Anyone fitted the Starcom communication system?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 2
From: Weston, Florida
Anyone fitted the Starcom communication system?
Interested to know how you like it? Any drawbacks to the system?
http://www.starcom1.com/
Sorry, not interested in any opinions of other systems like Chatterbox, N-Comm, etc. Just this one. Thanks.
http://www.starcom1.com/
Sorry, not interested in any opinions of other systems like Chatterbox, N-Comm, etc. Just this one. Thanks.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Hi from the UK!
We have one on our Glide. It's better than nothing, but I am not impressed with it. At speeds above around 65 it gets noisy and makes talking difficult. I haven't tried using it with any other things like phone or music.
What I find frustrating is that we sent a man to the moon and were able to talk to him, but talking to a passenger on a bike in hugging distance seems far more difficult!
We both use flip-up helmets and are thinking of changing to Schuberth C3s with their blue-tooth wireless communicators. They also make BMW helmets and perhaps German engineering has managed to solve the problem!
We have one on our Glide. It's better than nothing, but I am not impressed with it. At speeds above around 65 it gets noisy and makes talking difficult. I haven't tried using it with any other things like phone or music.
What I find frustrating is that we sent a man to the moon and were able to talk to him, but talking to a passenger on a bike in hugging distance seems far more difficult!
We both use flip-up helmets and are thinking of changing to Schuberth C3s with their blue-tooth wireless communicators. They also make BMW helmets and perhaps German engineering has managed to solve the problem!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Like Autocom they are British and we bought direct from Starcom at the National British bike show, where they made that claim to us. I haven't travelled at 100, but at 95 the darned thing is very noisy! Not much fun, even with earplugs.
Now owned by Starcom I believe! Also even more expensive and I have heard poor reports of their system too, which is why I bought Starcom.
Both these firms and others make frankly outlandish claims for their kit, but don't supply an expert in the box to ensure they deliver on their promise! The headsets are not easy to install in a helmet and it is almost impossible to position the ear-pieces as they suggest.
They both spend too much effort providing for phones and other add-on electronic distractions and not enough on enabling rider and pillion to talk to each other clearly. It costs a fortune for one to tell the other they want to 'spend a penny!'
Now owned by Starcom I believe! Also even more expensive and I have heard poor reports of their system too, which is why I bought Starcom.
Both these firms and others make frankly outlandish claims for their kit, but don't supply an expert in the box to ensure they deliver on their promise! The headsets are not easy to install in a helmet and it is almost impossible to position the ear-pieces as they suggest.
They both spend too much effort providing for phones and other add-on electronic distractions and not enough on enabling rider and pillion to talk to each other clearly. It costs a fortune for one to tell the other they want to 'spend a penny!'
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: England
I installed the Starcom Advance, sound quality is A1 even at speeds over the legal, small package so easy to fit.
Only real complaint are the Mini DIN connectors as we have bent pins when rushing to catch up with buddies to ride out.
Have the Garmin 550 connected and audio is again A1, although the Blue tooth of the Garmin can be garbled when using the phone, but believe this is down to the Garmin.
Would I buy one again? Nope, but not because of the sound quality, simply the cables and connections (goes for the Autocom too) So I would try a good BT system now there are a few better quality items appearing and Battery life is increasing.
The good part about cabling is you can disconnect the OL if you have had enough!
Only real complaint are the Mini DIN connectors as we have bent pins when rushing to catch up with buddies to ride out.
Have the Garmin 550 connected and audio is again A1, although the Blue tooth of the Garmin can be garbled when using the phone, but believe this is down to the Garmin.
Would I buy one again? Nope, but not because of the sound quality, simply the cables and connections (goes for the Autocom too) So I would try a good BT system now there are a few better quality items appearing and Battery life is increasing.
The good part about cabling is you can disconnect the OL if you have had enough!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Only real complaint are the Mini DIN connectors as we have bent pins when rushing to catch up with buddies to ride out.
Would I buy one again? Nope, but not because of the sound quality, simply the cables and connections (goes for the Autocom too) So I would try a good BT system now there are a few better quality items appearing and Battery life is increasing.
The good part about cabling is you can disconnect the OL if you have had enough!
The good part about cabling is you can disconnect the OL if you have had enough!
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've slept since writing that, so a bit brighter than when I posted! I take it you mean Bluetooth? 
My reason for considering the Schuberth system is to get rid of the mediocre Starcom hardware already referred to and try an alternative technology that may just have finally cracked the problem of two people riding along on the same bike wanting to occasionally talk to each other clearly! It must be possible....
My reason for considering the Schuberth system is to get rid of the mediocre Starcom hardware already referred to and try an alternative technology that may just have finally cracked the problem of two people riding along on the same bike wanting to occasionally talk to each other clearly! It must be possible....
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: England
I find the audio quality OK, it's just all the wires are a pain in the ***, I unplugged the coiled extension from my helmet the other week and just threw it across the seat while fuelling up, it slipped over the edge and melted the outer sheathing on the cylinder heads exposing the inner cores.
My wife has also got off a few times forgetting to disconnect and its pulled the cables out of the helmet.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 496
Likes: 2
From: Weston, Florida
Thanks for the feedback Guys. Guess I will keep researching. iMC have an alternative I might try. At half the price I won't lose so much if it does not work. Don't want to spend around $600 on a system that may not work or the hardware is weak. Cheers.