Sena srl BMW MOA

Pairing the two via Bluetooth has been made pretty simple (thanks it would appear to work by Cardo), and it is possible to create a Mesh link between Cardo and Sena now, though I’ve not been able to thoroughly test it yet. With Mesh, each unit acts as its own relay, and it doesn’t matter what order the riders are in. Let’s say riders 1, 2 and 3 end up well away from riders 4, 5 and 6 – they’ll still be able to talk among themselves as two separate groups, and when connection is re-established the whole group can chat again.

Not an outrageous amount by any means, but still a decent amount to drop on a brain bucket. Lastly, while it doesn’t actual impact the performance or user experience of the second-generation GT Air, it’s nonetheless crucial to note that Shoei has already released a GT Air III model that’s not currently sold on U.S. shores. As such, you may want to consider waiting for the gen-three before pulling the trigger on the GT Air II. The German brand’s S3 is massively elevated by its custom-designed comm system, the SC2. Developed with help from Sena, the comm gets a trio of embedded antennas for FM radio, and the ability to be paired with a smartphone app that allows you to adjust settings or go from Mesh to Bluetooth modes. Sound quality is not only fantastic, but it’s also one of the quietest helmets I’ve tested, ultimately allowing for crystal clear calls where the person on the other end had no idea I was riding.

Also of note is that for a small added fee, Ruroc offers something of an available insurance policy for new buyers of the Atlas 4.0 where they’re eligible to receive 50% off on another new helmet should their first one be damaged or destroyed in a crash. Not only is this an element that I seriously love, but it’s also one that I’d love to see other helmet manufacturers offer on their respective lids. The speakers snap into place, and their location would be my only complaint about the SRL2.

I also found the comm’s control buttons to be located in a convenient spot that’s easy to access, plus with the physical control panel consisting of just three buttons, it’s super easy to use — whether or not you’re wearing gloves — and just as easy to memorize the layout of. The HelmLink boasts the ability to connect with up to 20 other riders, plus features voice-activated digital assistant access, a pair of built-in antennas, and single-click-to-connect intercom capabilities. More importantly, ICON’s dedicated comm also benefits from the use of both Mesh and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing for the best of both worlds.

It does a fantastic job of drowning out wind, road, and engine noise, plus its sound doesn’t become distorted when the volume is cranked up. The comm’s extraordinary audio quality is further helped along by the fact that the GT Air II happens to be one of the quietest lids we’ve ever tested. As such, the thing unsurprisingly performed wonderfully in our freeway/highway call test. The Schuberth S3 is incredibly comfortable, and was clearly designed to be worn for extended periods. This obviously makes it perfect for touring, though it lends itself just as well to commuting and daily use. Its shell is also ridiculously aerodynamic, and is both stable at speed, and doesn’t catch a ton of wind when looking over your shoulder.

Thanks in part to the Bluetooth 5.0 chip, once set up the pairing with your phone is almost instant when turning on the Sena, so music streaming, calls etc are immediately available. A small, wired microphone is supplied to attach to the full-face GT-Air, while the Neotec uses a boom mic (also supplied), which just pokes out of the right-hand cheek pad – a great improvement over the long arms that used to get in the way when putting on the lid. Being an integrated system means fitting the Sena SRL3 to either the Shoei Neotec 3 or GT-Air 3 is relatively simple, the components all snapping into place and the cables generally being obvious in their routing. As someone who doesn’t like to ride without a helmet communicator, I think the $299 price for the SRL2 is worth it for the convenience.

It runs the premium Harman/Kardon speaker and microphone setup, is capable of a four-way intercom, noise canceling, voice command and mesh with a five-mile range. Mesh systems also allow users to select from one of a myriad of specific mesh channels — not unlike using channels on a walkie-talkie. What’s more, mesh comms don’t need to be reconnected or paired every time that they’re used, and instead, automatically pair or reconnect to the comm’s network once turned back on or back in range — even after being left unused for a year or more. Best of all, pairing a dozen mesh comm systems is no more difficult than pairing two — unlike Bluetooth systems that each have to be individually connected/reconnected each time.

Although I have always hated them, the drop-down visor is probably the best I’ve tried on any helmet to date and those extra 5mm almost fully cover my first project field of view, only letting the slightest area of unshaded sunlight in. However, I feel that for a premium helmet being sold at such a premium price, they could do away with the drop-down system and the extra weight it brings and just fit the transition shield in its place. There’s a redesigned front vent system that acts as a bit of a defogger, and there are redesigned vents at the front and top for more streamlined airflow. If you want an intercom that fits into your Shoei Neotec 3 or GT-Air 3 perfectly, then this is the one, but it’s a shame to have to say that it could have been just that bit better. Intercom and phone conversations can be excellent with it though, and it’s got brilliant range on Mesh and Bluetooth. The SRL3 is basically a Sena 50S, and with that comes the same, rather clunky updating system.

For starters, because its comm system was designed, developed, and released half-a-decade-ago, some aspects of it have grown a bit long in the tooth — such as its battery life, which is limited to around 6 to 8 hours right out of the box. I originally acquired my GT Air II at the helmet’s official press and media launch back in 2019 and have used it and its comm system extensively since then. Over the subsequent five-or-so-years, the battery life on my unit has diminished to around 4 hours per charge, too. This is particularly disappointing as Shoei and Sena advertise the SRL II as offering 10 hours of use per charge.