View Full Version : sounds man!
just wondering if anyone has put a radio/music system into their ta??
Recycler
09-04-05, 05:52 PM
No way!!!!
modrover
12-04-05, 08:56 PM
way!!
Recycler
14-04-05, 10:14 AM
MAYBE BABY!!
I confess I did look at fitting an Autocom system just to plug in some music. I was put off by the cost and fitting so tried just wearing a walkman. I found it impossible to keep the earpieces in and it was uncomfortable.
BUT....
Motorcyclenews today has an ad by LIDL (cheapo food shop) selling bike intercom sets with music plug-in for a fiver!!!!!
At this price it's worth a go - I'll be in touch.
I can hear it now....."Yeah man I'm a cowboy....on a steel horse I ride..."
Lord Stig
14-04-05, 11:25 AM
Yes, it looks like they're coming in to Lidl today (14th April). The earpieces are normal walkman-like things with some kind of clip to keep them in place over the ears. I'm going to get one tonight if I can. There's quite a lot of stuff in the leaflet. For those that haven't got access to the new Lidl leaflet, they have:
Jet style helmet £19.99
Bike boots £16.99
Back protector £19.99
Leather gloves £12.99
Cordura jacket £59.99
Ankle boots (for bike!?!) £12.99
Windstopper socks £4.99
Balaclava £4.99
Tank bag (11 ltr, magnetic with straps) £5.99
Touring map for bikers £9.99
1 m chain lock £8.99
Disk lock £2.99
Bike battery charger £4.99
Bike cover £8.99
and a 2 man tent... £9.99
Has to be worth a look.
By the way, Hein Gericke do bike-specific speakers (with amp). They'd need to be loud though! Also, I notice there is a picture of an AT bash plate being used to demonstrate a polishing system in the new Hein Gericke catalogue. Ooh er!
Stig
Lord Stig
14-04-05, 11:29 AM
Ooh. Forgot the knee warmer £4.99 and kidney belt £2.99.
Recycler
14-04-05, 07:39 PM
Well I've got the £5 special from LIDL.
It works well but the earpieces are still a problem as they are fat and you put them on before your helmet. Ideally you need speakers that fit to your lid.
At the moment the earpieces are in bits at work while I try and slimline them. The kit includes one earpiece/mike for rider & pillion. Using both for yourself gives stereo music. I've chopped the microphones off and will try and minimalise the earphones.
It's worth a go as if it works I'll fit the box to the dash behind the screen. This would allow me to switch off / adjust the volume on the move which you cannot do with the Autocom.
You get some ugly fackers shopping in LIDL.
Lord Stig
15-04-05, 05:38 AM
I've noticed that about the Lidl shoppers, but I shop there too, so I suppose......
I was too late last night! There where more bikes in the car park than usual too. I wonder why!
Stig
Ralphie
15-04-05, 09:02 PM
What did the rest of the stuff look like? Is it crap or ok quality? :roll:
Usually we get the stuff you get in the UK a week or so later so I hope it turns up over here. You can see the stuff on the website but its not the same as having a good grope of it or trying it on! :D
Chucky :D
Fatjohn
16-04-05, 01:07 PM
TBH most of the stuff aint great(knee warmers???!) - but I did pick up the intercom yoke that Recycler got (haven't tested it yet) and a chain and lock (hope never gets tested).
One thing about intercoms though: we're supposed to wear earplugs on the bike right? Presumably you can't get an ear plug AND a headset in the same lug-hole, so does that mean I'm going to go deaf in one ear even before the woman starts bleating over the radio? On a slightly different note - what speed did you test it to Recycler? I don't know about anyone else, but I find wind noise can be pretty bad above 60-70mph.
:?:
Recycler
17-04-05, 10:21 AM
I tested it at a speed of Zero - at my desk.
Since then the earpieces have been in pieces. If these can't be made comfy then I'm no further on. Basically all I need is helmet mounted speakers that plug into this LIDL gizmo or direct to minidisc.
