Helmet attachments such as cameras and Bluetooth devices do not increase the risk of head or neck injury to the rider in a crash, according to a NSW Transport road safety report.
As these devices have increased in popularity in recent years, several riders in several states of Australia have been fined for using them.
That is despite changes to the Australian Road Rules (ARR) in 2015 that permitted their use.
It took several years before all states and territories except Victoria endorsed the rules.
It was never an issue in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory or Queensland where a former Police Minister actually encouraged helmet camera use for evidential reasons.
However, there was still a concern that helmet attachments might cause the rider’s head to be rotated in a crash causing neck injuries.
The NSW Centre for Road Safety did some “oblique impact testing” at Crashlab several years ago on the effect of helmet attachments and was scheduled to release their report last year.
It has only now released their study which shows there is no injury issue:
The [test] results revealed that attaching a camera or communication device to a motorcycle helmet does not, on average, increase the risk of head or neck injury to the person wearing the helmet, in a crash.
The findings of the study informed changes to Transport for NSW policy, which now allow motorcycle riders to attach aftermarket camera and communication devices, provided they do so properly and following manufacturers’ instructions.
Police have been using helmet cameras for years, so why were they not legal for civvies?
This follows studies more than five years ago by the BBC and UK Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) who performed impact tests on climbing helmets with cameras attached and found they didn’t increase the risk in a crash.
They said their test results transferred to other types of helmets, such as motorcycles.
“Cameras on helmets uniquely capture the rider’s perspective; other devices such as Bluetooth intercom systems provide a safe means of communication with pillions and other riders,” they say.
However, there could be an issue with how the device is attached to the helmet.
Riders must comply with the manufacturer requirements. That means you can’t drill holes in the helmet or use glue or other adhesives that are not recommended.
The only amendment to the ARR was the inclusion of a reference to a helmet being in good repair and proper working order and condition.
Bulky external Bluetooth intercom systems not only cause wind noise issues, but look unsightly and could even be an issue with head rotation in a crash.
Bluetooth motorcycle helmet intercom giant Sena has come up with two solution options that eliminate those bulky external modules.
While the Universal has a very small controller that sticks on the outside of the helmet making it suitable for all helmets, the Boom has the controls on the boom microphone, so it’s only really suitable for open-face helmets or modular helmets when the chin guard is in the up position.
I tested the Boom model and found it so quick and easy to install I am able to swap it in seconds from one open face helmet to another.
The lightweight 55g unit simply velcros into the helmet and the wires tuck behind the liner. It includes a USB charging socket on a cable which you can discretely tuck under the liner.
The only issue I had was that the boom mic is a bit heavy and sometimes droops because the velcro backs of the speakers won’t stick very well to the helmet liner.
The boom has only two controls with plus and minus signs on them. Yet they control power on and off, pairing, tracks up and down, volume and all phone functions.
It sounds easy, but you have to remember how to use them as some functions require using both buttons and others just the one, but tapping it or holding it down for a certain period. It takes a little while, but you soon get used to it.
While the mic features Sena’s noise control system, it was impossible to have phone conversations when riding over about 80km/h with an open-face helmet.
That’s not because of the wind noise in the mic, but because the speaker volume is not high enough. You also tend to shout at that speed to hear yourself over the wind noise, causing the person on the other end of the phone to ask you to stop shouting!
It’s ok for around town and is fine if you don’t wear filtered earplugs. However, IU always wear filtered plugs so phone calls and music over 80km/h are out of the question.
Sena claims up to eight hours of talk time on a single charge and seven days of standby time. I can confirm the latter, but not the former. Who talks for that long!
However, I was able to listen to music all day and take a couple of calls without the battery going flat.
I suspect the 3S PLUS Universal would also have the same volume level issue in open-face helmets.
Both claim two-way HD intercom at a range of 400m, so long as there aren’t major obstructions such as buildings.
Bluetooth motorcycle helmet intercom giant Sena has added two new headsets that eliminate the bulky external modules and are ideal for sleek open-face helmets.
Sena Australia spokesperson Tracey Pola estimates their first shipment will arrive in May 2021, “all going well with ocean freight”.
Pricing will be available closer to launch, but they are currently available online at $US99 each.
Bulky external headset modules may be ok for full-face helmets, but they look ugly on open-face helmets.
There has also been some concern, but no conclusive proof, that external modules may affect the rotation of a motorcyclist’s neck in the event of a crash.
Now Sena has sorted the issue with these two new intercoms.
The 3S PLUS Boom features a sleek and lightweight (55g) design with two big and convenient buttons on the boom microphone.
