After a little research, I bought this helmet:
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/IMG_0109.jpg)
It's a Vega V-Tune Bluetooth (A2DP) helmet (http://www.vegahelmet.com/v-tune.html)
I had used a Scala Rider, and I find this to be superior as it doesn't require clamping a Bluetooth unit onto the side of my helmet and fussing with the wiring.
Pros:
1) The interior is plush and the helmet fits my oval head well;
2) The Bluetooth works great and paired with my iPhone 3G easily (iPhone 3.0 software supports A2DP Bluetooth) and is in stereo;
3) Music lyrics can be heard at 90+mph, but outside noise can still be heard as well;
4) Helmet is aerodynamic, is light (ca. 1500 g = 3.3 lbs.) and is DOT/ECE2205 approved;
5) Buttons were easily found with winter gloves:
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/IMG_0110.jpg)
6) It has an internal sun visor - an accessory that I have on a few other helmets and I really like;
7) I'm not big on talking on the phone while riding, but I did try it for the sake of a review ;) One push of the multifunction button and a few seconds later I had a nice clear phone conversation; after hangup, the music returns;
8) Great price: MSRP = $229.
Cons:
1) The internal visor is optically imperfect, but IMO not enough to be distracting;
NOTE: If you remove the plastic film, it works a lot better. :P
2) The "forward" and "reverse" buttons do not function (with my iPhone). I knew this before I purchased, and it's not a big deal. I will contact Vega to see if they have a fix for it;
3) The internal visor lever is a bit sticky.
I should mention that there are a few other Bluetooth helmets available: Nolan N-Com, Dainese Airstream, V-CAN (two models), O'Neal Element, and Airoh Cezannee (unavailable in the USA). At least one of these (V-CAN) does not support A2DP and gives mono sound.
Wow - great bargain [thumbsup]
The iPhone's A2DP support will not, in fact, support remote track changing. It is not a limitation of the helmet maker, but of the kind of A2DP implementation made by Apple. The helmet manufacturer won't be able to do anything about it.
That said, it sounds cool enough as is. I may have to try it out, as I've tried the Parrot and had only nominal success with it and iPhone 3GS. Where do you have the device, physically, when you ride? Even with other bluetooth solutions (namely: the Parrot headset), I've experienced lots of skipping.
Cool and good price. It needs another control mechanism - tongue, maybe... So you can keep your hands on the handlebars.
Could you post a pic with the internal visor down? I have a Caberg with internal visor that I have been very spolied by (love it) but am looking for a replacement....looks like a great deal!
Quote from: Wonked on January 05, 2010, 07:03:57 AM
The iPhone's A2DP support will not, in fact, support remote track changing. It is not a limitation of the helmet maker, but of the kind of A2DP implementation made by Apple. The helmet manufacturer won't be able to do anything about it.
That said, it sounds cool enough as is. I may have to try it out, as I've tried the Parrot and had only nominal success with it and iPhone 3GS. Where do you have the device, physically, when you ride? Even with other bluetooth solutions (namely: the Parrot headset), I've experienced lots of skipping.
Thanks for the info! I've had my phone in my pocket and in my jacket pocket.
Quote from: Dietrich on January 05, 2010, 10:42:07 AM
Could you post a pic with the internal visor down? I have a Caberg with internal visor that I have been very spolied by (love it) but am looking for a replacement....looks like a great deal!
Sorry, cell pics:
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/IMG_0121.jpg)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d147/pompino/IMG_0122.jpg)
I tried out the Nolan N-Com at the MotoGP race in Indy last summer. Sound was crystal clear, was able to have a "helmet" to "helmet" conversation over 200 meters apart. Cool feature for keeping in contact with another rider. Unfortunately, price is a major issue. The N-Com unit is another $200+ on top of the purchase price of the helmet itself. Price on the Vega seems quite nice.
i had the dainese (an older version i think)..
did not work at all with any of the blue tooth products i owned at the time.
but i bought it for the color scheme...didnt even know it had bluetooth until i was checking out the manual.
What's the noise like for the person you're talking to via blue tooth while riding?
Quote from: Monster Dave on April 05, 2010, 12:33:29 PM
What's the noise like for the person you're talking to via blue tooth while riding?
I've not yet used it for helmet to helmet communication.
I can say that at speeds over 65 mph (for which I wear earplugs), I cannot hear clearly what is spoken in a phone call. Below that, and with earplugs I can hear fine.