Cardo Packtalk Pro review | A very clever product that's much more than an intercom

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Cardo are one of the bigger players in the motorcycle intercom business and the Packtalk Pro is the latest and greatest model released at the top of their range in 2024.

It is the first model in the Cardo range to feature automatic crash detection, which uses a dedicated chip in the unit coupled with the accelerometers in your smartphone to detect an accident and send a message to a preset emergency contact.

The Packtalk Pro takes all the best bits and added extras of previous Packtalks, so you get magnetic cradle attachment, 45mm JBL speakers, top spec Mesh connectivity and FM radio included as well as the new tech.

The Packtalk Edge – previously the flagship model – now sits second in the hierarchy but continues to be made along with the Freecom 4X and other variations in the line-up.

Does the Cardo Packtalk Pro look good?

It may seem like a daft thing to worry about – and it’s certainly a not a main priority of mine – but the look of a unit that sits on the outside of your helmet is still worth thinking about.

Cardo said they opted for the stealthy black-on-black colour scheme of the Pro due to customer feedback and it looks good to my eyes. If you have a dark helmet then the unit pretty much blends in and that’s all you can ask.

The slinky unit is slightly let down by the bracket, which makes the whole thing protrude more than I’d like but it’s far more subtle than options from other brands such as the Sena 50S.

Cardo Packtalk Pro sound quality

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I’ve used a few different intercoms now and the main area they fall down for me is the sound. I ride in earplugs and combined with road and wind noise, this usually renders them next to useless above 30mph.

The Pro, however, with its extra-large 45mm JBL speakers works for me. I have to run it at full volume and I can’t listen to, say, a quiet podcast on the motorway still, but music and phone calls cut through and are audible.

The noise cancellation tech is impressive, too, and I’ve been told that no wind noise is audible to the person on the other end of the line even at proper motorway speeds. It’s worth noting that I’ve been riding a naked bike in a comparatively noisy helmet, too, and I suspect if you wore a more cosseting lid on a touring bike you’d hear even more.

Cardo Packtalk Pro ease of fitment

Full disclosure, I didn’t actually fit this kit – a nice man from Cardo did – but it looked completely straightforward and only took a few minutes. Pairing with the app is also very simple and the updates are all completed wirelessly through the interface.

Is the Cardo Packtalk Pro easy to use?

As with other Cardo units, the Pro can be controlled using your voice. You need to learn exactly what it wants to hear, though, and it’s not as simple as using Google Assistant, Siri or Alexa.

On that subject, Google Assistant and Siri are supposed to be compatible with the Pro but I only seem to be able to get it to work with the phone unlocked. Since it’s kept in my pocket while I ride, this isn’t possible.

The volume wheel is easy to find and operate with gloves on but the other control buttons are trickier and I constantly forget which does what anyway. Until I got used to the exact instructions I needed to use to get the voice control working, I was constantly turning on the radio rather than my phone’s streaming service for music.

I also twice attempted to call my partner and ended up speaking with my mother-in-law somehow so I gave up trying to dial out.

The one area that was an absolute doddle to use was the Mesh system. On a group ride with other journalists at the product launch, we simply held two of the buttons down simultaneously on each of our units and they synced immediately. Then it’s just a case of chatting away as the channel is constantly open.

The unit also has a really handy auto standby mode so it switches itself off if it notices your helmet is still for a while. This is really handy if you’re a numpty like me who forgets to switch things off and returns to an empty battery next time you pick them up.

Is the Cardo Packtalk Pro good value?

There’s no getting around it, the Cardo Packtalk Pro is a pricey bit of kit. £405 for an accessory stings a little (especially when you consider the helmet I’ve fitted it to only costs £150).

A Sena 50S will only set you back around £240 depending where you look and even Cardo’s own Packtalk Edge is only £290-ish from some retailers. If you’re not bothered about the crash detection, I’d go for the Edge and add a set of 45mm JBL speakers.

That said, the Pro’s crash detection system is a great innovation and would be especially attractive to those who ride in remote areas alone.

There are currently no competitors with exactly the same features as the Cardo Packtalk Pro but premium intercom rivals Sena have their range-topping 50S unit. We’ll be doing a direct comparison between the two soon so keep your eyes peeled for that.

The verdict

While I appreciate that something doesn’t have to be cheap to represent good value, I struggle to see past the asking price of the Cardo Packtalk Pro. There’s no doubt that it’s technologically impressive, packed with features and easy to fit and use, but £405 is a lot of money for what is essentially a gadget.

But if you are a committed intercom user who wants the very latest tech then this is probably the unit for you – and the crash detection feature is a very nifty addition, too.

For my own use case – listening to a bit of music on boring rides or taking the occasional call, the Cardo is overkill. But if you regularly chat away with a pillion or your mates on a group ride then I can see the advantages.

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How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our jackets to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

To find out if an intercom is worth spending your money on, our testers use them in the way you will. That means listening to music, making and taking phone calls, using the app and everything else it’s capable of.

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To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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