Oneal Helmet with Bluetooth

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I am too is interested to know if the speaker is loud enough that you can hear the caller while at speed while wearing ear plugs.I have Cardio scala2 and it's pretty much useless.
+1 here. That's my number one question to be answered before I cut the cord on my current setup. I have to boost my audio with an amp to hear music through my ear plugs so I'd need some significant volume.

Take it from this 46 yr old, you DON'T want to be riding even an hour without ear plugs. Once the ringing starts, it never goes away or gets easier to live with.
I don't even ride more than a mile without earplugs.

 
does it come in 3XL for us fat..er..irregularly shaped heads?

edit: damn. it doesn't. oh well.

I've been looking at this too. They are just now coming out, but I ordered this one today.

If the helmet 2 helmet, bike 2 bike AND phone & mp3 work like they say it will, I'm pumped! :yahoo:

I'll give a ride report after I get it sometime next week.

element-fastrack-helmet-blk-flat-bi.jpg


element-bluetooth-blinc.gif
 
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So it seems the Blinc system is showing up on different manufacturers helmets, is that correct? Does the one from Costco have two speakers? I don't believe that just because its profile is 1.2 it may have that feature.

 
I wish there were a way to not use the built in speakers but instead have a 3.5mm jack for connecting my noise isolating earbuds. If someone could come up with that then I think they'd really have something.

 
I totally agree with the prior post. I wear noise isolating earbuds on longer trips. I had two issues with built in speakers: 1. Because I always wear some form of ear protection, usually foam plugs, in-helmet speakers have to be turned way up to get adequate fidelity. I am not sure blasting music in a helmet is such a good idea. 2. Often the in-helmet speakers are so close to my ears that it hurts putting the helmet on and I get helmet squeeze. Maybe I have a fat head. Ideally, I want:

1. Bluetooth pilot to pillon;

2. The ability to use music earbuds, which, by the way, sound much better than in-helmet speakers;

3. The ability of the pillon to have the option of using helmet speakers or another set of music earbuds.

In short, no wires and the option to use music earbuds or not.

 
:angry: Ok, so my youthful enthusiasm may have gotten the better of me...again.

I like the O'Neal helmet, but I'm not real happy with the visor mechanism. It seems the ratchet is hard and when down I don't think it's sealing very well. I'm getting a small amount of air hitting me in the eyes at speed that I think is coming under the visor. I do have a tinted visor on order, but this may be result of a cheap helmet. I'll keep you posted.

The bluetooth is working great, and I answered my first call on the road today. I of course pulled over as soon as possible but the sound was great and the caller was able to hear me clearly.

try looking at the vemar juliano. I will be ordering one soon.
After you posted this, I looked at the Vemar Jiano Bluetooth extensively on a variety of sites. It's the first modular helmet that I like the look of.

jiano_glossy_black_997_detail.jpg


I think the best write up or description is here (also has a short video): clicky

At $500 it was more than I wanted to spend until I found it for $399. Suddenly it was more appealing, so I ordered one. :blink:

It looks like the Vemar is way better quality but when it gets here I'm going to compare the two closely.

Do any of you wise men or women have experience with the Vemar helmets?

So it seems the Blinc system is showing up on different manufacturers helmets, is that correct? Does the one from Costco have two speakers? I don't believe that just because its profile is 1.2 it may have that feature.
Not sure on the one from Costco, I know mine from O'Neal does have two speakers.

 
:angry: Ok, so my youthful enthusiasm may have gotten the better of me...again. I like the O'Neal helmet, but I'm not real happy with the visor mechanism. It seems the ratchet is hard and when down I don't think it's sealing very well. I'm getting a small amount of air hitting me in the eyes at speed that I think is coming under the visor. I do have a tinted visor on order, but this may be result of a cheap helmet. I'll keep you posted.

The bluetooth is working great, and I answered my first call on the road today. I of course pulled over as soon as possible but the sound was great and the caller was able to hear me clearly.

try looking at the vemar juliano. I will be ordering one soon.
After you posted this, I looked at the Vemar Jiano Bluetooth extensively on a variety of sites. It's the first modular helmet that I like the look of.

jiano_glossy_black_997_detail.jpg


I think the best write up or description is here (also has a short video): clicky

At $500 it was more than I wanted to spend until I found it for $399. Suddenly it was more appealing, so I ordered one. :blink:

It looks like the Vemar is way better quality but when it gets here I'm going to compare the two closely.

