Creature comforts...

[ManDownUnder]

Riding in to work this morning, I was toodeling along in traffic thinking it would be nice to have a little music... and that got me thinking.

Some bikes have all the creature comforts, radios, heated this and that, inflatable things etc. The only thing bringing me satisfaction would have to be the throttle...

Anyhoo - what do you guys/gals have? What would you have if money was no object? I think I'd quite like one of those in helmet sets that you could talk to a pillion or listen to the radio on (NB I would NOT hook my phone into it...)

Your thoughts?
MDU

[Marknz]

Interesting.. was just thinking yesterday that a nice alternative to standard earplugs might be a good MP3 player with lots on my favourite music dowloaded for those horrible straight roads. Of course when you get to the twisty good stuff I reckon you would just tune out of the music and into the road and not know the sound was there....

Be interested to here other peoples perspective on this. And if you do have MP3 players... what are your recommendations for specific models?

Cheers

[Hitcher]

Mrs H is in a mood to acquire an MP3. Recommendations from a rider POV would be appreciated.

Some people may argue that an external music source is better than humming for hours on end the theme for "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Dancing Queen" or, god help me "Who painted the moon black?" by the vile and dreaded Haley Westenra...

[Pwalo]

Riding in to work this morning, I was toodeling along in traffic thinking it would be nice to have a little music... and that got me thinking.

Some bikes have all the creature comforts, radios, heated this and that, inflatable things etc. The only thing bringing me satisfaction would have to be the throttle...

Anyhoo - what do you guys/gals have? What would you have if money was no object? I think I'd quite like one of those in helmet sets that you could talk to a pillion or listen to the radio on (NB I would NOT hook my phone into it...)

Your thoughts?
MDU

I'd like a helmet that's quiet. Love my heated grips when it's cold, but my favourite mod is my after market clock.

I'd like a few more bhp, and some of those torguey thingeys. :not:

[ManDownUnder]

I'd like a helmet that's quiet. Love my heated grips when it's cold, but my favourite mod is my after market clock.

I'd like a few more bhp, and some of those torguey thingeys. :not:

Yeah - I did good with the RF purchase ... bhp and torquey things in abundance... just the warm, dry and music aspects I'd like to improve on I think...

But then it is also part f the experiencve, so part of me enjoys not having those things too - go figure!
MDU

[Pwalo]

But then it is also part f the experiencve, so part of me enjoys not having those things too - go figure!
MDU[/QUOTE]

I understand. Some creature comforts are great, especially good gear, but I enjoy the concentration riding well requires. Warm hands/feet/body good, but I have a sneaky feeling MP3s etc would be a bit distracting.

I think some frame sliders might be a better investment.

[vifferman]

Depends on the trip, I reckon. Generally, I could do without the distraction, but I've had some very long trips where music would have been appreciated (like the Canterbury Plains). I have friends in the US who have special earplugs (Sony and Koss are two who make them) which are both earplugs and speakers, hooked into their MP3 players, intercomms, etc.
Mrs FS has asked for an intercomm, as our hand-signal communication is woeful and inadequate, and no doubt we'll jack summat up utilising Electronic Boy's (middle son) skills, and no doubt, he'll want an MP3 in there somewhere...

[James Deuce]

Be really careful about in ear speakers in a noisy environment. It would be very easy to do long term damage to your hearing. If you do make sure you buy in-ear monitors that provide noise protection as well as piping music to your brain. They will also need a secondary power source. They are expensive but will make sure that you don't damage your hearing. Another point is that high levels of noise for extended periods can cause fatigue, whihc is not a good combination with motorcycles.

A lot of people gave me a hard time the last time I suggested that headphones while riding is a bad idea, but once your hearing is damaged it doesn't get better, ever. Any noise over 90dB for extended periods has the potential to cause permamnent damage, and the dB scale is not linear, it is logarithmic. I think one dB point is actually 3 times louder. Another thing to bear in mind is the SPL or sound pressure rating. If you create a standing wave in your ear canal you can perforate or even rupture your ear drum.

[jrandom]

I think one dB point is actually 3 times louder.

