Motorcycle Electronics for Long Rides and Commutes
The Cardo Packtalk Edge is our top pick for rider communication, with mesh intercom that holds a group together at speed. The Garmin zumo XT2 is the strongest dedicated navigation unit, while the Quad Lock Motorcycle Handlebar Mount Pro is the most reliable way to carry a phone.
For riders kitting out a bike, the Cardo Packtalk Edge leads our picks for communication, the Garmin zumo XT2 for navigation and the Quad Lock Motorcycle Handlebar Mount Pro for carrying a phone safely.
Motorcycle electronics are judged by different rules than car gear, because everything has to survive constant vibration, rain, glove operation and a battery that is not running while the bike is parked. Plenty of highly rated consumer devices fail all four tests within a season. We ranked these seven based on published ingress protection ratings, mounting design, power requirements and what owners report about vibration damage and cold weather battery performance.
How to pick the right one
Vibration kills more devices than weather does Engine and road vibration attacks solder joints, camera stabilisation modules and mount arms constantly, and a device that is perfectly happy in a car can fail within a season on a bike. Purpose built motorcycle gear is designed and tested for that environment. If you mount a phone, a vibration dampener between the mount and the bar is genuinely necessary rather than an upsell, particularly on single cylinder and large twin engines that produce the frequencies phones tolerate worst.
Check the ingress protection rating, not the word waterproof IP ratings tell you what a device actually survives. An IP67 rating means dust tight and able to handle temporary immersion, which comfortably covers riding through heavy rain. IPX4 means splash resistance only, which is not enough for a device left on the bike in a downpour. Comms units and navigation devices in this list publish those ratings; consumer electronics that only claim water resistance in marketing copy usually do not.
Plan the power supply before you buy A motorcycle electrical system has less headroom than a car, and accessories left connected to an unswitched supply will flatten the battery over a week of parking. Take power from a switched source or fit a fuse block with a relay, and add up the current draw of everything you plan to run. A maintainer such as the Battery Tender Junior covers the winter gap, and a tyre monitor or dash camera should be wired so it powers down with the ignition.
Everything must work with gloves on The best feature list is useless if you cannot operate it at 60 miles per hour in winter gloves. Jog dials, large physical buttons, magnetic mounts and voice control all exist for this reason, and glove capable touchscreens such as the Garmin zumo XT2 use resistive or specially tuned panels rather than standard capacitive glass. Before committing to a setup, sit on the bike in full kit and check you can reach and operate every control without looking down.
The best picks, ranked
Cardo Packtalk Edge
Cardo’s mesh networking is the reason this sits at the top: riders can drop out of range and rejoin the group automatically without anyone repairing devices at the next stop. The magnetic Air Mount is far easier to attach with gloves on than the older sliding designs, and the JBL speakers handle wind noise well. Owners report the voice command system works reliably at motorway speeds.
Pros
- Mesh network rejoins automatically after dropouts
- Magnetic mount is glove friendly
- Clear audio above typical wind noise
Cons
- Premium price for the category
- Full mesh benefit needs other Cardo units
Sena 50S
Sena’s 50S offers mesh intercom alongside standard Bluetooth, plus Harman Kardon speakers and a jog dial that is genuinely usable with winter gloves. It is the main alternative to Cardo and often the better choice if your riding group already uses Sena units. Based on specifications, the fast charge feature is useful when a lunch stop is the only charging window.
Pros
- Jog dial works well with thick gloves
- Both mesh and Bluetooth intercom modes
- Quick top up charging on stops
Cons
- Bulkier on the helmet than slimmer units
- Firmware updates are occasionally needed to fix pairing
Garmin zumo XT2
A phone works for navigation until it rains, overheats in the sun or the screen refuses to respond to a wet glove. The zumo XT2 is built for exactly those conditions, with a bright transflective display, glove capable touch and adventure routing that favours interesting roads. Owners report the offline maps are what justify it on trips where coverage disappears.
Pros
- Readable in direct sunlight
- Works with wet gloves unlike phone screens
- Offline maps for areas with no signal
Cons
- Expensive next to using a phone
- Interface takes time to learn
Quad Lock Motorcycle Handlebar Mount Pro
Quad Lock’s twist lock system holds a phone far more securely than spring clamps, and the Pro handlebar version adds a stiffer arm that reduces wobble. The important accessory is the vibration dampener, since engine frequencies can damage phone camera stabilisation over time. Treat that dampener as required rather than optional on any bike with a big single or twin.
Pros
- Very secure hold compared with clamp mounts
- Quick one handed attach and release
- Wide accessory range including wireless charging
Cons
- Requires a specific case for each phone
- Vibration dampener is a separate purchase
Battery Tender Junior 800mA Charger
This is the least glamorous item here and probably the one that saves the most money, because a motorcycle battery left through a cold winter often will not come back. The Junior switches to a float mode once charged, so it can stay connected for months. The supplied ring terminal lead lets you plug in without removing bodywork each time.
