{"id":513525,"date":"2026-07-07T04:48:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/513525\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T04:48:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:48:25","slug":"midland-r1-mesh-can-the-affordable-challenger-take-on-the-big-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/513525\/","title":{"rendered":"Midland R1 Mesh: Can the Affordable Challenger Take on the Big Names?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Affordable alternative: Midland aims to offer premium Mesh communication without the premium price.<\/p>\n

Universal compatibility: Designed to connect with Midland, Cardo, Sena and other Bluetooth intercoms.<\/p>\n

Real-world BRM test: We\u2019ll use it in New Zealand and on the launch of the new Norton Atlas in Iceland, testing everything from rider chat to music, GPS and phone calls.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve fitted Midland\u2019s R1 Mesh to our Leatt 8.5 Adventure helmet to find out whether this Italian intercom can match the class leaders\u2014without the premium price tag.<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\t\tMidland is new to NZ, but they\u2019ve been making intercoms since 2006.<\/p>\n

When it comes to motorcycle intercoms, the names Cardo and Sena dominate most conversations. They\u2019re the brands you\u2019ll most commonly see attached to helmets on organised rides and touring holidays, but they\u2019re also products that command a premium price.<\/p>\n

Midland thinks there\u2019s room for something different.<\/p>\n

The Italian company has been producing motorcycle communication systems for almost 20 years, yet it\u2019s still relatively under the radar in New Zealand compared with its better-known rivals. Distributed locally by Whites Powersports, the Midland range aims to offer many of the same features riders now expect\u2014including Mesh communication, Bluetooth connectivity and universal compatibility\u2014while undercutting many of the market leaders. \u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly why we\u2019ve decided to put the Midland R1 Mesh through a proper BRM long-term test.<\/p>\n

\"Plantronics<\/p>\n

More than just rider-to-rider chat<\/p>\n

Modern intercoms have evolved well beyond simply letting you talk to your riding mates.<\/p>\n

Most riders now expect to stream music, receive GPS directions, answer phone calls, control voice assistants and connect seamlessly with a motorcycle\u2019s TFT dashboard\u2014all while still being able to communicate with other riders.<\/p>\n

The Midland R1 Mesh promises to do all of that.<\/p>\n

Using both Mesh and Bluetooth processors, it offers Mesh communication for up to six active riders (with up to 99 additional listeners) and also supports Bluetooth connections for one-to-one conversations. Battery life is claimed at up to 15 hours in Mesh mode or 23 hours using Bluetooth, while dual-phone connectivity means you can pair multiple devices at once. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Person<\/p>\n

The compatibility question<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one issue that has frustrated riders over the years, it\u2019s compatibility.<\/p>\n

One rider has Cardo. Another has Sena. Someone else turns up with an Interphone.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, that has meant complicated pairing procedures\u2014or no communication at all.<\/p>\n

Midland\u2019s biggest selling point could be its Universal Connectivity system.<\/p>\n

The company says its communication protocol allows the R1 Mesh to communicate with Cardo, Sena and Interphone systems, while still supporting TFT displays, GPS units and action cameras. \u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a bold claim, and one we\u2019ll be putting to the test.<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\t\tThe packaging is quality, with all you need to fit to any style of helmet included in the box.<\/p>\n

Audio developed with RCF<\/p>\n

Sound quality is another area where Midland has invested heavily.<\/p>\n

The R1 Mesh uses 40mm speakers developed in partnership with renowned Italian audio company RCF, with Midland claiming stronger bass response, improved speech clarity and better performance in noisy riding conditions. The speakers also comply with the latest ECE 22.06 helmet standard. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Of course, brochure claims are one thing. Real-world riding is another.<\/p>\n

Can you still clearly hear your GPS at motorway speeds? Does music sound good enough that you\u2019ll actually use it? And can your riding partner understand you when you\u2019re both wearing adventure helmets in crosswinds?<\/p>\n

Those are the questions we\u2019ll answer.<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\t\tWe\u2019ve fitted the Midland R1 Mesh to our Leatt 8.5 Adventure helmet for the test.<\/p>\n

Our long-term test<\/p>\n

Rather than simply fitting the R1 Mesh and riding around the block, we\u2019re planning to use it exactly as most BRM readers would.<\/p>\n

It will be installed in my Leatt adventure helmet before heading to Iceland for the international launch of the new Norton Atlas adventure bike\u2014a trip that should provide everything from motorway cruising to mountain roads and unpredictable weather. It\u2019s sure to be a good test for the waterproof capability of the unit as the forecast isn\u2019t looking flash.<\/p>\n

Back home, we\u2019ll also pair it with other intercoms fitted to Kerry\u2019s helmet to evaluate rider-to-rider communication across a variety of bikes and riding conditions.<\/p>\n

Along the way, we\u2019ll be testing:<\/p>\n

Rider-to-rider communication quality<\/p>\n

Music streaming<\/p>\n

GPS instructions<\/p>\n

Phone calls while riding<\/p>\n

Ease of installation<\/p>\n

Battery life<\/p>\n

Compatibility with other brands<\/p>\n

Day-to-day usability<\/p>\n

By the end of the test, we should have a much clearer idea whether the Midland R1 Mesh really is the value alternative to Cardo and Sena that many riders have been waiting for. Reading the spec sheet of this new unit, it certainly looks like this might be a seriously good alternative for those looking for a more affordable yet still capable intercom unit.<\/p>\n

