I ride with music on. I can still hear horns, sirens etc. So I have no problem with it and do it always. Also if I didn't have the headphones in I would need to wear ear plugs. My Leo vince exhaust has no baffles and is loud as hell on the freeway.

 

Some states ban any type of headphone, anything but navigational prompts, two ears, etc. You should investigate your state laws.

For example California bans two ears but has 0 limits on ear plugs. So you can not hear the emergency vehicles so long as your ear plugs do not make noise but add a little noise even if you are able to hear them and oh no. Insanity.

I listen to music as well. I am the type of person that can ignore what I hear so completely that I honestly would not be able to tell you what was just playing. When the need arises I just shut off my hearing and focus on other things. Headphones are safe so long as you have primary attention to your surroundings and you are not so engrossed in the music that you stop paying attention to the little things like debris in the road, other vehicles, wildlife on the side of the road, etc.

 

I've been debtaing the same thing.

What makes me hesitate is not the earphones themsevles, but the IPod or Music Player they are connected to. I think music would probably be fine (esp. on long-distance rides) so long as you set up your play list and didn't fool with it. But if the music system causes you to keep reaching for an IPod to change a selection - then TOSS it. Your life is worth a lot more.

dT

 

Put your ipod in your front shirt pocket. That's what I did before I got a sound system.

 

I ride with one earphone in. I can hear my GPS on my phone, I can listen to music, and I can still hear all the sounds of traffic around me.

 

Depends on how you react to the music.. Disturbed (or other heavy metal/high engergy music) always makes my bike go way faster.

 

For me, just another distraction I don't need.

 

I don't think it is a distraction unless you make it one. If the purpose is to listen to tunes while you ride, just the keep the volume at a reasonable level. That way you'll still hear the sounds of your environment.

 

Yeah, some say the same thing about hands free cells too. How many riders will fiddle with radios and ipods while on the move...

I just figure if it's not there, there's no attention taken up by it. That's simply my opinion on the subject.

 

I guess it depends on the person/bike. For me, bad. Being able to listen has saved my life in the past. Besides, listening to metal while riding would only make me want to ride faster. Bad mix.

 

I used to listen to music over in the ear buds, I recently got a new helmet with the bluetooth built in. I used it once since I've gotten it, it is kinda nice cause it does allow me to hear more than just the music.

As for fiddling with the phone to change music I carry it in my pocket where I can't reach it so if I don't like the song I'm stuck with it until it's over anyway

 

Personally, if I was listening to music it would be a distraction. I'm okay with it in the car but not on the bike. I have a Nolan N90 with bluetooth but only use it to hear the GPS.

 

My helmet has speakers and a mike built in for the intercom and stereo. I love it and I have never had a issue hearing other sounds.

 

I use my iPhone headphones because they have a button on the headphone that allows me to answer phone calls. I haven't tried listening to music with em yet cause I love the sound of my bike. Never gets old. lol

 

I have a Bell modular that I installed EdSet's in for use with my MP3 player. I won't ride much without my music...can't see it being any more of a distraction than the constant wind noise myself.

 

I ride sometimes with headphones listening to music and find that is helps relax me while riding. still can hear all the sounds of the road fine.

 

I had a Scala-Rider setup in my full-face helmet that was awesome, as I still could hear sounds around me even with music playing. With a half-helmet, I'll only wear headphones on the highway. Not only for music, but more so to drown out the wind noise.

 

To me, music detracts from the ride, and does not enhance it. Sort of riding down the road on autopilot, listening to tunes just does not work for me. Other riders find it most enjoyable. I would consider listening to music on long highway rides, but otherwise, not.

 

Music, and especially manipulating such equipment, is in my opinion a dangerous distraction. The car stereo is as much as I want to deal with and I don't listen to music on the bike. For me, when I listen to music I sort of drift off into another world and on the bike I need full attention on the road all the time. I know better than to let myself get distracted.

 

well its not good or bad ....... its a cool idea ...... only if its not too loud ... otherwise u wont listen to the cop whose blowing siren at u .... lol:71baldboy:

 

Don't certain people with choppers who have built in speakers. They blast their music, in my opinion your better off putting on your ear buds. FYI

 

How about a Bluetooth earpiece inside the helmet for the phone?

 

I'm sure it depends on the rider, but I feel like music just divides my attention. I don't enjoy my ride any more with music, so I don't bother.

 

I wear my full face on long rides, and have small speakers and mike wired into that helmet, absolutely love it. Have music going and my chatterbox headset cuts out the music anytime my gf is trying to talk to me. Not a distraction at all for me.

 

I have been debating this for a week or so....hence the search...Anyway my thought was that it shouldnt be a distraction, in fact it might be beneficial especially if you have loud exhaust noise that ear buds can help tone down

 

I ride with skull candy ear buds on my I phone, keep the music low so I can hear what is going on around me. I think this is one of those things that each rider has to decide for themselves and what they are comfortable with, without compromising the safety of a potential passenger or yourself.

 

I do the same. Those skull candy ear buds are PERFECT! Cuts at least most, if not all, of the wind noise, but still allows the traffic and bike sounds around you through, and you're not blasting out the music just so you can barely hear it at all. It's like neither one is 'overpowering' the other, and BOTH can still be heard, but at a volume that's tolerable but not tiresome. For me, it makes any trip, short or long, just better. I end up feeling less 'tired' at the end of the ride, and I'm not half deaf from the wind noise, too.

With that being said, I also know that my son, who's ADD and Dyslexic, would NOT be able to handle both music and riding at the same time. It would be too distracting for him. So, for some people, it's fine to listen to music and ride, but for others, no way! It all depends on the person, then.