Plugging earbuds on a motorcycle serves more than just listening to music. You can also use them to get GPS instructions or communicate with other motorcyclists riding in a group. Simultaneously, the best motorcycle earbuds reduce engine and wind noise for a more comfortable ride.
You should consider several things before making a purchase. Hands-free controls, a good water resistance rating, and comfort set the best motorcycle earbuds from the rest. Wired earbuds are considerably cheaper, but the wire may get stuck within your helmet.
Luckily, there are many options to answer all demands. Here are seven best earbuds for motorcycles that will not leave you wanting more!
Top 5 earbuds for motorcycle riders – shortlist
- Tempo 30 - the best earbuds for motorcycle riders
- TREBLAB X3 Pro - best runner-up
- Back Bay Audio FirstClass 70 - best for noise cancelling
- Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless – the best overall earbuds for motorcyclists
- MEE M6 Earbuds – comfortable and waterproof motorcycle earbuds
How to choose the best earbuds for motorcycle riding?
The best earbuds for riding a motorcycle must meet strict criteria. After all, you are driving at high speed, and concentration is paramount. You should consider the following requirements before purchasing:
- Noise isolation vs. awareness. Noise-canceling earbuds for motorcycles eliminate wind and engine sounds and let you focus on the road ahead. Furthermore, models like the Soundcore Space A40 allow users to switch between noise cancelation and transparency modes – the latter used for better environment awareness.
- Secure fit. The best earbuds for motorcycle riders are the ones that fit perfectly in the helmet. Too small earbuds may fall off and cause a distraction. And vice versa, earbuds that are too large can rub against the helmet.
- Waterproof rating. Water resistance is essential for earbud longevity, especially for motorcyclists who are not afraid of extreme weather conditions. The JZAQ Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset has an IPX7 rating, which means it can be fully immersed in water without taking damage. Top motorcycle earbuds should have at least an IPX4 rating, ensuring water splash damage resistance.
- Battery life. Don't let a drained earbud battery ruin your long motorcycle trip. The Skullcandy Push Active earbuds support 9 hours of non-stop audio, but anything over 6 hours should be sufficient for most. A fast charge feature is also beneficial when preparing for a lengthy voyage.
- Controls and accessibility. Manually picking a song might not be an option while doing 70mph on a highway. Consider buying wireless earbuds that support hands-free controls. An integrated voice assistant lets you answer phone calls or switch songs without letting go of the front fork.
9 Best motorcycle earbuds – our detailed list
We scrutinized numerous online reviews and first-hand opinions to conduct thorough research. We also tested features like noise cancellation and sound quality whenever possible, but we leave it up to the reader to try them out on a motorcycle. Here are our top picks!
1. Tempo 30 - the best earbuds for motorcycle riders
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery life: | 32 hours |
| Water resistance: | IPX-7 (Fully Sweatproof + Water Resistant) |
| Sound quality: | Excellent |
The Tempo 30 Wireless Earbuds are an excellent choice for motorcycle enthusiasts. They are the best wireless earbuds for small ears, with six sizes of ear-tips to ensure a comfortable fit. This is particularly useful for motorcyclists, as the snug fit ensures the earbuds won't fall out even during high-speed rides.
Sound quality. The earbuds also feature an Extra Bass Mode, which can enhance your riding experience by providing a powerful soundtrack to your journey. The bass mode cranks up the bass without causing distortion, making these earbuds perfect for both iPhone and Samsung users.
Features. One of the standout features of the Tempo 30 Wireless Earbuds is their durability. They are fully sweatproof and water-resistant, with an IPX-7 rating for waterproofing. This means you can enjoy your ride even in the rain without worrying about damaging your earbuds. However, it's important to note that they are not designed for swimming.
Battery life. The earbuds also offer an impressive 32 hours of battery life, with the charging case providing an additional 24 hours of playtime. This means you can enjoy your music for days without needing to recharge.
Microphone. Finally, the earbuds come with dual microphones, allowing for clear, low-latency calls. This is a great feature for motorcyclists, as it allows you to take phone, Zoom, Teams, or Skype calls with a single earbud or both, even while on the go.
2. TREBLAB X3 Pro - best runner-up
| Connectivity: | Wireless, Bluetooth |
| Battery life: | 9 hours on a single charge |
| Water resistance: | IPX5 |
| Sound quality: | Excellent |
The TREBLAB X3 Pro is a top-notch product that offers a variety of features that make it an excellent choice for motorcycle riders. The earbuds boast a Bluetooth 5.3 connection and a 14.2 mm dynamic driver, delivering unmatched, distortion-free Hi-Fi sound quality. This feature is particularly beneficial for motorcycle riders who need clear and high-quality sound to enjoy their rides.
Design. The X3 Pro earbuds are designed with an ergonomic ear hook and come with five sizes of eartips, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit even during high-speed rides. The earbuds are also IPX5 waterproof, making them resistant to sweat and rain, which is a crucial feature for outdoor activities like motorcycle riding.
Battery life. One of the standout features of the X3 Pro is its impressive battery life. The earbuds can run for 9 hours on a single charge, and the charging case provides an additional 145 hours of battery life. The case also doubles as a power bank and uses a fast Type-C connection, which is a great convenience for long rides.
Microphone. The X3 Pro also features four built-in ENC microphones and touch control on each earbud, making it easy to take calls while on the go. This feature is particularly useful for motorcycle riders who need to stay connected during their rides. The product also comes with a 1-year warranty, adding to its value.
3. Back Bay Audio FirstClass 70 - best for noise cancelling
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth |
| Battery life: | Up to 22 hours |
| Sound quality: | Great |
The Back Bay Audio FirstClass 70 earbuds are a new release for 2024, designed with advanced technology to cancel 98% of noise. This feature is particularly beneficial for motorcycle riders who need to block out the noise of the engine and traffic. The earbuds use A.I. to cancel nearly all the noise from various sources, providing a peaceful and immersive audio experience.
Features. The earbuds come with a 'Transparency Mode' which, when activated, turns off the noise cancelling feature, allowing you to hear the ambient sound clearly. This can be useful when you need to be aware of your surroundings while riding.
Battery life. The earbuds are tuned in Boston and offer two sound modes - 'Signature Sound' and 'Bass Mode'. The 'QuickCharge Battery' is another impressive feature, providing 1 hour of music with just 10 minutes of charging. The case can power up to 22 hours of music, and each earbud can play 5.5 hours of music continuously without ANC.
Extra features. The earbuds also support clear, hands-free phone calls with dual microphones, ensuring a strong Bluetooth connection during any call. This feature can be handy for motorcycle riders who need to take calls on the go. Overall, the Back Bay Audio FirstClass 70 earbuds offer a blend of advanced features and practicality for motorcycle riders.
4. Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless – high sound quality earbuds for motorcycle
| Connectivity: | Wireless |
| Battery life: | 6 hours |
| Water resistance: | IPX2 |
| Sound quality: | Excellent |
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless are the best earbuds for motorcycle rides due to outstanding sound quality from a prolific electronics manufacturer.
Comfort. As the name suggests, these are wireless earbuds that work best connected to Android devices to access the full set of features. The solid build quality and wingtip design keep your buds in place during long drives.
Noise canceling. These earbuds have an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature, but it's not their strongest side. Some engine sounds may push through, but it won't cause significant discomfort.
Sound quality. Like most Samsung headgear, the Galaxy Buds FE have an excellent sound quality. Its focus on accurate bass reproduction has a good punch without pushing other instruments and vocals to the back.
Waterproof rating. These earbuds have an IPX2 water resistance rating, which means they can protect against spraying water when tilted up to 15 degrees vertically.
Battery life. Samsung Galaxy Buds FE will last for six hours, so they are best for shorter rides listening to music.
5. MEE M6 Earbuds – wired earbuds for long drives
| Connectivity: | Wired |
| Battery life: | – |
| Water resistance: | IPX5 |
| Sound quality: | Excellent |
The MEE M6 PRO are the best wired earbuds for motorcycle riding, with perfect fit and no battery life to worry about.
Comfort. The MEE M6 earbuds use the Comply memory foam ear tips and include six pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes. The memory wire is flexible, although wireless earbuds for motorcycles are often more comfortable.