Do any of you wise men or women have experience with the Vemar helmets?

So it seems the Blinc system is showing up on different manufacturers helmets, is that correct? Does the one from Costco have two speakers? I don't believe that just because its profile is 1.2 it may have that feature.
Not sure on the one from Costco, I know mine from O'Neal does have two speakers.

where did you find the vemar for 399?

where did you find the vemar for 399?

 
where did you find the vemar for 399?
Found it on a Google search here: clicky

$399 was for black in a small or medium only and free shipping!

Fortunately I have a medium size noggin.

I cant wait to hear you full review. I would like to know how it is for music, even though it is not specifically designed for that. I am a size large so guess I will be paying the full $500. I won't be ordering it till next month. My email is [email protected] if you wouldnt mind letting me know your opinion.

 
I've got probably more miles with this o'neal helmet than I've seen post so far, so I'll give it a go.

First, fit. The helmet sizing is completely wrong. I wear a Large. No matter who makes the helmet, always a large. In this helmet, It's a medium. Whatever.

For performance as a helmet, this thing gets a big fat F. On my head, the XL, L and M sizes all put pressure on the back/top of my head. It's uncomfortable after a full days wear. Multi-days, forget about it. Next, the thing doesn't seal at all. The vents are crap, and the visor has a very obvious gap nearly all around. Understand here that I've had 3 of these helmets, all the same. So, that means this helmet is out for wet weather and the very cold.

The visors fog up BAD. I tried cat crap, I tried a few other chemicals after a good cleaning on 4, count 'em, 4 different visors. No dice.

When put in the wind stream, the BT controls whistle. Again, all the helmets did this. It's annoying. Of course, after 8 hours, it's enough to make you suicidal or close.

The chin curtain is a complete waste of space. It makes the helmet hard to put on, take off, and it rips out of the helmet easily if you forget to un-velcro it. Poor design.

The breath guard is worthless, and to me cut down on visibility too much. Oh, and did I mention worthless? Understand, MOST breath guards are worthless.

The helmet speakers are worthless. Once you hit 60mph with the stock screen down, you can't hear shit. Put earplugs in, and now you can't hear shit unless you're at a stop sign.

The mic is actually not terrible. Called parties tell me they can hear the bike and some wind, but voice comes through just fine. The mic is built into the helmet.

Now, I just ripped this thing to shit. Do I still have one? Yep. I still have two... and here's why.

My wife doesn't ride much. She needs something she can throw on, has the ability to pipe in music and comm to me. It also needs to be comfortable and safe. Check, done, good to go.

We both have earbuds (mine, in fact, are the custom molded ones with speakers). O'Neal did something half smart here -- they made one speaker removable, and left a 2.5mm jack! So, with a small adapter, our earbuds plug in to the helmet! WIN! If the other speaker came out without cutting, it'd be a major win.

The BT features work just like the brochureware. It's good, pairs with everything, A2DP works great, etc, etc. I can honestly say that with my ear molds in, it's the best SQ in a BT helmet/headset ever. I've got alot of BT hardware. You'll have to trust me.

So, if I'm headed out with the wife for a few hours... this is the best thing I've found to do it with. If I'm headed out for a multi-day, rainy, cold or a day ride of 8+ hours, it's Shoei city. Nothing beats it, yet.

 
the reviews linked to the Oneal unfortunately say that it's mono, so not much benefit to two speakers.

but since it don't fit, i must quit (thinking about one)

:angry: Ok, so my youthful enthusiasm may have gotten the better of me...again. I like the O'Neal helmet, but I'm not real happy with the visor mechanism. It seems the ratchet is hard and when down I don't think it's sealing very well. I'm getting a small amount of air hitting me in the eyes at speed that I think is coming under the visor. I do have a tinted visor on order, but this may be result of a cheap helmet. I'll keep you posted.

The bluetooth is working great, and I answered my first call on the road today. I of course pulled over as soon as possible but the sound was great and the caller was able to hear me clearly.

try looking at the vemar juliano. I will be ordering one soon.
After you posted this, I looked at the Vemar Jiano Bluetooth extensively on a variety of sites. It's the first modular helmet that I like the look of.

jiano_glossy_black_997_detail.jpg


I think the best write up or description is here (also has a short video): clicky

At $500 it was more than I wanted to spend until I found it for $399. Suddenly it was more appealing, so I ordered one. :blink:

It looks like the Vemar is way better quality but when it gets here I'm going to compare the two closely.

