
I'd experimented with different headphone/helmet speaker systems and this VCAN looked a perfect solution. The graphics are cool and it's very reasonably priced, in particular for a helmet that comes with bluetooth already installed. However, as is often the case, you get what you pay for.
When I received the helmet, I started out by reading the directions which actually made it harder to figure out how to setup and use the bluetooth. Despite what the advertising says, the bluetooth battery does not come installed and you have to figure out first where the battery is located and second how to install it. The directions are no help: there's a picture that roughly looks like the bottom of the helmet with a arrow pointing vaguely to the back of the helmet and labeled "bluetooth discreteness." I am not making this up. Eventually I found that by peeling back the soft foam padding that lines the helmet, at the bottom back of the helmet, under the padding, was a small panel. Merely touching this panel causes it to fall off, as it's apparently held in place by the padding. The panel will be followed by the bluetooth unit, sans battery. The bluetooth unit is "keyed" (i.e., the exterior is constructed in such a way that there is only one way to install it) but not the battery. Like all lithium batteries, if you look at the bottom, there is spot on the bottom with several copper contacts that need to match up with whatever device you're trying to power. No where in the instructions or marked on the helmet is there any indication of which way to place the battery. Eventually I got a flashlight and propped the helmet up so that I could peel back the foam padding with one hand and clutch the flashlight with the other and peering into the minute slot, see where the interior contacts are. How hard would it have been to include a line that says "this way?" Apparently too hard for manufacturers of the VCAN helmet.
The directions say that you should plug the helmet into the charger and fully charge the battery before first use. After it's fully charged, the red charging light will turn green. Fair enough. I plugged the helmet in and let it charge overnight, some 14 hours. The red light never did change to green. In fact, while playing around with the bluetooth the next morning, I couldn't find a green light anywhere, just a red and a blue.
Despite that, I was able to sync up the bluetooth with my Blackberry and, at least standing in my living room, it sounded great. I say "standing in my living room" because I never was able to road test it. More about that later. If I'd wanted to, I could pump up the volume enough to make my head hurt and it was true stereo. This would be a great system in a helmet you could wear while actually riding a motorcycle.
I thought I was ready to road test it. The helmet is extremely cheaply constructed. The edges of all of the parts are rough from where they're vacuum molded and no one took the time to buff them out. Despite the plastic covering over the visor, once I removed it, I saw that it was scratched in several places, *on the inside*. That's just poor workmanship. Raising the face piece up and down requires some muscle and it's very rough in movement, jerking from one position to the other, as if there are internal pieces that have yet to have the rough edges worn off of them.
When I got the helmet, the chin bar was not latched in place, leaving the front of the helmet unsecured. To test the fit, I pressed the front piece into place, which locked securely. The helmet fit well, which was something of surprise, generally I end up playing with helmet sizes. For example, my Scorpion EXO-1000 full face runs a bit small and I wear an XXL, despite having a very average 7 3/8 hat size.
The final straw came when I had to raise the front of the helmet. I pressed in the latching button, which obediently clicked down and I was able to raise the chin bar. Then I tried to re-secure it while it was still on my head. I pressed the chin bar down and nothing happened. I tried again, a little stronger. Then a lot stronger. Finally I pulled the helmet off and tried to close from the outside nothing. The latching button, once depressed, would not pop back up and nothing I did could get the helmet to latch again. So, slightly more than 24 hours after receiving this helmet, it's already in a box on it's way back to Amazon.
The VCAN was a disappointment in nearly every way. So, if you absolutely have to have a modular helmet with a built-in intercom system, consider the Nolan Trilogy Outlaw Modular. I've seen these helmets at a few dealerships and they seem okay. At any rate, I was able to close and latch the chin bar and reopen it again without the use of power tools.
Personally, I'm giving up on helmets with speakers and going with the Kuryakyn Sound of Chrome handlebar speakers. Why not share the music with everyone on your block?!
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This is an excellent helmet. Volume is not excessively loud. I can see where high speeds would impede on the sound (epecially for a phone call). I've used it paired with my phone for Spotify. I simply love it. If it had a little more volume or noise insulation, it would be a perfect 5 stars. It's still probably one of the best things since sliced bread ;)I bought this helmet just over 30 days ago so now it is out of the return window. The vent plastic that holds the modular button in broke and fell out while riding. The Bluetooth speakers cut out while riding.Want VCAN Blinc 210 Full Modular Helmet with Aviator Graphics (Flat Black, Medium) Discount?
The Helmet is really good for normal speeds usage, when in high speed sometimes the Bluetooth calls drop and the music is not that loud to be heard. Other than that the helmet is perfect and comfy and easy to use it's Bluetooth controller.
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