Helmets with built in bluetooth & comms system

Post by **dwayne** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:39 am

Hiya all, I'm looking for helmets, full face, with built in Bluetooth and communications system for both rider and passenger. I understand the BMW System V helemt has this, but are there any other alternatives? I did see something about Nolan (last page of BMW ON), but that seems like an add on, at least according to their site (nolanhelemts.com)

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:50 am

AFAIK:

BMW System 5 - but I believe this has been removed from sale in the UK - but there's a new one coming this year.

Nolan

Dainese Airstream (or something).

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:21 pm

I have the BMW System five...but without the blue tooth...the helmet cost about $800..and the bluetooth was extra..about $500 extra..

I was using this for a while.. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1649800,00.asp ..it's an MP3 with blue tooth..so I just turn my phone on bluetooth mode..and while riding if my phone rings the music stops and the call comes through..and when they hang up the music starts again..all hands free.

I'm sure there is heaps of this kind of stuff out now.

DJ

LA · Post by LA » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:16 pm

DJ
I have been looking for something like that. I also have a BMW System 5 helmet and thought the BLueTooth costs a bit over the top,
Are the earphones comfortable when riding? I find the helmet a little snug and have been a little concerned that comfort might be a problem.

LA

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:05 am

LA...I've recently mounted speakers in my BMW System five helmet.

It was easy to do..I'll take a few pictures if you like.

btw..that link to that Sony player said $250..I'm sure I only paid about half that..max...not bad because it comes with a Duo memory stick.

It's a good thing that your helmet is a bit on the tight side..IMO..it will get looser in time..mine was very tight at first..now it's perfect.

What I use now most of the time is just my phone...(sony Erricson)..with music or radio..phone sits in my pocket and plugs into my helmet.

I also have just bought a new iPod shuffle..the tiny one..I'm planing to velcro it to my helmet on the outside like those chatterbox thingies.

DJ

LA · Post by LA » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:38 am

DJ
I wouldn't mind a bit of info re the speakers,if you don't mind. I think I would prefer them to the earphones.
You are right about the helmet :it has loosened up a bit since I bought it. It felt really tight at first but the dealer convinced me that it would become more comfortable.
I had a Shoei XR1000 and the Sys5 seems much quieter but a little less cooler (temp. that is)

LA

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:07 am

LA...I just bought some cheap headphones (about $10) (the size was about 1 1/2" dia)

I took the speakers out by carefully breaking the plastic away leaving the wires and speakers.

I stuck a 1" velcro dot on the back of the speaker magnet and stuck the other velcro dot inside my helmet..the system 5 has a big cavity in this area.

I ran the wires inside under the padding...and cut the headphone wire so only about 2" hangs out of the helmet (btw I can tuck this inside the padding when not being used)..the wire coming out of the helmet that I cut had a male end...I put a female end on the wire so I can now plug any iPod or phone into it.

It's a bit of a fiddly job soldering little wires but you may be able to get electronics repairer to do it for you cheap.

The speakers do not sit firm against my ears...so I loose a little volume..but it also allows me to use normal in-ear headphones...I have some molded ones that I use on trips...I find that the helmet speakers are not loud enough at high speed...but at low speed around town they're fine.

I hope this helps a little..

DJ

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:14 am

DJ Downunder wrote:LA...I just bought some cheap headphones (about $10) (the size was about 1 1/2" dia)

I took the speakers out by carefully breaking the plastic away leaving the wires and speakers.

I stuck a 1" velcro dot on the back of the speaker magnet and stuck the other velcro dot inside my helmet..the system 5 has a big cavity in this area.

I ran the wires inside under the padding...and cut the headphone wire so only about 2" hangs out of the helmet (btw I can tuck this inside the padding when not being used)..the wire coming out of the helmet that I cut had a male end...I put a female end on the wire so I can now plug any iPod or phone into it.

It's a bit of a fiddly job soldering little wires but you may be able to get electronics repairer to do it for you cheap.

The speakers do not sit firm against my ears...so I loose a little volume..but it also allows me to use normal in-ear headphones...I have some molded ones that I use on trips...I find that the helmet speakers are not loud enough at high speed...but at low speed around town they're fine.

I hope this helps a little..

DJ

I did the same thing with a pair of "outer ear" headphones. Only I didn't do any cutting.

Just fitted the speakers under the lining of my Arai (there's a nice "gap" there right where your ears are) and ran the speaker wire around the back of the helmet, hidden in the liner then tied it off around the strap mount under the removable chin-piece. I tied it off so that there's about 1/2" of wire hanging from the helmet with the regular jack easily accessible.

Works perfectly and no issues with blue-tooth connectivity.

John I. Stephen · Post by **John I. Stephen** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:34 am

This is what I bought and fitted to my Arai helmet; took me around 15 minutes to get everything snug and the wires neatly tucked out of the way.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASSMONSTER-HELME ... dZViewItem