Pros
- Safe to leave connected all winter
- Ring terminal lead makes hookup quick
- Small enough to leave mounted in a garage
Cons
- Slow charge rate for a fully flat battery
- Not suitable for all lithium batteries
Innovv K5 Motorcycle Dash Camera
Innovv designs for permanent installation rather than a suction cup, with small front and rear cameras wired to a hidden control box. That is what makes it survive on a bike, since anything mounted externally with adhesive eventually vibrates loose. Based on specifications, expect a proper wiring job with a switched power source rather than a plug and play afternoon.
Pros
- Discreet permanent install with no exposed unit
- Dual channel front and rear coverage
- GPS data logged alongside video
Cons
- Installation takes hours and some wiring skill
- Higher cost than consumer action cameras
FOBO Bike 2 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Motorcycle tyres carry the entire machine on two small contact patches, and a slow puncture is far more dangerous than in a car. FOBO’s sensors screw onto the valve stems and report to a phone app over Bluetooth, alerting you before pressure loss becomes a problem. The tradeoff is relying on the phone as the display rather than a dedicated screen.
Pros
- Early warning of slow punctures
- Simple screw on installation
- Replaceable sensor batteries
Cons
- Needs a phone running the app to alert you
- Sensors add a small amount of rotating weight
Compared at a glance
| # | Model | Intercom | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardo Packtalk Edge | Dynamic mesh, multiple riders | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Sena 50S | Mesh 2.0 plus Bluetooth | Best for value comms | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Garmin zumo XT2 | Bright transflective touchscreen, glove usable | Best for navigation | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Quad Lock Motorcycle Handlebar Mount Pro | Twist and lock phone mounting | Best for phone mounting | 8.7 | Check price |
| 5 | Battery Tender Junior 800mA Charger | 800 milliamps | Best for battery care | 8.5 | Check price |
| 6 | Innovv K5 Motorcycle Dash Camera | Front and rear, dual channel | Best for dash cam footage | 8.2 | Check price |
| 7 | FOBO Bike 2 Tire Pressure Monitoring System | Two valve stem mounted sensors | Best for tyre pressure | 8.0 | Check price |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a dedicated GPS or is a phone enough?
A phone is fine for short urban trips with a good mount. For long distance and touring, a dedicated unit such as the Garmin zumo XT2 handles rain, direct sunlight, overheating and areas with no signal far better, and it does not stop navigating when a call comes in or the battery runs low.
Will handlebar vibration damage my phone?
It can, particularly the optical image stabilisation in the camera, which is a known failure mode on bikes with strong engine vibration. Fitting a vibration dampener between the mount and the handlebar substantially reduces the risk. Many riders also avoid mounting their main phone on high vibration bikes altogether.
Can I mix intercom brands in a group ride?
Usually yes over standard Bluetooth, which most units support for basic rider to rider intercom. Mesh networking is brand specific, so Cardo mesh talks to Cardo and Sena mesh talks to Sena. If your regular riding group already uses one brand, matching it gives the best experience.
How do I power accessories without draining the battery?
Take power from a switched circuit that only lives with the ignition on, or fit a relay driven fuse block. Avoid connecting directly to the battery terminals for anything that draws current when parked. For seasonal storage, a maintainer such as the Battery Tender Junior keeps the battery healthy without overcharging.
Are motorcycle dash cameras worth fitting?
For riders who commute in traffic, many find the footage valuable after an incident, since disputed liability is common in collisions involving motorcycles. A hardwired dual channel system such as the Innovv K5 is more robust than an action camera on a stick mount, though it takes far more effort to install.
What IP rating do I need for a motorcycle device?
Look for IP67 or an IPX7 water rating for anything permanently mounted, which covers heavy rain and washing. IPX4 splash resistance is only acceptable for devices you remove before rain. Note that the number before the X covers dust and the number after covers water, so IPX7 says nothing about dust ingress.
Do tyre pressure monitors fit any bike?
Valve stem sensors like the FOBO Bike 2 fit standard valve stems on most motorcycles, but check that your wheels have enough clearance and that the sensor weight is acceptable at speed. Some riders with high performance wheels prefer internal sensors fitted during a tyre change instead.
Can I install this gear myself?
Comms units, phone mounts and tyre sensors are straightforward do it yourself jobs. Hardwired dash cameras and powered navigation mounts involve routing cables under bodywork and tapping into the electrical system, which is worth handing to a shop if you are not comfortable identifying a switched circuit and fusing it properly.
The verdict
The Cardo Packtalk Edge is the single upgrade that changes group riding most, and the mesh system holds together in a way older Bluetooth chains never did. Pair it with the Garmin zumo XT2 if you tour beyond mobile coverage, and add the Quad Lock Motorcycle Handlebar Mount Pro with its vibration dampener if a phone is doing the navigation work.
