Bungie
FrostBack #2 - IBA # 44620
Well, I don't believe in Santa, but I'm gonna have to start leaving cookies out for the mailman. Ever since you guys talked me into buying my FJR it seems he's lugging a box here daily. This shit is getting expensive!
Cal Sci +2" windshield:
Yesterday, he delivered my Cal Sci +2 windshield. I hemmed and hawed and read and waffled over this for way to long. Their's as many opinions on windshield setups as their are FJR owners. I liked the stocker for around town in the heat. But on the highway, the back pressure was pretty stupid along with the buffeting. Bit the bullet and ordered the Cal Sci as it seemed to have the most positive feedback.
Glad I did. The +2 is perfect for my height (5'9") on a Mayer seat. In the down position, I get enough airflow over the vents in the top of my helmet to keep them working. Up, dead air pocket with no back pressure. I'm looking over top the shield in the down position by about 3". More importantly, the back pressure in all positions is all but completely gone. Cal Sci was good to deal with, though the edges of the shield as delivered were sharp and basically unfinished. A few minutes with a fine file and some 600 grit then 1200 grit finished it off to an acceptable level - but that shouldn't be my responsibility. Still, I'd buy another.
Marsee Magentic 15 mit der Tour Pocket (standard, non-tear drop shape):
Got this on close out from NewEnough.com. Now, understand I have a tank bag from my other bikes, a Nelson Rigg, I'd guess about 7 liters, but it has the accordian top and side pockets. Probably double the size fully unzipped. I wasn't unhappy with it, its just that in the unexpanded configuration, anything other than a cell phone I wanted put in it had to go in cock-eyed. Most importantly to me, my video recording unit would fit in, but I'd have to put a pretty tight bend in the video feed cable - that just didn't sit well with me as I can see cable fatiguing over time. I've read Marsee makes really good quality stuff so I popped for a larger one. Everything you've read about quality construction seems to be true. The unit is solid and apparently well made. It has the polycarbonate top so that you can see your electrical gear/maps. That's going to be really handy with my video unit. Fits the FJR like a glove and doesn't interfere with anything at full lock. Good piece and I'm happy with the purchase. Especially at the price newenough.com is clearing them out for.
Now the biggie... drum roll please...
Collett Communications MicroFone 2 (the fully 2nd generation bluetooth jobbie):
Lets preface this one. I have zero experience with any kind motorcycle intercom system. Complete neophyte. I'll skip my research etc, I just decided that I'd take the chance on the Collett as it has all the features I was looking for, combined with a REALLY competitive price and a 3 year warranty.
The components are obviously well made, with seals on the Vox and Volume controls, VERY tight fitting connections etc. So, first things first, mount the 'micro blaster' speakers in my HJC CL-SP Animus. Problem. The CL-SP has 'ear cavities', but their not backed by any styrofoam, worse still, at the exact point where I needed to mount the speakers, was the attachement point for the chin straps. I couldn't mount them 'under' the foam ear cavity, so I mounted them on top. I can move them if a better solution comes up as they just velcro in place. They just touch my ear. This probably isn't good as I bet that will hurt/run me up the wall on a long trip. No matter, thats how the speakers are mounted for now. I stuffed the wiring under the padding and trim pieces to finish off that part of the install. Next up, the transmitter unit. Finicky to get the boom mic in the right position but hardly impossible. The unit attackes to the left side of the helmet via hook & loop. This is where the next problem comes up. Because of the shape of the CL-SP, the chin portion is 'styled' with some zoomy edges, I had to be really careful where I mounted it. To far forward and the backing on 'loop' portion doesn't get a good foothold. My helmet wasn't much of a problem, but my gf's helmet is an extra small, and I assume, has a smaller shell. Her's is on, and its not coming off, but I can see having to dremel 'shape' the underside of the transmitter so the hook and loop gets a better purchase on it. While I was doing all this, I had the standard batteries on the charger (it comes with 6hr standard battery pack, and, a 12 hour remote power unit).