We discussed this in another thread recently with our friendly local acoustics engineer (Coldkiwi). The measurable power level in a pressure wave goes up logarithmically (specifically, a 3dB differential indicates twice (or half) the power level) but our aural perception is linear on the same scale; 3dB is close to the minimum possible difference that the human ear can detect.

In other words, when something sounds 'twice as loud', the energy in the compression waves assaulting your eardrums is actually several orders of magnitude greater.

[Blakamin]

Mrs H is in a mood to acquire an MP3. Recommendations from a rider POV would be appreciated.


Ive got one of these (http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/0124-0425-0718-/auction-16699442.htm) and it rocks! battery lasts ages (i use rechargable) the perfect thing for long highway trips... and i paid 175 for mine 4 months ago

[jrandom]

Mrs H is in a mood to acquire an MP3. Recommendations from a rider POV would be appreciated.

Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun would surely be appropriate.

She *will* need to get something to play it on, though.

[Dodgyiti]

Creature comforts Mmmm :eek:
Not many for commuting to work..
Full fairing for the rain
Cruise control for resting the other wrist
Tank bag for resting the arms on
Nice warm weather proof [ and safe] riding gear

On the list
Heated grips for winter
A fluffy thingy for the seat
More spongy grips
Boots that don't leak

[vifferman]

Be really careful about in ear speakers in a noisy environment. It would be very easy to do long term damage to your hearing. If you do make sure you buy in-ear monitors that provide noise protection as well as piping music to your brain.What about noise-cancelling systems? Given that most of the (hearing-damaging) ambient noise inside one's helmet is wind noise, which is reasonably constant in frequency, surely this would be an ideal environment for such technology? If this is feasible (and achievable), then the volume required for any extra noise (music, intercom, etc.) would be much lower.

As an aside, I personally believe that motorcycling is an inherently different pastime to sitting in your car or lounge, and the fact that one doesn't usually listen to music or communicate verbally with others while doing so is all part of the experience. However, anything I can do to make Mrs FS's riding experience more pleasant is worthwhile, as already she is the one who is instigating the rides we go on. So if she wants an intercomm, I'm all for it. :niceone:

[AMPS]

I'm going to get an ipod to keep my wife amused during our SI trip in Feb. But I think it'll be too distracting for me. Toying with the idea of an intercom too, but I'm not sure about that either. For the same reason.
I don't know if I'd like a screamed "SLOW DOWN" in my earhole mid-corner.
Lou

[Dodgyiti]

I'm going to get an ipod to keep my wife amused during our SI trip in Feb. But I think it'll be too distracting for me. Toying with the idea of an intercom too, but I'm not sure about that either. For the same reason.
I don't know if I'd like a screamed "SLOW DOWN" in my earhole mid-corner.
Lou

Yep,
I think the serenity of long hauls is nice without interuptions, but I would have to double check that opinion with Management. :Pokey:

[F5 Dave]

. . .I don't know if I'd like a screamed "SLOW DOWN" in my earhole mid-corner.
Lou

I believe the sign language for that is a smack in the kidneys.

Back to the creature comforts. I sort of recently (actually must have been May as before Brass) bought a heated vest.

click here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=2925)

OK it cost a bit but it is great for winter riding. Actually the lass gets it for on the back as she seems to get cold when I am comfortable so it makes it more comfortable for me. She thinks it’s the best thing ever & if you make your woman warm she will just sit there uncomplainingly. If it gets silly cold then you can wear it as she won’t have been convinced to leave the house.

[Posh Tourer :P]

What about noise-cancelling systems? Given that most of the (hearing-damaging) ambient noise inside one's helmet is wind noise, which is reasonably constant in frequency, surely this would be an ideal environment for such technology? If this is feasible (and achievable), then the volume required for any extra noise (music, intercom, etc.) would be much lower.

As an aside, I personally believe that motorcycling is an inherently different pastime to sitting in your car or lounge, and the fact that one doesn't usually listen to music or communicate verbally with others while doing so is all part of the experience. However, anything I can do to make Mrs FS's riding experience more pleasant is worthwhile, as already she is the one who is instigating the rides we go on. So if she wants an intercomm, I'm all for it. :niceone:

*cough* whipped *cough*

[Posh Tourer :P]

Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun would surely be appropriate.

