| Author | Message | ||
     Kcfirebolt |
I suspect that I will evoke the wrath of the safety nazis on this, but I'm too darn curious. 90% of my riding is done with ear bud headphones and music (cds) or radio (npr) piped into my riding experience. I love it and can't imagine riding any other way. I understand the risks involved, but after almost 2 years and 16K miles, I haven't encountered a situation where I couldn't hear something I should have. Anyway, I suspect I am not the only one who likes his/her riding this way, and I am contemplating buying a Chatterbox or an Autocom to add bike to bike to my riding. I would appreciate any thoughts/reviews/guidance in this area. Thanks in advance. Best wishes, Charles | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Until my minidisk player died I used to listen to it in a single earbud with an earplug in the other ear. That way if I got pulled over they couldn't write me a ticket for listening to headphones which is illegal in many states. As long as only one bud is in its not illegal. Technically its illegal to ride with earplugs also in those same states...just an FYI | ||
| Innes |
The noise of a Buell not music enough for you then?  | ||
| Gearloose |
Dyna says he hums to the sound track "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews!  | ||
| Innes |
Does she mind? | ||
| Buckinfubba |
I usually just sing the partridge familys greatest hits in my head....and then I move onto to something with a lil less substance | ||
| Henrik |
Supposedly, if you want quality sound, you'd need an Autocom system. I have one on the shelf, so I can't vouch for the quality, other than that the reviews speak for themselves. I believe that, as long as you don't go with very high attenuation ear plugs you'll be ok. If your ear buds seal well you'll need a lot less music volume and will still be able to hear what happens around you. That said - I think even CA have backed down on the riding with ear plug laws - AFAIR it's now legal, even if the plugs are not custom made. Makes sense to me with cars being so sound insulated these days - that and the 6 speaker stereo systems etc. Makes no sense to target motorcyclists. Henrik | ||
| Dasxb9s |
Kcfirebolt... I have an autocom on my BMW and I love it except for one feature. You can't turn up the volume. It is low or high... and does adjust for ambient noise... and I have been able to converse with Sharon into triple digit speeds. The problem you might have if you get one where you can use a cellphone/intercom with a passenger... I have the one that does everything... the mic picks up wind and other noise, and that makes the unit "think" you are speaking and automatically decreases the music volume to 50% so you can be heard over it. If you are not getting that model... not an issue... nevermind!!! Or when solo just disconnect the mic! | ||
| Henrik |
Das; you may have done this already, but the Autocom manual goes into great detail about how to determine "perfect" location for the mic, and how to adjust the VOX settings. Supposedly, that should eliminate wind noise triggering the VOX. Henrik | ||
| Dasxb9s |
Henrik... I have tweeked it... but I still get more than I would like... then there are the times I am yelling obscenities at the morons in the cages that have no clue I am occupying space on THEIR highway... or that think vehicle size indicates ranking in the right-of-way. Thus triggering the auto mute feature. I have found that the details from autocom seemed to work more for optimum placement for VOX activation without losing words the person speaking started with than effectively preventing noise... it is a particular problem when I turn my head to check for traffic and winds catches the helmet and activates the vox. All can't be eliminated... but I wish I could selectively disable the auto mute. Don't get me wrong... I have looked at other units... and think I have the best... particularly when you can talk to your passenger at 110+ MPH! | ||
| Henrik |
Das: got it. henrik | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I've been toying with the Collett Electronic system. The guy at work that does our team and gameday communications uses one for this motorcycle and snowmobile. He could say enough good things about the entire system. Their online price is $199 for a single user set. You can add the passenger communicator for $69. | ||
| Innes |
Fuck all that, I hear enough noise on the radio, tv, phone, wife, kids, builders, etc etc. I put the helmet on & go out on the bike to get AWAY from it all. | ||
| Bomber |
I spoke with a guy last summer who was all excited to get his cell phone hooked up to his helmet through some infernal device . . . . getting unplugged is one of the reasons I love riding . . .you n me Innes . . . . . | ||
| Cj_xb |
And me too Bomber, believe it or not my life gets very hectic, and riding is to get away from it all and relax !!!! CJ  | ||
| Bads1 |
I always bring my phone along but if I use it,it's for emergencies or to tell a friend where I am so he can hook-up with the group.Otherwise I just want to hear the twin singing. | ||
| Dasxb9s |
