Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Hi-fi quality sound is coming to motorcycle helmets after Cardo Systems, makers of the popular Scala Bluetooth helmet intercom, announced a partnership with hi-fi speaker company JBL. The American company announced at last week’s Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne that the new speakers would be included in their Packtalk units from next year. JBL is …
Production of SlimBuds Bluetooth motorcycle earphones has begun a year after the company launched its successful crowd-funding program and they will be ready for shipping in August. CEO Alperen Topay recently sent me a set of pre-production earphones and the associated app to test ahead of production models which will cost $US140 (about $A189) in grey or black …
Bluetooth company Sena has moved into the helmet business with the release of its Momentum full-face helmet range with integrated Bluetooth intercom units. The Momentum with integrated 20S technology costs $A599 and the Momentum Lite with 10Series tech costs $A529. Click here to find out where to buy. The first-generation Momentum INC, Momentum Pro and …
The Domio Sport Bluetooth helmet system provides music without internal speakers and messy wires, but has now added a microphone system that has no internal or boom mic. Domio Sport uses micro-vibration technology to deliver sound into your helmet. It is similar to Headwave Tag which uses “surface transduction” to transmit vibrations through the helmet. However, …
BMW Motorrad has released its latest range of digital technology for connected riding featuring naturally spoken directions, cable-free charging and integrated intercoms. Navigation The new BMW Motorrad Navigator VI costs $A1290 and includes Australia and New Zealand lifetime mapping updates. It has some interesting features such as Natural Guidance which announces navigation directions spoken as …
Imagine being able to send a written message to traffic thanking them for leaving a gap, warning them of emergency braking or abusing them for cutting you off! A simple wave or finger gesture has always been enough for me, but some may like more precise communication. Now French company Omicron has launched a crowd-funding program …
There are a lot of Bluetooth earplugs hitting the market, but they are heavy and bulky and uncomfortable under a motorcycle helmet. These Japanese Vie Fit earplugs look like being a lot more suitable. The company launched an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign that surpassed its target seven-fold, so they are set to go into production costing …
Many riders now have Bluetooth intercom units in their helmets to talk to other riders, take and make phone calls and listen to music, but the sound quality isn’t great. Others think it is ridiculous and unsafe to have music or conversations while riding. They ride to enjoy the “solitude”. If you do like some …
One of the most feature-packed, expensive, heaviest and biggest smart helmets yet, the CrossHelmet X1, has achieved its crowd-funding goal and is set for production in 2018. Read about the coming smart helmet revolution The Japanese CrossHelmet X1 looks enormous, but that’s because it packs a lot of technology into the shell. Features include head-up …
Bluetooth helmet systems now allow riders on any type of motorcycle to listen to music while they ride, but are they safer or more distracted? Some riders say it helps them concentrate and quells the boredom of long spells in the saddle. Others say it causes a distraction. And then there are motorbike traditionalists who …