Sena Pi Review | Convert Any Bike Helmet into a Smart Helmet!

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0:00 - Mountain biking with the Sena Pi
0:29 - A closer look at the Sena Pi
1:26 - Comparing Other Sena Cycling Products
2:00 - Make your own helmet smart
2:26 - My thoughts and features of the Sena Pis
4:04 - Audio quality, noise reduction and sample audio
5:06 - Attaching the Sena Pi to your helmet
5:52 - Sena Pi range test!
7:08 - Free way to support our channel!

[@EbikeEscape]

What Sena device do you prefer? Support Ebike Escape when purchasing a Sena Pi: amzn.to/3wY8FHG (affiliate link)

[@chrisswartzwelder8494]

Thanks for the review and the demo. Excellent video.

[@EagleOne49]

Excellent review! Ordered the Sena Pi using your link. Should be here in a couple of days. Thanks for the review.

[@EbikeEscape]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@byronkonold7080]

Just used your link to order a pair of these. Thanks for the review!

[@EbikeEscape]

Thank you, hope you enjoy them.

[@Daniel-od9ej]

Guys thanks for the video was great. Went out and got a pair of the Pi and they work great, for the price my wife and i are very impressed.

[@EbikeEscape]

Thanks Daniel! Glad you liked the video and more importantly the Sena Pis - just got back from another ride with ours.

[@miniguy1267]

ordered 2 sets thanks to your video..

[@justkrook]

Great vid. Just used your link to order 2. Thanks for this review!

[@EbikeEscape]

Thanks Keith - I really appreciate your support!

[@MRHEAT20]

Great review- thanks

[@EbikeEscape]

Thanks for watching!

[@opentheoutdoors]

Cool video! My wife and I have the Sena R1s and love them. We also have two Ride 1up 700 s/t's and want to record our trips via video and audio. I appreciated both of those in this video. Can you share your complete setup so I can get something close to what you have? I really appreciate any help you can provide.

[@EbikeEscape]

We use GoPros for. pretty much everything. My lav mic picked up the audio from the other rider - it's definitely not the best solution though.

[@someguyfromky]

I bought a pair of sena pi for my wife and I. We tried them out at our house. We live in a rual area. We got about 450ft apart and the units started breaking up. Any ideas about this?

[@EbikeEscape]

That is probably similar to our experience. When riding in the woods we can get about 200-300 feet apart before we start to get some break-up.

[@KevinMullarkey]

What about battery life? We typically go on a ride for 8-9 hours. Will the Sena battery last that long? Does the quoted '6 hrs talk time' literally mean when you are talking or the time that it is switched on, talking or not?

[@hisnameisiam808]

Good questions.

[@yvessabourin7396]

Do we need a cellular or if we can communicate without cell? Thank you!

[@EbikeEscape]

No cell phone needed. This communicates on its own mesh network.

[@hustlefrost127]

So would a pie connect to a R1? I thought you said yes in the video but the comments say it’s not cross compatible. Would appreciate any clarification. Thanks!

[@EbikeEscape]

It will not. Thanks for watching!

[@1physics]

​​​​@@EbikeEscape wow 1:56 it defo says that pi is compatible with R1 but only pairs to one device. Seems pretty unambiguous to me so very misleading if not true. I almost bought a combo R1 and pi but glad I didn't and tbh glad I found it cheaper than your link now too

[@brucesussin]

How would these work for a motorcycle rider to passenger full face to fullface helmets as a quick solution?

[@EbikeEscape]

That's a good question. I'd imagine it would work as long as you also can't hear the person's voice since there is a slight lag so it can get distracting. Sena makes motorcycle specific devices so I'd probably look to see what else they offer as well.

[@orenaofer]

My spouse and I love our Sena X1 and R1 because they make cycling together so much more fun. I just got the Sena Pi to test and was super disappointed to find that it only connects to 1 device! No bueno. What we don't like also that you mentioned is that they don't make a MIPS version. When I reached out to Sena support to ask if it's in the pipeline, I was told no. I was curious and asked how come, then the d-bag on the other end was like "if you don't like the product then don't buy it." Left a bad taste in my mouth.

[@EbikeEscape]

Yes, that is one downside of the Sena Pis. Sorry to hear about the support experience. Hopefully just a fluke and not representative of the rest of the company.

