Member Recommendations For Electronic Gear

[Birdman]

Alright, one of you VFRDers probably configured the optimum collection of electronic gadgets to heighten ride enjoyment. Not to be confused with electronic gadgets you may enjoy while parked indoors. A reliable source told me Autocom makes the be$t product to orchestrate all your goodies. My research on the VFRD site suggested this, as well, but I could not find a thread dedicated to a collective solution. Mostly looking for the all-round best combination of dependability, value, and quality. I want good utility, whether heading out for a grocery run or a weeklong trip. :joystick:

My main objectives are to determine:

1. For starters, should one run a permanent install of their Autocom unit, or instead install a power outlet for flexibility/portability?

2. Best radar detector (or do you really need one at all?)

3. Best 2-way radios (in value and reception).

4. Best manner to connect mic & headset.

5. Other attachments - already own an Ipod, so perhaps an XM radio? :music:

6. I imagine most any cell phone or Blue Tooth will connect. Did I miss anything? Is there a max to how much you can load into the Autocom?

7. Heck, for that matter is the top-of-the-line Autocom much better than their other models or the models of other manufacturers?

I know that’s a load of questions. You can give a piecemeal endorsement, too, for members looking for individual recommendations. Give it your best shot, please. There’s tons of intellect on this site, right? :goofy:

Birdman

[mechdziner714]

I can only answer #2 for sure.... Its the Valentine1, pricey but its the best. It see all types of radar/laser and it even tells you which direction the radar is coming from. You can also send it back for firmware updates if necessary.

[gll429]

my sister is gonna be the top geek here..

this year she is getting VFR 500...and a $100,000 computer stuffed into a new hole on her head...........

i am going to call her BORG..and what remote control should i use on her.......

[Hobie1dog]

Your reliable source who told you that AutoComm was the only choice.........well, that can be his opinion only. There was a topic on Sport touring. Net recently and one guy responded back about how much static and reception problems he had as an AutoCom user. He switched to Baer Electronics who makes a similar designed unit and said it was "light-years" above the AutoCom. Baer has a website that you should go to and check out the testimonials first.

All kinds of electronics plug into the master unit they make and mixes it down for you. They make the microphone and speaker setup for the helmets too.

Valentine is hard to beat for radar detectors.

[Guest]

I run a Starcom currently on my FJR and am very happy with it. I have an Escort X-50 hooked up to it along with a Sirius X-act radio. As far as helmet mic and speakers are concerned, it depends alot on what type of helmet you are using (flip, full face, open face). I have Shoei RF-1000 and the mic is attached internally with the chin bar. I went out and bought a set of Koss headphones and took the guts out of them and mounted them in the helmet for better toonage. I don't think you can go wrong with either an Autocomm or a Starcomm....six of one half a dozen of another type of thing. The Starcom will accept a bluetooth phone and GPS if you have that also. Driver to passenger communication is definitely nice to have when needed. Hope this helps.

[Birdman]

Would like to learn more about Baer, but cannot seem to find any sort of link to their website. Autocom seems to have a pretty spotless reputation, but it comes at a price. If something of equal or better performance comes at a lower price, then by all means I'd like to consider it.

I own the RF-1000 helmet and would definitely like to hear more about the primo setup.

Birdman

[Guest]

my sister is gonna be the top geek here..

this year she is getting VFR 500...and a $100,000 computer stuffed into a new hole on her head...........

i am going to call her BORG..and what remote control should i use on her.......

is she getting a cochlear implant? coolest. things. ever.

[NorthernVFRDave]

5. Other attachments - already own an Ipod, so perhaps an XM radio?

Go with Sirius if your thinking about sat radio, I've had both and Sirius has much more then XM.

As for the blue tooth, anyone see a good headphone option for a helmet that is blue tooth? I've seen the Scala Rider onces but they look more for a cell phone, I just want a head set for the Sirius radio so I'm not pluged in to the bike. And its out of site if the coppers stop me

[Guest]

Would like to learn more about Baer, but cannot seem to find any sort of link to their website.

