Who listens to music when riding?

[Ant]

What it says on the tin. Who listens to music/books/radio while they're riding and who thinks that riding and listening to music is the work of the devil?

I'm on the fence, some days on long rides when the sky is clear and its a nice day I just really fancy some lively music to listen to, but then I also like the peace and solitude on a bike so I'm not sure. Contemplating getting some etymotics but I don't want to spend $130 until I'm a bit more decided.

[RickC1957]

I have tried to listen a couple of times....just on huge slab portions of the ride....I find it dangerous and distracting. I don't even listen to the radio in the car....it's my peace and quiet time. For those who listen "to kill the boredom"....that is the lamest excuse ever there is nothing boring about riding

[Ant]

For those who listen "to kill the boredom"....that is the lamest excuse ever there is nothing boring about riding

I agree with that whole heartedly... I'm not considering music as "something to do" to relieve boredom, just to add something to those long rides. It is the potential distraction that worries me, if I'm merrily singing away in my helmet then what does that say about what I'm watching out for? But then again I don't feel unsafe when I'm grooving away in my car (which I was doing this morning on the way into work - damn not being able to carry 3 PCs on the bike). For a good driver/rider is the difference between bikes and cars that big? I'm inclined to say no, you should be paying the same amount of attention in both vehicles, just the consequences of getting it wrong on a bike are greater...

[Bounce]

MP3 is old school. Works but I love my Sirius receiver better.

[squeezer]

I voted "Yes, all of the above," because I occasionally do both, but it's very occasionally.  I only do it to pass the time on long, straight slab runs, and I skip it most of the time then.  On every other type of road, I'm having too good a time just being with the bike, and the zen-like connection you have at that point is why I ride in the first place.  

[DNA]

I do listen, but mostly when I am on slab or between interesting sections.  Every time I have been pulled over I had music on - so it is distracting.
I never listen during rallies, but sometimes to and from.

[Ant]

MP3 is old school. Works but I love my Sirius receiver better.

Now originally I had a poll option for satellite radio but then I thought no one is that pedantic as to complain about the differences between MP3 and radio; obviously I was wrong    

[Lucky_Devil]

I don't always listen while riding, BUT I always bring it with me because I think it's nice to have the option.... especially after I start singing to myself in my helmet    time to turn on some music when that happens... nobody wants to hear me sing, not even me....  

[bizarro]

I don't, I find it distracting in the twisties and I don't ride the slab enough for it to be worth wiring up. I actually ride to get away from the daily noise (music, tv, people, etc). I just want to hear the motor, the tires, the wind, and my own thoughts, if I'm having any.

[desert_rider]

I've got Sirius sat radio hooked up to the Bandit and love it.  However, there are time when I turn it off in the tight stuff.

[Squareman357]

MP3 is old school. Works but I love my Sirius receiver better.

Old school and FREE!  I listen to my 40 GBs of music when on trips and slabbing.  It's not a distraction for me because when the road gets technical, I'm so focused on the ride I don't even hear the music playing in the back ground.  Later, my subconscious might remember what was playing if you were to hypnotize me, but if I'm riding a road like the Dragon, or similar, I couldn't even remember what was playing during that time, my focus is that tight.  It makes for a good time passer when you're just doing the miles in between the canyon bombing.

[turboderek]

ipod shuffle to make the sound of the wind less distracting.

[sfninja]

I used to but not anymore. I would zone out and get into trouble (ticket, speeding, too relaxed). The learning curve for me has been re-established anew and I need full concentration to work on better cornering. I might break out the iPod on a long deserted stretch of interstate... I used to like the slabs but now I can barely stand them (boring and dangerous.)

[Desmo Demon]

I like to listen to my bike's exhaust and engine noises. It especially helps to be able to listen to the bike when riding in the mountain twisties, as I am used to how it should sound at certain desireable rpms, especially when diving into the curves. I have never had a desire to listen to any music while riding a bike.

