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Upcoming Noise Control Helmet

Bill Simpson

February 10, 2016 22:22

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I'm really excited about the upcoming noise controlling helmets by Sena however, the high-vis yellow is too vis, for me at least. I currently wear the Shoei Neotec Borealis Helmet in high-vis yellow and it's a stylish balance between visibility and looks. My hope is Sena offers the yellow as they've shown along with something less loud for us safety conscious yet vain riders.  = ) 

Oh, and what's the planned release date aside for "some time in 2016"? Need any testers??  ; )

Thanks!

shoei_neotec_borealis_helmet_black_hi_viz_yellow_detail.jpg

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17 comments

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  Sena February 10, 2016 23:48

  The Sena Smart Helmet is still in development so the colors of the helmet can still change between now and when it is released. The planned release date for the Sena Smart Helmet is Spring 2016.

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  Ken Gillett April 04, 2016 18:11

  Which part of spring would that be? Can you be a bit more precise?

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  Ken Gillett April 04, 2016 18:14

  Also, what is the visor attachment system? I've been using Shoei for many years and their system is simply streets ahead of everyone else. How does the Sena helmet visor attach and pivot and how is it removed?

  What about the strap fastener. Just a basic D ring or a decent buckle type as Shoei used to use?

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  jody barton May 14, 2016 17:38

  ok its spring + when is the helmet going to be on the market??

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  Ken Gillett July 15, 2016 08:45

  Sadly typical lack of info about a new product. We're now well into Summer and still no sign of the new helmet. I can accept that it takes time to develop such products, but Sena themselves were saying Spring, but now we're well past that and Sena have gone silent. Why don't companies realise that the best way to piss off customers is simply not reply and withhold information.

  If it's not going to be till next year, OK, but TELL US.

  In the meantime, why not tell us more about it. A short video with sultry voice-over is frankly useless. What are it's capabilities? How well the noise cancelling works, or doesn't is something we'll have to wait and see, but how does its comms functions compare to other Sena products? I am VERY keen to know more as what it apparently offers, if it works, will be stunning, I think. But currently I use a 20S and after using the audio multitasking, I simply could not go back. Does the new helmet have the same capability as the 20S, or is it restricted like the 10S/U etc. Much as I want the new helmet, if it cannot provide the audio multitasking I currently have with the 20S, then I'm simply not interested and bemused as to how incompetent their design team must be to not realise that this new helmet HAS to match their best current other comms product.

  Hopefully my fears are unfounded and the new Smart Helmet does match the capabilities of the 20S, but why keep us in the dark. Will keeping it secret change my mind and make me want to buy it after all even without audio multitasking. Of course not. However it would impress me that a manufacturer is actually honest and open enough to let its loyal customers know in advance about new products and what they can actually do.

  So if anyone from Sena is reading this, tell us. Can the new Smart Helmet match the 20S. As I've asked before, what about visors and the fixing mechanism and of course WHEN?

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  Ken Gillett July 15, 2016 08:57

  As an adjunct to my comment above. I was keen to get a 10U for my J-Cruise with which I currently use my 20S. I now like the idea of built-in comms rather than a separate external module. But the 10U pales in comparison to the 20S. Basically, it's not worth considering and I wish I hadn't persuaded others it was a good product to buy. Specifically, it cannot do audio multitasking. For anyone not familiar, lack of this function means intercom OR SatNav, but not both. The 20S however has Audio MultiTasking and that means simultaneous intercom and SatNav instructions. Ok, it can be tricky to make sense of 2 simultaneous audio streams, but the advantage is that you don't have to keep connecting and disconnecting intercom. Just set it up and leave it alone, so you can talk and get SatNav instructions without having to mess with buttons and/or miss the turn because you didn't get the SatNav audio instruction as you were talking to a riding companion at the time. Audio MultiTasking is a 'must have' and I fail to understand why Sena still offer products without it.

  As for the new Smart Helmet - I'm not holding my breath :-(

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  David Shaw July 15, 2016 16:08

  Ken, the 20S audio multitasking you describe, where the intercom continues during gps directions, is only if you pair the gps via "GPS Pairing".

  I pair my zumo as a 2nd phone, so that it's also my "preferred music source"; in this case the gps directions take priority,  causing (annoyingly) the intercom to be interrupted / suspended, and my passenger doesn't also hear the directions.  There's then a beep at the end of the gps direction, to let us both know that we're 'back on' for intercom.

   

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  Ken Gillett July 16, 2016 08:27

  Ah, that may be so. I only use the iPhone and run CoPilot for SatNav. Seems daft to me to mount a second device when the iPhone (other Smart Phones are available :-) can do it all and frankly CoPilot does a better job than the TomTom Rider I tried and nearly threw into a ditch. A dedicated SatNav is basically redundant when you have a good Smart Phone and in this scenario the Audio MultiTasking is required as otherwise while using the intercom you get no SatNav directions. For years we struggled with the SMH10 in this regard and the 20S perfectly solves the problem.

  Sena also obviously see AudioMultiTasking as a good feature, hence its inclusion on their top of the line 20S. But when the new helmet will be even more costly, it would be bizarre if they crippled it with comms inferior to their best existing product, i.e. the 20S.

  Of course I have no way of knowing whether this is the case as info on the new helmet is hard to come by. Initially I was convinced it would have to match the 20S to make any sense, but I can find no indication that Audio MultiTasking is included in the new helmet and if it's not, that WOULD be a deal breaker. I just hope my concerns are unfounded.

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  Fred17 July 29, 2016 23:08

  You are a successful,  well respected company that came out with news about your noise cancelling helmet!!!   It is well past the timeframe that you gave for availability.  It would be wise, I think, to just give us an update.... even letting us know difficulties you you've encountered in trying to get this "right" before you offer it for purchasing.  SO, how about???????

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  Billjsimpson July 29, 2016 23:13

  I agree. I think very highly of Sena but this is embarrassing. I've mentioned this helmet to many over the last 6 months and when asked about it now I have to tell the truth and say I have no idea what's happening. It's embarrassing.
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  Sena Marketing August 04, 2016 00:06

  We are currently in development of the Sena INC Smart Helmet and will announce a release date once it has been completed. Thank you for your patience.

• 0
  
  Billjsimpson August 04, 2016 00:43

  Thanks, Chris. But uh, yeah we know that. We all would like to know if there's any new updates beyond what's been on the Sena website for the last 6 months.
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  Sena Marketing August 04, 2016 17:06

  Unfortunately, we don't have any new information available at this time to provide.

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  Stu Bassell November 29, 2016 19:17

  I read about the helmet in one of the cycle magazines and am very interested in the helmet.  Any update as to expected availability?  I'll make it to the NY motorcycle show this December to try it on to check for fit, if you have demo helmets there.

  My wife and I ride two-up and use the SENA blue tooth all the time.  It's been a fine, reliable product. Hope the same for the INC helmet.

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  Alex Ros1970 December 09, 2016 12:34

  So Chris, any word on the new Inc Helmet? One thing you guys may want to consider before you launch it in the market:

  Make it an auto sport helmet too, not just for bikers, you will reach a huge market and sell many more units

  I'm road race car driver and am interested in 2 of these helmets. I'd love to see it certified for road racing too

  thank you. Alex Ros

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  Sena Marketing December 09, 2016 23:33

  Unfortunately we don't have any new information about the INC Helmet as it is still being developed for its release in 2017.

• 2
  
  Brandon King March 27, 2017 20:40

  So, Sena.. It's Spring 2017. Any update on when you all will be releasing the INC helmet?