The Sena 10R is a bluetooth intercom for a low profile motorcycle helmet at an affordable price of $ 239 MSRP for a single device or $ 439 MSRP for a twin pack. It gets its compact profile from the fact that the control unit and the battery are two separate units.
3M double-sided tape is included to attach the control unit and battery pack separately to your helmet. I have a Brake-free light on the back of my helmet so I mounted the units side by side. Sena provides enough cable length to mount the control unit near your left jaw and the battery to the back of the helmet.
I mounted the Sena 10R on a modular helmet, so I preferred the Velcro-attachable boom microphone to the wired button microphone. It’s a little difficult to place and angle the pliable boom mic so you don’t pinch it when locking the chin bar while holding the mic close to your lips to provide the best quality audio for outgoing signals.
The Sena 10R launched in 2016 so it doesn’t have the latest mesh group intercom functionality and uses Bluetooth 4.1 software instead of the latest Bluetooth 5. However, it connects you with three other riders in sight. If I see you clearly in my rearview mirror or see your bike in front of me, I can probably hear you clearly on the 10R. I’ve never had a problem pairing Sena units for interference free intercom. The 10R will combine with other brands, but you will lose range and functionality.
The Sena 10R is auto-multitasking. So I can listen to my music on my smartphone and hear GPS navigation instructions. It also offers music sharing which gives my passenger or driving partner access to my music library. The 10R answers a phone call or initiates an intercom call with a voice command. However, for all other functions, like speaking to Siri or Google Assistant, you have to long-press the center button. There are only three buttons on the 10R, so it will take a few repetitions to learn the keyboard shortcuts needed to activate the function you want.
The + and – are raised, and raised ribs on each side of the LED. Finding them, even with winter gloves on, was no problem as my left elbow learned how far to bend to land my index finger on the 10R.
My mini-mental menu is as follows: when I want to speak, use the intercom or make a call, I press the middle button; the “-” button to turn the FM radio on and off; the “+” calls up the speed dial.
The Sena 10R has good speaker quality, although not as good as the premium offerings. My everyday helmets are modular or adventurous in that they make their own noise at highway speeds that degrades the hearing quality of even the best speakers.
When I ride the motorcycles I own at freeway speeds and wear my helmets, I have no problem hearing music or conversation. One of my standard tests is to call a specific friend while driving on the freeway. The friend heard my cell phone helmet calls from many communication devices. The call recipient reports that the sound quality of the 10R is as good as any. The Sena 10R eliminates background noise and the microphone picks up my voice clearly.
The Sena 10R’s batter gave me 12.5 hours of uninterrupted music streaming from my iPhone in controlled temperature conditions. You can bring a replacement Sena Lithium Polymer battery ($ 35 MSRP) if you need more time. Interestingly, Sena claims “up to 10 hours” of talk time – I beat her, though not in the field.
Sena says the 10R is more water resistant than waterproof. While Sena doesn’t recommend you ride in the rain, I’ve ridden in torrential rain for hours and my Sena units haven’t left anything out.
The Sena Utility App, available for iOS and Android, is compatible with the 10R and the device’s firmware can be updated.
The Sena 10R is a multifunctional Bluetooth communication device that can serve you well for many years if you can live without mesh. I still use its predecessor, the SMH10, which I have owned for over 10 years. There are more expensive motorcycle intercoms than the 10R that offer additional features and capabilities, although they lack the flat form factor. If you’re new to the intercom, the Sena 10R is a great place to start.
Sena 10R Specifications
DIMENSIONS
- Height: 1.4 in
- Width: 2.8 inches
- Depth: 0.5 in
- Weight: 0.78 ounces (excluding remote control battery)
- Speaker diameter: 1.6 inches
- Speaker depth: 0.3 inches
POWER
- Talk time: up to 10 hours
- Battery charging time: 3 hours
- Working distance: 0.6 miles (maximum of four drivers in a group)
- Bluetooth: 4.1
Sena 10R Price: $ 239 MSRP ($ 439 for twin pack)
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