Just like wearing a helmet or boots or gloves, I don’t venture out on two wheels without an intercom affixed to my helmet. I listen to music, make and take the occasional phone call, listen to directions from my smartphone’s navigation app, interact with the infotainment system, or, lately, one of the cool new Apple CarPlay/Android Auto units built for motorcycles.
I have reviewed many of Sena’s top-of-the-line offerings, such as the 50R, SRL 3 for Shoei, the SC2 for Schuberth, and the mid-range Spider ST1.
Now it’s time to review the Sena 5R—one of the Irvine-based company’s least expensive units at $139 ($259/pair). The 5R is for riders whose needs, and perhaps budget, are more modest and are satisfied with a Bluetooth intercom rather than the more sophisticated mesh intercom systems.
This group might include a rider/passenger combo, someone who only needs intercom connectivity with three or fewer other units, and someone who doesn’t need an FM radio. The 5R includes 40mm HD speakers rather than the Harmon Kardon speakers in the high-end units. There is also a Sena 5R Lite that substitutes a basic speaker for the HD speakers and drops the price to $99.
I mounted the Sena 5R on a Scorpion Covert FX Carbon helmet for the test and gave one to an associate to test the BT intercom. The 5R includes boom and spot microphones to accommodate full-face and modular helmets.
The Sena 5R features the 2019 Bluetooth 5.1 standard that is easier on batteries than earlier versions and offers a four-rider-maximum for the intercom function. The HD speakers sound great, despite not being Sena’s top-of-the-line Sound By Harmon Kardon—at highway speeds, some riders might not be able to hear the difference. They are excellent and as loud as I care to crank them up.
BT functions include Headset Profile (HSP), Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), and Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP). This means the Sena 5R will connect to your phone, GPS, and more—good stuff for this price point.
The 5R allows me to use Sena’s smartphone app to control features and functions, even though I can do this with the on-unit controls. This important feature saves time and reduces frustration when pairing with other units. The 5R allows firmware upgrades via the Sena Device Manager (Windows and MacOS), which is easy to use. You can set up all the optional functions on your desktop rather than via the limited on-unit controls. Check out my accompanying screenshots of all the Device Manager options.
Charging and updating is via USB-C; the 5R does not support Wi-Fi or over-the-air firmware upgrades as higher-end models do. However, that is not a big deal for me, as I only upgrade the firmware on my comm units every year or two unless the manufacturer informs me of an important update. My rule of thumb is that if you plan to link to another rider or riders, whether on mesh or BT intercoms, you all should have the same firmware versions. It’s smart to update in advance of an important departure—you don’t want to be struggling with new firmware in a parking lot during a trip.
There’s a cool LCD display on the unit for visual confirmation of device settings, battery status, and volume level. It is of limited use, of course, as you can’t see it while wearing the helmet.
The BT intercom is quite good; we experienced only the occasional static. The maximum range is about half a mile, which generally meets Sena’s claim. That is enough to cover the distance between riders during our usual escapades.
There are dropouts when losing off the line of sight, though that also happens with the best mesh intercoms. Regardless, the intercom is quick to re-connect after dropouts. Also, the Sena 5R has high-quality noise cancellation.
Sena claims 16 hours of talk time, though my rides never last that long. Our testing shows it lasts from morning to late afternoon without being shut off for lunch. Charge time is about 2.5 hours.
Weighing 1.5 ounces, the Sena 5R is lighter than most helmet-to-helmet intercom units. The installation of the 5R is straightforward, and all the needed hardware is included for clamp or hook-and-loop mounting.
The Sena 5R offers a lot of cluck for the buck. The Bluetooth intercom and nice sounds, easy operation, multi-language voice prompts (11 languages, including English), good intercom, all-day battery life, and plenty of mission flexibility. Nothing beats top-of-the-line mesh systems, yet the 5R punches above its weight (and cost).
