Does anybody else wear earbuds when riding?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 315
From: Alexandria, VA
I have used them for years (earbuds) on all my touring bikes. For short, day rides - I usually leave them off. On long 10-hour day rides on the highway, its really nice to be able to listen to XM radio and alternate between music, comedy channels, news, etc. They are never in so tight or up so loud that I'm not aware of the environment around the bike. You don't want 100% sealing on them, you want around an 85% level.
What you will also find is you can't wear any off-the-shelf brand for more then three or four hours under a helmet, they will be flat out painful after the hours accumulate and forget about wearing any the next day after a 500 mile stint. I have two pair of custom made ones that I can use all day long with no discomfort - that's the key if you intend to do long rides with them. These are what I have, and the guy keeps the mold, so if you lose them or destroy them, he can make you another set without a new fitment being required
http://www.bigearinc.com/product/#!/...tegory=2415853
Should you ever order a set, ask them to make you ones that are neon day-glo. That way when you drop them on the ground at the gas station or they fall out of your pocket onto the blacktop, you have a halfway decent chance of seeing them on the blacktop. I learned that, too !
What you will also find is you can't wear any off-the-shelf brand for more then three or four hours under a helmet, they will be flat out painful after the hours accumulate and forget about wearing any the next day after a 500 mile stint. I have two pair of custom made ones that I can use all day long with no discomfort - that's the key if you intend to do long rides with them. These are what I have, and the guy keeps the mold, so if you lose them or destroy them, he can make you another set without a new fitment being required
http://www.bigearinc.com/product/#!/...tegory=2415853
Should you ever order a set, ask them to make you ones that are neon day-glo. That way when you drop them on the ground at the gas station or they fall out of your pocket onto the blacktop, you have a halfway decent chance of seeing them on the blacktop. I learned that, too !
Last edited by drcollie; Jun 9, 2017 at 10:05 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
I have used them for years (earbuds) on all my touring bikes. For short, day rides - I usually leave them off. On long 10-hour day rides on the highway, its really nice to be able to listen to XM radio and alternate between music, comedy channels, news, etc. They are never in so tight or up so loud that I'm not aware of the environment around the bike. You don't want 100% sealing on them, you want around an 85% level.
What you will also find is you can't wear any off-the-shelf brand for more then three or four hours under a helmet, they will be flat out painful after the hours accumulate and forget about wearing any the next day after a 500 mile stint. I have two pair of custom made ones that I can use all day long with no discomfort - that's the key if you intend to do long rides with them. These are what I have, and the guy keeps the mold, so if you lose them or destroy them, he can make you another set without a new fitment being required
http://www.bigearinc.com/product/#!/...tegory=2415853
Should you ever order a set, ask them to make you ones that are neon day-glo. That way when you drop them on the ground at the gas station or they fall out of your pocket onto the blacktop, you have a halfway decent chance of seeing them on the blacktop. I learned that, too !
What you will also find is you can't wear any off-the-shelf brand for more then three or four hours under a helmet, they will be flat out painful after the hours accumulate and forget about wearing any the next day after a 500 mile stint. I have two pair of custom made ones that I can use all day long with no discomfort - that's the key if you intend to do long rides with them. These are what I have, and the guy keeps the mold, so if you lose them or destroy them, he can make you another set without a new fitment being required
http://www.bigearinc.com/product/#!/...tegory=2415853
Should you ever order a set, ask them to make you ones that are neon day-glo. That way when you drop them on the ground at the gas station or they fall out of your pocket onto the blacktop, you have a halfway decent chance of seeing them on the blacktop. I learned that, too !
Thanks.
Cheers!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 315
From: Alexandria, VA
They use a flexible silicone material and the sealing level is around 85%, which is right where you want to be. A little air gets in to ventilate and allow you to hear trucks and your engine if you don't have the volume up too high - you are not removed from the sound environment outside.
Sound quality is certainly decent, and they have higher quality models you can buy that are more for audiophiles, but in a motorcycle environment that may be a waste of money with all the ambient noise inherent on a bike.
