Rider - Mechanic Radio Communication

FMB2.0
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Divide, CO, USA

With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?

After some recent scenarios on the track this year, radio communication could possibly lead to better racing ?

Make it possible for another sponsor or 2.

Listening in on what riders have to say could be a hoot.

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GrapeApe
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8/25/2026 6:06pm

No

4
8
8/25/2026 6:08pm

Thr only person who wants headsets is Ping and Brian Deegan. Both have relationships with Cardo.

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gt80rider
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8/25/2026 6:09pm

I've been saying that for years...  ya but no need to warn riders of red cross flags, no need to tell them their bike is smoking, no need to listen to bam bam tripn balls on a guy tryn to pass him... let's just go with the 1940s technology... 😆 🤣 

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8
8/25/2026 6:58pm

you have to think about what is the worst case, 

imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, 

if sprint cars can live with out them, we can to , 

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The Shop

Gravel
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Ridgecrest, CA, USA
8/25/2026 7:03pm

Yes, let them talk. And let the AMA talk to them also, both one on one and to the entire field. 

Track hazards, bike issues, lapper warnings, traffic ahead.. it’d make the sport safer in many ways, that alone is good enough reason.

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philG
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8/26/2026 12:45am
GrapeApe wrote:

No

Hard No.

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1
The Wolf Man
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8/26/2026 12:59am
FMB2.0 wrote:
With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?After some recent scenarios...

With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?

After some recent scenarios on the track this year, radio communication could possibly lead to better racing ?

Make it possible for another sponsor or 2.

Listening in on what riders have to say could be a hoot.

I'd not like to listen into the stuff Duffe would say to Donger during the moto...

Fluffing him up with his creepy words...it would be pornographic

 

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Not hillbilly
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8/26/2026 1:01am
scott_nz wrote:
you have to think about what is the worst case, imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, if sprint cars can live with out...

you have to think about what is the worst case, 

imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, 

if sprint cars can live with out them, we can to , 

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine that they’re outlawed for professional dirt bikers.

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philG
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8/26/2026 2:31am
scott_nz wrote:
you have to think about what is the worst case, imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, if sprint cars can live with out...

you have to think about what is the worst case, 

imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, 

if sprint cars can live with out them, we can to , 

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine...

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine that they’re outlawed for professional dirt bikers.

Talking to your mate on a streetbike , and having someone suddenly burst into your ears on a racebike are not the same. 

And F1 teams have Comms areas set up in their software so routine messaging is done where less likely to cause drivers a problem. 

And drivers regularly tell the pit wall to STFU. 

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Not hillbilly
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8/26/2026 2:50am
scott_nz wrote:
you have to think about what is the worst case, imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, if sprint cars can live with out...

you have to think about what is the worst case, 

imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, 

if sprint cars can live with out them, we can to , 

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine...

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine that they’re outlawed for professional dirt bikers.

philG wrote:
Talking to your mate on a streetbike , and having someone suddenly burst into your ears on a racebike are not the same. And F1 teams have...

Talking to your mate on a streetbike , and having someone suddenly burst into your ears on a racebike are not the same. 

And F1 teams have Comms areas set up in their software so routine messaging is done where less likely to cause drivers a problem. 

And drivers regularly tell the pit wall to STFU. 

It appears that you believe motocross teams will be unable to practice professional communications, is that right? Is that your only concern?

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2
Madkiwi
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Auckland, NZ
8/26/2026 4:36am Edited Date/Time 8/26/2026 4:36am

Here in NZ we race a series called Wildman. It is a practice, 2 x 12-minute races, and then a 30-minute "Wildman". It's just a small club, but we all take it semi-seriously, as mostly C, B, and the odd A-class vets etc are known to do Smile

For fun and to help me manage effort/energy during the 30+ minute race, and to involve her more, I have my 11-year-old daughter use her headset back and forth to me racing.

A few things.

