MUSIC WHILE WE RIDE

[kiwi60]

It's time for me to think about a new helmet, and the thought of one with built in speakers appeals.

Has anyone tried out the Nolan N103 N-COM or similar?

http://www.nolan.it/catalogo_08.jsp?iditem=193&lng=en


The other option is a std helmet and use some custom made ear plugs wired for an i-pod.

I'm looking to get rid of the wind noise (I usually wear foam ear plugs), and enjoy some quiet music while on a trip.

Any thoughts?...

[dominator6]

I use Koss foam ear phones ($12 at walmart) and they work awesome. As far as built in speakers I don't know but the foam ear phones work great w/awesome sound quality and they don't slide around in my ear on trips!

[oldfart]

I second ear phones you really do not want to add weight to a helmet ,just in case.

[DIVESLOB]

I use sony mdr ex71 in ear head phone's, they work very well.

[peterrose]

Modern technology....HUH !!! When we was kids we had to strap a bloody great getto blaster to the side of our helmets...... them was the days :yes:

Nowadays, my 8 year old daughter sits on the back and signs ABBA songs as we go along.

Pete

[Randy Singer]

Check out these thin helmet speakers:

http://www.clearercom.com/xpro.htm

http://www.motorcyclespeakers.net/shop/product_115_detailed.htm

[kiwi60]

After looking at the different helmet options I decided to take a different option to have the hearing protection and also the music that I wanted.

I went to the Speed Show here in Auckland yesterday and had some custom molded ear plugs made with MP3 attachments built in - BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!

Went out for a short ride when I got home and these things are truly excellent as they keep the noise out like all custom ear plugs, but you can have the MP3 running at a low volume with great clarity and still hear what's going on around you.

Their made by having medical grade Silicone syringed into you ear, which is a bizarre feeling as your ear fills up from the inside out, and then they are removed and left to set for 1/2 an hour or so.

When I came back to collect them they had wires, transducers etc fitted and were all ready to go.

The life expectancy of the ear plugs is 2-3 years, and I guess the hard ware could then be used on a new set.

I'll post some pictures later today.

[suzukichic01]

I know one idea I've had for a while....

Since I'm aircrew, we have helmets with speakers/earphone pads that our life support inserts. They have wires that go to the boom mic so we can talk and hear, but the only problem is getting a pair that I can mess around with. It's not that they're expensive (maybe) but they can't just "give" us stuff to have. They pretty much just velcro to the inside of our helmet and lie flat against our ears.

Maybe one of these days I'll manage to scrounge up a set and try them out.


how much did your custom earplugs cost?

[kiwi60]

These custom made ones cost me NZ$220.00 (well, they actually cost my wife - Anniversary pressie).

They will only fit my ears (who would want to share earplugs:ohmy:), and I first saw these when we went over to the 2006 MotoGP at Phillip Island, I thought they were a great idea but didn't have an ipod at that stage.

I thought long and hard about using 'normal' speakers, but the combination of ear plugs and good quality low volume music swayed me to go this way, and if you don't want any music I can just turn it off and retain the benefits of high quality ear plugs.

It has become a point among a lot of my friends, how many of us in our mid - late 40's are starting to loose some of our hearing; so ear plugs are an excellent investment for future quality of life at any age.

[digler]

I've been using sennheizer cx300 headphones for a couple of years now. They are in-ear headphones that block external noise. They really do block out the noise so you can listen to your music at low volomes and relax. Told my riding buddies about them and now we all have them. They've become our standard ear-plugs. They come with 3 different rubber buds too so you can get the perfect seal. They really are brilliant for motorbikes.

here you go

http://www.minidisc.com.au/images/CX_300_black_410_m.jpg

[BBenedict]

I use Solitude AIS passive noise reduction foam ear buds plugged into
my Garmin Zumo 550. The Garmin plays the music but shuts down
briefly to give directions. Works great.

[K7Newb]

I second the Sennheiser CX-300s. I've had them for a couple years now, and they work AMAZINGLY well, especially since you can pick up a pair for under $30 now.

