Can you guys help me with the whole sound and microphone in the helmet project?

[rstacy]

My VR is the first bike that I have ever owned that has sound and intercom capabilities.

How do you go about getting sound and a mike in to your helmet?

I use a 3/4 helmet and my wife is currently using a 1/2 but she may be switching to a full.

I have no experience here. I can see ear buds working but what about the mike? I see that Ebay has many different types of headsets available but I dont know what is good or bad. What would you do?

 

Ray

[SilvrT]

We have the J&M headset/mic setup. We bought the lower-priced ones ($100 each) and while they're not the best, they serve the purpose.

 

http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=HS-8154B-OF&PF=12

[rstacy]

Were the ear pieces difficult to install? Unless I do some cutting I don't think I have room in my helmet.

 

Can you remove the mike and cable if you are on a short hop and don't need sound?

[SilvrT]

Were the ear pieces difficult to install? Unless I do some cutting I don't think I have room in my helmet.

 

Can you remove the mike and cable if you are on a short hop and don't need sound?

 

RE: the ear pieces ... since our helmets have "pockets" for it, the ear pieces were easy to install ... they aren't really that big so you shouldn't have any issues.

 

RE: the Mike/cable .... the cable is easy to remove and I just swing the mic up beside the helmet when not being used. To remove it, you have to remove the bracket holding it on ... not really a PITA, but more trouble than it's worth if you're going to just be putting it back on again another day.

[SapperMedic]

On E-bay they have a J&M Two-fer that will get you 2 sets for your helmets at about $160,

I bought this one made by Show Chrome that has an inline stereo volume control and good sound. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Show-Chrome-HEADSET-221XS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b83f88aeQQitemZ170594896046QQptZApparelQ5fMerchandise. Easy Installation. My wife loves being able to carry on a conversation without shouting and it makes for a nicer ride. If you ride in a group that has them, you can carry on a conversation over the CB or attach your Bluetooth enabled GPS to it via a Buddyrich cable..

[SapperMedic]

:fingers-crossed-emoAlso put in "goldwing headset" into craigslist, every once in awhile someone will be selling the helmets with them installed already, cheaper than buying the new headset by itself. I am not a fan of buying used helmets, but theres nothing wrong with taking the system off and throwing the helmet away if the price is right. for some reasong people will sell the bike, keeping the helmets for a future bike and never get around to getting one.

[jfoster]

We found that 3/4 helmets with face shields worked best for us due to the wind hitting the mouthpiece etc, probably the same with a full face.

[Ryana7769]

I have a set of J&M's and when I got a new helmet...the scorpoin tranformer helmet...I found another company for less and I think the sound quality is as good or better than the J&M. here is the link. The ones for the Goldwing work with our bikes...second gen that is don't know about 1st gen.

 

http://www.imcmoto.com

 

[darthandy]

I have both the J&M headsets and the IMC headsets. Both work equally well and the headset speakers for the IMC units are half the thickness of the J&M speakers. Nice if you have a snug fitting helmet that causes problems with the thickness of the J&M's. And the IMC units, as with the J&M units, work with both first and second gen bikes.

 

Andy

[saddlebum]

I have a set of J&M's and when I got a new helmet...the scorpoin tranformer helmet...I found another company for less and I think the sound quality is as good or better than the J&M. here is the link. The ones for the Goldwing work with our bikes...second gen that is don't know about 1st gen.

 

http://www.imcmoto.com

 

1st gen is the same hook up so if it is made for a gold wing it will work on a 1st gen. Also if you are using a full face helmet J&M, SCALA and IMC all make sets designed for the full face helmet. The mike simply velcros to the jaw piece. If you get one of these don't place the mike directly in front of your mouth but to one side.

[Wizard765]

The J&M basic model is available at Wingstuff on sale for $68.. Great deal..

 

http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/2310_jm_goldwing_helmet_headset_hs8154b_open_full

[MiCarl]

The J&M basic model is available at Wingstuff on sale for $68.. Great deal..

 

http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/2310_jm_goldwing_helmet_headset_hs8154b_open_full

 

We've got the full face version of that set. Like the sound and frequently get compliments on how good it sounds over the CB.

 

You do need to dig a hole in the foam of the chin bar for the mic. The mic is large enough it's difficult to find a place deep enough that you don't run into a vent passage. This is the major drawback to this set IMO.

 

On my wife's first helmet I had the mic too low in the chin bar and it picked up some wind noise. A chin curtain didn't help much. When she upgraded last year I put it higher in the bar and now it's very quiet.

 

As saddlebum said, you want it at the corner of the mouth. If you put it straight forward you'll introduce pops and rumbles from the air coming out your mouth when you talk.