Music While Riding?

This is somethin' I hear a lot of opinions on. Personally, I listen to music when I know I'm in for a long haul (which in my mind is anything longer than approx. a half hour), and I use "Skullcandies" cuz they fit inside my ear and don't interfere with my helmet fit in any way. But I'm curious what other riders do. I've seen guys with Chatterboxes, guys with earbuds like me, and some custom-type folks with stereos wired into the bike. Do you listen to music while riding, and if so what's your method of choice? Light 'em up!


(F.Y.I., apparently the law is, you can listen to music while riding if you only have one earbud in. I was pulled over with one bud in, and didn't get a citation or anything)

 

I'll have to check into local CDN laws regarding the matter of 2 vs. 1 ear (anyone? anyone?) but my wife and I have the Scala Q2 system so we can chat here-and-there while riding our separate bikes (above 50 mph...very little chat is understood, mostly concentration and we've never used the built-in FM radio, Bluetooth cell or GPS option...it's mostly so I can keep tabs on her - she's an inexperienced rider sol I'll often see potential hazards well before she would and can warn her about them to avoid incident).

We each have two speakers but I plan to do the "ear-bud" mod to the existing velcro'd Scala speakers which kind of suck because they sounds shitty to begin with and we'd both prefer to ride with earplugs - so we might be able to kill two birds with one stone.

 

I either listen to my Scala Rider FM radio, or to my satellite radio (both wireless). Sometimes music, sometimes talk radio. But I mostly like riding in silence with just the sound of the motor and the wind.

 

Mind tricks

I have tried in the past to listen to music but when a car or truck creeps up on me it tends to scare the shit out of me if I don't hear them coming.Just me, see others do it all the time and almost wish I could.

 

I think I'd probably be the same way, Frankly (can I call you Frankly?)

 

No mirrors? Neck vertebra frozen? Pay attention, man, or you're going to end up a hell of a lot worse off than just scared! You know, like dead! (J/K)

 

I ride with a group that all use the J&M set up. Installed the J&M on my '08 VFR with the Garmin Zumo that plays MP3s. I get MP3s in stereo through the high end speakers. Sounds great and the volume is easilly controlled on the J&M unit with the left hand. I bought the dual rider set and wired my wife's helmet too. So we have intercom, CB with a pretty long range compared to the FRS frequencies. Very useful when we have over a dozen bikes streached out over a mile.

I may get the XM antenna...one day.

 

I travel a lot on the bike. Mainly from Lafayette, La to Houston (3 1/2-4 hours) and sometimes my range is all the way to New Orleans (7 hours from Houston). I do listen to music on these long hauls. I have a bluetooth Chatter box. My cell phone is a music/GPS style and have used it for both. I answered my phone once just to see how talking/listening went. It went very well at 70 mph. I dont answer the phone anymore because if its that important I'd rather pull off and have the conversation. On spirited rides (Deals Gap, N. Baton Rouge) I dont listen to music and pay attention to the twisties:thumbsup:. So the short answer to the long answer is yes I do. Rock music from 70s to current.

 

tunes/earbuds on long highway hauls...
otherwise, none.

 

No

No, call me Susan.:crazy:

 

I have tired to listen but I find I would rather not listen. I do from time to time take out my iPOD but mostly I just go without.

Personal preference.

 

Anything over 30 minutes and the IPOD and Shure Headphones are coming with me. I also frequently wear headphones at home to drain out my wifes nagging voice :biggrin:

Regards,
Rollin

 

I should call you whatever the hell I want after making fun of my fabulous chrome seat cowl idea, lol (still in the back of my mind).

 

At first I was against the idea, but after a few seasons using the iPod stapped to my right wrist and earbuds (good ones took a while to find) I realize it seriously cuts fatigue on longer (250+ mile days).

I love all kinds of music, but find I can't listen to much more than acid jazz, lounge, classic jazz, lots of instrumental stuff. I'd be tempted to play Metallica, King Diamond, Slayer, and the like, but the chill / weird stuff keeps me alert and in check pretty well. And the volume is always just enough to hear it and no more.

 

I'm with a lot of the others here, not sure I'd like it or want to, but on those longer rides, not a bad idea. I'm looking into some radios/intercom type deal, and may include the cell/iPod as well, we'll have to see.

I've had my mind wonder on longer rides though (hwy), and don't know if music would help or hurt that. I ALWAYS listen to music when driving my cage, that's what I bought the iPod for, so don't know.

 

Yeah, I find music actually helps me focus (personally). I use the Skullcandies cuz they have the bonus of shutting out a bit of wind noise.

Oh, and for the music fans, I'm a rocker Disturbed, korn, Linkin Park, a lot of Indy bands... Anything with good drums and guitar riffs, cuz they help me get in the groove.

 

I always have music, but I don't like ear buds.
my mod was to mount everything on my helmet
clink on link below for details.
I can still hear traffic and just have to reach back to hit pause if I need it off.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/anything-goes/21875-mp3-player-helmet.html

 

"Shirley" you can't be serious?

As far as music - I've never tried. I like hearing the sound of my bike; not only do I enjoy it, but I use it as a gauge on when to switch gears. There must be some proverb about becoming "one with the bike".

I've always relied on hearing my engines, whether it was cars, boats or bikes. The more time I can spend with my eyes on the road (or track, or lake) the more confident I feel.

But that being said, I've recently been giving listening to music consideration for some of those longer rides. If I do, my choices would be rock (from Zeppelin to Metallica, Pink Floyd to Nickleback).

 

I tried it one time, but I felt I lost my senses I need to survive in the traffic.
And at the same time you loose the raw music from my Yoshi.
I´m also using earplugs now to protect my hearing.

 

+1 +1 +1 +1
my bike is named "melissa". Didnt think I would meet another king diamond fan on here :thumbsup: