The Best Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmets of 2023

Making calls or listening to music while riding a motorbike can be a hassle. It’s hard to keep wireless earbuds in place when putting your helmet on, and battery life is an issue on long rides. Wired earbuds deal with battery concerns, but now you have a wire trailing out of your helmet and under your clothes instead.

It’s all very cumbersome, to say the least, and that’s before you even think about trying to skip tracks or answer a call. Tapping your earbuds is more than a little difficult when they’re underneath a helmet, and pulling out your phone mid-ride is a recipe for disaster.

That’s where Bluetooth motorcycle helmets come in. Appropriate for both recreational riding and the daily commute, they provide easier access to music, turn-by-turn directions, and voice calls while minimizing discomfort and distraction.

The better Bluetooth motorcycle helmets also include an intercom feature that’s useful when you’re riding with other people. Look for a simple pairing process that you can do in a few seconds before you set off, and a straightforward push-button approach to activate it once you’re underway.

The primary job of any helmet is to keep you safe on your ride, of course, and Bluetooth helmets are no different in this regard. All of the ones we recommend below comply with the official safety requirements in the country they’re sold.

As with standard motorbike helmets, Bluetooth versions come in three designs: open-face, full-face, or modular. While the open-face design gives better ventilation, the full-face design provides the most protection.

Modular helmets aim to provide the best of both worlds, letting raise the chin guard for ventilation or to speak freely with your riding mates, and lower it for extra protection the rest of the time. They tend to be a little heavier, however, because of the added weight of the hinge mechanism.

For Bluetooth helmets in particular, open-face and modular designs come with another consideration: more wind noise. Especially at highway speeds, this can significantly affect your ability to hear whatever you’re listening to, and for others to hear you clearly when you’re speaking.

If you’ll be riding with others, factor in the intercom range: your riding group can end up spread over a large area during a long ride, and some helmets work over a longer range than others. Also check the compatibility details, since while most helmets will pair with at least some other models from the same brand, cross-brand compatibility is rare.

Given all of the above, these are our picks for the best Bluetooth motorcycle helmets on the market right now.

Best Value Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet: FreedConn BM2-S

The FreedConn BM2-S is a well-designed modular Bluetooth motorcycle helmet that provides plenty of protection, comfort, and functionality for riders at a reasonable price.

As well as playing music, making calls, and listening to turn-by-turn navigation from your phone, there’s an inbuilt intercom with a range of up to 500m. You’re able to connect up to three riders, although only two of them can talk at the same time.

A multi-function button on the left side of the helmet lets you toggle media functions like track skipping and pausing, activate voice assistant, and manage calls. The noise-cancelling microphone helps reduce wind noise, although like all modular helmets, it’s unlikely to eliminate it entirely at highway speeds.

The rechargeable battery inside the helmet provides up to nine hours of talk time on the intercom, 12 hours on the phone, and 120 hours of standby time. That’s enough for a long day of riding, even if you and your buddies are chatting the whole way.

The BM2-S’s modular design includes a visor and sunshade for protection against sun glare. When it’s time to stop for a chat, you can simply raise your chin guard and sip a beverage while planning the route ahead.

The helmet has plenty of adjustable vents that keep the air flowing and the temperatures more bearable on long, hot rides. Even so, after a few sweaty days on the bike, you’ll be glad of the removable, washable lining: putting on a stinky helmet isn’t the most enjoyable way to start the day.

We like the five color options on offer, but would have liked to see a small size available as well as the existing medium, large, or extra-large options. That said, if the medium version is still too big for your head, the company will happily send out a new liner to ensure a better fit. 

The helmet meets the safety standards laid down by both the Economic Commission of Europe (ECE) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), making it safe and legal to buy and use across much of the world.

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Best Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet with Long Talk Time: Torc T14B

The Torc T14B Bluetooth helmet offers the longest talk time for riders that we’ve come across. Even on multi-day road trips you’ll only need to charge the helmet every two or three days, so there’s little chance of it going flat when you’re relying on it.

The helmet has an intercom, but it feels like an afterthought: it only pairs with one other helmet, and although it’s rated to up to 400m, it really only works well over a much shorter distance of about 50 feet (15m). It’s fine for talking to a passenger or someone riding directly in front or behind you, but that’s about it.

