Posted: 9/4/2009 6:42:34 PM EDT
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I'm starting to get the feeling that some bikers like to wear earphones and listen to music while riding. I don't know, man. When I ride, I like to be alone with my thoughts (and V2 thunder  )––the solitude is one of the main things that attracts me to motorcycling. It seems like listening to music––even Black Sabbath––would distract me from hazards like dizzy cell phone talking, Escalade driving dingbats.Is it common? |
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I have done it a few times but stopped for two big reasons. (1) The earbuds make it very hard to hear whats going on around you, like say a blaring horn and screeching tires. (2) I found myself listening to Pantera or disturbed, then realizing I'm going 120 in afternoon traffic.
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Quoted:
I'm starting to get the feeling that some bikers like to wear earphones and listen to music while riding. I don't know, man. When I ride, I like to be alone with my thoughts (and V2 thunder )––the solitude is one of the main things that attracts me to motorcycling. It seems like listening to music––even Black Sabbath––would distract me from hazards like dizzy cell phone talking, Escalade driving dingbats.
Is it common? It is illegal to ride with any kind of hearing impairment in Pennsylvania, whether it be foamy noise blocking buds, or iPod/music player earbuds. That said, I tried it once, just to see if it helped with the new longer 45 minute commute I got stuck with when I moved further away to a nicer neighborhood. Verdict: Yes, helps pass the time. BUT, I lost a lot of the sensation of riding; hearing the motor as my CBR winded up and down as I carved corners did not really feel the same. I ended up turning the volume down on the way home that evening, to 'balance' the music and the motor. At that point, though, the music became less of an entertainment, and more just background noise; it became sort of pointless to have it. I never rode with a music player again. YMMV. Only way for you to know is for you to try it. But I strongly recommend you only do it on empty roads where slight distractions or inability to hear other vehicles will not matter. E. |
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I listen to the radio all the time when riding, its no problem, keep the volume low and you can still hear the important stuff, I can hear the tires on the pavement of a car coming up beside me with no problem. Try riding 600 miles a day without listening to the radio! I've got right around 300,000 miles on bikes, after a while you get tired of singing to yourself on those long hauls! |
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Without hearing protection, you are damaging your hearing, even with a full face helmet. I wear erytomic (sp) earbuds that act as earplugs with speakers in them when riding on the street, or just ear plugs when riding on the track. If you ride for a while without earplugs, you won't be hearing those sirens anyway. Plus, I need some back ground music to take my mind away when I'm riding, otherwise I get bored out of my mind very easily and will end up crashing by not paying attention. When I am riding well, I am usually a million miles away in my head...  This is a 7:30am run before fully awake after meeting some old Florida buddies for their ride up to these parts for a short weekend. |
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I know its not a motorbike.....but I got back about 30 minutes ago from a 20mile nighttime bicycle ride.
I wore earbuds and listened to tool on my cdplayer.(old school me...I keep the cd player in my camelback) Coming up to a blind intersection I can hear tire roar of cars way before i can see them. I have a rearview mirror for rear threats. I usually listen to slow music during the days when its hot so I ride slower and put on some faster stuff at night when its cool out. I find that even with my music on and my head nodding to the beat....Im more alert and on top of it than any driver I come across. |
| Tried it once. I found it very distracting, which was weird for me, since I have music going almost constantly. I really felt disconnected from the bike.I never did it again, but I always ride with ear plugs in. It blocks out the wind noise and lets me here other sounds better. |
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Quoted:
I'm starting to get the feeling that some bikers like to wear earphones and listen to music while riding. I don't know, man. When I ride, I like to be alone with my thoughts (and V2 thunder )––the solitude is one of the main things that attracts me to motorcycling. It seems like listening to music––even Black Sabbath––would distract me from hazards like dizzy cell phone talking, Escalade driving dingbats.
Is it common? I have an Oneal fastrack element helmet with the bluetooth built in and yes it is connected to both the phone and the ipod all o fthe time. But I do keep it down so that is just background for me. I also tend to keep the music mellow as well. I ride a hayabusa and i dont need to be going 100+ MPH!
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In CA you have to have one ear open, even inside a helmet. Now if you had some small speakers, inside the helmet, that weren't actually "covering" the ears would be legal. My part-time tennant rides and has his his blue tooth cell connected to his helmet, with a speaker and mic. |
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Quoted: In CA you have to have one ear open, even inside a helmet. Now if you had some small speakers, inside the helmet, that weren't actually "covering" the ears would be legal. My part-time tennant rides and has his his blue tooth cell connected to his helmet, with a speaker and mic. They actually make adhesive speakers to plant in your helmet for just these purposes. |
Well, maybe not 120....