Ever since I rode on my dad's new Goldwing I've been obsessed with the wonderful Communication technologies. After years of riding wiht him on dual purpose bikes,and eventually a 1200 Bandit for hours and hours without being able to talk....it seemed quite amazing to me to be able to talk to him on the Goldwing and listen to music at the same time!!! Now I just got my '04 Hayabusa and am HELL BENT on exploring similar options for my bike. Here are the porducts/methods I've investigated and I would appreciate comments, creative ideas, etc etc from others with interest/experience in this area.
1. INTERCOM system.... expensive to say the least but seemingly the best option. I've checked out Baehr and StarComm 1 online. Both products very similar in which you have a small unit you install (under seat possibly) and can plug in multiple audio sources like MP3, radar, GPS w/ voice nav., cell phone w/ auto answer, 2 way radios, etc. Plus an intercom for driver and passenger. The neat thing about this is you can assign priority to specific sources... in other words listening to music, but if a radio transmission comes in the music volume lowers to hear the incomming message.. etc etc. I really like this idea and will go for this when I have the money to fork out.... but in the meantime.. Downside is Baehr is based in New Zealand, and StarComm 1 in UK....why doesn't an American company get involved.
2. Chatterbox.... seems to be what MOST people know about. Personally i think the box mounted on the side of the helmet looks ridiculous. But due to its much lower cost might consider it. Now I think most people use that for bike to bike comm right?? Do others use it for Driver to passenger? Downside is.... no ability to input other audio sources like MP3 player, radar. etc etc. I don't know a lot about Chatterbox so perhaps I'm prejudgin the product.. therefore anyone who has one or knows some creative things you can do with it let me know.
3. 2 way radios.... You'll laugh but I'm a problem solver... i like to find ways to do things creatively..... I go to radio shack and by a nice set of Motorola radios 5720. I then buy two VOX ear pieces w/ microphones that have a PTT button or can be switched to VOX. I was hoping that each rider could wear his radio in his/her pocket have the ear piece in and set the radios to VOX. Thus far I've encountered 2 problems. 1 I can't even figure out ohow to stick the thing in my ear...there is NO picture to show you how. 2. In VOX mode my radio just transmits constantly...and the radios have a feature that if there is a transmission for 60 sec+ an audible tone goes off..... the problem with this is that the person with the other radio can hear me talking..sort of... for about 60 secs. but can't reply because I'm constanly transmitting... and after 60 sec a tone goes off.... so I was wondering.... the ear piece/headsets designed for the expensive intercomms..would they work? Does the noise suppression come from the headset/mic or from the trasmitter/reciever unit?
OK so basically what I'm trying to do is... when alone be able to enjoy my tunes, hear my radar alarm when it goes off... maybe be able to talk on the cell phone. And if i have a passenger, be able to share all that with them. But for now owuld be willing to just have comm between rider and passenger..... please help with your tried and true ideas!!!
Thanks so much
New Hayabusa Owner
Michael Cooney
Las Vegas, NV
1. INTERCOM system.... expensive to say the least but seemingly the best option. I've checked out Baehr and StarComm 1 online. Both products very similar in which you have a small unit you install (under seat possibly) and can plug in multiple audio sources like MP3, radar, GPS w/ voice nav., cell phone w/ auto answer, 2 way radios, etc. Plus an intercom for driver and passenger. The neat thing about this is you can assign priority to specific sources... in other words listening to music, but if a radio transmission comes in the music volume lowers to hear the incomming message.. etc etc. I really like this idea and will go for this when I have the money to fork out.... but in the meantime.. Downside is Baehr is based in New Zealand, and StarComm 1 in UK....why doesn't an American company get involved.
2. Chatterbox.... seems to be what MOST people know about. Personally i think the box mounted on the side of the helmet looks ridiculous. But due to its much lower cost might consider it. Now I think most people use that for bike to bike comm right?? Do others use it for Driver to passenger? Downside is.... no ability to input other audio sources like MP3 player, radar. etc etc. I don't know a lot about Chatterbox so perhaps I'm prejudgin the product.. therefore anyone who has one or knows some creative things you can do with it let me know.
3. 2 way radios.... You'll laugh but I'm a problem solver... i like to find ways to do things creatively..... I go to radio shack and by a nice set of Motorola radios 5720. I then buy two VOX ear pieces w/ microphones that have a PTT button or can be switched to VOX. I was hoping that each rider could wear his radio in his/her pocket have the ear piece in and set the radios to VOX. Thus far I've encountered 2 problems. 1 I can't even figure out ohow to stick the thing in my ear...there is NO picture to show you how. 2. In VOX mode my radio just transmits constantly...and the radios have a feature that if there is a transmission for 60 sec+ an audible tone goes off..... the problem with this is that the person with the other radio can hear me talking..sort of... for about 60 secs. but can't reply because I'm constanly transmitting... and after 60 sec a tone goes off.... so I was wondering.... the ear piece/headsets designed for the expensive intercomms..would they work? Does the noise suppression come from the headset/mic or from the trasmitter/reciever unit?
OK so basically what I'm trying to do is... when alone be able to enjoy my tunes, hear my radar alarm when it goes off... maybe be able to talk on the cell phone. And if i have a passenger, be able to share all that with them. But for now owuld be willing to just have comm between rider and passenger..... please help with your tried and true ideas!!!
Thanks so much
New Hayabusa Owner
Michael Cooney
Las Vegas, NV
