Helmet/Radio Info

[symplysimon]

My husband and I are not familiar with the latest helmets/intercoms/radios or how they operate.
We have some questions and would appreciate any input or suggestions.

-In general is it preferable to have helmets with a radio/intercom system?
-Wireless? Plug-In?
-Do you folks with Stallions find that the noise level is such
that it is difficult to hear one another? (between driver/passenger)

Thanks!

[3-togo]

Hello,
I believe your helmet will need to be one that excepts internal speaker and the installation costs for hard wired or wireless seem to run 1300 dollars and up. The system seems to be necessary if you wear a helmet. The radio on my stallion is not clear above 40 mph. One person has installed front speakers on the stallion and likes the addition but rides without a helmet. His wife books a plane ride to Monte Carlo evertime he rides. Hope this helps. Be sure to check all options at a reputable installer. Stallion dealer in Vegas does a nice job.

[symplysimon]

Hello,
I believe your helmet will need to be one that excepts internal speaker and the installation costs for hard wired or wireless seem to run 1300 dollars and up. The system seems to be necessary if you wear a helmet.
Goodness.........I didn't realize how pricey they were.
Hard wired.........I'm assuming to have the Stallion wired?

The radio on my stallion is not clear above 40 mph. One person has installed front speakers on the stallion and likes the addition but rides without a helmet. His wife books a plane ride to Monte Carlo evertime he rides.
WI does not mandate helmets. On the whole we've worn helmets in the past but not as much when it is really hot/humid.

Hope this helps. Be sure to check all options at a reputable installer. Stallion dealer in Vegas does a nice job.

Vegas would be a long shot for us so we will have to find someone in WI. We are also going to look for someone here to do some pinstriping. Thanks much for your input. We are trying to learn all we can and do things right
Blessings!
ss

[dwiht]

Take a look at J & M: Welcome to J&M Corporation
They make headsets and radios and from what I have heard are one of the better brands. You should be able to find something that will work well for around 300. The Harley was all ready wired with the radio, I have used it with speakers in the helmet and just the radio speakers, both work well but I do prefer the ones in the helmet as they are easier to hear.

[symplysimon]

Thanks much dwiht!
A very nice site. I'm going to send for their catalog and maybe
have my husband call them about a few things.

ss

[Papa Zook]

J&M is as good as it gets.

[3-togo]

Hello,
The qoutes I was given to wire Stallion was about 1200 and up with helmet speakers/intercom and was the J@M SYSTEM.THE QOUTES WERE FROM TWO DIFFERENT INSTALLERS and also was for wireless.The parts alone were above $700.00. The price included other features but only interested in radio/intercom interface.Please keep us posted on your research.

[symplysimon]

Hello,
The qoutes I was given to wire Stallion was about 1200 and up with helmet speakers/intercom and was the J@M SYSTEM.THE QOUTES WERE FROM TWO DIFFERENT INSTALLERS and also was for wireless.The parts alone were above $700.00. The price included other features but only interested in radio/intercom interface.Please keep us posted on your research.

OK.....now for some dumb questions :o...keep in mind that both my husband and I know nothing about any of the helmet systems.

Are we understanding you correctly?...........
Assuming you had your Stallion wired........you put your helmet on and plug it into an outlet on your Stallion so that driver/passenger can talk to one another or listen to the Stallion's radio?

Re: The in-helmet intercom between rider/driver:
Is it possible to get a totally wireless in-helmet intercom only set-up between driver/rider?
ss

[Mattel]

You asked about the Stallion noise level:
It is louder than a Gold Wing, but quieter than a Harley. I have ridden with and without a helmet, but I always wear hearing protection (under my helmet) when ever I am riding on a motorcycle to prevent long term hearing loss. Even if the motorcycle is quite the wind noise can be loud, especially for the passenger on the Stallion. I understand several dealers are coming out with wind deflectors that cure this issue for the passenger (see one of the other threads).

My wife and I are able to talk up to about 50mph. After that you can shout at each other, but I find it too difficult to hear, that may just be due to my ear plugs and my helmet though. I find it easy to hear up to that 50mph mark. I am also able to hear the radio up to about the same speed, and I shut it off on the highway.

I hope this helps, good luck and let us know what you decide on getting. I am planning on getting a J&M radio intercom wired set up. I have been looking into it and pricing them.

[Trikerjim]

Wendy and Wayne, just my opinion, but if I were you I would talk to Bazooka about getting your Stallion wired up when it comes in. If they can wire it like a Goldwing or Harley, then you can just buy your helmets/headsets with the correct lower cord. Just plug 'em in and talk. There are wireless setups kinda like "BlueTooth", but they're NOT cheap...Talk to Randy and see what he can suggest...

[newtriker]

This isn't exactly on the subject since it seems as your questions have been just about answered. Steve and I use the helmets that plug in (we have a goldwing) and I like it so much better than him having to turn around to talk to me or having to shout to each other or not talk at all because of the wind noise. I am kind of wanting to go with a smaller helmet (which we already have) rather than the ones we are using and maybe move all the wire stuff over to our other helmets, but we don't know if we can do that. The intercom system is great though a little tiresome having to deal with the cord over the shoulder.

[symplysimon]

Thanks everyone for the great input and information. I am anxious to call J & M tomorrow. And Bazooka if there is anything you can add to this please do chime in

It almost sounds like it'd be just as expensive to wire the Stallion as it would be to go with a wireless helmet setup??

Others things we are questioning are:
-Are the wireless sets heavier or lighter weight?
-Can you hear as well with them?
-Do the batteries last a goodly amount of time?

We too would prefer the lighter weight helmets. We have looked at some newer hybrid ones that are quite light weight.

Again.......we appreciate everyone's input

ss

[Trikerjim]

OK one more. you may want to look at Air Rider too. They have a complete setup with one or two headsets. We use their headsets and have no problems. Check out this link and click on Communications Center. Check all that you can find and then decide...


Motorcycle Products, Wireless Bluetooth, Headsets, Nolan, HGC, Helmets, Seats, CB Radio

[symplysimon]

I spent a good part of my morning speaking with the folks at J&M and AirRider regarding their Bluetooth/Wireless systems. Both of these dealers were very informative and good to talk to but will not have these newer systems available until Jan. 2009.

Our riding season up here is almost over so we'd be able to wait until they are available in the new year.

The folks at AriRider explained things a bit more. Their systems would have a small box on each helmet with a small interface box mounted on the Stallion. The interface box would pick up signals from the Stallion's intercom/radio/cd player/GPS and cell phones. The rechargeable battery lasts approx. 8 hours. They will have full stereo sound, a full-time live microphone and will come with an extra battery.

Thanks everyone for helping me out with this........I appreciate all the good information exchanged here!!

ss

[3-togo]

Hello,
Have you or anyone modified the stallion to utilize the radio/intercom through helmet speakers?.In oregon one must wear a helmet and adding speakers/power amp will most likley irratate your neighbors without inhancing your audio enjoyment. Thanks in advance for your insights