So what is this obsession with Bluetooth that makes me dedicate a web site to it?

The Bluetooth technology has many shortcomings and poses many challenges in order to get it to work as wanted. So why bother?

The answer is simple: As of today it is simply the best solution available for getting the communication system you want when riding a bike. Period. Yes, wired communication is still unbeaten when it comes to simplicity in set up and signal quality, but it comes with cables—remember? And if you are at all like me, getting tangled in a web of wires is not what you're after when out riding the open road (or in the traffic jammed city, for that matter).

Coping with one wire is already cramping your freedom to move and act; add a few for inter-bike, intra-bike (with your pillion passenger) communication, some for adding sources (cell phone, music, gps, etc.) and you may as well be buckled up in a harness. And there are cars for that… 

More and more of us like to have the services brought by cell phone, GPS, mp3 player, Bike2Bike  and a normal broadcast radio on board. With wired connections it all needs to be fitted more or less permanently in place, and if you are in the happy situation to have more than one bike—well, I guess you get the picture.

The Bluetooth technology can replace cabling between some or all devices/units on the bike—and potentially between the bike and the helmets.

Wireless Bluetooth technology is the way to go; there is no questioning that.

Take a look at these optional setups:

You can pair/connect your GPS directly to your helmet with no cables involved. (Not counting the power supply to the GPS.)

All voice information from the GPS is sent over Bluetooth directly to your helmet—and you will hear all messages clearly; without the interference of outside noise.

Quite a few of the newer GPS units are smart enough to add connections between your cell phone and the GPS over Bluetooth.
The sound from the cell phone is transmitted to the GPS unit, and the GPS transfers the sound on to your helmet.

Answering into your helmet mic, conveys your voice back to the phone by the way of the GPS, all thanks to Bluetooth.

Having the cell phone calls routed over the GPS gives you the added bonus of having calls visible on the GPS screen. Not only will you see that there's an incoming call, but given the right identifiers and equipment, you may see the number (and name) of the caller. The GPS let's you accept or reject calls by the push of a button. 

On some GPS systems this works both ways; your cell phone contact list (address book) is integrated with the GPS, so that you can also dial up and make outgoing calls by choosing a name or a number from the on-screen list. Or, say you want to contact a hotel which is indicated on the navigator system; having the GPS connected to your phone makes that equally easy. Press the info on the screen, and you're calling them. 

This illustrated set up has a cell phone connected to the GPS, and adds a Bluetooth enabled mp3 player and a dongle/module connecting with your FM broadcast radio.

This gives you the option to listen to music from your mp3 player and/or to FM radio broadcast.

One nice feature found in some of the more expensive Bluetooth helmet units, is the capability to prioritise between the incoming sources transferred to your helmet.

This means that if you are listening to your mp3 player—and the GPS tries to warn you about the next exit—the system cuts the mp3 music and in stead sends the voice from the GPS to your helmet. Letting you get the message uncluttered by any music or other conflicting signal.

Same thing if you were listening to an FM broadcast—and the phone rings.  The system will turn off the radio—and the ringing of the phone will be clearly heard in the helmet.

In this setup you are able to carry on a conversation with your pillion rider, and the pillion rider can share in on listening to the mp3-player or the cellphone, just like the rider.

Some Bluetooth enabled helmet sets are able to transfer voice directly from one helmet to the other, while other sets require a box—mounted on the bike or in your pocket—to do that.

There you have it: By using Bluetooth more or less all communications cables normally needed and mounted on the bike are replaced by small radio transmitters = Bluetooth.

The systems are getting better and more function rich and capable day-by-day. Admittedly, it is not all "a piece of cake" to put together yet, and that is the reason I've put this site together. Maybe, we can make the Bluetooth experience a little less troublesome—and maybe (hopefully) you can share your experiences with us. Learning from other people's mistakes is a good thing, learning from their successes can be even better!