Biker Talk

Motorcycle gangs don’t usually spring to mind when we think of high technology. But who could need tiny, hands-free gadgets more than someone using both hands to steer while hurtling down the highway at 80 miles an hour?The Motorcycle Industry Council, a lobbying group, predicts that motorcycle sales will exceed 1 million units this year, the highest sales in more than two decades. When a market grows like that, technology companies rush to exploit the opportunity.So it’s not surprising that this fall BMW, Kiwi, Vemar, and Momo each released helmets equipped with Bluetooth headsets to enable hands-free cell phone use. Bluetooth technology uses radio frequencies to transmit data over short distances, typically about 30 feet. Most phones produced in the last year are Bluetooth-enabled, which allows them to communicate with hands free, wireless headsets. Combined with the voice dialing capability already standard, these headsets are perfect for drivers of all sorts.The new helmets integrate speakers, a microphone, and a Bluetooth transponder into the helmet itself. “Pairing” the phone and the helmet – getting the helmet and the phone to exchange data – is generally done through a button located on the side of the helmet, next to a button to control volume. Most of the helmets have about five hours of talking time before the batteries run down.The BMW unit uses the Bluetooth transponder for bike-to-bike communications, though that sounds a bit cooler than it is. Since the range is only 30 feet, the two motorcycles have to be relatively near each other to use the feature.BMW claims its noise-dampening device allows riders to conduct calm conversations even while traveling 90 miles an hour. Both Vemar and BMW plan to make their helmets compatible with Bluetooth-enabled MP3 devices and AM/FM radios. Most of the high-tech helmets cost between $600 and $750.The key to all these devices is finding ways for bikers to keep their eyes on the road. Toward that end, the British bicycle helmet-maker Reevu has produced a specialized motorcycle helmet with a rearview mirror on the visor itself ($110).The helmet uses a system of polycarbonate mirrors to bend light around the helmet and project the image onto the helmet’s visor. There are no electronics involved, and the image is projected along the top strata of the visor.And the horizon for tech-savvy Hell’s Angels looks even brighter. Research Motion is selling a helmet with a heads-up display, similar to ones used by fighter pilots. The helmet, called Sports Vue MC1 ($329), uses a custom transmission code (not Bluetooth) to beam data from a device attached near the wheel to a device attached to the helmet. Speed, RPM, and gear information are projected onto the helmet’s visor. The makers claim it will work with most motorcycles and any helmet. It does not yet include GPS, Bluetooth for phones, or other obvious enhancements, but can such an all-purpose helmet be far behind?

Biker Talk

Biker Talk

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