Sena 30K install into Bell Pit Boss half helmet

[@donmamula1198]

Awesome video and you nailed it. Love the helmets and to have the mic for us is awesome without having to spend big $$$'s for new helmets.

[@gnpfam5]

Thanks for the video, especially about the ear pads. My Sena came before the pads. I discovered the zip-out neck curtain in my Bell Pit Boss had audio pockets, so I used it. It works! Pro: no additional cost. Con: 1) might be too hot (I’ll see), 2) the wires out of the Sena face the back; must be wrapped around the front side of the helmet’s ear piece (the wires show on both sides). Not a big deal to me.

[@nuke6030]

I considered using the zip-in neck warmer as speaker pockets, but its VERY HOT in the summer to ride with that fur against my ears and neck, especially on longer rides. The ear pods are a good compromise on those hot summer days. Since the recording of this video, I've moved this setup to a Vega Warrior helmet which is much more comfortable. That helmet doesn't have a zip-in neck liner so the speaker pods worked out beautifully. Thanks for the comment!

[@notsure7874]

@@nuke6030 That looks like a clone of the Pit Boss, but I really like the quick release instead of D rings. Might have to give that a whirl next time I need one! I almost have to wonder if the visors are interchangeable ...

[@claudiagood4133]

These instructions worked perfectly! Thank you so much! Followed the steps exactly and worked like a charm!

[@NeilMonaghan-pq1gj]

Good review brother from another WS (Oddjob) from across the pond.

[@greggmarshall1357]

Thanks Brother. Great video. Will look into this system and hope it fits my helmet the same way. WS. Kinsmen Redeemers, Rockford, IL

[@MacRides1]

nice job. i was looking for a new half helmet so i went out and bought the same Bell model from amazon as well as the ear pods.. doing my install next week !

[@rodmess5514]

Hey Nuke, thanks for the video. I wanted to let you know that if you’re unhappy with the speaker pockets you bought, the zip in liner that comes with your pit boss has integrated pockets for your speakers. Thanks again.

[@rodmess5514]

Never mind. Lol. I should have read the comments first.

[@kmeades43]

Hi man, Thanks for that.. Very useful info. Ride safe from Sydney Australia ✌️

[@SENPAI-KURO-OBI]

Great video and love the finger light

[@nuke6030]

Thanks brother! I hope it was helpful.

[@MrEye4get]

Thank you for this great video!

[@mikebushert594]

Great detail, thank you Nuke. Super interesting because I am basing heavily my decision on watching installs of Sena 30k vs Cardo Bold. BTW wife has the HD version of you & yours Bell 'Pit Bull's' that came with leather padded zip in liner & snaps at ear pockets for the speakers for an even easier install. Leaning towards the Sena now because of the allen wrench mount bracket that's clean & sturdy, vs Cardo and use ticky backs, glue etc. Also have to purchase a boom mike separately for 1/2 helmet installs! I did like the JBL's in Cardo though.

[@nuke6030]

Thanks for the comment Mike! We really like the SENAs. They have worked out very well for us. A lot of the wind noise problem was resolved by getting a taller windshield on my wife's Spyder. We actually transferred these communicators to the Vega Warrior helmet because the size adjuster was MUCH smaller and was much more comfortable. I wouldn't think you'd be disappointed with the 30K!

[@sumimasn]

@@nuke6030 Hi Mike, have you by chance used the Sena with an open face helmet with a standard or similar to standard Harley Touring bike (normally the rider looks over the windshield not not through the windshield) height and if so, how was the sound on both ends? Thanks much

[@GreenVersys]

Thanks and great video! How did it sound?

[@Joe1qz]

I just hope the mic is more robust than the traditional one offered by Sena. The little arm which holds the mic doesn't last! I'll give a try to the Sena Cavalry instead which offers an integrated mic.

[@ScottSal-qu9fh]

Thanks bro, great demo, very helpfull..

