pi, Universal Bluetooth Intercom Headset, Fits Most Cycling and Multi-Sport Helmets

Initially, we did have some trouble getting the Sena Pi to work. The firmware updater software for a Mac is dated and awkward. It's hard to tell what the updater software did, or if your firmware was already up to date. Connecting to my iPhone 13 Pro Max with latest iOS worked for me but was problematic for my wife with a similar phone. She kept hearing Apple Music take over and start to play music through the Pi. We googled the problem, but could find no setting to stop Apple music. This could be an Apple problem, as I don't use Apple Music and I had no issues with my iPhone. We never got the two Pi units to connect using the phone method. We did get it to work using the more direct "Intercom" method. the Sena Pi directions are not straightforward but we could get the two communication units to connect using the 5 second button push intercom pairing method. This method does not include a connection to your phone and the two Pi units connect to each other directly The "5-second button push" method meant pairing the two Pi units each time they were used. After consulting Sena Pi Customer Service we got advice to conduct a "factory reset" on both Pi comm units, we got them to connect "normally" with a one to two-second button push. The Pi units provide excellent communication. We can hear each other very clearly. We can adjust the volume depending on the noise in the surrounding environment. We find that the range is less than Sena says. We get a good connection for up to about 250 - 300 yard (meters). We are normally within direct line of sight, with no obstructions between us. More than about 300 yards and the connection gets lost - but the units will reconnect automatically when you get back in range. You hear a beep every few seconds until they reconnect. After the factory reset, we have had no issues with battery life, even in very cold weather down to 0F (-18C). We typically ride 1 to 2 hours and the batteries are fine. Now we have the Pi units working, we cannot imagine cycling without them. They are really great and I recommend anyone cycling in a pair to get them.

Firstly, if you don't already have an intercom device for your bike, get one. When my wife and I go riding together, having an intercom increases the fun factor by 3-fold. And if there are cars coming up from behind, we can notify each other of possible issues. So, there's the safety benefit as well. It is surprising how well you can hear each other while riding. It gets difficult to hear with high winds/speeds, but for the vast majority of the time the system works great. However, the Sena Pi is not perfect. It takes a bit of getting used to the various button push sequences for utilizing various capabilities. There's a lot of "hold [minus/plus] button for [1, 2, or more] seconds" or "press [minus/plus] button [1, 2, or more] times" to access various functions, battery life, receiving a call, making a call, etc. But this can be mastered over time. The more annoying issue we've found so far is when the intercom connection is lost for whatever reason - distance or obstruction. Re-establishing that intercom connection has been hit and miss. Just pressing the minus button for 1 second is supposed to establish an intercom connection. But I'd just get "Intercom connection failure. Please try again later". At first, I thought I may have been too far away from my wife when I tried to re-establish connection. But I had the same problem when I was right next to her. When I power cycled my unit and tried to establish a connection, it seemed to work...I think. The connection just seemed to come in out of nowhere, so I'm not 100% sure of the sequence of events. Before this latest ride where this problem occurred, I had updated the firmware on both units and did a factory reset on both units. So, those operations won't fix the problem. Nonetheless, the benefit of having phone answering and intercom capabilities, among others, is nothing less than awesome.

Update: We have used these for several weeks now. As far as usage time between charges, I consistently experience the following: We ride for ~1 hr per night. Each time on my 4th ride somewhere around halfway I get a ‘battery low’ announcement. I don’t receive another alert for the remainder of the ride, and only once have I experience a temporary drop of signal with static and her voice cutting in and out (distance of 50’ or less). It should be noted that she’s never received the warning. I haven’t run this to a dead battery and we charge both devices when I get the alert. Still, I feel confident in saying the device will last AT LEAST 4, possibly 5, hours on a full charge. Distance: no issue with line-of-sight comms for at least a suburban block. With non-line-of-site we lost connection at about 2 houses with her up a detached-garage driveway and me around a street corner. Overall we are VERY happy with these and regret not having them sooner. I would highly recommend to anyone except those riding for incredibly long, single day trips. ——————— As you likely know, don’t believe the performance stats as advertised. These are no different, but depending on your individual needs, these can be more than satisfactory. I bought a set for my wife and I to use on our frequent leisure rides. We bike about 4-5 hours per week in one hour rides. We’re never far apart, but without yelling it can be hard to hear through wind noise if riding single file. There are very helpful. Loud and clear hand-free conversation. We’ve only been through one charge and I got a low battery warning at about 3-1/2 hours. Not great, but more than meets our needs. We did a brief distance test and lost reception at around 2 houses plus a turn around one corner, no line-of-sight. I feel with line-of-sight, the distance would easily approach at least a couple-tenths of a mile, more than many will require. Pairing directly with each other was incredibly easy with no need for a cell connection or app required. Although, I believe the app is required for any group greater than 2. You decide what fits your needs, but these definitely allow clear connection at sufficient volume to allow good safety warnings or general conversation with enough battery for most daily rides. ————— Update - 8 months later …. We still use these every ride. My wife has only received her battery low message once, and while I have always received one after 3 or 4 rides, I now get them after about 1-1/2 rides. Obviously my battery has more issues than hers. That said, I will be purchasing another as, on the whole, it is a great product. I’m counting on my less-than-stellar performing is the anomaly, and hers is normal experience. Will update this again if needed. Still I would, and do, recommend this product.

