Universal intercom partnership formed

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Universal intercom partnership

From left: Dan Emodi, chief marketing officer of Cardo Systems and Phil Ammendolia, president and CEO of LS2 Helmets USA

LS2 has released the first of a new generation of in-helmet audio/ intercom systems. Developed in association with Cardo, the new LS2 4X intercom is built to the latest intercom industry standard – the Universal Communication Solution (UCS). The UCS has been compared with the widely used DIN fitment for car radios, which specified a standard size, shape and connector setup so that audio systems could be swapped between cars. With UCS, the inhelmet equipment complies with size, weight and connector specs, so any UCS helmet can be fitted with any UCS intercom – while still complying with the ECE 22.06 helmet safety standards.

The LS2 4X intercom can be used with any of five UCS compliant LS2 helmets, including the new Advant, Infinity and Infinity II designs. Developed by Cardo, the LS2 4X connects up to four riders across Bluetooth within 1.2km/0.75 mile while featuring Sound by JBL, Natural Voice Operation, Open Bluetooth intercom and a fully waterproof design. It will be available in April, for around £250.

Dan Emodi, chief marketing officer at Cardo said, “We’re proud to be the communicator of choice for LS2 Helmets. As a company, we pride ourselves on innovation and quality and to work with another brand so closely aligned with these philosophies is a pleasure. We look forward to the millions of LS2 customers enjoying communication by Cardo.”

Giuseppe Porcu, CEO at LS2, said: “We chose Cardo Systems because of the company’s forward-thinking and reputation for reliability, values that perfectly represent our brand. We want to work with experts, and they are the most qualified in their sector.”

SHARP update

The Department for Transport’s SHARP helmet rating scheme has been around for 15 years now, awarding simple star ratings to helmets based on the DfT’s own test criteria. The test grabbed a lot of headlines when launched, but has fallen off the radar recently.

But now the Transport Research Laboratory and DfT are consulting on how to update the SHARP test in the light of more recent research into head injuries and helmet design. One aspect where the scientists are seeking to improve SHARP is in the area of rotational forces experienced in real-world impacts. The TRL has also found that up to 25% of bikers wear incorrectly-sized helmets, increasing the chance of a helmet coming off in a crash. Both bodies are keen to improve the SHARP regime in light of all the recent findings – and TRL will collect, review and evaluate all of the data to feed back to the SHARP system.

Government’s CE replacement on hold for two years

In a move that surprised hardly anyone with an interest, the government has extended the deadline on using the widely accepted CE marking scheme for personal protective equipment in Britain for another two years. The supposed replacement, the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark, will now not be mandatory until after 31 December 2024.

Brought in after the UK left the EU, the UKCA was planned to replace CE marking, so that there would be a UK body in charge of safety standards. The obvious flaw for motorcycle kit makers – potentially having to re-test kit which would already have been CE tested, increasing costs and red tape, seemed to be ignored by backers of the UKCA scheme. The scheme would also only apply in Great Britain, leaving Northern Ireland bikers under the CE scheme, and further complicating logistics for kit makers.

CE marking is required for goods sold in the European Economic Area, so isn’t directly linked with the EU – but it seems to have been caught up in the post-Brexit drive to eradicate all European regulations from the UK/GB, regardless of how practical that might be. It remains to be seen if the UKCA will ever become the only statutory standard allowed in GB – or if another extension will come along in 2024. www.britishdealernews.co.uk