\"WhiteThe Midland R1 Mesh looks sleek on the side of the Leatt 8.0<\/p>\n

Fitting<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve fitted more intercoms than I can remember over the years, and the Midland R1 was as simple as most modern units to fit. Having removable cheek pads in the Leatt 8.0 makes the job infinitely easier, as there\u2019s loads of room to play with. It\u2019s also got channels and cut-outs for the speakers and the wiring to slot into, and it was great to see that the Midland has spacers included for this very reason. Slotting the speakers into the cut-outs meant, after a quick try, that I found they sat a long way from my ears. So, popping in the spacers and then sticking the speakers on top should fix that problem and improve the sound.<\/p>\n

A neat factor is that there\u2019s a slot-in mount as well as a sticky mount, and the unit also clips off of the mount simply by pushing a tab underneath. That makes it easy to pull the unit off and have it charging on, say, your desk, rather than having to bring the whole helmet to the plug.<\/p>\n

As with everything, there\u2019s an app, and this should make pairing easy when I come to connect with other units. Connecting to the Bluetooth on my phone was done in seconds, and a quick try with some music demonstrated the quality of the RCF speakers \u2013\u00a0they sounded really grunty with loads of bass.<\/p>\n

A slight surprise was that there are four cables coming out of the unit. I was expecting one for the mic and two for the speakers, but the extra is an aerial. I snuck this under the rear padding of the Leatt where it should work to boost the signal of the Mesh 2.0 system rather than relying on the small aerial on the top of the unit. Makes sense and isn\u2019t something I\u2019ve seen before on intercom units.<\/p>\n

The job of fitting and connecting the intercom only took around 10 minutes, with the biggest chunk of time spent trying to get the tabs to relocate at the back of the cheek pads in the helmet. The quick release system of the cheek pads means they slide down so a first responder can get them out if you\u2019ve had a crash and have possible neck injuries. That means all three tabs need to slot upwards at the same time to get the pads in place, which is a little tricky, but I got there in the end.<\/p>\n

The unit looks nice and sleek on the side of the helmet, with the buttons looking like they\u2019ll be easy enough to use with a glove on. The only caveat could be the volume buttons, which are smaller and located on the top of the unit. Being winter, and therefore running chunkier gloves, these could be a little tricky.<\/p>\n

Check back in a short while where I\u2019ll have an update on the rest of the functions with the Midland R1 Mesh intercom. And if you\u2019d like to check one out, either head to your local dealer or visit Bits4Bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

\"Assorted<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\"Person<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/p>\n

\"Midland<\/p>\n

Quick Facts<\/p>\n

ProductMidland R1 MeshTypeMesh & Bluetooth motorcycle intercomDistributed byWhites PowersportsMesh communicationUp to 6 active riders (99+ listeners)Claimed rangeUp to 2.2km (Mesh Dynamic Repeat)Battery life15hrs Mesh \/ 23hrs BluetoothConnectivityMesh, Bluetooth, GPS, TFT, smartphonesCompatibilityMidland plus Cardo, Sena & Interphone Bluetooth systemsSpeakers40mm RCFWe\u2019ll be testingMusic, calls, GPS, rider communication, battery life and cross-brand compatibilityPrice$379.99Check Itwww.Bits4Bikes.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s in the Box<\/p>\n

1 R1 MESH device<\/p>\n

1 audio system with two 40mm High Definition Sound by RCF stereo speakers<\/p>\n

2 shims<\/p>\n

1 wired and 1 rigid anti-turbulence boom microphone<\/p>\n

1 magnetic fixing system to the helmet: with bi-adhesive tape and clamp<\/p>\n

1 USB Type-C cable<\/p>\n

Technical Specifications:<\/p>\n

VOX:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Stereo Audio:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Web Radio with App:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

FM Radio:\u00a0No<\/p>\n

Bluetooth:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Waterproof Rating:\u00a0IPX6<\/p>\n

Talk to All:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Battery Life:\u00a023 hours in Bluetooth mode; 15 hours in MESH mode<\/p>\n

Voice Announcements:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Dimensions (H \u00d7 W \u00d7 D):\u00a07 \u00d7 85 \u00d7 25 mm<\/p>\n

Intercom Distance:\u00a0MESH Dynamic Repeat up to 2 km; Bluetooth intercom up to 500 m<\/p>\n

Helmet Compatibility:\u00a0Universal<\/p>\n

Intercom Conference:\u00a0Up to 6 people communicating and 99 listeners<\/p>\n

One-to-One Intercom:\u00a0Bluetooth intercom for up to 3 people<\/p>\n

Programmable via PC:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Bluetooth Connection:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Dual Mobile Connections:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

GPS in Background:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n

Automatic Gain Control:\u00a0Yes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Affordable alternative: Midland aims to offer premium Mesh communication without the premium price. Universal compatibility: Designed to connect…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":513526,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[111,139,69,145],"class_list":["post-513525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/513526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}