From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!alice!npoiv!npois!houxi!houxn!hsc Newsgroups: net.cycle Title: Re: headphones and helmets Article-I.D.: houxn.251 Posted: Fri Sep 3 11:01:34 1982 Received: Sun Sep 5 03:40:36 1982 References: cbosgd.2585 Many companies sell earphones that are designed to be installed inside the helmet. One or two also sell a small speaker enclosure that screws onto the outside of the helmet. Check magazine ads and local dealers. Honda also has their own in-the-helmet earphones. Many people just take the transducers (minus foam earpiece, frame, etc.)and glue or screw into the inside of the helmet opposite the ear. Wires can be run out the bottom or brought to a mini plug installed in the helmet shell. The worst noise exposure on a bike is from wind noise without a fairing - about 90dBA with an open-face helmet. Many riders, including quite a few of the staff of the various magazines, routinely wear in-the-ear hearing protectors to avoid fatigue and hearing damage. These actually enhance "survival" hearing a bit, too. If you are already riding without a fairing, your ears are being punished enough and your abilityto hear cars is already sufficiently masked by wind noise. The big disadvantage of earphones at home or on the bike is that it is possible to blast your ears with very high sound levels. The potential for masking "survival" hearing and for permanent hearing damage is correspondingly increased. At least with a fairing-mounted speaker you can't get such a high sound level at the ear as with a headset. If you must have music, get a Rooster or something with speakers. Personally, I find just rinding to be a sufficiently rich sensual experience. Another thought - You might be reacting to the high wind noise level without realizing it. Try hearing protectors, a quieter full-face helmet, or a fairing, and see if you still feel the need for stereo. Earphones for motorcyclists are illegal in some states. Not, I think, in NJ. Check, though. My biases are very apparent in what I've said here. Remember, though, that the guy in the Mercedes with the 200 watt quadraphonic system may not be able to hear anything at all, but he's sitting in a two-ton steel box. Also, if someone creams you with their car, the presence of earphones in your helmet (or even speakers on your bike) may keep you from collecting in court (or maybe even from insurance). It's a hard world. Keep it shiny-side-up, Harvey S. Cohen BTL Lincroft,NJ houxn!hsc