Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: mddolloff on April 28, 2005, 11:41:50 AM
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Does anyone know of a good FM radio that would work on my motorcycle. I'm trying to get some tunes while I ride and I really can't find anything. I don't want a comm system. Just a good old fasioned radio.
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It's been a while since I've used one on the bike.
I did use a cheap walkman type, with a Boostaroo, and some helmet speakers for a while.
This is the cheapest route, and you'd be under $100.
I did see one Bandit years ago with a Kenwood unit in the tailsection, and the remote in the tankbag. I think he was using helmet speakers, also. He had a car antenna mounted on the rear of the bike.
If you're in an area with decent reception, I'd try th boostaroo, walkman, helmet speakers route....
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Just find a little mp3 player that can fit hundreds of songs and be happy!
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One of the problems with listening to music on a bike, is, if you use headphones/helmet speakers.....most portable devices don't have enough audio output to overcome wind and road noise.
Helmet speakers help, but it's still a little borderline.
Earphones can be used, but unless you get custom made ones, can be uncomfortable under the helmet, or inefficient.
I played with using a walkman, and several 2 way radios on the bike 4-5 years ago.
Audio level, and general comfort were problems.
If you use helmet speakers, you'll end up with a wire dangling from your helmet you need to live with, and connect/disconnect, depending on what it's hooked up to when you get on/off the bike.
There is a FM stereo mounted in a tankbag, with external speakers....called a 'Bag of Tunes'.
Then you get to annoy the world as you blast down the road listening to
Slim Whitman...... :bigok:
It would be easy enough to rig up an old tankbag, with a modest car stereo, if you want to go that route.
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I don't know of any.
I don't believe in listening to music wile riding... too big a distraction.
But if I did, I would use an iPod.
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Then you get to annoy the world as you blast down the road listening to
Slim Whitman...... :bigok:
Slim Whitman sux... everyone knows Boxcar Willie is much better. :monkeymoon:
I've tried the tunes bit... had a cheapie AM/FM Cassette that would fit in a jacket pocket or tankbag and plugged it into my Chatterbox's aux input so it would play thru the speakers in my (and the pillion's) helmet. The Chatterbox's speakers aren't of the highest audio quality, but were OK for the task. (Audio quality of the cheapie radio isn't too great either.)
Like Manny, I found it too distracting. Might be OK for a drone down the superslab, but not for me while doing spirited twisties - which is my much preferred method of travel.
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No such thing as "spirited twisties" in Houston. Nothing but flat and straight stuff. Great for setting land speed records though.
Then you get to annoy the world as you blast down the road listening to
Slim Whitman...... :bigok:
Slim Whitman sux... everyone knows Boxcar Willie is much better. :monkeymoon:
I've tried the tunes bit... had a cheapie AM/FM Cassette that would fit in a jacket pocket or tankbag and plugged it into my Chatterbox's aux input so it would play thru the speakers in my (and the pillion's) helmet. The Chatterbox's speakers aren't of the highest audio quality, but were OK for the task. (Audio quality of the cheapie radio isn't too great either.)
Like Manny, I found it too distracting. Might be OK for a drone down the superslab, but not for me while doing spirited twisties - which is my much preferred method of travel.
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I use my old CD player. Use the cigarette lighter adapter under the seat to power it and use an old cheap slim head phones under the helmet. I have a splitter and my wife and I both listen in. She has a CD case that she puts over her neck (so it will stay with us) and controls the on/off function (gloves restrict much else).
Sound quaility is better than nothing on straight hour long drives at 60 mph or less. above 65 and it begins to fade with the wind noise.
Cost = $0, what can I say, I'm cheap.
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strap a boom box to the back
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000C8CG6/103-0634078-3938254?v=glance
earbuds like that do a good job of isolating outside noise, but some people dont like the way they mount in your ear, however if you normally wear plugs while riding there'd be little difference.
I'd second an mp3 player rather than an fm radio, unless you have a really good model, you'll get lots of interference and variable reception on a ride.
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You might check into sirrus radio or some other satelite radio. I am pretty sure they have come out with a portable that fits it the shirt pocket or maybe a little bigger. As far as comfort. I rode for ten years with small speakers that were designed for naval aviation flight helmet (donated by the USN). I had to modify the foam so the fit right in. With a good full face the noise is not an issue. But I bought a new bike and new helmet. Not being set up for the radio, I discovered I enjoyed not having the noise in my ears and just listening to the sound of the engine and the air slipping by. One other point of view. I am set up now for a walkman/cd player. Most of the time I do not use, but I can. It is like the power of the bandit. You don't do 110+ all the time but when you want the surge it is there. So hook up and enjoy.
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I don't know of any.
I don't believe in listening to music wile riding... too big a distraction.
But if I did, I would use an iPod.
I agree with you, I have an iPod in my truck, but it is to easy to get killed riding on the street to be listening to tunes while riding.
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I just sing to myself in my helmet to be quite honest :lol:
tried using my mp3 player once but got annoyed at not being able to adjust the volume, whats comfortable at low speed is inaudible at high speeds, and whats nice at high speed is deafening in traffic.
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XM Satellite radio is the way to go! My buddy has the portable one and is experimenting with the antenna mount and how to get speakers in his helmet as well. That always seems to be the sticking point. The satellite receiver is very small in all their units. The MyFi is portable like a walkman and has a portable antenna that clips onto your shirt, jacket, etc. He hasn't mounted it or anything and the ear buds don't fit in the helmet either. He is really taking a half assed approach and he rides a Gixxer 1000 to boot. Not exactly set up for walkmen and radios.
I suspect that if thought out properly, a comfortable setup could be accomplished with something like this and the best part is you can then take the MyFi into your car and home after you ride the bike. The best part of portable audio entertainment right there.
If XM isn't your bag baby, I'd suggest an IPOD like others have.
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I actually saw an yamaha fjr up at tuggles gap thursday when I was hanging with the rally crew. Had sirius on it, antenna was mounted flat on the tail section just behind the seat. Had a bar mount for the receiver, everything looked really accessible. Appeared he had his helmets wired up with speakers as there was a disconnect dangling where it came from under the seat. The setup looked really trick but I think I'll just keep singing to myself, i like to hear whats going on around me.
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I wanted some tunes while I ride so I bought a Sony Walkman AM/FM ($30.00) bought some ear abuds, ($8.00) THEY SUCK!!!! I was pissed that I had spent 40 sumptin odd bucks for a radio and earphones.Trying to get the helmit on with the ear buds in place was a joke. I read where some rider used Koss foam type earbuds, you know like foam ear plugs. You twist/roll them around in your fingers and fit them into your ear. The damn things expand. Koss at Circut City ($25.00). Now I can ride and listen to AM/Rush/Laura if I want and Fm tunes when I want.
Yes I like both Rush and Dr. Laura :monkeymoon: :monkeymoon: :yesno:
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Here's something else to consider for a speaker system...Last year at the Hoot there was a fellow there with Jammin sound coming from his VTX. I looked the bike over and couldn't figure where the sound was coming from so I asked and he showed me! He had taken a tool bag, you know the rolled leather kind, and mounted COMPUTER SPEAKERS in each end! The 'puter speakers are 12 volt, they fit right in the ends of the pouch, he then cut a slit in the pouch and added a on/off switch and put a quick disconnect and wired it up to the battery. Add a radio shack plug and plug in your CD/ Walkman/ IPod whatever. This guy was using a walkman, and I gotta say it sounded real good behind the windshield, hell it sounded real good across the parking lot! :lol: Was gonna figure a way to mount one behind the shield on the Bandit before I went to Cali in july and use a MP3 and carry a couple cards full and change them at gas stops. Still gonna do this but now gotta put it on my Itialian Whore.
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:blahblah: Wanting to hear what is going on around you is overrated :wink: My last bike was a cruiser with load Vans@Hindes pipes. When I steped up the the B12 the silence was defining.
My solution came from Rio (MP3 w/ FM tuner) later pluged into my Chatterbox. The Rio come with an armband that does NOT hold the player secure. after dropping it it many times I needed a replacement. Walmart to the rescue! Ilo same functions only $70. One week later wife like the idea so much I lost the Ilo :duh:
She sent me to the store :banana: I'm now sporting one from IRiver. It is AWSOME! 1.) the armband holds the unit secure and tilled so you can read it. 2.) the controls are easy to operate without looking at it. joystick type control for the volume and track advance (just run your hand over the player). 3.) It is fast
I could easly cary on but think I made the point P.S. I do like to hear the wind from time to time.
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bought some ear abuds, ($8.00) THEY SUCK!!!! ... Trying to get the helmit on with the ear buds in place was a joke.
Yup, I've had that problem too. My solution was a set of these great Sony earbuds. They actually wrap around the outter part of your ear and then have a smaller part that goes in your ear itself. They work great.
I have a Creatives Labs Zen Micro MP3 player I bought for jogging and air travel. I've discovered it works great on the bike too though. It has a small corded remote. I hook the remote to my shirt collar right on my neck and put the player itself in an inside pocket of my riding jacket. There are only a few buttons on it, so it's easy to work w/o looking at it. This way I can adjust the volume while underway, or reach up and slap the big pause button for immediate silence. I think it works very well.