View Full Version : Listening to music on the bike
I don't want to derail L3nny's thread, something cropped up on it - people listening to music on the bike.
I never do, sadly I'm going partly deaf and I can't hear well at the best of times and music even at low volume would completely shut down a critical sense.
Do you listen to music on the bike? Loud? How do you turn it down, usually the controls are fiddly and impossible through bike gloves?
Let's have a mass debate:D
No music on the bike.
Even in the car I find I've zoned out from it, or radio 4 unless its something particularly interesting. On the bike I don't want the distraction there to zone out from, there are enough things to pay attention to without having something blaring away in my ears.
Use to when on the Honda CBR 125 and had a cheap (not well fitting) lid. Found it drowned out the screaming from walkers and drivers lol
I don't listen to anything now as I find I need to concentrate on the stupidity of some drivers.
there was a thread about this a while back.
i do but only on long journeys really, motorway stuff or long rides. on the short blast (2hr stuff) i prefer the engine note.
Used to when I was commuting through town, but find that the wind noise drowns it out on the motorway. Back to earplugs for me...
I listen to music via my Autocom, which has self adjusting volume :p
I find that it actually helps my concentration, particularly when on a long motorway run. For me, it is no different to listening to music in the car.
Wideboy
11-02-10, 09:36 PM
only if im on along motorway journey....... and there is only 1 volume level and thats LOUD!! :lol:
Thingus
11-02-10, 09:36 PM
Used to, but played it too loud once and managed to red line in 3rd and spin the back wheel (wasn't used to it being on so loud xD) so that was the end of that, it's useful on long rides tho.
speedplay
11-02-10, 09:37 PM
I use music on the bike.
Mp3 player on the mobile and I use the remote from an old nokia so I can turn it down and skip tracks as and when I want to .
The only time I don't listen to music is if I am riding in a group rideout.
It really helps to break the boredom of a long commute or the motorway drone.
Paul the 6th
11-02-10, 09:48 PM
earplugs for me :)
Bike noise for me every time. I like to hear everything that is going on around me, and engine note for gear changing.
If I had a crazy long commute on the motorway maybe, but even then it's a dangerous place to be so I would probably rather still hear what's going on.
ManxMatt34
11-02-10, 10:11 PM
Hmmmm i've not tried it yet, never been into this mp3 and ipod lark till i bought an iphone 2 months ago. Havn't ridden since buying it but gonna give it ago.
I do find in the car i drive more aggresivly however with a good song on and thats what worries me about the bike. I'll try it though once i'm back on too see. If it affects my riding and i think i'm riding quicker or pushing more i'll not bother.
fizzwheel
11-02-10, 10:12 PM
No its to distracting. I dont know why I find it so distracting, just that I do.
Just use earplugs to keep the wind / white noise down as my Arai is rather noisy.
No its to distracting. I dont know why I find it so distracting, just that I do.
Just use earplugs to keep the wind / white noise down as my Arai is rather noisy.
Same as me, even down to the Arai... ;)
i went through a phase of listening to music on the bike but, like others have said, it was drowned out most of the time with the wind/arai noise - as a result i turned it up full volume but noticed my hearing was deteriorating at an alarming rate.
i just listen to the tune of the sweet v-twin these days :cool:
carternd
11-02-10, 10:28 PM
No, no MP3 player! I think I would be distracted. It's difficult enough concentrating fully on the road without thinking about pointless carp, let alone singing along inside the lid. Once tried to sing Johnny Cash songs to stop from falling asleep on the M6 though. And I can't listen to anything aggressive like Battery by Metallica or I will almost certainly die. I used earplugs once, good on a long bit of dual carriageway, but then I went through Bournemouth and was weirded out by not hearing what was going on.
No.
Too much wind noise to hear it clearly.
BanditPat
11-02-10, 11:08 PM
iPod for me full blas i got some headphones that fit perfectly and I just make a playlist so i donthave to worry about skipping a song etc
Milky Bar Kid
12-02-10, 12:29 AM
I tend to put my iPod on when on the bike. I make a playlist. I don't have the volume too loud, just loud enough for me to hear it. I found it helped me relax a fair bit on the bike. I was over analysisng myself all the time but now if I start doing that I stop myself and sing for a lil bit and I relax. I think the key is not to have it too loud so it doesnt distract you.
Never have never will, I like the sound of the engine tbh
I invested in a waterproof inline volume knob. It works great except I haven't found the right place for it yet. I find the earphone wires occasionally snag on stuff so I can't move my head - not the greatest of things to happen on a bike.