Lord Stig
18-04-05, 05:42 AM
I managed to get one in the end - they came in a day late. A while ago I modified Walkman headphones to fit in a helmet. I bought the slimmest ones I could and trimmed all the extraneous plastic until I had two headphones that would fit in the space in my helmet nearest my ears (not all helmets have this, and there lies the problem). I used velcro on the back of the phones to secure them to the lining of the lid. At the time I was using a Boots walkman with a digital radio that I had mounted on an old car phone bracket on my TA handle bars. It worked (I made sure I put a plastic bag over the walkman when it rained), but with ear plugs still wasn't really loud enough, and had the added problem of having a lead with a jack plug sticking out of the back of the helmet. I wireless connection might be better. Or...... an integrally mounted MP3 player in the chin piece of the helmet, operated with the tongue.... Should provide excellent exercise for other activities.......
Stig
Or...... an integrally mounted MP3 player in the chin piece of the helmet, operated with the tongue.... Should provide excellent exercise for other activities.......
Stig
:lol:
Recycler
18-04-05, 08:18 PM
MP3 player in the chin piece of the helmet, operated with the tongue.... Should provide excellent exercise for other activities.......
Stig
Go now and remind your missus that she hit the bullseye when she met you.
put a radio on a honda 90 years ago to go camping with worlds smallest goldwing methinks.
wheeliebin
19-04-05, 12:30 AM
90 years ago ! :shock: how old are you :shock:
I'll get my coat now. :roll:
Whoa should have been nine years whoops. I am at the fantastic age of 27 and feel about 60 ah well. :cry:
Recycler
23-04-05, 10:01 AM
Bollox.
I couldn't adapt the headphones on the LIDL fiver special. Putting them on before the helmet just doesn't work.
A shame as it worked fine and I would of put it behind the screen for adjustments on the move.
Having got the bug I splashed out on an Autocom for £150. This comes with flat speakers that you fit to the helmet. On my Arai they fit under the removeable covers and are comfy.
Fitting the box takes minutes once you have decided on where to route the wires. I put mine in the tail section and connected the live wire to the rear brake light switch - the neg goes straight to the battery.
For music the sound is adjusted on the walkman, the autocom amplifies it. I ran the music wire up into my topbox to save having to keep removing the seat.
I can't comment on the intercom/phone facilities as I just use it for music. For tunes sound quality is excellent up to about 40mph but background (wind) noise creeps in gradually above that. So it's great for the commute but not so good on the motorway unless you've got a Goldwing fairing grafted on.
Since then I've seen that Maplins does cheap intercoms with flat speakers. If you're lucky these might plug straight into a walkman giving a cheaper option. The Autocom speakers will not plug into a walkman.
Recycler
30-05-05, 06:26 PM
After a month with the Autocom I'm sold....
For the commute to work it's the bollox - Mettalica all the way.
I don't know about the intercom side but sound quality is very good.
I have a DAB radio indoors and am looking for a portable DAB that doesn't have the aerial in the headphones lead so I can plug it in and listen to Planet Rock.
'I'm a cowboy......on a STEEL horse I ride....'
Hi!
It's my first post here but since I bought my Transalp 2 months ago i felt the need for music so I bought this: http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/ :D
Very good! :thumbright:
Dessert Storm
28-06-05, 08:18 AM
Bollox.
I couldn't adapt the headphones on the LIDL fiver special. Putting them on before the helmet just doesn't work.
Having got the bug I splashed out on an Autocom for £150. This comes with flat speakers that you fit to the helmet. On my Arai they fit under the removeable covers and are comfy.
Since then I've seen that Maplins does cheap intercoms with flat speakers. If you're lucky these might plug straight into a walkman giving a cheaper option. The Autocom speakers will not plug into a walkman.
At the bike show at Beaulieu a couple of weeks ago, there were two or three companies offering custom moulded earplugs incorporating speakers, for about £140. A bit pricy I know, but if worn day in day out to protect your hearing (I've reached the age where I start to consider such things!) then maybe not so bad. There have also been a number of threads about helmet speakers and earphones/earplugs on http://www.advrider.com/forums/index.php? in which Etymotics ER-4 earbuds have been spoken well of.
I could use other headphones than the iPOD ones...
They are very good but tend to be removed from my ears when I put the helmet...
Recycler
10-07-05, 11:00 AM
Sorted. Autocom in tail section, mini DAB radio in topbox. Link wire is fed through grommet in bottom of top box and acts as the aerial.
