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notme
7th June 2006, 22:21
Well....I've been a good boy and searched, but the closest I have found is a thread about stereo's on bikes.

So.... Do you have music in your helmet whilst riding? Do you want it but have not the means? Would you rather listen to your pipe(s)?

boomer
7th June 2006, 22:35
have an i=pod and have read lots of stuff on here about how/what others use too.

Its quite common to see other bikers with i-pods/players; The problem i find is getting the bastard ear plugs to fit snug so i can here over my bloody exhaust

imdying
7th June 2006, 22:35
Naw... I put it up to the volume I used on the bike one day at home. It was bloody loud, loud enough to root my hearing quick smart. Not recommended, they still can't rebuild the little hairs into your ear yet :no:

notme
7th June 2006, 22:38
When I work out how to add another option....:wait: I will add my own case, which is that I prefer to listen to the bike BUT I have speakers built into my helmet for the purposes of radar detector announcements.

Madness
7th June 2006, 22:38
I was born with complete deafness in one ear. The one that works is on the pipe side. I would dearly love to losten to music whilst riding but can only hear the very bottom of the spectrum at 100k. My pipe has been called noisy by others, but I wouldn't change it either.

Crasherfromwayback
7th June 2006, 22:40
Each to their own....but I think it's too easy to get carried away listening to music, and end up in a ditch.
Or worse.
Riding motorcycles requires 100% concentration.

James Deuce
7th June 2006, 22:47
Imdying is dead right (unfortunate pun that) - BUT - if you spend up big you can get noise cancelling in-ear speakers, but I'm not so sure about spending $700 - $2000 for headphones that might get damaged or lost in an accident.

Remember, quiet helmets usually rate at about 90dB at 100km/hr. Loud enough to need earplugs if you want to keep your hearing forever. You have to overwhelm 90dB of essentially white noise to hear the music well enough to enjoy it. You'd be well into rock concert/jet aircraft levels and you'd be doing it for sustained periods. Hearing loss is insidious and you usually don't notice it until you can't follow conversations with people right next to you at a social function with more than 10 people. Too late. Upper register will be gone by then. Vivaldi and Eddie Van Halen's best work wiped out forever.

Motu
7th June 2006, 23:00
I'm with them too - the sound level for use in the car (huh,diesel 4x4 and van) is just a tad high for normal use,it'd be much higher for a bike.I'd only use a music player on highway stretches....but I don't do that.

madmal64
7th June 2006, 23:06
I like to listen to the sound of the v twin coming out of the Carbon cans.
Plus I do wear ear plugs on any ride over 20 minutes because I do want to be able to retain what hearing I have left for as long as I can.
I enjoy my music & play guitar myself & I have decided that motorcycling & music are best enjoyed one at a time.
Bike rallies are the best of both worlds.

imdying
7th June 2006, 23:09
Please heed my advice, once it's gone (your hearing) you're totally screwed.

Oh yeah, and by a twin with open pipes :) All the music you'll ever need :yes:

Korea
8th June 2006, 01:18
Hearing be damned, it's distracting!
I tried it once and found I was zoning out to the music and not really paying enough attention to what was going on around me. Ran wide on a corner because I'd lost my concentration and decided not to do it again.
Might work for others; not me.

RiderInBlack
8th June 2006, 07:08
Each to their own. "Roxanne" is not too loud, and I find that the right music helps me relax and get in the "mood". For me this has improved my corning. I do have ta watch which music I play in the helmet. Feuer Frei (Rammstein) is bad news in the straights or cop heavy areas (makes it hard to hear my radar detector):innocent: but bloody awesome in the twisties:blip:

Squeak the Rat
8th June 2006, 07:41
I chose to ignore others advice when I was doing my OE about 7-8 years ago. Spent too many nights in loud clubs, concerts, parties etc. Now I frequently find myself sitting in the pub with a group of friends staring into my beer because I can't separate their voices from the background noise. Trust me, it sucks. And trying to converse with strangers is just embarassing.

Music on a bike is loud enough to do permanent damage.


I liken the car experience to watching TV, you've got the screen, the comfy seat, the soundtrack (stereo). Your not engaged. I prefer to leave that behind when on the bike.

Lou Girardin
8th June 2006, 08:16
I just use an I-Micron.

yungatart
8th June 2006, 08:21
i just sing - that way I get to hear the wonderful melodic sound of my extremely tuneful voice - and no one else has to put up with the fact that I can't sing in tune! Something about the way a helmet distorts one's own voice so that it sounds great - sort of like karaoke really....
Seriously tho, do protect your hearing on the bike - half an hour's riding at open road speeds causes irreparable damage, so says the audiologist.

bobsmith
8th June 2006, 08:26
Where is the:

NO I don't listen to music - but I would like the ability to since I'm a gadget freak!!!!!!

:D :D

kickingzebra
8th June 2006, 08:29
Apart from the fact I find it hurts like hell trying to get/keep earplugs in under a helmet, and the paranoia of the cable strangling me...

I too find it distracting, and as I am starting to grow up a bit, the prospect of not being able to hear nuances in music (I'm somewhat musically inclined too) is just a tad offputting.

Played drums with no attenuation type ear plugs for far too many years, and I'd give them up before I give up motorcycling. I don't want to lose my hearing to something I love so much.

WRT
8th June 2006, 08:37
Gotta agree with Yungatart, just sing. Do a Jerry McGuire and sing at the top of your lungs.


And I'm FREEEEE . . . free ballin' . . .

