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[JCZ]

A review:

I arrived at Jim's (hd_dude) shop this morning......my Nolan basic and bluetooth kits had arrived.  Terrie and I got the Nolan N-102 NCOM helmets a few weeks ago but the electronic stuff took awhile longer.

Jim put the basic kit and bluetooth kits into the helmets and we turned them on.  Had trouble with contact in one that I later figured to be the contacts from the e-kit to the battery pack.  I just bent the prongs out just a bit, to add more tension to the contacts and all is good. 

Jim put on one helmet and I put on the other.  He in his office and I walked back into the shop and over to the roll up door.  It was clear reception until I got near the roll up door.  Walls, motorcycles and roll up door, reception was better than I had expected in that environment.  We then went outside.  In a straight line of view (no obstructions) we were clear up to about 50 or 60 feet but could hear each other further with some breaking up.  So, two or more bikes riding in a group, these things should work fine.

I made a call to Terrie, doing 45 mph and she didn't even hear the bike.  I called Jim and got the same report.  I called Ernie and as I was talking to him I got on the freeway and accelerated like I normally do, up to 85 mph and he couldn't hear the bike.  I had a little trouble hearing him but after we hung up, I then learned that I had the volumne turned almost all the way down.

All of that is completly wireless!

But a bonus that I didn't know or consider prior to buying it, is the MP3 cable.  I plugged it straight into my GPS (that has XM radio)!  I was able to get Bluesville in stereo through my helmet speakers.  I could actually hear my stereo at 100 mph, even with the face shield open. 

I'd recommend this helmet/bluetooth set up to anybody that rides with a passenger or looking for any of the above features.  If you're looking for this set up, contact Jim......he's going to carry the Nolan line and he's one of the few that actually can order the NCOM kits for you.

[naitram]

what it need just to get intercom working?

[JCZ]

what it need just to get intercom working?

There are two ways of doing the intercom......the cheaper way, of course, is with the cables.  I wanted the wireless feature so both helmets require the bluetooth.  It's not cheap.....I think I just made the next two or three payments on Jim's shop.

[naitram]

but besides the headset, is there another module to make it all work? something to switch between inercom/phone/music?

[Twolanerider]

but besides the headset, is there another module to make it all work? something to switch between inercom/phone/music?

Neal, I've been using this for over a year now.  And for several months with the Bluetooth capable Garmin unit.  JC is going to like it a lot the more he uses it.  Very nice combination of equipment. 

The Nolan N-Com Bluetooth module can only pair to one device though.  Unless it's been updated since I got mine it also has no polling or autoswitching routine.  So if you wanted to move it from a phone pairing to another helmet pairing for intercom purposes you'd have to go through it's full pairing process each time.  That is not a big deal.  It's just not automatic.

[Fired00d]

Neal, I've been using this for over a year now.  And for several months with the Bluetooth capable Garmin unit.  JC is going to like it a lot the more he uses it.  Very nice combination of equipment. 

The Nolan N-Com Bluetooth module can only pair to one device though.  Unless it's been updated since I got mine it also has no polling or autoswitching routine.  So if you wanted to move it from a phone pairing to another helmet pairing for intercom purposes you'd have to go through it's full pairing process each time.  That is not a big deal.  It's just not automatic.

Is the MP3 player stereo thru Bluetooth, or only when helmet is wired directly into the GPS. I've been told that Bluetooth doesn't transmit in stereo.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

Is the MP3 player stereo thru Bluetooth, or only when helmet is wired directly into the GPS. I've been told that Bluetooth doesn't transmit in stereo.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

The Bluetooth connection is mono.  If you want stereo audio in the lid it has to come through the wired connection.

[Fired00d]

The Bluetooth connection is mono.  If you want stereo audio in the lid it has to come through the wired connection.

Thanks, that confirms what I've heard.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[REGGAB]

I would like to have a wireless intercom system, but it seems like there are a few trade offs.  Right now, using the wired set up, my only capability gap is I cannot make phone calls.  From what Don describes, I'd be able to do that if I had a wireless intercom system, but I'd loose the intercom capability while talking on the phone......if I'm understanding this right.  Further, as far as the Bluetooth thing goes, if the ZUMO, or any other device, is paired to a phone, can it pair with a wireless headset at the same time?
I don't really mind the cable......except that I'm always knocking it loose.  Seems sorta bassackwards to give up functionality to gain less functionality tho'.  Next thing you know we're gonna look like an antenna farm or a wiring harness as we cruise down the road.

