Get yourself connected: Best Bluetooth motorcycle helmets

While some riders despise the concept of being connected to the outside world, Bluetooth motorcycle helmets are the perfect solution for those who do. Whether it’s to hear sat-nav instructions, listen to music, take important calls or communicate with those around them, connectivity is a key part of the riding experience.

If you want to talk to other riders – if you’re on a ride with a group, for example – then you can also often connect using longer-range Bluetooth or MESH technology, which automatically connects you when you come within range.

And there are lots of universal-fit intercom systems around from a variety of manufacturers – known and respected as well as less well-known and with varying degrees of functionality.

However, one thing that universal intercoms have is something on the outside of the helmet to control them. This can range from a simple button panel to the full intercom unit itself.

While this means they will fit any helmet, they are visible and can generate wind noise in their own right.

However, some manufacturers have sought to alleviate this by working with intercom manufacturers to develop integrated systems that are designed specifically for one helmet, to fit within the helmet and work seamlessly with it, without the need to cumbersome external control panels, boxes and so on.

And while this means that the intercom will only work with one helmet, if you love your helmet and want to keep it for a while (no longer than five years, remember) then it will work seamlessly through the lid’s life (and potentially, for its replacement too).

Here is a selection of integrated intercom solutions for creating Bluetooth helmets.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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