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What headphones do you use while you ride?

Haven't we already discussed this at length?

Anyway....
Sena SMH10 speakers installed in to helmet, Sena Blutooth can stream radio, navigator (very useful!) mp3s, phone calls, or whatever. I decided these were a better solution than earbuds, since there are no wires flapping around, and I can wear regular earplugs to prevent hearing loss, and still hear the speakers quite well.

SenaSMH10 comes with a boom mic thing that can be tucked under the full-face or modular helmet, or I can pull over if I need to and flip the chin up to carry on a "proper" conversation.

I don't find sound a distraction at all. I am always checking mirrors and surroundings anyway, and I won't hear the shot that takes me out at any rate.

I'd go back to the inexpensive SkullCandy buds, though, for music or radio use; you can buy them cheap enough, and even the best ear buds' wires always seem to develop short circuits at some point.
 
revnort said:
No for serious. Both of those reasons. I am not going to battle to be able to wear headphones.

I wear two earplugs, and I have two speakers mounted in my helmet. I have never had a police officer say a word about either of those two things. Of course maybe I couldn't hear them over the music.
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"It's a stupid law based on a false pretension, but it's almost never enforced and our time is too important to fix it." I dont want to debate this, but I want to point out it's not a reason the law should exist. It's just an excuse why everyone's too lazy to take it down. The law suggests volume knobs don't exist in California, or that Californians are incapable of moderation.
 
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Donelop said:
"It's a stupid law based on a false pretension, but it's almost never enforced and our time is too important to fix it." I dont want to debate this, but I want to point out it's not a reason the law should exist. It's just an excuse why everyone's too lazy to take it down. The law suggests volume knobs don't exist in California, or that Californians are incapable of moderation.
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It's not about laziness. It's about those that serve our interests in lobbying and legislature and putting there efforts into things that matter exponentially more.

If you want to wear both earphones, go ahead. Like revnort, I've never been ticketed while being pulled over for something else. Does it happen? Probably. But why even care about fixing a problem that isn't even a problem? I used to ride every week with an LEO and he'd have both his earphones in just like I did.

Again, we have much bigger fish to fry... Have you seen the lane splitting bill thread lately? Just to name one issue.
 
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Here is my Sena setup. The speakers are actually underneath the earpad cloth so essentially held in place by the void and the cloth!

No buds in ears. Wear earplugs which actually help me hear cars, trucks, bikes better by cutting wind noise. Just can't hear people talking. But those who have called me don't even know I'm commuting on my bike until I tell them. The earplugs make the bass better with the music as well.
 

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Kurosaki said:
It's not about laziness. It's about those that serve our interests in lobbying and legislature and putting there efforts into things that matter exponentially more.
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There's people that serve my interests in lobbying and legislature? Hold the phone.
 
Donelop said:
"It's a stupid law based on a false pretension, but it's almost never enforced and our time is too important to fix it." I dont want to debate this, but I want to point out it's not a reason the law should exist. It's just an excuse why everyone's too lazy to take it down. The law suggests volume knobs don't exist in California, or that Californians are incapable of moderation.
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Fix what? I actually agree that people should not be driving around in any vehicle with noise cancelling headphones jammed in both ears.
 
This has always been a hotly debated topic.
I tried listening to music via earbuds and a small mp3 player a couple times, and eventually gave up - never felt comfortable and the earbuds never fit comfortably as my earplugs did. Plus, wires suck. it all changed when I got my Sena 20S. The in-helmet speakers combined with my earplugs are great, and I can listen to music without it blaring in my head. YMMV, but it works for me and makes long stretches of freeway and touring much more enjoyable.
 
For those who have already made the decision to listen to music I suggest fitting comply tips to whatever ear-buds you might be using. :thumbup
 
SV650 said:
For those who have already made the decision to listen to music I suggest fitting comply tips to whatever ear-buds you might be using. :thumbup
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I used to use a hot paper clip to make a nice hole in a pair of these disposable ear plugs, then fit them on my Skullcandy buds, I got a nice fit, and enough noise exclusion to keep my ears happy.
And.. when they got icky, I would toss them and make a new pair.

But the Sena speakers fit perfectly in to my helmet ear pockets. I covered them with felt to make them more comfy.
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Donelop said:
:wtf But you just said you ride with earplugs and headphones.
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I do. I have a set of high quality earplugs that reduce all frequencies evenly but do not block any. I also have a set of headphones mounted inside my helmet. From my experience the moto communicators are designed to be used with earplugs and sound better with it.

When I have ridden with audio earbuds I found they blocked too much outside noise for my tastes.

I can still hear outside noise much like listening to the radio in the car.

I do not think it is a good idea to use noise cancelling headphones that block out all or the majority of outside noise. Maybe it is too subtle of a distinction? :dunno
 
I think I'm gonna start going in the other direction...

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revnort said:
I do. I have a set of high quality earplugs that reduce all frequencies evenly but do not block any. I also have a set of headphones mounted inside my helmet. From my experience the moto communicators are designed to be used with earplugs and sound better with it.

When I have ridden with audio earbuds I found they blocked too much outside noise for my tastes.

I can still hear outside noise much like listening to the radio in the car.

I do not think it is a good idea to use noise cancelling headphones that block out all or the majority of outside noise. Maybe it is too subtle of a distinction? :dunno
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Earbuds isolate the same amount of sound as earplugs. Which ones are the best is another thing. The law is about music volume being so loud it drowns out emergency vehicles and other important sounds, so the question is do you think you can listen to music at a lower volume with an earplug between your ear and the speaker? Or do you think you can listen to music at a lower volume with the speaker between your ear and the earplug? If you think you're hearing everything with your current set up, you'll be better than fine with mine.

Just so you know I can listen to music at a lower volume and hear sirens better than anyone else. I'm always the first to start looking for incoming emergency vehicles and the first to pull over. If your earbuds dont allow you to do this then you probably have a sound isolation issue. My current set are the quietest earbuds I've ever owned. No fancy noise cancellation, just noise isolation from good fitment.
 
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Meelectronics M6. Goes over the ear with a mold able type wire. Cheap, great isolation and low profile.
 
another solution maybe to get a harley touring bike with speakers built in with audio controls at your fingertips :)
 
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