Listening to music or the radio while wearing a helmet

[craik]

How do you listen to music or the radio while wearing a helmet when riding?
Have tried small wireless bluetooth headphones to connect to my mobile phone, but they invariably make it too difficult to pull on and off your helmet so are not practical.
There are also bluetooth headsets. Have never tried them, but these seem to involve attaching things to your helmet and pulling apart the internal helmet padding to put in the headphones so it's not entirely straightforward.
What are other people using?

[to v or not to v]

use a Goldwing. share your tunes with everybody.
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.

[recman]

I have a Sena SMH10 set specifically designed for my Bell Qualifier helmet. Very excellent.

[CrypticCrud]

Got a cheap Cardo spirit which the shop installed for me but I got rid.

After missing an important call, I now use my 4th gen AirPods. They pop out sometimes but with a snood over my ears they never fall far.
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CBT - Aug24, Theory - Jun25, Mod 1 - Jul25, Mod 2 - Sep25
Kawasaki Z125 > Honda Z125

[struan80]

I don't listen to anything or take phone cals when I'm riding. It takes me all my time to concentrate on the riding.

[Evil Hans]

I had one of those cheap Chinese bluetooth sets off ebay. It was OK, not really loud enough though, and a couple of rain showers destroyed it.

I've got a Sena 20S now - much, much better! But if I'm honest, I don't actually use it that often.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Serendipity]

I have a Sena SRL-02 which is the headset designed to fit into my Shoei helmet. So the fit is great and I have no complaints about the headset performance.

I always wear earplugs and it took me an embarrassingly long time to find the audio boost setting in the Sena app to make it loud enough to hear with really good earplugs in. Before that it was too quiet, even at max volume. I also needed to supress hearing warnings in the iphone using an option in accessibility settings or the phone would just turn the volume down without permission!

The Sena has a built in FM radio, but I normally use BBC Sounds on the phone for a generally more reliable listen.

The above was an expensive investment to improve my commute, however for my son's occasional use helmet I got a Sena SMH5 which was a fraction of the price and offers nearly all the same functionality. It does have a thing that sticks to the outside of the helmet, but the controls are arguably more glove friendly than the expensive SRL.

Using those together gave a brilliant open channel intercom experience.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[CrypticCrud]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I can’t help but I’m interested in replacing sound-deadening ear plugs with something smarter. I wouldn’t listen to music or phone calls but vocal satnav would be handy since I have no sense of direction. I tried my Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds under the helmet but while the satnav instructions came through ok the active noise-suppression was poor and when removing the helmet the earbuds moved and tried to tear my ears off.

[panrider_uk]

Schuberth SC10UA intercom in my Schuberth helmet.

Pairs to my phone and can listen to music/talk stations & sat nav to pass the time on my commute.
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[jeffyjeff]

Can't be bothered to listen to music while I am riding so long as my engine sings to me such a sweet and melodious serenade as the sirens sang to Ulysses. Of all my bikes, me YBR croons a beautiful, hypnotic sound like a Neil Young one-note riff that goes on indefinitely; imploring me, begging me, crying out, "flog me harder with that right hand of yours! Beat me! Abuse me! Take me to a new pinnacle of acceleration and velocity! I may be small, but I'm your willing bitch! Let's ride!"
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[Feasty]

I have hearing aids which bluetooth to my phone, so in theory I could play music over them but certainly wouldn't be able to hear anything else. I'd much rather be able to hear things happening around me.

When you're wearing ear plugs or using intercoms can you still hear sirens and beeps? Or people shouting at you to slow down!?
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[woo]

I use my Samsung ear pods, they also block out wind noise.
I never answer the phone though, I cant talk and ride at the same time.
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[that_impulse_guy]

ive added a sena to my helmet. I didnt know, and it wasnt advertised, and my helmet specs still dont make mention of it, but theres two small round cutouts for speakers if you dig around the foam enough and look about. I think theyre 40mm and from memory, it was a "standard" size that folks agreed upon. So the speakers sit there. I can still put earplugs in my ears if I want to.

I have it loud enough to hear all the time if I'm doing satnav things (no screen, just audio prompts), but if I listen to music then its loud enough to hear over engine idle noises for traffic/red lights etc.., but too soft to hear when I'm actually riding.

thats how I roll.

and if the phone rings I ignore it till it stops ringing
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Gone: Yamaha DT50lc, Suzuki DR500, Suzuki A100, Kawasaki z250ltd, RD350YPVS, Suzuki DR Big, Kawasaki AR125, Kawasaki KMX200, Suzuki GS1000S, Katana 1100, GS550M, Suzuki RGV250
Now: Suzuki GSX400X, Suzuki RF900R, NS400R

[MarJay]

I use a Sena SRL2 in my Shoei GT air 2 helmet. However, until I bought the intercom I used these, which provide external noise attenuation as well as being Bluetooth earphones.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/357723628651
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[A100man]

[A100man]

[jeffyjeff]

[struan80]

I like a bit of Niel Diamond, not when riding. I'm forever in blue jeans.

[Skudd]

Cardo Duo, have it connected to my satnav that does music, also you can program your Cardo via an app to tune your pre-set radio channels. I can also use my phone via my satnav.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[craik]

Thanks for the helpful replies guys.
Thanks MarJay. They look worth a try since they're not too expensive so not much money lost if they don't work out.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/357723628651

[to v or not to v]

[craik]

[MarJay]