So, test time, I mount the standard battery pack to the right rear of the helmet (their instructions show it mounted directly at the rear, bottom of the helmet. This covers up the DOT/Snell sticker, which is required to be visible by law in Ontario), so I mounted it slight offset to the right. This has another benefit, it offsets the weight of the transmitter somewhat. Slip on the helmet and talk into the mic. I was instantly rewarded with hearing my voice 'echoed' back to me. This is a diagnostic function for tuning the VoX. Cool, its alive! Really good sound quality too. Next, I got out my cell phone (Sony/Ericcson K790a). Enabled the bluetooth handsfree on it. Hold down the mode button for 8 seconds until it chirps at you, and look at that, my cell phone found the Collett the first try. I finished the bluetooth connection and had my mom call me. The Collett autoanswers. Your notified of the call and well sonofabitch. It worked first try, all painless like. I was talking to loud apparently, normal conversation tone is all it takes.
How about music? After diddling around with the phone to figure out how to enable A2DP (or whatever its called).. I find out that if your in handfree mode, you ARE in A2DP mode. So I fire up a tune.. and was instantly rewarded with the Eagles - in perfect stereo. GOD DAMN! Sound quality was above acceptable considering the speakers. Short on bass, but then, even with the headphones directly connected to the phone, it was short on bass.
I finished the installation on my gf's helmet (same make/model as mine, just XS). Press the mode button so its in intercom mode, and PERFECT. First try. You know, I think they've finally got this bluetooth dealie sorted out!
The Collett also has 3 channels at 900mHz for bike to bike communications. Which brings me to my next point, I haven't had a chance to try out the unit ON THE BIKE at speed yet. I don't have any doubt that it performs as advertised given the ease of getting it up and running and the manufactures claims, and research I've done. But until then, its wait and see time.
The 'manual' is only about 8 printed pages. But I guess its good enough as I didn't have any trouble installing, pairing etc. Thats either a testament to how well these things work, or I just got lucky. I'll report back after we get out for a good ride in rider-passenger mode and, rider-rider to mode. I'll post pics then too.
Cal Sci +2" windshield:
Yesterday, he delivered my Cal Sci +2 windshield. I hemmed and hawed and read and waffled over this for way to long. Their's as many opinions on windshield setups as their are FJR owners. I liked the stocker for around town in the heat. But on the highway, the back pressure was pretty stupid along with the buffeting. Bit the bullet and ordered the Cal Sci as it seemed to have the most positive feedback.
Glad I did. The +2 is perfect for my height (5'9") on a Mayer seat. In the down position, I get enough airflow over the vents in the top of my helmet to keep them working. Up, dead air pocket with no back pressure. I'm looking over top the shield in the down position by about 3". More importantly, the back pressure in all positions is all but completely gone. Cal Sci was good to deal with, though the edges of the shield as delivered were sharp and basically unfinished. A few minutes with a fine file and some 600 grit then 1200 grit finished it off to an acceptable level - but that shouldn't be my responsibility. Still, I'd buy another.
Marsee Magentic 15 mit der Tour Pocket (standard, non-tear drop shape):
Got this on close out from NewEnough.com. Now, understand I have a tank bag from my other bikes, a Nelson Rigg, I'd guess about 7 liters, but it has the accordian top and side pockets. Probably double the size fully unzipped. I wasn't unhappy with it, its just that in the unexpanded configuration, anything other than a cell phone I wanted put in it had to go in cock-eyed. Most importantly to me, my video recording unit would fit in, but I'd have to put a pretty tight bend in the video feed cable - that just didn't sit well with me as I can see cable fatiguing over time. I've read Marsee makes really good quality stuff so I popped for a larger one. Everything you've read about quality construction seems to be true. The unit is solid and apparently well made. It has the polycarbonate top so that you can see your electrical gear/maps. That's going to be really handy with my video unit. Fits the FJR like a glove and doesn't interfere with anything at full lock. Good piece and I'm happy with the purchase. Especially at the price newenough.com is clearing them out for.
