Ear buds or similar?

[Bigfoot]

I'm heading out on a long trip soon and I'm trying to figure out a way to both protect my hearing from the wind noise and better hear my radio/XM under my helmet. I do not have speakers built into the helmet and listen VIA the built in stock speakers. the sound from the FM is fine but with the XM i can barely hear it at hi way speed. The sound just isn't loud enough. Does anyone have any experience with the the ear pieces that you can plug into the cassette audio output? Although I plug the XM into this so I'm not sure how this will work. I'm looking for something that others have used and feel work well.

 

Thanks

[SapperMedic]

My suggestion is to bite the bullet and purchase the J&M headsets or Edsets for the bike, you will not be disappointed, Edsets.com gives us a discount and has the best sound by far. You can buy from Chromeworld on E-BAY and get 2 sets for $149 with shipping that are good. My wife loves that we can listen to the music now along with voice activated mikes so she isn't yelling in my ear.

[Bigfoot]

I had the sets in my previous helmet and I still had the problem of not being able to hear the XM when at hi way speed. Just trying to determine if the noise cancelling ones work well.

[AlbertaClipper]

When I travel without the wife I use earbuds and a shorty helmet. I really like SkullCandy earbuds. Some models are noise cancelling and some models have a volume adjustment in the wires near the "Y". I made an adapter from an old lower J&M cable and a 1/8" earphone jack so that I can plug into the connector on the gas tank and plug in my earbuds. This way I can listen to XM and mp3 from the Zumo or the radio from the bike if I choose.

[Big Daddy]

Yep Skullcandy Available at Target about 16 bucks work great!

[similost]

Radio Shack has a little battery opereated amplifier you can put between your XM and your input on the bike. It makes it quite a bit louder for $20...

 

Personally, I would never ride with ear buds and music in them... blocks WAY too much sound and disconnects you from the outside world. Life is already tough enough on a bike.. why make it riskier?

 

Not to mention most all states have laws against earbuds.. I know Virginia outlaws them because I live in VA too...

[sarges46]

Wayne

 

Are you aware that the xm radio should have a output level that can be raised? You will find it somewhere in the menu of the radio. It truly increases the volume that you hear. I had the same problem until I found out about the output and now have no problems.

 

Sorry I couldnt begin to tell you where to look in the menu....but if you still have the booklet for it that may help.

[RedRocket]

Another alternative is to buy a cheap portable pocket sized FM radio with earbuds. You can tune it to 88.7 or where ever, and pick up your XM signal wirelessly, and amplified. I bought one from Target for about $ 15.

[dynodon]

I would recommend the J&M or EdSets head sets and microphone in the helmet.

 

BUT, this won't solve the problem of wind noise. The best solution there is a set of musicians earplugs. I have used these for a couple years:

http://earplugstore.com

 

At first you will think you can't hear stuff going on around you, but you WILL hear the headsets better, and once you get used to the lower level, you will hear everything around you.

 

These are under $15 I think, but they can hurt your ears after a while if you don't take the time to wear them some and get used to them. Also, if you put them in wrong, you can get some extra noise.

 

I also bought a set of these recommended for Motorcycles:

 

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/wimoearpl.html

 

They let you hear a little more, and so far seem to be a bit more comfortable. Only problem for me is they are a bit shorter than the others, and if you stick them in far enough, I have a tough time getting them out with my fat fingers. Haven't failed to get them out yet though.

 

Another tip, if you have intercom on your bike, turn it off if you don't need it, it puts lots of noise into the system. Run just the music, and CB if needed.

 

Try the earplugs, they really work, but do NOT get the foam style plugs, they block too much noise, kill all high frequencies, and just plain are not good for riding.

 

The ones mentioned above can be used for a long time, just wash them from time to time. (using a Q-tip the morning before your trip is a good idea!).

[Guest seuadr]

Yep Skullcandy Available at Target about 16 bucks work great!

i, too use smoking earbuds. they don't impede my hearing all that much, just mostly remove the wind noise. you would think with them being sound canceling they would make it so you can't hear the world around you, but like others have mentioned, you can hear the important stuff, even people talking and (for me atleast) i can still hear the bike chatter.

[Bigfoot]

Wayne

 

Are you aware that the xm radio should have a output level that can be raised? You will find it somewhere in the menu of the radio. It truly increases the volume that you hear. I had the same problem until I found out about the output and now have no problems.

 

Sorry I couldnt begin to tell you where to look in the menu....but if you still have the booklet for it that may help.

 

Rick,

 

I have an older model Garmin 2730 and you can't raise the volume on it. Trust me I've tried. Unless I'm missing something but I've tried several times.

[tsigwing]

I would recommend the J&M or EdSets head sets and microphone in the helmet.

 

BUT, this won't solve the problem of wind noise. The best solution there is a set of musicians earplugs. I have used these for a couple years:

http://earplugstore.com

 

At first you will think you can't hear stuff going on around you, but you WILL hear the headsets better, and once you get used to the lower level, you will hear everything around you.

 

These are under $15 I think, but they can hurt your ears after a while if you don't take the time to wear them some and get used to them. Also, if you put them in wrong, you can get some extra noise.

 

I also bought a set of these recommended for Motorcycles:

 

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/wimoearpl.html

 

They let you hear a little more, and so far seem to be a bit more comfortable. Only problem for me is they are a bit shorter than the others, and if you stick them in far enough, I have a tough time getting them out with my fat fingers. Haven't failed to get them out yet though.

 

Another tip, if you have intercom on your bike, turn it off if you don't need it, it puts lots of noise into the system. Run just the music, and CB if needed.

 

Try the earplugs, they really work, but do NOT get the foam style plugs, they block too much noise, kill all high frequencies, and just plain are not good for riding.

 

The ones mentioned above can be used for a long time, just wash them from time to time. (using a Q-tip the morning before your trip is a good idea!).

 

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree about the foam earplugs. I always use these on long trips and can definately hear better at all frequency's with these on (at least while moving, it is harder to hear conversations with them in when stopped).