(it's even more, ahem, "fitting" if you are going commando under your leathers)

Devil
8th June 2006, 08:54
To deal with the problem of volume, you need noise-cancelling earbuds, which are horrendously expensive. The next step down (which I have) are noise-isolating earbuds, which cut out *MOST* of the outside noise (ie. Down to a similar level as wearing ear plugs). This way, you dont have to have the volume anywhere near as loud.

I too have done the band thing, too many years without earplugs and I do notice problems picking out voices with noisy backgrounds, so pretty sensitive to what I do these days.

Currently using Creative Labs EP-630 earbuds. You can find them from $50-60. Because of the shape, they stay in your ear when you put your helmet on too.

The_Dover
8th June 2006, 09:06
If you want good headphones for riding try and get hold of some Koss Earbuds then swap the foam pieces out for standard ear plugs with a hole bored through the middle.

Great definition and block out a lot of engine and wind noise too.

DMNTD
8th June 2006, 09:17
Sure sometimes I do but mostly when I'm cruising not blasting.
Like what RIB said I do need to be careful to what I listen to all I find myself getting over the top with aggressive manoveours etc...fun but dangerous.
Prefer to listen to the ZX's induction and the scream of my pipes at high revs. :blip:

The_Dover
8th June 2006, 09:20
Scream of your pipes?

I thought you were riding a Dyson.

DMNTD
8th June 2006, 09:24
Scream of your pipes?
I thought you were riding a Dyson.

Fark knows what a Dyson is but I'm pretty sure mine's louder than yours....atm :scooter:

kiwifruit
8th June 2006, 09:33
Its not my cup of tea, i find myself singing alot of the time.

The_Dover
8th June 2006, 09:34
I dunno bro, you should hear me screaming like a girl when I'm bombing down Franklin Road in the rush hour traffic.

Freakshow
8th June 2006, 09:54
I listen to music on the longer rides and use a piece of blue tak to hold the ear piece in and it muffles the out side noice enough so that I dont have to blast the music. Remotes are great so that you can stop it for when you want to hear the engine.

ajturbo
8th June 2006, 10:09
Its not my cup of tea, i find myself singing alot of the time.

2 things...
1. thank god YOU ware helmet:nya:
2. i ware a helmet:nya:

years ago i used to have 4 speakers in my helmet, and a radio on the bike... used to do a lot a cruising by myself, and it was great!.. they were not directly in line with my ears, 1 infront of the ear and 1 just behind.. on each side ... listening to Queen... on the desert road:rockon:

kiwifruit
8th June 2006, 10:13
Im a bloody good singer thank you very much! :nya:

ajturbo
8th June 2006, 10:16
Fark knows what a Dyson is but I'm pretty sure mine's louder than yours....atm :scooter:

so WHO does the house work at your place????:nya:

DMNTD
8th June 2006, 10:19
so WHO does the house workl at your place????:nya:

The kids obviously...I mean why else do we make the little buggers for? :wait:





PS: What is a freckin' Dyson!?!

Insanity_rules
8th June 2006, 10:23
Phillips sports headphones from dickies (Dick Smith) $19.95. They stay on well under the helmet as they have a hook that goes around the back of your ear. I listen to music a lot, at a reasonable volume so I can still hear the traffic too

kickingzebra
8th June 2006, 10:25
PS: What is a freckin' Dyson!?!

Its a thing you say to your children, still living at home, when they turn 30 and ask you to charge them less rent.

Kendog
8th June 2006, 10:44
I listen to music on the longer rides and use a piece of blue tak to hold the ear piece in and it muffles the out side noice enough so that I dont have to blast the music. Remotes are great so that you can stop it for when you want to hear the engine.

Tha's awesome thinking! I have earplugs that cancel out most of the wind noise etc so I don't have to have the music up too loud, but find the plugs move out of my ears the faster I go, and was considering wrapping tape around my ears like a rugby player, but didn't like the idea of ripping my hair out when removing said tape (as well as looking like a twat when I take my helmet off). Blue tak!!! Fantastic, thanks.
Mrs KD

The Pastor
8th June 2006, 11:04
Listing to music in your helmet, is for fags who want to be cagers. Pyrocam is a classic example, Look at this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d114XXHEJsU pure fagg-y-ness.:nya:

notme
8th June 2006, 11:54
Where is the:

NO I don't listen to music - but I would like the ability to since I'm a gadget freak!!!!!!

:D :D

.....second option on the poll? :blip:

WRT
8th June 2006, 12:00
Tha's awesome thinking! I have earplugs that cancel out most of the wind noise etc so I don't have to have the music up too loud, but find the plugs move out of my ears the faster I go, and was considering wrapping tape around my ears like a rugby player, but didn't like the idea of ripping my hair out when removing said tape (as well as looking like a twat when I take my helmet off). Blue tak!!! Fantastic, thanks.
Mrs KD

Sooo . . . let me get this straight. Tape over your ears makes you look like a twat, but stuffing blue tak in them doesnt? And where on the scale of twat-ness does blue tape fit in?

Sniper
8th June 2006, 12:14
I sometimes ride with music but I find that my style changes depending on what Im listening to. Almost killed myself one day while listening to Rammstein, so I prefer to listen to Simon and Garfunkle, Abba and Goldie now.

