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[ox666]

Can't beat the Scala Rider/Cardo for bike to bike.  I've tried it with both full face and 3/4 helmets but anything over 50 mph with 3/4 is useless.  With anything but a full face the wind noise will keep the comms open and the talk time isn't as long as what they say, 4-5 hrs max.   With a full face and the mic positioned properly, bike to bike is no problem at 70+ mph.

When paired with a GPS and phone it will take in priority: 1. GPS directions  2. Incoming phone calls  3. Bike to bike/passenger.  4. Radio (which is useless).   

Bike to bike comms are pretty much as advertised and when you're in sight, distance is marginally greater than advertised.  Pairing to any device should only be a one off but sometimes the gremlins get in.  I copied my contacts from mobile phone (cell) into my Tom Tom 2 and have the benefit of caller ID.  Outgoing calls can only be made while stationary but continued with while moving.

My wife has only recently started riding a big bike XL1200C and the ability to talk through traffic etc has greatly increased her confidence. 

It does everything they say it does as well as they say it does.  We're very impressed and rate it 9.5/10

Addendum by wife:
I would rate it at 9.8.  I think it is the best thing about riding together.  Warnings of obstacles, traffic, etc from the front rider is fantastic.  Only problem I have is the strange looks I get when I am p*issing myself laughing at something my husband has said to me that only I can hear !!!!!! not really a negative as I am a looney anyway.
Janet

[porthole]

If you have the mic so that wind noise is keeping it open that is why your time isn't as long.
Contact Cardo, see if they recommend a different sock. When I talked to the Cardo people at Americade they were very receptive to feedback.

We have gotten well over a days worth of riding with great results. The occasional glitch is far offset by the convenience.

Something to check, there is a yellow tape marking the mic, sometimes the tape comes off. You can look closely at the mic and see which way it has to face.

[ox666]

If you have the mic so that wind noise is keeping it open that is why your time isn't as long.
Contact Cardo, see if they recommend a different sock. When I talked to the Cardo people at Americade they were very receptive to feedback.

We have gotten well over a days worth of riding with great results. The occasional glitch is far offset by the convenience.

Something to check, there is a yellow tape marking the mic, sometimes the tape comes off. You can look closely at the mic and see which way it has to face.

That explains that.  No tape on mine so I'll check it against the other. 

We got a couple of different socks with the sets so I'll try them both and compare results.  We've got a 3,500 mile trip coming up and I hope it continues to work as well as it has.

[SCRM-R]

I have used these quite often lately and further to my previous review I have found the following...If you use them for rider to passenger, or bike to bike, they are great.  But...if you pair the set to more than one other set, and try to swith between two sets they are virtually useless.  You can only swith from one to the other if both sets are "off line".  If wind noise is keeping either "line" open, or if the party's unit you are trying to swith to is in use by them, you get a busy signal.  It will become very frustrating to use these units when paired to more than one unit and trying to switch between the two.  I tried to find a phone number for Cardo to discuss with them, but no success.

I still like it for bluetooth and rider to passenger or bike to bike, but not both rider to passenger and bike to bike.

[ox666]

I have used these quite often lately and further to my previous review I have found the following...If you use them for rider to passenger, or bike to bike, they are great.  But...if you pair the set to more than one other set, and try to swith between two sets they are virtually useless.  You can only swith from one to the other if both sets are "off line".  If wind noise is keeping either "line" open, or if the party's unit you are trying to swith to is in use by them, you get a busy signal.  It will become very frustrating to use these units when paired to more than one unit and trying to switch between the two.  I tried to find a phone number for Cardo to discuss with them, but no success.

I still like it for bluetooth and rider to passenger or bike to bike, but not both rider to passenger and bike to bike.

Tried the 'primary' and 'secondary' buddy thing also and I agree, it's virtually useless.  Too much pushing the mic button on and off, once and twice.  Got too confusing and couldn't remember how many times I had to push or had pushed so I gave it up as a bad joke.  Probably ended up pairing with a chinese satellite.

That aspect doesn't bother me though given that I only bought it for bike to bike for the wife and I.

[BIGDOG]

Well I have used the Q2 for a while now and I can say I like them a lot, But, does anyone else have times when the voices warble to the point of not being able to under stand what is being said. We have tried to figure out why , thinking power lines or computer hot spots but it just is not consistant. I called Scalla and they were of no help. So if any one else knows why please let me know.

[ox666]

Bigdog,

It's really hard to pinpoint what the problem is if it's only an intermittent fault.  Identify when it happens and as soon as it happens pull over and check your environment.  It could be any one of a myriad of things that cause the problem.  Go back through the same area and see if it happens again?  Is there an alarm on a bluetooth cell for example?  What's the distance between the two headsets when the warble occurs?  Are you holding your mouth right?

This probably doesn't help a lot but I expect that it's an environmental issue rather than equipment failure.  Try one or both of the headsets in different helmets and see what happens.

Good luck. 

[BIGDOG]

Thanks for your answer. We have tried putting something together and thought it could be like wireless hot spots but it happened while we were riding through the Red Wood Forest in California so that shot that down. We will keep looking for the common link. Have you heard of this from any other users.

[Sean M Cary]

Well I have used the Q2 for a while now and I can say I like them a lot, But, does anyone else have times when the voices warble to the point of not being able to under stand what is being said. We have tried to figure out why , thinking power lines or computer hot spots but it just is not consistant. I called Scalla and they were of no help. So if any one else knows why please let me know.

bluetooth is a fairly weak transmisson path...  It's also easy to intercept - this is a shot of a bluetooth "gun"

This is the stuff I get to have fun with at work.

http://gizmodo.com/archives/bluesniper-rifle-and-more-fun-bluetooth-exploits-019037.php

[ox666]

Thanks for your answer. We have tried putting something together and thought it could be like wireless hot spots but it happened while we were riding through the Red Wood Forest in California so that shot that down. We will keep looking for the common link. Have you heard of this from any other users.

We have only ever had minor problems.  The most common we've experienced is when we are out of sight although still within 200 yds of each other.  The signal drops out coupled with other electronic interference (e.g. telecomms tower etc).   In those situations we re-pair and no further problems.  My wife was an electrical engineer and knows all that stuff far better than me.  I'll check with her and see if she can offer something better than me.

[ox666]

bluetooth is a fairly weak transmisson path...  It's also easy to intercept - this is a shot of a bluetooth "gun"

What the hell does it do???

[Sean M Cary]

What the hell does it do???

intercepts bt transmissions...

[ox666]

So the gun doesn't "shoot" the transmission, as in blast it out of existance?  But by interception, does it hijack the transmission or just listen in?  Just interested.

[Sean M Cary]

So the gun doesn't "shoot" the transmission, as in blast it out of existance?  But by interception, does it hijack the transmission or just listen in?  Just interested.

listens in...more to my statement of the lack of security on BT then the interference. 

Its not a robust transmission path.

[JCZ]

Thanks for your answer. We have tried putting something together and thought it could be like wireless hot spots but it happened while we were riding through the Red Wood Forest in California so that shot that down. We will keep looking for the common link. Have you heard of this from any other users.

On the Nor Cal Tour this week in the redwoods, several couples are using the bluetooth via the Nolan N-102.  Terrie and I didn't have any problems and I didn't hear of anybody else having any problems.

Terrie and I use the Nolans when we're out riding.  At times a car or truck will get between us.  While the communication isn't as clear when there's a vehicle in the way, we are still able to communicate.