Blue Tooth Helmet Earbud

[Dranrab Luap]

I don't know if such a thing exists, but I'd like to be able to listen to music on my phone and answer my phone on the bike. I want my earpiece to be an earbud for the sake of external noise attenuation. Does this exist and if so can you give me some reviews and some links. Also, what mouthpiece would you recommend. I am an e-tard the likes of which you have never seen, so please frame your responses in a very non-technical manner. I know NOTHING about this. I have an old flip phone and may upgrade if I can get what I have described above for a reasonable price.

[Weekend_warrior]

Sena is pretty good. I have one for my wife as well so we can talk during 2up. I can also sync with other devices... listen to music from my Iphone (any Bluetooth phone or GPS). You can also hardwire a MP3 to it. I can also make and take calls. The interface is easy to get along with. only 2 buttons on the whole deal and you can tell what mode its in by the tones you hear. Pretty painless actually... YMMV.....

http://www.senabluetooth.com/product..._menu=overview

I have the 10 verion. Not sure if the other 5 version is cheaper or not. I got them both on E-bay as a package deal.

Also, they have one for a 2way radio that is pretty cool.

I did have a fitmint issue with the craddle on the first one. Return was easy and fast. They replaced the whole kit with not questions asked by the resaler that I delt with on Ebay.

[Weekend_warrior]

http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...6#post18541426


I might also mention that they are a breeze to install.

[Dranrab Luap]

I am interested in an ear bud listening device. The rubber plug thing I actually push into my ear canal.

[ReactorTrip]

Originally Posted by Dranrab Luap

I am interested in an ear bud listening device. The rubber plug thing I actually push into my ear canal.

Sena sells an adapter to use any earbuds you want for use in the one posted above.

http://www.senabluetooth.com/products/acc_SMH-A0303.php

Highly recommend the Sena setup. Absolutely love mine.

[sparkymcgee]

Originally Posted by Dranrab Luap

I am interested in an ear bud listening device. The rubber plug thing I actually push into my ear canal.

Sena makes an accessory mount for the SMH10 that specifically allows you to used whatever earbuds you prefer. You have to buy it separately.

http://www.senabluetooth.com/products/acc_SMH-A0303.php

[sparkymcgee]

I'll add that I would recommend the Sena as well. I am happy with mine. I use the stock speakers and wear earplugs and can still hear them well enough. I think with a little better positioning, I will get even better sound.

[Dranrab Luap]

So I would be able to pull music from and answer phone calls from a Casio Commando in my tank bag and install the earbud of my choice with that system? That sounds like just the ticket. How do others report your voice quality when you talk to them while riding? What is battery life like in the unit and could I charge it on the road with a 12V power plug? Thanks for the help.

[LoneStrom]

These are pretty new to market:



http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/backbeat-go/

[Dranrab Luap]

Originally Posted by LoneStrom

These are pretty new to market:



http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/backbeat-go/

Those look a lot simpler and they are less expensive. One of the features of SENA is a noise dampening system that I guess is to cancel wind noise from your mic when you speak. I wonder if this item has that feature. Have you heard any reports from motorcyclists?

[Jwaki84]

http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...met/web1009008
One of the best purchases I have ever made. Got it for $120 on sale too! I love listening to music on the go, don't really like stuffing headphones in my ears every time I hop on the bike though. Over the bluetooth you can make calls as well, and if you have Siri, you can do all kinds of fun stuff. Sound quality is ok, better if you have some type of wind blocker around the neck, can't wait for Bose to come out with a helmet speaker set.

[ReactorTrip]

Originally Posted by Dranrab Luap

Those look a lot simpler and they are less expensive. One of the features of SENA is a noise dampening system that I guess is to cancel wind noise from your mic when you speak. I wonder if this item has that feature. Have you heard any reports from motorcyclists?

They don't work well in the wind, tried something similar and you got to find an awkward to tape the mic inside you helmet so it doesn't pick up just wind.

I had a 40 min conversation with my wife on the Sena while I was traveling the other day. Average speeds were between 30 and 55. No issues hearing or speaking to her. I use the helmet speakers version though.

Spend money on something you know works well (even if you choose another motorcycle specific system besides the Sena) instead of testing out a bunch of cheaper stuff you may just have to toss in the corner.

[sparkymcgee]

I've thought about converting to the Sena earbud options. How quick is the process of popping the buds in your ears and getting the helmet on? Do you leave the extra wire in the helmet? If so, how do you route it and how much does it hang down out of the helmet?

[marco polo]

Originally Posted by bunghole

I've thought about converting to the Sena earbud options. How quick is the process of popping the buds in your ears and getting the helmet on? Do you leave the extra wire in the helmet? If so, how do you route it and how much does it hang down out of the helmet?

I use the Sena with the optional helmet clamp for earbuds. This optional clamp: 1) replaces the standard helmet clamp; and 2) comes without the helmet speakers (you supply ear buds of your choice). I use custom-made ear buds that have hollow sound tubes (not wires) that run from each plug and out the helmet. Once they exit the helmet, I run those tubes inside my riding jacket where they come together at a sort of "Y"-junction that houses the sound drivers at about mid-chest level. From there, a single wire continues down the inside of my jacket and when it comes out at the bottom of the jacket, I then run it up the outside of my jacket and plug it into the female audio port on the back end of the Sena helmet clamp. Sounds more complicated than it is. It's the same set-up I used with my Autocom. Putting the earbuds into my ears takes as long as it does to insert regular ear plugs (I always use Oto Ease lubricant, whether I'm using ear buds, or regular custom-molded ear plugs). Putting my helmet on is, well, putting on my helmet. There are no wires inside the helmet, just the small, "plastic" sound tubes that run from each ear bud.

[John Smallberries]

Originally Posted by bunghole

I've thought about converting to the Sena earbud options. How quick is the process of popping the buds in your ears and getting the helmet on? Do you leave the extra wire in the helmet? If so, how do you route it and how much does it hang down out of the helmet?

In my case with the modified Cardo Scala G4, the process is very quick and adds only a few seconds to my normal pre-ride ritual. I leave about 10 inches of cord for each earbud loose in the helmet. The rest is tucked away in the liner. When I put the helmet on, I sometimes have to tuck a bit of the excess wire between my head and the liner. My liner is a good fit, so this wire stays put while riding.

It works great. The main problem is that my favorite set of earbuds, the Etymotic ER6i, is no longer produced. Once these die, I'm in search of a new style. Just Google "site:www.advrider.com best earbuds/earphones" and you will get thousands of opinions on the matter!