Customer Reviews

A great example of customer service.

I would like to express my appreciation of the service that I have received from Doug. While touring round Europe with my 10 year old son on our bike the Autocom began to fail. I was able to make contact with Doug and he not only responded promptly but also called to try and talk me though some troubleshooting while on the road. This level of customer service continued on our return with Doug sorting out a replacement in a very prompt manner once the faulty unit had been returned. Regards James

It does exactly what it says on the tin

From the hours you work and your attitude to your customers its clear that you are totally committed in providing customer satisfaction and love the job immensely. Not only was I satisfied but I was totally blown away at the product and its capabilities. I never doubted the claims that you and your company made but as they said "It does exactly what it says on the tin!!!" Once again - Nice one chaps!!!

Simon Perfect

Just a short letter to say "thank you" for the excellent service you provided me by making up the two leads for my radios. I am very happy with the results and especially the quality personal service you gave me. This system is far superior to anything anyone else could offer me. I have had many complimentary comments and I will certainly extol the virtues of Autocom.

Linda & Carl Bunting

We would like to thank Sam for agreeing to see us at very short notice, solving the problem and fitting our microphones to our helmets. He was very apologetic and above all had a very pleasant nature. Often we receive very bad after sales service so it is very nice to be treated like a customer should be.

R. Williams

During the eight years I have had the present system it has been used on three different bikes: A GT550, an XJ900 and an ST1100 and has been to five different countries abroad - Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland and France. This is on top of my daily commute into London - a further 700 miles a week. I have calculated that it has accompanied and entertained me over 200,000 miles approx and it has just started to crackle recently. I have decided it's time to invest in a new one and do hope it does me the same fantastic service that I have come to expect from Autocom!

Graham Harper

I would like to thank you for the expert attention you afforded me, firstly over the telephone and then when I visited on Saturday morning. With Tom's explanation we settled on the Pro-M1 kit which we were very impressed with on the return journey home, it certainly lives up to reports you read about in the press. The Tea wasn't too bad either!

John Measures

I have to say I feel a little let down. I came over to see you one Saturday morning about a month ago just to talk to you about an intercom system but you persuaded me to have one fitted. You said that it would perform excellently and had no doubt that I would be happy with the system - A Pro-M1. So why do I feel let down? Well I owe it to myself to tell you straight! WHY ON EARTH DIDN'T YOU SELL ME ONE YEARS AGO? Its fantastic and exceeds my expectations. The VOX system works perfectly and the quality of the background music and telephone is great. It really has made biking more enjoyable with or without a passenger. Thanks for the great system!

Mike & Jill

All we can say is thank you for such superb service, there aren't many companies left that can, or want to do it!

Andrew E Lander Stow

Without the Autocom intercom, biking would not be as much fun as it is now. Thank you for a well made product that does exactly what it says in the brochure. Should you have any potential customers in Devon or Cornwall, I would be happy to demonstrate how well it works. Please feel free to give them my phone number etc.

Mike Harley Southern Section

I purchased Autocom easy 7 audio system so I could have a mobile phone connection and communications with my passenger when need. I fitted it to my Ari helmet and set of for Beddgellert. The communication was dreadful and could not be heard of the wind noise. I later contacted Sam at Autcom who assured me the system would work and suggested that I take a ride to their HQ at Warwick and let them check the fitting. This I did the headset was installed in a few minutes neatly and in a different location. The result was amazing clear communication at any speed, the phone rings, auto answers and cuts off at the end of speech: Wonderful! The advice I would pass on is Autocom want your system to work properly and are only to happy to fit the headset and have the experience in fitting it to all makes of helmet, it's worth a long ride to have fitted properly.

Jim Mathiesen

It finally happened. I'm 41 years old and it finally happened. Finally a company lived up to its promises! I made a purchase based on vendor recommendations and published articles. Your communication system does everything that it promised. Not almost, or just okay, It exceeded every expectation. Clear uninterrupted communication, just like you promised. I just completed a call to your sales and tech support department, and I am just as amazed at the help and support that was offered on that call. Paul (sales), Rick in (tech support) were unbelieveable. Your company will continue to do very well. Congratulations. You should be very proud of your organization.

