Hey all, just curious about how many here ride with earplugs, and why you do. Since getting the VFR, I started wearing them, and now won't ride without them. Much more pleasant ride - not near as much noise. Let's hear it....
Fast foward to nearly 34 - if it's over 3 miles round trip, or involves the freeway (either/or criteria) then I always do. In fact, I get nervous if I can't find them.
I find that my rate of hearing loss is lessened by wearing them. I get 'em at Target in bulk.
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Well after 15plus years in a machine shop where I wear ear plugs every day I always wear them on my bike. Yeah they cut the wind noise but I think the bigges benefit to me is being able to hear my bike. I never ride with out them.
I use the Big Ear custom plugs, buy a new set every year at the Laguna MotoGP round. Why do I wear them? because I want to be able to hear the dinner bell at the old folks home when the time comes :biggrin:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Supra-aural (over the ear) headphones or speakers cranked up to be heard over windnoise is going to give you massive hearing loss VERY quickly. You want to maximize signal-to-noise ratio. I would highly recommend a decent pair of in-ear monitors. You can go to Walmart and pay as little as $20, or spend $300-$700 on custom fit pieces. Either way you'll get much, much better sound with much less hearing loss.
All that's needed is a decent seal, if you're going cheap, I find the ones with rubber ear-canal seals work better than the foam ones.
Something like these: http://www.buy.com/r...tingid=36039509
This site has them listed for $30 shipped, but you can probably get them or something similar for $25 or $30.
Oh, and one last thing, if you run the wires up and behind your ear (as opposed to with the wires hanging straight down) they will fit much better and not move around in your helmet!
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Oh, man, you are just boosting the music volume over the already too high wind noise. This is not good for your ears. Look into some good ear speakers (e.g., Etymotic Research ER6's) that will both quiet the wind noise, and sound a lot better than any helmet speaker.
I wear earplugs for just about any ride over 15-20 minutes, esp. if it's on the freeway.
I'm a musician (like Ryan) so my hearing is important to me. I can't believe how many years I went without earplugs on loud stages when I was younger. Now I can't stand to NOT use them, either on stage or on the bike - again for anything longer than short trips.
BTW, after doing an all-day ride on a Sunday with earplugs, while doing my 10-mile commute to work without earplugs the wind noise seems extremely loud! :blink:
Mine are ringing...... I was dumb enough not to wear them when I was younger(and I can't say I wasn't told, because I was in the armed forces, and they told me back in the early 60's).... But I started wearing them in the late 70's..... I wear them all the time now.... I can hear most things better with them in, whether I'm on the bike or not.... I'd always had a problem getting the rpm's up because of the sound bothering me(even when I was younger and my hearing hadn't been damaged yet)..... but with the plugs in I can use the full range of rpm's, so I can ride the bike properly.
Also, I don't get as fatigued, and if a bug gets in the helmet I don't have to worry about it crawling in my ear and eating my brain......
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 17 2009, 10:17 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Supra-aural (over the ear) headphones or speakers cranked up to be heard over windnoise is going to give you massive hearing loss VERY quickly. You want to maximize signal-to-noise ratio. I would highly recommend a decent pair of in-ear monitors. You can go to Walmart and pay as little as $20, or spend $300-$700 on custom fit pieces. Either way you'll get much, much better sound with much less hearing loss.
All that's needed is a decent seal, if you're going cheap, I find the ones with rubber ear-canal seals work better than the foam ones.
Something like these: http://www.buy.com/r...tingid=36039509
This site has them listed for $30 shipped, but you can probably get them or something similar for $25 or $30.
Oh, and one last thing, if you run the wires up and behind your ear (as opposed to with the wires hanging straight down) they will fit much better and not move around in your helmet!
I've tried various ear buds but they either rip my ear off when taking off my helmet or are a pain to keep in place when putting on the helmet. The one I have now is from helmetaudio.com its the XSJ, it defiantly is not loud enough to drown out wind noise just loud enough to hear some tunes. They mount inside the helmet and an apx 2" long plug will come out where ever you route it...they're so easy to use even a cave man can do it. :blink:
I don't wear them when riding in town, but you have to remember that I live in a small town of 10,000 and don't ever get above 45 MPH when riding there. We've got lots of photo radar and a heavy police presence, so jetting around at warp speed is a bad idea. Plus my bike isn't quiet with the Devil dual exhausts (when I open it up anyhow), so wicking it up makes the neighbors take notice. It's not bad at all when cruising at normals speeds though.
