Do any of you all have suggestions for portable music, an IPOD or something similar?

[ThomWV]

I know absolutely nothing about portable music devices other than that an Ipod is one. I am taking longer and longer rides and will likely be taking a very long motorcycle trip later this summer. That means there will be a lot more Interstate time in my future; music seems a necessity.

My bike is clean of any sort of fairings, bags, or cowling of any sort, and its going to stay that way. So I have no place, let alone the desire, to permanently mount speakers anywhere. I just want something I can pipe into an under-helmet headset of some sort if not some sort of very small speaker I could wire into my helmet would work well. I might go so far as a different helmet too, but they are awfully personal.

Anyway I'm open for an education and opinions.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Earbuds might work, with an Ipod

or with any other mp3 player. Sansa, Iriver, those are some good alternatives. My Sansa plays mp3 and also has FM, so I like it.

Otherwise, a big honking boom box and a shitload of bungie cords might do the trick.

http://helmetaudio.com/

[Robb]

2. I've never been a fan of listening while riding

Too much chance of missing something, although for long slab rides I can see the attraction.

All that said, my wife gave me her old iPod recently, and it's been a blast. Earbuds are comfy enough under a helmet; I would tuck one in from the police scanner when I was working and using the trail bike (chasing forest fires, don't ask).

The iPod is easy to load with Apple's software, and is small enough to fit in any pocket. Added plus no one told me about until I had one: video. And not just on that tiny screen, a simple RCA adapter and you're watching DVD-quality movies with the iPod plugged into the TV.

Had I known about THAT part I probably would've wanted one earlier. :)

[ThomWV]

3. "Slab rides" Great name for it

I agree with your opninion of listening for the most part. I don't ride on Interstates hardly at all, but in the last two weeks I've found myself on them twice for 100 miles at a time and to be quite honest about it there ain't much to see.

I'm pretty sure I'll be riding to Sturgis this year and if I do the plan will be to take all the Interstate I can getting there and as little Interstate as possible comming back home. It will be about 1,200 miles each way. My main thought was to those 3 days straight of Interstate riding, but of course a toy owned is a toy used.