Ken Chisholm

Hi Tom, Nice to chat with you this week, I wanted to send a e-mail and the attached photograph to congratulate you and your team on a fantastic product. As you know I am passionate about quality music. I have just fitted 2 x Pro 7's to my friends motorcycles and the sound quality is absolutely fantastic. WELL DONE!

Les Crook

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! There was I happily riding along listening to a bit of Rolling Stones or Fleetwood Mac or what ever. Safe in the knowledge that I couldn't be disturbed from my solace. Until AUTOCOM comes along! Pah! My daughter often rode as a pillion, and my wife would come along on her Bandit as we would go out as a family. Clare (wife) says "It would be good if we could talk bike to bike", Charlotte (daughter) says "Dad, could I listen to some music as well" and every one else says "You weren\'t answering your mobile". So I decide to buy a Pro M1 and fit it up to an Active PMR446 radio. With Charlotte able to bring her CD player along. First run out and flipping heck I can clearly hear what Charlotte on the back is saying to me as we ride along at 70+mph this is a revalation compared to the intercoms we have tried before. The bike to bike system works very well and Clare and I can talk at whatever speed we decide to travel. The range of these little radios is very good. The mobile rings and it is Mum, who cannot believe that I am not in the office, such is the sound quality. So now I have to listen to SClub or Blue instead of Pink Floyd, Clare can insist that we stop for coffee, rest or toilet instead of this communication only being possible at traffic lights. The phone can be answered and people told that I will call them back when I have stopped. So a very big thanks to you, for wrecking my solitude :o)

Eugene O'Keeffe

Dear Mr. Beman, I want to send this note to you to let you know how I felt about a visit to your offices in Warwick two weeks ago. I want to express my sincere thanks to your staff in Autocom who made us feel so welcome when we arrived, unannounced, to your offices. In particular one of your guys called Sam. You see, your folks were up to their eyes preparing for the exhibition when myself and a friend arrived with our bikes in a van two weeks ago. We had driven from Dublin in Ireland to resolve a technical problem that had caused us some frustration in getting the system operational. What was so important to us was that we could clearly see that the customer came first. Sam and the lads gave us their undivided attention until we were sorted. They even wired our helmets while we chatted about holidays in Ireland. I am in the services business myself so I understand only too well all the shortcomings of the services industry when it comes to after-market customer care. Your guys are a credit to your company. Everyone we met, from the start of our one hour visit (including the lovely lady who came out to us and asked us if we wanted a cup of tea) to the end of visit, made sure we were taken care of. I also want to say your product is great. Myself and my friend are really delighted with the outcome. It has added a whole new dimension to our passion for bikes. Give your crew a pat on the back. They are the best.

P. Holder

Dear Sir, On Wednesday 17th March of this year I visited your premises to have a new headset fitted to my helmet and to have the old communications system checked on a BMW bike I had recently purchased. The helmet was fitted immediately and the system checked and found to be beyond economic repair. I decided to renew the system and expected to either have to return the 150 miles at a later date or have one fitted locally. I was amazed that your technician was quite happy to install it whilst I waited with a cup of coffee. I must say that I am not used to such a level of service and you are to be complimented. As I was leaving, extremely impressed with your operation, an existing fault with the ignition wiring reoccurred leaving the motorcycle with no power. Within an hour your technicians had effected a repair whilst I waited with more coffee. I could see that negotiating the fairing etc. was extremely difficult but every worried glance of mine was met with a smile and a 'don't worry, we'll sort it,' and sorted it was. I have to reiterate how impressed I am, not only with your level and quality of service and equipment, but with the professionalism, dedication and courtesy shown by your staff. Do not allow the gentleman there to be headhunted! Should you require a full testimonial please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again.