Its Baehr.... try here www.baehrusa.com

[BonusVFR]

My main objectives are to determine:

2. Best radar detector (or do you really need one at all?)

3. Best 2-way radios (in value and reception).

5. Other attachments - already own an Ipod, so perhaps an XM radio? :music:

6. I imagine most any cell phone or Blue Tooth will connect. Did I miss anything? Is there a max to how much you can load into the Autocom?

I know that’s a load of questions. You can give a piecemeal endorsement, too, for members looking for individual recommendations. Give it your best shot, please. There’s tons of intellect on this site, right? :goofy:

Birdman

#2 - I am holding out for the Escort 9500

#3 - Not sure the kind of FRS/GMRS radio is that important just make sure it is compatible with sound system/headset first. In the mountains extra power does not get you much extra range anyway. In other words find the headset/intercom/sound system you like then buy the two way radio that works with it. Not the other way around as there is no standard for a common interface input and output with FRS/GMRS radios. I have Audiovox, but am not enamored necessarily with that brand but it works.

My headset (IMC) will work direct with GPS, FRS or MP3 whichever I chose (it has a 3.5mm plug) but not all simultaneously unless I get a box . Right now, I do not have an intercom for the VFR and do not intend to get one as I will never ride this bike two up again.

#5/6 - Got a Zumo to handle GPS, MP3 and bluetooth phone. It also does sat radio if you like.

[Birdman]

The Baehr stuff looks good. Like everyone else, they nickel & dime you to death with adapters and connections. A friend of mine uses one for a lot of two-up riding and has no clue how to communicate with another bike. He complained a little about wind noise "interference," but thinks it has more to do with his headphone and mic arrangement than anything else.

Thanks, BonusVFR. You're in the lead for the top nerd trophy so far. Surely others can offer their stellar setup.

Birdman

[DougFromIndy]

What about these radar lasar jammers? Any geeks got one mounted? I hear they work very well, it detects but stops you from getting hit with a ticket possibly, are on ebay and cbr1100xx riders using them. Info? Thanks Doug

[BonusVFR]

The Baehr stuff looks good. Like everyone else, they nickel & dime you to death with adapters and connections. A friend of mine uses one for a lot of two-up riding and has no clue how to communicate with another bike. He complained a little about wind noise "interference," but thinks it has more to do with his headphone and mic arrangement than anything else.

Thanks, BonusVFR. You're in the lead for the top nerd trophy so far. Surely others can offer their stellar setup.

Birdman

This should drop me out of the lead in terms of my trophy worthiness.....................and why I don't worry about intercom on the VFR. My FRS works with this rig too except I add, FM, AM, intercom, MP3, BT cell, WB and GPS voice. Maybe add sat radio and CB toooooo!

Review of Zumo after next trip.

Sorry

[Birdman]

BonusVFR: do you have A/C and shiatsu massage on that bike? Sheesh, you're DQ'd...that ain't no VFR. :goofy:

[gll429]

my sister is gonna be the top geek here..

this year she is getting VFR 500...and a $100,000 computer stuffed into a new hole on her head...........

i am going to call her BORG..and what remote control should i use on her.......

is she getting a cochlear implant? coolest. things. ever.

yup!

wonder if she will be able to get sirus? :goofy:

[Veefer800Canuck]

Ping member WirelessWill.

[Birdman]

Calling WirelessWill...anybody home? Hellooooo......

Damn, that's not working. I will figure it out. He's wireless, afterall. :goofy:

Looks like some of you all run GPS's. Are these accurate and useful? I could use one in my car - you know, get a portable one to move around - so maybe one would come in handy for a trip out in the backwoods.

You guys aren't as nerdy as I thought.

[VFRiderGal]

Will is a GREAT resource! He has a great set up with a remote for his Ipod. :thumbsup:

I'm using the Chatterbox radios. Love em! I can communicate to my hubby while we're on each of our bikes, and they allow me to funnel in music quite easily. The unit is attached to the helmet and I have the speakers and microphone wired underneath the lining in my helmet. It does everything I need it to do and it's a clean installation. The reception is excellent and we can communicate a few miles apart from one another. We've had them for nearly 6 season's and they still work like new! (We replaced the batteries last year.)

