Intercoms in a Shoei XR1000

[GRynners]

Can't find much on this in the search function - have a couple of walkie talkies with the VOX (voice operated) function, but wondering if it is worthwhile trying to use them on the bikes. Reluctant to spend money on something like an Autocom or Oxford setup when all I surely need is the right microphone/earpieces?!

My questions are:

- Walkie talkies are Uniden PMR885 (single 3.5 mm jack), but the standard earpiece/boom microphone isn't anything like comfortable with a lid on. I remember having a kind of band earpiece when I did my DAS, but do the instructors out there use VOX or push to talk headsets or something I don't know of yet? (can't find any info, but haven't exactly looked too hard). Ideally, I think I'd want both users to be able to talk back.
- My lid is an XR1000 in peoples experience is it even worth trying to use an intercom without a whisper kit?

Any thoughts greatfully received! Save losing my brother all the time!

[RizzoTheRat]

I'd have thought a non bike specific vox system would struggle at all but very low speeds as it's set for very little background noise. Even the top end Autocom with an extra background noise sensor to adjust the vox sometimes cuts in my pillion's mic in at high speeds. I'd personally go for a PTT setup, there's some fairly cheap headsets on e-bay

[Tiffer]

I'm using a set of Scala Rider Q2 bluetooth headsets. completely wireless, connect to your mobile phone and bluetooth gps and have a built in fm stereo. You can pair them together (upto a max of 3) and they even work bike to bike upto 500 yards. They have been very good and everyone I speak to on the phone doesn't realise i'm on the bike.

They are a bit expensive but work really well.