Hawkeye
8th June 2006, 12:36
Phillips sports headphones from dickies (Dick Smith) $19.95. They stay on well under the helmet as they have a hook that goes around the back of your ear. I listen to music a lot, at a reasonable volume so I can still hear the traffic too


I do exactly the same. Those headphones are brilliant. and because they actually stay in the ear, they are like having ear plugs in. No need to have them loud. I use the same volume as in the office. Just background volume.
I only use them when I'm in commute mode where the speed is low and therefore don't have too much wind noise in the helmet.
When I'm with others, I never use them.

Insanity_rules
8th June 2006, 12:56
Listing to music in your helmet, is for fags who want to be cagers. Pyrocam is a classic example, Look at this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d114XXHEJsU pure fagg-y-ness.:nya:

Those who throw stones.........:nya:

Kendog
8th June 2006, 14:00
Sooo . . . let me get this straight. Tape over your ears makes you look like a twat, but stuffing blue tak in them doesnt? And where on the scale of twat-ness does blue tape fit in?

It would be right up there

Maha
8th June 2006, 17:20
Theres always some sort of noise going on in my head so no need to compound/disturb the many buzz's,blips and boinks that i hear.......:confused:

ZeroIndex
8th June 2006, 17:28
in the mornings, i listen to boyracer cars music.. sitting right up next to them, dancing away.. i get lots of smiles, or laughs.. i can never tell..

Warr
8th June 2006, 17:44
Imdying is dead right (unfortunate pun that) - BUT - if you spend up big you can get noise cancelling in-ear speakers, but I'm not so sure about spending $700 - $2000 for headphones that might get damaged or lost in an accident.

Remember, quiet helmets usually rate at about 90dB at 100km/hr. Loud enough to need earplugs if you want to keep your hearing forever. You have to overwhelm 90dB of essentially white noise to hear the music well enough to enjoy it. You'd be well into rock concert/jet aircraft levels and you'd be doing it for sustained periods. Hearing loss is insidious and you usually don't notice it until you can't follow conversations with people right next to you at a social function with more than 10 people. Too late. Upper register will be gone by then. Vivaldi and Eddie Van Halen's best work wiped out forever.
I'm definatly with these guys. Jono gave me some really good earplugs but they need replacing!!
Biggest problem I have is getting them in properly. It's not till you actually get underway that you know if they are sealing / seated / sitting ... right so it is a small inconvienence .not. in having to pull over and gloves off, helmet off, to refit. But once they are, sweet.

Tho I need to add that with the can I am presently running when I'm er keeping up with the big boys it has been know for me to wonder why the bike isnt pulling any harder and realise the rev counter is sitting in the red as I cant actually hear the motor screaming.
I can still hear important things like the Radar bleeping in the helmet speakers.

mart1
8th June 2006, 17:44
I hear ya, I used to race enduro with slayer blaring in my helmet, went over a ridge too fast stayed in the air for about 7 seconds and woke up with a headache. now i just wear earplugs.

ZeroIndex
8th June 2006, 17:53
I hear ya, I used to race enduro with slayer blaring in my helmet, went over a ridge too fast stayed in the air for about 7 seconds and woke up with a headache. now i just wear earplugs.
even classical music is bad (used to listen to it in south africa on occasion in my cage), and before i knew it, i was doing the 'car equivalent' of lane-splitting (jumping from lane to lane) closing on 180km/h (but then again, i did that all the time)

Skyryder
8th June 2006, 18:25
If I want to listen to music I like to listen where there are no other distractions. Problem today, we have lost the art of how to stay alert.:zzzz: to our surroundings

Skyryder

RiderInBlack
8th June 2006, 20:39
What makes me laugh is you dudes that get louder pipes for ya bikes (cause they are soooo cool) then put ear plugs in cause you don't want to damage ya own hearing:slap:
I never wear ear plugs riding "Roxanne". My KBC helmet is not too wind noisy. I have the ear speakers off a damaged headphone fitted inside the ear sponge inserts of my helmet (so no earplugs getting in the way as I put my helmet on and off). I find that even with my output on my el cheapy DSE MP3 player on full noise, I can still hear "Roxanne" purr. She only drowns out the music when I am thrashing her in which case my attention is totally on her and the road not the music.

PS: I need Rammstein ta try and keep with TL Rider:nya:

APPLE
8th June 2006, 21:10
no music for me man?i let my yoshies do the talking...............:rockon:

Scorpygirl
8th June 2006, 21:20
Rhino and I have the headsets in the helmets for the Wing. The Wing has onboard radio, cassette and intercom. But Rhino has the control.... Scorpygirl has :shutup: :innocent:

bell
8th June 2006, 21:32
check these out
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=59189708

I haven't had a pair made up yet, but plan to. 3.5mm plug fits almost everything made in the last century.

I'm pretty deaf (since birth) but know how important it is to preserve what hearing I do have. I'm hoping that the "earplug" function of these things means that I'll not have to play the music any louder than normal for me in order to get some decent sound when on long highway rides.

Keen to know if anyone else has used these?

NSR-Dan
8th June 2006, 23:00
im thinking of fitting 2 x 10" sups to my subframe. and bolt a headdeck to the tank.

ZeroIndex
8th June 2006, 23:11
im thinking of fitting 2 x 10" sups to my subframe. and bolt a headdeck to the tank.
i saw a similar thing at new year 05 (whangamata), one of those low-rider chrome bye-see-kills.. guy had 2 6x9's, a car battery, and a mp3 player ..stupid f**kwit..

Shadows
8th June 2006, 23:33
Sweet V-Twin music

Magua
8th June 2006, 23:38
The music of a two stroke. :D

Tried using a discman once, was nice while idling at the lights, but I was barely able to hear it over the engine or wind noise while riding.

