[markdavidson]

ok now that I scared ya with the title, a little background for the question:

Saturday I was running around trying to come up with some o-rings for the wife's carbs listening to some tunes when the wife texts me, I pulled over and checked the text and replied, took back off... few moments later another text.... you get the idea.

Now with hands free I can get the text (didn't have it enabled), but I can't really reply. I assume too much background noise.
My question is, has anyone had any luck being able to send and receive texts while riding? I wear a half helmet...

And yes I know riding means unplugging from the world, but my wife is my world

 

[80130]

Haven't really tried, myself. However, one time, I did see a guy on a scooter, who had just taken off from a stop light, and before he was even halfway through the intersection, was holding his phone up in front of him and texting. This was even more of a big deal because in our city, it's illegal to do so, even from a car, and on a bike would be even more obvious, and I would think that could be considered 'dangerous driving' on a motorcycle or scooter. I was pretty flabbergasted with the guy, thinking he was just making other scooter riders/motorcyclists/bikers look bad.

 

[jpr1968]

Do you really want to have another accident? If she cares enough for you, she should understand that you CAN"T reply to her while riding.

 

[Mark-B]

No.. Never.. It's illegal in Arizona to operate a vehicle while distracted in such a fashion. But even if it wasn't, I wouldn't.

It does cross my mind once in a while, while riding, to check for messages from work.. But ideally, I wouldn't want to even acknowledge the existence of my phone until I get where I'm going.. and Hopefully.. I will have forgotten about my dang phone, and work, by the time I reach my destination, as nothing should really be more important than my safety and my enjoyment while riding..

I know this response doesn't have much if anything to do with your question.. But I got back into riding to get away from all these distractions and to clear my head, so thought I would throw this last thing out there..

If I didn't check my messages.. Worse case... I would have to head on back out when I got home, to pick-up ?? 5lbs of 'taters for dinner..

Oh.. Woe! :mrgreen: ..Back on My Bike AGAIN! ..:lol:

 

[PA Dave]

Personally, I carry the phone in my shirt pocket on vibrate and people can call, text or email me at will. I'll check it and maybe respond the next time I shut the bike down. Same rule in my truck. My wife knows that if I feel it go off several times in short order I'll look for a place to stop and check.

My feeling is that I carry a phone for my convenience, not everyone else's.

 

[SWOCS]

Markdavidson: I'm probably the least tech savvy person on this site. I still use a flip phone and I've never connected my home computer, it's still in a box somewhere. With that said, when you get her text and she needs a reply; why not just call her back? You have the hands free technology to make and receive calls, though only receive messages. Use what you have. Without making it sound like I'm preaching, but that's why there are so many distracted driving/riding accidents. Everyone swears that people who talk on the phone while driving, or text while driving are idiots out to kill us all, yet at the end of the day they're just as bad as NEEDING to check that text they just received because the person they received it from means all the world to them.
It's a wonderful thought that your wife is your world. I'm willing to bet she understands you're not able to reply to messages all the time, and I'm also willing to bet she'd like to hear your voice over the phone on occasion too.

 

[KCochran]

My feeling is that I carry a phone for my convenience, not everyone else's.

As for Mark's question, I don't text while driving or riding, I rarely ever text. I do use the cell on occasion while driving but not riding. When riding the cell goes in the saddle bags and when I stop I check the phone for missed calls/texts.

Not directed specifically at Mark but just as a general question,
What did folks do while riding or driving before they had a cell/smart phone, tablet or mobile hot spot to occupy their time? Were they just driving/riding around while bored?
What caused Joe Bob's accident, he was dwb (driving while bored)

 

[Menhir]

I don't pull over to check for text messages or phone calls. Period.

My wife and family know that when I'm riding that I'll check for messages when I pull over for gas, a rest stop, or when I get to my destination.

They also know never, ever, to text me if it's something that can wait.

And they're on board with that.

 

[John Hopkins]

I understand where you are coming from and I imagine that you have a young wife, but you must understand that on two wheels you have to have very fast reaction times or plan ahead to survive.

Explain to your wife that she can text you when you are riding and that you will stop and text or call back as soon as you come to a place it is safe to pull over and stop. I also understand the love thing where you just want to talk to each other all the time so if you are on a ride and she texts you, pull into a truckstop, get a coffee and relax and text away, then ride out of there feeling refreshed and happy.

You might remind yourselves that people of my age can't text each other, once you hit 42 years old you will need reading glasses.

John.

 

[Harryc]

Mark, do you have an Android or an Apple iPhone? I know for a fact there are hands free texting apps that use voice controls. You have to have a microphone and helmet speakers and the phone hooked up via bliuetooth or wire. A half helmet is not ideal for this application for obvious reasons.

