BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I would like to purchase a communication system for bike to bike I have been looking at the Scala G4 and the Autocom does anyone have any ideas which is the best unit or the clarity between the two. It seems the Autocom is quite a bit of wiring and the Scala 4 is simple if it works as described.
Many Thanks

Nick Tonks

Been using an autocom active plus for two years hooked up typically to a Kenwood THf6A or a Yaesu VX7R two way radio. I also run a zumo 550 which I can also take cell phone calls through the blue tooth feature of the zumo and pipe it over the autocom system. The autocom set up has worked very well for me albeit does have the cables and wires as you mentioned. I haven't heard anything all that positive about the blue tooth/wireless systems available to the public at this point. I am either officiating bicycle races from the R or hauling photographers/videographers at the same including marathons and triathlons. Most use autocom with a few folks using the starcom systems I haven't come across anyone using any else really. All systems are somewhat pricey...

I would like to purchase a communication system for bike to bike...

Start with a few basic questions:

1. How many people do you want to talk to?
2. Does he/she/they already have a comms system?
3. If so, then what type of radio transceiver signal is used?
4. What other audio devices would you like to connect to helmet audio?

If you and 1-2 other riders are starting from scratch, then Scala works. What I've heard from Scala system owners is that the Bluetooth signal is fine for close proximity riding, and that it's obviously easy to interconnect existing Bluetooth audio sources... watch out for water resistance issues, and plan to make provisions for system charging during multi-day rides.

If instead you're joining a group with pre-existing bike-to-bike comms standard, then you'll have to match the transceiver, which in turn will dictate choice of comms system.

As I'm a long-term Autocom user (with only good results to report), my suggestion is to adopt the universal FRS/GMRS radio as transceiver, and buy an appropriate audio comms hub (Autocom or other) in order to gain the most system flexibility.