Chatterbox or Blutek
 

A friend of mine and I are looking into communication devices and he’s leaning towards Chatterbox GMRSX1 (http://www.chatterboxusa.com/cbx1unit.html) and I’m leaning towards a Bluetek LLC. (http://www.blutekhelmet.com/shop.php).

I’ve looked into the Chatterbox X1 Bluetooth and came to these conclusions:
1) Have to wire in and install the headset and mic into the helmet, which means messing with my helmet.
2) Have to mount the transmitter in the bike or mount it on the side of my helmet (ugly).
3) A cord runs from the unit in the helmet (that I have to install) down to the transmitter that I would install under the seat area, and that sound uncomfortable.

When I looked into the Bluetek helmet, I came to these conclusions:
1) I’ve read only one review on this helmet, good, but only one. (https://www.superhawkforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=176636#post176636)
2) Not 100% confident in Bluetooth technology.


What do you guys think?

a few of the guys i ride with have had the two main communication devices. i have a chatterbox, first version of the x1 units. it finally died.

the conclusion is the Autocomm is the better of the two.


i wired in my headphones it's a pretty easy thing to do. blue tooth is a very proven reliable system.

tim

I haven't heard a whole lot of good about the chatter boxs. I don't know anything about the bluetek. I run a starcom on mine. It works great. I would definitely recommend the starcom or the autocom. Both are good systems, and worth the extra cash over the chatterbox.

Cardo is another option.

The bluetooth feature is useful and quite functional, it does FM radio, and works between riders if you're reasonably close.

I don't have experience with the other systems. This one is cheaper, so keep that in consideration when comparing.

How compatible is that blutek with other rider's radios?

From the research that I've done, the Blutek can only communicate with other Blutek helmets.

Here is another option. I've read their site and talked with a representative.
http://www.benchmarkhelmets.com/prod...bts300_83.html

Seems like a decent unit, or at least comparable to the Chatterbox. Says it does wireless Bluetooth Stereo audio, which I know the chatterbox does not. You can connect a MP3 to the Chatterbox via a cable.

Ive got a set of chatterboxes and don't have any complaints. The Range on them is awesome (more than 2 miles in the Santa Monica Mountains) and the sound quality is decent for speaking, I don't use em with music, so can't comment there.

Yeah, the range on Cardo sucks. But they're only about $150/pair. Good for passengers, or people that stay in a group. If I get out of radio range I just use the blue tooth to call them.

I have the stock windscreen, and hearing is ok up to about 80mph. My Shoei leaks a lot of air around my ears though. The radio reception sucks in the back country. You can hook it up to an mp3 player too, but it only plays the right stereo channel. I don't know why they did that. Maybe because having music in both ears is against the vehicle code or something.

the chatterbox bluetooth works well...i work at cyclegear and i have sold a good number of them, haven't had any complaints about them. Also, Oneal has a new street helmet that we just got in the stores today, stereo headset, linkable to 3 bluetooth devices with intercom also. Akuma helmets also has the same features in some of their helmets as well as Dainese.....all of which have great quality.

Where the fudge did you find Cardo's for $150 for a pair?

My buddy and I have used Scala Q2's for a couple of years now. no complaints. Range is less than what was noted above for the Chatterbox set.

I'm looking for something to talk between my wife and I on rides and to accept a phone call just so she knows i'm alive (My wife freaks out if I don't answer-she thinks i'm dead somewhere)

Funny...I like not having to talk with my wife when I'm riding....Kind of a bonus

Not to talk, she's not that kinda wife, she just wants to know I'm still alive

2 sec to say i'm alive. lol

My girlfriend and I use a set of scala Q2's and really like having them. Most of the conversation is around "look at that hilarious *insert odd sight here*".

Range is fine for me. One of us really has to book it to get out of range. At highway speeds we can't hear each other at all.

No experience with other comm systems but;

In emergency situations I found it to be great. If you shout during an accident the other person is likely to know something is up and can at the very least stop and get traffic to slow down before a blind corner from one direction.

In general I think comm devices are huge benefits to riding in groups of even 2 or more. Hand signals get pretty complicated beyond "gas", "bathroom", or "tired".

Are you trying to speak to just the passenger or the rest of the world too? If you just want to the passenger then the parameters of what you want are different. I originally bought the bike to bike chatterbox but realized I dont want to talk to other bikes, just my wife so the hjc 50 was the best choice. I can add in the ipod & still hear her up to 80ish. Also lets me hear stereo sound on solo rides from the ipod. Seems like cell phone talking on a bike may be spending too much of your dime. I have tried it but am never willing to sacrafice safety for it so havent done it since. I thought that is what seperated us from the cagers.

Sena SMH10, no question!
 

Guy I work with just bought the Scala G4 powerset. Said the range was close to a mile and very easy to set up. 4wheelonline.com has the set for $289.