Bikes & music

[Fallingwater]

So, tomorrow I'm going to get my new baby:

Now, I'm a bike newbie (only having driven a 50cc scooter before), so I can assure you I'm planning to do a lot of training before I even consider doing any sort of medium-to-long distance trip.

Once I eventually do, though... well, it's interesting to drive a bike on hills and in the city, but it's less interesting to do so on the highway, and some music would be good.

What do you all (well, all of you who ride a bike, anyway) use?
I'm thinking about my OVC T25, because they are better than any earbuds but also don't insulate as much as my CX300s, so I can hear what happens around me in traffic.

 

[roastpuff]

Er... that does bike say ER-6i, or is it just me?

Maybe those the headphones you need?

 

[pne]

its a ninja 650r..not sure why er6 is on there, but my er6i work wonders when I'm riding. For me, if I get up to speed like on a highway, I want as much isolation as possible. Even with earplugs the wind noise gets annoying.

 

[micaela]

I use my Shure E4c's while I ride. I agree with the wind noise issue. I don't turn the volume very high - but just enough to hear the music & block some of the wind noise.

 

[DocHamm]

Cerulean XLR with Ear Jams on my Fuji 18-speed!

I'm still saving for a Vespa 60 LE.

 

[Fallingwater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastpuff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Er... that does bike say ER-6i, or is it just me? Maybe those the headphones you need?

It says ER-6F

Quote:

Originally Posted by pne /img/forum/go_quote.gif its a ninja 650r..not sure why er6 is on there, but my er6i work wonders when I'm riding. For me, if I get up to speed like on a highway, I want as much isolation as possible. Even with earplugs the wind noise gets annoying.

What you USAnians know as the ninja 650R is sold here in Europe as the ER-6F (and ER-6N, the naked version which I really don't like).

 

[mrarroyo]

I no longer have a motorcycle, having sold my last one in 1985. There is no way I would be wearing IEM or similar while riding. Sorry IMO to much of a chance not to hear what is happening arougd you.

 

[pne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I no longer have a motorcycle, having sold my last one in 1985. There is no way I would be wearing IEM or similar while riding. Sorry IMO to much of a chance not to hear what is happening arougd you.

like the OP mentioned, I only put on music on the highways where you normally wouldnt be able to hear anything anyways. I use my IEM's as earplugs in the city with no music playing through them.

 

[Cooter]

Newbie motorcycle rider on a crotch rocket wearing headphones...

I'm with mrarroyo on this one. Not a good idea, IMHO.

 

[ricksome]

I'LL GO WITH POST # 9....PLEASE RECONSIDER

 

[Laptopia]

IEMs will save your hearing. If you don't wear IEMs, do wear foamie earplugs, or the hair cells in your ears will die a slow death until your hearing is impaired.

I use Westone UM1s, because they are low profile enough to slide a tight helmet over without them being ripped from my ear canals, and because the cord has zero microphonics.

I have a set of ER-6s, and would never use them to ride with, as they are VERY microphonic.

For those who don't think it's a good idea to wear IEMs while riding, I would ask why they would opt for hearing loss. Not a bargain, IMHO, and yes, I can hear sirens and other loud noises while wearing IEMs (don't ask me how I know that).

What is truly dangerous is the mobile-phone yakking soccer mommy, golden ager, drunk driver, and angry Hummer pilot. Many luxury cars have a sound system and isolation that makes the driver *truly* aurally isolated, much more so than a motorcyclist wearing IEMs.

As alway, YMMV and these are my opinions alone. Ingus!

 

[Thelonious Monk]

i'm sorry but you're just wrong if you think iems will make you any less safe on a highway, long-distance. really really wrong. has anyone here ever been on a highway? you see, on a highway, there aren't that many cars. mostly large trucks that are impossible to miss. you see, trucks have very large horns. if our friend here is going to be listening to music at normal volumes, enough to block out wind noise, he will definitely hear and feel this horn.

i can't even drive yet, but i am an avid biker. i have never even come close to an accident on my bike while wearing marshmallows (they are ported a bit so i can still hear outside noise). while i agree that, in the city, it wouldn't be a good idea, again, this is the highway. i don't think he'll be driving in rush-hour traffic

 

[DocHamm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob ♫ /img/forum/go_quote.gif IEMs will save your hearing. For those who don't think it's a good idea to wear IEMs while riding, I would ask why they would opt for hearing loss. Not a bargain, IMHO, and yes, I can hear sirens and other loud noises while wearing IEMs (don't ask me how I know that). What is truly dangerous is the mobile-phone yakking...

IEM's will not save your hearing. Earplugs save hearing when used in very loud areas. Many state laws prohibit driving with any type of headphone, including IEM's, except for emergancy use. Some only permit single ear use. Laws vary a bit from state to state.

I agree the roads are overwhelmed with mobile phone yakkers. The last census reported approximately 300 million people living in in the continental US. How many of those are talking on cells, watching tv (yes, I have seen this first hand) or otherwise distracted? It's no wonder accidents are on the rise right along with auto insurance.

 

[SysteX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelonious Monk /img/forum/go_quote.gif i can't even drive yet, but i am an avid biker. i have never even come close to an accident on my bike while wearing marshmallows (they are ported a bit so i can still hear outside noise).

You're lucky. I'm also a huge roadie biker and have been in many near-accidents (and a few very serious ones) and I didn't have any IEMs or buds on. Drivers seems to hate us cyclists.

As for IEMs on the motorcycle, I'd say learn to drive it first. Only after you feel comfortable should you listen to music at the same time. You'll inevitably end up doing things like changing the track or adjusting the volume while riding; couple this with an inexperienced rider and you'll find yourself in an accident in no time.

 

[Laptopia]

For DocHamm: I didn't say that wearing IEMs was legal, I said that it was *smart*. The wind roar inside my helmet at highway speeds is *definitely* in the permanent hearing loss range.

As always, we motorcyclists are responsible for our OWN collective asses out there.