BUT, for a highway trip of any length, I certainly do wear them all the time. :blink: :excl: :excl:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think they are important enough to wear that I became a provider of Big Ear Custom Molded ear plugs. I had been wearing the foam ones for probably 12 years before I went to the custom ones.
Even when people say they aren't doing hearing damage, I always give them something else to think about. I explain that your brain is trying to process everything it hears, whether that is horns, music, wind noise, etc. Even though wind noise is garbage, your brain is trying to process that information (constantly). At the end of the day, your brain has been working overtime and is tired. By wearing ear plugs you cut back on that garbage your brain is trying to process and you are less fatigued.
[image: View Post]TucsonErik, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
Hey Monk, good to know you can get it up now.
The RPM's that is, what were you thinking?!?!?!
I was thinking.... I tried to get it up a couple of times, but gave up on it.... I was afraid I'd wouldn't get it back down again...... Wheelie's.... Why?
[image: View Post]dirtbag, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:42 PM, said:
[image: View Post]dirtbag, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
I'm pretty sure any inline volume control can't give you more volume than what the main source has to give.... you will be able to controll the volume inline but over all it won't be any louder than what you have now....
[image: View Post]Monk, on Oct 17 2009, 10:51 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:42 PM, said:
[image: View Post]dirtbag, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
I'm pretty sure any inline volume control can't give you more volume than what the main source has to give.... you will be able to controll the volume inline but over all it won't be any louder than what you have now....
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:42 PM, said:
[image: View Post]dirtbag, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
That inline volume control won't boost it, it will only let you turn it down. You need something powered. If you want to bury it in the bike somewhere and run it off bike power, use a PIE inline amplifier. If you want something you can run off batteries and carry in your pocket, get the Boostaroo. Then put your earplugs back in, and save your hearing!
Worked in a very noisey environment in my 20's.
Bought a home and like most of us had to do my own repairs and improvements.
Won't mention using firearms at the range where it wasn't macho to use protection.
All without ear protection, my ears are ringing. Now won't even hammer a nail w/o muffs.
Still trying to convince myself to use them for riding though. Tried them once, felt good
and bad at the same time. It was nice, kind of peaceful and isolated from the harsh
side of riding (engine noise, wind noise and road noise in that order). Actually found
that I was going faster than previous rides through the same twistys without the
feedback to slow me down.
The bad side was that I felt isolated not being able to hear my surroundings.
Now logic hits and realize that if I keep riding without plugs won't have to worry
about hearing anything.
Thanks for opening the discussion, think I'll start wearing them.
[image: View Post]RollinAgain, on Oct 17 2009, 10:43 PM, said:
I usually put in my earplugs when I get home from riding. That way I don't have to listen to my wife yapping about how how long I've been gone LOL!!!
Regards,
Rollin
Sy,
YOu should be ashamed of yourself. You give your wife such a hard time.
Let a brotha hear from you. Sorry, no weed available for you in the hood.
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 17 2009, 07:02 PM, said:
I'm a musician, so earplugs are a must. If your ears are ringing, or hurt, you've already done irreversible damage.
The two main factors that cause hearing loss: intensity and duration. Riding a bike is very noisy, unless you wears Schumacher's helmet, and it WILL damage your hearing. Now, the only way to protect yourself is to wear the best hear plugs you can find (35dB reduction), and I do every single time I ride. To me, they are almost as important as padded gear, gloves or a helmet. Yes, I still wanna be able to hear those birds when I'm 55--and believe me it's not that far away....
c
[image: View Post]sweet97, on Oct 17 2009, 07:46 PM, said:
Hey all, just curious about how many here ride with earplugs, and why you do. Since getting the VFR, I started wearing them, and now won't ride without them. Much more pleasant ride - not near as much noise. Let's hear it....
Dave P.
Have you priced a good set of hearing aids lately. Big bucks.
I've been using earplugs for years, got them free when working construction projects. Have a slew of them stashed at home, and in my tankbags and riding gear. They not only protect your hearing but reduce fatigue as well, at least in my experience.
I rerely use them just puttering around town, at inner city speeds, but if I expect to go over 45mph for anything beyond a minute or two, I use them.