NSR-Dan
8th June 2006, 23:42
hahahahahaha

i was kidding by the way. some people have crazu ideas. like my mate that recons he could beat an NSR on manfield with a busa.

inlinefour
9th June 2006, 00:22
Listen to music, are you mad? Nothing quite like listening to the motor being rung out hard on the back roads during a bit of fun riding. I tried earplugs once, but could not get used to things in my ears, so I'll happily listen to the music of the engine instead.:yes:

Gremlin
9th June 2006, 01:32
What makes me laugh is you dudes that get louder pipes for ya bikes (cause they are soooo cool) then put ear plugs in cause you don't want to damage ya own hearing:slap:
ok, that sounds amusing... it does, but how about the fact that everyone should actually use plugs, as the noise from wind can make you go deaf? So maybe we take this into account, so get louder pipes so we can still hear them? :blip: hehehe

I think you all need some facts about decibels (http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html). Take a look through there... some of it may surprise you as to how bad it is... mates reckon my pipe is around 115db... which gives me... fuck all exposure time.

Yes... I used to ride it without plugs, but after the family got annoyed at me coming home yelling, I figured I was making myself deaf, so bought plugs. Began to think they weren't doing anything, and took em off for a short ride. Yikes, is all I could really say. :gob:

I think I need to add some silicone to the ends, to increase their power, but maybe to the less protective filters. Lou at AMPS has alpine ones for $50. How much do guys rate your hearing at??

Oh, I would never ever ride with music, I know I would get into the mood, and do even more crazy stuff... :bye:

ZeroIndex
9th June 2006, 07:16
ok, that sounds amusing... it does, but how about the fact that everyone should actually use plugs, as the noise from wind can make you go deaf? So maybe we take this into account, so get louder pipes so we can still hear them? :blip: hehehe

I think you all need some facts about decibels (http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html). Take a look through there... some of it may surprise you as to how bad it is... mates reckon my pipe is around 115db... which gives me... fuck all exposure time.

Yes... I used to ride it without plugs, but after the family got annoyed at me coming home yelling, I figured I was making myself deaf, so bought plugs. Began to think they weren't doing anything, and took em off for a short ride. Yikes, is all I could really say. :gob:

I think I need to add some silicone to the ends, to increase their power, but maybe to the less protective filters. Lou at AMPS has alpine ones for $50. How much do guys rate your hearing at??

Oh, I would never ever ride with music, I know I would get into the mood, and do even more crazy stuff... :bye:
I only use my ear plugs when going on longish trips (anything with 100km/h in it, like to pukekohe or wherever..), I'm using the Rocket earplugs a(purple/green -26dB),from nzsafety, which were $5.. I understand your 'buy expensive plugs for your hearing', but it is possible to get good quality, budget items still

RiderInBlack
9th June 2006, 13:52
ok, that sounds amusing... it does, but how about the fact that everyone should actually use plugs, as the noise from wind can make you go deaf? So maybe we take this into account, so get louder pipes so we can still hear them? :blip: heheheNo the amusement for me is that people can be so concerned for their hearing that they wear ear plugs on their bike but have no concern for other people's hearing having increased the noise output of their bikes:nya: It's like going to Stock car racing wearing earplugs and then complaining that the racing is having noise restrictions put on them. Bit incongruent don't ya think:weird: LOL

ZeroIndex
9th June 2006, 15:08
No the amusement for me is that people can be so concerned for their hearing that they wear ear plugs on their bike but have no concern for other people's hearing having increased the noise output of their bikes:nya: It's like going to Stock car racing wearing earplugs and then complaining that the racing is having noise restrictions put on them. Bit incongruent don't ya think:weird: LOL
when riding around town (without earplugs), when i get next to a group of people (even if it's just two), i'll blip the throttle (on a big bike, you would accelerate, on my bike, it just gets louder :) )

Gremlin
9th June 2006, 16:31
No the amusement for me is that people can be so concerned for their hearing that they wear ear plugs on their bike but have no concern for other people's hearing having increased the noise output of their bikes:nya:
:rofl: But remember that we are on the bike for long periods... if bystanders want to stand there, mouths gaping at our gorgeous bikes as we go past... well, I for one won't complain :innocent:

Please guys, when deciding whether to wear ear plugs or not, don't judge by how fast you will go, or if you will ride for more than 1 hour. Use the link in my previous post, and estimate how loud your bike/pipe is.

For me, with the 115db pipe, I get no more than 15 minutes every day before I am risking permanent damage to my ears. Sure, its numbers, and there are variables, but I would rather have my hearing later on in life...

Plugs don't have to cost the earth, sure, as long as they cut down the noise, at the correct frequencies.

MidnightMike
9th June 2006, 16:40
Im more concentrated on trying not to be killed rather than listening to music. :innocent:

The_Dover
9th June 2006, 16:43
Fuck earplugs.

I figure that by the time the damage is done that I'll be so sick of listening to the mrs whining that a bit of high freguency hearing loss will be a blessing.

Plus, TV has subtitles.

notme
9th June 2006, 19:00
:rofl: But remember that we are on the bike for long periods... if bystanders want to stand there, mouths gaping at our gorgeous bikes as we go past... well, I for one won't complain :innocent:

Please guys, when deciding whether to wear ear plugs or not, don't judge by how fast you will go, or if you will ride for more than 1 hour. Use the link in my previous post, and estimate how loud your bike/pipe is.

