For general discussion on helmet intercom.

This helmet intercom thing seems to be quite difficult to get a perfect one, and they don't really tell the whole truth with their marketing materials. Most designed in a way to get people to buy only their own brand, causing so much saturation in functionalities to a point it's becoming annoying.

Features I think an intercom should have:
1. Basic feature, act as bluetooth headset for your phone in solo ride.
2. Link with pillion to chat
3. Link with pillion and other riders to chat, regardless of brand.
4. Mix in Waze or Google map navigation voice during intercom


What I noticed:
1. Cheaper intercoms will not mix in navigation voice when using intercom mode.
2. Most intercoms especially mid range ones refused to link with other brands.
3. Even when able to link with other brands (with link request triggered by other brand), it will become 1:1 and unable to do group chat.


I haven't got chance to try out Sena and Cardo in pair and link to other brand.
Example: Cardo1 - Cardo2 - OtherBrand1, and all 3 can talk at the same time.

Any sifu can share experience of using your helmet intercom, solo, in two person group, and larger 3 - 5 person group?

Good sharing.

You started off with a bad experience, quite an expensive one too.
Mono headset is never good in a noisy surrounding.

Shops are pushing Cardo Packtalk as the "solve all" solution because
- it's expensive, how wrong can it be if it's expensive and quire well known
- it's amplifier is louder, hence able to "hear" in strong wind noise (consider hearing damage long term)
- it has an app

Care to share those you think are "lapsap" brand from shopee?

Here's my findings from paying plenty education fees.


If you can accept the following:
- Solo use able to stream voice / calls / navigation / songs from phone
- Intercom mode with 2 or more, navigation voice won't mix in so you don't get navigation voice alert, need to look at phone to remind self.
- Able to connect to any brand's intercom
- No "hey siri" "ok google" voice assistant. (won't work properly at speed > 80km/h anyway)

Take a good look at Maxto M2C, around RM200+.
I was using M2 before they launch newer M2C with Bluetooth 5.1.
Volume level is good, maybe 80% of Cardo.
Simple and just work.

Best part, I was able to link M2-M2-Vimoto V8 and have a nice group chat of 3 riders.
Whereas V8 - V8 - M2 fails, it became V8

Another brand is Hysnox HY-02.
Bought a pair to test. It supports Hey Siri / Ok Google voice assistant, also connects to any other intercom
Haven't tested H-H-others yet.
But on outset, the buttons are more complex to remember / operate.


If solo ride is mostly your cuppa, then pay double price of Maxto around RM500-600 for Vimoto V9S.
At this price range, you start to have an app.
Remember these things don't have a screen, so have an app to "set up" is quite useful.
It's loud like Cardo, but refuses to connect to non Vimoto brand.
However, you can trigger connection from M2 to Vimoto and they will connect.
If pairing is triggered from Vimoto, it won't connect to other brand.
This one solves the sound mixing problem, you can hear navigation etc while using intercom.
Also tested V9S-V9S-M2 ...
ends up all 3 are connected in intercom mode but the middle V9S will not route intercom to the other V9S, so only V9S-M2 can talk, not all 3.
Another caveat is, this one is only in Chinese prompt, no English.


If you can afford and wants to feel good spending money, go straight for Cardo Packtalk cost 2x more than V9S.


Most important factor of helmet bluetooth is quietness of your helmet

Freedconn is good on paper, but
- Does not connect to other brand.
- When connected by other brand, intercom becomes 2 person only FreedConn-Other, can't loop in other Freedconn.
- Supports voice assistant on TMax
- Volume lower than Maxto, would say around 70% of maxto. if helmet noisy, you tend to max out the volume and still struggle to hear
- TMax dial is very badly designed, easily gets turned on by accident.


No, I didn't read internet review to tell you the above.
I bought 3 x TMax and 2 x TCom to test.

TCom has better physical design, small and slim.

But I won't recommend Freedconn lah.

So, gonna buy?