My BMW has the autocom... mini-disc... am/fm radio... (at some point the satellite subscription radio)...intercom to talk with Sharon... FMRS radio... at some point a 2 meter Ham radio... telephone capability... all for the "purpose built" ability to hear...talk... sing along... call ahead... hard bags... trunk bag... GPS, etc. That is my stealth bike... a BMW R1100RA. Their naked sport bike, boxer twin engine, I use as the "family car". The first weekend I had it... I rolled out from behind a big rig (Sharon hates trucks)... and rolled on the throttle... in no time at all... I had this sensation of going VERY FAST... let off... and looked down to see the speedo dropping down from 120. It is ugly... bagged out... wired for sound... but it is the "family car" that moves... but you would never guess from the looks. My stealth sport bike! Now the XB... that is another story. No rear pegs... even though Sharon had said to me after breaking 120 two up on the BMW, "DO IT AGAIN!"... she says... "I don't want to be on the back of the XB... I don't care they came off!" A GPS... to see the twisties approaching... a radar detector to try and avoid "quality time" in my bosses office... and I refer to it as my escape pod! Two bikes... two different missions! Guess which one gets ridden the most.  | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Bomber....don't you ride with a CD player? I thought you did (at least at some point). As for my riding music....if usually consists of some good old Chicago blues. Just enough rhythm and soul without too much unnecessary "noise"  | ||
| Bomber |
yep, I do when super slabbing to get to the ride portion of the ride, if you take my drift (grin) I presently use some custom molded earphones that work really well, but create a fair amount of discomfort after about an hour and a quarter -- which, oddly enough, if the rough range of the Ma Deuece at energetic slab speeds, and my butt's tolerence, as well . . . .. | ||
| Court |
Gomez and Live at the Quick | ||
| Aesquire |
Bach, Steppenwolf, Powerpuff Girls Techno mix, It's all good. | ||
| M2me |
The hills are alive with the sound of music...sorry, that's Dyna's thing! Seriously, I don't want no music, no chatterbox while I'm riding. I don't want anything "piped in" to my riding experience. The music is all in my head. I don't want to talk "bike to bike". That's the whole reason why I ride, to get away from the constant chatter and noise of telephones, TVs, radios and stuff. Geez, take a break from it for a couple of hours! It's an awesome experience, just you, the road and your bike! | ||
| Henrik |
For day trips etc. I don' t listen to anything other than bike and wind. But the few times I've tried, I've enjoyed music for longer sport touring trips. Unfortunately the CD player I have seems to resonate with the Buell at (my ) cruising speed and will start to skip despite "Skip Protection"  Also, wind pressure on my helmet deforms my outer ear canal enough that my custom molds don't seal = wind noise. So I was hoping that Autocom speakers with regular ear plugs, plus maybe an iPod or such would work?? Henrik (from Soundgarden, Creed, Rage, Candlebox to Ultra Chilled via Chicago Blues (blues harp mostly), old Rolling Stones and Prince and Bach/Mozart violin concertos - and mostly everything inbetween) | ||
| Dasxb9s |
Henrik... Go to gudhear.com and look at their high fidelity earplugs... they also sell them with stereo earphone integral to the same type of ear plugs They have musicians earplugs that attenuate less than foam plugs... yet provide good hearing protection without sacrificing the ability to hear conversation... music... your engine... etc. I think they will work well with the autocom... and provide protection from wind noise or loud exhaust... while protecting your hearing. I have a set... and I like them better than anything else I tried. BUT... do not use the musicians earplugs for shooting or that type of fast peak high Db sounds! | ||
| Henrik |
Das: I recognize those plugs. They're made by Etymotic Research. According to headphone buffs, those are good plugs. I had my custom mold plugs made by Precision Laboratories. The custom mold fits reasonably well, but gets uncomfortable after awhile - and of course the helmet fit issue is not so good either. I noticed now, that they offer those plugs with a standard foam plug, which will likely work better on the bike. I also have a set of the 15 dB ER musicians plugs, which don't quite cut the noise enough for long rides. Henrik | ||
| Iamike |
I tried using my cell phone with the ear-bud on my bike one day. As I rode into a town I heard someone saying "hello, hello". It surprised the heck out of me until I realized the auto-answer function was on and I never heard it ring. Dedided there was just too much noise to try it again. | ||
| Coolice |
Kcfirebolt I have the Autocom system and would highly recommend it. Its great to listen to any music source-cd, radio, etc and at any speed. I wear custom ear plugs and still hear the music or cellphone( yes the phone is great when your passenger dials etc,) to find a motel, dealer etc. I have a BMW R1100RT and a 03 Firebolt so I use it on the Bolt (by myself) for music and GPS that talks to me! So I give the Autocom  | ||
