Sena R1 / R1 EVO Smart Communications Helmet

Two things that might be helpful to know:First, I fall exactly in between the two sizes according to my self-measurements. On the Sena website, they recommend getting the medium if you fall between the sizes. I think this is bad advice. My medium fits, bit only if I have the adjustment knob dialed all the way out to its furthest position, and even then, I could see wanting it a few millimeters bigger. So if in doubt, get the large size. You can use the dial to make it smaller.The other question I had was, how is the quality of the actual helmet itself? Is it like those $25 Chinese branded ones? In a word, NO. The helmet itself, not even talking about the electronics, is great. I have some of those Chinese branded ones and a couple of Bontrager helmets, and this one is better made, more comfortable, and with better straps than any helmet I have owned. It has none of the fussy little problems that cheaper helmets have, like straps that twist up, liners that come loose, etc. This helmet is a keeper; if the electronics turn out to not be my cup of tea, I'll still wear it just as a helmet. It's definitely high quality.It's about 100 grams heavier than my other helmets. Feels great on the head, not too heavy, and very comfortable. I saved that 100 grams by switching my seat post to carbon, which wasn't all that expensive.As others have mentioned, the sound quality for music is not there. It sounds like one of those old am transistor radios. So voice is quite clear, but you're not going to be immersed in audiophile bliss. And that might be ok... you're hopefully focusing on the road and not as much on the particulars of music. I intend to listen to podcasts and lectures, and for this application it will be great, easing the pain of those 4 and 5 hour rides. Music will be fine too, if you temper your expectations. If it's music you're familiar with, your mind can fill in the missing details.Finally, there's the electronics. My helmet says on the inside that it was made in 4/2019. It needed a firmware update before it could connect to my iPhone. The update is easy to install, but you'll need to install an app on your Windows machine. I did not see an OSX or Linux app while I was on the Sena website. (edit: a helpful commenter below says OSX version now available.) Once the firmware is updated, definitely get the app for your phone. It's a lot easier to play with the settings using the app than it is with arcane button presses given in the manual. However, if you like, you can forego the app... it isn't required to connect the helmet to your phone.In summary, I'm quite pleased. I don't think I'll look like a complete Fred wearing this, but if I do, so what? I get to not worry about missing important calls, and I can learn Italian while I ride. Great deal.

UPDATE: June 2021. Helmets now almost 2 years old and still work like new. They keep a battery charge like new. We get 5-6 hours from full charge. Less if we are talking alot, talking on iPhones, or listening to radio/music. Sound quality still reasonable considering small speakers and features all work as new. Range typically about 700 feet line-of-sight with no obstacles. In level campground with trees, tents, and RVs range is about 250 ft. Wife and I use these everytime we bike and she smiles as Roadies on fast bikes pass us yelling at each other in conversation. She quietly says "yup, so glad we got these". Great purchase if you bike in a group of two or more. Bought two Sena R1 helmets. One for me and one for my spouse. Overall experience so far is very positive. We do a lot of leisure cruising along asphalt and gravel trails around Washington D.C. area. These helmets change the way we bike. It can get crowded and we get split up. We need to communicate hazards and important information. We contend with pedestrians, electric scooters, and all manner of bikes.Being able to communicate via intercom was our main purpose for purchasing. It has worked perfectly for deconflicting among all these various obstacles and kept us informed of each other's location over a 1/4 mile away. Intercom quality is very good. No wind noise though I can hear spouse's bike changing gears and rattling over bumps in the background. Volume level of intercom is adjustable. Must be some great filtering hardware/software here.Setup, connection to iPhones, and connecting intercom functions all straightforward following instructions and YouTube videos. Everything worked perfectly on first try. Remembering various button push combinations to get different functions to work takes some practice. Once paired for intercom, helmets re-connect when turned on again. Helmet has numerous adjustments to get a good fit. Inside pads don't appear very adjustable. Helmet build quality is first rate. Helmet weight is not really a factor as we can't tell difference between these and our previous Bell biking helmets.We bought these mainly for intra-bike communication and these helmets are excellent for that purpose. Having iPhone and FM radio capabilities are a bonus. Current Amazon discount pricing on these makes them a no-brainer in our view if you need a smart helmet.

I am a bike commuter, and I have long struggled to find a way to stay safe while still staying connected. I've tried many combinations of helmets and single-ear bluetooth devices, wired headsets, etc. But none have worked all that well. But the Sena R1 is my dream come true. It's a comfortable helmet that lets me listen to podcasts and Google Maps directions without covering my ears. And, most importantly for me, it lets me make and receive phone calls hands-free. The sound quality isn't optimal for music -- the speakers are above the ears (leaving you better able to hear road sounds ) and heavy on the mids and highs, kind of like an old-school telephone. But this sound is perfect for voice calls and dialog-heavy podcasts -- words are easy to understand. Best of all, people tell me that when I make calls from this helmet (a phrase I never thought I would be writing), I am clearer than they've ever heard -- better even than handset calls. So, if your goal is to stay connected on the road, this helmet is amazing.

