cheap intercom

[scott2007nomad]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FREE-SHIPPING-HELMET-INTERCOM-KAWASAKI-VOYAGER-VULCAN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a552Q7c39Q3 a1Q7c66Q3a4Q7c65Q3a12QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q2e l1318QQhashZitem230278261523QQitemZ230278261523

Anyone ever see or try one of these cheap ebay intercoms?
I know you usually get what you pay for but I could never figure out why it was so expensive to make something just to talk to the passenger.
I don't think it would bother me that it's not wireless.
We both wear full face helmets so turning the head and talking is not an option.

(Of course this is all contingent on whether you really want to talk to your passenger or not.) :)

Scott

[pirate]

Scott, I used to own a system similar to that. It wasn't that same brand (I don't recall what it was exactly) but it cost me $70 about three years ago. For what's it worth, I wasn't very happy with it. It had the same advertised feature of "wind-canceling microphones," but they didn't do that very well. My wife and I both used them with full-face helmets, and it still picked up quite a bit of wind noise. I bet 50% of the time we had to ask each other to repeat, because we couldn't hear over the noise. The ones I had also had the feature of being able to listen to music at the same time. It was supposed to automatically cut the music off once you started to talk, but it didn't always do that. I finally got frustrated enough with them that I threw the dumb things away. The price of only $21 of these ones on ebay kind of scares me a little. But then again, it's your call.

[Top Cat]

If it was me I'd pass on it but if you do try it just figure on throwing them away if they don't work. It will cost more to ship them back than they are worth.
If you can afford it go with the Scala Cardo Teamset. Great product.

[towering]

If it was me I'd pass on it but if you do try it just figure on throwing them away if they don't work. It will cost more to ship them back than they are worth.
If you can afford it go with the Scala Cardo Teamset. Great product.


Hows the sound quality. I have the CB50 from Chatter Box and the volume from the passanger is bad

[Top Cat]

The Teamset is great. I worked in a wire mill for 44 years and my hearing sucks. I have to read the TV sometimes.
I had no problem hearing Cindy on the back at any speed. I would recomend them.

I've got a Chatterbox GMRS-X1, and to me it's just passable. I think it was $350 too (expensive!) although it does have 2-way radio, it requires a wire to the passenger. I have only used it maybe twice in 4 years.

The voice activated microphones are worthless at speeds over 35 MPH unless you cup a hand over them. Then again we have 3/4 helmets, so I think it would be better with full face helmets.

[cactusjack]

This is one case where you probably do get what you pay for. One of the reasons the J&M or Scala units are much more expensive is due to the quality and the technology they employ.

[Top Cat]

I agree with CJ. Cindy now has her own bike so I bought the Scala Cardo Q-2 units. they were $306 for both but well worth it. I bought these as I had such good luck with the Teamset from the same manufacturer.
The teamset is not ment for bike to bike but we used it till the Q2's were delivered and it worked out to about 10 to 15 yards. Not bad for a driver to pasenger unit.

[markw]

I can't stand those earbuds stuck in my ears like the unit you showed. I bought the Cardo Scala Rider FM (dual speakers) and have been quite pleased with it for occasional calls and FM reception. Even used FM transmitter from ipod to FM receiver. Intend to get another unit for the wife later. I set my phone to auto-answer and then decided there would be times I did not want to take a call and changed it back to manual. Got mine (1 unit) for $105 on Ebay and have seen them less. You pair them to other bikes with the same brand units as well. Limited range about 450ft.