No more reaching around the side of your helmet to access the controls.
Its unified speaker construction makes the 3S Plus easy to install in any jet, open-face or modular helmet.
The lightweight (48g) 3S PLUS Universal will fit any helmet, but has a minimalist external control that won’t affectwind noise, drag or head rotation.
It has two big buttons for ease of use.
To assure the best fit, the 3S PLUS Universal comes with two wired microphone extensions, a standard and boom microphone.
Both allow for clear, two-way HD intercom at a range of 400m.
They come wth Sena’s Advanced Noise Control to filter out wind and background noise in the microphone.
Sena 3S PLUS headsets also support smartphone connectivity so you can hear GPS directions from your phone, take phone calls or listen to music.
Sena has released its first modular helmet with built-in intercom, but Australians will have to wait for the Outrush as it has still not been Euro-approved for sale here.
At the moment it is only DOT approved for North American markets.
There is no announcement yet on how long Aussie and European riders will have to wait or how much it will cost.
The biggest problem with many Bluetooth helmet intercoms is the poor quality of sound, but the new Sena 50R and 50S raise the bar on sound quality to a new level.
I’ve reviewed many intercom systems over the years and my go-to unit has been the Sena 20S for reliability and quality.
But my new favourite is the 50R slimline model that Sena Australiasent to me for review.
Sena 50R
Sena’s new 50 series consists of the 50R and 50S which cost $545 in a single pack or $965 for a dual pack.
The main difference between the Sena 50R and 50S is that the R is slimmer and has three buttons instead of the jog dial and has slightly shorter battery life.
Its slimline look is discrete and it probably reduces drag and wind noise, but I would be lying if I said I could discern any differences.
I thought I would miss the very convenient jog dial which has long been a feature of Sena models.
However, the 50S includes an automatic volume adjustment (or “Smart volume control”) that raises and lowers the volume as ambient sound changes.
In other words, it gets louder as you go faster and drops the level when you pull up at the lights so you aren’t blasted.
Consequently, I have never had to touch the volume buttons anyway.
The associated Sena 50 Utility app (available on Apple and Google Play) also allows you to quickly select whether you want this feature set to low, medium or high.
That means you can have subtle changes in volume or quite dramatic changes. I wouldn’t have thought this would be a significant feature, but it is.
The 50 Series will also connect to digital assistants such as Siri or Google using standard voice commands of ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Ok Google’.
So you can use that to control volume, tracks, make and receive calls, etc, so there is no need to ever touch the controls.
Sound quality
Another significant update is the slimmer and therefore more comfortable speakers with more bass and 7% more volume.
Not only are the speakers slimmer, but they are bevelled so they fit even in the tightest of helmets and don’t hurt your ears which is important on a long ride.
In fact, I didn’t even need to fit the supplied foam speaker covers.
Sound quality is also greatly improved.
Many helmet intercoms sound fine when you are stationary, but when you hit about 80km/h the bass is drowned out by the wind noise.
However, these still have a full and rounded sound with plenty of bass, even at highway speeds.
They are also louder.
Now Sena don’t want to deafen riders, but they acknowledge that many riders use filtered earplugs with their intercoms.
I use the Alpine MotoSafe which filter out harmful wind noise, but allow you to still hear important sounds such as sirens, screeching braes, car horns and, of course, your music, albeit at a slightly reduce volume.
However, this can be difficult when you’re out on the road unless you have your laptop with you.
The 50 series now comes with wifi capability allowing you to automatically download firmware updates with the special charging cable.
Just plug in the wifi charger and connect to a nearby wifi source such as your phone’s hotspot.
Wifi charger
Mesh
Mesh is an intercom software system that allows multiple riders to connect even when some riders are out of line of sight.
It’s not a system I use much, but for group rides it is very convenient and is a vital safety feature. (In fact, on one occasion, a rider behind me yelped and I knew straight away he had gone down even though I couldn’t see him.)
Critics say the Mesh software is unreliable, but Sena claim the flaws have been fixed.
I haven’t found any difficulties at all. In fact, there is less “crackling” interference from surrounding obstacles such as blind corners, trees, buildings, trucks, etc.
Sena says the intercom range s up to 2km in open terrain, which is about right by my tests.
I haven’t tested its full capacities with a “virtually limitless” number of riders in Open Mesh and 24 riders in Group Mesh intercom. (I don’t have that many friends!)
However, I have no reason to disbelieve Sena’s claims that Mesh extends range up to 8km (5miles) between a minimum of six riders.
