Satellite Radio Use

Message
Author
User avatar
lonestar
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:26 am
Sex: Male
Location: Pleasanton, Texas

Satellite Radio Use

#1 Unread post by lonestar »

Pardon my ignorance, but can someone tell me if you need to have an existing radio on your bike before you can install an XM radio. My Yamaha Royal Star doesn't have a radio and I was considering putting on XM. Thanks

User avatar
Lion_Lady
Legendary 1500
Legendary 1500
Posts: 1885
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:44 am
Real Name: Pam
Sex: Female
Years Riding: 24
My Motorcycle: 2013 BMW R1200R 90th Anniversary
Location: Lynchburg, VA

#2 Unread post by Lion_Lady »

The XM unit has no speakers... what you need to have is some way to transmit to your ears, either with fairing mounted external speakers, or earbuds or helmet speakers.

I've got Autocom on my bike, which includes helmet speakers (Autocom is on sale right now... 50% off!).

Here's a pic of my 'dashboard' - the handlebars of my Rockster. 3 RAM mount arms, the XM is on the left.
Image

Pam

http://www.autocomamerica.com/docs/home.cfm

for an online real audio comparison of several systems:
http://www.autocom.co.uk/
Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity - Alice Paul

User avatar
mydlyfkryzis
Legendary 500
Legendary 500
Posts: 521
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:21 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 42
My Motorcycle: 1976 CB360t, 1991 Honda Nighthawk 750
Location: Northern NJ

#3 Unread post by mydlyfkryzis »

The output on the XM radio is earphone level. If you put speakers, the speakers will require an amplifier.
Richard - Fully Dressed

Naked 1991 Honda NightHawk 750
Naked 1976 Honda CB360T

User avatar
Sev
Site Supporter - Gold
Site Supporter - Gold
Posts: 7352
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:52 pm
Sex: Male
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta

#4 Unread post by Sev »

Lion_Lady, how do you find time to watch the road with all that stuff on there? I find the speedo, tach and mirrors take up more attention then I'm comfortable with.

PS. I like your new avatar.
Of course I'm generalizing from a single example here, but everyone does that. At least I do.

[url=http://sirac-sev.blogspot.com/][img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/Sevulturus/sig.jpg[/img][/url]

User avatar
brbolin
Elite
Elite
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:47 am
Sex: Male
Location: Southern Indiana

#5 Unread post by brbolin »

Very nice setup, Lion_Lady.
BTW, do you like the Roady? My wife and I have an older SkiFi and love it. A friend is looking to pick up an XM radio. I told him the SkiFi is great (this is for a car, not a bike, so size isn't a big problem...), and had heard people having issues with the quality of the Roady.

Thanks!

-B

User avatar
Lion_Lady
Legendary 1500
Legendary 1500
Posts: 1885
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:44 am
Real Name: Pam
Sex: Female
Years Riding: 24
My Motorcycle: 2013 BMW R1200R 90th Anniversary
Location: Lynchburg, VA

#6 Unread post by Lion_Lady »

Love the RoadyII!

Easy to use with gloved fingers - I've got presets already set for music, weather/traffic, so I don't need to roam thru channels to find something good... did that in the driveway before ever riding.

The quality of the sound you hear while riding depends so much on how much wind noise you get inside your helmet (which varies GREATLY depending on how fast you're going) and the quality of the actual transmitter that gets the music to your ears.

The GPS has an audio output, so I get audio instructions when a turn is coming up (in plenty of time to be in the correct lane, etc). I just flick my eyes down to the screen when I want to know my ACTUAL speed

OR the ETA at my destination: In the pic, if you look at my cell phone, it says the time is 4:19. And in the lower right corner of the GPS screen is "4:40" which is the ETA for the destination programmed in at the time I took the pic. Current speed is in the upper left corner ("0.0") and distance to the next turn is "226" feet... the blue arrow on the screen is the direction of the next turn.

Actually its pretty simple.

P
Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity - Alice Paul

Post Reply