For me, with the 115db pipe, I get no more than 15 minutes every day before I am risking permanent damage to my ears. Sure, its numbers, and there are variables, but I would rather have my hearing later on in life...

Plugs don't have to cost the earth, sure, as long as they cut down the noise, at the correct frequencies.

Good points that man....I play drums in a (LOUD) rock band - I wear musician's earplugs when practising, playing, and going to other people's gigs. I value my hearing, so I wear plugs on the bike too. As Gremlin sez, even if you have a loud pipe, when you go past someone and expose them to 115dB or whatever it's only for a matter of seconds. The damage is done by exposure to a certain level over TIME.....:rockon:

kickingzebra
9th June 2006, 19:43
The funny thing is, at 115 DB you have bugger all exposure for OSH limits.
Hammering a nail in an enclosed space is an activity you can do for nearly 5 minutes without plugs before thats your day of carpentry over (not that that stops anyone)

A ramset gun is over 120db. 1 shot unprotected, and that is it.

anything over about 85 DB is too loud for 8 hours continued exposure. 90 db halves the time. 95 is less than half an hour and so on.

Scary stuff.

Free Rider
9th June 2006, 20:27
when i listen to music my mind seems to go of track so i think if i had it in my helmet i would probably go of the side of the road..

diggydog
9th June 2006, 20:53
i have MP3 PLAYER BUT AS YET HAVE'NT USED IT WHILE RIDING, THOUGHT ABOUT IT BUT LIKE CEIL PHONES MAYBE A DISTRACTION.

ZeroIndex
9th June 2006, 23:49
when i listen to music my mind seems to go of track so i think if i had it in my helmet i would probably go of the side of the road..
try that again, but making sense this time? dammit.. i want an mp3 player..

UrbanMyth
10th June 2006, 10:15
i used to listen to music on my ipod but guess what it broke...
Any ways listening to music gets me speeding tickets :P i always go to fast with music in slowish zones

Free Rider
10th June 2006, 10:35
try that again, but making sense this time? dammit.. i want an mp3 player..

When i listen to music from MP3 Players or CD Players or Sterios or anything that makes music MY MIND seems to lose its CONCENTRATION so I think that if i have ANY TYPE OF MUSIC DEVICE in my helmet my CONCENTRATION would go elsewhere so i would probably drive of the side of the road... And i rather hear my 170cc... lol

ZeroIndex
10th June 2006, 15:32
When i listen to music from MP3 Players or CD Players or Sterios or anything that makes music MY MIND seems to lose its CONCENTRATION so I think that if i have ANY TYPE OF MUSIC DEVICE in my helmet my CONCENTRATION would go elsewhere so i would probably drive of the side of the road... And i rather hear my 170cc... lol
ahh.. ok.. understand what you're saying now.. here's a tip.. when you listen to music on a bike, NO MOSHING OR HEADBANGING.. heed my words, and you'll be fine :D

pyrocam
10th June 2006, 18:34
as some of you know
mp3 player
sport headphones (in ear or over the top band are sore)
cranking techno

dancing at traffic lights

hazzy
21st January 2007, 01:38
I listen to baroque garden on the ipod and it really improves my concentration when riding.

gijoe1313
21st January 2007, 07:57
I tried it once with my ipod, found it to be distracting - I'm a classical music freak and had Wagner's "Ride of The Valkyries" playing ... only problem is I kept having "Apocalypse Now" also in my head and was thumbing an imaginary kill switch to launch imaginary payloads of rocket death at cagers ahead :whistle:

Heavens knows what would have happened if my ipod started to play other classics like "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Classic German Oom-pah band/Dutch Barrel Organ music" titles (yep, do have those along with the "Funny Bird Dance" and other ditties).

'Sides, I like to listen to my bike! :sunny:

Lil_Byte
21st January 2007, 08:11
The damage has already been done to my ears by years of using loud mechanical devices, and bleeding ears at concerts.
Now to listen to music I have to have it cranked up, risking more damage.
I just nod in what I hope are appropriate spots when listening to people at the pub.
Look after your hearing - you only get one shot at it.

NinjaNanna
21st January 2007, 10:24
I have headphone speakers mounted inside my helmet, I wear earplugs when I ride and find that they cut out the windnoise sufficiently enough that the music is at a normal level, I find that the helmet/earplug combination allows me to hear my bike and music at any speed.

idleidolidyll
21st January 2007, 10:32
Well....I've been a good boy and searched, but the closest I have found is a thread about stereo's on bikes.

So.... Do you have music in your helmet whilst riding? Do you want it but have not the means? Would you rather listen to your pipe(s)?

Hell yes!
Lots of friends wonder how I can concentrate with music in my head while riding.
What difference is it between a tin top and a bike?

I love having music going and I've even had recorded lessons for my degree playing as I rode.

I use an iRiver 20GB. That gives me about 7000 songs to cycle through.

The main issues are:

Changing tracks and volume. I do that with the remote attached to the handlebar using my clutch hand.

Bass loss. A tough one this. I find that those deep ear plugs do best and I also mould some silicon over the phone head to reduce wind noise etc. I also use expensive headphones with response from 6-8Hz to 20,000Hz.

Rain. The iRiver is attached to the bars at the centre and I can put it in a plastic bag.

Even going hard I like music on, it gives me a tempo I think and I do the same on my mountainbike.

idleidolidyll
21st January 2007, 10:33
I just nod in what I hope are appropriate spots when listening to people at the pub.
Look after your hearing - you only get one shot at it.