Noise canceling. This model does not use ANC but has a decent passive noise reduction. It has a closed-back earpiece design with Comply T-Series memory foam tips to reduce environmental sounds.
Sound quality. The second generation M6 Pro uses a 6um driver diaphragm with an aluminum voice coil for clear audio with smooth highs. The enhanced bass ensures you hear the most subtle sound effects and will not leave you wanting more.
Waterproof rating. It has an excellent IPX5 water resistance rating, which means the MEE M6 Pro earbuds can withstand direct contact with water without taking damage.
Battery life. Because these are wired motorcycle earbuds, they will last as long as the device you have wired them to.
6. Soundcore Space A40 – robust and customizable noise-canceling earbuds
| Connectivity: | Wireless |
| Battery life: | 10 hours |
| Water resistance: | IPX4 |
| Sound quality: | Excellent |
The Soundcore Space A40 are among the best earbuds for motorcycle that use second-to-none noise-reduction to eliminate wind and engine sounds.
Comfort. These earbuds are lightweight and somewhat low profile, which is excellent for using them under the helmet. However, they do not use stability fins and can fall off if you move a lot.
Noise canceling. The Soundcore Space A40 uses advanced ANC to reduce all other sounds to a minimum. They even allow switching between manual, adaptive, or transparency modes – the latter lets the environment sound through for better awareness.
Sound quality. This model produces clear audio with strong bass, accurate mids, and bright treble. It also supports LDAC mode for high-resolution audio wireless sound.
Waterproof rating. The IPX4 water resistance rating protects from splashes of water, so these earbuds are not afraid of rain. But beware that they cannot be submerged in water fully.
Battery life. The 10-hour battery life is improved by 50 hours of power stored in a charging case and a fast-charging feature.
7. KLIM Fusion Earbuds – best budget motorcycle earbuds
| Connectivity: | Wired |
| Battery life: | – |
| Water resistance: | No |
| Sound quality: | Good |
KLIM Fusion Earbuds is another wired model on the best earbuds for motorcycle list, packing a good microphone for group drives.
Comfort. Although you will have to deal with a flexible wire, the KLIM Fusion Earbuds provide multiple memory foam and silicone tips that are extremely comfortable and fit tightly into ears of any size.
Noise canceling. Instead of ANC, this model uses memory foam in-ear extensions to reduce the background noise as much as possible. Although it lacks customization like the Soundcore Space A40, we can verify this method provides efficient noise reduction.
Sound quality. This model has one of the best sound quality within its price range. In other words, you can do better if you pay several times more, but KLIM Fusion Earbuds are an excellent budget option.
Waterproof rating. Like many budget-earbud types, these are not resistant to water, so use them only during dry and sunny weather.
Battery life. The KLIM Fusion earbuds use a wired connection and will last as long as the battery you connect them to.
8. JZAQ Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset – excellent speakers for motorcycle helmet
| Connectivity: | Wireless |
| Battery life: | 60 hours |
| Water resistance: | IPX7 |
| Sound quality: | Good |
JZAQ Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset is specifically designed to fit within a motorcycle helmet using velcro strips instead of going into the ear canal.
Comfort. Motorcyclists who want audio without using earbuds should opt for this model. Simply pick a spot in your helmet, stick the speakers to it, and adjust it anytime you like.
Noise canceling. The JZAQ Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset uses DSP (digital signal processing) noise cancellation. Similarly to the ANC, it analyzes external noise and produces a reverse sound wave to block, resulting in good sound reduction.
Sound quality. This model offers excellent sound quality, but it depends on the positioning within the helmet. Some motorcyclists may feel a slight reduction compared to earbuds because the helmet space interferes with sound waves.
Waterproof rating. The IPX7 rating lets you submerge the speakers up to 1 meter for 30 minutes without causing damage. This model uses the Nano coating technology to ensure it survives harsh weather conditions.
Battery life. This JZA Bluetooth headset uses a built-in 900mAh Li-ion battery that lasts for an astounding 60 hours. Furthermore, it has 500 hours of standby time and recharges in only 2 hours.
9. Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless – excellent motorcycle earbuds for multiple devices
| Connectivity: | Wireless |
| Battery life: | 9 hours |
| Water resistance: | IP55 |
| Sound quality: | Good |
Skullcandy Push Active In-Ear Wireless Earbuds are compatible with Alexa, iPhone, Android, or any other Bluetooth device you can take on a ride.
Comfort. This model uses ear hooks to ensure the earbuds fit tightly, with hands-free voice controls to switch songs without letting go of the front fork.
Noise canceling. The Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless does not use ANC and cannot efficiently block engine or other environmental sounds.
Sound quality. The bass-rich sound is great for listening to music. Furthermore, these earbuds have a dedicated app with a graphic EQ to adjust audio settings to your liking.
Waterproof rating. This model has an IP55 water protection rating, which means that it has been tested against water for up to 55 minutes. Although nothing bad will happen if you accidentally drop it in a bog, you cannot submerge it in water for longer than that.
Battery life. The battery can last for 9 hours, and you can use the carrying case to recharge it three more times, which is more than enough for a lengthy trip.
Comparison of top 3 headphones for motorcycle
| Model | Tempo 30 | TREBLAB X3 Pro | Back Bay Audio FirstClass 70 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Battery life | 32 hours | 9 hours on a single charge | Up to 22 hours |
| Sound quality | Excellent | Excellent | Great |
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How did we select these earbuds for motorcycle riding?
Compiling a list of the best earbuds for riding a motorcycle can get tricky. You must take safety and comfort into account. Below are the four main criteria we used to separate the good from the bad:
- Comfort and fit with a motorcycle helmet. Even the best audio-quality motorcycle earbuds are no good if they do not comfortably fit within your helmet. We included earbuds with a wingtip design (Samsung Galaxy Buds), ear hooks, or different-size memory tips to fit your ear tightly.
- Level of awareness. Active noise cancellation is as important as the level of awareness. Engine sounds may be distracting, but you must also clearly hear other drivers signaling you. We consider the Soundcore Space A40 adjustable noise cancellation an excellent way of handling these issues.
- Water resistance. The best earbuds for motorcycles must withstand harsh weather conditions or sweating. We verified there's at least an IPX4 water resistance rating that protects against direct splashes of water and can withstand sweat during hot summer drives, like the JZAQ Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset.
- Control ease. Hands-free controls are popular among motorcycles because they allow switching songs or answering calls without letting go of the front fork. Furthermore, a wireless connection often outperforms wired earbuds, which are a nuisance under a helmet.
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Are earbuds legal on a motorcycle?
The laws regarding wearing earbuds while driving a motorcycle significantly differ depending on where you live. It is legal in the European Union, but numerous road safety organizations advise against it. Canada allows wearing only one earbud, and having both may get you in trouble with the law.
In the US, motorcyclists can wear headphones or earbuds legally in 34 states. However, 16 states prohibit it: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.
Do earbuds work under a motorcycle helmet?
The comfort the best earbuds for motorcycle helmets provide relies on the helmet and earbud shapes. Low-profile earbuds usually work best because of their small size compared to other types. The same applies to mini earbuds, but be cautious if you have larger ears because they might not fit tight.
Regarding helmet type, the Full-Face helmet type often works best. Because it fully covers your entire head, it already provides noise-cancellation. On the other hand, if you prefer open-face helmets to feel the breeze, consider earbuds that efficiently block environment sounds, like Soundcore Space A40.
FAQ
Are earbuds good for motorcycle riding?
Yes, comfortable earbuds are excellent for enjoying the ride with a podcast or some music. Furthermore, earbuds with hands-free controls let you answer a phone or get GPS directions without letting go of the front fork.
Can I wear headphones while riding a motorcycle?
Whether you can wear headphones while driving a motorcycle depends on your national laws. The European Union allows wearing headphones. It is illegal in Canada and the following US states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.
Do Bluetooth earbuds work in motorcycle helmets?
Yes, the best Bluetooth earbuds for motorcycles work perfectly well within a helmet. However, many full motorcycle helmets now have Bluetooth Intercom to stay connected with others driving a group. They could be better for noise cancellation and may lack audio quality, so the choice depends on your needs.
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