Could you advise what you think is the best system/ product/s for bike to bike comms

I would suggest that there is a choice of two options for the best bike to bike comms:

Autocom or Star Com. Personally I have never used the Star Com unit although I know of people that have who highly rate it. I have used an Autocom system though when I was working as an instructor and I simply cannot fault it, the VOX capabilities were nothing short of perfect. It isn't cheap but it's worth the money.

Scala Q2 is a very good system which I use.

It is bluetooth and you can keep in touch well over 500m if you are in sight of the other rider.

I use Autocom in conjunction with Motorola Talkabouts. VOX works OK but it's best to have Auocom's handlebar mounted PTT (press to talk) button.

Tim

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

We use Dainese helmets with built in bluetooth. No messing trying to fit after market kits, no wires and stuff to plug in every time you get on and off the bike. One charge does 8 hours of use. Works great up to at least 100 metres and further depending on conditions. They will also link to a bluetooth phone so if you are out of range you can still be in touch if you need to be.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

I use an autocom 300 pro avi together with a kenwood tk3201 radio powered direct from the autocom unit.A zumo 550 is connected to the autocom by bluetooth as is a mobile phone.I would also suggest that you include a ptt in your system as you can have the option of vox or ptt.I have used this system to talk with four other bikes in a recent trip to france and spain and feel the ptt option was the method I used most of the time as vox has to be set up just right and other factors can affect the quality so you need to take a little time to adjust carefully. the only problem we had on the trip was one of the guys using his vox and having to adjust his mike levels at every petrol stop as the wind kept activating it.Although his was a system a few years old ,the lack of the latest background sensor meant his mike was very sensitive ,and for the rest of us a real pain.Its probably something to bear in mind if you are going to ride with a group of friends, compatible systems of a similar vintage and test the units before your trip to sort all the niggles out

Ditto & have bluethooth connection to mobile also can bike to bike

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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

Another vote for the Starcom1 Advance. I used one every day for a three month trip. Worked without fault.

The vox needed some set up and we used full face mic kit which worked really well and it took about 10mins to install in the lids.

The aux in for music was good up to about 80mph then it would cut in and out but I am told this could be due to my 10min setup time.

Hello,

I have just come back from a little tour of europe using bike to bike communication.

Both bikes are running Autocom Active 7 intercoms (well I think they are Active 7, but they are quite old and they keep updating them and changing names!! ) But they are just the simple bottom of the range items.

They are linked to Kenwood Funky radios (also old and now out of production, but basically cheapish £60 PMR radios) using voice activation. These radios use x3 AA batteries, but I cheated and fitted them with a wooden dummy battery and wired them into a 5V USB transformer. This gives them plenty of power and worked perfectly.

Once they are wired into the bike power you need to fit a GROUND EFFECT ISOLATOR otherwise there is too much hum on the system. I bought these off of eBay for around £3.75. I needed to graft this into the lead from the radio to the Autocom but it wasn't difficult and only involved cutting the audio wires and wiring in the isolator.

Everything was then strapped under the seats and off we went.

On the whole everything was fine and worked well. Had a few problems with power plugs unplugging, but that can all be solved easily and fitted into one box when I have time.

We did have an issue with distance especially in the Alps with a few corners between us. But on the whole I would recommend using them and will look at upgrading to Intaride PMR radios as they are delivered at 0.5 watts but you can unlock them to 4 watts! and fit external aerials! I've been told the position of the aerial is pretty important. If yours in laying flat then it is best that the person you want to talk to is the same.

Cheers,
Simon

It seems that the best brand is AUTOCOM, so… like how much could be for a decent AUTOCOM Communications system. It is for a tow bikes in a Round World Tour?

I have a starcom 1. However, earlier models are not compatabile with a Blackberry, which is a huge shame as i have one which does music, phone, and sat nav all in one unit and If it worked, it would only be one wire!

Starcom have said that hey will look at the unit to see if it can be upgraded, but i imagine that there will be a cost!

I used to run a Nokia N95 through the unit but this needed a converter from stereo to split mono to make it work.

The rider to pillion is good tho. Ideally, i would like a separate volume control to match varying conditions.

matt

Before I would spend money on Star Com, I would go down to the river and throw my dollars to the fish. It is a piece lowlife snake dung. Has never worked without difficulty, and the woman whose job is to rectify the problems said they had never had a complaint before so I must be imagining it. For 79.99 postage though, they would look at it and if it were broken, they would fix it.

It has sat now for three years in the "someday get it done box" and we use the Nolan com helmets without the wires. all built into the helmet. spendy, but about half what the piece _________Star Com advance kit cost us.

I would recommend the Q2 to anyone who wants bike to bike comms, phone connectivity and FM radio or music while riding. I like it more the more I use it.

Paired with my Nokia N95 my Q2 does all of the above very well.

If I want to listen to my phones music collection I can.

The unit has very good battery charge stamina - easily enough for a days ride or longer.

About the only area I would like improved is having multiple set connections, rather than 3 max. I think this is being addressed in the next evolution.

H

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Howie
V-strom 650, Transalp 650, DR-Z250

We just bought the Chatterbox XBI2 and I am anxious to try them out. We previously had the Chatterbox HJC-90 and short of looking like aliens with the huge add on to our helmets these new units are really sleek and should work for us. The down side is again if we ride in a group we can only connect three units not more.... If your listening chatterbox please make it expandable...

Id also recommend the scala Q2 set, bluetooth, links to satnav phones etc.. input port for mp3 and built in radio.. easy to charge, easy to use and works of VOX.....