Head phones/ Ipod = No No?

Exar Khun

Forgive me if this is a retarded question but I was just wondering. Do any of you guys use headphones and ipods when your out and about. Now I'm not talking about flying round town and built up areas oblivious to whats going on round you but say on longer journeys on the open road? Or is that just a really stupid idea?

Dr4gul4

It's not really a retarded question, using any earphones when driving is retarded however.

It's hard enough to get around town as is, i could nvr imagine not being able to hear the traffic / other bikers around me. it's one of you're main senses after all

KTRIC

I've used them in the past and then realised how stupid it was.

I know Sutty uses them when he drives long distances on the motorway, probably not as bad as using them around town.

Steffano2002

Never used earphones on a bike and probably never will... I'd feel "handicapped" (excuse my choice of word) if I could no longer hear what goes on around me.

Owen

I use equinox speakers built in to my lid, and I run the iPod & SatNav into it. Because they're speakers, I can listen to the outside world too, and the music/nav instructions are just background noise.

art

I've tossed this question around too and again, this weekend I'm driving to Mayo and started thinking about using the iPod through a speaker in the lid. But it kind of scares me - think there's too much chance I'll start listening too closely to the music and not paying attention to the road environment. So I'm not going to take that risk.

Oryx

So what about earplugs? They are recommended because of the wind noise in even the quietest helmets.

Exar Khun

KtK wrote:

So what about earplugs? They are recommended because of the wind noise in even the quietest helmets.

Thanks for bringing that up, I was wondering about earplugs versus headphones out when at high speeds. Anyone have an insight into this? I havnt used either yet but would like some indication of what to expect. Remember I'm talking about long journeys here.

talkingclock

KtK wrote:

So what about earplugs? They are recommended because of the wind noise in even the quietest helmets.

The first thing that came to my mind. Why should i not use a mp3 player when you can use earplugs (which make me deaf as well)?

Exar Khun

Maybe the music is more distracting? I find certain music helps me to focus on certain tasks. However 'The Jam' are not conducive to studying :P I have my final degree exam in an hour

galwaytt

I use iPod through my autocom system, into my helmet. I also wear hear plugs......btw, earplugs don't make you deaf...........they may prevent you going deaf, is more like.........

For clarity, ear plugs are to prevent noise, I'm not talking about ear buds, or ear pieces (for music/radio/etc)

The particular freqeuncies that earplugs cancel out allow better hearing, cause less stress (if you've ever got a headache on the bike, you'll know what I'm talking about.....), and make the journey much easier.

Whilst it is more than in a car, on-board music need be no less manageable than the radio in your car.

Oh, and I'm putting the two-way on next...........

Steffano2002

Earplugs all the way for me when I go on long trips!

I once did Dublin - Galway without earplugs and my ears were buzzing for an hour after I got off the bike! I ran to a pharmacy to buy some for the way back!

enda1

I don't bike so I'm not sure if this is the same while biking but wearing earplugs in a loud environment such as at a concert makes it easier to hear someone who's talking to you. So maybe the earplugs drown out more of the unwanted noise and make it easier to hear what is important?

Luckycharm

Long long time ago when I cyclyed to school/college I remember everyone used to listen to their walkmans on the cycle. I take it that does not happen anymore then :rolleyes:

Steffano2002

enda1 wrote:

I don't bike so I'm not sure if this is the same while biking but wearing earplugs in a loud environment such as at a concert makes it easier to hear someone who's talking to you. So maybe the earplugs drown out more of the unwanted noise and make it easier to hear what is important?

I fully agree with this!

I would feel handicapped listening to music while on my bike. I would say its a no-no.

saobh_ie

i only use them on motorways. player is in the top of the tank bag and the speakers are rattling around inside the lid, not in my ears.

then all i have to do is thump my tankbag or tug on the cable and music stops, full hearing gets restored.

saddle tramp

I've got to admit I do listen to music when out on the bike. Usually a one earpiece thingy plugged into the phone I normally set it about half volume I almost have full hearing and have never had any problems hearing everything going on around me!

It's a little bit strange at first you can only barely hear the music and you'd think to your self this is not worth while.... but after a little while you seem to be able to program yourself to be able to hear the music quite loud when you want to lol...

of course without changing the volume setting that is...

Now listening to music at full tilt inside your helmet when in town, motorway or anywhere else there is no way id do it.

agent_smith

I use wax ear plugs when out on the bike. It does drown out some external sound.. but its mainly to protect my hearing since the wind roar at 80+ kph is rediculous.
As for using headphones ... I would never use them. Not only do they drown out external sound... they are a distraction and the volume you would have to put them to, to hear them and drown out wind roar, would damage your hearing. Never mind the fact that scientists reckon it takes 10 times the concentration to drive a motorcycle properly compared to a car. I advise people to wear ear plugs... not ear phones.
agent_smith

Krusty_Clown

Long trips, I wear ear-plugs.. I wouldn't be able to hear music on my bike anyway, once I hit around 80kms/hr. I do have an autocom, but never got the speakers fitted in a manner that they were comfortable while wearing the helmet..

Instead I've memorized the lyrics to over 20GB of songs, which I randomly select from memory.. Go on, test me.. My news bulletins and weather forecasts can be a little erratic though...

sutty

I integrated a set of motorola bluetooth speakers into my RX7. All my Music plays from my phone then. With the RX7, all you hear is wind noise over 40mph. So its nice to have something else. I also drive loud bikes. So hearing traffic around me is not an option unless it has a siren. That said, I have not heard them before with out the music. I find on long distance journeys it keeps my mind refreshed and active. Its a case of each to their own.


I have also been stopped by the police and they tried to say something about it. But cant. There is no law. If they did that, then they would have to ban any radio going over a level 1/3 of its max in a car. Not gonna happen.

Bernard Hopkins

i drive into and out of dublin city centre every day ,...and always use my mp3 player with ear-phones,...no problem ,
just dont have it up so high that makes it impossible tohear the outside world.

best wishes,
B-hop xx

faceman

galwaytt wrote:

I use iPod through my autocom system, into my helmet..

i do the same altho i dont use it around dublin city.

Laserface

i use earphones and ipod always.
not if i'm only nipping to the shop and back...but otherwise always

i know i shouldn't be doing it...but **** it..it's dangerous enough on an old rothar as it is...music only makes it a teenchy bit more dangerous
Rock n'roll
etc

But I have to admit..I mainly listen to Ambient stuff..like brian eno, j.michel jarre and sigur ros type stuff.

be careful about gardaí checkpoints while playing music though. You may have to lipread them and pray they aren't asking you anything important

rymus

havent used headphones since getting a tourer.. I find it less irritating to listen to music/radio with the bikes speakers. (although it probably annoys the hell out of people I pass by)

MrPudding

rymus wrote:

havent used headphones since getting a tourer.. I find it less irritating to listen to music/radio with the bikes speakers. (although it probably annoys the hell out of people I pass by)

I have earplugs with built in speakers. Use them with an autocom system.

MrP