When I first started riding, I was most concerned about protecting my head, hands, feet, and body. Like most other riders, hearing protection wasn’t high on the priority list. Earplugs, typically the soft foam types you compress and then try to work into your ears, never worked well for me. I went without.
About a dozen years ago, I finally pulled the trigger on two pairs of molded earplugs at one of the International Motorcycle Show events. One pair was simple earplugs, while the other was wired with speakers. What a revelation they were, and the speaker’s sound quality was phenomenal, rivaling my Bose noise-reducing headphones.
Because I typically rode alone or possibly one or two other riders, I didn’t feel the need to buy a helmet communication system. I wasn’t interested in making or taking distracting phone calls while riding. I believed that fuel and rest stops offered ample opportunities to check my phone or discuss logistics with my travel companions. If more was needed while out on the highway, tried-and-true hand signals provided everything I needed.
That all changed a couple of years ago when my wife started riding with me. All of a sudden, I’m dealing with her needs as well as my own. Though we’ve driven together in cars for about 40 years, things are different on a motorcycle. Pointing out interesting sights we’d ride by would usually produce one of us screaming at the other, and neither of us could understand what the other was trying to say. If my loving partner disapproved of my riding technique, a punch to my back would emphasize her position. There had to be a better way for us to communicate while riding. Enter the PackTalk Edge Duo from Cardo.
I chose the Cardo’s PackTalk Edge Duo based on other reviews I read and because in the Duo configuration, it is sold as a pair and made for couples like Judy and me. Also, as a BMW MOA member, Cardo offers a 20% discount on the product when purchased from their website, accessible via bmwmoa.org/cardo. With the discount, the product price drops from $799.95 to $639.96.
Upon receiving the product, I was immediately impressed by the packaging’s quality, which rivals Apple products or the blue box of Tiffany & Co.—so far, so good! Inside the box were a pair of PackTalk Edge Units, two Air Mount cradles with adhesive and clamp mounts, two sets of 40mm Sound by JBL speakers, two boom and two wired microphones, alcohol prep pads, and various speaker mounting pads.
Mounting the device onto my Shoei Hornet X2 helmet was much simpler than I expected. First, I removed both cheek pads and located the circular indents behind them. Then I placed the round JBL speakers on each side, noting the wiring and the plugs for connecting both the microphone and the Edge unit. With the helmet’s headliner also removed, I was able to route wires for the other speaker. Since it’s a full-face helmet, I used the wired microphone with the included Velcro pads, aligning them with where I expected my mouth to be. I used the boom microphone with Judy’s modular LS2 helmet.
To mount the cradle, users have two options based on the thickness of the helmet base. Because of the narrow base of my Shoei, I used one of the cradle mounts that clamp to the helmet. Because of the wider base on Judy’s LS2 helmet, I needed to use the adhesive-backed cradle mount instead. With everything mounted, it was simply a matter of connecting and routing the wires within the helmet, then reinstalling the head liners and cheek pads.
Once I charged both units and, via the Cardo app, updated the software and named them, it was time to try them out. Once charged, the Cardo units secure to the cradle via strong magnets.
The PackTalk edge has three activation buttons: mobile, media, and intercom. A clickable roller wheel sits in front of an LED light, and a charging port is on the back.
The Cardo unit can pair with two mobile devices at a time, be it your phone, a GPS, or the bike itself. First, turn the unit on by depressing both the mobile and media buttons for several seconds. A flashing green light will indicate that power is on. Turning the unit off is done the same way with a spoken announcement of battery status.
Pairing to your mobile device is done by holding the mobile button for about five seconds. An announcement over the headset confirms that pairing mode is active. From there, open the Bluetooth menu on your phone and select the PT Edge option. Tap it and you’re connected. Connecting another phone, GPS, or your bike is done similarly. Using the Cardo Connect app, users can name their individual devices and update their devices’ software.
Cardo’s website offers thorough videos covering all the functions of the Cardo PackTalk Edge, which go well beyond my needs for the device. Options include working with up to 15 riders within a one-mile range, 13-hour battery life, cross-brand connectivity, and Natural Voice Operation. At this point, for Judy and me, communicating, listening to music as we ride, and taking phone calls on the road were all outstanding.
Now, as we get ready to head out for a ride, our Cardos automatically pair after we turn them on, and the volume is easily adjusted with a gloved hand using the device’s wheel. However, it takes a bit of practice and repetition to memorize the button functions and voice commands. Once you’ve done that, you are good to go.
Because Judy usually wins when choosing a music playlist, we’ll listen to her Spotify or Sirius playlist. If a phone call comes in while we’re riding, we can simply tap the mobile button to answer the call.
What surprised me the most, and what kept me from buying helmet communication devices for so long, was that it was difficult for me to understand how clear the call I received could be. Despite wind noise in our helmets, the Cardo PackTalk Edge’s noise-canceling feature was fantastic even with my molded earplugs in place. Additionally, the person on the other end of the call usually couldn’t even tell I was on the bike.
The Cardo PackTalk Edge Duo has made riding with Judy much more enjoyable—and now pain-free without the punches to my ribs!
The cost of the Cardo PackTalk Edge Duo is $799.95 before the MOA member discount, which lowers the price to $639.96. Visit bmwmoa.org/cardo for complete information.