Since no one has yet to produce a really quiet helmet, I'll continue using them.
I always wear them. I already damaged my hearing years ago listening to music way too loud, so I want to preserve what I have left. I really can't stand to ride without them. The wind noise drives me nuts and it's distracting. Even with 32DB ear plugs, I can still hear the RPMs, and can also clearly hear my in-helmet speakers. But I can't hear the wind.
And Monk, if you get it up, and your wheelie lasts more than four hours, immediately call your doctor. Otherwise you may damage your equipment.
I ALWAYS wear 'em - even for short in town rides. Most of my adult life has been around motorcycles, helicopters and gunfire. What hearing damage I have is from turbine helicopters. Gunfire is impulse noise and motorcycle riding is continuous noise-both are bad. If your ears ring, either off and on or all the time, thats tinnitus-dying haircells in your inner ear. It doesn't come back, so take care of what you have left.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:30 PM, said:
I've tried various ear buds but they either rip my ear off when taking off my helmet or are a pain to keep in place when putting on the helmet. The one I have now is from helmetaudio.com its the XSJ, it defiantly is not loud enough to drown out wind noise just loud enough to hear some tunes. They mount inside the helmet and an apx 2" long plug will come out where ever you route it...they're so easy to use even a cave man can do it. :blink:
I find if I route the cord behind my ears the headphones seal better, and if I route the cord under my jacket, it stays in very well. Are you saying you use ear plugs AND helmet speakers? If so, I guess I misunderstood, this is fine, you just lose a little sound quality. Sorry.
[image: View Post]SilverVee, on Oct 17 2009, 11:01 PM, said:
Thanks for opening the discussion, think I'll start wearing them.
Adrian
Yay! We've done good!
[image: View Post]francois_payen, on Oct 17 2009, 11:36 PM, said:
[image: View Post]TimC, on Oct 17 2009, 10:24 PM, said:
I wear earplugs for just about any ride over 15-20 minutes, esp. if it's on the freeway.
I'm a musician (like Ryan) so my hearing is important to me. I can't believe how many years I went without earplugs on loud stages when I was younger. Now I can't stand to NOT use them, either on stage or on the bike - again for anything longer than short trips.
BTW, after doing an all-day ride on a Sunday with earplugs, while doing my 10-mile commute to work without earplugs the wind noise seems extremely loud! :excl:
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 17 2009, 11:02 PM, said:
I'm a musician, so earplugs are a must. If your ears are ringing, or hurt, you've already done irreversible damage.
:excl:
Cool! What do you guys play? (I know, off topic, but 2/3 ain't bad)...
[image: View Post]wera803, on Oct 17 2009, 10:38 PM, said:
I think they are important enough to wear that I became a provider of Big Ear Custom Molded ear plugs. I had been wearing the foam ones for probably 12 years before I went to the custom ones.
Even when people say they aren't doing hearing damage, I always give them something else to think about. I explain that your brain is trying to process everything it hears, whether that is horns, music, wind noise, etc. Even though wind noise is garbage, your brain is trying to process that information (constantly). At the end of the day, your brain has been working overtime and is tired. By wearing ear plugs you cut back on that garbage your brain is trying to process and you are less fatigued.
I got some ear plugs from Ken for sleep and I have to say the quality is top notch. Also got the stereo headphones because I like to listen to music while riding and they are completely awesome- can listen at half level comfortably. with store bought earphones I had to listen close to full blast, and was starting to have some hearing trouble and pain.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 09:30 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 17 2009, 10:17 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Supra-aural (over the ear) headphones or speakers cranked up to be heard over windnoise is going to give you massive hearing loss VERY quickly. You want to maximize signal-to-noise ratio. I would highly recommend a decent pair of in-ear monitors. You can go to Walmart and pay as little as $20, or spend $300-$700 on custom fit pieces. Either way you'll get much, much better sound with much less hearing loss.
All that's needed is a decent seal, if you're going cheap, I find the ones with rubber ear-canal seals work better than the foam ones.
Something like these: http://www.buy.com/r...tingid=36039509
This site has them listed for $30 shipped, but you can probably get them or something similar for $25 or $30.
Oh, and one last thing, if you run the wires up and behind your ear (as opposed to with the wires hanging straight down) they will fit much better and not move around in your helmet!
