Bike-to-bike intercoms

**RiderInBlack** · 13th November 2006, 07:50

Finally have a pillion I would not mind taking to while riding (strange but true). I want to make a direct link between our helmets to do this. Have speakers for radar detector and MP3 play I've rigged in my helmets already. They have a plug to go from the helmets to the bike and then to the Radar Detector and MP3 player (detector has separate speaker in helmet), Now what I want to know is what will I need the wire between a mics and the speakers to set-up a direct intercom between the helmets (via the plugs I've put in the bike for them). Would a small amp for each mic do the trick?

**terbang** · 13th November 2006, 08:26

Here is a WEBSITE that sells this product. At that price you would really need to be a chatty sort of a person. have been trialling the Pinfold system and a couple of UHF radios from Jaycar at a fraction of the price for some time now. Have the headsets permanantly and discretely fitted into Shoei helmets with one small plug attached to the chinstrap. Despite what others say about the plug quality, I have had no problems and communication is good up to 120 KPH, rain hail or snow..

**Hitcher** · 13th November 2006, 10:04

Originally Posted by terbang

I have had no problems and communication is good up to 120 KPH, rain hail or snow..

I will be interested to see how long your stuff lasts. I predict that you will have a plug-related or PTT-related failure withing a month (or two, if you don't do a lot of riding). Within three you will have a headset speaker failure. The microphone foam covers will start to fail too at about the three month stage.

If your experience proves me wrong I may reinvest in Pinfolds' kit once again, so as to recoup some value from our investment in walkie talkies.

We found that the limiting factor in terms of speed-related communications was helmet wind noise -- over 100kmh the microphone was struggling to decipher voice from roar.

**Squiggles** · 3rd December 2006, 12:41

heres a novel concept... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-79851923.htm i dont think it'd be much good though...

**cowboyz** · 3rd December 2006, 16:53

that would be great on seperate bikes. Especially when lane splitting.

**simonnn** · 3rd December 2006, 23:22

Contact the guys at Cycletreads.
They will sort you out with an Autocom

**Lou Girardin** · 4th December 2006, 05:54

Originally Posted by Hitcher

We found that the limiting factor in terms of speed-related communications was helmet wind noise -- over 100kmh the microphone was struggling to decipher voice from roar.

That's what separates the ones that work (Baehr) and most of the rest.
The cops have found their Baehr units to be clear at 200 km/h.
I don't think they bothered to test Autocom.

**Squiggles** · 4th December 2006, 07:40

Originally Posted by simonnn

Contact the guys at Cycletreads.
They will sort you out with an Autocom

i shall do that... i have a $300 budget which puts baehr way out of reach...

**Shewolf** · 20th December 2006, 11:27

Pinfolds have a deal on for reconditioned 2W units...so have just purchased a couple of WT419's with K-series headsets for $300 all up.

Will give them a whirl on the weekend and see how they go!

**enlightend1** · 3rd January 2007, 14:34

Originally Posted by Hitcher

$20 is probably what those Pinfolds units are worth. They are disturbingly unreliable but work well when they go. If somebody copied the basic principles, but with bigger more robust plugs and a more reliable PTT switch, they'd be onto a winner.

All I need is a volunteer geek with a soldering iron and a Dick Smith catalogue and we'd be in business!

Haha, well you may have found one, me and a mate of mine have been thinking about something like this for a while now, going to put some serious thought into it when I get back down to Uni in Chch at the start of February.