Ducati Monster Forum

So it has been some time since the last time I owned a bike and am getting ready to start riding again, back when I rode MP3 players were not readily used so it was bulky cd players. I am curious now that most people have an IPOD or other mp3 player..... do you ride and listen to music? I would think it would be a distraction just want some other opinions..... thanks

I listen to my ipod sometimes, especially on slab. On otherwise boring rides, I feel it actually helps me focus. I do worry about hearing loss though as I can hear much more wind noise than I can wiht ear plugs (plus there's the music)

I do occasionally if I'm going to be riding a while in a straight line, especially if its a really low traffic highway.  I use some of the noise blocking earbuds to keep wind noise and all down a bit (I normally wear earplugs)
I know there are plenty of people out there that think fire will rain from the heavens if you listen to music while riding but its worked for me for a few years, to me its mostly just more pleasant background noise than the wind
 I don't close my eyes and start singing along with the music or anything

I use the bluetooth on my music capable phone to run stereo music to my chatterbox.

only reason I bought the phone was so I wouldn't have to carry a phone AND an MP3 player.


Andy

The only music I need while riding is the sound of my wonderful Ducati engine.  And I just stay off of the boring roads as much as possible.  I guess that's easier in Northern California than in the more boring parts of the country.  8)

It's illegal here to use headphones to listen to music while riding or driving, by the way.

its illegal to have in the ear headphones here
The two things that bother me about that is that its not illegal to listen to music and the motorcycle manual the state puts out SUGGESTS wearing ear plugs.
So they don't have a problem with listening to music and they don't have a problem with something sticking in your ear, but sticking something in your ear that plays music is a no-no?  wow

Haha...illegal...as if we care...just look at your pipes and ECUs and stuff.  [evil]
I love riding to music...especially on the autobahn when i just need to get from A to B.
Got me some nice Sennheiser in-ears which fell very comfil under the helmet...
But yeah, I just do it on long rides or for special event like crossing a pass in the alps in the sunset.
In town I need full ear-sight

+1...I listen to an ipod, but only if it is going to be a relaxing cruise...If I intend to open it up, I prefer to hear the engine...

in california, the vehicle code says:
27400(d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.

I think the difference is that music earbuds can be cranked up blocking all noise.  Hearing protectors cut down on noise, not block everything out.


Andy

+1

trips : yes

local : no

ipod nano.  pants pocket on thigh, quick access.  volume adjustments, fast forward are occasionally troublesome.

not sure what the specific laws are here in Florida, usually just saying "sorry officer, I'm from Mississippi" gets me out of that kinda stuff lol

If its going to be an hour or more ride I put in just one ear bud for some background music that way I can hear the engine and radar detector.

+1 Any longer trips on the slab, I'll slap together a playlist or use an existing. Sometimes i'll download a talk radio show for longer trips. I don't find it a distraction, just the opposite, keeps my mind from getting mesmerized by the road.

+1 on earplugs. More and more as I get old I worry about hearing loss. If I'm not wearing in ear ear buds I'll pop in those cheap disposable plugs. I can still hear the engine just fine. Although short in-town juants I'll go without.

shure e3 w/ the yellow foamy pads. they work just like "regular" foam ear plugs and you don't have to crank your music up to hear it over the engine/wind noise. i can actually hear my ipod at 30% volume on the freeway.

40 Mile commute to work each day, so ipod with HS24 in helmet speakers from helmetaudio.com (http://helmetaudio.com).

Work great & really help keep me from going crazy while stuck in traffic, plus since they are not headphones, but in helmet speakers, I've been told technically they're not illegal.

helmet = fits perfectly = i cant wear earbuds + it wouldnt be like i can hear anhything anyway, exhaust too loud. Must wear ear plugs.

if earplugs will fit in your ear, then there are earbuds that will fit.  Most helmets I've worn don't protrude into my ear canal, but thats just me...

i listen to music all the time..

i have shure in the ear headphone, they r wonderful for the long rides cause it blockes out my engine/pipes noise really well...

but i have found it also helps me in the twisties, cause my mind wanders around so much the music helps calm a part of my mind while i can focus on riding  [moto] weird, but it works for me 8)

I wear headphones more often than not - in the past I've also rigged my helmet with an extra set, essentially making them into speakers.  I don't blast it - can still hear road and engine noise just fine. 

I love the headphones being illegal while car ads constantly demonstrate how well their vehicle kills all exterior sounds.  You know, sounds like sirens and car horns?

Privateer... I've been looking at that setup, too.

A) What kind of helmet do you have?
B) How does that setup work in regards to wind/road noise with the music going?

I think it depends on where you are. In Ontario, Canada you can have headphones on but only in one ear.
Personally if you have beautiful sounding engine then you don't need music. I do ride with ear plugs for the wind noise.

hmm do you guys know if there are earphones that block outside noise like ear plugs do? but still fit comfortably?