Brian King

To the Managing director Autocom: Dear Sir, About twelve months ago I purchased a PRO-M1 unit and it has been very reliable and works perfectly and to say I am happy with your product is an understatement of the big kind. However after 13 months it developed an intermittent fault, I E-Mailed Sam and arranged to bring the bike into your workshop. I was so impressed by the attention I received from Sam and Doug they both worked on my problem and found a faulty part which they replaced. The unit is working and I am very happy about it and very grateful to your team. Their professionalism and customer care is at a level I have never experienced before. You must be very proud of your team, your company's attitude to customers, and the high level of after sales care is of the best. I would not hesitate to recommend your company and its products to anyone. Yours, A happy grateful customer.

Dear Tom & Paul,

Back in the office once again, thanks for giving me so much of your time last week, I found it very useful. I managed to fit the headset in my partners Arashi lid, first time, thanks to your instruction regarding ear phone and microphone positioning. I have since been using the equipment with great success, both with phone and rider to pillion (not had a chance to test bike to bike yet though), the sound clarity at speed is truly amazing! Thanks once again for all your help. Kindest regards Steve

K. Fripp, Sector Six, Hampshire Constabulary

Sir, For the last 4 months I have been trialling a communication equipment sold by Autocom. This comprises of a self fit helmet system which can be fitted in minutes and does not interfere with any of the internal components or structure of the helmet. This system is far superior to anything I have used before. With this equipment I am able to receive radio communications at high speed whereas at the moment with our present system anything over 40 mph is a complete waste of time. Also the control room can receive me at speeds in excess of the speed limit when on emergency call, and by all accounts very clearly. This head system is matched with a bike fit kit which was fitted by Autocom onto my motorcycle. This provides power to the microphone in the headset and is used in the normal manner using the bike's own activation system. In my particular case they have fitted a mobile phone system which is a godsend since, due to the nature of my work with Sector Six, I am rarely in the station and constantly rung on the mobile. This system cuts the radio out and I am able to talk relatively normally. The advantages of this system are: The clarity of speech received and sent is far superior to our present system. The simple fitment to the helmet allows helmets to be bought "off the shelf" and put into use straight away, as opposed to the present system where I have waited 3 weeks for a helmet from sonic without communications and it still has not arrived. The helmet system can be used again and again thus saving on cost of each helmet. The bike system can easily be fitted by our radio engineers and maintained by them. I appreciate that we are soon to go over to the new radio system and the system will have to be evaluated with that but I must say that I am more than pleased with this equipment and its performance and I feel that it should be looked at seriously in the future.

John A. Elliot

Dear Mr Beman, Letter of Appreciation Earlier this month I collected my new BMW K1200LT, fitted with a Pro-7-Sport. However the dealership was unable to resolve the excessive HT noise via the headsets. In addition the telephone and Kenwood bike to bike radio failed to operate correctly. On Monday 9th of August, I spoke to Sam and explained the problem. I made and appointment to visit the next day. Sam checked the system and changed various components and as a result all is working correctly. I have owned a number of motorcycles over the years all have been equipped with an Autocom intercom, the first one was fitted whilst at your very first premises. I have always received excellent service and have been left with the impression that your staff have a genuine wish to resolve problems. I have always been received in a friendly and courteous manner. Your staff are a credit to you. It has been a pleasure to write this letter of appreciation in an age when we are so quick to criticise. Would you please pass on my thanks to Sam.

Clive Johnson

Just to let you know that the whole system is now installed on the bike, along with my recently purchased part 58 to allow bike-to-bike radio and phone together, and it all works wonderfully. Again, many thanks for the legendary Autocom customer service.

Mike and Patricia Berman

My wife and I visited your premises at Tachbrook Link, yesterday with a couple of queries regarding your equipment, which we have fitted to our motorcycle. We were attended to by "Paul" and wish to state to your management how very pleased we were with the service he gave us. Our original problems were quickly solved and he went through all of the other components without any prompting including helmets and ended up curing problems I never even knew I had. The journey home was a different experience and my own helmet speakers now perform in true stereo etc. etc. At all times we were treated courteously by your staff and Paul was exemplary. A great ambassador to your company. Please forward to him our very grateful thanks and rest assured that although we already knew that your products are the best available we will also pass on to all our contacts that your after sales service is also in a class of its own.

