Cell Phones

[purslant]

First off let me say I have no intention of using my cell phone while I'm riding.
You won't even find me using it while I"m driveing my truck unless I"m called and I think it's important.
That said ! I know that when the weather cools, and I'm out crusing enjoying the ride that my family may need to get in touch with me, so my questions is has anyone used a bluetooth headset while riding? If so does it work well that is can you hear with it ? My intention would be to pull over to talk as needed.
I carry my phone on my belt, and even though it vibrates I sometime miss calls.

[Water Warrior 2]

Cell phones, what did we do before them ? I won't even answer while in my cage. I figure if it is important they can phone back with hopes of catching me while I am available and safely parked or away from my ride entirely. Maybe I am just old and fussy but my phone is for my convenience and not for some one else's convenience. Really want my attention, write a letter. lol.

[purslant]

I agree ! But I guess I just like to have my family able to get hold me when needed.

[patrick_777]

Personally, I think it's a bad idea. Concentration with a handsfree headset is just as bad as if you're physically holding a phone to your ear, except that you might actually have both hands on the wheel. While riding and in control of a motorcycle, you really need to have a LOT more concentration than you would if you were in a car. That's just not possible to do while focused on a conversation. I even think radios and iPods are a bad idea, but that's just me.

Technically, it's still a bad idea. The wind noise from a headset would overwhelm the mic unless you're using a headset that's made for motorcycles (ie. one built into a helmet). Some of the new BT headsets have noise-canceling tech in them, but that's not really designed for the kind of wind noise you would subject it to on a bike at speed.

I keep my phone in a zipped jacket pocket while riding for emergencies. The ringer is usually loud enough for me to hear if I'm under 30mph, but any cruising over that is useless. If I'm on the bike, then I'm usually not more than 30 minutes away from stopping anyway, and that's what voicemail and caller-id is for.

[Orpheus]

Cell phones, what did we do before them ? I won't even answer while in my cage. I figure if it is important they can phone back with hopes of catching me while I am available and safely parked or away from my ride entirely.

:tup: :2tup: :rawk: :tup: :tup: :2tup:

[Easy Rider]

I agree ! But I guess I just like to have my family able to get hold me when needed.

My solution to this problem is a shirt with a pocket or a jacket with an inside pocket.
Either place, I can hear/feel it ring much better...........and then pull over to see who it is.

[jonathan180iq]

I don't care much for cell phones. Don't keep it in your pants pocket or you get woo-woo cancer. If you have to carry one, keep it in your saddlebags or rear trunk and wait until you get to a stop to check for messages or to call people. Civilization managed to survive a long time without the use of instant communication. I think we can make it a few extra miles before we have to check in.

[purslant]

Well the verdict is in, and you all have saved me some money.
I'll just put in my jacket pocket or shirt so I can feel or hear it then stop to check .
I can spend the money that I might have spend on the headset on my GZ.

[LilNinja77]

I agree with pretty much everything said already. My reflective vest has a nice little phone pocket on the chest where I keep both my earplugs and my phone, and sometimes a crushed soda can for my kickstand. If someone calls me I can feel the vibration, and can normally hear the ringtone to tell who is calling (different tones for different important people makes it easy). Lots of long distance riders do the whole headset-inside the-helmet thing, and some riding buddies of mine have the chatter-boxes hooked up.....personally, I enjoy not being bothered by the phone while riding. Then again, I just don't like cell phones to begin with.
Ride safe

[Moedad]

Wouldn't want to get woo-woo cancer!! :lol:

[jonathan180iq]

It's a family site. Got to keep it clean.

[Arkygs250]

Well I run a business off my cell phone. If I miss a call the Customer usually calls somebody else and I miss out on at least $200. But that is ok! I enjoy riding the bike, it saves me gas money and I would like to think my life is worth more than $200.

[JIBTEXHNKA]

i've read and sent text messages while riding. only while going less than 30mph on empty streets, but i'm pretty sure that's not a good excuse :P

[Magnar Infectus]

I thought about getting a BT headset for my cell, but decided against it. I don't really need to talk while i'm riding. I'll only be riding back and forth to work 8 miles each way, plus the ocassional weekend outing. Any call can wait the 15 or so minutes it takes me to get to or from home.

[davtnn]

talanted group... i tend to concentrate on riding while riding and pull over to make calls . again i am oft surprised what can go wrong on empty streets at 30 mph. But thats me .. personally i would advise against anything that takes away from the ride .. being a target is one thing but a distracted target is another matter.

[Water Warrior 2]

i've read and sent text messages while riding. only while going less than 30mph on empty streets, but i'm pretty sure that's not a good excuse :P

Sounds like a great way to get hurt. Puts you in the same group as cagers waiting to hit some one or something. Please ride more carefully.

[Littlethumper]

i've read and sent text messages while riding. only while going less than 30mph on empty streets, but i'm pretty sure that's not a good excuse :P

Sounds like a great way to get hurt. Puts you in the same group as cagers waiting to hit some one or something. Please ride more carefully.

I agree with water warrior. Even when i'm in the car driving, i dont answer my cellphone 'til i get to stop or get to my destination before i answer or call them back. I seen many people on their cellphone while driving and they drive like they're drunk or somethin' and sometimes it makes they're driving slow on the fast lane or middle lane :cuss:

Drive safe...

[philbert]

Concentration is paramount while riding and I think it would be reckless to use a cell phone, even with hands with free operation. Part of my riding enjoyment is to escape from the things and people that demand my attention throughout the day so not having contact is therapeutic.

JIBTEXHNKA, as for your text messaging that's down right foolish! Your attention is drawn down to that little screen and as my riding instructor said when he saw me looking at my shifter when I first started my riding class: "there's nothing down there to look at but, what's out front will kill you...so keep your eyes forward." Please discontinue your texting, for your family's sake if not your own.

[philbert]

My Tourmaster Jet II coat has a zippered pocket along the main zipper in the chest area. It seem's like a great place to hold a phone. Be careful where you put your phone as they are sensitive to moisture. My son's cell phone got wet when he was caught in a downpour while at Summerfest. It wouldn't go into sleep mode when closed and would draw down the battery. When he called the cell phone company he was told to pull the battery and loof for a small dot and if it was red that indicated the phone got wet and the warranty was void. Others have said that this dot is very sensitive and that just the moisture in your breath would turn the color. This may be anecdotal at best but watch out that you phone isn't exposed to moisture of any kind.

[Jenny]

I always take my cell phone when I ride. I got my license this month, and my partner made me promise never to leave the house without it. He's concerned that I'll get into an accident and be unconscious in a ditch. I haven't yet figured out how I'll be able to call him under those circumstances ;-) No, seriously, he's more concerned that I'll get into a situation where I'm scared or just completely unsure how to handle it, and he wants me to be able to call for assistance.

That being said, I haven't taken calls while riding. I haven't even *heard* calls while I'm riding because wind noise is loud. Perhaps a louder ring tone would help; I don't know. I do, however, stop when I'm going to be longer than normal, and I'll check my messages. I've found that my modular helmet is great for using my speaker phone as long as I don't care if passer-byers hear it. Perhaps you could check for messages every 30 minutes to make sure you haven't missed a family emergency or a client call.