Music While Riding?

[Knife]

Ear plugs???? never used then in my life - don't think wind noise is that big of a problem.
I would not put anything in my ears while riding w/ a helmet on, that is why I modified my headphones to go into my helmet as shown in the link from my last post above.
I can hear the engine and traffic with no problems and think ear plugs would limit both.

Ear plugs don't hinder my ability to hear the engine and traffic. Besides, I can feel the engine anyway, and I do have eyes and mirrors. Ear plugs do, however, block out almost all of the annoying, tiring, and damaging wind noise. I cannot stand to ride without ear plugs. The wind noise drives me insane and tires me out. It's also distracting, breaks your concentration and is, therefore, potentially dangerous.

[madduxca]

i use scullcandies also and love them. even with them turned up to 11 i can hear what some have called "the important stuff"(prob due to weak mp3 player). and maybe its just me but i get dialed in by listening to some music. any time i hit any twisties i got "Chevelle" playing, it hleps me and makes the whole ride that much more enjoyable.

[VFRShorty]

One thing I really loved about the earphones I got with my zune is they blocked out wind noise and I could listen to music while still hearing other motorists. I only listened to music on long, less spirited rides as a general preference but often wore the plugs to help with the wind (sans music).

[Cundalini]

I didn't realize this was also about 'what music' I listen to, just 'if' I do.

I'm a Blues fan, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, and of course SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughn). All of Elvis's old R&B too.

After the Blues, I'm a very eclectic listener, everything from Daughtry, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman, Nickleback & Hinder (plus old school metal - e.g. JP) to Bagpipe Rock (Prydein), Old School Rap (Sir Mix-a-lot, Ton Loc, etc.), Hip Hop, New Jack, R&B, Soul, Swing, and even a little Country (more pop/blues stuff though).

I find that I listen to the music that fits my mood (other than blues, which I listen to all the time); I have almost 3000 songs in my iPod, 7.8 DAYS worth of music, so I've got something for just about every mood...

I guess that's part of my concern, I love music, and I get to singing, playing 'air guitar', etc. and I don't think that'd go well while riding my bike... Not to mention, I don't just 'let it play', I'm always fishing for the 'right song' for however I'm feeling at the moment (making a quick playlist), so I'd always be messing with my iPod, with my gloves on, and I'd hit a fricken BARN because I was so distracted trying to get 'to just the right song'...

You hit the nail on the head exactly. That is why I don't listen to music when I ride.

Also, I didnt mean to hijack the thread and turn it into a discussion of musical taste, I just had to say something when I saw other fans of the same group.... it was the teenager coming out in me :).

[diVeFR]

Do you read a book when making love?

You see... I knew I was doing something wrong. She doesnt mind that as much as when I smoke and miss the ashtry. Im just kidding, I cant read.

I do also use skull candy headphones with my mp3 player. With either the cell/mp3/gps or just an mp3 player I have the volume at a managable level where I can hear the music or I can hear whats going on around me. I also have a Shoei RF 1000 and that kills a lot of the wind noise.

[buttonhook]

Anything over 30 minutes and the IPOD and Shure Headphones are coming with me. I also frequently wear headphones at home to drain out my wifes nagging voice

Regards,
Rollin

there's not a set of headphones made that would work for that at my house!!

[Sippy]

I listen to MP3 player through my Autocom Unit. I find they make my drive more enjoyable, and in a way, focus more in the twisties when I get into a grove with the music. One trick I do with the Autocom Unit, if I want silence, is to blow/activate on the mic, which causes the music volume to automatically lower to %30.

[monk69]

This is somethin' I hear a lot of opinions on. Personally, I listen to music when I know I'm in for a long haul (which in my mind is anything longer than approx. a half hour), and I use "Skullcandies" cuz they fit inside my ear and don't interfere with my helmet fit in any way. But I'm curious what other riders do. I've seen guys with Chatterboxes, guys with earbuds like me, and some custom-type folks with stereos wired into the bike. Do you listen to music while riding, and if so what's your method of choice? Light 'em up!




(F.Y.I., apparently the law is, you can listen to music while riding if you only have one earbud in. I was pulled over with one bud in, and didn't get a citation or anything)

I looked it up on the AMA site.... Calif. one ear only......

[monk69]

I made these up about two years ago. Just heard of "Skullcandy" tonight.