Mark Fraser, ODT Management Development & Consulting

Sam, I just wanted to say thank you very much for turning around my Autocom. I have now had the chance to try it a speed and works fine with earplugs. I have also now wired it in to the bike and look forward to many miles of riding while in contact with the outside world. I have been very impressed with the customer service from Autocom. All the people I have met and spoken to have been very approachable and more importantly knowledgeable and helpful. It is an example of how service should be and is sadly lacking in some other places. Please pass on my thanks to all those who helped in sorting out the unit for me.

Ian Roulstone

Hi Sam, Just wanted to say thanks for fitting my headset into my new helmet so quickly. As ever, top service for which I am very grateful. If it's of any interest to you, I have recommended your product and service several times over the last year and will continue to do so. Keep up the good work!!! Many thanks!

Stephen Green

Touring abroad in a group and having to find your way "on the fly" can turn trail into trial and puts huge onus on the guy in front getting it right at every junction. If he gets it wrong the next bike in the group can find that the most important part of riding is being able to think and brake quickly, especially when the lead bike changes direction suddenly. Communication is a huge advantage and takes the pressure off the entire group resulting in a far more enjoyable experience. We have now made a number of trips to France with Kenwood TK3101 radios and Autocoms fitted to both the lead and tail bikes of the group and the results have been frankly amazing! If the lead rider is unsure of a direction, two heads prove better than one and in heavy traffic, no one gets lost as the tail rider simply asks the lead bike to pull in or slow down until the group are reunited. No dangerous catch-up manoeuvres means that everyone can concentrate on safety at all times. The vox on the Autocom is outstanding and the clarity once set up is unbelievable, as a convenience it is superb but as an item of road safety when touring it is indispensable.

Graham Butler

Cheers Sam, you're a gentleman and a scholar. I'd also like to say like many others how good your 'after sales technical Support' is. It is VERY much appreciated, and rest assured I will continue to recommend your products when I'm asked by others what intercom set they should go for. TOP MARKS all round. Sincere thanks to you and all at Autocom.

G. Ottens (Holland)

We have the Pro 7 sport, the VOX system works perfect, the sound is beautiful, the distance with the Kenwood is also very good, about 1,5 mile (2 km) also in the mountains, we have it in a small bag over our motor coat the power out of the dashboard, just perfect!

J. A. Wilson, John Wilson's Bikeskool

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to you to commend your service engineer, known to me only as "Doug" for his superb handling of a radio problem, which I had recently. Having explained in my covering letter that I needed all my radios at present, I was delighted to receive, (by return post!) a loan set to assist me whilst my set was examined. I have now received my original radio set back and have returned the loan set to Doug. His advice on radio selection at the end of last year was also first class, enabling me to select the best possible kit for my budget. Having tried briefly to use a competitor's equipment, I find myself once more using (and recommending) Autocom to all my pupils. I am sure that when things go wrong your staff get plenty of "flack", and I feel therefore that they should also get credit where credit is due. Would you please be kind enough to pass on my sincere thanks to Doug for his outstanding Customerv Service? Well done, Autocom!

Leigh Dawkins

Dear Tom, I am writing to compliment you and your staff (Keri in particular) for the excellent support demonstrated to me since I bought my Active 7 system last December. Initially I didn't receive a MP3 lead and this was sent out to me without question within 2 days. This Wed the lead from the black box to my headset developed an intermittent fault and as a result I was in a foul mood, as I envisaged having to send the whole system back and waiting weeks for a repair. To my delight, Keri advised me that she would send out a replacement lead set and talked me through the replacement process. The (very substantial) kit duly arrived this morning (Fri) as promised. I can now go to France next week knowing I will be able to share the experience with my wife! Both times I was served by Keri and on hearing a woman's voice (to my shame) I asked to be put through to the technical department. She must encounter this chauvenistic attitude from bikers all the time, but she remained professional and I have to say that on both occasions it was perfectly obvious that she knew the systems and component parts inside out. (Sorry Keri!) Coupled to her thorough knowledge, her manner and helpfulness were superb. My thanks again for the service and justifying to my wife why I paid the extra money for your product over your competitors!

