Listening to music whilst riding?

What do you think of listening to music whilst riding? Dangerous distraction or harmless?

i usually have one headphone in to keep me happy whilst riding, but then only one so i can hear whats going on around me

[Fallout]

It is a distraction, but it's horses for courses really. I think it's down to each individual to decide how much it distracts them and if it's worth the increased risk. I personally don't listen to music, but that's because most of my riding is leisure riding, and I don't need music to make it interesting.

no point as i couldnt hear it over the exhaust

Originally Posted by barwel1992

no point as i wouldn't want to hear it over the exhaust

Corrected for you. mmmmm twin akrapovics....

used to all the time, but after the drz got poorly I stopped so I could pay more attention to the engine noise.
I will do again soon enough though.

Not been riding enough to even consider doing this, I did put my earphones in to test the comfort but found that it hurt like hell taking my helmet off. I do wear earplugs though

my riding is leasure aswell and sometime commute to work, but yes i still like lestening to music, doesnt distract me

Just remembered that when we used to fly on the hercules they would tell people to take tve earphones out due to some horror story of them helping to split your head open in an accident. dunno how true that is.

Matt perhaps i should start listening to music to drown out my clunky clutch!

[Fluffer]

not sure whether or not i'm oversensitive with my hearing or my helmet (hjc is-16) is overly noisy but the wind noise for me at 50+ is deafening, headache inducing and generally horrid meaning i can't wear anything but earplugs. i recommend to everyone i ride with to stick some plugs in (i usually have loads of pairs stuffed in pockets all over the place and offer them up if i do) as with the Mrs being deaf it makes me realise how much i take my hearing for granted and how i want to keep it in good nick for as long as possible.

i've seen people on here attempt self mould earplugs with embedded headphones - going to try it myself to see if i can get a good balance as i often wish to have some entertainment on long motorway drones. Theres always bluetooth helmets - that way you can have plugs to stop the white noise hearing damage but have atomic kitten's latest hits going on quietly in the background too