[evilmedic13]

I've been using music for so long as secondary personality that I refuse to be w/o it. Even if I don't hear it because I'm concentrating on something, I have it going. Usually listen to whatever will calm me down,if I'm not already.
  There's nothing like Slayer's 213 or War Ensemble after a rough day at work,fighting w/ cagers in morning rush hour after 24 hrs of watching pain,suffering or peole being stupid. Believe it or not ,it actually mellows me out, the music is playing out in front of me and I just watch the show. Also, when it's one of those just perfect days, the one's that remind me of SD, I throw a playlist in and just let the music be the background noise of another day I'll look back on when I'm too old to do this anymore.
  Unfortunately, music was the place I could go whenever I needed to get away from whatever w/o leaving(try being alone on a submarine at sea!) wherever. Sometimes a song'll come on that will remind the past and I'll chill just 'cuz tomorrow it can all disappear and BAM! I'm back to struggling to make ends meet and eat in the same week!

[dgunther]

On long slab hauls, I've got to have something to listen to besides wind blast.  Usually music MP3s, but sometimes audiobooks or podcasts.

[Ant]

I think I'll probably just stick with the voices in my head for the moment...  

I quite like the solitude and just the sounds of the bike, just sometimes some coherent noise might be good  

[denydog]

No music on local or curvy rides.  But on interstate rides of an hour or more, I will sometimes listen to my ipod shuffle.  185 of only my very favorite songs.

A buddy riding behind me on a 200 mile straight stretch of I-5 on the way to WCRM IV last week, told me he was laughing at my dancing to the music while riding.  I was tapping my toes, shaking my head and shoulders, and occasionally swerving the bike slightly in time to the music.  Made the miles go by faster until we headed off on the secondary roads to the coast

[Biglar]

I don't usually listen to music when I'm riding with a group or on technical roads. But on long rides the mere 5400 songs on the ipod works out nice.

[denydog]

on long rides the mere 5400 songs on the ipod works out nice.

You must ride some pretty long stretches  

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

I have a Wing so thats a big YES.

[ST-DocLizard1]

XM Satellite Radio or Sony Minidisc does it for us. We don't leave home without it. Nothing bland, just something to get you into the rhythm of the twisties will do.

Doc & IBlueBayou

[SilverRider]

I've only listened to music once while riding and that was a long motorway haul. At all other times the only sounds in my helmet are me singing to myself   , the glorious roar of a Triumph triple and on occasion the lovely Miss Garmin.

[bpg]

I love music and listen to it pretty much all the time no matter what I'm doing, so naturally I enjoy it on the bike (Sirius satellite radio)..  

Others may not be as crazy as music as I, therefore they "enjoy the solitude/engine purr"..  

'Salgood either way!

FWIW, I really only use it on the slab...  When the twisties come up, it's OFF and full concentration is on the task at hand

[wonderings]

I never liked the idea of music while riding, thought it would be to distracting. I did try this last weekend when I went up to Tobermory. I plugged in my iPod and listened to some Springsteen, which is the best road trip music period! I enjoyed riding with some good tunes but found myself more distracted with the music on. I dont think I will ever listen to music while riding again.

[RexRider]

I don't, I find it distracting in the twisties and I don't ride the slab enough for it to be worth wiring up. I actually ride to get away from the daily noise (music, tv, people, etc). I just want to hear the motor, the tires, the wind, and my own thoughts, if I'm having any.

That pretty much sums it up for me, too.  

[basco]

I voted mp3 but there wasn't a choice for Satellite. I use it on rides that are >1 hour. Otherwise I dont listen to anything but the engine. I do sometimes use it on the technical stuff but it depends on the conditions.

[mazzuca21366]

I listen to music when I ride my harley since it came with a radio and cd player. Makes the girlfriend happy too. Women need music and a place to put their handbag.

[fas]

iPod, therfore iAm

Half the time, maybe.

SO loves it more than I do.  Too bad she can't sing.

[Helleshin]

I listen to music at home, at work, while I sleep, on the bicycle, in the car, on the motorbike is pretty much the only time I don't. I do like the sound of the machine and the wind.

[vtimm]

I just bought a tinier mp3 player specifically for using while I ride. I HAVE to listen to music whenever I'm driving / riding.

[LENSMAN]

When the next Hurt report comes out, I'll be interested to see if music is a signifcant factor in accidents, assuming they look at it.

[Grainbelt]

My new phone has an MP3 player and FM radio, so I've been using it on the bike a bit. Not the phone part, just the music. This is a flat, straight, boring province, so some tunes are nice to have in between interesting points/roads.

[Outlaw]

I normally listen to XM Radio or MP3s when on a road trip.  If I'm just running around, I don't bother hooking myself up. I dig being able to just get into the ride and the music and my thoughts. Its like being in a quiet room with a radio playing and just thinking, for me anyway!

Its really cool to just let the scenery and the music carry me away from the hustles and pressures of everyday life.

[ZED]

Hmmm.  Didn't have my option.

I don't listen to music for two reasons.
1.  Too difficult with the noise from my Shoei RF1000.
   AND
2.  If it wasn't so noisy, I'd like to try hearing my engine for a change.

[spinedog]

When I'm out riding by myself I have my MP3 blasting in my ears. I never use it while group riding. My two pursuits of happiness are Music and Motorcycles. Now here's the kicker , one day my son asked me which one I'd give up if I had to and even to my surprise I said I could probably live without motorcycles but music is a much bigger part of my day to day life.
As far as using the MP3 player I found that as long as I use an earbud with foam covers they stay in place but I have yet to try other type of earphones. I'll go back and read the thread for ideas on that.

[Ears]

When riding, need the tunes going!
Not too loud so I can still hear my own factory OEM toot horn, but loud enough to enjoy. Music gets turned off when in the fun twisties (read: the Dragon) but gotta have tunes...
Big Ear earplugs work well while the tunes are on or off!!
Audiobooks are strictly for when I gotta use the cage.

[Lawn Dart]

Yes, I do listen to music when riding but I pick my spots.  Like a brain dead burn down highway 5 that has, ummm, like, well, 1 straight and zero turns for 500 straight mind numbing miles.

In the twisties or in commuting riding?  Hell no.

[Cpl Punishment]

Don't listen to music, because I like the sound of the loud pipes and can listen to the engine to check all is okay. and it interferes with my singing Popeye the Sailor Man as loudly as I can.

[R.Markus]

I listen to music if I have to ride the VFR...it takes away some of the boredom.

[Lt153]

When I am on a piece of blacktop that I know, I love to crank it up and let the combination of the music and the feel of the bike when it gets in just the right spot, take me into nirvana.  Yeah, I have stopped going through the twisty's and sweepers, sat up, and found unpleasant company in the mirrors.  But hell, I have had that happen without music.  After all, it's called "asphalt dancing", and you need music to dance. But in traffic, in the city, no way, soccer moms will kill ya.

[jwhite518]

Bump.

I'm new to the "tunes on the bike" game, because my new Zumo plays MP3s. In the olden days I thought listening to music was for people who weren't real bikers. I loved the quiet, I loved the places my brain went when there was nothing else to think about. Didn't want music, didn't need it.

When the Zumo came I decided to give it a try. I'm finding that I alternate between tunes and quiet. Sometimes I want it quiet so I turn it off. Sometimes I'm in the mood to hear something so I play something. Before I had the Zumo I spent a lot of time listening to music in my head anyway. Whenever I need to concentrate I turn it off: twisties, traffic, etc. There have been accidental moments when the music synched up perfectly with the riding, and that was awesome.

In summary I'd say it's a positive addition to the bike. I could live without it, but it's nice to have.

[Malks]

4 gb i-Pod on shuffle.  Use the same thing in my car through the FM transmitter.  Can't stand listening to DJ's on the morning show just yapping away and laughing at themselves.  I would much rather listen to my tunes and enyoy the ride, either in my car or on my bike.  When on the bike I can keep the volume low enough that I can still hear the motor and other traffic around me.

Malks

[hobie1dog]

Being a musician, I eat, drink , and sleep, and ride music.  Without it life SUCKS.

[RickC1957]

Engine noise...music to my ears

[adele]

I like to be able to hear what is going on with the bike and around me.
If I feel like music then I just start singing what pops into my head and I have a blast just singing away as loud as I want.
  And it's a good thing that I save my singing for the bike because I can't sing a lick.

[natronazx6r]

I like to listen to my bike's exhaust and engine noises. It especially helps to be able to listen to the bike when riding in the mountain twisties, as I am used to how it should sound at certain desireable rpms, especially when diving into the curves. I have never had a desire to listen to any music while riding a bike.

 

[stefrrr]

I find that I'm not quite as "with it" while listening to music. On slab it doesn't seem to be as bad, but listening to music in the twisties just feels weird. Plus I do kind of like the quiet.

[badger]

In a car, I feel like I'm driving to the "event" and so, radio, mp3 whatever is a welcomed time distraction until I get there.  On the bike, the trip is the "event" and I prefer to not have anything distract from it.