Advice & Guides Five of the best... rider to pillion intercoms
Riding doesn’t have to mean restricting yourself to your own headspace, thanks to comms system that let you stay in touch with passengers, riding buddies and your phone…
24 Nov 2025
SENA SMH5 Basic Bluetooth Headset & Intercom
Entry level single Bluetooth headset and intercom
DetailsBest Seller
in Motorcycle Intercom Systems£59.99
RRP £90.00
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Verified Customer Reviews for SENA SMH5 Basic Bluetooth Headset & Intercom
Our customers say…
Customers found the Sena headset to be a good value, easy to install, and effective for rider-to-pillion communication. Many appreciated its basic yet functional design, with good sound quality at reasonable prices. Although the setup instructions were not detailed, pairing was generally simple, and it worked well for music, phone, and sat-nav. Some customers experienced limitations with range and sound clarity at high speeds. However, its affordability and straightforward use make it a popular choice among customers.
AI-generated from the text of our verified customer reviews
Helpful?
Good for music
14 Sep 2025 by Steve
Item good for music but intercom is rubbish. You need a helmet that offers complete protection from wind noise. Button is easily pressed as well when turning your head so if you are riding 2 up etc it disturbs their music/phone etc as it thinks you listed the button for the intercom. Fitting was a bit fiddly into my helmet but to be expected as it can’t cater for all helmets. Would definitely recommend just to use for music or phone but intercom wise, look for something better
Style: Dual
Helpful?
No frills, but dies the job perfectly.
28 Aug 2025 by Martin
Used the SMH5's for quite some years and tens of thousands of miles. Bought these to replace the older one's. In fairness the old ones still work but have been relegated to our back up helmets. They pair to phone, sat nav and each other, plus universal pairing for connecting with other brands, what more do you need.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Good Sound
26 Aug 2025 by Mark R
Bought these purely on price although I have heard of Sena as a brand. for a pair this seemed cheap I only wanted them for music on the go and maybe Sat-Nav. Found them easy to fit in both a flip and full face, nice that a boom mic and cabled mic are included. Good selection of Velcro pads to secure and foam cushions for covering. Sound quality is good, volume good, clarity good. We have an issue with pairing for intercoms so one star off. Other than that good value.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Overall very good product
10 Aug 2025 by Sean
Excellent comms between rider and pillion, Bit fiddly sometimes adjusting intercom volume.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Very good for the money
08 Feb 2025 by Korban J
Good battery life and audio quality, the speakers aren't too big so you don't feel them inside your helmet. The styling is a little old looking in my opinion
Helpful?
Sena Smh5
25 Jan 2025 by Neil
Easy to fit & works well for price.
It's not the best but a quality device for the price.
SBS were extremely helpful as usual.
Helpful?
Great entry-level Sena kit
30 Oct 2024 by Chris A
I bought these for me and my son to use together when riding together and they are brilliant. Way better than I expected for the money. My son finds the toggle button a little clumsy, but he is getting used to it now.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Impressive!
08 Oct 2024 by Michael M
Well thought out design, easy to fit. I am very impressed by the sound quality, i have had earbuds with considerably " tinnier" sound and any helmet noise is negated by a very good volume range. Pairing with other users was fairly simple and the sound quality on the intercom setting was equally good quality , with no breakdown of signal. The only fault I can find with the whole package is that the installation instructions could be a little clearer, otherwise I am very impressed.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
So much better than I expected
05 Oct 2024 by Lee
This unit is excellent value for money. Connection to the Bike is instantaneous. Music and communications at cruising speeds 70 mph plus are clear as a bell. However, music is slightly tinny. That may be my phone settings. The link up distance of 400 m so far approved to be excellent.
Fitting into my HJC simple and quick. I bought from sportsbikeshop on their deal at less than £70. I would thoroughly recommend.
Helpful?
Easy set up.
04 Oct 2024 by Ian B
This is my first intercom, used to use wireless headphones. This is far better, can still wear earplugs and hear music etc very clearly.
Was so easy to fit. Works well with my Honda Roadsync App, so now |I have clear music, Navigation, Calls and Texts (reads). Great bit of kit.
Helpful?
