We ride a Dyna with 1/2 helmets so we can hear each other just fine. Never thought I would like using a communication system either until I rode my brother-in-laws Ultra to Florida for him when he moved. I was pretty cool to just talk in normal level voices all the way there, we had conversations and not just communicated when she had to pee or wanted me to see something. For safety, I could still hear everything around me just fine.
I always said I was old school and don't need any of these new contraptions, but I say that about everything and I am now riding a bike with an electric starter and blinkers, I carry a cell phone and I'm talking to other bikers - who don't need all these new contraptions either - on a computer!
I guess they are only new contraptions when some one else is using them, when I get them myself they are conveniences.
