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Topic 04 of 06

Intercoms and helmet audio

A helmet intercom clamps or sticks to the shell, with speakers in the ear pockets and a boom or wired mic. Bluetooth links a small group in a chain; mesh links larger groups more flexibly. Sena and Cardo are the two big names.

Two ways to link
Bluetooth pairing and mesh networks
Fit check
speaker pocket depth and mic position

Bluetooth intercoms pair rider to rider. They work well for two to four riders, but each link depends on the riders next to it. Mesh intercoms (Sena Mesh, Cardo DMC) let riders join and leave a group without re-pairing, and the group keeps talking when someone drops back.

Before you buy, check the ear pockets in your helmet. Some helmets have deep speaker recesses and pre-routed cable channels, and some ship with a cutout made for a specific unit. Thin speakers or speaker spacers help when the pocket is shallow.

Most range figures in listings are measured in open terrain with nothing between riders. Hills, buildings and traffic shorten the real distance a lot, so compare figures between units rather than treating them as a promise.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing brands in a mesh group: mesh systems are generally brand specific, so check before buying.
  • Placing speakers off center from the ear canal and turning the volume up to compensate.
  • Forgetting a firmware update after pairing problems: the makers fix many bugs that way.

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