Down Shift – Cardio Packtalk is now subscription based.

Cardio, one of the leaders in motorcycle helmet to helmet and helmet to device communications has made a MAJOR change to how their product works.

The Bluetooth communications and intercom maker now has “Packtalk Custom” to allow you to “customize” the way you connect. The device itself sells for about $250US.

So, what do you get out of the box?  The ability to connect to nothing.  You must subscribe to the Silver Package to connect to your phone OR navigation system, NOT BOTH.

Subscribing to the silver package for $3 dollars per month gets you:

• Music sharing
• Three audio profiles
• Speed dial

Subscribing to the gold package for $5 dollars a month allows you to “expand your capabilities with Bluetooth intercom and a 2^nd device”.  The full gold package gives you:

• Universal Bluetooth Intercom (to allow you to connect to other brands of intercom)
• Bluetooth bridge
• Second channel connection (allows you to connect an additional device – without it, you can only have your mobile phone OR sat-nav OR bike’s dash).
• Music sharing
• Three audio profiles
• Speed dial

Subscribing to the Platinum package for $7 dollars a month enables:

• Voice commands
• Eco mode (up to 20% longer operation)
• Universal Bluetooth Intercom
• Bluetooth bridge
• Second channel connection
• Music sharing
• Three audio profiles
• Speed dial

My Take – WOW, why would I pay $250 dollars for something that I cannot use out of the box?  I will not be purchasing this device that is for sure.  IN FACT, I THINK THIS IS STUPID!

While I am sure that there are people who will do this, I would hope the vast majority of people will go to other brands.  We should not have to pay additional fees to be able to use the product we just bought. As is, you will need to pay $5 a month just to use what I consider basic features.

Ride two up…. an extra $7 per month to be able to talk with your passenger and do the normal stuff like phone and nav.

This subscription thing is a trend I have been seeing in other areas including cars and trucks and I hope that people are smart enough to not buy into this or otherwise it might spread. 

I can easily imagine a day where if you wanted 5^th gear you would have to pay a fee.

*****

Up Shift – International Female Ride Day 2023

The 17^th International Female Ride Day falls on May the 6^th this year.

For 16 years the IFRD has “shined a spotlight on Women riders and females in the motorsports arena!”

Nearly 20% of riders are women and that number has been growing over the years and I do not expect that growth to end anytime soon. Coming out of the pandemic more people and especially women are feeling empowered to do the things that they really want.

The goals of the event are:

• Highlight the number of women who ride.
• Encourage other women to take up the activity.
• Raise awareness about women’s equality in motorsports.
• Celebrate women’s advancement in motorsports and powersports.
• Ride for accelerated gender parity.

My Take: Anything that gets folks out and riding is a great thing!  That this team has been encouraging women to mount up and ride is just awesome.  I hope that we can grow the number of women riding from 20% to 30% in the next few years.

Ride on, Ride Safe