[monk69]

Speaking as one that is a victim of hearing lose, due to not wearing earplugs when I should have. Here is a link I just pulled up on wind noise.
If you don't block out the ambient noise, then you end up having to turn the music up louder to compensate for the ambient sound, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The Noise in Your Ears: Facts About Tinnitus


This one is on M/C and noise
http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/safety/earplugs.shtml

[darepoman]

After I got the I Phone mounted on the bike and the charger plugged in. I have a new V-Tune helmet with built in blue tooth and it's has music playing from the time I hit the start button till I stop the bike. The only time I don't is when I'm riding with the Abilene Hot Bike Assc. Then I want to be able to the motor while cornering at high speed.

I have 3500 songs on the Phone and the only problem I have is getting in to the music when something jamming is on and notice I'm passing everything in site.

[Knife]

You see... I knew I was doing something wrong. She doesnt mind that as much as when I smoke and miss the ashtry. Im just kidding, I cant read.

I do also use skull candy headphones with my mp3 player. With either the cell/mp3/gps or just an mp3 player I have the volume at a managable level where I can hear the music or I can hear whats going on around me. I also have a Shoei RF 1000 and that kills a lot of the wind noise.

Is eating a sandwich wrong?

[TimRav]

No tunes for me when riding. It's not that I think it's dangerous, I just prefer to be either alone with my thoughts, concentrating on riding or singing a song to myself most of the time.

[magnavmx5]

you need all your awerness when riding listening to music you miss what your bike and the raod are telling you much less what your suroundings are telling you. To me doing that is like riding with a tinted glassvisor after dark. Yeah you can see alittle but not near as much as you should be able to operate safely.

[scramblerracer]

commuting no music, fun rides or anytime the zumo is on the bike yes music. I use Big Ears custom earplugs with sound in them. I can easily hear zumo directions, listen to music, and still hear horns, screeching tires, train horns. I think I hear more with the earplugs in than I do when I don't wear them. Wind noise is worse than music to me. Plus it can make boring slab riding less painful.

[Cundalini]

"WHAAAAAAAT?!!!"

Maybe it's my cheapo Scorpion Exo 700 helmet but after 20 minutes at 130 kph, when I get off, my ears are just ringing! Ear plugs FTW.

Its not your helmet brother, these bikes use us as part of the aerodynamics I think. No helmet is quiet for us :( just way too much wind.
I tried the earplugs.... it was paranoid mode for me... I guess I would rather hear the loud wind then miss hearing the sirens chasing me and get arrested for evading ( joking of course ).

I second the "what" comment

[Cundalini]

I rarely listen to music anymore.... I dont have the time.
If I thought it was a good idea for me, I would love to listen to some slayer on my bike...only mentioning the band name cause its fast music, like my bike.
As a newer rider, I think it might take my focus off the road so I don't listen to music.... even thoagh I got lots of technology that would allow it.
I am gonna vote on the no music part. But thats just for me.
Ride your own ride

[NomadBeach]

Use music to cut down the wind noise on the free way.

[Knife]

I do one of the following, depending on my mood and the circumstances:

• Listen to music or talk radio on long stretches of slab.
• Concentrate totally on not being killed by cagers when in traffic or congested areas.
• Ride in silence planning the death of my enemies.

[Cundalini]

Use music to cut down the wind noise on the free way.

Totally unrelated, but thanks to you I know I can use an animated avatar!
I am not joking.... been thinking about making one all week, but damn its a lot of work. Didnt want to spend the time just to find out it wasn't supported here.

Even tho its unrelated, hot damn, thank you!

[Abelito 13]

I always listen to music with 2 ear buds . Funny thing is since Ive gotten this wonderful motorcycle last week . I have not yet put on any music . Due to the beautiful sound of the V4 . This is my first VFR & Im in love ....... Im sure to ride with music again . But not yet , Im enjoying the music this VFR plays ....................

[VFR1200]

I wear earplugs all the time no matter how short or how long the ride is. On short hops I listen to the radio on the Scala Q2, if I am going for a longer day ride then I will plug in my MP3 player and if I am going on a trip then the GPS (via bluetooth to the Scala) is my music box. That way I can listen to the music and the silly bitch telling me to do a U-turn on the highway work together.

[reg71]

I looked it up on the AMA site.... Calif. one ear only......

yeah, it even counts in a car. I got pulled over once for listening to ipod while driving. I told him I was using it for 'hands-free' cell phone and he said, that's fine, but you can only plug one ear. I said 'Are you give me a ticket for that?' he laughed and said he had never heard of anyone actually writing a ticket for it, he just wanted me to be aware of the law.

[Knife]

I listen to either my satellite radio or my Q2 FM radio while riding. After all, music has charms to soothe the savage breast!