[@johnnykonkler5907]

Hey Brother! Been looking for a half helmet with Sena & came across your post. Ordered a Pit Boss & found Sena Mesh on Ebay. Can't wait to get it all together! Froggy, Widows Sons Motorcycle Riders Assn. Grand Chapter, Arkansas

[@ericbarcomb3602]

Thanks

[@samtomaine]

If you just want to communicate with your passenger only, do you need to connect the antenna part but keep it down?

[@bobnafzinger3300]

so how did these work on the road at speed?

[@wrwebb9272]

Good Job!

[@matthewashleywilliams805]

Could you give an updated link to the speaker pods and the size original one is not working thanks

[@zackparrish2751]

How do these actually function while riding? I don't have a windshield and I don't want to waste money if I can't here them due to wind. I also wear earplugs because of the wind. Would I still be able to hear these things going down the road??

[@stevemeade6246]

Nice job Brother.

[@nuke6030]

Thanks 👍

[@joebuzzell2808]

Thank you!

[@AlexS420]

Love that finger tattoo, Nuke!

[@nuke6030]

Thanks brother!

[@biglee6053]

Like your shirt!

[@nuke6030]

Haha... thanks. A little nuclear nerd humor for y'all.

[@manthony419]

Hi Nuke. I like the half helmets too because I have a full fairing on my FJR 1300 so this was a really great video and help to me. Now that you have used it how do you find the sound of music and communications in a half open helmet with the boom mic? I did purchase a Sena 50s today dual kit. Thank you. Mark

[@manthony419]

I missed your reply about the reboot problem. I guess my last question is about quality of music and quality of communications on the mesh network with a half face helmet?

[@nuke6030]

Hi Mark! So the short answer to your question is that there is no better option I have found for putting high quality communications in a half helmet, but it's not without some minor flaws. If you were to compare it to a full face helmet install, I'd say this is about 85-90% the audio quality of that. The main difference is that the speaker that sits on the left (where the main unit is attached) is pressed against the ear more firmly than the right, so you hear that one louder than the other. However, with the power of the Sena, you can still hear the audio just fine at highway speed (as long as your windshield is tall enough to block the wind noise). As far as the rider to rider communication goes, it's great! I can hear my wife and she can hear me as long as the mic is properly close to your mouth. That being said, there is still a little wind noise from her bike as her new windshield is taller, but still lets significant wind come in from the lower vent. However it's very manageable and I pretty much tune it out now, and we still haven't done the "balloon trick", which may eliminate what little wind noise is left. She says there is no wind noise at all from my mic (on my 2015 Road Glide with a 15" Freedom Shield) so it all depends on how well your bike manages wind to the rider. Finally, about the mesh network, we use that exclusively now. We had several problems with managing a bluetooth connection. It seems that (at least with the firmware we are running) the 30K has a terrible time switching from audio to comms and back multiple times without hanging, but the mesh network seems to link just fine and if we want privacy, we just set up a private mesh. Thanks for the question, if I can help any further, don't hesitate to reach out.

[@Docbpa]

@@nuke6030 Hi Nuke. Great video! I may have missed it in the video but what is the "balloon trick"? Thank you!

[@nuke6030]

@Docbpa Hey Doc, so the balloon trick is you find one of those really small balloons, or even the finger tip of a latex glove and stretch it over the microphone UNDER the windsock (the sponge that covers the mic) and zip tie it in place with a tiny zip tie. Then put the windsock back in place. The theory is that the frequency of your voice will pass through the latex but the wind cannot pass through and the latex will eliminate most if not all of the wind noise. It has worked for me in the past with other communicators with minimal impact to the quality of the voice transmission.

[@Docbpa]

@@nuke6030 Thank you Nuke!

[@RafaelJimenez-hz9gu]

Sir, quick ? Your helmet does it have the flip down lens? I have the same one with Harley model and I was told I cannot use a short style helmet Thank you.