Most of the time I just find it too much hassle. There's all the palava getting the bike out, getting kitted up, and it's just another thing to remember and get in the right place. My phone has to go in the inside pocket to stay dry, so this needs to be in the right place and playing before I do up my jacket. Headphones obviously have to go on before the helmet, and I prefer them on the inside of my neck buff thingy. But I prefer the neck buff thingy on the inside of my jacket collar, so has to be there before my jacket is put on.... gah! I prefer an extra 5 mins in bed :smt101
Mp3 player on the mobile and I use the remote from an old nokia so I can turn it down and skip tracks as and when I want to .
Does the remote work in the rain? and can you work it ok with gloved hands?
metalhead19
12-02-10, 01:42 AM
I listen to music on a long ride, but generally not on a short ride tis not worth the effort of sorting it all out. The only problem i have is that my helmet presses my headphones into my ears n get bit painful after a while. The music keeps me focussed on the long Mway rides i find.
davepreston
12-02-10, 03:53 AM
i do and have 2 play lists
bimble and twisties
1st just chilled tunes that i know all the music and words too so i can play it at low volume and my brain fills in whats missing, so still road aware
2nd hard as ****, bouncing, right wrist twisting tunes just to make the expeceriance than little bit more satisfying ( also when i here a tune while im in the pub or wherever it reminds me of cracking days on the bike)
I have some custom made earplug, which I got done at the Birmingham bike show.
On the plus side they cut road noise right down, the audio quality from the Sony "drive unit" is good and niether too tinny nor too basee. They don't fall out like the normal Sony ones either.
On the negative side, they are akward to get it (I find it easiest to do this in front of mirror) and to get out. Although I suspect that this will get better the more I use them. The "drive unit" Sony part kept falling out too when putting them in and pulling them out, until I glued them in with superglue gel. So far so good.
Comfort wise, they are more noticable than I would expect and the plastic is harder than other "in ear" phones. Also the right one brushes my helmet inside which is currently a bit annoying.
Having tried alot of in-ear units, the only exception is the Bose ones (given the cost); these are definately number one, but at double (if not triple) the cost of basic Sony in-ear ones - value for money is definately three stars.
If you are thinking about these custom ones, try a cheap under a tenner in-ear ones and see how you get on. Personally, I find that I can hear just about as well as normal when I'm driving, although I can't hear converstions really once stopped (when getting petrol for example).
I normally plug in my ipod, unless the battery is flat, then the backup is to plug into my phone. My music collection is somewhat eclectic. Pop works better and classical, as the dynamic range is so much less.
My collegues at work, however, find it very disconcerting that everytime I arrive at work on my bike, I'm listening to Brittany Spear - they think this is so wrong on so many levels. I do have Motorhead in there somewhere, but I don't think my ipod likes hard rock as it never plays any on random shuffle
454697819
12-02-10, 08:09 AM
Yes, I use a mini Ipod in an h20 waterproof case with speakers in the helmet, fits around my wrist, controls are easy, volume is low, I use earplus which gets rif of wind noise but allows traffic and music through.. works great :-)
Too distracting and dangerous for me, Can always sing to myself if i want music, guaranteed to keep me awake.
Daryl.
Sir Trev
12-02-10, 08:34 AM
Back in the 80's when we all started buying tape Walkmans (stop sniggering you younger ones) I proudly wore my headphones about the town centre, probably humming along to Dire Straits or the Quo... Switching it off before I walked into a shop to ask for something. For whatever reason I did not turn it on again unti I was home and in the quiet of my bedroom. I could not believe how loud it had been, just to block out the noise in the town centre. No wonder my ears were hurting.
I'm much more aware of potential damage to my ears now and will avoid music or other noises that are too loud. My dear wife is getting hard of hearing and we have battles about how loud the TV should be. A volume good for her actually hurts my ears. Same with the radio/music in the car.
Folks - you only get one set of ears and when they're damaged that's permanent. Don't put that at risk by playing music loud enough to block out road/helmet noise as you're asking for trouble, and not just in old age!!
have been thinking that recently, im only 22 and i swear im going a bit deaf. my music is always too loud, and the raves dont help, sometimes i come home and i cant hear properly for a few days. just a constant ringing.
Owenski
12-02-10, 10:34 AM
Use to when on the Honda CBR 125 and had a cheap (not well fitting) lid. Found it drowned out the screaming from walkers and drivers lol
I don't listen to anything now as I find I need to concentrate on the stupidity of some drivers.
What have we told you about riding on the pavement!
For me longer rides and I will listen to it as I find it helps me focus, No music and i tend to get distracted and then corners sneak up on me :( nasty corners!
Used to use it daily on the commute but found that, the time I'd ride with no music I'd hear loads of new noises coming from the bike and find I'd been riding with low oil/**** chain for a while so decided to pay more attention to the bike on the commute.
