I agree with Chatterbox’s admonition to avoid placing calls while riding pull over to a safe place and stop, then enjoy the convenience of calling someone without taking your helmet off. Pairing the XBi2 to my iPhone and receiving/placing calls was simple, though sound quality was poor. Placing or receiving a phone call overrides both audio and intercom. If you pair your XBi2 with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, GPS or audio player, the intercom button lets you switch between the audio and intercom modes. This is especially helpful in emergency situations when you want to get someone’s attention immediately without fiddling with buttons. With the XBi2 units turned on, pressing the intercom button connects them with an audible beep allowing full duplex communication like an open phone line. Check out the new ChatterBox XBi2-H Plus here. Mounting tabs are built in to the helmet for the microphone and the ChatterBox unit, and you can internally route all of the wires for a clean look. Pairing the A2DP Bluetooth-equipped units eluded me after being flummoxed by the written instructions and Chatterbox’s instructional video on YouTube, a friendly customer service rep walked me through it over the phone. Up to 5XL available for all colors The CL-Max II is designed to seamlessly integrate with the new ChatterBox XBi2-H Plus Bluetooth Communication System. On a Shoei RF-1100, we used the provided adhesive hook-and-loop tabs to secure the speakers in each ear hole our HJC RPS-10 has handy speaker pockets, which makes removal easy, too. Full-face and open-face kits are available for the same price we prefer the open-face kit even with full-face helmets since the boom mic doesn’t have to be affixed to the chinbar and can be more easily repositioned. Installation was a breeze-the bracket is easy to insert and secure to the helmet, the boom mic fits right inside the chinbar, and the wires are easy to tuck between the helmet’s shell and padding. We tested two XBi2 units during the sport-touring comparison ride in this issue. The company’s more powerful XBi2 allows up to three units to be connected for bike-to-bike communication. ![]() Last year I tested the Chatterbox! XBi Bluetooth rider-to-passenger communicators ( Rider, February 2009), and my girlfriend Carrie and I have enjoyed using them ever since. Warning other riders of debris in the road only works if they are right behind you trying to negotiate when and where to stop raises my blood pressure. When I’m riding with a passenger or friends, communicating via hand signals is frustrating. ![]() I compose Pulitzer-winning stories on such rides, but something always gets lost in translation when I finally put words on paper. No iPod, rarely a GPS, just the voice in my head. Riding time is “me” time, with the plush interior of my helmet providing sanctuary from email, phone calls and deadlines.
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