A motorcycle intercom is the upgrade riders wish they had bought sooner: clear turn-by-turn directions in your ear, music on a long motorway slog, and chat with a pillion or riding mates without shouting through a visor. The market is essentially two big brands, Cardo and Sena, plus the usual cheaper unknowns. Here is how they differ and what to actually buy.
How to choose, before brand
- How you ride. Solo with GPS and music needs far less than a four-bike group ride. Buy for what you actually do, not the flagship spec sheet.
- Bluetooth vs Mesh. Basic units pair over Bluetooth, fine for two riders. Mesh (Cardo’s DMC, Sena’s equivalent) keeps a group of four or more connected reliably as people drift in and out of range. If you ride in groups, mesh is the feature that matters.
- Speaker quality. Cardo’s higher units use JBL speakers, Sena’s use Harman Kardon. Both are a big step up from generic speakers for hearing GPS and music clearly at speed.
- Good news on compatibility: Cardo and Sena units can now talk to each other, so you are no longer locked into whatever your mates bought.
The picks
Best all-round: Cardo Packtalk Edge
Widely rated the best overall intercom for touring and regular group riding. JBL speakers, reliable DMC mesh, around 13 hours of talk time, and a slick magnetic mount. If you want one unit that does everything well, this is the safe pick. Check price at Amazon UK →
Best for tech and ecosystem: Sena 50S
The pick for riders who value app integration and a proven support ecosystem. Comparable battery life to the Cardo, crisp Harman Kardon audio that suits phone calls and GPS prompts, and Sena’s mature software. Check price at Amazon UK →
Flagships (if you ride in big groups)
The Cardo Packtalk Pro and Sena 60S sit at the top, adding things like crash detection and, on the Sena, WAVE intercom that uses your phone’s cellular data to talk to riders far beyond normal range. Worth it for serious tourers and large groups, overkill for a solo commuter. Check price at Amazon UK →
On a budget
If you mostly want GPS and music solo, you do not need a mesh flagship. Cardo and Sena both make cheaper single-rider Bluetooth units that handle phone, music and basic two-way chat for a fraction of the price. Buy down to your actual use. Check budget intercoms at Amazon UK →
Cardo or Sena?
Honestly, both brands are excellent and you will not regret either. The rough split the community settles on: Cardo edges it for audio warmth and rock-solid group mesh, Sena for app polish, features and ecosystem. For most riders the Cardo Packtalk Edge or Sena 50S is the sweet spot. Only step up to a flagship if you regularly ride in groups of four or more, and step down to a budget Bluetooth unit if you ride alone. Prices move around constantly, so check the live price before buying.
New to all this? Start with the complete beginner motorcycle gear guide and sort your protective kit first, then add comms.
More guides: Complete beginner gear guide · Best first helmets · Gear safety ratings explained