Modern Vespa

Always use earplugs on the shooters and the motorcycle with full face helmet. Currently the Shoei GT Air.

On a recent trip, I was using Waze for directions, and it would have been beneficial to be able to hear the directions at times

Both Sena and Cardo have headsets that use Bluetooth to allow helmet speakers that could communicate with the iPhone

What's practical? I really want to preserve hearing and the concept of using speaker headsets without earplugs may hurt that

Possible to keep the earplugs and hear the speakers well enough?

Yes, don't sweat it. Both will work through ear plugs.

Thank you, Harbinger

I'll push ahead and order, then

I use the NoNoise earplugs. Blocks wind noise, but allows voice frequencies thru. Hear my headset speakers clearer than without earplugs.

I use a Sena headset in a modular helmet. No problem hearing.

I am able to get my helmet over my in-ear bluetooth headphones.

I now have both Sena and Cardo bluetooth headsets (on different helmets of course). I prefer the sound with earplugs than without. The Sena sound quality with earplugs is a little better than the Cardo.

You need you upgrade the speaks on your Cordio if you can on your model. The JBL speakers sound incredible

I have used Parrot Audio, Sena and now the Cordio with the JBL speakers are tops for best sound.

I have a Sena unit in my Shoei Neotec, and wear 3M EARSoft earplugs while listening to music while I ride.

If you do this, just don't forget to turn the volume down if you find yourself riding without earplugs.

No earplugs for me - I think it's just too dangerous to potentially block any traffic noise. I use an in-ear bluetooth earbud under my helmet for directions, and it works very well.

Like Others in this thread, I've not had any issues using 3M soft plugs with my Sena installed in my Nolan Modular.

One feature of the Sena I like, I can have a different volume for the GPS from the music I listen to while riding. The Sena also auto-pauses the music when the GPS breaks in with an update.

Enjoy and stay safe!

They don't work like that. you can have a conversation with ear plugs in. I wear them all day in the Data Center. Forget to take them out and ride home sometimes.

Absolutely, always wear the earplugs. After a few minutes your ears/brain will automatically "turn up the gain" so you hear well enough all the important sounds. In the meantime the earplugs will cut all the high volume white noise that wrecks your ears. You actually hear the motor and the road and your headset speakers more clearly than without. Plus I've found myself less fatigued after long rides with the lower sound level.

Ear plugs are fine to use.

Stay away from the Sena 10S. I have had two and both the volume would go to max through no effort by me. Don't know if it's the wind turbulence spinning the jog dial or what's causing it. The first unit was replaced under warranty. The second I tolerate, but look forward to getting a replacement at some point.

I do appreciate your thoughts and experiences. Some tinnitus already and I want to minimize further damage. So I wear the earplugs on both scooters and especially the BMW R1150 with its boxer engine

Likely will order the Cardo unit, but don't think the 45 mm JBL speakers are a necessary add-on!

I'm late to the thread. See my thread on noise cancelling earbuds that fit into my Shoei Neotec helmet. It's very quiet and you can adjust the noise cancellation level on the app so its not so quiet. They might work very well for you. The company does offer a bluetooth version of the headphones but the earbuds are too big too into into the helmet.

All iPhone audio comes thru the earbuds. I never listen to any audio while riding but I did test with relatively-quiet classical music while riding at 70 mph on the freeway on my Vespa. I didn't have to turn the volume up very loud because the wind noise in the helmet was quite low.

I haven't tried it on my 2001 BMW 2001 R1100RT because the adjustable windscreen combined with the Shoei Neotec is pretty quiet on its own. I will use it when I go on longer ride.

If you try it, please let it know how it works out.

Best
Miguel

I wrote a review of my current headset here: It's All in Your Head: Cardo Packtalk Slim-First Impressions

As far as earplugs go, what you really want are "tuned" earplugs, similar to what musicians use, although there are 'plugs marketed to motorcyclists that work mostly along the same lines: they attenuate the most-damaging noises at certain frequencies, while allowing you to hear necessary stuff (sirens, most Bluetooth-piped-in-via-helmet-speakers stuff). I don't wear plugs on relatively short rides, but longer rides at relatively high speeds? Yes, you want 'em.

Amateriat,

Thats quite a review. I can't believe I didn't see it last year. I'll read it tmw. Thanks for all the work on that!!

Best
Miguel

Just get the one with 40mm jbl's. Definitely get the jbl option though

It's all his fault that I spent money on a Cardio slim, wasn't ever shopping for a comm unit before reading the review.
I do love the thing though. The voice control is incredible, turn volume up or down, pause, skip tracks, make phone calls, use google and it controls the volume automatically for wind noise.

Thanks! I'm extremely happy with the Slim, and up to their release I was all but dead-set against blowing that much money on a BT helmet rig, but this one convinced me.

I am really getting good a controlling my phone by voice.
"OK Google", "Play Jimi Hendrix On Spotify"
"Ok Google, "Call Maureen Mobile"

Or using the Cardio Voice control
"Hey Cardio", "Volume Up"
"Hey Cardio", "Next Track"

I am always glad to see posts about protecting hearing. Do it. Its so important. Once its gone, you never get it back. Tinnitus is awful.