[kevlarian]

So, I do a lot of riding. I have had my bike for four months now, and I have already managed to put more than 8000 miles on her. Already been in for four (yes, 4) services. I like to keep fresh oil in her, and keep her good and tight! ;-)

Anyway... I have ordered a Speedscreen Smoke Windscreen, and a Smoke Laminar Lip (should be here early next week), and I started to think about what I could do to improve my commute (anywhere from 25-200 miles a day).

There were a few things that I am thinking about and wanted your thoughts, ideas (and hopefully pictures)...

I would like to have a mount for my PDA/Phone. It is bluetooth capable and I would also like to have a helmet bluetooth headset. Any ideas on how/where to mount something like that. I want to make sure it is SAFE and won't fall of on a twisty or with a gust of wind.

Anyone out there have experience with the helmet headsets (wired or otherwise) for a phone? I really need it. I don't want to plunk down $100 for a headset that doesn't work.

Also, anyone know of a console that mounts on a 500R that has a clock/thermometer/anything else that might be handy.

Finally... anyone have experience with a Motorcycle GPS? They look great, but I don't know how well it would sit on our little Ninja... space it pretty tight as it is.

Looking for ideas (and pics). Did I mention the "pics". ;-)

Thanks!
kev

 

[knightslugger]

I hate to be the one to ask, but is this your very first road bike?

 

[kevlarian]

I hate to be the one to ask, but is this your very first road bike?

Why do you hate to ask... Yes, it just so happens to be. Do I sound like a noob or something. I ain't a squid; too old for that!

kev

 

[knightslugger]

I hate to be the one to ask, but is this your very first road bike?

Why do you hate to ask... Yes, it just so happens to be. Do I sound like a noob or something. I ain't a squid; too old for that!

kev

Having a Cellphone on a motorcycle is just about the most wreckless thing one can do on a bike. you think SUV drivers on cell phones are dangerous? A motorcyclist doing the same thing is 5x more dangerous. Do yourself a favor and forget the whole idea.

 

[kevlarian]

Interesting... why is that? I have seen a ton of them on my commute... And, both hands would be on the "wheel" and I my phone is 100% voice dial, and voice answer... so i wouldn't have to actually touch my phone. Heck, I can even put it in a tank bag, where I can't see it... as long as the headset can connect, I am gold!

Besides, the phone, I am also looking at some kewl "dashboard" mods... so don't end the thread on such a sour note! ;-)

 

[knightslugger]

When you're on the motorcycle, you have much more important things to do than talk on the phone. Talking on the phone is just as important as 1/10th of a second ago. anyone can drive a car, but it takes a certain diligence and focus to ride a bike. Please reconsider this whole thing.

that said, any bluetooth headset should work just fine. You might want to invest in a helmet curtain to aid in noise reduction.

 

[Guest]

I won't bash you for wanting a cell phone, but beware of Darwin.... Here are some pic's of where I mount my radio. Its mounted to the mirror bolts and made out of 1/8" X 1" flat bar. Velcro holds everything to the bar.

 

[Guest]

This should answer your "is there a digital display" question.

Only problem is - I have no idea who makes this. But this is an EX that's on. Maybe somebody else has seen them?

And for the cell phone, I'll just say I wouldn't do it personally, but that's your choice. I'm not familiar with any headsets I'd trust to reduce the wind noise.

Whats your climate like? Maybe heated grips for the commute on colder days?

Driving lights?
Or a better headlight?

Corbin seat?


Hopefully something there helped?

 

[Nick D]

IMO, if you screen your calls I'd just get a tank bag with a clear window on the top pocket, then you can see the display on the phone (as well as the GPS or PDA screen). If you don't screen your calls I'd just throw it in a jacket pocket or leave it on your belt and rock and roll. Bluetooth is supposed to be good for 12 ft, +/-, IIRC.

 

[knightslugger]

As fore use with a GPS it would be better to hear the directions than looking down at them while riding....would'nt you agree.No doubt its safer.

well, that's not really the same thing as using a cell phone. with a GPS, you're just listening like you would a MP3 player. With a cellphone, you're doing oh so much more. You can only split your concentration so far.

 

[kevlarian]

This should answer your "is there a digital display" question.

Only problem is - I have no idea who makes this. But this is an EX that's on. Maybe somebody else has seen them?

And for the cell phone, I'll just say I wouldn't do it personally, but that's your choice. I'm not familiar with any headsets I'd trust to reduce the wind noise.

Whats your climate like? Maybe heated grips for the commute on colder days?

Driving lights?
Or a better headlight?

Corbin seat?


Hopefully something there helped?

Royson,
I want those driving lights like you have!!! Do you have any information (Brand, Mounting, etc.) Those look great! I like that digital dash as well... any info on that for me?

 

[longbeachgary]

Just a bad idea

I think it's a really bad idea. You want to ride, then ride - you want to talk on the phone, then pull over and talk. I would think that it would be especially bad for a new rider.

 

[Nick D]

I'm sorry, but not all of us are commuting through Atlanta or lane splitting in Los Angeles. Of course it's safer to not distract yourself, but just because you wear an earpiece and take a call from time to time doesn't mean you're going to veer off the road O'Doyle style and fall off a cliff into an explosion. You just have to use your head.

