Sena Motorcycles Reviews

I have owned four different Sena models. The 50 series units have very serious hardware issues (check the forums) that have not been resolved since their release. The configuration and setup has always been painful. The menu systems are overly complicated. The controls are complicated. Pairing more than two headsets takes hours. Pairing dissimilar models is nearly impossible. Their software is poorly written and complicated.

It seems you must give it access to your camera and Apple Music or it will not even open SenaMotorcycles . I tried giving it access to both of them temporarily. SenaMotorcycles opened but nothing worked. Since I do not want them accessing my camera and don’t have Apple Music this is totally worthless. The help button, I think just tries to sell you helmets.

I have a Sena 50R and used it with the Sena 50 Utility App flawlessly for a while now. Now I can no longer change some of the device settings on that app and it makes me get SenaMotorcycles. SenaMotorcycles can’t even connect to my Sena 50R. So I’m stuck unable to change any of my settings. The Utility App worked. Why change it. Don’t try to fix anything that isn’t broken.

I’ve had good luck with Sena in the past but investing in the Impulse has been aggravating. The sound isn’t super. SenaMotorcycles to control is buggy as all get out and doesn’t function well enough to even update the firmware. The support forums on the website are hard to follow, maybe is simple if the software worked.

It both doesn’t work and collected a TON of personal data that SenaMotorcycles doesn’t need to run. Sena now scrapes all your contacts. Tracks everywhere you go. Who you go with. Your social media posts and data. This is gross. Even it it didn’t drop the Bluetooth connection all the time, I would never use it.

I am trying to connect my impulse headset to home wifi for firmware updates. The program connects to the helmet but is not able to see any wifi networks. There’s also an issue where SenaMotorcycles constantly disconnects from the bluetooth of the helmet

Did you ask yourself “How can I take an application that really isn’t working and then make a new version of it and make it worse?”? I feel like that’s what they Sena did. Listen to your customers, then go talk to programming and fix the issues you already have.

You can’t use SenaMotorcycles without giving permissions to your music AND camera! The story they give is ridiculous. I wish I could return this because I didn’t know I had to let their software have access to my camera.

It’s ridiculous to have the music volume and intercom volume be controlled together. I like the music to be a little lower than the conversation I’m having. I just got two spiders yesterday and I think I’m gonna return them for that very reason.

Took a chance and bought the 50S with “Harmon kardon” speakers and i swear my phone speaker put out more volume than these Sena speakers that are literally touching my ears.

even at this low low volume, sound quality for music is horrible.

Tried the WiFi adapter to see if a software update could fix it, but the WiFi adapter does not turn on no matter what usb outlet I plug it into- no lights at all!

Returning this Sena system tomorrow and going back to the packtalk bold with JBL speakers

The FM transmitter function doesn’t work. It won’t scan or manually adjust to find radio channels. Any time I try to make any changes SenaMotorcycles crashes. May have to return the unit.

FM receiver does not work. Not sure if it’s just SenaMotorcycles or the RT1. Trying to scan for stations causes SenaMotorcycles to crash. Been a big fan of Sena up to this point. Sena folks, give me an easy fix please.

SenaMotorcycles constantly disconnects from my 50S when trying to pair with two different Bluetooth receivers (a 50s and a 20s). Never had this issue with the old app.

Every time I try to make an adjustment on the unit it crashes SenaMotorcycles … I am holding out to see if it gets any better, I am hopeful.

App forces me to update the firmware, but when scanning for wifi networks, finds nothing.

The title says it all. I understand Sena is the standard for motorcycle Bluetooth headsets, but it’s app development needs a huge quality boost. Very disappointing.

The price of the 50s device is no where close to the low standards of SenaMotorcycles .

Old app was bad, but at least it was working. SenaMotorcycles doesn’t. I spent a huge amount of money on teo Sena 50s headsets and I regret!!!!

Can’t change music volume control. Your choices are SO LOUD YOU CAN’T HEAR INTERCOM USERS AT ALL or mute.

Got the new Impulse helmet and you are required to update the helmet via this application over wifi. When attempting to enable multiple device support the application shuts down. I have tried it on android and it works until you try to connect back to your home wifi to start the update and it doesn’t detect your home wifi. This is an application issue so please @sena fix this.