[JCZ]

but besides the headset, is there another module to make it all work? something to switch between inercom/phone/music?

It's all right in the helmet.  Extremely thing workings that fit inside cavitys of the helmet liner.  Surprisingly, the helmet is still the most comfortable helmet that I've ever put on my head, even with the kits installed.  All of the operations are done with three buttons.....volumn up, volumn down and the on/off...mode change button.

[Twolanerider]

I would like to have a wireless intercom system, but it seems like there are a few trade offs.  Right now, using the wired set up, my only capability gap is I cannot make phone calls.  From what Don describes, I'd be able to do that if I had a wireless intercom system, but I'd loose the intercom capability while talking on the phone......if I'm understanding this right.  Further, as far as the Bluetooth thing goes, if the ZUMO, or any other device, is paired to a phone, can it pair with a wireless headset at the same time?
I don't really mind the cable......except that I'm always knocking it loose.  Seems sorta bassackwards to give up functionality to gain less functionality tho'.  Next thing you know we're gonna look like an antenna farm or a wiring harness as we cruise down the road.

Henry, you can have the helmet's Bluetooth module paired to some other device and still have intercom function.  It'll just be a wired intercom between the two lids.  The helmets basic audio package is a kit that includes the speakers and mic along with wired leads for the battery charger, audio aux input and wired intercom.

If Zumo or 2820 (for examples) are paired to the phone the Garmin unit can also can pair to the helmet.  The Garmin can pair to two devices.  So it is the bridge between the phone and the helmet that also allows other Garmin functions to get to the helmet.

[REGGAB]

Henry, you can have the helmet's Bluetooth module paired to some other device and still have intercom function.  It'll just be a wired intercom between the two lids.  The helmets basic audio package is a kit that includes the speakers and mic along with wired leads for the battery charger, audio aux input and wired intercom.

If Zumo or 2820 (for examples) are paired to the phone the Garmin unit can also can pair to the helmet.  The Garmin can pair to two devices.  So it is the bridge between the phone and the helmet that also allows other Garmin functions to get to the helmet.

Bike Tech.........

Are headsets available for installation in helmets?  Really don't need anymore helmets.

[Twolanerider]

Bike Tech.........

Are headsets available for installation in helmets?  Really don't need anymore helmets.

Henry, there are more and more kits all the time to add Bluetooth or wireless intercom functions to existing helmets.  Some have been pretty poor.  There's enough out there anymore, over a wide enough price range, that a bit of homework is warranted before diving in.

[JCZ]

Bike Tech.........

Are headsets available for installation in helmets?  Really don't need anymore helmets.

Twolane pretty much covered it.  Nolan took it a step further than the others.......it's all built into the helmet so you don't have  a big box hanging off the side of your helmet.  The other thing is the size of the mic on Nolan is much smaller than most.....making it a lot more comfortable inside a full face or flip face.  Again, one of the main reasons that I went with this set up is the built in feature and the wireless feature......the two together make it unbeatable in my opnion.

Having said that......I told Jim today "now that I made this investment, with my kind of luck, it'll be obsolete in 90 days and they'll come out with another model that automatically switches back and forth from intercom, to cell, to XM or ipod at the touch of a button".

[Twolanerider]

Twolane pretty much covered it.  Nolan took it a step further than the others.......it's all built into the helmet so you don't have  a big box hanging off the side of your helmet.  The other thing is the size of the mic on Nolan is much smaller than most.....making it a lot more comfortable inside a full face or flip face.  Again, one of the main reasons that I went with this set up is the built in feature and the wireless feature......the two together make it unbeatable in my opnion.

Having said that......I told Jim today "now that I made this investment, with my kind of luck, it'll be obsolete in 90 days and they'll come out with another model that automatically switches back and forth from intercom, to cell, to XM or ipod at the touch of a button".

It's actually a bit frustrating JC.  As nice as these things are, and they are, after you use them for awhile you realize there are some limitations they could have eliminated with little more than software differences.  It's obvious they had some very fixed goals in mind without forethought to later changes. 

They actually have done some changes.  When I got my N-Com unit it was 10 months or more before they were available here in the states.  Picked it up in London one trip.  Now 18 months or so later the module has more HF pairing options and it's phone library is a bit larger.  But those are the only uprades they've made. 

It is cool.  It works well; very well actually.  Mixing it with the Garmin unit makes for a very slick combination indeed.  Just with they'd given it a bit more flexiblity or the ability to accept firmware updates.  Because with very little difference it could be better than it is.