She *will* need to get something to play it on, though.

Do ya think Arlo Guthrie would go down well? Also, youd have to either play it very slowly on a long trip, or repeatedly, and I dont think "Grils Just Wanna Have Fun" (sic) would cut the mustard.

[Bonez]

Riding in to work this morning, I was toodeling along in traffic thinking it would be nice to have a little music... and that got me thinking.


Your thoughts?
MDU
Just a good sheep skin. Pillion just needs to tap on the helmet and stop for a conversation. Try humming ;).

[ALTRON]

I use my MiniDisc walkman everyday while riding :) Its fine when riding in built up areas (50k zones) but when I get out on to the highway (100km) I turn it off as I have to turn it up too loud to compete with the sound of the bike and wind noise.

[geoffm]

Being a Boring Old Phart, I like my heated grips (esp here in Christchurch, being a woosey northerner). Once you have toured with hard luggage, you would never go back. Nothing like turning up at a flash hotel valet parking, ready for a dirty weekend and wandering into the lobby in leathers and carrying your bags.
I had an intercom, which was good (until I lost it) and made the trip better for the pillions. I will get another one next year.
A good radar detector goes without saying.
Geoff

[magnum]

just got a corbin seat cause i want to do some touring and im a fat bastard,the oe seat is crap over 2 hours riding. :scooter:

[Slingshot]

I looked into the whole intercom thing a while back, I'm too cheap to pay the couple of hundred bucks for the proper shop intercom si I had a chat to my old man (he's good with electronics).
He brought me a couple of walky talkies with VOX and we started to experiment.
With a standard earphone and mic the VOX is useless above about 40kmph, it starts to transmit constantly.

The old man was going to build some sort of noise cancelling set-up. The idea was to have two microphones in the helmet, one by my mouth that would pick up both my voice and all the wind/engine noise, then another one around further to the side that would only pick up the wind/engine noise. The ide was to wire them up to some sort of gizmo that would cancle the noise part out and only leave the voice.
Still waiting...must call him and find out what ever happened to that little project.

I also saw a device on the net a while back, you could plug in 4 or 5 input devices into it in the order of importance, ie.1. Radar Detector 2. Intercom 3. Music, etc. Normally you'd be listening to the music but if your pillion spoke to you it would shut the music off while they spoke and then if the radar detector went off it would shut the intercom off, it was rather clever.
Just did a quick google and found this (http://www.epanorama.net/links/intercom.html#motorbike)

[sedge]

http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/10042004085736MWEA74.htm

Expensive switcher thingy...

I tried active in-ear noise reduction headphones but the mikes stick out too far for comfort, I think a company called etymotic do in ear buds that block external noise passively... again, they are expensive.

Why can't anyone design a bluetooth enabled helmet with in-built active noise cancelling... Give it a couple of months eh ?

Sedge.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah I remember when ‘Beyond 2000’ did a TV story & had some little shetbox Yugo or something & they ran active noise cancelling & they turned it on & the car went quiet. Then for a laugh they could pipe in sounds from an F1 car or whatever so it linked with the throttle & rev-counter.

Neat, could filter out all those poxy 4 stroke sounds of our poofy road legal bikes & be riding an NSR500 V twin. Those things sound horn! Like 2 CR250s. :niceone:

(that should upset the lads, esp. the Vtwin crowd)

[James Deuce]

http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/10042004085736MWEA74.htm

Expensive switcher thingy...

I tried active in-ear noise reduction headphones but the mikes stick out too far for comfort, I think a company called etymotic do in ear buds that block external noise passively... again, they are expensive.

Why can't anyone design a bluetooth enabled helmet with in-built active noise cancelling... Give it a couple of months eh ?

Sedge.
Sony do a nice set in-ear headphones that act as earplugs as well. $100.

[sedge]

Sony do a nice set in-ear headphones that act as earplugs as well. $100.