Souns like what I do in pubs and at parties. Same deal: motorcycles, machinery and lots of very loud concerts

Guitana
21st January 2007, 13:10
Fuck earplugs.

I figure that by the time the damage is done that I'll be so sick of listening to the mrs whining that a bit of high freguency hearing loss will be a blessing.

Plus, TV has subtitles.

I'm fucked anyway I can't hear the music over the voices in my head telling me to do BAD things!!!!

I agree when you lose the high frequency the wifes whinning goes from a high pitched shreik to a very dull BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!
Years of using a grinder in a steel shop works just great!!!

Speedracer
21st January 2007, 13:56
Tried with and without music, with and without earplugs.
On a recent 600km trip having earplugs was great. The noise was reduced heaps. Almost more relaxing :cool:
I tried using in ear phones, but it gets uncomfortable quickly, you need the volume up.. and on a long trip I start playing songs in my head and singing anyway :Punk:

On a short trip, music isn't necessary. On a long 500km+ trip it would be nice.

Indiana_Jones
21st January 2007, 14:23
Sometimes i listened, only had it in one ear and only set it to a set volume, if I couldn't hear when when it was noisey on the m-way etc, then tough tits.

-Indy

crash harry
22nd January 2007, 09:52
It's like going to Stock car racing wearing earplugs and then complaining that the racing is having noise restrictions put on them.

You're one of them aren't you? Leave our bloody track alone! It was there first!:bash: :bash: :bash:


Anyway though, on topic, I don't need the distraction when I'm riding. If I'm going on a long ride I tend to use those red foam 3M earplugs that you can steal from work... um... I mean that you can get from NZ safety... But I don't bother for most of my riding which is commuting/general short-haul blatting about

disenfranchised
22nd January 2007, 10:03
I've got a thing called a Soundbug

It suctions on to surfaces and turns pretty much anything you want into a helmet...so I stick it on the back of my helmet.

The sound quality isn't great, but it isn't tricky to attach (like headphones inside helmets) and it doesn't block out other road noise really...so I don't feel like its dangerous

Can only use in the dry though

RiderInBlack
22nd January 2007, 17:45
You're one of them aren't you? Leave our bloody track alone! It was there first!:bash: :bash: :bash:

:laugh: Gee talk about quoting an old post and getting it all wrong. Not I am definitely NOT one of the ones who wanted the Western Springs closed because of the noise levels. As you said It was there first. I have happily Marshalled bike races without earplugs.
But I do find human nature amusing at times. For instants here, on one hand we have bikers who like to put aftermarket cans on their bikes that make them louder and then some of these same riders are then wearing earplugs to protect their own hearing.
I find that a bit silly and selfish.
My bike makes just the right amount of noise that is muffled just right by my well fitting helmet. Tried a Blackbird with after-market cans on on Saturday. The noise it made would be fu*ken annoy to me on the long rides I do, and IMHO didn't make that bike sound better.
Excessively load cans are selfish and thoughtless as far as I am concerned. If your bike is so load that you have to wear ear plugs, how do ya think that effects those's that you ride around?
By the way I do enjoy the sound of a motor that puts out a nice tune, and don't like motors that I can not hear at all.

RiderInBlack
22nd January 2007, 18:12
By the way (and back on subject) I have custom fitted (myself) speakers from $10 DSE headphones in my helmet (dam easy really). These work well. Allows me to slip my helmet on and off with easy and are load enough to hear the music off my DSE MP3 player without amp-ing.

Insanity_rules
22nd January 2007, 18:27
I Listen to music, but only when its a ride of 20 minutes or longer. I use Phillips hook over the ear type sports head phones on my nokia 6265 mobile. Also I can tell if the phones ringing or I'm recieving at text as the music cuts out and I get my ring tone.

I don't however listen to it that loud.

kickingzebra
23rd January 2007, 03:05
I have an aftermarket can on the thou, but the main reasons for that are A) Lack of urgency on the standard sewing machine can and B) I had a spare, and it looks better ;)
I still wear earplugs, as wind noise is the main problem causing deafness, not exhaust for the vast majority. If you are brave enough to subject yourself to hours of over 80 decibels, you will cause deafness. The quietest helmet on the market is the German brand starting with Schuberth, with a helmet that has internal noise of 85 decibels at 100 kmph. That gives 8 Hours of riding time (with no other noise than wind) before damage sets in.

I was callous once, but I notice more and more, as I grow older (at 24 I ain't ancient) that my hearing isn't quite as sharp. I want to keep it for as long as possible. So, in reference to that, the volume one would have to listen to music to, in order to be louder than the wind noise in the quietest helm money can buy, would still be plenty sufficient to cause hearing damage within minutes.

Also, hearing traffic coming can save your arse. Saved mine when Sam Smith round around me in the last lap at Ruapuna in the weekend. ;)

KoroJ
23rd January 2007, 09:03
I've got a Sony that will play for up to 25 hours between charges so it's good for weekends away and wearing a balaclava keeps the earplugs comfortably located. I use earphones that have their own volume slider which can be located at the top of my jacket and adjusted with gloves on. Seems to work well and doesn't distract me but onlookers probably think I'm crazy when I start tapping and bobbing to the music.

imdying
23rd January 2007, 11:57
But I do find human nature amusing at times. For instants here, on one hand we have bikers who like to put aftermarket cans on their bikes that make them louder and then some of these same riders are then wearing earplugs to protect their own hearing.Nup, my twin is pretty loud but I can't really here it when it's moving... the ear plugs are for wind noise alone matey.

