Cardo Packtalk Slim

I've never actually wanted to buy a comms system, I've never really seen the need for one to be honest. So you might be surprised I finally bought one. I'm as shocked as you. 

Whilst at my bro's for christmas he asked if I wanted one, my typical response was something like "Why the f*ck would I waste 5 or 6 hungy on something I don't want and never needed?"

He said what if it only cost about $250. Ok I'm listening now but still not convinced. He showed me the chromeburner website were they have some PACTALK slim Cardo units. I considered it for a day or two and said ok. It was a tough sell at half price. I looked at local prices and they are $999 here in oz, we got it for $540.

Chromeburner are in the Netherlands, it was air freighted on friday and was in Brisbane on Sunday. Due to christmas shutdown it sat at the warehouse for a week. Before our dodgy postal service took another week.

I thought I'd watch a youtube install video on my helmet. Yep there was a 12 minute video. Sweet as, I'll have this done in no time, let me just crack a beer open and get this done.

4 beers and several hours of frustration later and voila, she's fitted. My Airoh commander has been a little tight around the ears since day one so was skeptical this will work whacking speakers in there. I carved a little foam out to make sure they didn't protrude further than the foam, the helmet had spots for the speakers already I just made them slightly larger. Gee helmet foam is really hard, its unlike any foam i've ever seen before, very hard to cut. I think a dremel would have worked well but didn't have one.

Now to give it a try out. Message Scotty for a ride. He said he's got to be home by 12pm as he is expecting a parcel. All good a short ride today as its going to be 37°C here. A quick ride up into the Blue mountains and back.

On the way to meet Scotty it was quite good listening to some spotify. I connected it up through the Africa Twin dash so had android auto and maps and music. We headed up towards Comleroy Road and followed that along until it turned to dirt. It was quite cool up in the mountains today and when we dropped down to the river the temp must have dropped by 5 degrees. It was quite pleasant.

I noticed that the helmet seemed to be pressing uncomfortably on my left ear. I'll have to look at what I can adjust when I get home. I noticed I'd lost signal along here and my spotify dropped. out. I actually prefer riding the gravel without music to be honest. I think I'll only use the music when riding along the highways. I didn't seem to think it was that loud when on the highway either. I wear earplugs and I could hear it, it was just a bit soft but still audible. I think wireless earbuds would probably be better.

We turned along Mountain Lagoon Trail to Bilpin. This is quite an easy ride, just gravel road running along a ridge line, not much in the way of elevation changes.

We got to Bilpin about 10am and turn back onto the Bells Line and headed for home. I was glad we were going home so I could get out of the helmet and see what was wrong. I noticed the left earpiece wasn't as low down as the right one, so I took a bit more foam out. I will see how it goes on the next ride.

Still haven't decided if I like it or hate it yet. Time will tell.