Earphones, earbuds, wind noise etc

[scot in exile]

Yeah, and who wants to listen to music *in a car*, it makes no sense. Why do they even install sound systems when nobody wants to use them?

Seriously though, I want to listen to music on the bike because there are parts of it that aren't all that engrossing. By the time you hit hour 5 or 6 of droning along on the straight superslab on the way to wherever your're going, the allure of listening to engine drone has long since faded. I'd rather listen to some good tunes and stay alert.

I understand some people have a very poor attention span and if music helps them to keep focused on the road and surroundings and hear all that is going on around them then all the best to them

 

[Bedifferent]

If your looking for music, Bluetooth is the only way to go. I'm going to get a set of these because the the controller goes around your neck allowing you to change volume and switch tracks. Most of the others would be up in your helmet where you can't reach them. It is dangerous enough touching the device on your neck....you certainly wouldn't want to be messing with your phone while riding. That would be a no, no! I have a set of Motorola Bluetooth earbuds, but the controls would be under my helmet and unusable.

I'm not suggesting this is a good idea.....for example...you getting distracted making changes to your music while riding your bike, so don't even go there. Just saying.

http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phone-accessories/lg-HBS750

 

[1olbull]

Here's what I listen to. Never get tired of that song !

I prefer the black version . . .

 

[vanguard138]

I like listening to some tunes on a long trip.

 

[1olbull]

Whatever blows yer skirt up!
I gave it a try on one trip 20 years ago and found it fun, but distracting when I found myself riding twisties to the tempo of the tune.

 

[Joesmoe]

This may be neither here nor there . . .

Between riding and shooting and being around jet airplanes (you know, the sound of freedom) for many years, I keep looking for something better -- per the OP. I finally decided to go for custom ear plugs, and wouldn't you know (as Rosanne Rosanna Danna used to say on SNL), "It's always somethin'"

So I went to the audiologist, and she put the goop in my ears, and four weeks later I returned to pick up the new ear plugs, just pleased as punch -- now I was in the club.

First couple of times I rode . . . at first -- noise attentuation was good, but **** . . . my ears hurt.

"How could that be ?" I asked myself.

Turns out, I'm one of those big-ears guys (kids at school used to flick them when we were standing outside in the winter waiting for the doors to open -- and numb with cold didn't feel anything -- but the pain I still remember from once inside and they came to room temperature). I never noticed before, when I put on the helmet, it forces my ears back against my head, and that put pressure against the ear plugs. A guy at work suggested, "Now you need two sets. You need to go back to her and make another set with your ears held back."

It's always somethin'

So they're a big improvement for shooting. I'm still looking for under the helmet.

 

[vanguard138]

Maybe a bluetooth helmet like the HJC ISMax where the ear holes are larger?

 

[1olbull]

This may be neither here nor there . . .

Between riding and shooting and being around jet airplanes (you know, the sound of freedom) for many years, I keep looking for something better -- per the OP. I finally decided to go for custom ear plugs, and wouldn't you know (as Rosanne Rosanna Danna used to say on SNL), "It's always somethin'"

So I went to the audiologist, and she put the goop in my ears, and four weeks later I returned to pick up the new ear plugs, just pleased as punch -- now I was in the club.

First couple of times I rode . . . at first -- noise attentuation was good, but **** . . . my ears hurt.

"How could that be ?" I asked myself.

Turns out, I'm one of those big-ears guys (kids at school used to flick them when we were standing outside in the winter waiting for the doors to open -- and numb with cold didn't feel anything -- but the pain I still remember from once inside and they came to room temperature). I never noticed before, when I put on the helmet, it forces my ears back against my head, and that put pressure against the ear plugs. A guy at work suggested, "Now you need two sets. You need to go back to her and make another set with your ears held back."

It's always somethin'

So they're a big improvement for shooting. I'm still looking for under the helmet.

These custom ear plugs can be made to filter out specific db levels. My kids are professional musicians and use this type of protection so they can hear what is necessary and limit what sound is hurtful. Don't think I'd want to be totally deaf.

 

[Bedifferent]

I prefer the black version . . .

I'm with you 1olbull. I'm really a motor kind of guy myself. I seldom listen to music in my truck and I've yet to bother with anything when riding on my bike. I love the engine sound....it's the best way to keep in tune with your bike...."You must be one with your bike grasshopper". Besides, I often say with music playing....I can't hear where I'm going!

 

[Pc8975]

Hi,
I hope my advice is of use to you. About a year ago I bought a Shure C3 Pro helmet and then an Interphone F5XT intercom system along with a friend. I used to use in-ear plugs to completely stop the noise and, even with the C3 which is claimed to be the quietest flip front you can buy, there was still noise. When I put my i-Phone on the bars I obviously needed to be able to hear this along with the intercom. The speakers with the F5XT which fit in the recess in the helmet were not loud enough with the in-ears. No buds and the wind noise was too great. I tried a couple of pairs of in-ear Bluetooth speaker buds but putting on the helmet kept dislodging them. I then bought a pair of Alpine MotoSafe earplugs. These come with the outer rubber part with a choice of 2 inners. A yellow complete high protection and a green medium. The inners have a minute hole through to let sound in but keep most wind noise out. The yellow are about 80%, the green 60%. They are very good and I like them. Because I virtually always have the phone with me when riding, I rarely use the yellow inners. The only problem with them is that the whole plug is quite short and a couple of times I had to ask friends to extract. Got over this with the cord connections Alpine sell, about £5, which clip on the stem and you hang the cord around your neck. Pull gentle and it extracts the buds with ease.
The ear buds are around £20 and I feel excellent value. You even get a spare rubber outer, a small zipped case and an extractor tool. I recommend. hope this helps. In an ideal world, Bluetooth ear buds would be great, protect and give good sound but I just cannot find any that are not affected when pulling on your helmet.
Regards, Martin