TexasFlyer Posted August 6, 2008 #1 Posted August 6, 2008 When I bought my 83 Venture, the previous owner had (butchered) installed a BOAT radio/cassette in the left glove box area. I suppose he thought it was a good idea at the time. I am very seriously considering pulling out his installation and going with a later technology - such as an MP3 player accessed from a handlebar position... with an amplifier mounted out of sight somewhere. So I come to y'all ---- Anyone have a recommendation on a MP3 player that can be used in a motorcycle application?? Weather issues to consider? Some/any MP3 players have radio AM/FM built in? [note: some of my friends ride their Harlies while using an MP3 player in their vest with noise-blocking ear-buds... but some states prohibit headphones and other types of ear-passage-obstruction so I lean away from that right now.] Any recommendations on an decent amplifier??? My speakers are the 4-ohm 100W variety one on each channel up front on the Venture. How about some kind of an audio panel or passive mixer/switcher to be able to also hear the CB radio audio? Those available? I have little... actually no experience in what it would take to make music heard over the noise as I cruise. Any and all ideas are very welcome!! Thanks!
TexasFlyer Posted August 6, 2008 Author #2 Posted August 6, 2008 Of course, the MP3 player could be mounted into or on the new left-hand panel I will need to make to cover the vacant hole... that would eliminate wires running up the back side of my handlebars. Anyone seen a panel-mounted MP3 player? Maybe Wallyworld??
BuddyRich Posted August 6, 2008 #3 Posted August 6, 2008 Most mp3 players are portable, Can't say I ever saw one panel mounted. There are a lot of car radios out now with MP3 built in and a USB port or SD card slot so all you do is plug in your flash drive and play it
KiteSquid Posted August 6, 2008 #4 Posted August 6, 2008 The only advantage a boat radio would have is if it has weather radio reception.
friesman Posted August 6, 2008 #5 Posted August 6, 2008 Most mp3 players are portable, Can't say I ever saw one panel mounted. There are a lot of car radios out now with MP3 built in and a USB port or SD card slot so all you do is plug in your flash drive and play it I put a kenwood deck that has am/fm, mp3 , ipod, and usb support and pioneer speakers in my 85vr All I do is fill a 4 gig thumbdrive full of the tunes I want and plug it into the supplied cable. It also does ipods and will control them from the panel, but I figure why waste the money on an ipod when the thumbdrive is waayy cheaper. I have a snap on watertight bubble cover that I put over it when raining that I found at a marine store to protect it. Brian
az1103 Posted August 7, 2008 #6 Posted August 7, 2008 The one fairly obvious advantage of a boat radio is that it's waterproof. From what I've seen of 1st gens, that would be the only waterproof thing on it?
friesman Posted August 7, 2008 #7 Posted August 7, 2008 The one fairly obvious advantage of a boat radio is that it's waterproof. From what I've seen of 1st gens, that would be the only waterproof thing on it? It may be all wet but we can still hear the radio in the rain dont have to listen over the whine.....or chirp! :rotfl: Brian
TexasFlyer Posted August 9, 2008 Author #8 Posted August 9, 2008 Well, after cogitating on the problem, contemplating the budget and sleepin' on it.... I have decided on a short-term solution: Put back in the AF/FM Stereo boat radio the previous owner had installed, and tune it to the FM Stereo channel which allows me to receive from one of those little FM Stereo transmitters (avail at WallyWorld) that plug into a cigarette lighter (the cig.lighter also was installed by the previous owner) and plug in my new MP3 player (avail at WallyWorld) into the FM transmitter and WOOHOO - music of my own choosing, no commercials and no fading between cities!!! Good to go - at least for now!! Thanks to everyone for your input! It helped alot!
GigaWhiskey Posted August 9, 2008 #9 Posted August 9, 2008 If you do not have a CB, J&M has a handlebar mounted CB that can hold MP3's. It does not do AM/FM though it has an aux port if you have something like that you could plug in. Add some headsets and you are all set.
az1103 Posted August 10, 2008 #10 Posted August 10, 2008 Well, after cogitating on the problem, contemplating the budget and sleepin' on it.... I have decided on a short-term solution: Put back in the AF/FM Stereo boat radio the previous owner had installed, and tune it to the FM Stereo channel which allows me to receive from one of those little FM Stereo transmitters (avail at WallyWorld) that plug into a cigarette lighter (the cig.lighter also was installed by the previous owner) and plug in my new MP3 player (avail at WallyWorld) into the FM transmitter and WOOHOO - music of my own choosing, no commercials and no fading between cities!!! Good to go - at least for now!! Thanks to everyone for your input! It helped alot! Probably not the best solution... those little FM transmitters get constant interference not just from stations but also at intersections from the electrical equip., near power stations, sub-stations, and even bad ignition in adjoining cars.
bmannon Posted August 26, 2008 #11 Posted August 26, 2008 (edited) I saw a handlebar mounted MP3 player in a Harley catalog. Dont think there would be anyplace on the Venture to mount it, plus it was stupid expensive at $300. Edited August 26, 2008 by bmannon
Freebird Posted August 26, 2008 #12 Posted August 26, 2008 It can be mounted. Eddie has one on his bike and it looks great. It IS too expensive for me though.
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