Communications / FRS and GMRS Radio: The Ultimate Motorcycle Communicator?

Writing about the Sena MeshPort Blue reminded me of all the problems modern motorcycle communicators have. They can be tricky to pair, Sena and Cardo don’t play nicely together, their range is limited despite manufacturer claims… The list goes on. It also reminded me of an alternative that I’ve been using since long before Bluetooth was even invented: radio. FRS and GMRS radios may be a viable alternative to traditional helmet communicators.

I’ve been an amateur radio operator since I was a kid. Even now, I carry a handheld radio with me on the bike. If I run into trouble and I’m out of cell service (all the best riding seems to be out of cell service), the national calling frequency or a nearby repeater might get me the help I need. I don’t have it set up to use while I’m riding. Years ago I did, with a helmet headset and push-to-talk button on the handlebars, but soon realized I’d rather enjoy the ride than chatter on the radio. That would be different if the people I chattered with were my riding buddies, but you need to pass a test to get a ham radio license and at the time equipment was quite expensive.

A recent video by Jake the Garden Snake has made me rethink this idea. He and his friend Rivet have been experimenting with various radios for some time, and have some specific recommendations in this video, which I’ll get into later. Rather than ham radio, where my experience lies, they’ve been testing FRS and GMRS radios. FRS requires no license at all. GMRS does require a license, but all that takes in the US is a $35 fee to the FCC, with no test, and it’s valid for 10 years. It allows more power than FRS. In the US, but not Canada, you’re also allowed to use a different antenna than the radio comes with and even use repeaters. It’s no wonder why Jeep, UTV, and other 4×4 enthusiasts have been flocking to GMRS as an alternative to the CB radio they’ve traditionally used. Even better, FRS and GMRS radios can talk directly to each other, because they share most of the same channels. There’s no conflict between different brands, either. A high-end Kenwood GMRS radio can talk to a cheap no-name FRS radio you picked up from Amazon or Walmart with no trouble at all.

Of course, off-road motorcycling has a few more challenges than driving a Jeep. We’re wearing helmets and need both hands on the grips, which rules out holding a walkie-talkie style radio up to your face while you ride. Helmet communicators work completely hands-free, which is why they remain popular despite the difficulty of pairing them and keeping them connected. They also have a limited range. Bluetooth transmitters are only 0.2 watts on the 2.4 GHz microwave band. This is because it was originally designed to wirelessly connect your phone to your car. The distance involved here is only a few feet, and there are no obstructions, which block microwave signals. While some helmet communicators claim half a mile or more of range, that’s only in line-of-sight conditions, where you can literally see the other people you’re talking to. Go around a corner in the mountains or the forest, and you lose that line of sight.

FRS and GMRS radios operate on channels in the 462 MHz range. That’s a much lower frequency than Bluetooth, which means it’s not affected as much by obstructions. FRS radios also put out two watts of power, ten times more than Bluetooth. GMRS handheld radios can go up to five watts. You can even go crazy with a larger mobile radio that can transmit 50 watts on certain channels, but this is far more practical in a 4×4 than on a motorcycle.

Image: Rugged Radios

Rugged Radios is a popular GMRS radio brand among four-wheeled off-roaders. They offer a motorcycle kit that includes a handheld radio, a wired helmet headset, and a push-to-talk button for your handlebars for just under $200. It’s a robust setup, made specifically to handle the harsh environment of off-road riding, but you can only have one headset in your helmet at the same time. You’d have to choose between the radio or a Bluetooth communicator and all of its other conveniences.

Photo: Oxbow

The alternative is a Bluetooth-compatible radio, such as the Oxbow Renegade X that Jake tests in his video. You can pair it to your existing helmet communicator as a second phone, eliminating the need for a dedicated radio headset as well as the wiring involved with the Rugged Radios setup. This convenience even costs less than the Rugged Radios kit at $144. It does not include a remote push-to-talk switch for your handlebars, but you can pick up a generic one for $29 on Amazon, pair everything up, and still come out ahead.

Photo: Baofeng / Amazon

If you’re willing to get a little bit techie, you can save half of that cost. The basic Baofeng FRS radios Jake recommends are no longer available on Amazon, but this two-pack costs $20. Add Baofeng’s Bluetooth adapter, which plugs into the side of the radio instead of an external speaker/microphone, for $37. This kit even includes a push-to-talk button. That makes a complete Bluetooth-enabled FRS radio, including an entire spare radio, for $57. Both this and the Oxbow are FRS radios that do not require a license. You can just buy them and use them.

Photo: Radioddity / Amazon

Since I’m already a radio nerd, I splurged for a GMRS license. My personal pick would be the Radioddity GM-30 which, for $40 on Amazon, provides built-in Bluetooth and the full five watts of power that GMRS allows. You can replace the antenna with a better-performing one if you like, even a mobile antenna mounted to your bike if you want to go that far. The only thing it doesn’t include is a remote push-to-talk button, but the generic $29 one mentioned before will work.

Photo: BTECH / Amazon

If you’re a bigger radio nerd than me, the BTECH GMRS-PRO may interest you. It’s a more expensive option at $155, and you may want the $29 remote push-to-talk button, but this radio has a ton of extra features. It’s IP67 waterproof, meaning it can be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It can monitor two channels at the same time. It includes an FM broadcast radio receiver, as well as NOAA weather radio. It supports text messaging between users, completely separate from phones and cell towers. A built-in GPS can beacon your location to other users of this radio. If your group invests in these and you lose a rider, this can help you find them. Features like these were previously reserved for the amateur radio realm (trust me, I’ve used them), but radios like this now make them available to GMRS power users who want to experiment without taking a ham radio license test. Try that with a Sena or Cardo communicator.

Since I usually end up riding alone, I haven’t put any of these FRS and GMRS radios to the test for myself. The concept, however, is sound. The disadvantage of a wired headset, and having to choose between that or a standard motorcycle Bluetooth headset, is eliminated with these Bluetooth-equipped radios. I’m tempted to pick up the Baofeng Bluetooth interface and a push-to-talk button to try out with my Baofeng ham radio to see how it works. I’ll report back if I do.