Bicycle Sound System Suggestions?

Community bike rides are so much more fun with music. Anyone have recommendations for a relatively low cost sound system option? 

I'm hoping for something I can attach to the rear rack of my bakfiets. I'd also love to be able to hook it up to an iPod or something similar.

I'm willing to buy or build if it has significant cost savings.

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Permalink Reply by yai danche on May 4, 2014 at 8:58am

I read Steve Vance's cargo bike blog and he has a sound system set-up.  My extremely low tech speaker is the Boombotix clip on speaker.  It's pretty loud, people on the sidewalk swivel around to see where the sound is coming from.  I'm not a social rider so I don't know how it sounds riding in a group, but occasionally LFT cyclists will bop their heads to my music and I only follow people one bicycle length's distance.  I either clip it my handlebars (handlebar mount purchased separately), messenger bag strap, or the side of my pants' waistband.  These are all forward facing so it's pretty loud, enough for my handlebars to vibrate.

Permalink Reply by Gecko on May 4, 2014 at 11:02am

I built this using the speakers and circuit board from something similar to this with a rechargeable radio control car battery for power (plus a single AA battery to fix the voltage).  It's plenty loud and it lasts around 20 hours on a single charge.  Those are 3" speakers, and the whole box is made out of a large old floor speaker but cut down to 13"X10.5"X6" so it'll fit on a rack pretty easily.  I spent like $80 for the battery and charger, but that's all so far.

The nice thing about using the computer speaker circuit board is that it already has a headphone jack to plug your phone/mp3 player into it.  Another way would be to find a battery-powered boom box and steal the amplifier out of it.  Then you could use more and bigger speakers, although you'd need bigger batteries also.  There are lots of ways to achieve what you're looking to do, and it's pretty easy to do cheaply.

Permalink Reply by Tominator on May 4, 2014 at 11:52am

These guys on RAGBRA had these amazing sound systems that did not need a trailer but just hung off their seat or on a rear rack. They looked like a 2 foot long section of 8" PVC pipe and boy did they blast.

I can't remember the name of them but maybe someone else will? They were a bit spendy, however, a few hundred, I remember, maybe $300?

Permalink Reply by Gecko on May 4, 2014 at 11:57am

It was probably the JVC Kaboom or something similar.  Pretty expensive but really good sound.

Permalink Reply by Holly H on May 5, 2014 at 3:38am

I have a Kakkoii bluetooth speaker that I carry in my front basket.  It's all rubber so it handles the jostling well.  I've never cranked the volume really high on it, but it's got fairly good sound and certainly makes my commute a lot more fun.  I think it's about $100 new, but I found it on sale a year ago.  The bluetooth is very handy though as I use Spotify on my iPhone.  It's also small enough I can toss it in my bag.

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on May 5, 2014 at 3:52am

I have theLogitech UE Boom.  It sounds great, is small and rugged.  Love it!

Permalink Reply by Jamais716 on May 5, 2014 at 4:02am

I have http://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Multi-Function-Bicycle-External-Contr... on my handlebars. $350, perfect for 1 or 2 riders, but also works well enough for a group of 6-8 to sing along while riding.  Holds my S3 phone to play music with room to spare (similar Sunlite speaker doesn't quite fit a phone) and the velcro attachments have held up well to daily removal for safe keeping.  Only suggestion I'd make is to get an aux cable with right angled ends instead of straight ones.  The straight end cable it comes with gets wedged and bent and died pretty quick, but no problems once I got a new cable.

Permalink Reply by Alex on May 5, 2014 at 5:29am

"jawbone jambox" in my front basket. not super loud, but definitely loud for you and the people nearby. you can hook it up via cable or bluetooth.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 5, 2014 at 12:44pm

There's a group with pages and pages of postings on this topic at http://www.thechainlink.org/group/bikesound

Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on May 5, 2014 at 12:53pm

Thumbs up for this offer. H helped me build.

h' 1.0 said:

I'm near 24th and Western and looking to pass along a bunch of equipment to someone who will use it.

So there's your "low cost" if the location works for you.

ho.ardbikes (at) that google mail service

Permalink Reply by Richard Stiers on May 6, 2014 at 6:09am

I hang my Jawbone Jambox on my handlebars and it connects to my iPhone via bluetooth. Also acts as handsfree phone (if you don't mind others hearing your conversation). Works great and I get to hear my tunes and radio (WBEZ) streamed live.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 6, 2014 at 7:14am

Jamais716 I have that same Ivation from Amazon and love it for personal sound, just $29.  Handlebar mounted it gets very loud for the rider, less so for pals.  The USB rechargable battery lasts hours.  I accidentally assumed it was blue tooth, but now keep a chip full of breakbeat MP3s plugged in it and a dollar store FM receiver on the aux plug.

For bigger sound on group ride I've been very impressed by Bike Beats, made in Chicago, ~$200+, mounts on rear rack.  Seen them in action several times.

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