Bike and wind noise is too loud anyway so its not a question of not been able to hear traffic noise even with the earphones in. Similarly with sirens the frequency of those will drown out an ipod any day unless you have it on ear bleedingly loud lol.
I wouldnt do it all if I didnt have some of the noise reducing in ear earphones though, even at speed the volume doesnt need to be too loud as they cut out almost all external noise. Its as good as wearing earplugs anyway so why not add a little tuneage :D
i only ever have it in one ear, and then ear plug in the other, cant havent it in both otherwise i cant hear anything. prob got it too loud
Gabriel2k
12-02-10, 12:21 PM
If I want to listen to music on the bike when riding I use my noise cancelling earphones, which act just like earplugs and protect your hearing, that way the music can be played very quietly.....that said I rarely actually listen to music whilst riding as its only worth putting it on for long journeys.
i only ever have it in one ear, and then ear plug in the other, cant havent it in both otherwise i cant hear anything. prob got it too loud
yeah this isn't advisable - you don't perceive the same volume level from one ear, so it's easy to damage your hearing by having it too loud.
speedplay
12-02-10, 02:15 PM
Does the remote work in the rain? and can you work it ok with gloved hands?
I don't know if my bike works in the rain..;)
Seriously though, I try not to ride in the wet but have been caught out a few times and the remote is fine.
I use an in ear headphone thats also great as an earplug so clarity is great.
As for using them with gloves, summer/sport gloves are fine but I think I would struggle with winter gloves.
Seriously though, I try not to ride in the wet but have been caught out a few times and the remote is fine.
So probably not suitable for a 50-odd mile motorway commute drenching?
speedplay
12-02-10, 02:26 PM
So probably not suitable for a 50-odd mile motorway commute drenching?
The last time I used it in serious rain was when I commuted on the sv last year.
I tucked it under the flap on my textiles and it seemed ok, the thing is, you never know just how wet its getting as you can't see it.
I'm guessing that they are pretty well sealed though.
Without testing it in my fishtank, I couldn't tell you!
Cheers. Think I'll go and sonically educate my fish :cool:
metalangel
12-02-10, 02:48 PM
Nope, don't think it's safe. I find I ride the revs higher just with my earplugs in (when I know I'm doing a long time at high speed) and having the music loud enough to be heard would either damage my hearing or damage my body when I crashed because I didn't hear someone coming.
plowsie
12-02-10, 02:49 PM
I used to use it all the time, if boredom set in, I used to turn into a nob, especially on the motorway. Music would keep me chilled.
philbut
12-02-10, 03:20 PM
As mentioned the L3nnys thread, I do listen to music on the bike. I do loads of really boring miles so need to relieve that boredom some how. I'd never listen to tunes whilst riding for pleasure - as I want to hear the bike and fully concentrate.
Some people can concentrate with music, other can't. I like to work with music in the background as it stops my mind from wondering (guess the Beatles track..)
I use Ultimate Ear in ear monitors and they act as ear plugs (~27dB attenuation) so I can actually have the music on very very quietly and still hear it, but not damage my hearing. I can also hear other vehicles at town speeds. my Arai is so loud at 50mph + that it makes no difference whether I have music or not, I can't hear the other traffic that well.
Essex of Essex
12-02-10, 05:43 PM
I listen to music via my Autocom, which has self adjusting volume :p
I find that it actually helps my concentration, particularly when on a long motorway run. For me, it is no different to listening to music in the car.
+1
Coupled with in ear monitors to allow a low volume:thumleft:
carternd
12-02-10, 09:19 PM
As mentioned the L3nnys thread, I do listen to music on the bike. I do loads of really boring miles so need to relieve that boredom some how. I'd never listen to tunes whilst riding for pleasure - as I want to hear the bike and fully concentrate.
Some people can concentrate with music, other can't. I like to work with music in the background as it stops my mind from wondering (guess the Beatles track..)
I use Ultimate Ear in ear monitors and they act as ear plugs (~27dB attenuation) so I can actually have the music on very very quietly and still hear it, but not damage my hearing. I can also hear other vehicles at town speeds. my Arai is so loud at 50mph + that it makes no difference whether I have music or not, I can't hear the other traffic that well.
Fixing a Hole
Are you trying to tell us something?!?:smt058
I listen to music via my Autocom, ...
Ditto :)
...I like to hear everything that is going on around me, and engine note for gear changing.
Funnily enough I can still hear everything thats going on about me, even cars sneaking up along side, with exception of speech :confused: I find that I don't hear half as much when the music is off but do hear speech :(
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