Can you listen to music while riding your motorcycle? legality, best practices and accessories

"Highway to hell", "Ballad of easy Rider", "Born to be wild", these are all songs written to be listened to on a motorcycle. Would you like to do Steppenwolf proud? In this article, we share with you all the information you need to listen to music on your motorcycle. Legislation, equipment, best practices, you'll know everything you need to transcend your motorcycle road-trip with music!

Using a phone while driving multiplies the risk of an accident by 3. So since 2015, a law has drastically restricted the use of audio devices on motorcycles. It has to be said that it's rather well thought-out. In other words? Firstly, it seeks to dissuade motorcyclists from touching their phones while riding. Any blue-tooth kit or intercom must be voice-controllable. Your smartphone can be in your pocket, bag or on a stand, but never, ever, in your hand.

What's next? The biker must not be acoustically isolated from the outside environment. You need to be able to hear ambient noise, such as a fire siren. For this reason, it's forbidden to wear an in-ear audio device. Only headset-integrated kits are permitted. Finally, wired devices are prohibited to maintain optimum freedom of movement. Bluetooth only! To recap: your device must be voice-controlled, wireless and integrated into the helmet. If you break the rule? You're liable to a fine of €135 and the loss of 3 points on your driving license.

The hands-free kit, also known as a Bluetooth kit, connects your phone to your motorcycle helmet. This means you can manage your phone using voice commands, as well as answer calls, listen to music or follow directions from your GPS application. Note that it's gradually disappearing in favor of the intercom. Why is that? The intercom offers the same services, but with an extra function: the walkie-talkie. And yes, that's all it is. This device allows you to communicate with other intercom-equipped motorcyclists, without using your telephone. In fact, it's just as easy to use as that old walkie-talkie. By what miracle? Thanks to Mesh technology, which enables instant communication between different people without having to go through the tedious process of pairing.

Music can transcend a motorcycle trip. To a lesser extent, it can simply play on your mood and help you put the miserable weather that accompanies your motorcycle road-trip into perspective. But what about? There are a few points to bear in mind.

First, don't turn up the volume. And yes, you have to remember that the purpose of the helmet-mounted device is to keep an ear out for outside noises (other motorists' horns, the clatter of your crankshaft giving up the ghost, etc....). And incidentally, listening to Metallica's entire discography at full volume to liven up your Quimper - Nice trip, runs a serious risk of compromising your hearing. Your turn for this delicate symphony of tinnitus in C major. So far, so good. Any other advice? Choose music over cultural podcasts, because you need to focus 100% of your attention on the road. And while female bikers may multi-task, that's unfortunately not the case for men...

Final recommendation? Avoid soothing music on night stages. We're not saying that listening to ACDC is a substitute for a break on the side of the road. But it would be shooting yourself in the foot to impose the symphony of southern whale song on a night-time motorcycle trip.

How to choose the right Intercoms? Our selection

Whether you're making calls, receiving directions from your GPS, listening to music, voice-controlling your phone, chatting to your passenger or riding in a group, an intercom is essential. Here are the basic criteria for selecting the right accessory:

• Audio quality: crucial if you want to enjoy your music to the full. Choose a model with good noise reduction.
• Compatibility with your headset: make sure it fits properly before you buy.
• Autonomy: this depends on the length of your outings.
• Ergonomics: buttons and selectors should be easy to use, even with well-padded winter gloves.

----> Sena SMH5 DUAL universal intercoms (kit for 2 helmets)

----> Cardo SPIRIT HD SOLO or DUO motorcycle intercoms (kit for 1 or 2 helmets)

----> Sena 5S universal intercoms (kit for 2 helmets)

----> Cardo FREECOM 2X JBL DUO motorcycle intercoms (kit for 2 headsets)

Here are the essential criteria if you want to use your intercoms for group motorcycle outings. The price is a little higher:

• Range: don't use less than 1000m
• Maximum number of participants: this depends on the size of your riding group.
• The audio-overlay device: it allows you to superimpose your voice on the music. So you don't have to chop up your favorite song every time a participant makes a comment.
• Mesh (from SENA) or DMC (from Cardo) technology : makes it much easier to create communication groups. No need to spend long minutes pairing up each biker.

----> Sena 50S universal intercom (kit for 1 helmet)

----> Intercom Cardo SCALA RIDER PACKTALK EDGE JBL (kit for 1 helmet)

----> Sena 10C EVO universal intercom with onboard camera (kit for 1 helmet)

Our selection of helmets with built-in intercom

Why on earth opt for a headset with built-in intercom? For optimum integration, of course! Still rare, these models are designed to accommodate a Bluetooth device, its speakers and a microphone. The result is unrivalled audio quality. On some products, the headphones are placed in the polystyrene of the inner shell, and the microphone is cleverly housed in the chin strap. If not pre-equipped, some helmets are "prepared" to receive a particular intercom. This means that the model in question has been designed to perfectly integrate a specific Bluetooth device, to be purchased as an option. Once installed, the accessory is invisible. The drawback? If you change your headset, you change your intercom...

----> Intercom SMART HJC 10B

----> NEXX X.COM 3 intercom for Nexx X.WED3 / X.WST3 / Y100R and Y.100 helmets

----> Sena ACS10 intercom for Arai Quantic/RX-7V/RX-7V EVO (kit for 1 helmet)

Bike-mountable speakers

This solution is perfectly legal. There are plenty of motorcycles (Harleys, Goldwings, BMW road bikes...) fitted with speakers. However, we strongly recommend that you keep this solution as a last resort. Why do we do this? It's bad enough that bikers don't get much press, but now we're all getting 5KW of sound on our bikes. Can you imagine the poor local residents who, in addition to the noise of your engine, have to put up with your unconditional love of Finnish death metal?

Well, I hope this article has given you some clarity. The most complicated step now? Putting together the ideal playlist for your next road-trips. All that's left for us to do is to wish you a pleasant journey, gently rocked by Steppenwolf and their famous "Born to be wild".

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Photo credits: Header and biker images - Freepik