Maybe apple phones are better with SenaMotorcycles but I don’t know what all the negatives reviews are about. I didn’t even need SenaMotorcycles to connect to my iPhone. This works like any other Bluetooth device and I’ve had 0 issues. I like the music sharing feature and the mesh works great. Also I em got the battery monitoring feature in SenaMotorcycles . All in all I’m pleasantly surprised at how well this system works. What are people expecting? Do they want SenaMotorcycles to do their taxes, refinance loans or troubleshoot engine codes??? If you think SenaMotorcycles is difficult to work with I’d hate to see you try to set up a new TV or program a VCR to record your favorite re-runs of Murder She Wrote 😏

I’ve read some of the reviews and I have to say. None of what I have read has been my experience. I did not have the old App so I can’t speak on that. My wife and I purchased the 50R twin set. I won’t say Setup was a breeze but it was not overly complicated. I did use a combination of the button access and SenaMotorcycles to set them up the way I wanted. I have the headset connected to my phone and my motorcycle. Once I read the manual and paid specific attention to what I was trying to accomplish it made perfect sense. Haven’t tested long distance. Did use the system at a large rally with zero issues. You get quite a bit of configuration for the price.

Why in the crap does Sena continue to make their software and units so hard to use? This latest “idea” to make me have to go to this new app to be able to connect to my unit via my phone is REALLY ANNOYING. Not do I have to give SenaMotorcycles all these permissions so the sucker will even load, why does it need access to my photos, the unit has no camera, but if you don’t grant it, you can’t load it. It completely wipes the old app - that worked perfectly good - AND I have to pair it again which isn’t a big deal but ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS CHECK MY BATTERY LEVEL on my unit & I had to waste all the time fighting w/the new app. NOT impressed Sena, do the guys thinking up these great ideas ever USE the stuff? I bet not - another annoying move from Sena!

I don’t use Apple music or iTunes. Why do I need to grant “Media & Apple Music” permissions? I don’t ever plan on using ‘Smart Pairing’ so why do I need to grant ‘Camera’ permissions? You should prompt for those permissions when someone tries to use those features and not at app launch.

Not sure why you chose to remove the multiple volume sliders per audio source like previous apps had. The auto lower volume on intercom conversation is super annoying so that’s off immediately. With SenaMotorcycles you can’t adjust music volume separate of intercom volume anymore.

I’m uninstalling this garbage…

Went for a casual ride last night with a friend. We bought a 10s pair a few years ago and they have always just worked. For some reason last night we had to download SenaMotorcycles to get them to pair. What a terrible experience that was.

First we had to make sure we both had the same app. Why are there so many!? You shouldn’t need one. Let alone 4. At least remove the old apps from SenaMotorcycles Store. Real amateur looking stuff folks.

Then we had to allow all kinds of security permissions for SenaMotorcycles to work. Not chill at all.

Then we got pestered to join a mailing list. The most not chill.

Then SenaMotorcycles crashed and I had to start over.

Then we had to pair our phones to our headsets. Not something I ever needed to do before.

Then we could scan at codes to connect.

This was with headsets that were purchased as a prejoined pair.

These apps are trash. Figure it out senna. Cause this ain’t it.

Sena makes a robust excellent quality Bluetooth communication device but has nearly no way to update or manage your device. The apps continuously ask for contact information which it accepts, then verifies, before it informs you there’s no Internet connection (which it just used) to link the Camara. In the unusual event you manage to get everything functioning before a ride as soon as you leave the driveway it’s telling you to reestablish your home WiFi connection. Apparently the 50C is designed to function properly when riding in your garage.

Why in the world does this need to be so difficult? Purchased a brand new Impulse (not cheap) and downloaded SenaMotorcycles . Now I’m stuck in never never land as nothing wants to work properly because the firmware requires an update which after 3 hours still isn’t complete. I haven’t even had a chance to check out the Harmon Kardon speakers as I haven’t even rode with the helmet on. I was warned but ignored the warning. I’m very close to putting this pile of @&$@&#%*’ back in the box and shipping it back. I expected so much more from SENA

First time using Sena and it would not connect to SenaMotorcycles . I updated the intercom software from my computer and had no issues since. App always works and so does pairing to other riders.