| M2me |
I can't believe you people! WOULD IT KILL YOU TO TURN YOUR FREAKIN CELL PHONE OFF FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS? Sorry about the rant but I just can't understand why anyone would have the slightest interest in having a cell phone available while riding. Just keep the cell phone in your jacket pocket or tank bag. Is the call that important that you can't pull into a rest stop? It's insane! It's madness!!!! | ||
| Iamike |
John, I agree except that it was such a nice day I decided to ride my bike for a work run instead of my normal vehicle. I always like it when I can get paid to ride my bike. | ||
| Dasxb9s |
Open your mind... Let me give you an example of how it might be legitimately used... and my reason for the cell phone linked to my autocom. "Hello... 911, I am east bound on I-70, passing mile marker 392 and I want to report a drunk driver/road raged driver who nearly ran me off the road. I am on a silver BMW motorcycle and I am traveling at a increased rate of speed to escape the threat. He is driving his Dodge bubba truck with a I hate bikers bumper sticker on the back. He swerved over to try to hit me a couple of times on purpose and I sped up to escape the danger... please send help. I will call you again when I reach a safe spot to make a report!" There may actually be times when stopping may not be the best option... In my case I did not do it for social calls... but for emergencies... though they might be rare. | ||
| Henrik |
Whoa there good buddy. John, I'm with you about cellphone or not, but we're really just having a quiet conversation here. No need to get all riled up about it. Different strokes and all that. Peace. Henrik | ||
| Coolice |
I don't use the phone unless I have a passenger to dial etc. I was very useful on a trip to call ahead at about 11:30pm after trying to outrun a BAD thunderstorm calling motels while running at 80+ to find a room in a area that had some festival going and everything was booked for miles. Finally found one and they talked us to the canopy where the storm caught us just as we walked into the lobby. So thats why I hook it in to the Autocom. otherwise screw the damn phone I'm on it 6-7 hours a day | ||
| M2me |
Mike and all others, Sorry again about the rant but some people and their cell phone use has been really bugging me lately. I was waiting in line at a Walgreens and the lady who was being waited on was talking on her cell phone! The clerk said, "That will be $8.75" and the lady says, "What? Oh, okay." and then she said, into her cellphone, "I'm at Walgreens." a pause and she said, "No, not that one. The one by Applebees. Jim used to work at the gas station across the street. Yeah, it's right by Lake and Excelsior." Hang up and complete the transaction! The rest of us in line have to stand there and wait while she yaks on her cell phone! It just pisses me off sometimes. That's why I like to ride, to get away from that. I don't want a cell phone sticking in my ear! edited by m2me on January 16, 2004 | ||
| Coolice |
Yea M2me I agree with you 100%. I was just explaining the Autocom system is very flexible and is good quality. As for cell phones its out of control people lived just fine without them they are becoming a nuisance. | ||
| Bads1 |
Mike.... until one saves your life or maybe keep you from walking.Theres nothing wrong with having one for the Roadside.Or someone in your family has a crisis and they can't get in touch with you.Will the GPS get you out of a jam like that.Just my thoughts. | ||
| Kaudette |
Not to be stir the pot here but I am assuming everyone here knows that being on a phone while riding or driving, our reaction times are worse than those of a drunk driver - and I'm talking half case type dd's. I understand the interest and inherent value of phones and being able to communicate but this is simply a bad idea while on two wheels. best bet is to keep them handy for the occassaion (on the side of the road) and enjoy the scencery while riding. | ||
| Innes |
This one's goin to go on & on & on & on, Those who don't want extraneous noise in their ears & just want to hear the mechanical music say AYE Those who want to be electronically connected to a phone/cd/mp3/etc say WHAT? | ||
| Court |
I always have music on (GOEMZ: Liquid Skin at the moment) and find my taste varies when riding. Many will recall the photo from my 37 state tour of me standing somewhere in the desert shooting a picture with a coiled cord running to the tank of the S-2 that contained a Passport Radar Detector (left oear only), cassette deck (Carly Simon: Letters Never Sent), AM/FM radio, Motorola cellphone and a Motorola UHF radio. Hey...there are times all I want is silence and there are days, like when riding 18 hours a day, day after day, when I just want some gimmick crud to occupy time. Try making the straight shot from St. George, UT to Philly, non-stop. Same I reason I'd use GPS with Automapping on going through Colby, KS on I-70. Different strokes for differnet folks.....(Al DiMeola: Friday Night in San Francisco) |
