[CHB]

I also use Scala Rider Cardo setup. Several years old. I've been pretty happy with battery life. My son and I talk bike to bike and we just went on three day trip, forgot the charger and we talked nonstop for the first two days and the batteries finally died on day three on the last leg of the return trip (900 miles total).

Something i haven't seen mentioned is using earbuds plugged into the phone while using the bluetooth device. When I'm solo, this is the only way to go for me. I have iTunes going, the Scala system blue toothed to the phone, and when a call comes in I can answer with voice activation and the tunes go silent. The boom mic transmits my voice and the caller comes through the earbuds. The sound quality is perfect typically. I've had plenty of people tell me they can't believe I'm on a bike. The other advantage is when listening to route guidance the same music fade-out occurs when directions are being given.

The earbuds I use are Sony Marshmallow buds and they're very comfortable for me but everyone has different ear canals and you'll have to try for a good fit. I went through several different sets before finding the Sonys.

When bike to bike I generally wear earplugs and turn the Scala volume all the way up for voice communication. Not perfect but pretty darned good. The sound quality of the helmet speakers is terrible for music but fine when person to person, hence the earbuds.