[@rik8809]

After seeing your comment, I did some searching on Sena’s customer service. They seem to have a lousy reputation.

[@videocapturing]

I believe MIPS is a patented technology, I forgot which brand carries it.

[@orenaofer]

@videocapturing Most well-known helmet companies offer MIPS or some variation of it. Yes it's patented which means Sena should stop being cheap and they should implement it.

[@hisnameisiam808]

​@@orenaofer can you tell me what brands sell these intercom type communications? I want to buy the best!

[@SCPVIDEOPRODUCTION]

My wife and I have Sena M1 are very nice. But when getting up in speed 25 MPH hard to hear due to outside wind. The wind reduction is good on the helmets. 1/4 mile range we rarely go out of range but I do wish it did 1/2 mile.

[@hisnameisiam808]

Thank you. Need this information. Anything else I should know?

[@jurgn.5996]

How about raining condition, are the PIs sensitive against water, what IPX standard? I like to wash helmets anyway after each ride under water tab, so do I require to mount and dismount PI each time?

[@EbikeEscape]

I'm not aware of any advertised IPX standard. It would be a good question to submit to Sena. If you do, let me know what you find out. I'd definitely take off the Sena Pi before washing.

[@jurgn.5996]

@@EbikeEscape The SENA Pi is not waterproof. Unfortunately, our headsets are not certified according to the IPX standard. SENA devices are not waterproof, only splash-proof in bad weather conditions. As long as it is not immersed in water, the SENA can also be used in rain (speaker openings should point downwards). Please make sure that it is not charged via the power connection when it is wet. When the device is not in use, it should be stored in a dry place. SENA products can be used in the rain without any problems. It just shouldn't be submerged in water. If something goes wrong due to rain, the 2 year warranty applies.

[@EbikeEscape]

Thanks for sharing!

[@JJ-kd1gk]

R1 EVO battery does not last long. I'm on my first replacement and it seems like I may need to do it again. Only got 30 mies on a bike ride before battery went out on me.

[@hisnameisiam808]

That's terrible!

[@tawnydannybell2617]

Returning mine. The battery life is horrible. Maybe I got a bad one idk.

[@EbikeEscape]

Bummer, how much time were you getting? We charge them after each use but have never had them not last a full ride.

[@housil]

I´d like to buy them but read too many complains battery charges do only last 2 hrs but we do bike toure up to 10 hrs.

[@EbikeEscape]

Sena rates the battery for up to 6hrs of talk time. I think we average 4-5hrs of talk time on a charge.

[@housil]

@@EbikeEscape "Sena rates" is what the seller says to sales their product. I prefer the user reviews as they are agenda free.

[@MrBlueskyguy]

How long are you able to use them between charges?

[@EbikeEscape]

4-6 hours of talk time between charges. We typically use these on our mountain bike rides. We tend to go multiple rides without charging these. Love the Pi.

[@CaviDS]

I had the Sena helmets but I quit as i did want MIPS. I recently bought the Aleck Punks, and am trashing them, way too complicated and only work with cell service, so of my last6 rides they only worked once.

[@hisnameisiam808]

Bummer! Anything you recommend?

[@omega9omega924]

Hi 👋, how are they in a windy environment?

[@EbikeEscape]

Have mainly used them out on the trails without any severe wind but generally I've been super impressed with Sena and the noise reduction.

[@omega9omega924]

Thanks 🙏

[@bobby0panganiban]

Can PI pair to EVO

[@EbikeEscape]

Unfortunately not. One of the downsides of the Sena Pi. Thanks for watching.

[@mingan1129]

How is the wind noise prevention function?

[@EbikeEscape]

The wind reduction in my opinion is downright impressive. I've never had any issues.

[@mingan1129]

@@EbikeEscape thanks

[@lordieshepherd]

Would have been nice to see how to pair them.

[@EbikeEscape]

We try and do reviews and only show info that isn't better detailed in the the instructions manual. We will keep this in mind for next time though.

[@bjnslc]

@@EbikeEscape the instruction manual is terrible. No mention at all about pressing the minus button five seconds to manually pair two units (when they're powered on). The app is worthless.

[@PommyLump]

My wife and I have a pair, we find them pretty unusable cycling into a headwind, the wind noise is horrendous, they might be ok when crawling along on a trail.

