Tunes when riding

[jdp]

I use to have an I pod and play it threw my interstate  radio but they don’t make I pods anymore and if I use my phone the battery goes dead too fast so I installed XM radio but I have to find a dead station for it to work but traveling I’m constantly trying to find another dead station so what is everyone using now ? I’m so far behind the new technology it’s embarrassing

[Jess from VA]

JDP, I ran an XM radio for a few years.  There's two ways to hook it up.  One, you go wireless to a set channel on the radio (dead station?).  That never worked very well for me.  

The other way is to plug in to the audio plug under the side cover (I think right) and run that wire up to your handlebar mount for the XM.  You need the correct extension cord from audio plug to radio.  I tucked it under the side of the tank, and later when I had it off, I ran it under the tank.  The volume was never as high as wireless, but it played reliably.  Except sometimes, the satellite antenna (and signal) would go in and out under the trees and behind the mountain from time to time.  

I may not have that exactly right, I'm no expert on it.  I got so tired of XM tryng to gouge me for subscriptions at top prices, I took it off and threw it away.  Never give them your credit card number or they renew you at high prices without even asking, forever.  I made them wait for a check.

[carolinarider09]

While it is not  too the "techie" I use two sources for music and other audible entertainment.  

While the bike we use primarily for long trips does have an AM/FM radio, its rarely used.

The two sources are:

My Garmin 665 GPS and a USB Drive the bike recognizes and plays music in a random manner.  

The GPS provides both music from MP3 files stored on the device (same as the USB drive but I just like to have the USB option) and XM radio.  XM Radio was used a lot on the days of yesterday, not so much now.

The USB drive is the primary music source and, as I said, it interfaces with the bike's audio system.

The other thing we listen to is/are Audio books.  I have about 300 we have listened to over the years and we are still finding new ones (well some are old but new to us).  I find the books to be superior to the music.  The audio books are stored and listened too from the GPS.  

In essence, I could dump there USB drive thing and let my GPS do all the work.

Just a note.    Back when the Garmin products first came out the Audio books were from "Audible". They were a separate company.  A few years ago, Amazon bought them.

When Audible books were downloaded from the Audible website, you need to have a program to put them on the GPS.  This program set up the books "chapters" so you could skip from chapter to chapter if you wished.  

After Amazon took over that separate program was done away with. For a little while I was concerned that the books would no longer be available for use on the GPS and that would have ticked me off.

However, so far, I just down load the books in their *.AAX format and put them on the GPX.  They still work and will allow you to fast forward through the book.  Just not chapter by chapter.    

[msb]

When I got my Interstate barely used in 2000, I cut the antenna down because I didn't like whip antennas, so I never used the radio function. The bike had a 10 disc CD changer in the Left saddlebag when I purchased it. Sounded good, but that didn't belong on a motorcycle or warrant the use of most of one saddlebag, so it was gone quickly. I then installed a satellite radio, wired to the Aux port on the bike...it worked great, but it was gone in a couple years as well. Then I got Sena Bluetooth for the Mrs and me to communicate on our longer tours and thought I'd just listen to music on my phone while riding, but that didn't last long either. Took me a while and a few different technologies, but I eventually figured out that I just prefer the sound of the road and my own thoughts while riding...or I sing when I'm in the mood for music

[The emperor has no clothes]

I use to have an I pod and play it threw my interstate  radio but they don’t make I pods anymore and if I use my phone the battery goes dead too fast so I installed XM radio but I have to find a dead station for it to work but traveling I’m constantly trying to find another dead station so what is everyone using now ? I’m so far behind the new technology it’s embarrassing

I use my iPhone. You can get a cord accessory that lets it charge and listen at the same time. I found for long trips I really enjoyed audio books.

[Jess from VA]

I then installed a satellite radio, wired to the Aux port on the bike.

OK, in my post I called it the audio plug, but maybe it's the Aux plug (per Mike). 

I believe this is it.

[JimC]

For music I use my phone via blue tooth, and receive it in my helmet with a sena intercom unit. The phone can be charged while in use on the road through a usb port, I do that and leave the phone in a pouch on the tank. With a sena unit (or others) You can use any music storage device that has blue tooth.
Jim

[cookiedough]

man, I am so outdated is very bad.  I still use my mp3 player with my favorite tunes on it.  My old cheaper one stopped working which had a VERY LONG battery life could go easily 8 hours on a single charge, but my Sansa mp3 player I have now only goes 5 hours or so and goes dead.    Cost me under 20 bucks for each and work well with AUX plug in under right side cover plugnplay.  Have to crank the volume 100% on mp3 player and radio volume on Interstate around 20-25 or so.

