Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Do any of you listen to tunes while riding? I've heard of some people putting in a sound system into their helmets. Odviously, no one should be listening to tunes if they are still a beginner at riding...they need to be focused on the road and their surroundings.

I listen to my mp3 player on the highway, got a good pair of headphones that work like earplugs. Very happy with them.

I used to. But since I'm in front of a computer, with tunes going, for an average of 10 to 12 hours a day, I like to just listen to the engine sing through a set of earplugs.

Just remember, you need earplugs for any kind of extended riding. 15 minutes of wind noise at 60 MPH will permanently damage your hearing*. Getting a set of headphones that block sound, like modified Koss Plug** earphones will help.

* - Sound Rider source.

** - More hearing protection with Koss Plugs.

Gee...I didn't know you were supposed to wear ear plugs...what if you have a full face helmet that blocks out wind noise? And what if you also have a windshield?

I thought you didn't want your ears plugged...at least not both of them, otherwise you can't hear what's going on around you.

Good earplugs should only cancel out certain sounds. Important stuff, and loud noises (eg horn) will still be easy to hear. On the bike it'll mostly cancel out the wind.

VP wrote:Gee...I didn't know you were supposed to wear ear plugs...what if you have a full face helmet that blocks out wind noise? And what if you also have a windshield?

I thought you didn't want your ears plugged...at least not both of them, otherwise you can't hear what's going on around you.

A fullface helmet doesn't block nearly as much noise as you would expect. A winshield may help a great deal, but it does not eliminate the noise.

As for having both ears "plugged," it's roughly the same noise reduction as being in a car with the windows rolled up. You can still hear all the important things without a problem.

I think I would find it too distracting to listen to music. Of course I'm a newbie and really try to focus very hard on staying safe and riding propery. For those who are experienced riders and whose reflexes and instincts are essentially second nature on a bike, I guess a little music would be a nice accompaniment.

I like to listen to an mp3 player with ear buds if im going to cruise out in the country. when im in city traffic i dont usually bring it because i dont listen to the music, i concentrate on the cars around me and traffic signals and stuff. i do find myself singing a lot though, its cool to have a full face because no one can see me singing "with arms wide open" or "my humps" or whatever crap song i have stuck in my head.

I gotta have my tunes.

My first ride that I took after I got my license, I realized I was at one point singing outloud inside my full-face. The first song I sang? "Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead. Nice.
JC