It has been a year or so since we've done the
first round-up of the high-tech
motorcycle helmets; helmets equipped with
Bluetooth. For those of you who don't
know what Bluetooth is, it's a wireless communication technology that allows
different devices to "talk" to each other over a short distance (typically 10
meters).
Click here for more information.
Use of
Bluetooth on Motorcycles
Nowadays, many mobile telephones are equipped with Bluetooth, but
you'll also find music players, GPS and other portable devices able to
communicate with this popular and growing technology. The use of Bluetooth technology can
be advantageous on motorcycles, since they don't involve being wired on to the
motorcycle. The best
application of Bluetooth on a motorcycle is using it as an intercom, since you can talk to your pillion
passenger without the need to have been wired together. The communications will be crystal
clear and in full duplex. Additionally, depending on the manufacturer, you
will be able to receive other audio sources, such as GPS driving information,
music (MP3, iPod, etc), bike-to-bike communications and even for the diehards,
mobile telephone.
The Survey
To do this survey properly, we've written to all helmet manufacturers which
we knew had a Bluetooth offering, and to the larger manufacturers we suspected
may be producing one. We asked some simple questions, mostly regarding
helmet weight and operating time of the Bluetooth device.
None of the manufacturers deemed it worthy of their time to help properly
(this in sharp contrast with motorcycle manufacturers who usually go out
of their way to help).
Some replied by referring to their public website, some didn't even reply. So
we had to distill the information from a variety of sources on the web. In
other words, if there's an error there somewhere, blame the manufacturer !
It's amazing how little information they publish on the web. A normal thing,
like the weight of a helmet, is sadly missing from most of them...how can
anyone make an informed choice is beyond us..
Using Bluetooth with Helmets
All Bluetooth enabled helmets listed below can be used as intercom, i.e., you can
communicate with your pillion as long as they're equipped with the same system.
You can not mix & match different helmets manufacturers! To communicate
between helmets, you need to "pair" the helmets, a simple
procedure involving pressing a button for a few seconds.
Additionally, all listed helmets can communicate with a
Bluetooth enabled telephone. Not all telephone are supported, and
usually the manufacturer's website has a list of telephones supported. Only
one helmet will be able to communicate with a telephone. That one is
designated the "master".
Only a few helmets also offer the possibility to add other devices
(Bluetooth or wired), such as
iPods, MP3 player or GPS. What you get then is a complete communication and
entertainment unit.
We've listed all motorcycle helmets we could find, even if
they didn't have a Bluetooth offering. After this list, you'll find another list of
third party Bluetooth add-ons to helmets, ie, from the non-helmet manufacturers.
Helmet Survey Explanation
Many of the data items below have a hyperlink. Clicking on them brings you to
whatever you're looking at with more information in a new window. Where we've listed prices,
we've also made available the link to the site we've found the price. Obviously
prices differ from country to country, so they may be different in your
country. Some models may also not be available in your country.
Explanations:
BT = Bluetooth, O/D = Supports other devices
(iPod, MP3, etc), Ops Hrs =
number of hours you can communicate, Sby Hrs = number of hours you can
use the unit while not talking, Charge Hrs = number of hours you need to charge the
unit.
Both weight and price columns have normally two figures. The first one is
without Bluetooth, the 2nd with Bluetooth.
We're sure there are more devices, but so far we didn't find
them. If they appear, we'll add them to this list.
Conclusion
If you look at this summary, and compare it with the last one
{link},
not that much has changed since then. In fact, nothing has really been added.
We're still waiting for Schuberth's all singing, all dancing unit (to be launched this year), but no new helmet manufacturers have added Bluetooth to
their lineup.
We have seen more 3rd party manufacturers offering BT
solutions. Also, devices such as GPS (TomTom Rider, Sony), XM Radio,
Intercom/Communication units (Chatterbox, Autocom) are now starting to offer
Bluetooth. So why are there no more helmet manufacturers who offer a Bluetooth
range of built-in headsets...???
