MP3 4U?

[Bigtwin]

In a pathetic attempt to make believe that this -7 temperature nonsense will ever end, I'm turning my thoughts to summer cruzin' type stuff.

So who's got some MP3 plummed into the bike somehow? I've not got Autocom or anything like that (but do have a DAB/FM on the bike, FWIW).

What have you got and how's it mounted and powered?

 

[John Armstrong]

I've a 20gb I-river which goes into the Autocom. Plenty of volume as I use the ear monitors, otherwise you might need a boosteroo if you get something with less output / don't use ear monitors, HTH.

Battery lasts long enough not to need bothering with any on bike charger.

 

[Bigtwin]

I've a 20gb I-river which goes into the Autocom. Plenty of volume as I use the ear monitors, otherwise you might need a boosteroo if you get something with less output / don't use ear monitors, HTH.

Battery lasts long enough not to need bothering with any on bike charger.

What about mounting?

 

[Warthog]

On my Dad's RT, we simply put one of those tapes with a lead sticking out of it that used to allow portable CDs to be played out through a car cassette deck. Plug the jack into the iPod and you have tunes!

 

[Bigtwin]

On my Dad's RT, we simply put one of those tapes with a lead sticking out of it that used to allow portable CDs to be played out through a car cassette deck. Plug the jack into the iPod and you have tunes!

No tape player.

 

[bikermike]

We have an ALBA (don't laugh at the back) MP3, doobery, wotsit, device that cost an unearthly sum of......wait for it....£20 (or therabouts). It has an on-board memory and also takes SD cards, so can keep adding to the SD library if I want. We use it with an Autocom (sorry), and its brilliant bit of kit for a bike. The batteries don't seem to last long for some reason, but will look at sorting that. Fits in my pocket, with a flying lead to a socket on the bike that connects to the Autocom. Neat.

 

[Allroad]

i just use an i pod through the autocom

 

[Flashman]

I use a 20GB i-River run through my Starcom and mounted in a Touratech handlebar bag along with my PMR radio. See here for a pic of the handlebar bag.

 

[John Armstrong]

What about mounting?

In the tankbag!. Inside a plastic bag if it's likely to rain.

 

[Tomcat]

Theres some device available to plug into an iPOD which sends out an FM radio signal, so if you've got an FM radio already, you just tune it in to the frequency of the iPOD thingy, and listen through the radio. Sorry, can't help with more details - have only seen this stuff, which belongs to a friend.

TC

 

[Blowzorn]

YOU COULD TRY AN IPOD IN A WATERPROOF HOUSING.
YOU CAN STILL TWIDDLE THE DIAL THROUGH THE FLEXI-LENS

 

[Rev Chuck]

Now this is all very interesting, because I too have managed to purchase a 20Gb doodaa. I thought there was some question about hard mounting the MP3 to the bike, because by doing so it actually caused damage to the HD through the amount of shaking about that the HD took. Can people confirm or deny this? I would be hoping to put mine in a waterproof bag inside my front of jacket pocket and that might prevent the jostling and loss of performance that I believe some have hinted at.

I do not have an Autocom, and would just be playing it through the fontopia earphones - although tbh I'm not sure what exactly an Autocom does or why I need it, because I am not likely ever to be carrying a pillion or seeking to communicate with another biker that I am riding with, no offence to any of you.

 

[John Armstrong]

I have no problems with skipping on my hard drive mp3 player. A Cd player in the same tank bag would depending on the tides status skip for England on the wrong day!

Putting it in your pocket, preferably waterproof, should isolate it from the nasty vibrations.

 

[Bigtwin]

My concer too - the new Sony walkman mp3 has a 1 metre drop shock-proof capability, so they claim, so I figure should be OK. Then again, with all that vibration, may just toast it in 5 mins?

 

[ianf]

Dahoum, Steptoe, myself, and others do the waterproof pocket thing and have had no nasties with apple ipods.

My old zen micro bit the dust after a day in my panniers though. A lot of these devices don't really go to off properly, and can come on again of their own accord. So best on your person, even if you aren't using it. (Until it rains and then you're stuck, 'cos nothings really totally waterproof.).

 

[Alan1963]

5GB Rio through the Autocom, either in my pocket or, if I've got the tank bag on, then it goes nicely in the small rear pocket on the BMW tank bag. Battery life is good for even a long day in the seat and if I'm away for a few days the charger goes with me - less hassle than trying to power from the bike. Volume is OK, but I'm looking at options to boost it a little.

 

[YosemitePaul]

It may be that I'm missing something when it comes to Autocom, I don't quite understand what I need. I want to be able to listen to my ipod through my helmet. I don't want to talk to my pillion or mates nearby.
I find the earphones that come with the ipod too uncomfortable under the helmet. So I'd like to be able to fit some speakers into the helmet lining, and connect them directly to the ipod.
Do I need an autocom system or is there anything else out there which will do the job???

 

[Pukmeister]

I have a Creative Zen Touch 20GB playing through my Autocom Pro7 Sport, going to buy some in-ear monitors when funds allow. The level of volume when using earplugs to make Mp3 music clear is very loud, switching on the Mp3 and forgetting to insert earplugs can be a painful experience. I hope the monitors kill wind noise and enhance the clarity of music/phone/bike-to-bike/GPS audio.

I managed to kill the HDD in my first Zen by using it in the tankbag, the replacement unit now it sits in a waterproof bag in my jacket pocket away from vibration. So far so good.

 

[(RIP) willstatt]

Ipod

I use my ipod via my Starcom: Works brilliantly. Keep Ipod locked in topbox, with charger socket, so I don't run out of power on long runs. Only load up songs on Ipod that I really like, then play in shuffle mode for my whole collection. Brill!!