On the upside, the helmet has a colossal 24-hour talk time, or up to 600 hours in standby, which is the most we’ve come across. There’s a noise-canceling microphone to help manage wind noise, but as on some other models, don’t expect it to be fully effective once you hit highway speeds.

The helmet’s full-face design offers solid protection, and again, ECE and DOT certification means the helmet is legal and safe in much of the world. There is a visor to protect your eyes from insects and debris while riding, and an in-built sun shade that conceals itself in the helmet’s shell when not in use.

The visor is functional, but not amazing: there’s a little movement when it’s in the flipped-up position, and a risk of it slamming shut on bumpy roads. It’s just a bit flimsy, an unfortunate blemish on a helmet that otherwise feels very well put together given the comparatively low price point.

Ventilation is a concern with any full-face helmet, and Torc has taken that onboard, with multiple air vents strategically placed on the front, rear, top, and either side of the helmet ensuring a decent amount of air movement. It’ll never be as breezy as an open-face design, though: the extra protection comes at a price.

We liked the different graphics options on offer, with some being quite loud and obvious, and others more subtle, depending on the vibe you’re after. The helmet comes with a removable, machine-washable inner liner, and is available in a wide range of sizes from XS to XXXL.

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Best Modular Bluetooth Helmet: Sena Outrush

As with all modular helmets, the Sena Outrush provides the safety of a full-face helmet or the unmatched ventilation of an open-face design, depending on what you want at the time.

The multi-function control button is reliable and easy to use (something you can’t say about every Bluetooth helmet!), and lets you easily answer calls and skip tracks or change the volume level.

The HD intercom mode works well, with effective microphone noise cancellation even at higher speeds. You’re only able to pair it with one other helmet, unfortunately, but at least you get a useful amount of distance to work with: up to 800m (2600ft) in open terrain. Battery life is better than most, with up to 15 hours of talk time between charges.

The Outrush, like the BM2-S and T14B above, has a retractable sun-shade and transparent visor to protect you from the elements. The helmet is certified by the DOT and conforms to FMVSS 218, making it legal to buy in the US and safer for your rides.

As with all modular helmets, the design of the Outrush provides extra convenience during short breaks: you won’t have to remove it to grab a quick bite or chat to your riding buddies. Sena provides plenty of options to fit most head shapes and sizes, although you don’t get many color options. 

Modular Bluetooth helmets often suffer from poor acoustics because of the crack in the two-piece design. Wind noise tends to drown out the speakers and makes it hard to clearly hear whatever you’re trying to listen to. The Outrush is no exception, and the audio quality suffers at higher speeds.

Even with that limitation, it’s an excellent modular helmet from a respected brand, and given the price, it really does get most things right.

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Best High-End Bluetooth Helmet: Sena Momentum Inc Pro

While we’ve generally focused on the best value for money options in this roundup, we’re aware that some riders are willing to spend more for extra features as long as they’re useful. If you’re after a high-end helmet that ticks all the boxes, it’s hard to go past Sena’s premium Bluetooth model, the Momentum Inc Pro.

This is a seriously impressive full-face helmet, with a wide range of high-end features. The high-definition camera mounted on the top is capable of recording at up to 1440p (QHD)/30fps on a two-hour loop, and is useful for everything from recording accidents and close calls to showing off your ride online.

Noise cancellation is built into the helmet, significantly dropping wind and other noise at highway speeds. It can be switched off in favor of an ambient mode at the touch of a button, for when you need to be more aware of your surroundings or have stopped for a chat.

Sena’s intercom mode is the best in the business, utilizing a mesh-based approach that lets you piggy-back off the riders in front or behind to talk to another rider up to a mile away. Up to eight helmets can be connected at once, with a wide variety of other Sena helmet models supported.

Even better, the company’s Universal Pairing feature lets you connect to a non-Sena Bluetooth helmet as well. You don’t get the same flexibility — you can only connect to a single unsupported helmet at once — but being able to pair with a helmet from another manufacturer at all is rare in this market.