By far the best riding headphones I've ever used, and also the best earbuds, period. :D

[thebargew]

Skull candy. They have 3 sizes of end inserts to fit any size ear.They work as ear plugs and sound awesome. $14.00 found anywhere.

[suzukichic01]

I have a set of sennheiser, but they're they "twist n fit" kind. As much as they stick out from the side of the ear, they probably wouldn't feel to comfy under the helmet, which is why I bought a set of some Sony's that go around your ear with a rubber hoop. good bass too.

[MidnightSV]

I second the Sennheiser CX-300s. I've had them for a couple years now, and they work AMAZINGLY well, especially since you can pick up a pair for under $30 now.

By far the best riding headphones I've ever used, and also the best earbuds, period. :D

When you're puttin ur helmet on, do inserted earphones interfere with helmet? do they stay in place or you have to hold them somehow?
I've had Koss 55555 earbuds and it was PITA to put my helmet on. earbuds came out 8 of 10 attempts to put my helmet on.

[rjk]

I've heard that the custom ones fit "too well" for some people....meaning that if your ear moves you will lose the seal and noise will enter. Will have to check out those Sennheisers....they make awesome headphones.

[K7Newb]

When you're puttin ur helmet on, do inserted earphones interfere with helmet? do they stay in place or you have to hold them somehow?
I've had Koss 55555 earbuds and it was PITA to put my helmet on. earbuds came out 8 of 10 attempts to put my helmet on.

Nope, never had any problems with the Sennheisers. I'm not sure if Shoei is weird in this regard, but none of the other headphones I've tried have stayed in. I like the way Skullcandy headphones sound (especially for the price!!) but they stick out pretty far, and the headphones would get pulled out of my ears by the foam inside the helmet. The Sennheisers are so small that they don't stick outside of the ear at all. The only minor annoyance is if the cord gets tugged on while putting the helmet on.

Nothing a quick finger up into the helmet to re-seat the headphone won't fix though!

[kiwi60]

I've heard that the custom ones fit "too well" for some people....meaning that if your ear moves you will lose the seal and noise will enter.

The 'trick' with these is to moisten them before fitting and they stay put.

The sound quality is amazing and I'm hearing instuments etc that I never knew were in the songs before and no problems so far, but it's only been a few days.

I'll keep an eye out for some of the other types posted as it would be interesting to campare them all.

[Randy Singer]

Sennheiser CX-300

$26 shipped

http://stores.eliteproducts.net/-strse-837/Sennheiser-CX300--dsh--Headphones/Detail.bok

But you can get them for less on eBay.

[K7Newb]

Sennheiser CX-300

$26 shipped

http://stores.eliteproducts.net/-strse-837/Sennheiser-CX300--dsh--Headphones/Detail.bok

But you can get them for less on eBay.

The problem with eBay though is that a lot of their headphones are bootleg Chinese copies (seriously, what DON'T they copy these days!?!?)

I'd definitely trust a store vendor over an eBay seller.


Good find!!! :niceone:

[Bettyswallocks]

I use sony earplugs which are very good but I don't use them for anything other than for phone use. I can't imagine listening to music on the bike as I can't concentrate. How do you guys cope listening to music whilst riding? Surely you need all your wits about you??

[kiwi60]

I can't imagine listening to music on the bike as I can't concentrate. How do you guys cope listening to music whilst riding? Surely you need all your wits about you??

I wondered the same thing, but since starting to ride with music playing, I have found the opposite to be true, however, I'm one of these 'more mature' riders these days and I tend to listen to music I find relaxing, 70's & 80's stuff, at low volume.

With the custom molded ear phones, the clarity is amazing and there is no need to have it wound up to ear shattering levels. I can still hear everything thats going on around me and if anything I'm sticking to the speed limits more than before 'cause the ride takes on another dimension with background music.
However I do think that if you ride with high levels of volume, not only could that damage your hearing, but it would also potentially lessen your awareness of what's going on around you.

[kiwi60]

Oh yeah - the other great thing about riding with music, with 1800+ songs on the ipod, and with it set to 'Suffle Songs', I get to listen to music I haven't listened to in ages, and I never know what's coming on next.