ZX-14 Protection

[danham]

What I want is a wireless headset with isolating earphones (e.g., Etymotic) that is able to receive from a transmitter installed on the bike. Does what I am looking for exist?

I looked for that too when I was trying to set up my bike. I didn't find anything.

A bit mind-boggling, isn't it? All of the technology needed for such a setup already exists. Moreover, what is needed here is something that is not necessarily motorcycle-specific. I thought maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. You're the first person I've communicated with that said "Yes, I've looked for that but, No, I could not find it."

At this point, I guess I would settle for WIRED isolating earphones (these do exist) that plugged into another device (maybe residing i my jacket, but definitely not attached to the bike) that would receive signals from other devices (RD/GPS/ETC) and propagate them to the earphones. Any ideas on that kind of system?

Here's what I use and like very much. I have had less than good experience with various BT setups and want audio alerts, not Viz.

Etymotic ER6i noise-suppressing earphones, plugged into a Belkin Rock Star passive audio mixer which receives inputs from my V1 (with Remote Audio), my nuvi 760 GPS, and my iPhone (via the GPS, so I get alerted to incoming calls, can slow down or pull over and use the mic on the GPS to avoid having to remove my helmet).

Yes it means one short wire from the mixer into my jacket and up to my helmet, but it plugs in near the back of the fake tank on my BMW F800 ST and so does not flap in the wind or yank when I turn my head. And it's been 100% reliable so far with no batteries to worry about (other than the phone [g]).

-dan

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[spike]

Here's what I use and like very much. I have had less than good experience with various BT setups and want audio alerts, not Viz.

Etymotic ER6i noise-suppressing earphones, plugged into a Belkin Rock Star passive audio mixer which receives inputs from my V1 (with Remote Audio), my nuvi 760 GPS, and my iPhone (via the GPS, so I get alerted to incoming calls, can slow down or pull over and use the mic on the GPS to avoid having to remove my helmet).

Yes it means one short wire from the mixer into my jacket and up to my helmet, but it plugs in near the back of the fake tank on my BMW F800 ST and so does not flap in the wind or yank when I turn my head. And it's been 100% reliable so far with no batteries to worry about (other than the phone [g]).

-dan

Thanks for the tips, Dan. Help me understand your setup a little. You have, say, devices A, B and C going into the Belkin mixer and then your earphones going out of the mixer. I'm guessing you have the mixer mounted somehow on your bike?

I have not yet purchased the ER6i's and I'm wondering how they work with your helmet. I have some isolating earphones but they don't work well with the helmet at all. As soon as I put the helmet on the earphones dislodge and offer little protection from the wind.

[stealthfz1]

I saw this today. Company in Australia claims to have a bluetooth set up for bikes.

"Bluetooth Modulator and Headset. A perfect kit for motorcycle radar detector users. our motorbike wireless headset solution is also available separately."

Forum rules say I can't post a link but I found it on Yahoo.

[danham]

Thanks for the tips, Dan. Help me understand your setup a little. You have, say, devices A, B and C going into the Belkin mixer and then your earphones going out of the mixer. I'm guessing you have the mixer mounted somehow on your bike?

I have not yet purchased the ER6i's and I'm wondering how they work with your helmet. I have some isolating earphones but they don't work well with the helmet at all. As soon as I put the helmet on the earphones dislodge and offer little protection from the wind.

The Belkin Rockstar non-powered, passive mixer is affordable (<$10 at Amazon), takes up very little room under the fake tank on my F800, and accepts up to 6 plugs -- such as 5 inputs and one set of headphones. It tucks in behind the air box and I at first used some velcro, but it stays put without it -- take a look at Amazon pix of it; it's very compact.

You don't get as powerful choices in volume adjustment as you get with a powered mixer, such as the Tesseract I tried and ditched due to complexity, size, and power requirements, but seeing as the V1, iPhone and GPS all have adjustable volume, this is a non-issue other than initial setup. So yes, all three devices named here are plugged in as inputs to the Belkin and with a short extension cord sticking out near the front edge of the seat, I plug in my Etymotic ER6i's after I climb aboard.