Ich habe 3 Helme gekauft, und wir verwenden sie seit einer Woche.Verarbeitung ist 1A, sehr gut. Auch die Tonqualität bei Intercom ist sehr gut. Musikqualität ist sehr höhenlastig, aber ok. Von der Funktion her gibt es kaum Etwas auszusetzen. ABER:Der Hersteller kommuniziert konfus, man braucht viel Zeit um zu verstehen, was der Hersteller so gemeint hat.*) Es startet VOR dem Kauf: Sena X1 oder Sena R1 oder Sena R1 EVO? Schwer die Unterschiede zu finden. Hier sind sie: R1 EVO ist wie R1, nur hat er eine Actioncam eingebaut. X1 ist wie R1 nur eine andere Passform (R1=Europäer,X1=Asiaten).*) Betrieb: Es ist unmöglich diesen Helm ohne Anleitung zu verwenden. Da ist nichts intuitiv. Nicht nur sind die 3 Tasten zumindest 3-fach belegt (1xdrücken, 2x,3x drücken, halten..) sondern in den unterschiedlichen Menüs sind die Funktionen unterschiedlich. Lautstärke ist nicht überall 1x drücken - warum bitte?*) Funktionen: Dazu kommt, dss offenbar bei neueren Firmwares Funktionen weg(!)gekommen sind, aber die Anleitungen noch auf alten Stand sind. (zb: Musik via Intercom ist verschwunden). Noch dazu hat man im normalen Leben mit 4 Anleitungen zu tun (die unterschiedlich sind). Das mitgelieferte Heft, das PDF der App, und die Anleitung auf der Homepage, plus die Quickanleitungen. Dh. viel Zeit geht auf Try&Error - welche Funktion ist implementiert, welche nicht..Ich habe sicher 1-2 Stunden verbraucht um rudimentär verinnerlicht zu haben, wie die Basisfunktionen gehen. Ich bin vom Brotberuf ITler... Das hört sich krank an, ist aber so: Weil manche FUnktionen nur bei bei gewissen Modi funktionieren, dann wieder nicht, usw..*) Intercom: Die Intercom Funkion war der Hauptgrund diese Helme zu kaufen. Sobald es funktioniert: Wunderbar und grandios. Wir verwenden die Intercom beim Radfahren und klettern mit den Kindern. ABER:Die Bedienung ist grauenhaft. Druck auf 2 Knöpfe gleichzeitig ist Intercom, aber nur vom "Haupthelm", wenn der nicht eingeschalten ist, kommt gar nichts. Direktes Sprechen wieder ein anderer Knopf, auch hier wieder wichtig, dass der Haupthelm eingeschalten ist. Dann gibt es noch Funktionen mit Anruf abnehmen. Aber wenn man gerade in der Intercom ist gibt es eine Konferenz, usw.. Das ist nicht durchschaubar.*) Verbindungsprobleme: Und dann sind da noch die Verbindungsprobleme. Ab und zu verbinden sich die Helme nicht. also alle ausschalten und wieder einschalten..Dann sind beim initialen Koppeln noch die Anleitungen falsch (bis auf eine) - dh. beim Koppeln vom 3. Helm dachte ich an eine Fehlfunktion, bis ich dann eine "bessere" Anleitung gefunden habe.*) Die App: Jetzt denkt man sich, mit der App geht alles besser, da wird man koppeln können, und hat Hilfe die Schnellwahlnummern zu konfigurieren..NEIN. Es gibt 2(!) Apps - die eine ist irgendein Social-Media quatsch um Intercom mit entfernten Partnern via Telefon zu machen- habe ich nciht probiert. Die zweite (richtige) "hilft" beim Koppeln mit dem Telefon - Nein hilft nicht, weil die Anzeigen in der App falsch sind. Bitte einfach normal über Bluetooth koppeln, geht einfach. Dann werden noch 2 der vielen Anleitungen als PDF angezeigt.. (PDF..am Fahrrad.. am Handy...sehr schlau..). Und die letzte Funktion ist: Koppeln der Helme mittels Smartphone QR Code. Klingt gut, aber meine Kidner haben kein Smartphone, dh. das Koppeln klappt nicht.Zusammenfassung: Idee super, Helm sehr gut, Bedienung: Unterirdisch. Letztendlich behalten wir die Helme weil zur Zeit alternativlos, aber wir verwenden nur die Grundfunktionen: Musik und Anrufe über Handy, Radio, Intercom mit allen Teilnehmern. Laut/Leise. Der Rest ist mühsam und frustrierend.

I bought a pair of these helmets for myself and my wife for when we are out cycling and it allows us to have normal conversation without riding side by side or even close at all. We have been using Sena bluetooth comms in motorcycle helmets for about 10 years and found they are faultless. When I saw they had produced a system built into a cycle helmet I knew they would be good, but was very surprised by the relatively low cost, £100 here on Amazon although more expensive from other outlets. To buy a standalone Sena comms system which could be adapted to use whilst wearing a cycle helmet costs around £150. Sena comms units which can be fitted into m/cycle helmets costs over £200.Yet Sena have produced these, with only slightly less features, built into what is a very nice helmet in it's own right. Talking to each other out on a ride, even in strong wind is clear as a bell. The radio receiver is a bonus and reception is very good, no interference. Use the Sena app to put in preset stations of your choice. You can play music from a paired mobile phone, even share that music across both helmets so you're listening to the same music at the same time.

My wife and I are in our 70's and cycle many times a week for fresh air and fitness. Also our motorhome holidays are filled with cycling. With age hearing deteriorates and holding a conversation became difficult. Now with our Sena Evo helmets we can hold conversations at all times, even in windy conditions, and up to hundreds of metres apart. These helmets are brilliant and still allow you to hear traffic noise etc.

The mesh communication feature allows for having good communication with your riding partner, we use it for sharing riding directions, warn the other of potential dangers in the road or to carry a conversation while riding.The connectivity to the phone allows to take calls while riding and still pay attention to the road. The back light mskes the rider more noticible, which enhances safety (but its use will consume more battery). When riding alone listening to music is very nice, though the quality of the sound is better with headphones (such as my Bose SoundSport), the helmet speakers allow to listen to sirens, horns and even oncoming traffic that are important safety warnings. Overall I highly recommend this product.

The helmets were purchased with the view to be able to have conversations with each other. As we are not tech savvy it took some time to sync the helmets , we did find a great guy on UTube who showed us the right way. The helmets are very comfortable an added bonus , would certainly recommend.