Music while riding?

[Stralya]

Oh Fred.....

If the boys in MotoGP can listen to their pit crews barking instructions at them at 300kph without falling off and being killed, I think a sweet tune in the background while riding is hardly going to be fatal, and as far as gps thingees are concerned, well if you can't peek at them while riding then you need to remove all instrumentation and mirrors....come on mate, get real!

[erithanis]

agreed. You simply have to pay attention to your surroundings before you look. Don't be dumb and stare at your gps while splitting lanes or when the road is crowded, obviously. If you're going to complain that looking briefly will cause an accident, the same argument can be made for reading an info sign on the side of the highway or even turning your head to check the lane next to you(hmm, think twice before checking your lanes!).

Know your limits, know the dangers, act with knowledge.

[slightly off topic]
In my opinion talking with the pit crew is nothing like holding a phone conversation however. For one, those drivers are doing so in a pretty controlled situation; other drivers on the track aren't doing the unpredictable swerves commuters do(and many other similar behaviors). Also, I'd imagine the crew isn't giving detailed instructions when the driver need his concentration. Very different than people chatting as they pass through intersections and merging onto the freeway.

[Pat Kelly]

The conversations between pit crew and the rider are about what is happening to, with, and about the rider. It is pertinent information.
Cell phones, music, chatting about yesterdays cold cup of coffee, are distractions.

That being said......
I am considering putting the speakers back in the fairing on my bike, the (small) amp/equilizer from my truck, and making a mount for my satallite radio. No headphones (yes I've used a Chatterbox with no ill effects).
I had the stereo on the bike before but had electrical problems. The CD skipped and the radio quit working when I used the turn signals (darn XS charging system).
I've addressed most of the electrical issues (new alternator, Geezers voltage regulator, and LED lights).
On the highway some tunes can be nice. Around town I won't do it.

I still say the sound of my biike is music to my ears.

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

I am checking into the Nolan Bluetooth helmets. Dual Benefit of Cell phone and i-Pod use.

I have mixed emotions about the i-Pod. I really want to hear some tunes when I ride (Bob Seger has some great tunes for riding...), I just worry a bit about the distraction...

[wa407mpp]

I like a good book when I'm on a long trip, it really helps me relax.

[erithanis]

I can see the scene now. Rolling down the highway engrossed in physical and mental freedom. Watching the land roll by as another land pans along in your mind...as the barrage of leaflets peppering the cop car's windshield start that angry tick in his jaw.

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

Hence the rise of the audiobook, the wind kept making people lose their place in the old kind...

[Dennyz]

I do want to here my GPS. When riding through a unfamiliar city, particularly with a lot of traffic, it is very difficult to watch for cages, pedestrians and street signs. I am often leading other bikers. If I try to pull over or adjust for a missed turn, I have other confused riders behind me. It is distracting to be trying to process all that information in real time while riding. Not to mention it kills the fun.

Pulling over and reading a map sounds good but not very practical. Finding a place to pull over, getting my helmet off, glasses out and looking at the map sucks. Having a voice tell me that in 250 feet, turn right on XYZ street is a big help. And, if for some reason I miss the turn, it recalculates and gives me an alternative. That is just plan good navigational information.

I have spent a lot of waisted time looking for poorly marked or unmarked roads. Sometimes out in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes in major cities. This is not the joy I seek in riding.

I also have the advantage of plotting interesting looking routes that travel through many back roads. Stopping at every intersection to pull out a map kills the ride.

And guess what, it has an on/off switch and volume control if I don't want to here it.

[Stralya]

Music video

Lots of sky and little else but you get an idea how my set up works while tooling along. The camera was in my shirt pocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i1r1942bt4

Dan.
Tool.

[Crazcnuk]

I have eh cycle sound system, in teh fairing. It has an AM/FM Cassette, right now, but I am looking at buying an AM/FM CD Marine head unit.

Waterproof, and UV proof, + weatherband.

I also have a mount for my XM sat radio.

However, atr anything over 80kph, it's like listening to the radio in a gale.

I am looking at intercom units, as I would like to be able to listen to the radio (talk mostly), answer my phone, and talk to the other bikes with me.

I like the auto level feature, but those units are pricey.

I (we) also have to decide whether to use GMRS, Bluetooth or CB for bike to bike comm.

VOX is awesome as is a unit that mutes the stereo when the phone rings or someone is talking to you.

Legality I am not sure about, but since every gold whale or venture royale, Cavalcade, or Venturer sold in the last 20 years has the built-in intercom as an option, and I've never heard of anyone being ticketed, I am not too worried.

I do have trepidation about the loss of attentiveness while riding. You simply cannot concentrate on both as well as one. However, I believe that boredom is just as dangerous.

[xsilerating]

All is installed, tested and working well.

The AM/FM/CD/AUX radio (with remote) provides the basics. My GPS unit - with Bluetooth - connects to the radio through the AUX jack, thus allowing me to listen to the GPS voice commands plus, the mp3 player (one of the GPS's features), as well as answer (and make) phone calls through my cell. (Obviously, phone calls are not the easiest task to perform while riding but, at least you know when an incoming call is received and you can pull over to answer it.) So far and, under most conditions, I can hear the radio/mp3 player/GPS commands at speeds up to 120kph/75mph.

There are some other aspects I'm looking into to facilitate the phone function but, to be honest, I don't think it's really necessary.

I also have a Cobra FRS/GMRS two way radio for emergency use (if needed) and to obtain weather information. I also use it for bike to bike communication (it has VOX) when required.

All-in-all, the system is working better than expected. And, best of all, the cost for everything (AM/FM/CD/AUX + GPS (with mp3 player, picture viewer & Bluetooth) + FRS/GMRS (pair) + speakers + wiring + antenna) was less than $500.00.

I had thought that I may need to install the AmpliRider however, I was fortunate in that the (AM/FM) radio I bought, has a gain feature for the AUX input there-by negating the need for any additional signal gain.

[XSrunner]

I just bought a cd player that has the usb/md card slots in the front now i have hours of songs 4mb card and don't have no moving parts so no skipping .$70.00 of ebay great buy.

[SiP]

MP3 with earbud headphones. Have been doing it ever since there was no MP3s and I had ny portable cassette player in my inside jacket pocket,
Have no idea if it's legal or not - will cross that bridge when/if I come to it.