I've tried various ear buds but they either rip my ear off when taking off my helmet or are a pain to keep in place when putting on the helmet. The one I have now is from helmetaudio.com its the XSJ, it defiantly is not loud enough to drown out wind noise just loud enough to hear some tunes. They mount inside the helmet and an apx 2" long plug will come out where ever you route it...they're so easy to use even a cave man can do it. :blink:
When I use my Shure E3c earbuds, I wear a balaclava (head sock) and it cures the helmet on/off thing. I have a silk one for the summer that keeps my head cool and helmet clean. In the winter I have one that keeps the heat in (and helmet clean).
Wow guys, thanks, really an eye-opening discussion. I hadn't sustained any high speed-long distance rides sufficient to give me any problems on my GS, but with the new purchase of the VFR...
I guess I'll need to be looking into a nice set of earplugs in addition to the Autocom for music (I'm hoping it will have the volume range to overcome earplugs?)
After riding pretty much full-time since 1974, I have only, in the last 5 years or so, started using earplugs. I know that I already have partial hearing loss and I attribute that almost completely to years of riding without ear protection. Now I wear them every time I get on the bike, even if it's just a trip down to the corner shops.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Have you tried your setup with ear plugs?
I've got a Scala (in helmet speakers) playing my MP3's from the Zumo via Bluetooth, can't hear it at all going down the road above 40 MPh. Just use those little yellow foam guys and you hear the world and your tunes with no problem, just no more wind noise. :biggrin:
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 18 2009, 01:56 AM, said:
Cool! What do you guys play? (I know, off topic, but 2/3 ain't bad)...
I play bass. Would eventually love to do that for a living, but right now the Army is my day job...someday, maybe :cool: I played in punk bands, classic rock bands, a 7-piece disco band (complete w/ outfits, although I think I successfully destroyed all photographic evidence of that), and a System of a Down tribute band. My G&L five stringer is my second most precious material belonging after my bike.
[image: View Post]Knife, on Oct 18 2009, 01:05 AM, said:
And Monk, if you get it up, and your wheelie lasts more than four hours, immediately call your doctor. Otherwise you may damage your equipment.
:cool: :laugh: :laugh:
[image: View Post]dweese, on Oct 18 2009, 04:58 AM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Have you tried your setup with ear plugs?
I've got a Scala (in helmet speakers) playing my MP3's from the Zumo via Bluetooth, can't hear it at all going down the road above 40 MPh. Just use those little yellow foam guys and you hear the world and your tunes with no problem, just no more wind noise. :cool:
What he said! I use 32DB or 33DB foam ear plugs. Work like magic! NO WIND NOISE, but clear music and you can hear the sounds around you! I even have to turn the volume DOWN on my Scala Rider when listening to music or using the intercom feature, even at high speeds. Makes a long trip enjoyable and considerably less tiring (continual loud noise drains you).
I have some hearing loss from too many years at the front of the stage at punk and metal shows. I'm trying to save what I have. I use some Shure in ear type headphones with an iPod. I find using them I can keep the music volume down and have decent sound, plus kill *some* of the windnoise. I can't carry on a conversation like this, but I can still here sirens, exhaust, etc.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Noooooo !If you keep tying to get music louder you'll just be doing a lot of damage to your ears.Google "In-ear moinitors",that's what their called the the music industry.If you HAVE to listen to music,you would want custom molding ear pieces.That will isolate the wind noise from the music so you don't have to increase volume, which will do damage over a very short time if you keep turning it up.Good ones will be in the $300-500,and up,range.
Listening to music is not for me while riding a motorcycle.I have enough to concentrate on and like the meditation-like focus it takes to ride.Yes long slab rides are tortuously boring, but that's part of the challenge for me.
I'm a pro audio tech in the television industry and a former professional drummer from 17 YO, till about 7-8 years ago.Exposed to a lot of dangerous SPL's and noticed early on that I would often have ringing in the ears after a show or loud rehearsal.Started wearing them back then and it made a huge difference.Whenever I forgot or lost my set, and had to play without them ,I couldn't believe what I had previously exposed my ears to.Even with diligence of wearing them most of the time,I still quite often ask people to repeat themselves and "excuse me and what?" are common phrases in my conversations.
