Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets Guide
Bluetooth motorcycle helmets - kits, accessories and built in systems
Bluetooth motorcycle kits are very similar to phone handsfree kits.
Motorcycle accessory manufacturers have catered for the need of motorcycle riders who need to receive and make phone calls while riding, as well as communicating with their passengers and other riders in their group.
The main issue that Bluetooth Motorcycle helmets systems have is wind noise. A lot of money has been spent by manufacturers on testing these systems to make them useable in any situation including high speed track racing.
All of these types of systems use radio signals to communicate so in some areas it's impossible to not have some sort of radio interference, but in general the sound quality of most of these Bluetooth Motorcycle kits is excellent.
Watch the video on the right to hear the sound quality at over 100mph for a Starcom1 system.
Some of these Motorcycle communication kits are used by the teams trying to beat the land speed record so you can be sure that they will work for touring or a Sunday blast!
Bluetooth kits are very simple to use and don't cost a huge amount of money. A
There are 2 main differences between normal phone bluetooth headsets and bluetooth motorcycle helmets systems; the motorcycle version has an external speaker that slides up inside the helmet next to your ear and a position adjustable microphone that is protected against the wind to reduce background noise.
A normal phone headset is too big to fit in most helmets and would be uncomfortable to wear.
The 'brain' of the headset is then fixed to the outside of the helmet or attached to the bike.
Some kits also have an Audio Out socket so that they can be connected to a Motorcycle Helmet Camera system to record the audio.
Bike or Battery Powered?
Most Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets kits are battery powered and will need the batteries replacing or need to be charged overnight. For long tours this isn't always possible so if you are planning to use one of these systems on a tour get one that can be powered from a 12v power source (cigarette lighter socket or a feed from the light circuit).
Having to replace batteries is fine for Sunday riding but this can be a pain if they run out in the middle of nowhere and your mates don't realise you have stopped!
Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets Systems Manufacturers
These systems are made by companies dedicated to designing and manufacturing Motorcycle communication systems to fit any helmet and any rider.
Known as the 'Professional's Choice' for Motorcycle Communication Systems, Autocom is used for racing, engineering and touring. They offer a wide range of systems, from the standard Rider to Passenger system all the way up to a complete, fully expandable system that includes Bluetooth and Bike to Bike radios. These systems are very reliable and robust and have been given excellent reviews by the Motorcycle press. Read more about Autocom systems.
Cardo make a very handy system called the which can be used to communicate between 2 bikes, it has a range of 1 mile! It's a small kit that can easily be added to any motorcycle helmet.
You can also connect to your phone through this system and answer calls while on the move, which makes it useful for commuting, motorcycle couriers and touring.
Starcom1
Starcom are leaders in helmet communication systems and their designers have experience working for companies such as Kenwood and Mission. Their whole range can connect to a bluetooth adapter so that it can connect to phones and sat nav.
Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets Systems made by Helmet Manufacturers
Some Motorcycle Helmet brands offer their own Bluetooth systems that only work with their Helmet models. See the list below to see which system will work with your helmet (if it's either an AGV, Caberg, Nolan or Shark helmet).
If you own an AGV S4-SV or Stealth SV helmet then you can use the AGVoice Bluetooth communication system.
This kit is simple to install and has both Rider to Passenger and Rider to Rider functions.
Like the other kits on this page it also connects to GPS systems via bluetooth.
Read more about the AGV AGVoice
Caberg Just Speak Bluetooth Motorcycle helmets system
Caberg are a helmet manufacturer who also make some great accessories for their helmets. One of these specialist accessories is the Caberg Just Speak Bluetooth System
One of the most popular bluetooth ready helmets is the Caberg Justissimo GT. This is one of the helmets that Caberg has designed to be fitted with their 'Just Speak' system.
The system also connects to phones and Motorcycle GPS Systems!
There are 2 different Caberg Bluetooth kits, each fits different helmets in the Caberg range.
Black 'Just Speak' box. This is the newer of the 2 systems, it fits:
- Caberg Sintesi
- Caberg Jet Sintesi
- Caberg Hyperx
Red 'Just Speak' box fits:
- Caberg Justissimo GT
- Caberg Konda
- Caberg Downtown S
Nolan Helmets - N-Com (Nolan Communication Systems)
N-Com are a Nolan company that makes 3 main communication systems, one for X-Lite helmets (X-Series), one for Nolan helmets (N-Com) and another to fit other Nolan and Grex helmets, as well as other brands (Multi).
Nolan helmets are used by the Emergency Services and Motorcycle Instructors so they are proven to work. Read more about Nolan N-Com communication systems
Shark are another helmet manufacturer who offer a Bluetooth system for their helmets. This particular system, known as the 'Sharktooth' is a full featured system that has a long list of functions, including Rider to Rider, Rider to Passenger, Sat-Nav connectivity and Voice operated call answering/rejection.
This system has been made specifically to fit the Shark EvoLine Series2 ST, Race -R, Race -R PRO, Vision -R and RSJ ST helmets.
Read more about the Sharktooth.
Which Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet Should I Buy?
The right system for you depends on how often you will be using it, what you will be using it for and the style/brand of helmet you own.
If you just want to answer phone calls while riding then a basic kit like the Cardo Scala Rider will be perfect, but if you want to go touring in a group and be able to communicate easily while at high speed then the Autocom or Starcom kits will be more suitable.
Other Motorcycle Communication Systems
Bluetooth motorcycle helmets are not the only type of communication system available, there are other alternatives that can be just as good as Bluetooth.
Radio
Good ol' fashioned radio! These headsets can be bought from shops such as Maplin.
If you already own a radio system that is compatible with a radio headset then these are worth a look.
Cobra 2 Way Radios can be bought from places such as Ebay for as little as £15.
The headset systems are roughly £20 each. If you're on a tight budget you can't go wrong with a simple radio and headset. This type of kit usually comes with a push-to-talk button that wraps around the bike hande bars. It's worth buying a spare button as after a while the connections for the button can wear out (from experience!).
Rider to Passenger 2 way communication (TwinTalker)
If you're looking for a cheap Rider/Passenger communication system you don't even need a radio, a simple system using a powered connecter box can connect you with your pillion for under £20.
These systems are OK for the odd trip but I wouldn't use them for more than a way of communicating at low speeds or when stopped at traffic lights, they suffer from wind noise and are a bit uncomfortable to wear.
Getting off the bike can be a hassle as both headsets have a wired connection. Trust me, don't forget to unclip the headset, otherwise when you go to walk away the headset will be pulled out of your ear and out from under the helmet, a painful experience!
