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You do not need a flagship Sena or Cardo to hear your sat nav, take a call or chat to your pillion. But the budget end of the market is full of rubbish: tinny speakers, mics that only pick up wind and batteries that die by lunchtime. Here is where you can save and where you should not.
Where you can save
- Mesh. Mesh is brilliant for big groups, but if you ride solo or with one other person, a Bluetooth intercom does everything you need. This is where you save the most.
- Number of riders. If you never ride with more than 2-4 bikes, do not pay to connect 15 or 24.
- Extras such as advanced voice control, FM radio or group music sharing. Nice, but not essential.
Where you should not skimp
- A brand with spares and updates. Midland, Cardo and Sena sell replacement clamps, speakers and mics and keep updating the firmware. Unknown brands do not.
- Decent speakers. With wind noise, poor speakers force you to turn the volume right up, which is tiring.
- Water resistance. It is the UK. It will rain, and the unit sits outside your helmet.
- Real battery life. Look at talk time, not standby.
Our two budget picks
| Spec | Midland BTX2 Pro S LR | Cardo Spirit HD |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Sound | 7.2 | 8.0 |
| Range | 7.8 | 5.8 |
| Battery | 9.0 | 7.8 |
| Ease of use | 7.0 | 8.8 |
| Value | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Mesh network | No | No |
| Max range (2 riders) | 1,600 m | 600 m |
| Talk time | 23 h | 13 h |
| Riders per group | 4 | 2 |
| Speakers | — | HD 40 mm |
| Water resistance | IPX6 | Water resistant |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 | 5.2 |
Highlighted in orange: the winner of each measurable spec. Manufacturer data.
Midland BTX2 Pro S LR: more battery and more range
The most capable of the cheap ones: up to 23 hours of talk time according to Midland, 1,600 m range and up to 4 riders over Bluetooth. Best for small groups or long days out.
Cardo Spirit HD: the easiest for two
Designed for two people: rider and pillion, or two bikes. 40 mm HD speakers, around 13 hours of talk time and Cardo’s app, one of the simplest. If you always ride with the same person, you need nothing more.
What if I want Mesh without flagship money?
The Sena Spider ST1 is the cheapest way into Sena’s Mesh network, with up to 18 hours of battery, but it only talks over Mesh. The Sena 50S costs more and adds Bluetooth intercom and Harman Kardon sound. Both work with any Sena Mesh unit your mates may have.
Quick answer
- Solo (sat nav, music, calls): either; the Midland for more battery.
- Two-up: Cardo Spirit HD.
- Small group of up to 4: Midland BTX2 Pro S LR.
- Big group or Mesh: step up. Read Mesh vs Bluetooth and our intercom guide.
