We want to communicate with each other and the outside world and also to search information from the web so we need cell phones and/or pads.
We want to record the moments for the future and for our close ones si we need cameras.
We want to navigate easier way than only with traditional paper map so we need some kind of navigator.
And we also want to communicate with each others while we are riding. That doesn't only enhance the quality of the trip and make things easier but is also a safety factor.
Of course these are not necessary cause the bike runs with fuel, but these gadgets make things easier, faster, more fun and more safe. So we might find ourselves in a situation where we see lot of electronic equipment in our packing list and we need a plan how to charge them. Or we dont't even know what we need.
Here's our thinking:
We all had our cell phones for personal communication and photoing plus two iPads. Pad is easier for using internet, for example when booking hotels or planning the routes with online/offline maps. We found very useful to download the whole maps to the phones and pads so that its easy and fast to get the city names, routes, hotels, gas stations etc. also when you are in the middle of the desert without any 2G or 3G coverage at all, not to mention wifi networks. We used Nokia Here for this and it worked very well.
For navigation we used paper map and cell phones navigation programs (we didnt have separate GPS gadgets). We also didn't have the navigation voice instructions directed to our helmet speakers, which would of course have been the best way cause then you could keep your eyes on the road and not constantly remove your sight from the road to the phone in the tank bag. But we managed with this way very well.
We didn't bring SLR cameras with us. Instead we had three GoPro's with different mounts, in adition to our phone cameras (still we wished many times that we would have brought a good SLR camera also cause many situations would have deserved a better camera than iPhone or Samsung cameras).
For internal communication between four bikes we decided to use PMR Phones due their long distance functionality. We looked at all the modern intercom and bike-to-bike systems but most of them
- were designed only for driver-passenger conversation, or
- were designed to be used between 2-3 bikes, or
- had too short operating distance (many Bluetooth and radio freaquency phones have maximum distance of 300-400 meters and we found many times that PMR's even 3km distance functionality was very usefull for us), or
- were too expensive considering our budget (we didn't want to invest much cause only one of us had a bike at the time so those gadgets wouldn't have much usage after the trip).
Naturally it would have been great to get also music and GPS voice directed to helmet speakers but that would have required fansier and more expensive systems. Our main priority was to have well functioning bike-to-bike-communication built with low budget.
We already had Midland PMR phones so we only had to buy the microphone-speakers-tangent-system for Midland which cost about 30€ each in Finland so our communication system cost totally 120€ for four drivers. Good quality PMR phones cost generally about 50-100€/$.
The speakers and mic were very easy to amount to four different brand helmets. Everyone of us did this by themselves, including the heart surgeon and the economic. Some electricians tape is good for to secure that the wireing stays on the helmet for weeks, also in windy situations. Our system worked perfectly for the whole trip.
Helmet set cable glued to helmet with alot of electricians tape to prevent the wind pulling out the wires.
The speakers amounted inside the helmet. Almost all modern helmets are designed so that you can mount the speakers to a good spot near your ears. They are usually fixed with velcro stickers.
The microphone attached inside the helmet, just in front of the mouth. The closer the microphone is to the lips, the better is the voice quality and the less there is distracting noice.
Also the tangents were easy to amount to the mirror holder. Depending on the bikes grip you could also mount the tanget there but we found out that in BMW, the thumb would be in weird position and so, harder to use. The more easy and natural the tangent is to use, the better cause it is used hundreds of times a day and some times you have to press it suddenly when for example to warn about something. Thats why this is an important issue.
Regarding the communication system, we want to emphasize that you can find a lot of great communication and intercom systems on the market but as mentioned, we didn't want to invest alot and we prioritised the bike-to-bike feature the highest. The best brands for communication at the moment we found out to be ScalaRider or AutoCom. ScalaRider was the most used by the fellow riders on the trip, especially un intercoms. Generally it seems that trend goes towards wireless systems, like ScalaRider.
Anyway, our cheap system worked perfectly for the whole trip. The first rider can warn about other vehicles on the road, lamas, sheeps, cows, horses, dogs or emus blocking the way, you can inform to others about something interesting you see, you can give and discuss the route and navigation or you can just chat with each others. So we think that this kind of system is priceless and takes the quality of riding in a group to another level.
About charging:
We bought an international adapter which works all over the globe. To that we mounted extension cord with multiple sockets. We needed many sockets cause charging four PMR phones took four sockets alone. We also bought a good quality USB charger which had eight amperes output power and five ports so we could charge the pads, phones and GoPro batteries simultaniously.
We also had couple external USB batteries to be used to charge USB devices while riding, if needed.
BMW (and modern bikes generally) have a 12 volt output so that with suitable adapter you can charge all USB devices while riding. This is very important especially for the navigator so that you have GPS every time you need it.
Of course its easy to take 12 volts straight from the battery but more and more new bikes nowadays have it already as factory assembled.
If you need to charge small 110/230 volt gadgets, you may be able to use a little inverter which transforms 12 volt direct current (DC) into 110/230 volt alternative current (AC). But here you have to check how much load you can add after the 12 volt output or if you take it straight from a battery, check what is the max outout power of the bikes charger.
If you are not a self made home electrician, we suggest to ask from a skillful pro and if you are renting your bike, you can ask the renter cause they know the specific bike well.
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