Bike-mounted bluetooth speaker
July 19, 2020 11:39 AM Subscribe
What's my best option? Ideally 6+ hrs of runtime, and sturdy; a number of reviews I've read for various models have complaints of dead speakers after a couple of good pothole jolts. I don't need it to have a light, power bank, microphone, etc, just good sound quality.
I should say, it doesn’t actually mount to the bike, it sits in a pocket, but we’ve also bungeed it on to other bike racks just fine.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:31 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by furnace.heart at 12:31 PM on July 19, 2020
i have a UE Roll that i strap to the handlebars with it’s built-in bungee. street/paved riding mainly, hasn’t fallen off.
posted by osi at 12:39 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by osi at 12:39 PM on July 19, 2020
I've always thought that a rugged cylindrical speaker (e.g. UE Boom) would fit nicely in a bottle cage (I've got an Arundel Looney Bin that lets you strap in non-standard size stuff quite securely)
posted by btfreek at 12:40 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by btfreek at 12:40 PM on July 19, 2020
I also have a UE Roll that I put on the strap of my backpack for cycling. I have a motorcyclist friend who does the same. That particular model is discontinued, but I trust their build and audio quality enough to recommend whatever their current ruggedized model is.
posted by mollymayhem at 2:03 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by mollymayhem at 2:03 PM on July 19, 2020
I have a JAM Double Chill speaker that I use on the cargobike. Seems pretty rugged, and supposedly has a 12-hour runtime.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:31 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:31 PM on July 19, 2020
If you want to listen to music on your bike without blocking your ears, I suggest bone conducting headphones. I recommend the AfterShokx brand. They sit above the ear and vibrates the sound into your cochlea. Very effective for casual use and I can hear cars, birds, noises from my bike etc.
And you won't bother those nearby with a lot of noise from your speaker as you ride by.
posted by TDIpod at 4:38 PM on July 19, 2020 [6 favorites]
And you won't bother those nearby with a lot of noise from your speaker as you ride by.
posted by TDIpod at 4:38 PM on July 19, 2020 [6 favorites]
JBL Flip is perfect for bottle cage mounting. I use mine ~25 miles/day (~2 hrs) while commuting. Battery life is probably right about 6 hrs for me, but maybe a little less. I charge it a few times/week.
I went to a loud speaker (and it's pretty loud) instead of a headphone type device for safety. Gives people plenty of warning without being obnoxious like a bell. Ymmv, of course.
posted by booooooze at 4:57 PM on July 19, 2020
I went to a loud speaker (and it's pretty loud) instead of a headphone type device for safety. Gives people plenty of warning without being obnoxious like a bell. Ymmv, of course.
posted by booooooze at 4:57 PM on July 19, 2020
The Soen Transit XS. It was specifically designed to be bike mounted. Great speaker.
posted by instead of three wishes at 6:36 PM on July 19, 2020
posted by instead of three wishes at 6:36 PM on July 19, 2020
Like so many similar questions, the answer is a Minirig.
posted by turkeyphant at 8:29 PM on July 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by turkeyphant at 8:29 PM on July 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
A cylindrical speaker like a UE Boom will fit in a lot of water bottle cages, but, if it were me, I'd prefer the sound come from the handlebar area rather than any of the places you're likely to find water bottle cage mounts.
I'd probably go with something like a Bose Soundlink Micro or a UE Wonderboom, either of which would adapt very easily to a handlebar mount.
(I hope you'll be mindful of both the volume level and how many people are around. Whether it's a loud car stereo, public use of a speakerphone, or a bike-mounted Bluetooth speaker, not everyone will appreciate either your taste in podcasts or your sonic invasion of their personal space.)
posted by box at 9:30 AM on July 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'd probably go with something like a Bose Soundlink Micro or a UE Wonderboom, either of which would adapt very easily to a handlebar mount.
(I hope you'll be mindful of both the volume level and how many people are around. Whether it's a loud car stereo, public use of a speakerphone, or a bike-mounted Bluetooth speaker, not everyone will appreciate either your taste in podcasts or your sonic invasion of their personal space.)
posted by box at 9:30 AM on July 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you're in a city, then the norm is heavily on the side of clipping a speaker onto your bag, like a JBL Clip: it drastically reduces the shock to the speaker and also ensures you won't leave the speaker on your bike and get it instantly stolen. Plus, having the speaker closer to your head means you need lower volumes because of n³.
posted by tmcw at 10:07 AM on July 20, 2020
posted by tmcw at 10:07 AM on July 20, 2020
As many people have mentioned, UE Booms do work quite well in a water cage. That's what I do - I've had no issues.
There's also a little carrier case made by a 3rd-party that you can use to attach it to the top tube, but I find the water cage works easier.
posted by Vhanudux at 10:14 AM on July 20, 2020
There's also a little carrier case made by a 3rd-party that you can use to attach it to the top tube, but I find the water cage works easier.
posted by Vhanudux at 10:14 AM on July 20, 2020
Not to shill but if you're going to buy Bose or JBL trash, at least do a sound check with alternatives before you pay money.
posted by turkeyphant at 10:19 AM on July 20, 2020
posted by turkeyphant at 10:19 AM on July 20, 2020
I have had a Buckshot speaker for several years now, though used on a more occasional basis, and really love it. It has a strap to hook it on to my handlebar and works great.
posted by urbanlenny at 2:21 PM on July 21, 2020
posted by urbanlenny at 2:21 PM on July 21, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:30 PM on July 19, 2020 [1 favorite]