 

[John Hopkins]

Not directed specifically at Mark but just as a general question,
What did folks do while riding or driving before they had a cell/smart phone, tablet or mobile hot spot to occupy their time? Were they just driving/riding around while bored?

In the old days my first phone had three digits Latchingdon 500, I just answered 500. I can't remember riding while bored, there were no speed limits and no motorways so before mobile phones I had a six foot phone lead, that was the maximum length allowed in Britain, I couldn't ride far with that.

John.

 

[markdavidson]

WHOA !! WHOA !! HANG ON THERE...

Maybe my question was unclear... I am right there with you on texting and driving and/or riding...

I would go farther and suggest the member be blackballed from this fellowship

when I have my earbuds in, I usually have the handsfree function on, which allows me to hear an incoming text but with wind noise, the inline mic wont pick up my reply... I found an Android app that may work even with automated replies, but I still have the mic issue

It's not often I would care, but sometimes a communication comes through that I would like to get...my wife understands that time on two wheels is sacred, she is a sister of the road as well

 

[Harryc]

Mark...I am thinking a FF helmet is the solution, as much as you may not like it.

 

[bjmad]

I just read an article last week on this very thing. I cant rmember where it was from. It might have been from J&P Cycles, Motorcycle-Super Store or Jafrums. They did a review on in helmef communications and which were the best for your situation. I dont have communications equipment so I just skimmed through it. I would search for your info on google. If you have a specific head gear questiion, ask away here. Maybe somebody uses it. Good luck and let us know what you chose to solven he issuse. Somebody else might be having the same.

 

[bodasefus]

I have a droid phone... when I ride,,, I like to listen to music through the bluetooth headset.. I will sometimes listen to an audible book If I am out for a long ride... I can set my phone to operate on voice control but I just let the voicemails stack up and will answer when I fill up for gas... My Bike,,, my rules, as long as I am not breaking the law...
BTW,,, I am 74 am a computer nerd...

 

[vito]

Will never understand the need to be 'plugged in' all the time. Unless you are waiting for a donor organ, or are the doctor who does the surgery, what will you miss?
Kim Kardashian's latest 'tweet'?
The Guam Prep / Hawaii U basketball score update from the Far West Conference?

Yeah, people die or get injured, but be realistic.....how many times in your life will you miss being at someone's bedside when they die because they were in a bad accident while you were out riding?

Unplug.

 

[swifty2014]

In driver ed. class many years ago we were taught that driving is a full time job. And that is in a car!
So think of the complexity of being alert on a bike !!!

At least in a car you can drive with your knees. LOL.

 

[Toolferone]

So I have a Sena BT headset in my modular helmet. And yes I have sent and received text and calls while riding. Even with the boom mic right at my mouth, if the helmet is up Siri has trouble working with the wind noise. She worked fine with the helmet down.

 

[markdavidson]

OK WHERE DO I START? HOW ABOUT VITO?
your criticism is greatly appreciated F.U. very much.

no... that's ok I get it you are strictly a pleasure rider, or a weekend warrior..
unplug, turn off he world..

I ride every day it's above 20deg 12 months of the year... last year spring/summer I put 200 miles on my truck but over 12K on my bike and I never got to take a real trip, Also I love my wife and she is important to me, that means she can get ahold of me whenever she wants to or needs to... It's about priorities...

to the others:
I may have mistakenly misrepresented what I was trying to accomplish... NO WHERE in my query was I suggesting doing anything while using my hands... no typing... no fumbling with my phone... nothing...

merely speaking commands into a microphone, so I can tell if texts were something I wish to address, or dismiss...

Kardashian? really? get a life

to the rest offering actual helpful information, thanx... I have something in mind, but you'll understand if I just keep it to myself

 

[jwinker]

Mark, I get it. I'm on-call nearly every day. There are times I need to pull-over and respond to a txt message page. In fact, we are currently implementing a system where our physicians will get txt-based pages based on an escalation algorithm - if the initial contact doesn't respond in a given timeframe, the page will go to the backups. It's a *REAL* problem, not one answered by "I don't do that."

For your response, there are NO good answers aside from pulling over and responding. There are bluetooth headsets, like the Blue Parrot which may help, but wind noise is definitely a problem.

My brother turned me on to the Blue Parrot, and he found it while researching what over-the-road truckers use for bluetooth headsets. It seems to be *pretty good* but certainly not 100% on a motorcycle. That said, I have had conversations with him while he was riding and it's *pretty good* - not perfect, but good enough to make out what he's saying.

A full-face helmet would definitely help cut the wind noise, but I'm not sure the best microphone + a full-faced helmet would give you the accuracy you're looking for. It will get close, but not 100%. Set the expectation with the wife and you'll be fine, though.