Headphones

This might sound like a daft question, but I'm a nooby so please forgive me. I listen to the engine revs and it tells me when to change up a gear. Can you still hear the engine with earphones in? If not, how do you know when to gear up? Look at the rev limiter?

[DJ123]

you should know it by feel of the bike and how far you ahve the throttle twisted round. You should be checking the dash regular anyway, only need to glance it it for a speed check
All depends on how loud your bike/music is as to if you can hear it or not

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I also find if you wet them slightly (lick them) they seat better

How did you come across that gem of info I wonder


Imnosuperman, I didn't listen to music until I was comfortable with riding the bike and it was all becoming second nature. Then one day i plonked in the ol' earphones on a very boring motorway ride and the difference was massive, especially when I got back on the twisties, it was so much fun! And the beauty is you can still hear your bike, its a bit of a tradeoff between how much you like to make your ears bleed. I just found when I slowed down to 30mph or traffic lights I could jig along merrily to music as I could hear it more clearly. YC and I have Sennheiser in ear headphones, they're the only ones I've found I can use on account of me having ickle ears.

+1 for Sennheiser

Imnosuperman, you'll soon be able to feel when you need to change gear rather than hear or see where the revs are, just keep clocking up the miles. I find I ride better with some background music. On a long journey with no music I find my mind wandering all over the place thinking about the kids, house, money, whatever. But somehow having music on stops that and seems to focus my thoughts onto the ride and nothing else.

Errrrrrgggggh. Sennheiser were awfully uncomfortable for me and they broke within two weeks!

Asda have some excellent ones at the moment, called paq something, they're tiny and go right in your ear so they dont rub the helmet or wiggle out. They keep out lots of noise too, almost as much as ear plugs so you don't need them loud. Sound quality is good too, were only a tenner.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by ImNoSuperman

This might sound like a daft question, but I'm a nooby so please forgive me. I listen to the engine revs and it tells me when to change up a gear. Can you still hear the engine with earphones in? If not, how do you know when to gear up? Look at the rev limiter?

If you have the music up so loud that you cant hear your engine then its too loud.

I can generally have my headphones in and STILL have a conversation with another rider while sat at traffic lights, both engines running, waiting for them to change.

Any louder and you can't hear Ambulances so you can get out the way.

The music should be background only, not full blast.

That way you are not overly compromising (if at all) your awareness.

They should not compromise hearing more than a pair of earplugs would.

Originally Posted by arenalife

Asda have some excellent ones at the moment, called paq something, they're tiny and go right in your ear so they dont rub the helmet or wiggle out. They keep out lots of noise too, almost as much as ear plugs so you don't need them loud. Sound quality is good too, were only a tenner.

Might have to check them out - as said I usually go for cheapest available.

OP if you havnt already sorted yourself out then I can 100% reccomend these.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...+EARPHONES.htm

The small stems prevent your lid from pulling them out of your ears, the comfy silcone ear grips come in various sizes. I genuinely quite often sit with them in for about 9hrs a day, on the commute and then at my desk.
They're brilliant for blocking out the office drivvle they're like earplugs they're that comfy honestly cannot praise these enough.

imnosuperman:
Ride often enough and you'll soon know what the bikes doing just by the tingle through your nuts, throttle position and response. Instruments only get referenced too when you're approaching a speed trap so you know how much to slow down by