Cardo Again: A Decision for Both of Us 🏍️
I finally stopped comparing intercoms and started installing one. Our used Cardo Freecom 4X Duo has arrived, and mine is now fitted to my X-lite helmet.
After eight years with our old Freecom 4 set, we have decided to stay with Cardo. Given my history, that probably won’t surprise anyone. I have used nothing else throughout my motorcycling life. You could say I am already thoroughly infected with the Cardo bug. 😂
Still, I didn’t want familiarity to make the decision for us. Your comments brought other options into the conversation, particularly the Sena 60S. It was useful to hear why other riders liked their equipment and what mattered to them on a trip.
But the more I thought about it, the more I came back to our own needs.
The Sena offers more than we would use. To me, that would be like buying a Ferrari when all my driving takes place in town with a 30 km/h speed limit. I could admire it, but I would be spending money on capabilities I rarely get to enjoy.
We ride two motorcycles. We want to speak to each other, hear navigation instructions and use the controls without making things unnecessarily complicated. That is what our purchase needs to deliver.
There was also someone else involved in this decision: my wife.
I enjoy getting to grips with new technology. She finds unfamiliar devices more difficult. What looks like an interesting new feature to me can mean another button or routine for her to remember.
Replacing our intercoms therefore had to be a joint decision. If we change, we change together.
Staying with Cardo felt comfortable for both of us. That didn’t mean we needed the most expensive model, though. Looking at the prices of new twin packs made me wonder whether buying used might be a better fit for our budget.
Eventually, I found a Freecom 4X Duo on Kleinanzeigen for €250. After a friendly exchange with the seller, we agreed on €230 for the complete set, with shipping and buyer protection added separately.
The original invoice came through as well. The set had been purchased in August 2025 for €405. Our equipment price was therefore €175 below what this particular set originally cost. That isn’t a comparison with today’s cheapest new offer, and our additional costs reduce the difference a little. Even so, it made replacing both devices much more affordable for us.
Getting the payment completed took more patience than expected. Kleinanzeigen showed some confusing error messages before its protected payment process finally worked. Fortunately, the parcel has now arrived, so that part of the story is behind us.
Unpacking was much more enjoyable than wrestling with the checkout.
After seeing so many product pictures online, I finally had the two devices, mounts, microphones and speakers on the table in front of me. Then it was time to install mine.
My first concern was comfort. Speakers inside a helmet can sound wonderful, but that means very little if they press against your ears for an entire afternoon.
Once everything was fitted, I put the helmet on.
Comfortable. No pressure against my ears.
Then I played some music, and that was the moment I really smiled.
Wow. The sound impressed me immediately. I had hoped for an improvement, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the first listening test quite so much. Sitting at home wearing a motorcycle helmet might look slightly ridiculous, but I was happy enough to keep listening. 😂
That is my first impression, rather than a verdict on the whole system.
We still need a proper ride together to find out how well the conversation works and how it behaves alongside Calimoto navigation instructions. The occasional crackling we experienced with the old setup also needs to be assessed on the road. We never established its exact cause, and outside interference may have contributed.
Our first tour could still be a while away. At this time of year, the weather doesn’t always offer the opportunity we want. There is no reason to force a ride simply because new equipment has arrived.
For now, I can say that the helmet fits comfortably, the music sounds excellent to my ears, and we have made a purchase we both feel happy with. Buying used also kept the cost below what I initially feared we would spend.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences during our search. Even if this long-time Cardo user ended up choosing Cardo again, those conversations helped me think about what we actually need.
The next chapter will begin when we take both motorcycles out and hear each other through the new set.
Together, as always. 🏍️🏍️