[@nuke6030]

Yes, sir it does. The pit boss helmet has the pull down visor on it. Harley did made a version of the pit boss for a short time. I have since moved this setup to my Vega Warrior helmet and it performs exactly the same. Installation was exactly the same as the pit boss.

[@RafaelJimenez-hz9gu]

@@nuke6030 thank you very much

[@timothygrocott8375]

I’m looking to use this for listening to audiobooks. Do you think I’ll be able to hear them like this?

[@nuke6030]

The answer depends on a couple of variables. First and foremost, the largest single factor is wind noise, so your level of wind management will directly impact how well you can hear these at speed. Other factors include your exhaust and how clearly you can hear. The Sena 30K has some moderately powerful speakers. If your input device can deliver a decent level of audio, the 30K should reproduce them loud enough so that you can enjoy your audiobooks. This is assuming that you have a properly sized windshield and your exhaust doesn't overpower your surrounding environment.

[@wingandhog]

Hmmm…. I have a Pit Boss and a single Sena 30k. My Sena is installed on my Modular helmet right now, but I like to use my half helmet on occasion. I may buy a spare mount. I just upgraded my original speakers with the new H-D speakers so I can use my originals. Thanks for the video

[@kenjohnson6374]

Nuke, appreciate the video. Apologies if you covered my question and I missed, but why didn’t you use the speaker pockets in the zip-in neck collar?

[@nuke6030]

Sorry for the delayed response. I didn't use the zip-in neck collar because it's HOT!!! I have a full face I wear in the winter time for cold weather, but in the summer, the zip-in collar is too warm around the back of my neck. The ear pockets were a good compromise, even though my ears still get a little warm on longer rides. Great question though!

[@Hellbillydeluxe1369]

Thanks Brother! WSFFWS

[@nuke6030]

Anything to help a brother!

[@kenbaldwin4951]

What is the part Number for this?

[@nuke6030]

What item are you looking for a part number of?

[@sfbroome]

You mentioned that your Pit Boss chin strap had a clip instead of a D-ring. How did you get one with that strap? Thanks for any help.

[@nuke6030]

I use the Echo brand quick release system. I prefer it over the others because it uses a metal to metal closure. I feel more secure when it's not relying on plastic to stay closed. You can purchase it on Amazon if you can't find it at your local motorcycle shop. It comes in a bunch of different colors too. Here's the Amazon link: www.amazon.com/Echo-Quick-Release-Black-Size/dp/B002MQCY7C

[@mattb8930]

How well did this system work at freeway speeds ?

[@nuke6030]

So that is the $64,000 question. The answer is different for me than it was for my wife. And it's not exactly a simple answer either. We've had a couple of issues with the 30k. Mainly, the bluetooth comms don't work great. When switching back and forth between comm mode and my Freewire, it would freeze up and drop connection to everything, forcing me to power cycle my unit and start the rider pairing process over again (a huge pain in the butt when on the road). This was alleviated by using the mesh comm network. My wife didn't have this problem at all connected to the bluetooth unit on her Spyder. As for sound quality, I can hear my music playing just fine, but I can't always seem to get my phone level high enough to hear every phone call clearly on the highway (not sure if this is a problem with my Harley infotainment or my phone) but the person I'm talking to seems to have no problem hearing me clearly. I have a Road Glide with a windshield that is the proper height for me with a flare that throws the wind over my head. My wife complains that she can't hear any comms on hers while on the highway, she rides a Can Am Spyder with a much shorter shield and gets a face full of wind. This also puts a lot of wind noise in the mic and in my speakers to the point I have to turn it down or off. We are in the process of getting her a properly sized windshield that should cut the wind noise and get the wind off her face to cut the noise out of her helmet and allow her to hear better and keep the wind noise off her mic. So to answer your question as directly as possible, it worked pretty good for me on my bike with a proper windshield, but not so well on my wife's bike with a windshield that was too short. I'm also going to try to install a wind deflector on her mic to cut down on some of the wind noise and see if that helps.

[@ninjalightning2631]

Helmet comes with speaker pockets why spend extra money