Do you listen to music on your bike ?

[barwel1992]

Well im going daan safff tomorrow for the weekend, the GF and rents are going in the car im going on the bike, i have been toying with the idea of using my ipod on the way down but not so sure i like the idea of not been able to hear whats going on around me, i have used ear plugs and decided i dont like them but if im going to be 2hours on the Mway then im going to have to put up with them.


so the question is who uses a mp3/4 player of some kind to listen to music on there bike? one ear phone or both ?

EDIT first time using a poll so might not work :D

[simesb]

Where's the keithd option?

Only use earphones when commuting, or just about, through town. Earplugs if I will be at speed anywhere (like this afternoon in the sun!). Helmets are just too damn noisy otherwise and the player needs to be turned up too loud.

[plowsie]

i have been toying with the idea of using my ipod on the way down but not so sure i like the idea of not been able to hear whats going on around me
So don't?

[dizzyblonde]

I know people who do, but I find listening to music exceedingly distracting. Although perhaps a boredom tamer for some, I find music irritating. I prefer to wear ear plugs, as both bikes are very loud, and helmet noise too, they dull them down enough, but I can still hear other things going on too.

Besides how do you know if you are holding up an emergency vehicle if you have your MP3 up full blast?

[darkdreamsgal]

Used to, until I came off last year. The off wasn't at all related to my hearing, but it did shatter my confidence a it to ride without full concentration on the road.

[barwel1992]

ooops i dont know how to change the poll lol (dont think i can any way) so will remember the Keithd option next time

[barwel1992]

So don't?

i need to try it first, was wondering what other people views were

[chasey]

I tried wearing ear plugs when I was going out for a ride. Popped round to a mates first and found they made me ride alot quicker (only lives 3miles or so..). Took them out when I got there and proceeded without ear plugs.

I have used my ipod on many occasion when commuting. It doesn't have to be full blast and that is with both earphones in.

Choose carefully what you put om your playlist though!

[ricky]

on long trips ill use the ipod, but i find getting the ear bits in and being happy where they are takes time and effort to just pop down the road lol

[Foey]

Personally i don't & probably never would, i feel there are enough people out there trying to get me as it is so don't want any distractions, i can understand why people do though as it can become tedious on a long run.

[phi-dan]

I prefer listening to the music of my bike.

Other than that, earplugs to keep down the wind noise, but I'd rather hear what was going on around me.

[Stewbie]

I have done quite a few times, mainly like you say, on motorway trips. Normally I'll wear earplugs if I'm going anywhere quickly or longer journeys, but for killing boredom on the motorway iPods rock. The volume doesn't have to be too high, but you can keep it at a level where it's like wearing earplugs, so you still hear the road too.

Like Ricky said though, getting the headphones in comfortably can be hard!

[kellyjo]

Have recently started listening to music on more boring trips out. It seems to make me ride better!! I find i am more focused on my riding, the only other distraction being the music. Normally my minds all over the place, thinking about house, kids etc.. and thats not a good thing!
Also i maintain higher revs cos im not listening to the engine and thats definitely improved my riding.

This probably makes me sound a right numpty, oh well :p

[metalangel]

Nope. I do sing to myself sometimes, though.

[darkdreamsgal]

Nope. I do sing to myself sometimes, though.
Helmet karaoke is awesome! :D

[Mogs]

I've tried it but I find it too much of a distraction and worse it seems to control me speed.

[Sally]

I do, even on my 40 mile commute home!
If I am out hooning, sometimes I will, sometimes I won't.
I quite like it...

As said before, choose carfully what you listen to...

Rage, Metallica, fast upstep music too, it all makes you into a hooligan ;)

[BBadger]

Helmet karaoke is awesome! :D

Especially when you stop at lights and people give you the strangest looks as your singing something like walking on sunshine:cool:

I say give it a go on a short trip and see what you think.
If it takes away from your riding then ditch the idea and stick with earplugs.
Like you said only a few hours so it isnt the end of the world.

[thedonal]

Nope. I do sing to myself sometimes, though.

Yeah- wouldn't like the distraction of music on the bike. Doesn't seem very safe.

Plus the exhaust and wind around the lid wouldn't aid the enjoyment of music much.

I've been known to crank a few verses out behind my visor if the mood takes me.

[Stig]

Yup. Depends on what I am doing. Normally listen to music if commuting. If out and about with friends then no. If I have a pillion I normally have the intercom on. If it's a long haul trip then again will probably have the music on. The intercom is voice activated so if I or my pillion want to talk the music is automatically cut by half volume anyway.

[Bri w]

Never on the bike.

Always in the car... it drowns the sound of the wife's drone.;)

[Nobbylad]

I use my iPod quite a lot, the earphones I use are the in-ear type and have an external volume control so I can turn the music down if I need to speak to someone (petrol station cashiers/other bikers), but generally I can hear other bikes and emergency vehicles even with the music on. You have to be careful you don't put some banging tracks on that make you ride like a loon tho!

[fenjer]

Only ever when I'm pillion, never when I'm pilot.

[Specialone]

What about ipod one ear, earplug the other.
BTW i wouldnt ride more than 10 mins without earlpugs in, hearing damage can happen suprisingly quick at speed.
I seen a chart the other day showing recommended maximum exposure at certain speeds and they were not very long at all.

