"Branded" or more expensive intercoms

[Biker9090]

Due to be getting a new helmet in a few weeks (Schuberth C5). Various places are trying to upsell a new comms unit with it.

Am I REALLY missing anything in not getting a "better" unit than I've currently got (Freedcon R1 Pro I got for £47)? I.e. Cardo, Sena etc?

I rarely ride in a group, tend to just use it for directions and the odd podcast/music plus the integrated helmet cam on occasion.

[archie456]

I have an Shoei Neotec with Sena and also moulded earplugs with speakers and a small bluetooth amplifier.

The Sena speakers have a hard job competing with wind noise.

The earplugs are very much better in this regard, so if like me you don't have any use for the microphone I'd skip the intercom option.

I have wired Ultimateear and a Fiio bluetooth amp.

[RT/M]

I bought a u-com intercom last year, Its brilliant, crystal clear and more than loud enough. I wear good ear plugs and can still hear clearly through the intercom

[Jazoli]

The Cardo's, Sena's and equivalent are a million times better (in my own experience) than the Freedcoms and similar, I had both types in a couple of helmets and the Cardo was streets ahead.

It all depends on your budget but I'd get a 'branded' one over a generic 'chinese' one every time.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Biker9090 said:

Due to be getting a new helmet in a few weeks (Schuberth C5). Various places are trying to upsell a new comms unit with it.

Am I REALLY missing anything in not getting a "better" unit than I've currently got (Freedcon R1 Pro I got for £47)? I.e. Cardo, Sena etc?

I rarely ride in a group, tend to just use it for directions and the odd podcast/music plus the integrated helmet cam on occasion.

Save yourself the money and get a set of plugfones. Ear defence and audio all in one. https://www.plugfones.com/motorcycle/?srsltid=AfmB...

I have the Basic Pro Bluetooth. Superb battery life and can hear audiobooks, satnav and music at German Authobahn speeds in excess of 100mph.

I never ride in a group, purely for the above uses.

[Dog Star]

I’m not recommending any particular brand but I’m going to recommend a place I got some intercoms from - MotoIntercom - came up almost suspiciously cheapest on Google, however reviews were good, it’s just a little shop in Rome. P&P was £17 but they were still waaaay cheaper than anyone else (CellularLine Interphone in my case).

Since I and a mate were getting some we combined the order - ordered just before 5pm on Monday. Knock on the door next day at 8.30am and they arrived. Crazy.

No connection with the company - just top service and very impressive to see how DHL do their stuff.

[s p a c e m a n]

Just pointing out that all of the black Friday cyber Monday crap is coming up. I was of the same mindset of are they really worth the extra money but then managed to get a cardo on Amazon for about the same price that I would have paid for a cheap set.

[black-k1]

I've tended to avoid in-build intercoms on the basis that I probably change my helmets more often than my intercom. The likes of Cardo and Sena have a huge advantage when used for groups but for simple sat. nav., phone and music connectivity then there's little to choose between them. The quality and positioning of the speakers is way more important than the maker of the intercom.

[CHLEMCBC]

Biker9090 said:

Due to be getting a new helmet in a few weeks (Schuberth C5). Various places are trying to upsell a new comms unit with it.

Am I REALLY missing anything in not getting a "better" unit than I've currently got (Freedcon R1 Pro I got for £47)? I.e. Cardo, Sena etc?

I rarely ride in a group, tend to just use it for directions and the odd podcast/music plus the integrated helmet cam on occasion.

The integrated Cardo Edge for the C5 is very good - I have one. I've never used a cheap comms unit and most of the people I ride with have Cardo so that coloured my decision.

[P675]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Save yourself the money and get a set of plugfones. Ear defence and audio all in one. https://www.plugfones.com/motorcycle/?srsltid=AfmB...

I have the Basic Pro Bluetooth. Superb battery life and can hear audiobooks, satnav and music at German Authobahn speeds in excess of 100mph.

I never ride in a group, purely for the above uses.

I went for the cheapest wired ones, 'guardian', found the earplugs woefully bad at keeping the noise out. The earphones were great for the price, but I'm considering getting some other earplugs, making a hole and shoving the earphones inside them to see how that is.

Maybe they just don't fit my ears well but I was disappointed.

[Biker9090]

Thanks all. I shall have a better look. Have to say that I've never had an issue with the freedconn stuff apart from at higher "motorway speeds" if listening to podcasts.

[Time4another]

Bought a new Shoei GT air 3, Bought the Cardo 2nd helmet kit and simply swapped it on to the new helmet. It's not in the intergrated slots in the helmet but never bothered me in the slightest.