Bike to Bike Radio Communication

[towerworker]

Considering buying some sort of bike communication system. I know you can spend big bucks----I'm not going to.
Does anyone have any experience with the FRS/GMRS style of radio system using a headset in the helmet?

I see several makes and systems available and many are reasonable in cost for a single or dual radio system. Thinking of something that can be used with riding with friends particularly on long rides.

Any experience or suggestions?

Wayne

[sweatmark]

Wayne-

For the past 3 seasons, Mrs. Sweatmark and I have used FRS/GMRS radios for bike-to-bike. Indispensible during our longer road trips with Roadster, Rockster, and good friends who ride an Airhead two-up. Really comes in handy when the group is planning a stop for gas/lunch/stretch, coordinating rendezvous when someone gets lost, or communicating dangers found on the road ahead.

Jacquie and I use a combination of Garmin Rino GPS radios with Autocom Advance-7s. The Autocoms are needed since we both use iPod and/or XM radio during road trips, and the passenger intercom feature comes in handy when daughter rides pillion on my bike: both passenger and rider can use the bike-to-bike comms via FRS/GMRS.

The Autocom (or equivalent) is worth the investment. In order to make bike-to-bike work effectively, you need good quality microphone and transmission (TX) control, either by push-to-talk (PTT) or VOX. The Autocom's microphone is good, once it's set up correctly, and wind noise is well-controlled. Using other than a motorcycled-focused mic & speaker(s) system could be the biggest challenge to cheap + effective FRS radio use... the FRS radio is not the limiting factor.

I also picked up a couple of Motorola FRS/GMRS radios that we've since given to our riding companions, and have proven very capable during group rides. Our friends use a StarCom unit to interface a Motorola with iPod and provide on-bike intercom.

Possible the cheapest way to get FRS working while riding is a decent reliable radio, and an earbud/throat mic headset. You might have to use PTT instead of VOX to control transmission, but the system would be simple.

[ProductUser]

I have the AutoCom Active 7 something or other, along with the Kenwood FRS something or other radio. The system works great and is a must, especially since my radar detector is tied into the system. Now, this isn't the cheapest solution, but it works very well. You can find used AutoCom systems for sale, if that suits you. Several friends use the less expensive Motorola two-way radios with good results.

I would stay away from the throat mic; there was a recent discussion about its capabilites in the BMWST forum.

You may want to checkout some of the Goldwing forums; those guys should have a lot of insight re communication systems.

Tony

[Max Continuous]

Wayne

I use a Cobra FRS/GMRS radio setup as well. As the posters above have mentioned, it really is a handy tool. I have learned a bit from trial and error.

The first thing I found was that a good quality microphone is needed and there is alot of crap out there. The first one I bought was a Motocom setup and it worked well until highway speeds. After that, it was pretty much impossible to hear what was being said. I had an IMC intercom on my bike and always had great clarity between rider and passenger, regardless of speed. With that in mind, I got rid of the Motocom and upgraded to an IMC intercom that would accept a two way radio. Now I can speak to fellow riders at highway speeds with no issue at all. The FRS/GMRS radios are line of sight, no matter what the package claims, so you can expect a mile or two range based on terrain.

Some of my friends have the Scala BT ( bluetooth ) system and so long as you are riding right next to each other, it works. I much prefer the range of the FRS/GMRS however and the fact that it has other uses other than on the bike.

We passed a bike one time that was off to the side of the road, we slowed down while the sweeper stopped to make sure everything was ok. As a group, we were able to continue, only having one bike pull over on a narrow road to offer assistance and relay information via radio while the group found a safe place to pull over. Very handy.

Here is a link to the IMC system I have on my bike. It is an entire intercom system that retails for $199 and can accept two way radios and mp3 while giving rider to passenger communication. The microphones are good quality and I can say that the setup works well to about 120kmh. The Motocomm MC-555 which retails for about $60USD for one headset only, does not. I found that once I was on any highway, I gave up on the communication.

http://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail.asp ... MIT%2D100U

Best of luck in your research.

[towerworker]

Thanks for all the good information guys. Several friends and myself are planning at least two trips in the coming months--one to the bash in Pa and then later a trip to the Barber Motorsports park. We thought it would be helpful to have some communication other than hand signals.

Wayne

[bikermeow]

I was contemplating this, except that the battery, while rechargeable, is not replaceable, it seems.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle- ... tercom.htm


Cheers

Cat

[towerworker]

I was seriously contemplating that one too but realized it will only communicate with one other device at a time. The cell phone capability was a plus but not necessary. I can stop (and should) to make a phone call. I really wanted something to talk with two or more riders at a time. All that I have read about the device is impressive though.

Wayne

[wncbmw]

We thought it would be helpful to have some communication other than hand signals.

Wayne - since I probably won't get a radio, when we ride together: pointing at the tank means gas; pointing at my crotch means pee break!

On bad days, the latter outnumbers the former by a good margin!

Seriously, I would be interested in the earpiece solution. I bought a used iPod for slabbing down the interstate but have not used it due to issues with earpieces. Using my latest noise-canceling ear buds on the plane last week irritated the heck out of my ears. I can't imagine how bad they would feel under a helmet! And I wear earplugs all the time riding!

Please - no one recommend a $150 set of ear buds! I have no intention of spending that kind of money, only to find out they do the same. I am now thinking of helmet speakers, if I can figure out how to make them work.

[bmwdave52]

I have an older version of Sweatmark's setup. Four years now and still going...
Autocomm's are great. Worth the investment.


http://www.autocomamerica.com

[MikeCam]

"...pointing at the tank means gas; pointing at my crotch means pee break!"

When the lead guy stops, we all stop. When the trail guy stops, he gets left behind.

[RForestR]

My wife and I have used a FSR system with variable results. On the highway (read: over 110kph) it is difficult to hear each other, especially when the wind is up. Under 90 or so, and it is not too bad, but the problem I always run into is that I prefer to ride with earplugs, or with noise cancelling earphones on the ipod... Don't have an autocom or anything like that, and since we ride so much together we've 'developed' our own version of hand signals that seems to work for us.
HAven't given up on bike to bike just yet, but there's something about that being alone feeling when your best friend is just metres away that is pretty cool too...

Cheers on whatever you decide!
Chris