How to Listen to Music on a Motorcycle: All Legal and Safe Solutions
All bikers have experienced that moment at least once in their lives: you are in the saddle, you have the road ahead of you and all you have to do is open the throttle and enjoy the ride.
Maybe you're riding along a stretch of coast or a straight country at sunset, and at that moment you think it would be perfect to have a soundtrack that accompanies every meter traveled. But can you listen to music while riding a motorcycle? Is it legal and above all, is it safe?
The latter can make the journey much more engaging and memorable, but it is essential not to compromise concentration and driving safety.
In this article we clarify what the law says, what solutions are allowed and how to do it safely, using devices designed specifically for those who, like you, love music and motorcycles (without giving up either).
Is listening to music while riding a motorcycle legal?
Let's answer the first question right away: listening to music on a motorcycle is not prohibited by law, but there are some conditions to be respected, mainly related to safety.
Article 173 of the Highway Code prohibits the use of sound headphones that cover both ears while driving, but allows the use of earphones or hands-free devices that do not require the use of hands during operation and do not prevent good reception of external sounds, such as horns, sirens and in general, traffic noises.
The use of devices that allow you to listen to music is therefore allowed, but it is necessary to use them in the correct way, so that:
They don't isolate you from the outside world (as happens with loud in-ear headphones);
You are always able to feel what is happening around you;
The devices are integrated or securely mounted in the helmet or motorcycle, without causing distractions from riding.
So the good news is that there are perfectly legal and safe solutions for listening to music on a motorcycle, designed precisely for those who want to travel with background music, such as intercoms.
What is the best way to listen to music on a motorcycle?
Intercoms are a convenient solution for listening to music on a motorcycle: they are designed for use with a helmet and connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Understanding how an intercom works helps you to use it even beyond music: you can answer phone calls, follow GPS directions and talk to the passenger or other bikers during the trip.
Traditional earphones, on the other hand, are not equally safe for a number of reasons:
They isolate ambient noise;
They can move or fall in case of sudden movements;
They are not integrated into the helmet, so they are potentially dangerous in the event of a collision.
An important thing you need to know is that motorcycle intercoms never isolate you from external noise, in fact thanks to the revolutionary RCF audio of Midland devices, you can listen to music with an audio quality never heard before, which allows you to hear everything perfectly, without compromising the listening of external sounds.
The advantages of RCF speakers for Midland intercoms
RCF loudspeakers are designed to offer:
Richer bass reproduction;
Greater speech intelligibility even in noisy conditions;
Professional sound thanks to DSP optimized for low-frequency extension and linearity of response;
Clarity and definition of the sound thanks to the PEEK membrane.
In addition, RCF speakers comply with ECE 22.06 regulations, so they are in compliance with the law.
How to listen to music on the motorcycle with the passenger
A useful feature for those who like to listen to music on the motorcycle with the passenger is parallel audio. Imagine crossing a mountain valley at sunset: listening to the same song can make that moment even more special.
This feature allows you to share the best moments of the trip with other bikers on the road with you or your passenger and it is not necessary to have the top-of-the-range intercom, as the function is already available from the BT Mini models or the Lokui.
Music to listen to on the bike: a playlist for every journey
Now that we have seen how to listen to music on a motorcycle and what rules to respect, what do we put on the headphones? The choice can start from the route: long straights surrounded by nature, a mountain pass or a coastal road at sunset. Each trip has its own style and a soundtrack that makes it even more special.
That's why we have selected some playlists for you to listen to music on your motorcycle, designed to accompany as many types of travel. So listening to music on a motorcycle is possible and legal, but only if done safely. Remember to avoid improvised solutions that can compromise your attention and choose devices designed to accompany you in every curve.
Do you want to listen to music in peace on your next motorcycle trip?