Now the biggie... drum roll please...
Collett Communications MicroFone 2 (the fully 2nd generation bluetooth jobbie):
Lets preface this one. I have zero experience with any kind motorcycle intercom system. Complete neophyte. I'll skip my research etc, I just decided that I'd take the chance on the Collett as it has all the features I was looking for, combined with a REALLY competitive price and a 3 year warranty.
The components are obviously well made, with seals on the Vox and Volume controls, VERY tight fitting connections etc. So, first things first, mount the 'micro blaster' speakers in my HJC CL-SP Animus. Problem. The CL-SP has 'ear cavities', but their not backed by any styrofoam, worse still, at the exact point where I needed to mount the speakers, was the attachement point for the chin straps. I couldn't mount them 'under' the foam ear cavity, so I mounted them on top. I can move them if a better solution comes up as they just velcro in place. They just touch my ear. This probably isn't good as I bet that will hurt/run me up the wall on a long trip. No matter, thats how the speakers are mounted for now. I stuffed the wiring under the padding and trim pieces to finish off that part of the install. Next up, the transmitter unit. Finicky to get the boom mic in the right position but hardly impossible. The unit attackes to the left side of the helmet via hook & loop. This is where the next problem comes up. Because of the shape of the CL-SP, the chin portion is 'styled' with some zoomy edges, I had to be really careful where I mounted it. To far forward and the backing on 'loop' portion doesn't get a good foothold. My helmet wasn't much of a problem, but my gf's helmet is an extra small, and I assume, has a smaller shell. Her's is on, and its not coming off, but I can see having to dremel 'shape' the underside of the transmitter so the hook and loop gets a better purchase on it. While I was doing all this, I had the standard batteries on the charger (it comes with 6hr standard battery pack, and, a 12 hour remote power unit).
So, test time, I mount the standard battery pack to the right rear of the helmet (their instructions show it mounted directly at the rear, bottom of the helmet. This covers up the DOT/Snell sticker, which is required to be visible by law in Ontario), so I mounted it slight offset to the right. This has another benefit, it offsets the weight of the transmitter somewhat. Slip on the helmet and talk into the mic. I was instantly rewarded with hearing my voice 'echoed' back to me. This is a diagnostic function for tuning the VoX. Cool, its alive! Really good sound quality too. Next, I got out my cell phone (Sony/Ericcson K790a). Enabled the bluetooth handsfree on it. Hold down the mode button for 8 seconds until it chirps at you, and look at that, my cell phone found the Collett the first try. I finished the bluetooth connection and had my mom call me. The Collett autoanswers. Your notified of the call and well sonofabitch. It worked first try, all painless like. I was talking to loud apparently, normal conversation tone is all it takes.
How about music? After diddling around with the phone to figure out how to enable A2DP (or whatever its called).. I find out that if your in handfree mode, you ARE in A2DP mode. So I fire up a tune.. and was instantly rewarded with the Eagles - in perfect stereo. GOD DAMN! Sound quality was above acceptable considering the speakers. Short on bass, but then, even with the headphones directly connected to the phone, it was short on bass.
I finished the installation on my gf's helmet (same make/model as mine, just XS). Press the mode button so its in intercom mode, and PERFECT. First try. You know, I think they've finally got this bluetooth dealie sorted out!
The Collett also has 3 channels at 900mHz for bike to bike communications. Which brings me to my next point, I haven't had a chance to try out the unit ON THE BIKE at speed yet. I don't have any doubt that it performs as advertised given the ease of getting it up and running and the manufactures claims, and research I've done. But until then, its wait and see time.
The 'manual' is only about 8 printed pages. But I guess its good enough as I didn't have any trouble installing, pairing etc. Thats either a testament to how well these things work, or I just got lucky. I'll report back after we get out for a good ride in rider-passenger mode and, rider-rider to mode. I'll post pics then too.