Could be a great app if we were allowed to completed turn off the 5 preset music settings choices from SENA. No e of them sound good to me and they actually make the music sound bad. You can hear the preset “equalizer” changing during the song to compensate for changes.
Just give us the ability to turn it off.

I already hated the old app. Somehow they managed to make the new app even worse. I can never get my device to update. Half the time the settings I choose don’t work. Recently, when I connect via mesh to my friends one of us always has low volume and none of us can hear one person in the group.

I have been contemplating converting to Cardo and it even seems like SENA wants me to switch. I cannot express how much I absolutely hate SenaMotorcycles and ultimately my SENA 50 device.

Like others I take issue with the fact that Sena is requiring all permissions be granted to SenaMotorcycles before it will launch. I have hundreds of apps on my phone, none of which have this requirement. I understand the need for Bluetooth but beyond that all other permissions need to be optional. I like my 50s and SenaMotorcycles that came with it. But SenaMotorcycles is garbage. Waiting for Sena to come to their senses. If they haven’t by the time I’m ready for a new comm I’ll be going to a Cardo.

After all these updates and new apps so many issues. Main issue, takes 10 or 20 tries to update to latest firmware and one unit won’t update after trying for 2 days, even tried different laptops and cables. Bluetooth connection is usually hit or miss and connecting to your riding buddy is sometimes impossible or some things work or not. Really thinking about giving Cardo a try after all these years with Sena.

If you are going to buy sena, the 30k’s are the best available. Issues with mesh not working when receiving a phone call. Mesh will disconnect abs you have to reboot the unit to get back on mesh.
If you have a gps hooked up to the sena when the gps send an alert or anything the group on mesh will hear about 2 seconds of loudness from your headset. Each time the gps interacts with the Sena

SenaMotorcycles doesn’t provide different volumes for each application ( phone vs music vs gps instruction)

The only thing SenaMotorcycles should require is a Bluetooth connection. There is no reason to *require* access to the camera, music, or local network.

The local network access is *never* needed for an app like this, why you request it is beyond me.

If I don’t want to use your app to control my music you don’t need access to my music player and library. Should be an optional choice.

If I don’t want to use the camera to pair other headsets then the camera is also an optional choice.

But no. You *require* all 4 unconditionally - just to let people who bought your expensive headsets change their headset settings. All that needs is Bluetooth. Make the others optional.

Picked up a pair of the Spider ST1 for my kids and so far somewhat impressed. At low speeds worked good, but highway … forget it … no music, no nothing.
I’ll give it a try tomorrow, did a FW update and SenaMotorcycles has a bunch of options worth trying.

Even though I don't use QR codes for pairing or want my intercom to access my media, the application refuses to work without those permissions enabled. Unless you grant these permissions, you can't do basic things like update intercom firmware or program radio stations. It also demands you accept some web site terms of service, even if you don't ever use the website. That's unacceptable.

Got 2 50s Models….Very easy mounting, setting up and operating. App works excellent with both units. We even was able to carry another brand Bluetooth device into our Mesh conversation. Great Job SENA !!!!!

My wife and I communicate effectively as we ride, I am able to receive messages and phone calls when needed. Works well.

I fail to understand why Sena needs access to my photos for SenaMotorcycles to work especially when I do not have a camera on my headset. I would like a refund on the Sena headset. This is a really good example of decent hardware being let down by terrible software. I would caution anyway against buying Sena products while they have this cavalier attitude towards privacy.

For as much as i paid for my sena mesh system you would think it would be easy to update.
Nothing work on SenaMotorcycles. The firmware cannot be updated, i have tried every single method available to me and it will not work. Constantly disconnect from the wifi. Just worthless.
For what you charge people you need to do better.
No excuse for such terrible work.
Be ashamed developers you are terrible at your jobs.

Had the Sena 50s around two weeks now. Easy install and setup. Works fine, the 50s and the iPhone app are just fine. Also the Wi-Fi to usb download adapter also works as advertised.
I only have one question, what exactly does the button on the bottom do? The ambient button.
Nice sound and easy to use.