Jim Brink (USA)

Dear Autocom, Just for the record, I originally went with a Starcom setup at the urging of a friend. We bought a pair of units and installed them on the same day. We used the same equipment (AZ Al's earplugs and matching Yaesu 2M/440 FT-51R radios). The inconsistency between com units, both physically and performance wise was astonishing. For example, my friend's unit worked OK for bike-to-bike but his rider to passenger was awful. Mine was the exact opposite. We both tossed the Starcom units and after talking at great length with Fernando, wound up with two identical Pro-M1 setups. Let me tell you, I was ready for a difference, but I was absolutely blown away by the Autocom. I could not believe that bike communication could be that good. It was so good in fact that I was literally giggling with delight at the clarity and lack of noise. Also I'd like to add how the Autocom has helped my fiancée' with our riding. She grew up in an anti-motorcycle family (many of her older brothers crashed as teens on bikes). Our first ride was on my uncle's RT (he has the Easi system) and she LOVED the fact that she could converse clearly with me. Now she absolutely loves to go out on the bike. It's helped us increase our mileage and since she's big into scenery, she thinks it's great that we can comment on things as we ride by. Anyway, just once again wanted to thank you for all of your input and thank you for such a wonderful product. I've just recently purchased a mic and spider kit from Fernando to put into her new Shoei TZ-R and she can't wait to try it out.

John J Cooper

Dear Sir / Madam I would just like to thank your customer support team for the excellent service. I called you enquiry line on Friday afternoon. I was very unclear which motorbike intercom was best suited for me. The lady that I spoke to was extremely helpful and explained exactly how the intercoms worked and suggested the product that would be best suite me. It’s hard to explain by email how good she was, I certainly have not received that level of customer before. On Saturday I visited a local motorcycle dealership that sells your product (S & S motors, Castletown, Isle of Man). I was served by Steve who has obviously been trained to the same level of customer service as the lady I originally spoke to. I have now purchased the 'Active' intercom system and look forward to using your product. Thank you once again.

Jon Trice

Hi, I came in to you on Saturday morning to have an Active 7 smart system fitted to my bike + 2 headsets fitted into our helmets. I would like you to know how impressed we were with your new set-up and the great service and help that we received. Very many thanks!

Clive Archer. Tours & Events Director - Bikers Oracle Ltd

Dear Autocom, I had occasion to send some of the leads back to Autocom recently, and I must say how impressed I am by your customer service, and your staff's fantastic attitude. I sent a covering letter asking for the leads to be tested for faults, and for contact to be made with me once the problem had been ascertained. At no point did I expect nor ask for any free replacements, as the Pro 7 Sport unit I have is approaching 2 years old. I was expecting to need to purchase some replacements. I was called by Doug last week, and he informed me that he would be sending me out some replacement leads. Well, he certainly did that! A complete set of rider and pillion leads from unit to speakers - absolutely fantastic! My unit is now working perfectly again, and the new leads do look like an improvement over the originals. I have nothing but praise for your company, your staff and your attitudes towards it's customers. A refreshing change in a world where it's sometimes very hard to get any kind of customer service at all, let alone such a good one. So a big thanks from me.

Bob Storey

Dear Richard, Many thanks for the fitting instructions for the Shuberth C2. Brilliant, easy to follow dialogue with pictures made the whole episode child's play, and many thanks for your quick response. OUTSTANDING customer service.

Steve

Bought an Autocom EASI 7 at the NEC show recently, just had chance to try it out over the weekend. It's exceeded my expectations ... 20 out of 10 guys! Whilst testing it I deliberately whispered to my daughter who was pillion. She heard me as clear as if we were in the car not on a motorbike at 80 mph! The only disappointment was I would've liked an Autocom sticker for bikes ... any going spare guys ;)

Martyn Hillier

Two weeks ago I rode up to the Autocom factory in Leamington Spa, just over an hours ride from my home, for a factory installation of their AVi on my 2001 R1150RT. This entailed firstly the removal of the Pro1 that I had owned for about 5 years. This was one of the 5-pin systems, being purchased before Autocom moved to 7-pin plugs.