Sound quality is certainly decent, and they have higher quality models you can buy that are more for audiophiles, but in a motorcycle environment that may be a waste of money with all the ambient noise inherent on a bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 303
From: N. Tx.
I've got 2 very nice sound systems, one in my living room and the other in my garage. When I'm on the bike I do wear good earplugs to block the wind noise and there I want the road, wind, and sky. Motorcycles and sound systems are phaggotry, and ruin both of the experiences.
A motorcycle is an elemental connection, it's not a flippin' car without a roof and 2 wheels...
A motorcycle is an elemental connection, it's not a flippin' car without a roof and 2 wheels...
I'm in the same camp
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
I've got 2 very nice sound systems, one in my living room and the other in my garage. When I'm on the bike I do wear good earplugs to block the wind noise and there I want the road, wind, and sky. Motorcycles and sound systems are phaggotry, and ruin both of the experiences.
A motorcycle is an elemental connection, it's not a flippin' car without a roof and 2 wheels...
A motorcycle is an elemental connection, it's not a flippin' car without a roof and 2 wheels...
2 of my absolute favourite things in the world are riding and music. Combining them is the ultimate win. Music certainly does NOT ruin the riding experience, and riding certainly does NOT ruin the music experience.
Each to their own.
Cheers!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
They use a flexible silicone material and the sealing level is around 85%, which is right where you want to be. A little air gets in to ventilate and allow you to hear trucks and your engine if you don't have the volume up too high - you are not removed from the sound environment outside.
Sound quality is certainly decent, and they have higher quality models you can buy that are more for audiophiles, but in a motorcycle environment that may be a waste of money with all the ambient noise inherent on a bike.
Sound quality is certainly decent, and they have higher quality models you can buy that are more for audiophiles, but in a motorcycle environment that may be a waste of money with all the ambient noise inherent on a bike.
Cheers!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 315
From: Alexandria, VA
Thanks for the reply. By 85%, do you mean that wind noise/external sound actually enters your ear past the plugs, or just the "whooshing" sound isn't completely eliminated (which I would consider normal, since it would be impossible to completely eliminate the external sound)?
Cheers!
Cheers!
Let's say for example I have volume levels of 1 to 10 on my XM radio through the earbuds. I usually listen at a 3. That allows me to hear my engine, and horns/sirens, though not really a car that is next to me. Diesel Truck, yes.... Turning the Volume up to say 6 is drowning out all the outside noises. Level 8 would be extreme. Anything beyond that would damage your hearing. I will generally ride at that 3 volume level, and don't feel I have a safety compromise. In fact, I can get sleepy on long straight highways at a steady pace if doing it several hours - so the music/comedy/books on tape/news through the earbuds actually keeps me more alert than the steady drone of the engine.
There are places in the country where its very, VERY monotonous to transit sections with nothing to see (think Kansas - or I-95 / I-85 south of Richmond VA) and having some stimulation keeps you going. For the really long grinds, I get a book-on-tape, they're great.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 2
From: Jeddo, TX
Not any more. I am a huge music freak and the one thing I dislike about my rides is missing the music. So I tried ear buds, with and without a helmet. Without a helmet, forget about it - you can't hear jack anyway and they blow off eventually. Under the helmet (full face, full head) by the time you get your helmet on the buds have moved or fallen out.
Now, I ride with no music.
Now, I ride with no music.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 425
From: Right Here
Not any more. I am a huge music freak and the one thing I dislike about my rides is missing the music. So I tried ear buds, with and without a helmet. Without a helmet, forget about it - you can't hear jack anyway and they blow off eventually. Under the helmet (full face, full head) by the time you get your helmet on the buds have moved or fallen out.
Now, I ride with no music.
Now, I ride with no music.
These are custom made and don't move at all after you put them in. Pricy but worth it to me.
At highway speed without a helmet the music comes through crystal clear whithout drowning out everything around you to the point where it's dangerous.
Last edited by Wowser; Jun 10, 2017 at 03:30 PM.