I'm neither here nor there about this topic. I have riden with my earbuds in but I never felt that comfortable with it.

 

I'd start singing and the dogs would start howling....
Then I would get pulled over for violating the noise ordinance.
Not pretty.

 

Only way I listen to music while riding is through my headset. No distraction to what's going on around me at all.

 

One of my buddies rides with headphones on. So does his wife on the back. I think its annoying and dangerous for a few reasons.
Its annoying because they spend lots of time searching for songs on their IPODS while we are waiting for them to take off.
Its annoying because when you roll up on them you can't talk because they can't hear you.
Its dangerous because many times they are flipping around the IPOD songs while driving. Also, they aren't aware of any sounds like screaching tires or somebody yelling that one of their bike parts is falling off or they have a bubble in their tire or anything like that.
Its dangerous because they can't hear their own bike. What if something mechanically bad started to happen. Usually, the first thing you notice is what it sounds like.
It should be illegal but then again... helmets aren't mandatory in Connecticut so what the heck.

 

You can do what you want, personally I think it is somewhat a safety issue, but to each his own, we all do things that are more or less safe than others. We even live to tell about it, go figure. I ride to get away from all the normal stuff that is in a day, music included. I'll take the sound of the wind and the V-twin over anything else.

 

I love my tunes. I don't listen when I'm riding with buddies around town or to the local bike night...we talk at the lights. But on the road or going to work, I listen all the time.

I'm not any more distracted than when I'm in the car. I make playlists so I don't have to fiddle with stuff while riding (THAT I don't do!), and I can still hear cars, sirens, etc.

+1 on checking the local laws!

 

Got me thinking...


I wouldn't wear a helmet if I didn't have to
I split lanes (when I'm pissed)
But I won't listen to tunes while riding.

See what NY does to people?

 

Wear them at times and don't think I'm giving up any ability to hear things around me. Normally have the stereo blasting when not wearing the headphones anyways.

 

I used to wear them all the time before I got my Street Glide. I could still hear the traffic around me and any horns or sirens. I feel that I stayed more alert while listening to music than when not (tend to space out on longer rides without music).

 

Nope. Never have and do not plan to. I like hearing the sounds of the wind and motor, especially the motor. Like mentioned earlier, if something starts to go wrong you will usually hear it first. I know plenty of people who do wear earphones and have had no issues. I can't say I like the idea, but if you are one of those who really keeps a careful eye on what's happening all around you then I say go for it.