Edit: I wanted to add that the setting for talking to activate the connection between unit's is quite sensitive. The wind noise has always affected mine and set it off. So, I leave it on the "push-to-talk" setting. This might change after I get the new touring windshield installed this spring. We'll see!

Regarding bluetooth, I have no interest for it on the bike. No offense, bu if I need to talk on the phone, I pull over. It upsets me when I see cagers talking away and not paying attention to all of "us" on the road. To me, that's just one additional distraction that I don't need when I'm on the bike. I'm there to "get in the zone" and clear my head, not chat on the phone.

[house]

Calling WirelessWill...anybody home? Hellooooo......

Damn, that's not working. I will figure it out. He's wireless, afterall. :blink:

Looks like some of you all run GPS's. Are these accurate and useful? I could use one in my car - you know, get a portable one to move around - so maybe one would come in handy for a trip out in the backwoods.

You guys aren't as nerdy as I thought.

I heard you I may not be the top nerd (or maybe i am ) but here goes...

1. on the autocomm... i looked into these, but most of the guys i ride with agreed and we ended up getting Scala riders. They are basically little bluetooth modules that attach to your lid. This enables us to talk to each other no matter how far apart we get using cellphones. Since we are all on Verizon, the calls are free. Also smaller that the chatterboxes and autocomms. They have a dual set that will let you talk bluetooth to your passenger (if you have one.) I think there is a way to use them headset to headset, but that would be limited to 30 feet, which is no good on multiple bikes. I also use the bluetooth with my old TomTom and new Garmin Zumo GPS units.

2. Currently, I have an Escort 8500, but will get the new 9500 when it comes out. The GPS anti-falsing feature is gonna be a pain to train at first, but I think it will be worth it. I had a Valentine back in the day, but didn't really see much improvement over the Escort models to justify the cost. I highly recommend a Visual Alert to go with your radar detector... it has saved my rear-end many times as I listen to an Ipod and never would have heard the radar. I velcroed mine to the top of the dector mount... which has velcro on the top anyway for the strap.

3. I use the bluetooth/cellphone for bike to bike, so I'm probably not the guy to ask

4. My Zumo does GPS, connects to my cellphone with bluetooth (for calls and phonebook), plays XM and MP3's... so I use it for everything. I added a 2GB SD card to the Zumo and loaded it up with music. I also have an IPOD that I keep in my jacket pocket for when I don't want to bother with the GPS. The Zumo has a cradle that all the wires connect to so all I have to do is lock the device in the cradle and ride.

5. XM is sweet, but I listen to MP3s more than anything else. XM traffic is really nice.

[BonusVFR]

BonusVFR: do you have A/C and shiatsu massage on that bike? Sheesh, you're DQ'd...that ain't no VFR. :blink:

I figured! :beer: Working on the AC but I was thinking of hooking in a portable frig.

One of the reasons why Santa delivered the Zumo was its relatively small profile which would work great on the my VFR too. The car mount is another plus. Will mount it on the center RAM ball on the tank. I needed voice directions and the MP3 player in a combo GPS package so I don't have to strap on/wire another gizmo to the bars/bag etc.

I have checked out my Zumo with earbuds, headset direct and tied to the Wings sound system and the vol/qualitiy is great regardless. :music: You don't need a separate intercom/sound system to run this and later if you add one you can integrate the Zumo into the package.

While I have had a few frights on the velocity front especially coming back from AZ, I figure I need the GPS more than the RD for now. But wait till the 9500!

[BonusVFR]

Will is a GREAT resource! He has a great set up with a remote for his Ipod. :thumbsup:

I'm using the Chatterbox radios. Love em! I can communicate to my hubby while we're on each of our bikes, and they allow me to funnel in music quite easily. The unit is attached to the helmet and I have the speakers and microphone wired underneath the lining in my helmet. It does everything I need it to do and it's a clean installation. The reception is excellent and we can communicate a few miles apart from one another. We've had them for nearly 6 season's and they still work like new! (We replaced the batteries last year.)

Edit: I wanted to add that the setting for talking to activate the connection between unit's is quite sensitive. The wind noise has always affected mine and set it off. So, I leave it on the "push-to-talk" setting. This might change after I get the new touring windshield installed this spring. We'll see!

