"Music on the bike?" thread in "Motorbike Chat"
I tried taking the iPod on the bike a few weeks ago and it didn't work out so well. The standard earplug/phone thingies are uncomfortable ...

I tried taking the iPod on the bike a few weeks ago and it didn't work out so well. The standard earplug/phone thingies are uncomfortable and you have to have it too loud for when you're going slow or stopped and it's hard to hear it at speed.

So, as we're doing a long trip at the end of the week and I'd like to have some tunes to keep me company, what's the best way to do it? Looking for some comfortable earphones, maybe noise cancelling for the wind noise, maybe with a volume control on the lead for when we stop etc. What do other people do? Don't want them to let too much wind noise in really, I usually ride with ear plugs as my ears ring enough as it is.

Thanks in advance

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PB Round The World Guinea Pig Blog

You'll need something like the Shure in-ear phones...

I'd either use search, or possibly Shure earphones as they seem to be recommended. Or get a better helmet and head that means you can use the standard earphones.

Get some cheap "outside the ear" headphones, and strip the bodywork off them, then insert the resulting "speakers" into the lining of your helmet (IIRC you use an Arai? There should be "holes" in the padding that are roughly where your ears are - you can insert the speakers into this bit. I've actually wired them through the helmet strap hole in the padding too - to be really tidy). Then you can wear normal earplugs in your ears, and turn the volume up until it's at a comfortable level for approx 30mph. This will mean it's not "too" loud at a stop, but will bet drowned out by wind-roar at 70+mph - where music can be a bit too distracting anyway.

further advice - to stop the cables being pulled and tugging the speakers out of position - tie the cable in a knot around the helmet strap mounting.

my mp3 player (Creative Zen Stone+) is tiny enough to be velcroed to the back of my helmet so I don't need to uplug anything when I take the lid off.

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non quod, sed quomodo

Sony MDR-EX71 earphones are fab, and cheap. They're in-ear type, with rubber fittings that seal into your ears. They work quite well as earplugs, and let you listen to iPod at lower volume. I often use them on the bike. The only downside is the flimsiness of the wire - it will wear and break, especially where the cable goes into the earphones.

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Token bauble:

Bah humbug.

i've tried those sony's, but the shure ones are better. i put them in and then tape over my ears with that breathable first aid tape stuff to keep them in when putting my lid on. they are as good as earlpugs for cutting out wind noise.

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Wear your salt as a badge of AWB pride

Thanks for the recommendations, gives me some stuff to look at

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PB Round The World Guinea Pig Blog

Shure Ec2 or 3....brilliant!! I must get myself another pair, mine are starting to get a bit tired!

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TAAS No.2

I was thinking about this the other day!!

Let me know how you get on with the ear phones as I wouldn't mind getting a set that actually work well on the bike.

OMG those Shure things are expensive!

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PB Round The World Guinea Pig Blog

Oh, one other recommendation: Earplugs for Musicians, DJ's, Travel and Sleeping from Sensorcom

They do pretty much anything you want with most sorts of input, including custom moulded earphones.

Try before you buy, I got some on recommendation, but they are so uncomfortable I cannot wear them, also they are almost impossible to keep in your ears as you put the lid on.

I've got some cheaper ones with rubber seals now, which work a treat.

I currently playing with an Aquapac ipod waterproof bag which straps onto my arm.

Earphone Recommendations

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I've tried loads including custom made ones with built in tiny speakers (from Green Leopard).

None of them worked that well and I don't bother with any of them these days.

If I could find a workable system, I'd use it.

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Lying outrageously on the internet since 2003

Standard iPod ones really hurt my ears? so I ended up with sennhiesers (sp?) which are much more comfortable. Apparently quite good too, but I figured high spec ear plugs were academic given the wind noise. Anyway they worked out pretty well and come with 2 (or was it 3) different sized plugs so you can get a decent fit. It was a wile ago but i think they were about £10?

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