The basic review:
Pros:
Cheap, even for Canadian buyers (~$50)
Only 15 minutes to mold
Headphones included
Custom fit for your ear
Cons:
Headphone quality isn't the best
Sound is so-so
Wind noise protection slightly worse than foam
Performance depends greatly on bike and environment
The detailed review:
The EarFuze headphones make some pretty good marketing claims. Custom fit, cheap to buy, easy to do yourself, and ready to use for a variety of activities, including motorcycling. For the most part, they deliver. Your mileage will vary, however, depending on your motorcycle and the environment you ride in.
MOLD:
The mold process was dead easy. They offer a package that includes a practice mold for peace of mind. Many folks skip it because it is so easy to do. Insert earphone, mix 2 compounds fully, press into ear. Shape. Pull off excess. Sit around listening to music for 15 minutes. Done.
EARPHONES:
The 'phones aren't band, but they aren't great either. There is a good amount of clarity, and for the most part the sound is balanced well. Those hunting for 'phones that deliver good bass ought to look elsewhere...the bass delivery just doesn't cut the mustard. They don't sound thin, but 'full' isn't the word I'd use either. They are the in-ear type, so the delivery of sound is quite good. Audiophiles will be disappointed with the fidelity, casual users won't notice the difference. You will need to adjust your music source volume down if you have never used these before. This is a good thing, because you get to extend your battery life. The last note about these is that the build quality seems on the cheap side. Since they are going to be encased in the mold, this isn't the end of the world. However, a good tug on the cord looks like it might try and escape from the actual buds. I used extra mold material to fully encase the bud and connection to mitigate that.
TEST RIDE
Just so the results are balanced, here are the particulars of my test ride.
Bike: 2003 Kawasaki EX500 (sorry, the Strom is 1000km away) w/ Laminar Lip
Wind conditions: ~20 km/h gusting to 30
Helmet: Zox Supercomp R
Rider height : 6'2"
Area: Flat, wide open prairies.
Hearing: Good. I have a pilot's license.
With that out of the way, we can already see some issues arising. First, the Ninja 500 isn't exactly offering the most protection from the wind, even with a Laminar Lip. Second, while the wind isn't so bad, the prairies have a way of making riders miserable when there is wind about. It is always loud, no matter what you do. Third, the Zox helmet isn't known for being a quiet lid. If your gear or conditions are better, you will experience better results.
Below are the observations I made with regard to the clarity and relative volume of the sound from the earphones. iPod Shuffle volume was set to roughly 50%.
0-40 km/h - Virtually no difference in volume or clarity.
40-60 km/h - Slight loss in clarity, volume same.
60-80 km/h - Bigger loss in clarity, volume slightly decreased. Still very 'listenable'.
80-100 km/h - If you don't already know the song, following along will be difficult. Volume decreased.
100-120 km/h - Songs initially difficult to identify, even if well known. Barely audible above any wind gusts.
I can already tell you that if I were on my Strom, the speed values could all be bumped up by 20 km/h or more for the given notes.
If you like the nuances of your music or are otherwise a very picky listener, these won't really do it for you. If you just wanna listen to "Thunderstruck" while you tackle the twisties, this ought to work. If your bike or your riding environment tends to be very loud, you will likely have trouble hearing what you want.
For my purposes, I give them a 7.5/10. Excellent value for money, but I would have paid a little extra for better earphones.
Questions?
Pros:
Cheap, even for Canadian buyers (~$50)
Only 15 minutes to mold
Headphones included
Custom fit for your ear
Cons:
Headphone quality isn't the best
Sound is so-so
Wind noise protection slightly worse than foam
Performance depends greatly on bike and environment
The detailed review:
The EarFuze headphones make some pretty good marketing claims. Custom fit, cheap to buy, easy to do yourself, and ready to use for a variety of activities, including motorcycling. For the most part, they deliver. Your mileage will vary, however, depending on your motorcycle and the environment you ride in.
MOLD:
The mold process was dead easy. They offer a package that includes a practice mold for peace of mind. Many folks skip it because it is so easy to do. Insert earphone, mix 2 compounds fully, press into ear. Shape. Pull off excess. Sit around listening to music for 15 minutes. Done.
EARPHONES:
The 'phones aren't band, but they aren't great either. There is a good amount of clarity, and for the most part the sound is balanced well. Those hunting for 'phones that deliver good bass ought to look elsewhere...the bass delivery just doesn't cut the mustard. They don't sound thin, but 'full' isn't the word I'd use either. They are the in-ear type, so the delivery of sound is quite good. Audiophiles will be disappointed with the fidelity, casual users won't notice the difference. You will need to adjust your music source volume down if you have never used these before. This is a good thing, because you get to extend your battery life. The last note about these is that the build quality seems on the cheap side. Since they are going to be encased in the mold, this isn't the end of the world. However, a good tug on the cord looks like it might try and escape from the actual buds. I used extra mold material to fully encase the bud and connection to mitigate that.
TEST RIDE
Just so the results are balanced, here are the particulars of my test ride.
Bike: 2003 Kawasaki EX500 (sorry, the Strom is 1000km away) w/ Laminar Lip
Wind conditions: ~20 km/h gusting to 30
Helmet: Zox Supercomp R
Rider height : 6'2"
Area: Flat, wide open prairies.
Hearing: Good. I have a pilot's license.
With that out of the way, we can already see some issues arising. First, the Ninja 500 isn't exactly offering the most protection from the wind, even with a Laminar Lip. Second, while the wind isn't so bad, the prairies have a way of making riders miserable when there is wind about. It is always loud, no matter what you do. Third, the Zox helmet isn't known for being a quiet lid. If your gear or conditions are better, you will experience better results.
Below are the observations I made with regard to the clarity and relative volume of the sound from the earphones. iPod Shuffle volume was set to roughly 50%.
0-40 km/h - Virtually no difference in volume or clarity.
40-60 km/h - Slight loss in clarity, volume same.
60-80 km/h - Bigger loss in clarity, volume slightly decreased. Still very 'listenable'.
80-100 km/h - If you don't already know the song, following along will be difficult. Volume decreased.
100-120 km/h - Songs initially difficult to identify, even if well known. Barely audible above any wind gusts.
I can already tell you that if I were on my Strom, the speed values could all be bumped up by 20 km/h or more for the given notes.
If you like the nuances of your music or are otherwise a very picky listener, these won't really do it for you. If you just wanna listen to "Thunderstruck" while you tackle the twisties, this ought to work. If your bike or your riding environment tends to be very loud, you will likely have trouble hearing what you want.
For my purposes, I give them a 7.5/10. Excellent value for money, but I would have paid a little extra for better earphones.
Questions?