Sena 50R tech specs
Price: $545 (single pack), $965 (dual pack)
Warranty: Two (2) year from date of purchase on manufacturers defects
Dimensions: 97mm x 48mm x 27 mm (3.8in x 1.8in x 1.0in)
Speakers: 40mm diameter, 7.2mm thick
Weight: 65g (2.29 oz)
Operating temperature: -10°C to 55°C (14°F – 131°F)
Bluetooth: 5.0
Working distance: up to 2 km (1.2 miles) in open terrain; Mesh extends up to 8km (5miles) between a minimum of 6 riders
Bluetooth Intercom: 4 riders
Open Mesh Intercom: virtually limitless (9 channels)
Group Mesh Intercom: 24 riders
Microphone Noise Cancellation: Advanced Noise Control
If it meant pandemic travel restrictions could be eased, would you download the Federal Government’s coming TraceTogether coronavirus tracking phone app?
We want your opinion, so please take part in our poll at the end of this article. Results will be released next week.
The TraceTogether opt-in app is expected to be rolled out in the next two weeks.
It uses GPS tracking and Bluetooth technology to record contact with people, even if you do not know them.
The app would identify and trace people who tested positive for coronavirus and alert people who spent more than 15 minutes in close proximity to an infected person.
Other details are not yet available on the app, but some apps overseas alert people when they are entering a coronavirus hotspot.
The app requires a 40% take-up rate to be effective. It will be similar to the TraceTogether app used in Singapore (below) where the take-up rate has only been 20%.
So we don’t expect we would have a higher take-up rate than Singapore where the app has anonymous ID.
If the government wants 40% of Australians to download the app, then they should consider offering inducements.
They could include the freeing-up of travel restrictions.
If that’s the case, we would like to see motorcyclists allowed to ride solo for leisure, so long as they observe other rules such as social distancing, personal hygiene, staying within state borders and no overnight trips.
If the authorities were worried about too many app users heading out for a ride, fishing, surfing, etc, maybe they could send out an alert to a certain percentage of users on particular days saying they are allowed out.
Then, if they were intercepted by police, they would have proof that they are legally allowed out of home detention.
Some European countries have a similar system to restrict travel into the CBD during peak hours based on the last number in their number plate.
The RoadOne controller replaces messy multiple switches to operate electrical accessories such as chargers, heated grips and seat, dash cams and auxiliary lights.
It allows riders to switch these devices on and off with the wave of a hand and a voice command.
Prices start at $A225 for the controller and phone charger or $A127 for funding supporters.
You can also buy packs that include their dashcam, lights and various warmers, or buy them separately.
However, it appears the RoadOne will only work with their proprietary accessories, not accessories from other suppliers.
Plug&Play plan to go into production in August and deliver from October.
Be aware there are risks to crowd-funding campaigns and you may not get a full refund if the project does not go ahead.
Plug&Ride has a flexible goal of $42,450 and has collected about a quarter so far with about 50 days to go.
How it works
RoadOne is basically a Bluetooth controller centre on your handlebars that uses their phone app to recognise voice commands, so you will require a helmet intercom to operate it.
You simply plug all the devices into a centralised box under your seat that is connection to the battery.
The device won’t drain your battery if you forget to switch the devices off when you park your bike as the app has a proximity feature that switches the unit off when you walk away.
It reactivates when you return to your bike.
Plug&Play also hope to raise up to $A170,000 capital to fund extra accessories such as a handlebar remote control instead of the app, a GPS, a radio and an anti-theft device that recognises when the bike has been moved and tracks its location.
They’re also researching an emergency SMS alert that sends a location text to a specified contact in the event of a crash.
Harley-Davidson will return the Road Glide to its 2020 CVO range with a special Harley-branded Sena 30K Bluetooth unit that pairs to the BOOM! audio system.
The 2020 CVO Road Glide will cost $A55,995 ($NZ57,495) ride away which is $1000 more than the CVO Street Glide. It was last in the CVO Lineup in 2016 as a Road Glide Ultra with top box.
Indian’s Challenger will cost $A39,595-$A39,995, depending on colour, compared with the Harley Road Glide Special with 114-cube (1868cc) engine at $39,250.
KahunaCollection heated hand grips, shifter pegs, brake pedal cover, muffler end caps, rider and pillion boards;
Low-profile two-piece fuel tank console with lighted CVO logo;
Sand Dune monotone finish with pearl topcoat and subtle graphics highlighted by Smoked Satin Chrome, Gloss Black and Black Onyx finishes;
Screamin’ EagleHeavy Breather air cleaner in Gloss Black; and
Wheels finished in Gloss Black/Smoked Satin.