Now it's PlanetRock on the move. 8) Reception is crystal and the signal holds well.
Listening to music is no different to being in a car - you can still hear traffic.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=676
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=677
How cool is that!
:mrgreen:
africajim
11-02-06, 01:20 AM
I bought one of the LIDL specials last summer, the mike on one headset packed in after three days touring! Luckily I had my trusty old Nady with me, pity the LIDL jobby wasn't fit to power the speakers on the Nady headsets. Quality is in the price I suppose. I've used my Nady intercom for seven yrs now and the only problem was one of those piddly thin wires broke going to the headset so I bought a couple of those stretchy cables like a telephone with 3.5 mm jacks, cut off one end and fitted to the Nady headset. Haven't had further problems in over five yrs.
yep, i've got an autocom fitted to my transalp. £95. the unit is fitted next to the tool kit and i've drilled a small hole in the base of my top box for the cables (for my phone and mp3 player). the speakers are inserted inside the padding of my arai which has slots ready for speakers. i now listen to music whilst on the bike and can take incoming calls as well. the phone is set to auto answer and the autocom automatically cuts the music it takes a bit of time to set the sensitivity to how it suits you but very good system! makes my 700 - 800 miles per week much more entertaining! .......and its quite funny telling someone youre on a motorbike at 85 mph answering the phone! :D
autocom linked up to the ipod totally the fookin nuts once you've got it you wont let it go :D :headbang:
Recycler
16-02-06, 08:06 PM
Try PLANET ROCK on mini DAB!
I'm getting the Tranny MOTd at 9 tomorrow. I've spent Dec - now on the XT as it didn't sell.
08:30 hours 17/02/06 the sounds resume on new tyres! :rr:
Try PLANET ROCK on mini DAB!
I'm getting the Tranny MOTd at 9 tomorrow. I've spent Dec - now on the XT as it didn't sell.
08:30 hours 17/02/06 the sounds resume on new tyres! :rr:
just got back from a ride out to the sounds of highway to hell AC/DC :headbang: MAN ITS BETTER THAN DRUGS :cyclops:
yep, i've got an autocom fitted to my transalp. £95. the unit is fitted next to the tool kit and i've drilled a small hole in the base of my top box for the cables (for my phone and mp3 player). the speakers are inserted inside the padding of my arai which has slots ready for speakers. i now listen to music whilst on the bike and can take incoming calls as well. the phone is set to auto answer and the autocom automatically cuts the music it takes a bit of time to set the sensitivity to how it suits you but very good system! makes my 700 - 800 miles per week much more entertaining! .......and its quite funny telling someone youre on a motorbike at 85 mph answering the phone! :D
Hi! I'm also considering an Autocom or Starcom on my Transalp, for music (iPOD) and phone...
Which one is best? And has best Music quality?
Can you post some pictures of you instalation? Where's the headphone socket?
Thanx! 8)
I just bought the Autocom at the Dublin Bike show - last years model for £75, wind noise is still a problem though. Also ordered a pair of custom made earplugs which they say you can still hear the autocom unit with, but there's also available 'filters' to fit in the ear plugs that allow more sound through.... ALSO they make earplugs with tiny speaker things fitted in them which are supposed to be the doggies thingies, but at £149 couldn't quite manage that. I bought the Lidl intercom last year and I'd have to rate it as complete crap - if anyone wants it they can have for the postage...
Quote Chad :"just got back from a ride out to the sounds of highway to hell AC/DC headbang MAN ITS BETTER THAN DRUGS" .....you been using the wrong drugs, man :lol: :wink:
oy oy chris where you been hiding dude :D
autocom linked up to the ipod totally the fookin nuts once you've got it you wont let it go :D :headbang:
SNAP!!
You'll never go without again!!
I bleat like my missus losing her handbag if my ipod battery shows red!! :cry:
Try the volume boosters you can get for the ipod. Good volume at 80 WITH earplugs.
The only problem I have had is with a copy of Red Hot Chili Pepers that is so loud it causes clipping. Not sure if it is the autocom clipping or the ipod
Com function is great once tweaked to suit. The music reduces when you talk and then gradually increases again when you are finished. I can't get my phone working with it though. Anyone else found this a problem. I get very low volume out of phone and caller can't hear me??