And while I'm thinking about it: every time a thread gets off topic everyone wants to say "get on topic!" I don't remember reading anything about opinions on cell usage or distractions while riding, it's just about mounting things in the dash area and such. </soapbox>

*disclaimer: this is in response to the thread, not any person in general.

 

[MrSciTrek]

I'm sorry, but not all of us are commuting through Atlanta or lane splitting in Los Angeles. Of course it's safer to not distract yourself, but just because you wear an earpiece and take a call from time to time doesn't mean you're going to veer off the road O'Doyle style and fall off a cliff into an explosion. You just have to use your head.

And while I'm thinking about it: every time a thread gets off topic everyone wants to say "get on topic!" I don't remember reading anything about opinions on cell usage or distractions while riding, it's just about mounting things in the dash area and such. </soapbox>

*disclaimer: this is in response to the thread, not any person in general.

I understand your perspective, even though I tend to be one of those guys writing "Hey, did you think about... this or that."

Some or most of it might be avoided by telling a bit more about your situation, and maybe recognizing that us divergent/hand-wringers generally have good intentions.

 

[Nick D]

I understand your perspective, even though I tend to be one of those guys writing "Hey, did you think about... this or that."

Some or most of it might be avoided by telling a bit more about your situation, and maybe recognizing that us divergent/hand-wringers generally have good intentions.

Sorry, I got a little inadvertently agitated . My thinking is that hands free phone usage is not so distracting or impossible that it should be outlawed. Cruising along the backroads or commuting in light traffic is not such a demanding situation that taking a call from the wife or from work is such a horrible thing. Of course this is under the assumption that 1) you have a basic grasp of riding a motorcycle, 2) a basic grasp of handling surroundings, 3) you don't get into a screaming match or the like every time you get on the phone. More than anything I'm just considering myself and situations I've been in, and I just don't see it being such a big deal that no one should ever do it. Of course when I do get a call from my wife when I'm driving my cage I tend to space out on her or just drop the phone in the seat when I need full concentration, so maybe I'm assuming too much about how people prioritize when operating a motor vehicle.

 

[fog]

I understand your perspective, even though I tend to be one of those guys writing "Hey, did you think about... this or that."

Some or most of it might be avoided by telling a bit more about your situation, and maybe recognizing that us divergent/hand-wringers generally have good intentions.

Sorry, I got a little inadvertently agitated . My thinking is that hands free phone usage is not so distracting or impossible that it should be outlawed. Cruising along the backroads or commuting in light traffic is not such a demanding situation that taking a call from the wife or from work is such a horrible thing. Of course this is under the assumption that 1) you have a basic grasp of riding a motorcycle, 2) a basic grasp of handling surroundings, 3) you don't get into a screaming match or the like every time you get on the phone. More than anything I'm just considering myself and situations I've been in, and I just don't see it being such a big deal that no one should ever do it. Of course when I do get a call from my wife when I'm driving my cage I tend to space out or drop the phone in the seat when I need full concentration, so maybe I'm assuming too much about how people prioritize when operating a motor vehicle.

It has been proven conclusevlly that hands free phones are every bit as distracting as hand held ones. Further the activity of holding the phone or other item, is not the problem. The mental distraction of the conversation detracts from the attention necessary to properly conduct the activity of driving.

FOG

 

[PALEOCON]

FOG beat me to it. I work for a cell phone company (Telus Mobility) and they do all sorts of psychological research on these handsfree kits that they give us. Like FOG said - the idea of handsfree is for convenience, because regardless of whether you hold the phone or not - its the same amount of concentration.

With that in mind... I tested a high-end handsfree on my bike for fun... lol. Once I got up anymore than 60 km/h the call was incomprehensible due to the wind. Another bluetooth headset just came out which offers extreme noise cancellation. This actually works. You can wear the bluetooth headset on your left ear, driving a car with the window open and the recipient will not hear ANY wind sound - only the person's voice. It's made by NX GEN. You should be able to squeeze it in there in ur helmet.

 

[Nick D]

Another bluetooth headset just came out which offers extreme noise cancellation. This actually works. You can wear the bluetooth headset on your left ear, driving a car with the window open and the recipient will not hear ANY wind sound - only the person's voice. It's made by NX GEN. You should be able to squeeze it in there in ur helmet.

The recipient hears no wind, but is the earpiece itself strong enough that you can hear them? It just seems that so many of them are so weak that you'd never hear anything on the road anyway.

 

[Nick D]

It has been proven conclusevlly that hands free phones are every bit as distracting as hand held ones. Further the activity of holding the phone or other item, is not the problem. The mental distraction of the conversation detracts from the attention necessary to properly conduct the activity of driving.

FOG

I'd have never figured that considering personal experience. Running deliveries from time to time it always seems like having my hand back while taking orders would improve matters. Interesting.

 

[fog]

It has been proven conclusevlly that hands free phones are every bit as distracting as hand held ones. Further the activity of holding the phone or other item, is not the problem. The mental distraction of the conversation detracts from the attention necessary to properly conduct the activity of driving.

FOG

I'd have never figured that considering personal experience. Running deliveries from time to time it always seems like having my hand back while taking orders would improve matters. Interesting.

So...... if i was to have a conversation wih myself , would that also detract from the attention thats deemed necessary to properly conduct the activity of driving ?



If you have conversations with yourself a lot. You should be PREVENTED from driving.

FOG