Do any of you wise men or women have experience with the Vemar helmets?

So it seems the Blinc system is showing up on different manufacturers helmets, is that correct? Does the one from Costco have two speakers? I don't believe that just because its profile is 1.2 it may have that feature.
Not sure on the one from Costco, I know mine from O'Neal does have two speakers.
 
Now, I just ripped this thing to shit. Do I still have one? Yep. I still have two... and here's why.
My wife doesn't ride much. She needs something she can throw on, has the ability to pipe in music and comm to me. It also needs to be comfortable and safe. Check, done, good to go.
ngarider: Well said. I personally don't have the fit problems, but your entire review is absolutely dead on.

I initially bought two of them and have returned 'mine' and kept the one for my wife. (which i'm using now until the new Vemar gets here)

My wife also doesn't ride much, but when she does she wants her music and to be able to talk with me, so I'll be keeping one.

Phugedaboudet: I know the reviews state it's mono, (it may be for the previous model) but I can assure you the helmet I have is STEREO. Many of the songs I listen to start or end with that fade back and forth from right to left. But since it doesn't fit you I guess it doesn't make much difference, huh? ;)

 
What I'd like to know is if the BT headset built into these helmets has enough volume to be used with a set of 33 dB earplugs.
I will not ever ride again without earplugs of some kind.

I'm sick of answering the phone and door bell only to find nobody's there... :blink:

The volume level of the Starcom1 that I have now is just barely adequate with my preferred Howard Leight Max ear plugs.

I would (still) love to "cut the cord" to the helmets, but I don't think any BlueTooth headsets have the punch to be used with fully attenuating ear plugs.

Fred, sounds like you need one of the new J&M bluetooth receivers with the custom earplug/spkers. I know its a bit pricey, but I guess answering the door or phone and no one there is.....priceless? The nice thing about the molded earplugs/speakers is that you get the benefit of earplugs, and speakers at the same time. You get to turn the volume of the audio device way down. Better for your ears either way....

The other option is just custom plug/speakers and the patch cord for your starcomm (like I do), once again, volume way down and much happier in life.

 
What I'd like to know is if the BT headset built into these helmets has enough volume to be used with a set of 33 dB earplugs.
I will not ever ride again without earplugs of some kind.

I'm sick of answering the phone and door bell only to find nobody's there... :blink:

The volume level of the Starcom1 that I have now is just barely adequate with my preferred Howard Leight Max ear plugs.

I would (still) love to "cut the cord" to the helmets, but I don't think any BlueTooth headsets have the punch to be used with fully attenuating ear plugs.

Fred, sounds like you need one of the new J&M bluetooth receivers with the custom earplug/spkers. I know its a bit pricey, but I guess answering the door or phone and no one there is.....priceless? The nice thing about the molded earplugs/speakers is that you get the benefit of earplugs, and speakers at the same time. You get to turn the volume of the audio device way down. Better for your ears either way....

The other option is just custom plug/speakers and the patch cord for your starcomm (like I do), once again, volume way down and much happier in life.
I have considered using sound attenuating earspeakers, but I have to disagree with the idea of them being "better" for your hearing. When you consider that the earspeaker is directly acoustically coupled into your ear canal, it is very easy to create damaging sound pressure levels in there. I believe that using earbuds for listening to music (not on the bike) has actually contributed to my tinnitus. Even the best ear speakers will not provide as much attenuation as good plugs, which means that you would end up cranking the music volume even higher.

I do have a set of decent ear speakers thgat I intend to give another shot to, and have outfitted them with some foam tips in lieu of the silicone rubber ones. But because the sound has to be able to get from the driver to the eardrum for the speakers to work, the attnuation is not as good as my HL Maxes.

I am very picky about having full attenuation. If one (or both) of my earplugs is not perfectly sealing the noise out it drives me nuts. With a good set of plugs in correctly, I find that I am much more relaxed after a long ride, can (eventually) hear noises from around me, and easily hear the engine after a while of acclimatization.

 
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