Best motorcycle intercoms as chosen by MCN | Keep your group ride connected or yourself entertained

Motorcycle intercoms tend to divide opinion: while some motorcyclists prefer the silence and solitude of riding – in fact, that’s the draw for many – some swing the other way and like to be connected to their smartphones to make and take calls and listen to music.

Great Amazon deals on intercoms:

• 27% off Sena 10S Single – was £219.00, now £159.65
• 19% off Sena 10R Low Profile Single – was £185.01, now £149.49
• 10% off Cardo Freecom 2X Single – was £199.68, now £179.99

Even if you find all that distracting, you can use them to hear sat nav directions or speak with their pillion or other riders in the group.

Generally comprising a pair of speakers, a microphone, a brain and a battery, these effectively replicate a wireless headset for phones and operate on Bluetooth, so you can also control your phone directly from the intercom. Most also allow for voice control to make operation safer while on the go, and they can also trigger your device’s voice control as well.

Latest: Cardo Packtalk Pro review

Intercoms can either be universal or integrated fit; they are either designed to fit any helmet and generally sit a control unit outside the shell, or they can be integrated, designed specifically for one or two helmets and fit inside the lid in custom-made apertures. Which you choose is down to you and how often you change your helmet or how many you use. We’ve tried numerous intercoms, and these are what we reckon are the top ones.

Other intercom deals and offers:.

• Over 20% off Cardo Spirit Bluetooth Intercom Duo – save £41.95: was £182.95, now £141
• Over 30% off SENA 30K Bluetooth Headset & Intercom Single – save £85.00: was £269.99, now £184.99
• Over 15% off Cardo Packtalk Edge Mesh Intercom Single – save £66.96: was £356.95, now £289.99

The best motorcycle intercoms at a glance:

• Cardo Packtalk Edge Mesh – view on sportsbikeshop.co.uk
• Cardo Freecom 4x – view on sportsbikeshop.co.uk
• Sena 50R – view on sportsbikeshop.co.uk

Best motorcycle intercoms:

Sena intercom remote control

Intercoms we’re yet to test

The rise of the motorcycle intercom

Intercoms have seen a big surge in popularity in recent years as the technology has become easier to use and increasing numbers of new bikes have included connectivity built into their dash. And since many bikers use PCP deals to keep themselves riding the latest bikes, more and more riders can take advantage of the tech.

It’s also become far more commonplace to use wireless headphones, tech that used to be prohibitively expensive but can now be bought for little more than a tenner at the budget end or come as part of your finance agreement on a new smartphone. That means people are generally more willing to embrace wireless connectivity tech and are used to the idea of being connected to their phone at all times.

It’s also easier than ever before to connect multiple headsets together thanks to Mesh systems that often work across brands (Sena and Cardo can now be connected at the push of a button) meaning you can stay in touch with your mates or pillion on the move without faffing around for an hour to make the tech work.

How do motorcycle intercoms work?

Intercoms will generally connect to phones and sat navs via Bluetooth and also to other intercoms. For speaking to pillions, this is fine and generally, for close groups, it’s OK too.

Bluetooth intercoms have a range of 1-1.5 miles quoted usually, depending on the antenna and can handle conversations with multiple riders. Though, for greater numbers or ranges, MESH technology can be useful.

This is an automatic system that seamlessly pairs and remembers groups of rides so that, should one become disconnected from the group, they will automatically reconnect when they come back in range.

If you want advice on how to install a motorcycle intercom, check out our guide.

How MCN tests intercoms

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our jackets to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

To find out if an intercom is worth spending your money on, our testers use them in the way you will. That means listening to music, making and taking phone calls, using the app and everything else it’s capable of.

If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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What our star ratings mean

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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