Tons. They're called in-ear headphones or canalphones. Check out Shure, Sennheiser, etc. My Shure headphones are the most comfortable one's I've used.

ahem

Noise-killing headphones sound like a great idea. Anyone have any experience with the Etymotic er6? Just over 1/2 the price of the Shure ^^^^^^
Got a really good review in Motorcyclist (but then again, so does everything  :D)

Etymotics are good too, but I didn't like the sound quality as much... I mean, I think they have accurate sound reproduction, but I like that the Shures are a little "warmer" which is probably what you want unless you're a musical purist. I have a set of Shure canalphones that run about $400 (not sure what the model is because the ones I have are prototypes... I think they are SE420), and they sound great  ;D Better than the Ety ER4s. I also didn't like how the Etys fit... Shure headphones come with these black foamy-rubbery plugs that work better than anything I've tried.

Just saw you were asking about the ER6, not the ER4. The ER6 won't sound as good obviously, but I'm sure they are decent. I don't think I've heard them. I'm probably the wrong person to ask lol... Shure has lower end headphones too, the SE110 SE210 and SE310. I didn't like the quality of the SE210s ($200), but from what I've read they are better than the ER6.

All the prices I'm stating here are msrp, so you can find better deals.

I'm the same way.  I've even found earplugs that won't stay in my ears once I try to put my helmet on, let alone something with a cord dangling out of it.  I use cheapo foam shooting plugs that work pretty well with little helmet interference. 

On the subject of earbuds, the Shures with the yellow plugs do work well.  There are better sounding buds out there, IMO, but they are worth the money.  Like Derby said, they're basically earplugs with headphones built in.  It's strange.  I listen to music from when I wake up right down to before bed, but I really prefer going without on the bike.  Once I started riding, that's one of the things I found I loved is being so close to everything and I love hearing/feeling/seeing all of it unencumbered. 

I use earbuds to my cell phone which is a MP3 player and GPS ( 2 less things to carry).  Got pulled over once and the cop asked what the earbuds was for(FL illegal to have earbuds in both ears).  I said it was for the phone and GPS and he was like cool idea....

I wear mine pretty much everyday but I keep it low so I can still hear everything around me (as much as possible with Termi's and a helmet) and haven't had any problems yet.

I see these each year at the IMS show they seem like a great idea. I plan on getting a set come summer time.

http://www.bigearinc.com/Products/catalog.aspx (http://www.bigearinc.com/Products/catalog.aspx)

helmet - HJC AC12
I wear earplugs if I'm going to be on the highway and even at highway speed I can hear the music just fine.  I have to turn it up, of course, but it's fine.  The phone can player louder than the headphones like, so I don't turn it up too much.  Even with the earphones the volume is sufficient.  If I'm just around town, there are no issues with volume or wind noise.

The HJC does have a weird high pitch wind noise that comes and goes depending what jacket I'm wearing, if I have a neck warmer on, if I'm wearing backpack, sometimes just the angle of the helmet.  I haven't quite figured it out, but it has something to do with the neck roll on the back right.  If I make an air dam with my hand under my right law/ear area, the noise goes away.  it's very odd because my old ac12 didn't do this.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11srXNPu-2L._SL500_AA125_.jpg)

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-51MZ0085AA007-EP-630-Headphones/dp/B000LVIC58/ref=pd_cp_e_1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000I13TBS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09AB2F1ZFYD67DZ65KAP (http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-51MZ0085AA007-EP-630-Headphones/dp/B000LVIC58/ref=pd_cp_e_1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000I13TBS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09AB2F1ZFYD67DZ65KAP)

Cheap and effective..
70% isolation and surprisingly good sound
Totally comfortable for hours...because they are short...they don't even touch the helmet

I had some custom made ear plugs made that I hook into to my...satellite radio to listen to while riding.  Doesn't seem to really affect me as I pay attention to the road; looking in the mirrors a lot and being aware of my surroundings.  As long as it is not turned up full blast, I don't feel it is a distraction. 

I've tried riding with my Ipod going, but it seems to mess with my timing going into turns.  I tend to go in too hot, so I quit doing that.  And in CA, you can have one earphone in, but not both. 

In moderate to heavy traffic, never. On quiet roads, occasionally.

I've killed 3 pairs of headphones somehow. The wire for the right bud always seems to get pulled too much and causes the right bud to die. I finally just cut it off so now I'm legal. Having music in only one ear is an odd feeling at first. Throws off the senses. Even though it's not legal I feel that it is much safer to have either both in or both out.

Music for this Sunday ride :
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NASfgmaMiTM/RsifFtv5YzI/AAAAAAAAAFE/N1DQdu7B_eM/s1600/Infected_Mushroom_Presents_The_Doors_Remixed.jpg)

wicked enough, classic at heart
perfect for a 696  [evil]

I bought some cheapo helmet speakers that I fitted into my helmet ( a new arai corsair V). I then wear regular old earplugs, so I can hear traffic and sirens.  The music is plenty loud, but in the background.  I bluetooth to my Zumo 550 GPS/MP3 for tunes and directions.  Works fantastic.

I don't bother for the daily riding, and just tuck the small speaker plug into my helmet.

Stu (TriColorMonster)

I don't usually bother with music unless I'll be riding for more than an hour or so. Actually, I find it helps my concentration. A couple of weeks ago, three of us went on a day trip through the mountains, and I was asked if riding with music didn't distract me.
OTOH, I won't ride with music in traffic. Too easy to miss something and get squashed.