PRODUCT REVIEW
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO
OUR INTERCOM PODCAST
Model: Cardo Packtalk Bold
Price: Two pack $1095, single $599
Info: www.motogear.co.nz
When you slow down the volume comes back
down also. This is a feature you can turn off,
but I’ve found it actually quite handy.
CLARITY
The sound from these remarkably small JBL
speakers is impressive to say the least. I’m a
studio producer in my day job, so bad sound
really irritates me. But these are quite good
and in comparison with other brands they’re
definitely superior.
Clarity of sound when listening to music is
really good. Below 80km/h rider to rider
communications is really good. I did find at
100km/h that wind noise in my helmet made
hearing my riding buddies a little difficult, but
that’s possibly my helmet and my tired old
ears. If I had swapped the JBL speakers for
some silicone topped ear buds, then I’m sure
this would have made things a lot easier to hear
above 80km/h. And because the units come
equipped with a standard headphone jack,
this is easily doable without removing the
JBL speakers from your helmet.
Comments from people I called were amusing,
most couldn’t believe I was actually riding a
motorcycle while on the phone to them. The
sound-cancelling from the microphone is rather
good, meaning the caller can hear me really well.
The Cardo Packtalk Bold twin unit pack is
available at the time of writing from Motogear.
co.nz for $1095, with a single Cardo Packtalk
bold unit available for $599.
We also recorded a full Kiwi Rider Podcast
Episode about these amazing little units, in
which you can hear what the quality is like.
Now, before you write these off as just
unneeded tech, something for the kids or
another millennial device you don’t need.
I highly recommend you give it a crack, it
could make some of those long straight
boring sections of monotonous highway
pass by a little quicker.
On the road trip I mentioned earlier, I brought
my second cardo unit and attached it to KR Editor
Ben Wilkins’ helmet. He’d not used one before
and doesn’t ride a bike without his ear plugs in
and said he really enjoyed listening to music, and
not having to shout to me when we stopped. He
said he’s not really an intercom guy... but, funny
thing is, I never got the second unit back.
30 KIWI RIDER