Excellent
30 Sep 2024 by Phil S
Easy to fit, brilliant speakers, great little mic (full face variant) and the controls are easy to use with gloved hands. Fantastic product offered at a discount price and they gave me extra discount for buying a helmet with it! Outstanding shop!
Helpful?
Great starting headset
24 Sep 2024 by Shannon C
Often struggle to catch what is being said. The mic seems to cut out and the audio is a little quiet when using the mic however it's perfectly decent when out solo just using it for radio/Spotify.
Easy to use, quick to connect recommend as a starting point on a budget
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Great value
15 Sep 2024 by Anonymous
Great value for the price; does well in the rain
Style: Dual
Helpful?
It's okay
11 Sep 2024 by Alish H
I am going with 2 stars as I expected a little better. Just for the concept, I have the newest Scorpion EXO-1400 Evo 2 helmet which is classified as one of the quietest. However, everything higher than 40 to 50 mph and I barely hear the person I am talking to. I tested that a few times, unfortunately, again, faster speed and I can hear anything. If you go on a high way and you reach 70mph that means you won't hear the GPS on your phone, nor if you try to talk with someone. Additionally, for whatever reason I never could ever hear the GPS with SENA, with my earbuds - yes. I bought 2, the 2nd box is unopened and I am planning to return it. Disappointed.
Helpful?
Great Value
05 Aug 2024 by Anonymous
Great headset. Excellent value fir money.
Helpful?
Not bad at all!
16 Jul 2024 by Anonymous
Does the job fairly well, would and have already recommended. For the price paid through sportsbikeshop I have no complaints perfect starter kit. Thank you.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Great intercom
14 Jul 2024 by Kay S
Easy to install and set up. Great quality sound, easy functions, fab battery life. After a day of Google maps talking to me I still had high battery at the end of my ride, very impressed. Great value for money.
Helpful?
Vespa coms for Italy are go
02 Jul 2024 by Mick R
After intercom woes with the first set, customer services sent a replacement. The grandchildren enjoyed playing with the intercom and it works great for phonecalls and satnav. We've used the intercom today for the morning shop in Lake Garda on the Vespa. Synced fine going but not coming back. Hopefully better on our next trip out to Salo. Great service and price from Sportsbikeshop.
Style: Dual
Helpful?
Description
The SMH5 is a Bluetooth v3.0 stereo headset with Bluetooth intercom designed specifically for motorcycles. With the SMH5, you can call handsfree on your Bluetooth mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions from your GPS unit wirelessly via Bluetooth, and have two-way intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motorcycle riders. Thanks to Bluetooth v3.0 and the advanced digital processing technology, the SMH5 offers the best quality for both incoming and outgoing sound in its class. Also, the easy-to-access and intuitive button operations make the SMH5 a perfect companion for motorcyclists. The box contains headset main units, clamp units, helmet speakers, attachable boom microphones, USB power cable, glued surface mounting plate, microphone sponges, hook and loop pads for speakers, hook and loop pad for boom microphone, attachable boom microphone holder, speaker pads and Allen key.
Variants
Manufacturer
SENA SMH5 Basic Bluetooth Headset & Intercom
- Bluetooth specification v5.1
- Bluetooth intercom up to 400 meters (430 yards) in open terrain
- One-to-One and universal intercom
- Voice prompts
- Bluetooth stereo headset for Bluetooth audio devices such as MP3 players
- Music playback control by AVRCP: play, pause, track forward and track back
- Easy operation by versatile Jog Dial (patent acquired)
- Sufficient sound level with integrated audio booster
- Bluetooth handsfree for Bluetooth mobile phones
- Bluetooth headset or stereo headset for Bluetooth GPS instructions
- Water resistant
- Advanced noise control
- Speed dialling
- Crystal clear and natural sound quality
- Up to 8 hours talk time, 7 days stand-by time
- Can be used while charging on road trips
- Individual volume control for each audio source
- Firmware upgradeable
- Peace of mind thanks to the 2-year warranty
The SMH5 is a Bluetooth v3.0 stereo headset with Bluetooth intercom designed specifically for motorcycles. With the SMH5, you can call handsfree on your Bluetooth mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions from your GPS unit wirelessly via Bluetooth, and have two-way intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motorcycle riders. Thanks to Bluetooth v3.0 and the advanced digital processing technology, the SMH5 offers the best quality for both incoming and outgoing sound in its class. Also, the easy-to-access and intuitive button operations make the SMH5 a perfect companion for motorcyclists. The box contains headset main units, clamp units, helmet speakers, attachable boom microphones, USB power cable, glued surface mounting plate, microphone sponges, hook and loop pads for speakers, hook and loop pad for boom microphone, attachable boom microphone holder, speaker pads and Allen key.
Questions and Answers
Hi will this fit my HJC F70 please.
March 19, 2025You will be able to fit this to your F70 helmet without any issues.
you say this unit can be connected bluetooth to multiple headsets but in another question say that it can only be paired to one other intercom. If i buy three of these will they not be able to chat to each other on a ride? Also is there a cover I could buy to protect it from rain?
October 15, 2019The SMH5 will connect to one other unit (Sena or universal). If you would like to use the systems bike to bike and more than 2, I would suggest the 10s. Unfortunately there is no waterproof cover available, however they are weather proof.
Does this come with a soft wire mic for a full face helmet as well as the hard wire boom mic for open or flip helmets?
May 6, 2019The Sena SMH5 is supplied with both a wired mic and a boom mic.
Will these fit all types of shark helmets?
May 2, 2019It's a universal system, but we are not able to guarantee that it will fit all Shark helmets, apologies.
Are the 1 or 2 head sets as cant see in the description
April 22, 2019This listing is for a single intercom/headset.
there is no gap between my helmet and lining so need to glue fix. Is this possible on a curved base as my helmet does not have a perfectly flat area.
April 15, 2019The glued mount supplied should be fine.
I wear earplugs when using my Roof Boxer V8. How does this fair if using ear plugs?
February 25, 2019This system is reasonably loud,but we would suggest ear plugs that filter the noise, such as the Auritech. Conversations are still audible whilst wearing these.
Will This,headset& intercom fit my Nitro full face helmet?
January 10, 2019It should fit, but as we are not a stockist of Nitro helmets we are not able to guarantee this, apologies.
Could this unit be used to hear instructions from my Garmin 390 LM sat nav please? Thanks.
October 12, 2018The Sena SMH5 can be used for receiving instructions from your Sat Nav.
Can you connect 3 of these to each other while also connected to phone?
October 3, 2018This intercom system can only be connected to one other intercom at a time (and a mobile phone if required).
Can I use this with a Samsung Galaxy s7 edge.
July 31, 2018We can confirm that you can use the Samsung Galaxy s7 edge with the Sena SMH5 Basic
Can I use this set with custom earphones with a 3.5mm Jack?
May 30, 2018The SMH5 does not have a 3.5mm jack,sorry.
Can you talk to a pillion and listen to music at the same time?
May 30, 2018You can, the intercom will over-ride the music.
Are you able to speak in a group of 3 at once with the Sena SMH5?
May 28, 2018The SMH5 can be paired with up to three other headsets for Bluetooth Intercom conversation.
Can my passenger use this intercom with me, whilst I am using a sena20s with a fellow rider with a 20s and does the smh5 come with a wall charger
May 9, 2018The Sena SMH5 and 20s will connect together whilst the other 20s is connected and unfortunately the SMH5 does not come with a wall charger.
Will this unit talk to my pillion who has Scala rider unit on their helmet
January 11, 2018In our experience the Cardo system will not connect with a Sena Intercom system.
i have a sena smh10 installed on my bell helmet would this be be suitable to converse with my pillion?
December 1, 2017Yes, this will pair to the SMH10 with no issues.
Will this headset fit on a flip front Schuberth C3 Basic?
October 6, 2017You should have no issues fitting this to your Schuberth - if you look at pictures 5 and 6, they show the intercom fitted to a Shoei flip front helmet, which is similar to your Schuberth.
Can this unit be used without the boom microphone connected for listening to GPS instructions? Specifically, would it still be sealed against water ingress?
March 23, 2017The Sena SMH-5 can not be used without the boom microphone.
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