Freakshow
24th January 2007, 14:30
I have to say I have upgraded from my blutak ear plugs and found some that have a rubber plug that looks like those swimmers ear plugs. There is a hole through the middle for the sound. I have noticed they cut down heaps of outside noise and I can have my MD play at a third of the Volume I use to use it at.

Found them at the warehouse for $30

Well worth it!

V4ME
1st February 2007, 11:00
As for me - I'm right into pipe music. though I prefer Vtwins - I even enjoy the music from inline 4's and 6's - you could call me multi-tasted musically.
I even sing and make up songs to the joyful sound my pipe makes - (Thanks Scorpion Pipes). (You can't easily do that in a car - people tend to look strangely at you).

Antony N
1st February 2007, 11:03
have an i=pod and have read lots of stuff on here about how/what others use too.

Its quite common to see other bikers with i-pods/players; The problem i find is getting the bastard ear plugs to fit snug so i can here over my bloody exhaust

I use "Koss Sparkplugs" harvey norman sell them for $60, they are really good as they are like a earpplug so help cut out some of the noise (i have aftermarket pipes on my VTR so it is a bit loud) and you can have the volume lower hense saving power and less recharge times on your player ! I can hear everything around me fine it is just a bit quieter than normal !

DUCATI*HARD
1st February 2007, 18:21
I enjoy riding with music,it just seems to make the ride more enjoyable,blast your favourite songs and your away.Its just like when your in a car or at work,or at a nightclub,music makes for a pleasent ride,I never get distracted as i am always focused,ride hard or ride home.

Idubbs
1st February 2007, 21:44
Has anyone had "Earmold" custom-made earplugs/ speakers made for themselves? I am tempted, bar the price (~$200)....... looks to be a good combo of earplugs to cut out wind noise, plus stereo ear speakers that can be used at lower volume. I presume from their website that the custom molding is necessary for perfect fit, as well as assuring flush fitting to the ear and therefore helmet friendly

redeye40
2nd February 2007, 06:25
Hey Idubbs,yeah I have had pair of earmolds done,they're a custom mould of yor ear and then have a tube for the sound pushed through them,they're bloody comfortable(as you'd expect)and the sound quality is pretty good too,also if not play'n music they make a bloody good ear plug,BUT as you say expensive.
Helmet friendly and drama free

Juud
2nd February 2007, 10:04
On the longer rides I enjoy music as well, it's relaxing and gets me in an even better mood. Singing out loud without complaints that I can't sing, priceless!! :banana:

I use Sony earphones/plugs, great sound and perfect fit (the rubber caps come in 3 different sizes), no hassle when you put your helmet on.

YLWDUC
7th February 2007, 16:14
Hearing be damned, it's distracting!
I tried it once and found I was zoning out to the music and not really paying enough attention to what was going on around me. Ran wide on a corner because I'd lost my concentration and decided not to do it again.
Might work for others; not me.

I reckon! Music isn't bad because it blocks out traffic noise (stinky steel overcoat drivers) but it changes your attitude. I've tried the IPod a few times and some songs are good, into the groove kind of songs......

Then you're explaining to Mr Plod why you're doing 40 over the limit, oops.:nono:

Chrislost
7th February 2007, 16:23
i find music helps reduce the noise of sirens as your doing a quick trip home:nono: its alright till you stop for gas though!

Toaster
7th February 2007, 16:30
Everyone to their own... but I guess its like cage drivers though... yet another distraction chipping away at the amount of focus you have on what is important - safe riding/driving. When I was in the job, too many times I heard the line, "I was away with the fairies".... and THAT is the excuse?

I found I went way too quick when listening to music, especially 'angry' music - so probably not the best idea.

mstriumph
7th February 2007, 16:44
prefer not ---- prefer to stay in the moment and tend to 'drift off' when i'm listening to music

Chrislost
7th February 2007, 17:21
[QUOTE=I found I went way too quick when listening to music, especially 'angry' music - so probably not the best idea.[/QUOTE]

i found the same thing, but i was still focused on everything around my little world... i think...

unhingedlizard
3rd March 2007, 21:31
Singing out loud without complaints that I can't sing, priceless!! :banana:



The only thing is to be aware when you are town sitting at the trafic lights that people crossing infront of you can actually hear you.:weird: :sweatdrop :shutup:

The Lone Rider
3rd March 2007, 22:02
There is plain simple statistics. Music, cell phones, and even other people in/on the vehicle reduce ones ablity to drive, although of course to different degrees.

Juud
4th March 2007, 10:40
The only thing is to be aware when you are town sitting at the trafic lights that people crossing infront of you can actually hear you.:weird: :sweatdrop :shutup:

:lol: That would be funny! Thank god I only sing on the longer trips (on the motorway), I discovered it keeps me more alert when getting weary as well. I must be cracking up! :eek:

Idubbs
4th March 2007, 10:58
Hey Idubbs,yeah I have had pair of earmolds done,they're a custom mould of yor ear and then have a tube for the sound pushed through them,they're bloody comfortable(as you'd expect)and the sound quality is pretty good too,also if not play'n music they make a bloody good ear plug,BUT as you say expensive.
Helmet friendly and drama free

Just an update on Earmold plugs. I had mine custom fitted by Plugz for Lugz?? from Rotorua. They did a great job, though you have to watch that they compensate for the fact that big ears like mine get squashed flat in a firm fitting helmet. They will mold the ear plug flush with the outside of your ear, but because they do this outside of your helmet (duhh!?..), you may need to pin your ears flat before they smooth off the excess silicone.