I think it is something to do with the phone jack on my hands-free having three bands around it and the standard audio only has two?? anone know anything about these things?
Carport
18-03-06, 11:58 AM
I think it is something to do with the phone jack on my hands-free having three bands around it and the standard audio only has two?? anone know anything about these things?
Spot on - you need an adapter, order direct from autocom or your nearest autocom dealer. Cost about a tenner.
cheers dude!
Got a part or reference number there? and is it phone specific?
(motorola e398)
Carport
18-03-06, 01:29 PM
cheers dude!
Got a part or reference number there? and is it phone specific?
(motorola e398)
Yes they are phone specific and they don't list anything for Motorola, only Nokia, Siemens and Sony-ericsson.
Best you give them a ring and check your options.
Rubberchicken
18-03-06, 02:44 PM
I'm wondering... Doesn't riding with music make your bike, well, more photogenic as seen from behind the bushes on the side of the road?
I remember riding a pushbike to school every day with a pennywise tape in the ol' walkman, leaving home 5 minutes too late and getting there soaked in sweat and 15 mins early... In other words, so far I've resisted the temptation to take the ipod for a ride because I fear it just might be a life shortening experience. ;-)
oy oy chris where you been hiding dude :DHi Chad, recovering from the serious shock of reaching half a century...... still once I get the hearing aid installed in me lid and the zimmer frame welded onto the TA I should be OK :wink:
I bleat like my missus losing her handbag if my ipod battery shows red!! :cry:
So, are you guys not powering your mp3 players/phones from the bike?
So, are you guys not powering your mp3 players/phones from the bike?
nah. not worth it at the mo cos my ipod battery when fully charged has more endurance than my ass for time on the bike! :D
I will however be getting an accesory socket (car lighter) fitted to the @ for my jollys as we will be camping for days at a time. Any recommendations for one of these, and fitting these front and rear?
Wondered the other day about getting one of the givi boxes with the connections on the mounting plate and rehashing the box with a socket inside, and rather than wiring to the brake light just wiring into lights so stuff charges whilst lights are on. Probably not going to do it but thought it might be novel. :?
Carport
19-03-06, 08:27 AM
So, are you guys not powering your mp3 players/phones from the bike?
nah. not worth it at the mo cos my ipod battery when fully charged has more endurance than my ass for time on the bike! :D
I will however be getting an accesory socket (car lighter) fitted to the @ for my jollys as we will be camping for days at a time. Any recommendations for one of these, and fitting these front and rear?
Wondered the other day about getting one of the givi boxes with the connections on the mounting plate and rehashing the box with a socket inside, and rather than wiring to the brake light just wiring into lights so stuff charges whilst lights are on. Probably not going to do it but thought it might be novel. :?
Have a look in the articles section for the write up.
Aaaah! ask and thy shall recieve....or swiftly told to piss off!
cheers!
Just been searching for discussion on heated waistcoats (preferably not £200 for BMW) but come up short..any help there?? Not for me might I add, I can hack the winter, honest guv, but the girlfriend turns blue! :D besides if i get her one and it just happens to fit me...... :thumbleft:
piguglyshandydrinker
20-03-06, 07:44 PM
Aaaah! ask and thy shall recieve....or swiftly told to piss off!
cheers!
Just been searching for discussion on heated waistcoats (preferably not £200 for BMW) but come up short..any help there?? Not for me might I add, I can hack the winter, honest guv, but the girlfriend turns blue! :D besides if i get her one and it just happens to fit me...... :thumbleft:
Guy I got the bike from give me his heated w/coat for a few quid, Highly recomended, the rest of you can be cold but it's much easier to put up with when your body core is kept warm, ridden in below zero temps for long periods and never had it on full temp yet - well only to try but it's too hot :wink:
Phil - and who called me a "nesh" :lol:
xrv_jim
22-03-06, 07:55 PM
Hi! I'm also considering an Autocom or Starcom on my Transalp, for music (iPOD) and phone...
Which one is best? And has best Music quality?
Can you post some pictures of you instalation? Where's the headphone socket?
Thanx! 8)
Autocom and Starcom are both much the same qualitywise - both good pieces of kit with similar functionality.