If your riding buddies don’t have Bluetooth helmets, they can pick up Sena's 20S headset kit instead. It attaches to most helmets, and easily connects to the Momentum Inc Pro and a few other Sena models.

Controlling the various functions is surprisingly simple: three buttons on the helmet let you do most things you’ll care about mid-ride, with more nuanced options available via the connected smartphone app.

Battery life is good, with a talk time of up to 20 hours, and there’s an FM radio built in if you’d prefer to listen to that instead of streaming from your phone. As you’d expect, there are a bunch of vents for cooling, but not as much airflow as some helmets: Sena has optimized for sound quality over ventilation here. Fortunately there’s also a removable, washable liner for when things get sweaty.

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Best Budget Bluetooth Helmet for Multi-Rider Intercom: ILM 953 Pro

While the Sena Momentum Inc Pro above has the best multi-rider intercom system available, it’s also an expensive option. If your budget doesn’t stretch that far but you still want to be able to communicate with a larger group as you ride, check out the ILM 953 Pro Bluetooth helmet instead.

Like the Sena, its intercom system can pair with up to eight helmets at once. It doesn’t use a mesh approach, however, so the effective range is lower: a theoretical 1000m range in ideal conditions, and less in the real world.

Like many lower-cost Bluetooth helmets, be aware that only a small range of other Bluetooth helmets are compatible with the intercom system. Other riders will need the same or a similar helmet to be able to connect, which becomes less likely as group sizes get larger.

If other riders with a non-Bluetooth helmet want to stay connected to the rest of the group, they can use ILM’s T-MAX add-on kit instead. Compatible with the 953 Pro, it has a Bluetooth module, speakers, and either a soft or hard microphone depending on which sort of helmet you’re planning to attach it to.

Like the other helmets we’ve mentioned, the 953 Pro uses a multi-function button to control music, answer calls, and use the intercom. Battery life is reasonable, with a 12-hour phone talk time, eight hours of intercom use, or 110 hours of standby. You’ll want to charge it each night on longer trips, but it shouldn’t go flat while you’re using it.

Other than the extended intercom support, this is similar to most of the other modular helmets we’ve discussed. There’s good ventilation on offer even with the visor in the down position, and if that’s not enough to keep the sweat at bay, the liner is removable and machine-washable as needed.

A visor and sun shade keep your eyes safe from the elements, and has the necessary DOT certification for peace of mind. It comes in many sizes and colors, so you can choose the fit and look that works best for you.

While we’re impressed by the multi-rider intercom on the ILM 953 Pro, it’s a pity that it’s not compatible with a wider range of Bluetooth helmets. As with many modular models, wind noise is an issue at higher speeds as well: it doesn’t make it unusable, but it’s certainly noticeable when you’re on the highway.

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Best Ventilated Full-Face Bluetooth Helmet: FreedConn BM12

As you’ll undoubtedly know if you’ve ever used a full-face helmet in warm weather before, the extra protection comes at the cost of more than a little comfort. Manufacturers try to work around this with a range of ventilation options, but some definitely work better than others.

For the money, we’re impressed by the FreedConn BM12. This Bluetooth helmet has good airflow with air vents on the helmet’s front, top, and rear, and like many others, includes a breathable microfiber liner that you can easily remove and wash.

As with the other FreedConn model we mention above, you can connect up to three of these helmets together at the same time, with two people able to talk at once. You’ll get up to a 500m range in ideal conditions. 

Standby time is impressive at 300 hours, the best we’ve come across in a Bluetooth helmet. Talk time is more middle of the road, however: you’re looking at around eight hours of intercom and 12 hours of phone talk time. Still, charge it up every night and you should be fine, even on long riding days.

As well as extra protection, full-face Bluetooth helmets like the BM12 come with another advantage: significantly less wind noise than open or modular versions. This means you’re much more likely to be able to easily hear the speakers at highway speeds, and for anyone you call to be able to hear you.

FreedConn didn’t make much of an effort with the range of sizes or colors with the BM12, just all-black or two-tone versions, in sizes that start with a large and go up to XXL. On the upside, the company will happily send you the appropriate liner if you find the helmet doesn’t fit you well out of the box.

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Main image via r.classen/Shutterstock.com, product images via Amazon