revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Following on from the SanNag thread... What microphone / headphones do you use in your helmet? Are they any good? Does anyone have and recommendations for something that I can pair to my phone, mainly for SatNag that won't break the bank..

Thanks

I've got a pair of boggo council spec Cardo Spirits for chatting with the wife, they work well with my phone and satnag.

You can buy single units for £80.

I don't think you can go too far wrong with Cardo stuff, they're the main man when it comes to intercoms.

I have used a pair* of shure se215 for daily commuting for more than 10 years, they're plugged into a sena unit that does the BT bit.

* Actually 2 pairs, multiple replacement cables and many packets of foam tips.

Cardo packtalks here.

I may have an older pair of Cardo units that might still work, I'll take a look under the thatch...

I've used this for years. Plays music and Satnav together.
.

I have a Cardo packtalk, seems to work pretty well. i do find connecting it to other headsets a bit tricky though? Other manufacturers like Senna are an issue.

Probably user error mind you.

I did have an Interphone intercom previously which also did everything I needed it to. Not really sure spending the extra and getting newer was worth it tbh.

Thanks all.... Seems like Cardo are getting some good reviews online.

Interesting about the shure 215, do they stay in while riding? I've always found that ear buds fall out..

Rockburner wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 9:26 pm Cardo packtalks here.

I may have an older pair of Cardo units that might still work, I'll take a look under the thatch...

Oooo... That would be good. I'll PM you to save spamming everyone

I have Cardo packtalk bold, far too many features, doesn't always connect to other peoples but does to its twin, 2 pack. If you have to buy new get the Spirit or something with basic features, easier to use.

Dodgy69 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 7:46 am I have Cardo packtalk bold, far too many features, doesn't always connect to other peoples but does to its twin, 2 pack. If you have to buy new get the Spirit or something with basic features, easier to use.

I tend to agree with you about the spirit. I don't need the intercom stuff. I doubt I'll even use the phone / music** For now just want SatNag updates to save looking down..

**Caveat... I'm sure I'll start to use some of the other features over time

I use mine mostly for listening to music, it makes longer journeys more pleasant if you're listening to a bit of Metal.

Newbie73 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 7:24 am Thanks all.... Seems like Cardo are getting some good reviews online.

Interesting about the shure 215, do they stay in while riding? I've always found that ear buds fall out..

Yes, provided that they're put in right before pulling on my helmet, and I don't dislodge them pulling on my helmet.
Wearing a flip front helmet helps here because you can pull the sides apart a bit too give more room.

The worst case is that the foam tip doesn't seal properly and I get more wind noise, if this happens I pull over and just push it in a bit without taking my helmet off. This happens maybe a couple of times a year (commuting 4 days a week)

I daren't ride without earplugs in (I used to ride in an open face without them - my tinnitus is very unpleasant, and constant), so I can't use "in-ear" systems. I've always used "speaker in the helmet" type systems, but my first one was home-made: I bought a cheap set of "on-ear" (as opposed to "over-ear") headphones and stripped them down to get just the speakers and wires, then fitted the speakers in the appropriate place in the padding of the helmet (it can take a few attempts to get the speakers EXACTLY in the right place - this applies to Cardo type things as well), then I had a tiny MP3 player velcroed to the back of the lid. Worked perfectly and I only upgraded to Cardo stuff when I had the need for an intercom with other riders.

But for a BT connection, it's definitely worth getting a Cardo or similar - simply becuase they have features like increasing the speaker output level as the ambient noise (ie wind-roar) increases, and you can still use earplugs to save your hearing.

I find that with most earplugs I can still hear music, voices quite clearly, but the wind-roar (the damaging levels of noise) are reduced more (which is what ear-plugs are supposed to do).

I've used earplugs since the 90s.. And totally agree. I had thought about getting custom ones with a small earbud / speaker integrated, but think I'll go for the speaker option instead...

I use these £24. They do everything I need and the battery lasts a couple of days.

The only issue with the more recent ones is they automatically turn off after they've been disconnected for 10 minutes or so, so I have to remember to turn them back on after a lunch stop.

https://amzn.eu/d/0fOnk1KO

Trinity765 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 9:14 am I use these £24. They do everything I need and the battery lasts a couple of days.

The only issue with the more recent ones is they automatically turn off after they've been disconnected for 10 minutes or so, so I have to remember to turn them back on after a lunch stop.

https://amzn.eu/d/0fOnk1KO

That is a really neat solution.

Does it have a USB C charging point? Is the Mic on a more ridged cable that mounts into the chin on a full face helmet?

I've got one of the cheap cardo spirits. I use it for satnav and I have my phone connected as well, though I only ever get the occasional call. Everything is clear enough and people on the other end of the phone can't tall I'm on the bike apparently.

The only thing I've noticed is, if you are using the satnav at the same time as a call, the directions override the call, for you and the person on the other end, so you keep cutting out.

Another Cardo user here, Packtalk Black JBL edition for the bigger better speakers, they've been going strong for the past 4 years with no bother.
If I was looking at the decent stuff (Cardo, Senna) today I'd be paying very close attention to the specs and ensuring I didn't pick one with a subscription service.

Sena in-helmet Shoei jobbie.

Well, did. Helmet is currently gathering dust, unused and unloved.

Newbie73 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 12:36 pm

Trinity765 wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 9:14 am I use these £24. They do everything I need and the battery lasts a couple of days.

The only issue with the more recent ones is they automatically turn off after they've been disconnected for 10 minutes or so, so I have to remember to turn them back on after a lunch stop.

https://amzn.eu/d/0fOnk1KO

That is a really neat solution.

Does it have a USB C charging point? Is the Mic on a more ridged cable that mounts into the chin on a full face helmet?

It's got a usb c charging port, on/off and volume buttons in the microphone part. I think it comes with a sticky pad for the microphone but I just bend it to where I need it. I don't use my phone when I am on the bike. Nor do I want or use an intercom. I just want to hear my satnav.