We really like these communicators. We follow the activation directions every time we use them and they work perfectly. We have a set mounted on two bicycle helmets. While biking we can talk normally and easily hear each other. We have also used sets while hiking and running. The talk distance is limited to about 300’ so plan ahead not to get beyond this when moving. We have been out more than 4 hours without a battery problem. They seem to charge in under an hour from that use time. The wind does affect the clarity but only in cross wind, not while moving forward. I would recommend a set to any group wanting to communicate while bicycling or anything else.

Pros - - Sound quality is excellent, when riding in sheltered areas. - Very satisfied with the range. Cons - - Too large and bulky for our helmets, which have very short side straps. When installed on the strap, they interfere with glasses/sunglasses. - I was able to lower them by mounting where the straps connect -- but this took me about a half hour to do, and then I found I could not route the connecting wire in a way that it would not interfere. So another half hour to remove and re-install them and I'm still not pleased with how the connecting wire is routed. Its length limits my options. - The mics pick up WAY too much wind noise and road noise. I suspect this may effect battery life, but have not attempted rides longer than 90 minutes yet. - Sena support is painful to communicate with. Their ticketing system opens new tickets every time you reply to a previous email. This results in a flurry of automated emails, and sometimes multiple techs involved. - The Q & A feature here on Amazon is worthless. I had hoped to get answers from the seller, but instead I got answers like: "Try sliding them down on the straps". Well duh. I would not have posted questions if I had room to slide them down. "I don't know what to say, it works for me". Why reply, if you don't have a clue how to help? The poor fit and the wind noise are both deal-breakers for us. These will be going back. I'd be willing to try the Sena R1 Evo, but it is not available in the sizes/colors we need.

These headset intercoms work great! We use them while riding our e-Bikes. The range is surprisingly good at about 2,500 feet (three football fields). I don’t like to have my wife be out of sight so being out of range rarely happens. The intercom audio quality is very good too. They are full duplex (2-way audio, just like a telephone) so there are no buttons necessary to talk to your partner. We feel much safer using them too. We warn each other about objects on the road, approaching vehicles from behind, other riders approaching, dogs, animals, and any icecream shops spotted on our route. We do not use the phone or radio functions. Turn your Bluetooth off if you don’t want those intrusions while you are riding. Note that the Sena pi version is only for two riders. If you need more than two, there are other Sena models available that will allow more than two riders.

I bought these and later returned them. Here's why: This is the safest way to listen to music or make/ take calls while you ride. The speakers hang on the helmet straps in front of your ears, but not covering them, so you can still hear 100% of the road sounds- cars, other cyclists, your bike, etc. The downside is that the sound quality is pretty bad. Nothing even approaching in-ear buds. Fine for voice, awful for music. But, a lot safer. All of the Bluetooth related stuff was perfect- instant pairing and connection with the phone, button press commands on the headset instantly recognized by the phone, etc. Well implemented. After a few rides I noticed that they (specifically the braided cords where they enter the main speaker units) were getting crusted with white salty minerals from my perspiration. We sweat a lot when we cycle, that sweat runs down the helmet straps and collects on these speakers where wind dries and concentrates it. That concerned me, because these are electronic devices and salt is a highly corrosive electrolyte. If even a drop of it got in there, they'd be ruined. I contacted Sena tech support and what ensued was a non-response run-around where they essentially failed/ refused to assure me that the device was designed and built with that corrosive perspiration reality in mind, and that if a failure occurred as a result, that they'd stand behind their warranty. "Please submit a photograph of the device showing its serial number so that we may better serve you in the future". Blah blah blah. How about you serve me now by answering my questions? I had already submitted a copy of the Amazon purchase receipt and a photo of the label on the box showing the model and serial number so they had iron clad proof of purchase, they were just jacking me around. I don't do business with companies that won't stand behind their products and whose first response is to jack their customers around. So they went back. Too bad, because I kind of liked them.

We bought to attach to our hiking hats so we didn’t have to keep yelling “I can’t hear you” all the time. They work fine but don’t have the range that our Sena bike helmets do. I’d say these have maybe 2/3 the range. We love the bike helmets and hoped these would be similar. I also wish they had a better system for attaching to things. Obviously these are sold as units to attach to the straps of standard bike helmets, which they do fine. But hiking we don’t have those 1/2 webbing straps on our hats so attaching these is a challenge. Not Sesa’s fault, just a wish. Anyway, good sound quality, easy to pair and use. So for cycling, these would be great if you want to keep your current helmet.