[@EbikeEscape]

The helmets are surprisingly good in my opinion. I use these more for mountain biking.

[@PommyLump]

@@EbikeEscape We have had a couple of sets of cardo BK-1 DUO we have used for about 10 years and they were excellent, that's probably why I am so disappointed in the Sena Pi's

[@LPGamble]

Sena, double the space between the prongs to install on the helmet strips.

[@hisnameisiam808]

By some extra strap and make yourself something custom or just use zipties or velcro wraps

[@EbikeEscape]

I'd love to see a Pi 2.0

[@scottpettitt5173]

does your R1 Evo connect to the PI? or do you need to wear them both. what do you do with 3 or 4 riders?

[@EbikeEscape]

So the Sena Pis are limited to two users. The regular R1s are limited to I believe 4 users and the R1 Evos if I'm not mistaken are pretty much unlimited users. They are not cross compatible.

[@hisnameisiam808]

​@@EbikeEscapethey dropped the ball there. Should have made all of their products cross compatible and unlimited pairability. They would sell a lot more. As it is I'm probably not going to buy them based on that fact. 😢

[@MarioRodriguez-eb1nt]

We're to buy

[@EbikeEscape]

Best place we have found is Amazon: amzn.to/3WBlEvI (affiliate link)

[@andrewshively6475]

I think I’m gonna pick these up cuz I simply can’t stand the look of the helmets in the Sena lineup. Sena needs to make a more aesthetically pleasing helmet.

[@tedbellWRV]

This review of the Sena PI spends a little too much time talking about the other Sena helmet products and promotional information - with little talk about the archaic firmware updated program that must be used on a Mac to update the firmware on a Sena PI. Also no talk of the problem experienced by some on an iPhone when Apple’s Music keeps interjecting in the PI’s use. Would appreciate showing details on how to set up two PIs, as some people complain of problems.

[@EbikeEscape]

Can't the updating be done via the actual "Sena Utility" iPhone app? I have yet to have to use my actual computer for anything with the Pi. We almost exclusively use these for their intercom function. Are you having issues when using the intercom and music together?

[@tedbellWRV]

@@EbikeEscape Sorry for expressing my frustration! No one on KZbin that I could find, including Sena, shows the details of pairing two PI devices together. We only were interested in the PI - as a helmet solution has too many issues (battery life, fit, quality, MIPS, etc.). We only want to use our PI for communication. We have no interest in listening to music or even for answering a phone call. We were frustrated by the Sena PI, as my wife's would immediately go to the Music app on her iPhone. We attained communication one time for a few seconds and then back to Music for my wife. Nothing could stop the Music app (turning off auto-play, etc.). Googling showed this is a common problem. When using the Sena phone app on an iPhone 13 Pro Max with latest iOS updates, , the app informed me that I could not update the PI firmware with a phone and had to use a computer. The crude firmware updater program for my Mac was similar to something I might have used 10 or 15 years ago to update a digital camera. It was difficult to determine if each PI device had successfully updated. As an aside, we also tried the Aleck Punks, which worked for about an hour, and then on our way riding back home started to have issues (scratchy interference, sound from only one side, etc.). Hopefully someone comes up with a solution, as we would pay twice the price of the PI's - if they actually worked.

[@EbikeEscape]

Very interesting. Thank you for adding a bunch more context. There is a way to connect the two Pi’s together without using your phone at all. I actually have stopped connecting my phone to the Pi all together. If you still have the devices. I would recommend disconnecting and “forget this device” for Bluetooth. Then turn both Pi’s on, and press and hold the (-) button for 1 second (till you hear the first beep). This will put the Pi into intercom pairing mode, do this with both headsets. And hopefully they will connect, and work as strictly an intercom….. like you were hoping for.

[@tedbellWRV]

@@EbikeEscape Thanks - good advice. We could never get the Sena PI to work when paired with our phones. Music kept turning on and playing on my wife's iPhone (13 Pro with latest iOS updates). I did not have the same problem on my iPhone - same phone, but "max" version. Anyway, doing as you suggested, forgetting the Sena PI on the two phones, and pairing the two comm units to each other directly worked. All of a sudden we had an intercom. Exactly what we were looking for. You were a big help!

[@EbikeEscape]

Glad I could help. I Really like the Sena Pi's, but understand some of the back end things can be finicky. The unfortunate nature of some tech.