ipod for use on a motorcycle?

[kumma]

Anyone use an ipod on a motorcycle? I have been lookin at getting an ipod and this just struck me as a way to utilize it. I dont think I would want to use earplugs though, how about hooking it up to some amplified speakers? I'm heading over to the apple store tommorrow to check them out?

I have a couple more trips planed this summer on the road king because my cousin just picked up an ultra classic. So I dont want to be the only one without a radio .

[jbryant]

I use mine all the time. I only have the ear phones though...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Wearing earphones (or even having a radio) on a bike is just about as stupid as not wearing a helmet.

When you get creamed by that car that you didn't see (or hear) I hope your recovery is fast and relatively painless.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Wearing earphones (or even having a radio) on a bike is just about as stupid as not wearing a helmet.

When you get creamed by that car that you didn't see (or hear) I hope your recovery is fast and relatively painless.

Do you even ride a motorcycle? Do you know that every major motorcycle magazine advocates the wear of EARPLUGS while riding a motorcycle to reduce damge to the ears from windnoise? Unless you are cruising around town with the volume up on max you are still able to hear quite well with earphones or earplugs.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by Kurt V
Do you even ride a motorcycle? Do you know that every major motorcycle magazine advocates the wear of EARPLUGS while riding a motorcycle to reduce damge to the ears from windnoise? Unless you are cruising around town with the volume up on max you are still able to hear quite well with earphones or earplugs.

IMHO, There is a HUGE difference between wearing earplugs and wearing earphones that are blasting music in your ears.

And yes, I used to ride. Never wore earplugs though, but only went on short hops on my Seca 750. (Mmmm - those were the days...)

-Z.

[RickM]

I like bikes and I like music. But I wouldn't have headphones on. I think the amplified spearkers are a better route.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally posted by Z-man
IMHO, There is a HUGE difference between wearing earplugs and wearing earphones that are blasting music in your ears.

You cannot rely on auditory information whilst riding a motorcycle. Tire, wind, exhaust, and mechanical noise drown out most of the directionality information you'll get unless you're puttering along at 20 mph. Me? I do the posted speed limit here in AZ, 45 mph on city streets and 65-75 on the highways.

I occasionally wear my Shure E2 earphones and turn on some light Beethoven. They do a great job at blocking the wind noise (huge contributor to fatigue) and by keeping the volume low it doesn't overwhelm any of the outside sounds. I probably hear better that way than without plugs/phones (and for you wise asses, no, my hearing isn't shot...my cats' wandering around across the carpet occasionally keep me from falling asleep).

Kurt V is absolutely right. Unless you've tried it you won't understand. The nature of sound and hearing on a motorcycle is counter-intuitive.

[yetidave]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Wearing earphones (or even having a radio) on a bike is just about as stupid as not wearing a helmet.

When you get creamed by that car that you didn't see (or hear) I hope your recovery is fast and relatively painless.

Hey look! Its the ignorant statement of the week.

No earplugs while riding = hearing loss. I ride 900 miles a week and listen to music most of the time. I can hear eveything going on around me at all times.

[vash]

isnt it illegal to wear earphones and ride at the same time? i think it is here in cali. i ride all the time, i find earphones and earplugs are different. earplugs are designed to cut out noise, the damaging noise, and earphones add more noise. apples and oranges. anyways, in all my motorcycle accidents, it wouldnt make a difference if i heard the car or not. might have been nicer to get creamed while listening to nice tunes. i figured whatever you are comfy with.

cliff

[yetidave]

Originally posted by vash
isnt it illegal to wear earphones and ride at the same time? i think it is here in cali. i ride all the time, i find earphones and earplugs are different. earplugs are designed to cut out noise, the damaging noise, and earphones add more noise. apples and oranges. anyways, in all my motorcycle accidents, it wouldnt make a difference if i heard the car or not. might have been nicer to get creamed while listening to nice tunes. i figured whatever you are comfy with.

cliff

The law is different in different states. In Pa. I can have plugs in both ears and sound in one. I wear ear buds with the speakers built in. I ride with the volume low and it actually helps to filter out all the "white noise" you pick up in your helmet. I have never been in a situation where I did not hear something I needed to hear, and if I thought for a second it was not safe, I wouldn't do it. Simple.
I've also ridden bikes with amplified speakers and that IMHO is far more dangerous than headphones. The speakers have to be cranked to hear 'em inside your lid, and that drowns out the noises you need to hear.

[911boost]

I ride 52 miles each way to work atleast once or twice a week. It is about 90% interstate. I have headphones that I put in when I leave work / home. I pull off the road right before the on-ramp and turn on my IPAQ (plays MP3's, doesnt hold too many, but does the job, relatively low). I got the headphones at Riders Wharehouse, and like others have said, they do a great job of blocking out some of the wind noise.

I do not use them in town, but then again the wind noise is not that great in town either.

Kumma, I woudl try and ride a bike with speakers already, I know the big BMW's have them and you can hear the music just fine. I am not sure how cobbling something together would work.

Bill

Porsceh-O-Phile, I hope you never ride a motorcycle with your attitude.

[yetidave]

"Porsceh-O-Phile, I hope you never ride a motorcycle with your attitude."

Maybe riding a bike would improve his attitude. Just a thought.

[kumma]

wow turned out to be heated discussion on another topic oh well.

bill i rode an ultra classic with a radio, it was fine except for the drag pipes which kinda defeats the purpose. a friend pointed me to this company for a speaker soultion.

http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/detail.cfm?model_ID=0&Category_ID=5&manufacturer_ID=202&product_ID=5572

im gonna just try the ipod with ear piece for now. i mean my harley is louder than any car thats coming behind me anyways, this is strictly for long trips on the highways.