  • The volume to hear is REALLY difficult to set. To not be too loud (VERY off-putting/dangerous) or too quiet, extremely frustrating.
  • When other bikes go past her, they make a loud burst of volume in your ear. VERY off-putting and a little dangerous, i.e distracting.
  • I have had to teach her to be REALLY careful where and when she talks to me.

    I think in a casual /training situation it is very cool. I can't imagine it working well at a full-on professional level during a race with 20-40 other racers all doing the same thing.

    Let alone allowing the AMA to intrude willy-nilly for safety messages, etc.
     
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1
8/26/2026 4:42am
scott_nz wrote:
you have to think about what is the worst case, imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, if sprint cars can live with out...

you have to think about what is the worst case, 

imagine Tony Alessi in Vince Freise ears,  do we want that, 

if sprint cars can live with out them, we can to , 

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine...

If F1 cars can thrive with them, so can we. In helmet communications has transformed my street bike experience for the better as well. It’s asinine that they’re outlawed for professional dirt bikers.

philG wrote:
Talking to your mate on a streetbike , and having someone suddenly burst into your ears on a racebike are not the same. And F1 teams have...

Talking to your mate on a streetbike , and having someone suddenly burst into your ears on a racebike are not the same. 

And F1 teams have Comms areas set up in their software so routine messaging is done where less likely to cause drivers a problem. 

And drivers regularly tell the pit wall to STFU. 

I use my Cardo about every time I got out on a ride and have done a few endurance races with a Raceceiver with no issues. What makes you think these 2 are so different? What makes everyone thinking a voice coming on that you can barely hear over everything else around you is going to startle motocross racers when no one else seems to have a problem with it? Many forms of motorsports use the Raceceiver and to me it makes the most sense. A one way communication device in the hands of the race director is all that's needed.

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Paul333
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Virginia Beach, VA, USA
8/26/2026 10:42am
FMB2.0 wrote:
With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?After some recent scenarios...

With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?

After some recent scenarios on the track this year, radio communication could possibly lead to better racing ?

Make it possible for another sponsor or 2.

Listening in on what riders have to say could be a hoot.

Try passing when a factory team has a comms guy in every corner…

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1
matze
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Stuttgart, DE
8/26/2026 3:05pm Edited Date/Time 8/26/2026 3:08pm

Yes. Some old farts might be against it, but its about time. Regulated and well thought implemented. No brainer really

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8/26/2026 4:08pm

Oh yeah do it then hack there system . Where the only thing a rider hears is the drive threw  at Burger King.  Lol make that a #4 with a quad whopper & super size the fries. Lol 

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Phillip_Lamb
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ORANGEVALE, CA, USA
8/26/2026 4:17pm

i have zero interest in hearing the conversations, but i think as a safety measure it should be given a chance

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David934
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CZ
8/27/2026 11:41pm

NO. This shit destroyed racing in other sports. 

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Not hillbilly
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8/28/2026 12:25am
David934 wrote:

NO. This shit destroyed racing in other sports. 

Please give an example.

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David934
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8/28/2026 1:28am
David934 wrote:

NO. This shit destroyed racing in other sports. 

Please give an example.

F1, cycling,...

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Not hillbilly
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8/28/2026 2:10am
David934 wrote:

NO. This shit destroyed racing in other sports. 

Please give an example.

David934 wrote:

F1, cycling,...

Yeah, I meant an example of the destruction you mentioned. Those two sports have never been bigger…

1
BossWool2800
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Jackson, TX, USA
8/28/2026 2:28am
FMB2.0 wrote:
With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?After some recent scenarios...

With some of the recent innovations in helmet headsets, why not allow communication between Rider and mechanic in the SMX Series ?

After some recent scenarios on the track this year, radio communication could possibly lead to better racing ?

Make it possible for another sponsor or 2.

Listening in on what riders have to say could be a hoot.

X2. 

David934
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CZ
8/28/2026 2:33am

Yeah, I meant an example of the destruction you mentioned. Those two sports have never been bigger…

Those sports Is more about tactics instead of racing 

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katooom
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Broad Run, VA, USA
8/28/2026 3:37am

No.

