Cardo Scala Rider

The Scala Rider's controls consist of volume rockers and a multifunction button that turns the headset on and off, manages calls, and readies it for pairing. While the controls are conveniently located on the exterior battery pack, they were much too small to be user-friendly. Finding and using the buttons while riding was very difficult and even potentially dangerous. Since we could use only one hand while trying to keep our eyes on the road, we found ourselves fumbling with the volume buttons for much too long. Additionally, thick motorcycle gloves exacerbated the problem.

We tested the Cardo Scala Rider with the Motorola V551. The pairing process took just a few seconds, and we were ready to hop on our bike in no time. Audio quality was clear and very loud. Even with loud engine and wind noise, we could hear our callers plainly. That said, finding the correct volume can be tricky. If turned up too high, the audio is nearly deafening, and it can be quite a jolt (not a good thing while riding) when you first answer a call. It's best to start off low, then turn up the sound level to your liking. Yet considering the volume controls are so difficult to manipulate, we struggled with the overall usability. On their end, callers could hear us clearly. The Scala Rider includes a wind-resistant microphone cover that performs admirably. The headset wisely supports voice dialing, but it registers the correct voice-dial name only about half the time--not convenient when you can't stop to dial manually. It also supports call reject and last-number redial. On the upside, battery life is solid. The Scala Rider has a rated talk time of seven hours and a promised standby time of one week. In our tests, we came away with six days of standby time.