[RichT]

Use earphones almost all the time on my commute. I have the volume about halfway up which allows me to here emergency vehicles etc.

On the mway, set it a little higher.

[darkdreamsgal]

Especially when you stop at lights and people give you the strangest looks as your singing something like walking on sunshine:cool:

Damn - have now got that bloody tune in my head :-P

[PsychoCannon]

I tried ear plugs and HATED them, totally cut me off from the world.
Ear phones+music however reduce wind noise but still let me hear the world around me, not so bad.

[TazDaz]

Only on long motorway journeys.

[ThEGr33k]

With a 60* V twin you dont need any music player, the engine is music to my ears... :p But seriously no, I dont miss music at all when im riding.

[barwel1992]

interesting views on the idea,

but looks like its out of the question for me, cant get the bloody things to sit in my ears properly, could be down the my helmet been quite tight, i will most likley where plugs in stead tomorrow but will look at getting some smaller headphones so i can try it out in the future

[carternd]

No, I have yet to get an MP3 player!

I often have a song in my head, something funky is good. Once had Battery by Metallica as an earworm, had to pull over, I was beyond the pale!

I remember singing full-pelt on the M6 to stop myself falling asleep on the bike. So tired I could only remember the words to Fulsom Prison Blues so sung it 6 or 7 times before I rolled up at the services. F***ing stupid, getting that worn out.

[barwel1992]

well i will see if the sound of nothing for a 100miles motor way bores me to death, if it gets unbearable with the ear plugs in then they are coming out asap lol, traffic and wind noise is better than nothing

[Iansv II]

I use an mp3 player for long motorway journey's but never if i'm out for a bimble/commuting etc... its to keep my brain awake on boring trips essentially

[steveg]

Sometimes I listen to music , have to be carefull what type of music it is as tends to affect my riding :)

[ChrisSV]

I cant do i while im riding, it makes me ride like a loon as I'm a big fan of thrash and fast music. I just sing and talk to meself :)
i do in the car though, when I'm not being told of for putting me foot down to try an generate a sense of speed xD
I recently did a 100 miles MW stint, and TBH i wern't that bad, kept meself amused by not really knowing where i was going :)

[BanditPat]

I do quite a lot, inner ear headphones so they fit perfectly can still hear everything around me but i get the enjoyment, i just make a playlist before i set off so im not listening to ****e. easy to pull out and shove in my jacket if i get tired of it as well

[-Ralph-]

Long journeys only, usually only if riding solo. Use in ear earphones and they are just as good as earplugs once inserted properly and the volume doesn't need to be up loud unless your planning on hitting three figure speeds on the motorway.

The rubber in ear phones, don't allow your ears to breathe like a foam ear plug though, so sometimes I suffer with a very itchy ear for 24 hours afterwards.

[Jayneflakes]

We use an intercom when it is both of us out and I have been known to use my MP3 player for every ride on the mountain bike, even off road!

Not sure I would dare when I get the SV out on the streets, too much power and way too much happening at speed for my feeble mind to take in! :D

[Quedos]

Music through the autocom normally. I can switch it off mentally where as the wind noise etc drives me insane.
Its only through one ear but cuts out when the mic is switched on.
Saying that this morning I was plugged straight intot he player and its quiet - I can tell you the first two songs and that's it - its almost as if i don't really listen to it

[lily]

I listen to music when pillion, couldn't listen when riding.

It more for the roads that I know and maybe find boring. We are doing 2 hours on the motorway tonight, therefore I put my DAB radio in my pocket this morning to make the journey bearable. Drew will also have his sat nav pluged in and listening to that, so its not like i can talk to him.

Drew doesn't like me listens if I need to pay attention as I tend to switch off!

So if anybody sees a female on the back of a daytona 955i tonight singing away going south on the M5 it's me! :-S

[barwel1992]

im also going south on the m5 tonight lol from junc 9 to 23

so if you see a silver pointy with a fat (ish) bloke on board falling asleep thats me :lol:

[carternd]

well i will see if the sound of nothing for a 100miles motor way bores me to death, if it gets unbearable with the ear plugs in then they are coming out asap lol, traffic and wind noise is better than nothing

It will. Is there not a better route?:smt017

[Girth]

Why not just ****ing try?

[Fruity-ya-ya]

Find myself singing my ass off when I don't listen to anything (car or bike) but only ever wear one bud (x2 plugs for anything longer than a commute) :tiesto:.

[warrenhewitt10]

i listen to music on a large journey on the Chituma CTM125-C :D but not on the sv lol

[mjc]

stuff the ipod i sing to myself, sounds much better :cyclops:

nah best antidote to boredom is to take a road atlas and stay of the motorway. but dont expect to arrive on time ;)

[TheOnlyNemesis]

I have a scal Q2 set up in my helmet, if i not chatting to my cousin when we ride together, it is playing music. Never lost concentration from it, i just find it a more pleasant background noise. They key is to have it there but not focus on it.

Edit: and like MJC, if i stuck at traffic lights after filtering, i find myself singing and sometimes a lil too loud as the woman in thecar next to me the other day was ****ing herself witth laughter as i howled johnny cash in my helmet.