Ok, if use solo and never intercom, get any bluetooth headset with stereo speakers should do, and make sure your helmet is quiet enough

Again, Freedconn not as loud as Maxto, and Maxto sound quality also better.

Disclaimer:
Bought, owned and gave away:
2 x Freedconn TCom
3 x Freedconn TMax
2 x Hysnox HY-02
2 x Maxto M2 (still keeping a 3rd unit for testing)

... not listing other brands / models owned before for testing purposes....

Haven't tested the M3 with video, or any other models with video.
DareDevil's reply from his experience should gave you enough detail.

Yes, M2 is pretty good for it's price point.
I assume M3 is similar in firmware ie. able to connect to any intercom.
Only downside is, not support voice assistant.




Yep, group of 2-3 is good. Anything more, even with other budget brand, it's not stable.
This is where Cardo packtalk and Sena shines with their mesh connection.

TCOM does not have separate charging port.

TMax, Maxto all has. In short, newer ones all will have.

The only funny one might be TMax's charging port. It's micro USB but long type.

First time this brand crosses me.

May I know if this unit is able to mix in navigation alert when you are using intercom mode with other riders?

Ok, sounds like you have not tried running it in intercom mode, then try to navigate using waze / google map at the same time.

After looking it up, this B4FM seems like product of the same ODM for Maxto, Freedconn and other budget brands.



All I know is, when they (not just Cardo) connect to same brand for intercom, they use a specific frequency or bluetooth profile. When other brand being added, it uses a headset profile and this type of connection somehow has limit on range. I think it's mentioned in my Cardo's or Sena's manual, can't remember which one. I didn't get a pair of Cardo / Sena to test due to price. Just got one each. Sold them away 'cos many friends want the brand

Surprisingly, the M2 is my favourite of the lot I had bought and tested (includes Vimoto, Cardo and Sena)

At it's price point, now RM200+, it simply is worth the money.

If battery konk? Buy a new one loh... Cardo and Sena claims to offer battery replacement (which I had seen many returning to shop for repair / claim), at a price. This M2, just ditch and buy new.

Only down side during intercom, which I am still bitching about, no navigation alert from your Waze or Google map.

I have 3 of these "kits"

These connects to Maxto M2, but not Freedconn.

If all intercom is friendly to bluetooth walkie talkie, it really solves a lot of compatibility issue.

I don't have your problem, because unker me don't speed, only 80-100km/h nia..

I still believe a permanently mounted front / rear "dash cam" on bike for recording is best for the intention of recording unwanted moments and not for socmed postings.

At least the cams are powered by bike and not by battery that runs out if you are going on a long ride.

Not so sharp is ok, but are you able to capture number plates at night?
This is more important

It's more like capturing the "final moments" of those farker hitting you, with you head / tail lamp shining on their plate if scenario allows.

Haven't seen people offering to fix intercom.
This might need some DIY enthusiast to figure out.

Otherwise, might be better to get a new one.

Want to hear intercom at high speed, the safest solution for your hearing health is ear bud.

you don't need to crank the volume to dangerously high DB (with bigger speaker etc) when you use in-ear ear-bud.

In-ear ear bud also cut out nasty high frequency noises.

I got a 3.5mm adapter for my Vimoto to hook up ear bud while using mic we installed in helmet.

This is the bitch with intercom. Proprietary.

I am looking at walkie talkie with Bluetooth, and a separate PTT button to mount on handlebar.
Use it with any intercom that can mix audio from multiple sources (e.g. Vimoto, Cardo, Sena)

Then we are no longer bound by need to have same brand of intercom to talk to each other, except with pillion, still prefer same brand so no need PTT.

I have 3 sets of these adapters on my shelf.
The enclosed earpiece is shit. Throw it away. Can't work properly in normal condition, not to mention under helmet.

Too troublesome to pair this pair that.

The bluetooth walkie talkie I am eyeing is this, price came down from RMB900 to below RMB500 now.
Can search for model UV78 and new model UV79



This post has been edited by WH4CockcooBird: Jan 21 2025, 06:41 PM