Sena Bluetooth
Harley-branded Sena 30K
The CVO Road Glide comes with a single Sena 30K Bluetooth helmet headset that pairs to the Boom! Box GTS infotainment system.
It features Sena’s Mesh IntercomNetwork that automatically connects to a “near-limitless number” of riders in “public mode” to eliminate lost connections when someone rides out of range.
The headset can also connect with up to 16 riders in private mode up to 8km.
It not only allows intercom, phone calls, navigation prompts, radio and audio, all with voice commands, but also includes Apple Carplay if the phone is plugged into the bike’s charger.
A Quick Charge feature can provide up to five hours of additional talk time with a 20-minute charge.
CVO 117
Like all 2020 CVOs, it is powered by Harley’s largest-displacement factory-installed engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine (1923cc) with 169Nm of torque.
Harley also now make the Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee Eight 131 Crate Engine which can be fitted to current CVO models.
131 Screamin’ Eagle crate motor
It features the same 114mm (4.5”) stroke as the 114 Milwaukee Eight, but has been bored out from 101mm (4”) to 109mm (4.31”).
Harley claims it makes 90kW (121hp) of power and 177Nm (131ft-lb) of torque when matched to the Screamin’ Eagle Street Cannon mufflers. It also requires an ECM calibration and Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner.
Instead of using Bluetooth to connect, it uses a data connection to a Discord app server.
While EyeRide promises virtually unlimited group chats with others on the same network including non-riders, it relies on an internet connection and will use up your phone data.
Eyeride HUD screen
Otherwise, EyeRide is like a standard Bluetooth intercom that supplies music, phone calls and GPS navigation prompts using Garmin HERE maps, but also has a small HUD screen for important information as in this video.
It is slightly transparent and on the right side, which may be fine in a country where you drive on the right.
We are not sure yet if it can be moved to the left for riding in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and other left-side countries as they haven’t released all the details yet.
The company plans to launch a Kickstarter shortly to get the product off the ground. (We will update with the link when it starts.)
We advise to be cautious of supporting Kickstarter programs as you may not get your money back if they don’t go ahead.
Given EyeLights already produce a car HUD system, they may be a little more secure than a normal speculative start-up.
HUD concerns
I haven’t used a HUD system yet in a helmet and can’t verify if it is a distraction or allows you to safely keep your eyes on the road.
However, I have driven several cars with HUD systems on the windscreen and found them extremely useful, safe and non-distracting.
Unfortunately, few of these aftermarket HUD systems or integrated HUD helmets have made it to market.
Infamously, Skully HUD helmets raised a record amount through crowd-funding then fraudulently spent it on fast cars and fast women and went bankrupt.
Meanwhile, the first aftermarket HUD company, NuViz, recently closed down, leaving owners stranded with no GPS function as their map licence expired, according to RideApart.
Nuviz HUD unit
Like all new technology, there will be bugs and it seems HUD has had more than its fair share over the past few years.
Sena has introduced the next generation of Bluetooth helmet intercoms with the new 50 series that includes wifi capability to efficiently charge and automatically download firmware updates.
That means there is no longer any need to plug it into your computer, just plug in the wifi charger and connect to a nearby wifi source such as your phone’s hotspot.
Wifi charger
We expected a 40 series would be next after the 10 and 20 series.
However, they have skipped ahead to the 50 series which includes the 50R and slimline 50S.
While the slimline model retains the easy-to-use “jog” dial, the 50R now comes with buttons.
Sena 50R
They claim charging time is 30% faster, but the 50S has a smaller battery so bluetooth talk time is limited to five hours or three hours on group chat.
However, in the US they will cost $US329 (about $A475) for the 50S and $US299 ($A430) for the 50R which is only slightly higher than the current 30 series.
More reliable series
Critics of the current models say the Mesh 2.0 software that is supposed to provide faultless group chat is unreliable.
Sena claim the flaws have been fixed and rather than “daisy-chaining” group connections, you can now join in a group of nine with one connection.
Apart from more reliable group chat, they also claim there is experience less interference from surrounding obstacles such as blind corners, trees, buildings, etc.
The other major update is 7% more volume.
Sena don’t want to deafen riders, but they acknowledge that many riders now use filtered earplugs such as the Alpine MotoSafe which filter out harmful wind noise, but also slightly reduce the volume from intercom units.
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Harley-branded Sena 30K
131 Screamin’ Eagle crate motor
Skully Fenix AR
Tali Connected and Livall HUD helmets
Nuviz HUD unit
Wifi charger
While the slimline model retains the easy-to-use “jog” dial, the 50R now comes with buttons.
Sena 50R