Headphones while riding

hornett

hornett

hornett

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Right not sure on peoples views on this, whether its illegal or not

But anyway, my ride is 45mins and been looking at headphones to cut down on the wind noise and stay in my ears while I ride

Any recommendations
 
Yeah headphones are fine just as long as you're not playing music too loud. You can get a lot of information about car positions etc from sound so you really want to keep hearing the outside world ;)

Some of the really small in ear headphones can fit under helmets but only some will really cut down the noise. Otherwise you can get custom ear moulds with small units built in but it's pretty damn expensive :( I've read the Etymotic er6i's can fit as std.
 
I use these Skullcandy TITAN Earbuds and they cut out 80% of all wind noise... very very good... basically I can do a 100 if I want, way better than ear plugs... I've actually got an old pair that I cut the wires off and use these instead of ear bus! Ive listened to music on long hauls on my own... just need to not run Guns & Roses or any mad music as the next thing you know, your thrashing away at 120mph lol...

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One thing I'd say, is if you're going to do this, just use one ear bud, just leaves your hearing open a bit more to what's going on around you. If I'm just doing normal sort of riding, I'll have it in my left ear, keeping my right ear open for listening to traffic. I'm I'm doing loads of miles on the motorway, I'll do my right ear, as most of the time I'll spend the journey in the outside lane (I do this because I also find it the safest lane, not because I'm going over the speed limit :p).
 
I used to now and then for short journeys, seemed safe enough as i could still here everything of importance.
However, it was damn uncomfortable after 20minutes or so with the helmet crushing them into my ears.
 
Its the horrible weather, as it my main commuter I just like to get my head down and get there. Can't set the road on fire when its horrible and wet so having tunes takes the boring out of the ride
 
Ghosteh said:
One thing I'd say, is if you're going to do this, just use one ear bud, just leaves your hearing open a bit more to what's going on around you. If I'm just doing normal sort of riding, I'll have it in my left ear, keeping my right ear open for listening to traffic.
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You are risking your hearing if you aren't using some kind of protection in both ears.
 
I had no idea that bikers listened to music while riding around. This will make me feel much safer when I see them in future.
I would have thought that riding something powerful would make one much more reliant on all their senses. I haven't rode a bike (they kinda scare me) but if I ever did I'd be really worried if I couldn't hear what's going on around me.
 
Simi said:
I had no idea that bikers listened to music while riding around. This will make me feel much safer when I see them in future.
I would have thought that riding something powerful would make one much more reliant on all their senses. I haven't rode a bike (they kinda scare me) but if I ever did I'd be really worried if I couldn't hear what's going on around me.
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Thing is you are more reliant on your vision, hearing is a small part of it as the helmet cuts out a lot of sound. The problem you have with some helmets is wind noise. If you ride a lot after awhile it can damage your hearing.

That is why you "should" see bikers looking around more
 
Simi said:
I had no idea that bikers listened to music while riding around. This will make me feel much safer when I see them in future.
I would have thought that riding something powerful would make one much more reliant on all their senses. I haven't rode a bike (they kinda scare me) but if I ever did I'd be really worried if I couldn't hear what's going on around me.
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I've always thought that car drivers should be made to take a bike test first - even if it's a couple of lessons on the road then a CBT - riding a motorbike made me a much more aware car driver. :)

Been the bane of my existance after that because I kept riding lol....
 
.one. said:
I have never worn ear plugs and you are right my ears are now shot due to wind noise, in fact they hurt a little after a long ride.
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So go and buy some earplugs :p I use the massive yellow ones you can buy, they cut down so much noise compared to the smaller ones but you can still hear traffic around you just much quieter.

I don't bother when just riding around in London, it's got a stock pipe so not loud up to 50.
 
I used to, until a speeding ambulance caught me unaware on a blind bend. They were cutting VERY badly, had I not had my ear plugs in, I would have heard them. But I didn't until the last second.

Needless to say, my butt didn't open even for a fart a good few hours after.

Since then, not worth it :(
 
I dont ever listen to music when riding because I feel it dulls concentration/senses, but thats my personal choice. I try to wear ear plugs to protect my hearing, but even then I feel like my senses are dulled somehow. Generally I only wear them when I know im going to be doing a lot of motorway miles and at those speeds in my helmet, sound isnt much use to me anyways :)

Cheers
 
And use THESE with the yellow inserts and can hear emergency vehicles fine.

Can even hear people talking up to a point. They just seem to cut out the LOUD wind/exhaust noise :)
 
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