Those earbuds work really well at isolating noise, fitting under my SHoei R1000, and blocking wind/road noise at least as well as a good set of foam EARs, perhaps better when they are inserted perfectly (takes some practice). They also provide very decent fidelity for music and ability to hear GPS directions and V1 alerts very clearly. My ears have always been hard to fit, but the tips supplied with the ER6i's work very well, do not fall out when putting the helmet off/on, and only begin to cause very minor discomfort after many, many hours of riding.

Let me know if you need any further detail.

-dan

EDIT: additional info: The V1 is hooked up from the Remote Audio to the Belkin using a 3.5 mm male-to-male cable. The GPS is connected via its headphone jack, but with a ground loop isolator necessary (I think) due to all the electronics its cable passes by on the BMW (fuel injection computer, ABS, immobilizer key, etc.), and the iPhone often runs via BT to the GPS instead of having its own hardwire input to the Belkin. Hope this helps.

[hockey005]

lol man u got a zx-14....a crown vic isnt gonna catch u

[porky786]

The v1 will be a night mare on a bike in comparison to the STI driver is wonderful, totally hands free function. NO reaching for muting or anything. and you will have to do that with out automute, if you have an RD in your ear.

I've been running one for over a year, luv it.

My ride area is all ka and kband , Lazer I know suks in a vehicle, but on a bike I've never been hit by lazer , going uphill sometimes bright sunshine, says its working.

but I dont know how good it is with real lazer hit on a bike, but it is unless for lazer in a vehicle

[danham]

The v1 will be a night mare on a bike in comparison to the STI driver is wonderful, totally hands free function. NO reaching for muting or anything. and you will have to do that with out automute, if you have an RD in your ear.

I've been running one for over a year, luv it.

My ride area is all ka and kband , Lazer I know suks in a vehicle, but on a bike I've never been hit by lazer , going uphill sometimes bright sunshine, says its working.

but I dont know how good it is with real lazer hit on a bike, but it is unless for lazer in a vehicle

Gotta respectfully disagree. I won't debate with you whether the V1 or STI is a "better" RD -- each has its strengths and weaknesses and it boils down to personal preferences. But to say that the V1 would be a nightmare, well, if this is a nightmare then I hope I keep dreaming.

It has saved my bacon numerous times, including laser, and the threat indicator arrows are if anything even more valuable on two wheels than in a cage. Programmed properly it hardly ever needs manual muting. When it does, it's no more hassle than canceling a turn signal.

-dan

[porky786]

I agree the v1 is great.

But on a motorcycle, I find a fully automatic one I dont have to quelch or touch at all with an ear jack, In a simple one peice unit.

The V1, is alittle more combersome to set up audio space wise and require more hands on management.


Thats really my only point , may not be an issue, but was to me in decision making on the bike.


I'm pretty sure I've been hit by lazer in my truck a few times, but never got any notice. Which if they aim for the plate, maybe that why. But my riding tends not to be in Lazer areas, so I just havent been hit with lazer on the bike, except falses from sunlight sometime running uphill.

Pretty sure a specific Lazer jammer would be best anyway

[GUV]

I've been using a Redline with a Sony TMR-BT10 to transmit the audio & a Sony DRC-BT15 to receive the audio & a very small set of ear bud speakers.
I get about 4-5 hours of riding time (battery life) which is enough for a day out & I can still have Blueant F4 speakers mounted inside the helmet for the intercom/mobile phone/GPS. The Sony receiver comes with a lanyard so it hangs around my neck inside my jacket and the ear bud speaker wires comes up & out of my jacket collar then into the helmet.

You will also need a mono to stereo adaptor plug.

You do need to turn either the receiver or transmitter off if you are going to have any long stops or it wont last the full day, you only need to turn one off as the other will automatically switch of when it can no longer see the other.

Works a treat.

GUV.

[Rydogg21]

I noticed in the one shot the radar detector is pointed through the tinted windscreen? I was under the impresion that this will dramatically decrease the effectiveness of the device?