Already they have darkfsih.  If comms, they would be told lines during race, what competition is doing, etc.  Totally ruins the reward a creative rider has.

Look what a snore comms has turned the TdF into.

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SEEMEFIRST
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8/28/2026 3:57am
katooom wrote:
No.Already they have darkfsih.  If comms, they would be told lines during race, what competition is doing, etc.  Totally ruins the reward a creative rider has.Look...

No.

Already they have darkfsih.  If comms, they would be told lines during race, what competition is doing, etc.  Totally ruins the reward a creative rider has.

Look what a snore comms has turned the TdF into.

Like someone else mentioned, just have it available to race control only for red cross/light warnings. 

1
Paul333
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8/28/2026 5:51am
matze wrote:

Yes. Some old farts might be against it, but its about time. Regulated and well thought implemented. No brainer really

So a large factory team has potentially a comms person in every corner. A smaller team might have 1-3 stationed at key points. Privateers have zero..

How is that fair?

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Not hillbilly
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8/28/2026 5:57am Edited Date/Time 8/28/2026 5:58am

I am constantly surprised by the amount of Luddism found among MX enthusiasts. So far the arguments against radio communication are safety and sporting “purity.” Oh, and fairness for the little guy. LOL 

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Not hillbilly
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8/28/2026 6:15am

Yeah, I meant an example of the destruction you mentioned. Those two sports have never been bigger…

David934 wrote:

Those sports Is more about tactics instead of racing 

I would argue racing is all about tactics. But let’s take F1… without radios, and limited to pit boards, drivers would have to wait a whole lap to pit after seeing the “Box” message. And in the case of a sudden safety car, drivers would have to gamble on suddenly diving into the pits at the risk of arriving before the team is ready to service them. Finally, if the driver needs a wing change, the team won’t know until the driver comes to a stop in pit lane and yells it out to them. Ridiculous.

And if you think today’s version of the Tour de France is less exciting than the days before radio, I think you’re just a hopeless romantic. Being able to coordinate attacks, feed strategy, repairs and more brings much more to the sport, IMO, than 7 guys just winging it.

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matze
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8/28/2026 6:56am Edited Date/Time 8/28/2026 7:00am
matze wrote:

Yes. Some old farts might be against it, but its about time. Regulated and well thought implemented. No brainer really

Paul333 wrote:
So a large factory team has potentially a comms person in every corner. A smaller team might have 1-3 stationed at key points. Privateers have zero..How...

So a large factory team has potentially a comms person in every corner. A smaller team might have 1-3 stationed at key points. Privateers have zero..

How is that fair?

How is what you just described something that can’t be regulated and properly thought through? There are obviously more Problems with it that need answers. You pointed out just one of them, which, btw, is pretty easy to solve. Just allow one selected person to communicate with the rider.

Sorryy but saying, "there are some problems therefore we shouldnt implement it at all” is just a dumb argument after all. New systems come with new challenges. You find solutions to those challenges, you dont just dismiss the entire system because they exist. 

Like I said, this kind of thinking often comes from (old) people who are so attached to the status quo that they wouldd rather tolerate the existing problems than deal with the challenges of implementing something better.

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lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
8/28/2026 7:52am

Big brother is listening so …… More rules to get penalties from 

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Paul333
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8/29/2026 10:20pm
matze wrote:
How is what you just described something that can’t be regulated and properly thought through? There are obviously more Problems with it that need answers. You...

How is what you just described something that can’t be regulated and properly thought through? There are obviously more Problems with it that need answers. You pointed out just one of them, which, btw, is pretty easy to solve. Just allow one selected person to communicate with the rider.

Sorryy but saying, "there are some problems therefore we shouldnt implement it at all” is just a dumb argument after all. New systems come with new challenges. You find solutions to those challenges, you dont just dismiss the entire system because they exist. 

Like I said, this kind of thinking often comes from (old) people who are so attached to the status quo that they wouldd rather tolerate the existing problems than deal with the challenges of implementing something better.

How are you going to regulate it?

One side will have everything, the other nothing.. 

 


 

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