As for the comfort and fit?... no complaints, except that I have to get used to wearing ear plugs, period. I tend to get 'plug-fatigue', and a recent S.I bike tour gave me a chance to get used to them. I am having to alternate having them in and out between gas stops.

Sound from the stereo wires fitted in the plugs are acceptable, but not startling because the wires go to a transducer, then there is a small air tube that terminate into the ear plug. They lack a bit of musical detail, but I admit the sound becomes acceptable amongst the wind noise (albeit muffled wind noise)

MyGSXF
4th March 2007, 11:03
I use these Sennheiser cx300 earphones. They're great. they come with different 3 sizes of earbuds to suit. They are soft & really comfortable inside a helmet! I like listeneing to music whilst touring.. as I usually have to ride most of the way by myself, to meet up with my club. So I put my music on & sing at the top of my lungs!! :shutup: But when group riding, I don't usually have music on.

Plugz 4 Lugz
24th March 2007, 16:24
Get some custom made earplugs and enjoy your ride!! Especially if you're touring, arrive without that aggravating noise residual! If you do wish to have wires inserted for your ipods (for those of you who can do two things once i.e concentrate on riding while listening to your favourite tunes), we do that too. Check out earmold.com.au or contact Plugz 4 Lugz on rowlsy@xtra.co.nz.

Quartermile
25th March 2007, 11:54
The only thing is to be aware when you are town sitting at the trafic lights that people crossing infront of you can actually hear you.:weird: :sweatdrop :shutup:
Tinted visor?

Yea I was thinking about ear plugs but whouldn't that be as bat a music for not hearing your surroundings?

Idubbs
25th March 2007, 21:52
Tinted visor?

Yea I was thinking about ear plugs but whouldn't that be as bat a music for not hearing your surroundings?

Yea, I thought that, but as one new to wearing earplugs I find I'm somewhat dulled from surrounding noise irrespective of whether music is present.... I went for a ride yesterday round the Coro loop to test whether a different helmet might alter both noise and comfort while wearing my earplugs. I usually wear an Arai Rx7 helmet which is snug and comfortable - but.... sore after a while with earplugs. Yesterday I wore my second helmet - a Dainese Course. I found it much more suceptible to wind noise at highesh speeds which gave me every reason to wear the damn earplugs!.... The upside was that the earplugs were extremely comfortable throughout the whole trip with this helmet.

As for music - these plugs have the stereo wires attached. As long as I kept the volume modest.... as you would, listening to the radio in a cage, then there's no problem with concentration. Admittedly I turned the sound up on the boring bits (like Ak- Kopu) then low over the hill to Whangamata, then up again from Paeroa back to Ak.
:done:

breakaway
26th March 2007, 13:10
I have these. They sound like jamming your fingers into your ear, but with great quality music. Came with my walkman phone.

<IMG SRC="http://www.semania.com/public/Chroust/hpmblack/4.jpg" BORDER="0">

You could buy the equivalents (Sennheiser CX300) for under $80 probably.

Toaster
26th March 2007, 15:10
Each to their own....but I think it's too easy to get carried away listening to music, and end up in a ditch.
Or worse.
Riding motorcycles requires 100% concentration.

Amen to that! Preach it brother!

Crasherfromwayback
26th March 2007, 15:57
Amen to that! Preach it brother!

"HALLELUJAH":innocent:

Plugz 4 Lugz
31st March 2007, 11:29
Each to their own!! Does that mean tintop riders should unplug their radios? Common sense prevails. Don't knock them until you try them.

Syd Poole
8th May 2007, 22:42
After a 5000 kilometre round trip to Broken Hill in 2002 on my Z9, one straight was 57ks straight, I'm converted to music, uhf, phone & radar detector noises keeping me company in my helmet on my ZRX. After trying different ear plug speakers I've settled on Earmold, they are the best. Have an extra set with no speakers for work, leave disposables and ear muffs for dead. Earmold compliment my car radio/cd player with corded remote on handle bars, similar set up with my GME uhf. Got the wiring harnesses and mic from Mike Pinfold of Rotorua (he's been a great help), wired in the earmold plugs and it works great.
Cheers All,
Syd

Metalor
10th May 2007, 17:45
After a 5000 kilometre round trip to Broken Hill in 2002 on my Z9, one straight was 57ks straight, I'm converted to music, uhf, phone & radar detector noises keeping me company in my helmet on my ZRX. After trying different ear plug speakers I've settled on Earmold, they are the best. Have an extra set with no speakers for work, leave disposables and ear muffs for dead. Earmold compliment my car radio/cd player with corded remote on handle bars, similar set up with my GME uhf. Got the wiring harnesses and mic from Mike Pinfold of Rotorua (he's been a great help), wired in the earmold plugs and it works great.
Cheers All,
Syd


Where do you get them from? I wouldn't mind a pair myself.

Roj
22nd May 2007, 11:53
Where do you get them from? I wouldn't mind a pair myself.


Get some custom made earplugs and enjoy your ride!! Especially if you're touring, arrive without that aggravating noise residual! If you do wish to have wires inserted for your ipods (for those of you who can do two things once i.e concentrate on riding while listening to your favourite tunes), we do that too. Check out earmold.com.au or contact Plugz 4 Lugz on rowlsy@xtra.co.nz.

See this earlier post:scooter: