The brand new Sena Impulse Modular Helmet is a snug, intermediate oval modular helmet. It additionally has Sena’s easy-to-connect Mesh Intercom built-in into the shell, together with a long-life battery, and taillight. Sena Applied sciences has teamed up with Harman Kardon to supply a live performance corridor audio expertise that has me carrying the Impulse at my desk, having fun with my favourite tunes. The Sena Mesh Intercom button capabilities, and your cell phone Digital Assistants are precisely voice-controlled.
I’ve been carrying the Sean Impulse modular helmet on the Final Motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Undertaking Bike and my Yamaha Enterprise touring bike with a shorty windshield. Lengthy hours cruising down the freeway on the Enterprise are quiet and buffet-free. The cheek pads and chin curtain match snugly at my jaw, making a quiet setting for the audio system to render outlined sound, even at low quantity settings. The robust bass, clear highs, and pure voice high quality make for a very pleasing listening expertise. The Harmon Kardon microphone labored with the Sena superior noise management to shock all my cellphone callers with zero background noise and clear dialog.
I principally stand when using the Ténéré 700. Because of the Steg Pegz, I can stand at freeway speeds the place the helmet is in unobstructed 70 mph wind. Utterly uncovered to the wind, the Impulse stays comparatively quiet, and the Sena Good Quantity Management raises the music quantity barely in response to the extra environmental noise. Nonetheless, whereas standing above 60 mph and the Impulse base parallel to the bottom in my standing place, the interior drop-down visor management on the left aspect will catch air and create a slight wind sound on that aspect. It is just noticeable when standing at freeway speeds and since the remainder of the helmet is so quiet.
The chin strap is a metal latch with a micro-adjustable ratchet. It’s fast to safe and launch, even with gloves on. Nonetheless, and not using a D-ring, I’ve to spend additional time attaching the strap loop that holds the ratchet finish onto my helmet lock. It’s not a giant deal, although it takes a bit extra time and dexterity than slipping a D-ring onto the helmet lock.
The 2-position faceshield is Pinlock-ready, and Sena offers a Pinlock 120 Max protect with the helmet. The faceshield holds barely cracked open and absolutely open positions. There’s one giant tab on the left heart of the protect lip to carry it up or convey it down, and it’s large enough to by no means miss, even with winter gloves.
The chin bar holds absolutely open/up in a powerful detent. When closing, the metal-to-metal latches make a safe click on, locking the chin bar in place. The chin bar launch is a solid-feeling thumb launch within the standard place for modulars. The chin bar has a three-inch-wide air-intake vent coated by a glove-friendly sliding cowl. The air from the chin vent blows strongly straight as much as my brow. I first examined it on at a cold 35 levels to search out out the place the air was funneling, after which once more at 85 levels to reconfirm air flow pathways.
The highest vent channels the air two inches straight down earlier than it hits the highest of your head. I may really feel the 35-degree air hitting the highest of my head when testing for chilly air channeling. The mixture of the big chin vent, high vent, and two passive exhaust vents does an excellent job of pulling the warmth out of the helmet at 85 levels.
The built-in Sena communication system is the corporate’s present top-of-the-line. Harmon Kardon audio system and microphone present the human interface.
The newest Sena Open Mesh Intercom software program facilitates talking with different riders sporting their very own Sena Mesh that’s inside vary—no pairing wanted. You possibly can speak with anybody on the identical 1 by 9 channel you might be on, as much as a mile away in optimum circumstances. In my expertise, if I can see you, we will speak. This has been born out on flat rural highways and straight stretches of freeway with gaps over a half-mile.
I used to be using residence solo from a bike present and got here up on 4 riders. I used the verbal command, “Hey, Sena. Mesh on.” I waited for the Sena unit’s announcement of Channel 1. I then requested, “Are you able to 4 riders being handed by a man standing on an journey bike hear me?” All of them replied with a sure, and we had a fast chat. It’s enjoyable to say hello to fellow riders the place I’d usually have simply thrown down a two-fingers-down whats up.
The intercom system connects to different Sena Mesh models, Sena models in Bluetooth 5.0, or non-Sena models in Common Pairing mode. With a bit handiwork, you may join Mesh, Sena Bluetooth, and non-Sena riders concurrently, however you have to to learn the handbook to perform that feat.
A number of Sena Mesh models can leapfrog communication a number of miles if everyone seems to be positioned excellent. If you would like a non-public group to converse in, you may shortly transition to a non-public group to speak with as much as 23 of your chattiest pals. Say, “Hey, Sena. Mesh Grouping,” and any of your 23 pals that try this on the similar time will routinely be introduced into your non-public group.
After preliminary grouping, you may swap between the Open Mesh channels and the non-public Group Mesh with “Hey Sena” voice instructions or by easy-to-remember button presses on the 4 giant, well-defined buttons constructed into the left aspect of the helmet. The buttons don’t require any wrist-twisting to align your finger(s) with the buttons; they’re in a vertical line, leaning barely towards the rear.
The 4 giant intercom buttons are simple to really feel in summer season gloves. Nonetheless, with winter gloves donned, the buttons are difficult to distinguish. You are able to do nearly the whole lot you want to do utilizing voice instructions, besides altering Mesh Channels. The simplest button to differentiate is the underside, in another way formed Mesh button, do you have to want it.
The dearth of wind noise mixed with the constancy of the audio system, even at freeway speeds, has allowed me to maintain the quantity set on my iPhone a lot decrease than standard. One purpose the Sena Impulse helmet is so quiet is that the chin bar is nearer to my face than the chin bars of different modulars. Being nearer, the chin curtain seals the area round my jaw, minimizing wind noise.
The sound high quality with the Harmon Kardon audio system positioned near my ears and instantly in keeping with my ear canal is solely superior.
The chin bar is fractions of an inch nearer to my lips and chin than every other Medium-sized Modular helmet I’ve worn. The consequence of the chin bar being nearer is that the built-in growth microphone, with the windscreen sponge put in, touches my cheek. There isn’t any room to maneuver it away from touching. It’s a type of issues that I discover, although it doesn’t trouble me. I often place the growth mic the place solely a slight lip pucker will contact it. On the Impulse, it solely reaches to the precise nook of my mouth and touches on a regular basis.
The Sena communications management unit is built-in into the helmet, and the battery shouldn’t be replaceable. Sena has named the charging port, situated on the rear of the helmet on the rim, a Magnetic Pogo Charging Port. The charging cable connection is a few third-of-an-inch lengthy, and it magnetically aligns and connects the charging cable to the port.
I used to be disenchanted to study that the management unit turns off when charging. Though a 20-minute cost will get you at the very least two hours of speak time from full discharge, it’s one thing it’s a must to do with the helmet off, in response to the Sena Customers Information. The magnetic attraction of the cable to the port shouldn’t be robust sufficient to remain linked in case your energy wire is getting whipped by the freeway airflow.
Mesh intercom in steady use will final about ten hours, and Bluetooth extends the battery life to 13 hours. Use of the built-in helmet taillight considerably reduces battery life. If I do know I shall be within the saddle that lengthy or longer on any given day, I cost the battery after I cease for a meal.
Sena continues to innovate, and has integrated automated Wi-Fi firmware updates. After you have configured your Impulse on the identical 2.4Ghz community as your cell phone, firmware updates switch to your helmet routinely as you cost—no have to plug the unit into your pc.
The Sena Impulse eyeport is full-size, and head checks reveal what I’m accustomed to seeing as I flip my head. I like using with my faceshield open, and wind noise doesn’t change appreciably when behind a windshield.
The retractable sunshield is actuated by a left thumb slider that’s steplessly adjustable. The sunshield does an excellent job of decreasing glare, and I neglect that I’m wanting by it. Nonetheless, it isn’t darkish sufficient to make use of when using instantly right into a setting solar.
The built-in taillight has 4 modes—off, stable, day flash, and night time flash—completely managed by the Sena Bike app. The taillight is just seen at night time, nevertheless.
I journey as if I’m invisible to vehicle drivers, however I’ll nonetheless use all the assistance I can get to be seen. I run a Kisan PathBlazer headlight modulator on each Yamahas, and I’ve a Kisan TailBlazer brake gentle flasher on the Ténéré. Cage drivers sitting low or wanting down at their cellphones have a greater likelihood of seeing a crimson gentle on my helmet than my unadorned Gloss White helmet (the opposite shade alternative is Matte Black). If it wakes up only one inattentive driver, ever, it is going to be value having. It’s a DOT helmet. Nonetheless, if you will flash the taillight, test together with your State and Native laws about repeatedly flashing rear-facing lights, as these legal guidelines fluctuate by state.
The Sena Impulse could be very snug for my intermediate oval head, becoming snuggly. Fortunately, I haven’t felt any tight or scorching spots in any respect. The cheek pads are clear; they don’t push my cheeks between my molars and don’t chafe my pores and skin. There are designated channels for sun shades that don’t have any padding in them. Relying on how deeply your head matches into the highest of the helmet, the sun shades channel ought to line up appropriately with the temples of your glasses.
The wick-away inside comes out to clean, although it’s tough to dislodge the primary time. It will get simpler because the snaps loosen up. There are solely two sizes of composite fiberglass shells for the 5 head sizes. The sizing for Small and Medium within the Giant shell is achieved by padding thickness. Identical for the XL measurement contained in the XXL shell. The Medium Impulse I’ve weighs 4.0 kilos (1823 grams) on my scale.
The brand new Sena Impulse modular bike helmet is snug, quiet, and aerodynamic. Because of the Harmon Kardon sound system, it’s additionally a private live performance corridor. The built-in Sena mesh intercom requires no unit-to-unit pairing, will be precisely voice managed, has very good communications software program, and is a incredible music supply system. You should buy a modular helmet and add a Sena unit, or you may go along with the Sena Impulse—a premium built-in package deal that already does the whole lot proper.
Sena Impulse Specs
- Sizes: S – XXL
- Colours: Matte Black; Shiny White
- Outer shell: Composite fiberglass
- Weight: 4.0 kilos (medium shell)
- Certifications: Helmet, DOT; Electronics, FCC, CE, IC, KC
INTERCOM
- Protocols: Bluetooth 5.0; Mesh Intercom
- Most speak time: Bluetooth, 18 hours; Mesh, 11 hours
- Battery cost time: 2.5 hours
- Battery capability: 1300 mAh (lithium polymer)
- Mesh intercom open-terrain working distance: As much as 1.2 miles (5 miles with six riders or extra)
- Most teams sizes: Open Mesh, just about limitless; Group Mesh, 24; Bluetooth Intercom, 4
- Bluetooth: 5.0 (1.0 miles open-terrain working distance)
- Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (as much as 33 ft)
- FM radio: Worldwide compatibility; 10 presets w/ auto-scan
Sena Impulse Worth: $549 MSRP
2023 Sena Impulse Evaluate Photograph Gallery