I drank their coffee & read back issues of ³Bike² magazine until the fitter informed me all was ready, including the installation of headsets in my helmet & that of my pillion.

I was given a thorough run-through of the installation, & an explanation of the various control knobs, easily accessed by lifting the pillion seat to reach the set, which had been fitted in the space at the rear of the seat. It was suggested that in the first instance I rely on the factory default settings, & see how it went. I was also given a copy of the fitting instructions & sent on my way.

I should perhaps explain that I use the system in two main ways.

A) As a rider/pillion intercom, usually at not too high a speed, whilst pleasure riding across the Cotswold hills, &

B) As a bike to bike set up, using Kenwood TK - 3101 sets. I am by profession a police officer, but in my off duty time I am involved in rider training & I am an examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) & I utilise the radios to give route directions to the Test candidate - e.g. ³ At the T-junction ahead, turn right, right, right², that sort of thing. The repetition is to ensure the candidate hears the directions accurately, & in years gone by the radio reception was none too clear, so it was a wise precaution.

Once home I read the instructions, & proceeded to try out the pillion to rider setup. My initial impression of the 7-pin plugs & leads were that they were robust & fitted together precisely. We set off for a ride on a fairly windy day, & I immediately noticed that the side-tone, that feeds my voice into my own headset, was crisp & clear. I also sensed that the VOX actuation was even quicker than the older sets I had used. I use a BMW System 4 in open-face mode, & the side wind was ³tripping² the VOX at times, so at our first stop I just made a slight adjustment, & that seems to be right for me & my bike, which incidentally has a C Baileys screen. The default settings for rider/pillion balance seemed just right for us. All in all, I was pleased.

A few days later i went out for a day with a old friend who also has an Autocom fitted bike, & uses the same Kenwood sets. It was still quite a blustery day, & we covered some 250 miles around mid-Wales, with a fair bit of back & forth chatter. I also gave commentary several times for 15-20 minutes at a time. In all this use the VOX picked up well & my friend commented on how clear a signal he was receiving. The headset utilised with the AVi has a device to detect ambient sound, & raises the volume accordingly, & this appeared to be functioning very well. My friends Autocom set is an older generation model, & I am fairly confident he too will be upgrading in the near future.

Finally, on Friday, I had an IAM test to conduct. The candidate said that he had a little experience of bike to bike radio from his initial motorcycle training, & off we set. I am pleased to say he was successful, & he commented that the route directions had been coming through loud & clear, so that was one worry removed from the pressure of taking a test, so we were both happy on that score.

I do not use a mobile (cell) phone, so cannot comment on the manner in which it works with the AVi, but as I know many happy users who utilise that function on the older Autocom sets, I am sure it would be just fine.

I am more & more taken with GPS systems, & am currently looking at a Garmin set for the RT. Autocom have set up many BMW¹s with these sets, & try to keep a suitable mount in stock - Wunderlich make, I think - so I can see myself heading back their way in the near future to get that installed.

All in all, my first impressions are very positive, & this set does seem a genuine move forward from its predecessors, & I am pleased that I made the change.

Martyn

Dear Tom,

Since my last e-mail, a further aspect has arisen. As you may remember, I choose to wear an open-face helmet, which is obviously more of a challenge to the design & execution of the boom mic.

Last week I took 2 different clients out, on consecutive days. Both are experienced riders, who ride "progressively" shall we say.

As is my usual practice, several times in the day I give a running commentary for 15-20 minutes, which in the past has left me rather hoarse, presumably because I had to raise my voice more than a little.

On these 2 days however I noticed I could leave the VOX on & just talk away; the side-tone was feeding into my headset both loud & clear, & I can only assume I was therefore not raising my voice - in any event, it is a 100% improvement over the Pro I was using.

I continue to sing the new sets praises, with a clear conscience, because they are vastly improved, which is not to say the old was bad, but you have "raised the bar", no doubt about it.

Regards

Martyn