Radios

[DIGGER]

I've had motorcycles with radios.  I've installed radios on many motorcycles in the past.    I've installed speakers in helmets that over time has contributed to me being hard of hearing in my old age.    Seems like when traveling I was constantly running in and out of local radio stations and in places no signal at all.   Now a days I  like a motorcycle without radios.     I do my best thinking going down a lonely back road and when I get off my bike I'm relaxed and at Pease inside....not frustrated with the loud music in my ears.     

How do you guys feel about motorcycles with radios vs without radios?

[Bighead]

They are on all of mine. Play them most of the time but do turn it off and ride without it some also.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I like them. For longer trips I have really become a fan of audiobooks. 

[msb]

In all the 18 years I've had my Interstate, I've never used the radio...cut my antenna down to a shorty (just for looks) and installed a satellite radio. Never listened to it either much so let the subscription run out. Now we have Senas and all my music is available to me from my phone... and now I rarely listen to that either. Seems I'm more in the camp of listening to my own thoughts when riding... even on long distance rides. Oh ya, I have been known to sing a bit when riding though...  

[carolinarider09]

I only have a radio (as you have identified it on one bike).  Prior to that, for several years it was just wind noise in my ears.  Then I got a Garmin GPS (2610  Steetpilot I think) and it was suppose to allow me to play music (MP3 files) but it locked up. So I got an XM Radio antenna and then had music.  But I also listen to audio books.

Then I got a Zumo 550 (Garmin traded it for my 2610) and then a Garmin 665.  Both allow me to play MP3 music and audio books.  So, I no longer have a need for a radio for music or news.  

For me, on the road, I have no real need for a radio (as such although the XM device sort of qualifies but I use it rarely).  

I also transitioned away for in the helmet speakers some 10 years ago, switching to in the ear speakers (earphones).  I tired several types before I settled on form fitting in the ear speakers from Ear Inc.  

On my 2003 Valkyrie Standard, I have a small audio distribution AMP (Amplirider from Electric Avenues).  I don't know when I purchased it but its been there for over 12 years and still works.  It allows me to integrate my GPS and my radar detector to my earphones and has a volume control.  Works well even after 12 years.  

And, if for some reason I really want to listen to a radio station on the road, I just patch my iPhone into to my audio system and use iHeart radio.  Since iHeart provides retransmitted radio stations its the same as listening to the actual station (hear advertisements, ect).  The only drawback is in a lot of places I ride, cell service is marginal. XM access is sometimes iffy in heavy wooded areas or where hills block the antennas view of the satellites.  Then its back to the MP3 music and audio books.  Over the past 10 years I have listened to over 300 books while riding

[Jess from VA]

I greatly enjoy listening to classical symphony orchestra (but not snoozy piano concertos) when riding.  And classical rock.  From time to time, but mostly when the weather is great and traffic low and I'm feeling happy (and with good reception).  When I'm busy paying attention or in heavy traffic or getting rained on, I turn it off.

I had XM for a few years, but they pissed me off with their greed and automatic renewal billings (I never signed up for) so I quit, and I threw the radio away.  I have only stock IS radio with no upgrade, and sometimes it's much better than a transistor radio, and sometimes it's not.  I listen less than I used to, but I'm traveling less too.

I never owned/used a GPS, C-phone, bluetooth, Ipod, MP3 or any of those portable music machines.  If I had one all loaded up with music I like, I'd probably listen to it all the time.

Sometimes I sing to myself. but it's nothing to write home about.  I try to avoid the talking to my myself, and yelling at other drivers.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

In all the 18 years I've had my Interstate, I've never used the radio...cut my antenna down to a shorty (just for looks) and installed a satellite radio. Never listened to it either much so let the subscription run out. Now we have Senas and all my music is available to me from my phone... and now I rarely listen to that either. Seems I'm more in the camp of listening to my own thoughts when riding... even on long distance rides. Oh ya, I have been known to sing a bit when riding though...  

You don’t make Mrs. msb listen to your singing do you ? 

[GiG]

Never had a MC radio until 2012, but now I often ride without music playing.

The radio in my head has no “off” switch 
Usually the mental soundtracks resemble instrumental surf rock, live the Ventures, but completely original, compositions inspired by wind and speed and the power of a finely tuned motorcycle.

[baldo]

I use a Sena with helmet speakers. It works like a champ, though I would like to upgrade the speakers at some point. I've tried audiobooks through Audible, I didn't like it. I couldn't get comfortable dividing my attention. Maybe if I gave it more time....

Speakers on bikes....I don't like them. Whenever I do hear them, it's usually someone on a loud Harley with the volume turned WAY up. Pretty obnoxious.

[Big Rig]

I use mine 95% of the time. I also have Pandora on my phone that  I run thru the AUX. No need  to worry about wondering in and out of station range. That being said, I think I only "listen" to it 20% of the time...

[3W-lonerider]

i have spotify. and its on from the time i leave the house till the time i get back.
so when i'm on the bike or in the car its on 100% of the time.
i have my music downloaded into playlists.
riding songs.
heavy metal.
classic tunes.
used to have xm, but like was said. got fed up with their pricing and when my receiver broke they make no receivers anymore that are capable of recording live content and playing it back later when you don't have a signal.

[msb]

In all the 18 years I've had my Interstate, I've never used the radio...cut my antenna down to a shorty (just for looks) and installed a satellite radio. Never listened to it either much so let the subscription run out. Now we have Senas and all my music is available to me from my phone... and now I rarely listen to that either. Seems I'm more in the camp of listening to my own thoughts when riding... even on long distance rides. Oh ya, I have been known to sing a bit when riding though...  