I've got a Starcom with my iPod Nano hooked up through it and the sound is great. Anyone know where I can get a 12V cig lighter socket to iPod Nano charging lead. The batteries don't seem to last long on those things.
xrv_jim
22-03-06, 09:28 PM
Anyone know where I can get a 12V cig lighter socket to iPod Nano charging lead.
Found one at Amazon if anyone is looking.
Anyone know where I can get a 12V cig lighter socket to iPod Nano charging lead...
http://www.ghc.co.uk/acatalog/iPod_nano.html
Anyone know where I can get a 12V cig lighter socket to iPod Nano charging lead.
Found one at Amazon if anyone is looking.
is that the same as on a 20 gig model :?
Recycler
03-02-07, 10:24 AM
Dug this old topic up as have made a change - BRING OUT YER DEAD!
Problems:
1)The mini DAB eats batteries.
2) With the music source in the top box I couldn't adjust volume/turn it on-off or select tracks.
So I bought this MP3 for £40 from Argos. It's splashproof with rubber buttons and holds about 250 tracks.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13316
It's even backlit in a choice of 7 colours (well, keeps me amused anyway).
The Autocom is still in the tail piece so I ordered a 2 metre music lead (£4) to reach. It's run under the frame top rail and since this pic I've wrapped the cable in a piece of screen trim.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13319
I made a bracket out of odds & sods including a piece of an old Abus U lock holder. The music lead runs along the main wiring loom and the fairing bracket, then pops up behind the clock surround. A piece of velcro sticks the MP3 in place.
http://www.xrv.org.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=13322
Dessert Storm
03-02-07, 05:50 PM
Neat little setup Recycler. My approach is to keep my MP3 player in a jacket pocket and plug in a pair of etymotic er6i earbuds, which also act as surprisingly effective earplugs when I'm not listening to music. Simple, but big disadvantage is that I can't make any adjustments on the move. Rock while riding - er - rocks.
RainMan
05-02-07, 11:42 AM
The problem I have with the ear bud system, earphones etc., is the fact that you have wire trailing from your helmet to the bike, which can be very restrictive, found this to be the case when driving my Goldwing ,
which has all this electronic gubbins built into the bike and a spiral cable connecting your helmet to the the pig-tail connector on the bike. Got off the bike on more than one occasion only go be dragged back back by the helmet because I forgot to disconnect the cord, which also wears out rapidly at the connectors because of all the plugging/unplugging. A much better solution is a bluetooth headset, which gives you complete freedom and will also connect to all of your electronic junk, i.e. phones iPods etc.,
http://www.alan-uk.com/alan/motorcycle/bluetooth-equipment.html
Personally I found being connected to your music, phone, wife, office fax and so on, way to much of a distraction, I ride the bike to escape from all of this stuff, which is why I chopped in my 'wing for the Alp.
babybadger
05-02-07, 06:19 PM
MAYBE BABY!!
I confess I did look at fitting an Autocom system just to plug in some music. I was put off by the cost and fitting so tried just wearing a walkman. I found it impossible to keep the earpieces in and it was uncomfortable.
BUT....
Motorcyclenews today has an ad by LIDL (cheapo food shop) selling bike intercom sets with music plug-in for a fiver!!!!!
At this price it's worth a go - I'll be in touch.
I can hear it now....."Yeah man I'm a cowboy....on a steel horse I ride..."
Ipod shuffle (older style, lets face it who needs to know what track is playing while you are riding at the same time?) and a set of Sony MDR-J10 http://audiovisual.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ps_7114887/120901.html (superb and don't slip of your ear as you put helmet on..... or J20's (bit harder to keep in ear but better quality, I use a neck warmer as well to hold in place) http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/128842/art/sony/mdr-j20s-earphones.html)
Or my old setup was this :
1 x nokia with pop-port and mp3/ radio one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NOKIA-HS-3-WHITE-Pop-Port-to-3-5mm-PERFECT-STEREO_W0QQitemZ260080847206QQihZ016QQcategoryZ203 68QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem linked to the same headphones.......and you can autoanswer calls! This is really handy on a long journey. Fiddly with mouthpiece in visor but all people could hear me! And handsfree - ticks that box as well for the rozzers! This setup about £25 all-in
vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.