I do not have music stored on my cell phone nor would I want to run down the phone's battery in case I need it to call/text someone out riding. 

the mp3 player takes up VERY little space in my iron horse tank bib pouch with AUX cable routed up to it around the left side back area of the gas tank.

[scooperhsd]

I have about 40-50 MP3s stored on my Garmin Zumo 396 , and Sena Intercom that I can listen to it on. I also have virtually my entire MP3 collection on my phone, that I could listen to via the Garmin , but I haven't gotten around to getting power for the phone yet. Kind of a non-interest with my lower back pain keeping me off the Valk too much right now. Coming up with something that can plug into the 12V that has a couple USB charging ports shouldn't be too difficult (one for phone, the other for the Sena, maybe one / two  for the wife when I can get her back on with me. Phone could also stream Pandora or other sources (with the appropriate apps).

I am getting ready to change cell phones / companies to a Motorola Moto G Power (BIG battery) / Tracphone, but I'm waiting on that until I get home from wife's family reunion (we leave Sat AM and get home a week later), just to not throw away prepaid phone service from Verizon. I expect the same streaming options on the new phone as well (I'm currently using a Moto G7 play).

[Jess from VA]

but I'm waiting on that until I get home from wife's family reunion (we leave Sat AM and get home a week later)

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.   

[Psychotic Bovine]

I use my phone mounted in a Tackform (pricey but very robust) mount.  It sends tunes and google directions to my helmet via a Sena 20s Evo comm.  I have a usb cord that comes out of my tank bib to charge the phone.  For short, slower speed trips I use the speakers in my helmet.  For trips that are going to be higher interstate speeds and longer, I use Shure SE215 earbuds plugged into my Sena headphone port.  The Shure's have all day comfort.  Great thing about using the Sena, is that I can make and receive phone calls, hear directions (and advisories like speed traps and stalled cars) via Google navigation.  All while listening to music.  The Sena pauses the music when I get a phone call or direct comm and Google lowers the volume on music when giving me directions and advisories.  

[jdp]

Thanks for all the inputs, man I’m so out dated when it comes to this I’m sure those kids at Best Buy get a kick when I go in there and start asking questions, well I found out they don’t make the iPod which that’s what I was using but they still make a mp3-4 so I might look at those but my buddies wife just ordered me an adapter that I can use my phone for music and charge it at the same time that’s the only reason I didn’t use my phone because the battery went dead so this adapter might just be the trick, I need my tunes on the long rides threw the Midwest I get tired of the corn fields

[Bret SD]

The sound of wind and the low exhaust rumble is all the music I need.

[Oss]

I have attached to the battery charger tail a usb receptacle so I can charge the phone
It comes out under the seat on the key side of the bike
Phone is in my right jacket pocket
Then I have the Sena set up so I can use the bluetooth to play the sirrus stations over the headset
Rarely use the fm on the Sena but it comes in great
I LOVE channel 148 which are old radio shows such as Johnny Dollar, the great gildersleevem Burns and Allen and Dragnet

But like 90% of the time I just like to hear the sound of my motorcycle

[MarkT]

I have multiple sources.  Garmin Zumo 665 has 2000 mp3's per SD card - can swap that out if I want a different set.  It also is an XM/Sirius satellite radio player (with traffic & weather fn from XM).  I have an X-holder for my Android Samsung phone and a 1TB SD card in the phone - presently with 9957 MP3 library loaded in it, I play with the ap Musicolet.  It can also play whatever music ap when in range of cell towers (generally not in the mountains) - my preferred is Pandora.  The GPS and phone are both powered via USB hardwired power ports.  They are also both hardwired to a 300w Lanzar crossover/preamp/mixer with Bluetooth (hardwired as Bluetooth is intermittant) and subwoofer port - which then feeds into a 400w Kenwood 4-channel amp which then powers 2 coaxial 4" speakers on the handlebar.  The Lanzar mixer supports output from the GPS and phone simultaneously - handy if I'm using the audio directions fn from the GPS.  So 4 music sources - can always have music regardless of cell tower proximity - or if the satellite signal is blocked - say inside tunnels in the mountains.

The Lanzar & Kenwood (behind coolant tank).  The wire bundle is to/from the relay panel.



Cockpit with speakers, phone X-mount & GPS.  Other electrics visible - fuel control panel, XM antenna, Rostra cruise control, Escort radar (voltage readout), Tekonsha trailer brake control.