Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design
17 Comments By Eran Abramson on May 10th, 2009 in DIY (Do It Yourself)
If you ever wanted to have a handsfree Bluetooth enabled full face Motorcycle helmet but don’t want to pay the price, this is a great DIY project that could both be extremely practical and help reduce dangerous phone conversations while on the road.
We have been fortunate enough to receive a great and detailed DIY about making a Bluetooth motorcycle helmet all by ourselves. The project is not an easy one, but it does allow you to customize your own helmet, determine the location, and finish a project that is both practical and something to be proud of.
The creator of this motorcycle helmet DIY is Leon Buijs which can be contacted here, and he provided the detailed steps for such a product (and the gallery images of the project):
1. Find the set of Helmet speakers and microphone for your motorcycle helmet. Leon has used HS100T from IMC, which are inexpensive, provide loud volume and work great in combo with WayPoint Blue-Talk Wireless Bluetooth Headset.
2. The materials Leon used are: Screwdriver, duct tape, markers and a sharp multi-purpose knife.
3. Determine the location to place the speakers by placing them inside while wearing the helmet. Afterwards, mark the exact place using a white marker.
4. Take out the inside lining…neatly, so it could be placed back correctly. It may be fastened with tape, buttons or other ways, to make it come out conveniently.
5. Make a small dummy out of paper for the speaker and then use it to draw out the speaker area on the polystyrene core of the helmet.
6. Cut a fine area to make sure the speaker fits it snug.
7. Attach the speakers with durable tape. Note: make sure not to cover the speaker holes.
8. Determine where you want to add the Bluetooth device. If it is small enough, it could easily be added in the polystyrene foam layer in the back of the helmet – Outline it with a white marker.
9. Carve out the area and fit the BT device.
10. The polystyrene chin piece of the helmet can usually be removed easily. Decide the are which the microphone could easily be attached which would also make it efficient and comfortable.
11. In this specific case, the connector wire was too long, so it was cut, shortened and attached back together to finalize the entire Bluetooth Helmet.
Depending on the time, effot and DIY skills you have, this project could be done quickly and efficiently. Besides granting you a Bluetooth Motorcycle helmet to use on a daily basis while on the road, it could also be a clean job that looks good and durable.
[Note: Some readers have advised about the dangerous aspects of cutting, amending, and changing the motorcycle helmet...that is true. This project is provided as content only and does not encourage to or vouch for the safety of this diy. A professional helmet and Bluetooth Kit would be a safer alternative.]
Thank you Leon for the comment and info. Great Job!
Cool Tech Related Videos
If you enjoyed this post you can - Subscribe Now to the Free Newsletter
Related Tags: bluetooth diy, bluetooth helmet, bluetooth helmet diy, bluetooth motorcycle helmet, full face motorcycle helmet, how to make a bluetooth motorcycle helmet, motorcycle helmet
May 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I love the concept here and the blog continually dishes up great information and content. My son races motorcross and was eyeing of the concept here to make his own, time will tell………..(Fisherman)
May 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
[...] Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Mobile | Digg this! Source: MAKE Magazine [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
[...] Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
[...] Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Mobile | Digg this! Posted by Gareth Branwyn at 11:30 am. Filed under Uncategorized [link] [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I love the idea however, you do realize by cutting a whole in the helmet you’ve essentially decreased is structural integrity thereby decreased it’s an ability to absorb an impact properly. I would suggest pulling this post down and recommending people not attempt this as it could mean their life!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
[...] Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hi “Bad Idea”…
We do not encourage anyone to do anything that may harm their health. This is a DIY project that was not done by us and is provided as content for the readers.
In addition, we are not condoning it as a better alternative than a professional Bluetooth Helmet and are granting a project that was done by someone else.
Thank you for your concern,
Walyou Team
May 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Horrible idea. Cutting the shell of the helmet, as Bad_Idea pointed out, will negatively effect the structural integrity of the helmet. Furthermore, cutting the into the polystyrene in the helmet will also have a huge negative effect. The polystyrene is used to absorb the force of an impact; less polystyrene, less absorption.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
[...] 10, 2009 – Bluetooth® Motorcycle Helmet DIY Design If you ever wanted to have a handsfree Bluetooth enabled full face Motorcycle helmet but [...]
May 12th, 2009 at 12:29 am
hey bad _idea. The only good helmet is the one you wear. I recommend you quit trying to be my daddy.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:37 am
You know, there are lots of ways to mod helmets to add bluetooth / headset capabilities to your lid *without* putting holes in and making them unsafe. Please at least stick a warning notice in the article – fine people can make their own choices, but explain the significant safety implications of doing this so people can make an informed choice.
May 12th, 2009 at 9:07 am
[...] (Source) Walyou Tags: Bluetooth, Helmet You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]
May 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I have to agree with those who disagree with this post. It dangerous. Simple as that. You’re talking about a device used to save lives, and you’ve just broken the structural integrity of it. I’m all for using creative solutions, but not one that’s so blatantly unsafe.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
@David: Warning note added to post. This post was provided as a tip and is within DIY projects. We do not encourage anyone to do anything that may harm or endanger but are simply granting different DIY content that was given as a tip by a Walyou reader.
Thank you for your concern.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:35 am
It’s not a hard thing to throw stones at someone else’s project, On the other side, here are some suggestions that might be helpful.
Look for a set of cheap, non-amplified computer speakers. A lot of them have very thin speaker elements with plastic (instead of paper) cones. I’ve seen many that are less than 3mm thick. When you take the speaker apart, be careful with the front grill. You will want to re-use it so your ear doesn’t press into the diaphragm. Epoxy can be your friend, too, since it can be much thinner than double-sided tape. It shouldn’t be too much effort to build the speakers into a helmet.
Once you have met there are several ways to turn. An easy way os to get a stereo Bluetooth module, like the Altec-Lansing T515. They have a microphone built in, and a stereo micro-phono jack for use with any regular headphones, even ones that have been built into a helmet. You might want to relocate the microphone to the front of the helmet, or make other wiring changes, to let you clip the electronics to the helmet straps where it won’t interfere with the proper operation of the helmet.
If I were doing this for myself, I’d look for one of the Bluetooth stereo headphone that are commercially available, but have problems with cracking neck bands. When transplanted into a helmet, the part that usually breaks becomes a non-issue and the whole project would keep another piece of trash out of the landfill.
The main thing with a piece of safety gear is to not remove any of the parts that are there to protect you.
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:08 am
Yeah it is really a simple way to do it.. I had try it, it works friends. Nice technology
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
That’s a pretty awesome setup. You should manufacture and sell these. I know I’d buy one since I don’t have the skills to make it myself.