Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'm new to all this, but I was wondering, is it ok to ride your bike with a i-pod ??? any thoughts would be helpful..

It's an added risk as it's a distraction. If you're ok with that risk then yeah, it's ok.

I listen to my ipod/radio through my comm system all the time now. It makes my commuting easier.

May want to check with your local laws, here in Washington if cop catches ya with headphones in you're likely to get a ticket.

If you wear a helmet, they'll never know

I'm always amused at people who caution against wearing headphones, yet recommend ear plugs; either is going to dull the area around you.

As soon as I can find some headphones that dont feel like they're cutting into my ears with my helmet on, I'm gonna use those. Right now I use earplugs, and it helps - when I did use an iPod, it was great for bringing some "fun" to the ride. I wouldn't recommend it on more "intensive" rides though.

ANDS! wrote:I'm always amused at people who caution against wearing headphones, yet recommend ear plugs; either is going to dull the area around you.

I have earplugs with high low filters. They filter out the wind noise but I can converse normally with them in. The low filter is great for getting rid of the low tones from loud pipes- but I don't need that on the Vstrom. Either way, I can leave the sound on my comm system much lower with them than without so if anything they make me more attune to my environment.

That and earplugs will save your hearing and normally you have to turn headphones up to damaging levels when riding at high speeds.

ANDS! wrote:I'm always amused at people who caution against wearing headphones, yet recommend ear plugs; either is going to dull the area around you.

As soon as I can find some headphones that dont feel like they're cutting into my ears with my helmet on, I'm gonna use those. Right now I use earplugs, and it helps - when I did use an iPod, it was great for bringing some "fun" to the ride. I wouldn't recommend it on more "intensive" rides though.

Different animals entirely.

One lowers the decibel level of the outside noise, and one replaces that outside noise with other sounds that command attention.

With the godawful freaking ROAR that my bike makes... I usually go with earplugs. Occasionally I will steal the pod from my GF and listen to it if I'm going to be doing any 4-lane type riding.

And yes sometimes I do go the sinful route of the mini-slab as opposed to an extra 3 hours and cow dodging.

I do this a lot on long stretches of road. In NY the law says you are allowed to have only one headphone in your ear whether for comm or radio. Like with the car I learn to tune out music when needed but sometimes I even forget that music is playing when I'm really into the ride... oh well.

I use any in-ear model such as the Shure SE310 or Ultimate Ears Super-Fi 5 Pro.

Just make sure you can hear the surrounding traffic if you decide to do this.

It's not legal to ride with headphones.... not only that, its a really dumb idea.