I tried the active ones like that... quite a bit bigger coz of the mikes though...Went in the helmet OK... Started riding and they slowly pushed in and in till my brain got sore... couldn't get the helmet off, the plugs were at the wrong angle and I thought they were going to poke a hole in me, had to dig down through the top and pull them out...

Sedge.

[Cajun]

just got a corbin seat cause i want to do some touring and im a fat bastard,the oe seat is crap over 2 hours riding. :scooter:

corbin seats are so over priced, they are very hard to get hold of now days as well. Ya should have come seen us steve and we would have made one molded to fit ya ass

[Slingshot]

I also did a few experiments with throat microphones. I used a normal condenser mic and plugged it into my computer then held it to my throat, I turned the stereo up to max volume, then started recording the sound from the mic while I was talking.
Could barely hear the stereo but my voice was easy to hear, it was just a little distorted.

I might have to start fiddling around again.

Beyond 2000 was the coolest program.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah but what would they call it now?

[SPORK]

Ahhh, grew up watching Beyond 2000, probably made me as infatuated with technology as I am now

[Slingshot]

Yeah but what would they call it now?

Very good question.

[Slingshot]

Just found this (http://www.prestigecom.net.au/default.asp?category=Motorcycle+Autocom&subcat=%281%29+Active+Smart+Kit&openmenu=11) while searching around the www.
There's a demo movie at the bottom of the page which has a dude riding a lap of a track somewhere and talking as he's doing it.
I'm impressed, fairly expensive though at $329AUD.

[The Pastor]

two walkie talkies hooked up to sum ear phones and mike work. Cut the speaker wires in the talkies and run about 2M of cord to the earfones. Do the same with the mike. Fix the talkie somewere easy to press the talk button and put in the ear phones and you might nead to tape the mike to ur helmet or sumthing.

Getting a bit more flash, have the mike and earfones plug into the talkie would be easier for getting on/off the bike and you could fix the earfones and mike to be in the helmet and have the wires running down ur back and under the seat. You could even put the talk button somewere easy to press so all you see on the bike is a button.


Man im a genious. I reckon you could do it for under 50 bucks (buying stuff new)

[The Pastor]

You might nead more than 2M depending on ur install. I did this for paintball and worked well :)

[Yokai]

Yeah but what would they call it now?
Beyond 9:30?

Yokai

[Slingshot]

The problem with this type of set-up on a bike is the noise. Yes it's too noisy (above about 40kph) for the VOX to work but it's also rather hard to understand what someone is saying when they've got all of the wind/engine noise being transmitted as well.

I'm starting to think about buying a couple of throat mics, the link that I posted has throat mics suitable for the walkie talkies I already have and including freight it would only cost about $95.

[The Pastor]

Inside the helmet theres not to much noise?

[Slingshot]

Yeah, there is. I tried a set-up like that using the PTT button to the walkie talkie, I installed the mic on the chin bar and it just picks up way to much extra noise, I tried putting a little bit of foam over it but that didn't help.
That was using an electric microphone which are omi-directional, I suspect that a dynamic (directional) mic would be better but I couldn't find one that was small enough.

Even with a throat mic I'm concerned that it will still be to noisy to hear speach coming through the little ear phones, I've tried wearing them and listening to music but found the walkman had to be at full volume to hear anything.

[The Pastor]

id have to try it b4 i belive thts its to noisey, :D

[Slingshot]

id have to try it b4 i belive thts its to noisey, :D

Thanks for the vote of confidence.
When you get a bike (and your licence) give it a try and let me know how you get on. :rolleyes:

[The Pastor]

Will do, but Im not having pillions on till at least a year of experiance, maybe if they stand on a big roundabout and i go about 50 round it I could test it that way

[magnum]

corbin seats are so over priced, they are very hard to get hold of now days as well. Ya should have come seen us steve and we would have made one molded to fit ya ass
hey,sorry man i didnt know!got it off ebay pretty cheap anyways,cheers tho. :spudwave:

[Cajun]

hey,sorry man i didnt know!got it off ebay pretty cheap anyways,cheers tho. :spudwave:


ahhh thats all good then
cheap is always good