You don’t make Mrs. msb listen to your singing do you ? 

lol... she actually doesn't mind my singing, though we don't keep the Sensas open all the time... just click 'em on if we want to talk. After almost 38 years riding together, we're both OK with long stretches of just taking in the sights and sounds of the road

[Oss]

The mic on the sena I bought at americade was broken and they just shipped me a replacement yesterday and I had my local MC shop install it (for free !) this morning,

I amost always have music playing in my head so I dont usually NEED the music but sometimes its nice

Long stretches with no music never bothers me, but sometimes you just do feel the need for serious guitar tunes  I need to figure out how to use my google phone to download playlists and just play them bluetooth over the sena

On days long trips it will be nice to be able to speak to my office or clients without having to stop for half an hour or more

[Robert]

The mic on the sena I bought at americade was broken and they just shipped me a replacement yesterday and I had my local MC shop install it (for free !) this morning,

I amost always have music playing in my head so I dont usually NEED the music but sometimes its nice

Long stretches with no music never bothers me, but sometimes you just do feel the need for serious guitar tunes  I need to figure out how to use my google phone to download playlists and just play them bluetooth over the sena

On days long trips it will be nice to be able to speak to my office or clients without having to stop for half an hour or more

May have found a way for you, I bought the new Air Pod Pro's with noise cancellation.

https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/

  I have been using them everywhere even while in the car and in restaurants that are noisy, and they work great. With Siri you can tell Siri to dial anyone one on your phones address book. They cut down wind noise to levels similar and maybe better than ear plugs and you can still talk and use your phone for calls and tunes. I used them in a restaurant today that was very loud and turned on the noise cancellation and what a difference, I actually ate my meal in peace without the din of the talking.

With noise cancelling on you can hear when someone is talking to you but its muffled and you find instead of talking louder to them you actually speak softer. Its very similar to good ear plugs in the sound and still have the ability to hear, make and answer phone calls or hear tunes. In a noisy shop the constant noise of fans, wears on you and these dramatically cut down on the ambient noise level. They are pretty comfortable in your ears and seal like ear plugs would and you have the option of turning the noise cancellation on or off so you can hear the surroundings. While doing whatever like listening to music or answering a call you have the choice to have noise cancelling on or off. When you turn it off the you can hear pretty clearly and its not as loud as the noise around you would normally be.

  I never thought I would like ear buds or ear phones or speakers but I love these. They play music with some real quality and the bass is solid. They last about 4 or 5 hours on a single charge then put them back in the case which is small and they will recharge to about 75 percent within a half hour. The case will provide about a day and a half of charges on the buds and you can charge the case with the Iphone charger. They are Water proof also so no problem in all weather or even sweating.

I dont like music while riding but this gives you the option and hands free with Siri. The phone calls in high wind can be spotty but with a helmet there should be no problem at all. Through Siri you can answer calls, volume up or down, turn on music, and a whole host of other commands.

  Directions take on a whole new quality with the Apple maps, these ear buds and turn by turn directions. I do have the Apple watch also and with the directions the watch vibrates to make sure you know to turn. The watch with the Air Pods can also be used for tunes,calls,directions and a whole host of other features so your phone does not even have to be visible to do all these functions. With the watch you really dont even need to have your phone with you with the Air Pods since you can do calls and directions from your watch into your Air Pods. I usually keep my phone in my saddle bag and dont worry about weather or loosing it or forgetting to take it off the bike that way and just command from Siri or the Watch.

I was hungry when I was finished with my ride so went to a restaurant I frequent today, and while eating took my phone out, turned on Netflix put my Air Pods in turned on noise cancellation and enjoyed my meal in peace watching the Flash, it was great. A great ride a good meal and watching the Flash, and had my Nova and Lox scramble with a cinnamon raisin bagel and a cup of coffee.

[cookiedough]

My 2001 Valk I/S was my first speaker/radio setup on any bike owned and still love it do not know how I lived without music prior on cycles.   Although my stock Honda speakers are mediocre at best, I love cranking the music way, way up on my plug in mp3 player and listen mostly to 80s rocknrolla......    EXCEPT when the wife is on back she tells me to shut the music OFF completely or turn it way, way down.       

speed compensated volume is a pretty neat feature ahead of the time way back in 2001 I think works well also when coming into towns slowing down can easily hear the volume drop and then back onto hwy. speeding up volume goes way up again. 

am sure the surrounding cars in town do not like it, oh well, but most of my riding is by myself on rural roads.

[0leman]

Sounds like radio or no radio is the like what kind of "Oil is Best" discussion.   

I do listen to my radio, though there are places where I ride without reception.  Some places where those stations I listen to only barely come in. 
 
Do use the helmet speakers as have trouble hearing those speaker on front and rear. 

[MarkT]

Have audio setups on Jade and Deerslayer and BluByYou (GW).  Played thru speakers not headset.  Much of the time play my MP3 collection, rarely radio.  Though I have Sirius/XM via Zumo 665, acquired mostly for the weather radar. Also has traffic which I rarely use.  The 665 supports 2000 MP3's - if want different, change the SD card.  However installed a 128Gb card in my Android phone and connected it hardwired via the mixer (as the bluetooth is unreliable) so I can play my 9530 tunes collection - very eclectic.  (Also play these on my 4Runner via the USB port.)  So I can play satellite radio, (sometimes like a Howard fix or classic rock) or Pandora stations, or any other music aps online, but rarely do, it's my tunes I like - no commercials, very few repeats, no dropped connections, can select the genre or musicians I like or let it randomize.  Half the time - no audio at all.

[Avanti]

Interstate with radio and cb antenna both removed. I like the sight, sound, and smell of the road around me uninterrupted. I only like to here my wife point out what I might be missing.