Bluetooth helmet speakers for music?

[DoubleZero]

I have a Bell Vortex and I'd like to add some bluetooth speakers to it. I don't really care about making phone calls. I'll get off the bike to do that. But I'd like to listen to music streamed from my phone when riding. I mainly use my bike to commute and my average ride is about 45 minutes one way.

So, what would be a good set of speakers for music? The helmet has pockets for speakers.

 

[DustyXB]

For music only, ear buds are the way to go. Waay cheaper then bluetooth and they wont kill your battery. Best one for your buck are skullcandies hands down with a lifetime warranty.

 

[deadlycobra06]

Than again ear buds are against the law, In CA you can only have one ear bud in while driving a car. I'm sure it transfers to any motor vehicle.

 

[DoubleZero]

Well, I live in Illinois. Not sure of the law offhand but I think I remember it being illegal. The thing is riding with buds is annoying. Buds don't fit in my ears super well and tend to slip out a bit when I put my helmet on. Other times I'll have a bud slip half out when turning my head, etc. I'm looking for convenience and I have a bit of money to spare.

 

[84yotaguy]

i have the same problem with them coming out when i put my helmet on, dont want to buy new ones unsure if they will do the same.

 

[agfish18]

I got the Scala rider headsets for my wife and I since she started riding on her own. They allow for bluetooth listening, and are OK volume wise. I can hear my music at highway speeds on my 1125R. The bad part is, they are meant for communication also, so they have that giant boom mic that you have to deal with, and may be a pain if all you want is music.

 

[oh9bolt]

I have JVC marshmallows that I have used one time while riding, they work good and are in expensive on amazon or ebay. If you decide to try out another set of earbuds.

I am going to buy a bluetooth receiver and try out some speakers, I have a Bell also with the speaker pockets. Im in for some info

 

[ct1200]

I've had a 2 different versions of the Blueant Interphone, worked flawlessly and sounded great till one of the speakers went after 2yrs of use.
Tried to order a new speaker and looks like they discontinued the F4.
Went with the Sena SHM-10 this time since its firmware is upgradeable.
Works great and the volume is there but the speakers are pretty thin so they don't have much for audio range for music.
The controls more than make up for any issues though, nice big jog dial is very easy to use with gloves.

 

[netty2424]

Scala rider is what I use. Found a cheap one on eBay new in box, probably stolen, but whatever.

If your're going to go speakers over ear buds you might as well get the advantages of a scala or an SHM just in case you ever decided or needed to use it.

I just downloaded an app for iPhone called MotionX GPS Drive that gives voice commands through the scala so you don't have to look at your gps. Works well and only $0.99. Less than a dollar.

 

[ct1200]

Anyone with an android, the built in nav works great over a headset. [smirk]

 

[MotoPhreke]

Yeah, but the thing with the Android is you can't map out a route and have it follow it.. Started doing that with a combination of Mapquest and a Garmin(MP3 Capable even).. Just bought a set of the Sena SMH5's and I'm pretty happy with them.. They didn't cost quite as much as the SMH10's

 

[JohnnyD]

I have a Sena Technologies SMH10 bluetooth system on my helmet. Works great for streaming music.

Like what ct1200 stated above, the jog dial is very easy to use and I don't have any issues listening to music (even with my GB exhaust). Making phone calls at highway speed is not that good - I can hear them fine, just too much noise on my end. They say they can hear me fine, it's I don't like to make/take calls on the bike.

 

[DoubleZero]

I have JVC marshmallows that I have used one time while riding, they work good and are in expensive on amazon or ebay. If you decide to try out another set of earbuds.

I have two pairs of Marshmallows. I thought I lost the first pair, so I bought a second and later found the first. They're alright but tend to pull out with my helmet on.

Anyway, I was thinking about this again. My phone stays in my front inside jacket pocket. It seems like the reviews of bluetooth speakers seem to complain about sound quality often. How about some good wired speakers? It would be a short run from my inside pocket to my helmet and I think I can deal with a cable to plug in once I helmet is on.

Are wired ones that much better sound wise? Or is there really no difference? I don't really care about phone calls, I just want to enjoy some music.

 

[jammer84_03]

Sena SMH10 on my Bell helmet, wouldnt get anything else. Its my shop demo unit, and i have at least 8k miles on it. Although, above 90mph, it will give me an intercomm failed msg every other second.... but thats cuz i think i got some dirt in the unit...

EDIT: We have used everything for our shop rides, and these seem to be the best quality units yet. 4 of us have them, and they are almost flawless. In a helmet with alot of wind noice, your going to notice the treble is rather screechy when you have to crank the volume up...

 

[DoubleZero]

Well, I found this. Assuming that everything here is true this means that I wont be able to find anything in person. I'll have to order something online and if it breaks I'm probably screwed.

http://www.cyclefish.com/state_motorcycle_law/illinois/