Most of us are used to the old “tap and hand gestures” method of communicating between rider and passenger. Some have even gone so far as to work out a Morse Code-type system for common needs; one tap = thirsty, two taps = bathroom, one smack on the helmet = slow down!!! Sure there’s rider to passenger intercoms on the market but $700+ dollars for a pair of, what are essentially walkie-talkies strapped to your helmet, is too rich for many budgets.
Enter Bluetooth technology and Cardo Systems, Inc. with their Scala Rider Q2 MultiSet. Now the Scala Rider series has been out for awhile now but the Q2 is the latest version, utilizing the latest Bluetooth 2.0 technology. For around $500 you get two helmet to helmet intercoms that have the following functions: helmet to helmet communications, FM radio reception, Mp3 connectivity via a cable, and Bluetooth connectivity to both cell phones and compatible GPS devices. That sounded like a lot of ability to stuff into such a small package so we were definitely curious to see how well all that worked. First, before we get into how everything works, let’s talk about what you get for your money. The Scala Rider Q2 MultiSet comes with two helmet mounted control units, and two of everything else you’ll need as well. The control units are small and easy to slip on and off your helmet; they even come with their own belt pouch for those times when you park and leave your helmet on the bike. Installing the microphone base onto your helmet can be done two different ways; 1) via a clamp that is tightened by two screws; 2) via a sticky pad. We chose the clamp method and once we sorted out where we wanted the noise cancelling microphone to be positioned, tightening everything down only took a few minutes per helmet. Installing the speakers was a little more of a challenge since we had to route the wires under the liner, but even that only took a few minutes more.
The control unit’s buttons, while not large in size, are designed to be easy to use while wearing gloves and riding. There are two buttons on the rear of the unit that double as both volume and radio frequency scanning buttons depending on the mode selected. There is the master button that controls the on/off function and has a bright, multicolored LED. The last button is the mode button which allows you to switch between two other Scala headsets (primary and secondary buddies) and in to, and out of, the FM mode. The Scala Rider Q2 also offers both AGC technology (automatic volume control based on ambient noise) and full duplex so that both parties can talk at the same time; this way your off-bike arguments with your wife at the gas station concerning you not knowing where you are going and refusing to ask for directions, don’t have to stop when you get back on the bike and start moving again.
First thing I decided to try was the Bluetooth hook-up to my cell phone. I hate having my cell phone in my pocket when riding because if it rings it drives me nuts until I stop and either answer it or call the person back. Having the ability to connect to the Scala Rider Q2 headset would alleviate that problem………except…..no one called me while I was out riding all Bluetoothed-up and able to answer the phone. Hmm……might need to go to plan B (after I actually came-up with a plan B of course). If your Bluetooth enabled phone allows voice dialing (“MOM”…….”did you say TOM?”......”no, MOM”,….. “did you say BOB?”.....”no, M-O-M”,……”did you say PHIL’S PIZZA?”....”oh for the love of God I’ll just dial the number”……..”calling MOM”……”good grief”) then the Scala Q2 will allow you to do that while on the move; unfortunately my phone doesn’t have that feature so I had to actually stop, dial my friends phone and then start riding after he answered. “How do I sound”, I asked. “Like you’re talking to me while riding your motorcycle and wearing a Bluetooth headset”, he replied. “Well that’s good because I was worried it might sound like I was calling you while snorkeling or something”, was my witty reply. I could hear him just fine and he could hear me just fine so I called the “Phone Test” a success. If a call comes in while you are riding you will hear your ringtone through the stereo speakers and can choose to remain silent and ignore the call or answer it by saying something loudly into the microphone. At least that is what Cardo says you are supposed to be able to do; however, on the set we received I found that I needed to blow air (like I was spitting out a sunflower seed) into the mike to get it to activate for either answering the phone call or initiating a two-way helmet to helmet conversation. No big deal. BTW, if you stop at a red light in traffic while talking on the phone (especially with a tinted visor) be prepared for some odd looks from the people in cars with their windows down next to you. Next up was the crucial helmet to helmet communication test. If you buy the Q2 MultiSet both helmet units will come from Cardo already synced-up to each other which makes it simple to start talking; just install both headsets in two different helmets, turn them both on and start talking. Voila, instant communication at distances of up to 1,640 feet (manufacturer’s claim).
I was personally interested in how the system would work as a rider to passenger intercom more than bike to bike as that is how I see most riders using the system. After hooking-up the second unit to my wife’s helmet we were off to see how this would work. The first thing I asked, of course, was “can you hear me now?” To which she replied, “of course I’m standing right in front of you in the house”. Right then, they passed the “in the house in a quiet environment” test. Next up was the actual crucible of talking to each other while riding down the road at 50+ mph. “Hello”, I asked after blowing into the mike to open a “line”. “Yes?” was the reply; did I mention that my wife is not a talkative person? After coaxing her into actually having a conversation we both agreed that the headsets work well as an intercom between rider and passenger. Then came the “FM Radio” test. This test was less than successful as no matter where I tried to get reception the only two stations I got were the Christian station and one of the Country stations (88.3 and 92.3 on the dial respectively). Since the Scala Q2 headset has a FM range of 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz and we have a lot of stations higher on the dial, I’m not sure why the system won’t pick them up. Even though the headset does a good job of amplifying the volume on the FM bands loud enough to be heard even at 75mph while wearing earplugs, since I’m not a fan of either Christian music or Country music, I have to label this test as a failure.
Last thing I tested is the ability to hook-up your Mp3 player via a coiled cable to the Scala Rider Q2 headset. While the built in volume control works on all functions that are run by the Scala headset, the Mp3 player plugs into the base unit and cannot be controlled via the Scala Rider Q2’s volume buttons. Also, the helmet mounted speakers, while sounding fine when used with the cell phone, intercom, and FM radio functions, sound tinny and cheap when piping in music from your Mp3 player. The fact that my IPod didn’t have enough juice to punch the music volume high enough to overcome the ambient wind noise and the earplugs I was wearing, combined with the tinny sounding speakers when I could hear something, forces me to label this test as a failure as well.
We were unable to test the unit synced-up with a Bluetooth enabled GPS device, but I would assume that it would work as well as the cell phone test. We will update this if, at any time in the future, we are able to test this function.
So is the Scala Rider Q2 MultiSet worth the money? Depends on what you want to use it for I guess. If your main goal is to listen to music (either FM or through your Mp3) and the other things are just nice to have in case, then I would advise you to buy a set of earbuds (maybe these) as you’ll be much happier. If, however, you are looking for a good Bluetooth unit that can be used for talking rider to rider with an acceptable range, rider to passenger, rider to your cousin Joe on the phone, or to get directions from the British chick hiding in your GPS unit, then yes the Scala Rider Q2 is easily worth the money.
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