated the call, it would pause the music, and I would have to resume by pressing the MP3 button for 2 sec. I did not get to test a hypothesis, but will try in the future. It seemed like if it was a short call that I initiated and ended, the music would auto restart, and if it was longer than maybe 2 minutes, I would have to restart the music manually.

I had no issues with finding the buttons using gloves. the radio worked well, but not as well as a car stereo of course. It was a pleasure having stereo as well. We did get stuck in a downpour for about 2 hours (of course without our rain gear) and the only thing that I had to do was get a change of clothes at Walmart. The G9 is waterproof as far as I'm concerned. During the 2 hour downpour and the next 2 hours of constant mist, never a glitch.

That's all I have. hopefully it helps a little. Overall, I am pleased with the G9 and would purchase it again.

[moriver]

So I wanted to check and see if someone here could share some knowledge about the Scala Rider G9. I want it to do, well all the system does Phone, Radio, Com System, Blue tooth but I have two concerns. First, I want it to be loud enough and second I worry if the mic will fit under the front of my Shoei Neotech? I have seen a few reviews but they are comercial and done with a 3/4 cap. Whatever guidenance you can give is great and much thanks all.

[murdock84]

A little review at this post.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=789510

[moriver]

Much thanks. Note to self use correct spelling when doing a search. Got it....

[nitemask]

As a side note. I use a full face helmet and used the boom mic since it fit fine. The wife heard me perfectly fine at close to 90 (testing purposes of course). On the way home, I was cruising at 70 and she did not believe that I was on the bike. I had a hrader time hearing her at the higher speed, but could still understand. Helmet is a Shark Speed-R.

[blakrj]

Originally Posted by moriver

So I wanted to check and see if someone here could share some knowledge about the Scala Rider G9. I want it to do, well all the system does Phone, Radio, Com System, Blue tooth but I have two concerns. First, I want it to be loud enough and second I worry if the mic will fit under the front of my Shoei Neotech? I have seen a few reviews but they are comercial and done with a 3/4 cap. Whatever guidenance you can give is great and much thanks all.

System is plenty loud with my ear protection in place. Without protection it is deafening. I too have a Shoei Neotec helmet and the boom mic fits. Its a bit tricky to close the front of the helmet with the chin shield installed, but can be done. The only time I really open my helmet is when I'm stopped for longer periods.

Fitting issues with the Neotec - I opted for the clamp fitting (as opposed to the stick on mount). To get this between the shell and the styrofoam, I removed the styrofoam in the ear area and 'moulded' it slightly to all clamp to fit. Pity that the back of the Cardo clamp is so thick - I'm sure they could have made it thinner and certainly used thinner rubber pad. Once this was done, the rest if the fitting was a breeze. Helmet has little recesses for the speakers and they fit just right.

[moriver]

Originally Posted by blakrj

System is plenty loud with my ear protection in place. Without protection it is deafening. I too have a Shoei Neotec helmet and the boom mic fits. Its a bit tricky to close the front of the helmet with the chin shield installed, but can be done. The only time I really open my helmet is when I'm stopped for longer periods.

Fitting issues with the Neotec - I opted for the clamp fitting (as opposed to the stick on mount). To get this between the shell and the styrofoam, I removed the styrofoam in the ear area and 'moulded' it slightly to all clamp to fit. Pity that the back of the Cardo clamp is so thick - I'm sure they could have made it thinner and certainly used thinner rubber pad. Once this was done, the rest if the fitting was a breeze. Helmet has little recesses for the speakers and they fit just right.

Great info, much thanks..

[moriver]

So I got my unit and it installed in about 10 minutes. Fit is nice on my Shoei Neotech but you have to watch getting the mic boom in the front mod cover. I would guess that is the same on all mod helmets. The sound is great and I found myself turning it down even on the highway at 75. FYI many years of listening to air tools I am a little hard of hearing, this unit is pleanty loud. The voice sytem works good thus far and after one call from my son I am happy to report....The phone works great on the highway, my son said he trought I was at my desk and that he could hear no noise other than me. The wireless A2DP music from my phone works fine and much to my amazement the FM radio works great also. FYI, I am a grumpy pain in the butt about most new toys. They just seem to never live up to the info on the box if you know what I am saying. This system is the goods friends.

[ryangus]

Got a set today, and had the chap at the shop fit it for me (he's done heaps of them).

Everything seems fine except the sound. I've only tried FM radio so far, but it was very ordinary. Definitely not too loud like some others found, and virtually no bass at all. That bad that I'm tempted to see if I can get a refund :(

I'll try on mp3 tomorrow (what I intended to use most often anyway), and if it's OK, I'll keep it.

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by ryangus

Got a set today, and had the chap at the shop fit it for me (he's done heaps of them).

Everything seems fine except the sound. I've only tried FM radio so far, but it was very ordinary. Definitely not too loud like some others found, and virtually no bass at all. That bad that I'm tempted to see if I can get a refund :(

I'll try on mp3 tomorrow (what I intended to use most often anyway), and if it's OK, I'll keep it.

Speaker placement in your helmet is critical. If its not right near the opening of your ear, the sound will be much more muted and not sound that good.

With that said, the FM radio on the earlier Q2 and G4 models was very unimpressive. I'm not sure if the G9 is any better, but I kind of doubt it. I always considered it just there if you needed some noise and had nothing else along, but it really isn't all that great. You should hopefully find that the MP3 works better and sounds better, but keep in mind about your speakers. You are usually best installing the speakers yourself as you can make sure the speaker is where it needs to be.

[DoubleCafe]

I just got my G9 this afternoon. Thanks for all of the tips. I've mounted mine on an Arai Vector, the sound quality is great, but I took a short ride tonight and could not get back to my music after receiving a phone call - just like nitemask reported. I think I'm doing everything per the directions but sometimes I'm a bit of a dumbass with electronics.