Regarding bluetooth, I have no interest for it on the bike. No offense, bu if I need to talk on the phone, I pull over. It upsets me when I see cagers talking away and not paying attention to all of "us" on the road. To me, that's just one additional distraction that I don't need when I'm on the bike. I'm there to "get in the zone" and clear my head, not chat on the phone.

I am a big fan of FRS/GMRS radios for MC trips. They pretty much work all the time although they are a line of sight device and therefore you must be within a couple of miles or so of each other to work satisfactorily (high power will help in the wide open spaces but not in the MTs.)

I use Push to Talk on both the VFR and Wing. Big windshield does not help much. PTT is more reliable and transmissions don't cut off if you are stumbling on a word etc. Bigger windsock on your mike helps some to cut windnoise.

I changed my mind about cell phones a couple of weeks ago. I was following a R6 who went off the road in front of me. I saw a cloud and pulled over and was the first on scene. If I would have had bluetooth to my Zumo I would known right away if I had a cell. I did not. But I had to get all my gear off first to determine that. Later when some buddies arrived, I left the scene to call 911. But I took a guess at where I would have reception on the MT road. I had to get off the bike again, take the darn gear off again and try to find out. Despite this my call was the first 911 call on the incident. That 10 minutes could have cost ..............

The rider is going to be ok eventually (months and months of rehab) but I am now going to integrate my cell into my Zumo/BT for safety considerations not for jawing. I agree we don't need distractions and am often miffed at cage drivers who live for the cell.

[house]

Will is a GREAT resource! He has a great set up with a remote for his Ipod. :thumbsup:

Regarding bluetooth, I have no interest for it on the bike. No offense, bu if I need to talk on the phone, I pull over. It upsets me when I see cagers talking away and not paying attention to all of "us" on the road. To me, that's just one additional distraction that I don't need when I'm on the bike. I'm there to "get in the zone" and clear my head, not chat on the phone.

Thanks... missed your post earlier :rolleyes: As for the bluetooth, we usually use it to talk to each other... things like "is that a cop over there?" IF I answer my phone on the bike, it usually just long enough to say let me call you back... unless it's my wife, there's no getting off the phone quickly with her <_< Just ask Kevin, I ignore his calls all the time when I'm on the bike :unsure:

[Birdman]

:D

Great feedback, folks. Feel free to add to this thread. The more, the merrier. :blink:

One thing not yet addressed: Does anybody recommend installing a "cig lighter" outlet (or some other kind of quick connect) somewhere prominently near the guages? Seems this way you can plop everything in a tank bag, rather than leave it out there for little prying fingers.

Birdman

[Guest]

:D

Great feedback, folks. Feel free to add to this thread. The more, the merrier. :blink:

One thing not yet addressed: Does anybody recommend installing a "cig lighter" outlet (or some other kind of quick connect) somewhere prominently near the guages? Seems this way you can plop everything in a tank bag, rather than leave it out there for little prying fingers.

Birdman

Birdman,

Check POWERLET PRODUCTS if you are thinking about powering up a tank bag. They offer some pretty good options for doing so. You may also want to do a search on either the BMW forums or FJRforum.com for powered tank bags. I have seen a bunch of guys post pictures of their configurations and some of them are pretty trick. It certainly makes it easy to grab and take with you when you are off the bike.

[BonusVFR]

:D

Great feedback, folks. Feel free to add to this thread. The more, the merrier. :blink:

One thing not yet addressed: Does anybody recommend installing a "cig lighter" outlet (or some other kind of quick connect) somewhere prominently near the guages? Seems this way you can plop everything in a tank bag, rather than leave it out there for little prying fingers.

Birdman

Birdman,

Check POWERLET PRODUCTS if you are thinking about powering up a tank bag. They offer some pretty good options for doing so. You may also want to do a search on either the BMW forums or FJRforum.com for powered tank bags. I have seen a bunch of guys post pictures of their configurations and some of them are pretty trick. It certainly makes it easy to grab and take with you when you are off the bike.

This is a pic of the Powerlet kit for the VFR. But I want to put it on a relay next and perhaps power a tank bag as well.

You can also see the RAM ball at the front of the tank and of course my solar powered Dual Pane Navigation Technology system.