I here a lot of people argue that earplugs prevent them from hearing traffic around them.For me this is not a problem.I am constantly scanning ahead,side to side and mirrors.It is very rare that someone comes up to my side without me seeing or hearing them.If they do I usually equate that to a lack of attention on my part ,not the earplugs.I can hear cars around me no problem.There is a gettin used to period,whether riding or playing drums because certain frequencies that you ears are used to hearing are not there.Once your brain realizes,(is trained),that all is well and the world isn't going to hell because all freqs from 3-4k on up are reduced ,you'll relax and get used to the freqs you hear and expect them while wearing earplugs.
I use Walgreen foam earplugs.There cheap,disposable(thow them out or wash them after a couple of uses because of germs) and they come in a jug(forget the quantity) which will last for a long time.
Try this experiment.
Get any cheap,foam type earplugs.
Put em in correctly.
Roll them up between your finger.Reach over your head with your right hand,pull up on your left ear and slip the plug in with your left hand.Repeat on your right side.This is important!
They will expand in a few seconds and you will hear the world get quiet.Ahhhh,!They should be snug and not extruding from your ears.Putting on or removing your helmet should not make them fall out.If so ,they are not put in correctly.
Go for a ride!Get up to speed doesn't have to be highway but above 40-50mph,20mins to an hour should be enough as long as it isn't stop and go traffic.
Take the the plugs out and do the same trip home.You'll be blown away at what you've subjected your precious eardrums to.
[image: View Post]mznyc, on Oct 18 2009, 11:22 AM, said:
Try this experiment.
Get any cheap,foam type earplugs.
Put em in correctly.
Roll them up between your finger.Reach over your head with your right hand,pull up on your left ear and slip the plug in with your left hand.Repeat on your right side.This is important!
They will expand in a few seconds and you will hear the world get quiet.Ahhhh,!They should be snug and not extruding from your ears.Putting on or removing your helmet should not make them fall out.If so ,they are not put in correctly.
Go for a ride!Get up to speed doesn't have to be highway but above 40-50mph,20mins to an hour should be enough as long as it isn't stop and go traffic.
Take the the plugs out and do the same trip home.You'll be blown away at what you've subjected your precious eardrums to.
I would just like to add that you may have to hold them in with your finger after insertion until they expand in your ear canal and don't push themselves out.
I just stared wearing earplugs, I've really liked that the wind noise is gone...YAY! I have a Shoei helmet RF1000 and it's supposed to be quiet. With the plugs in it's really nice. I can hear the cars and such just fine.
I tried wearing earbuds for music but I also realized the damage I was doing with the Ipod cranked up and the wind noise.
Agreed.
I use the boosteroo with helmet speakers and 35db earplugs. That combination works great!
I don't crank up the tunes - only enough to hear them, and generally wind noise is still higher than the music.
I'd have to disagree with some of the statements about helmet speakers being worse than in-ear ones. There aren't many in-ear headphones that are specifically designed to block out wind-noise and background noises associated with motorcycling - you're going to have a lot more protection from really good earplugs than headphones.
And the additional background 'noise' of music at the same level as wind noise is not going to add more damage to the hearing - it's not additive. Noise over 90db will damage your hearing with prolonged exposure - reducing the noise by 25-35db will effectively negate the damage.
[image: View Post]elizilla, on Oct 18 2009, 03:57 AM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 10:42 PM, said:
[image: View Post]dirtbag, on Oct 17 2009, 10:34 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 02:07 AM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
wow thats nuts.
i have in helmet speakers, and with ear plugs and my mp3 player cranked, i can hear it up to about 80mph. i figure anything above that i should be paying more attention anyways;)
when i have forgotten to plug up, i almost jump out of my leathers because it is so loud!!! with plugs, just right!!!
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
That inline volume control won't boost it, it will only let you turn it down. You need something powered. If you want to bury it in the bike somewhere and run it off bike power, use a PIE inline amplifier. If you want something you can run off batteries and carry in your pocket, get the Boostaroo. Then put your earplugs back in, and save your hearing!
[image: View Post]sweet97, on Oct 17 2009, 08:46 PM, said:
Hey all, just curious about how many here ride with earplugs, and why you do. Since getting the VFR, I started wearing them, and now won't ride without them. Much more pleasant ride - not near as much noise. Let's hear it....
Dave P.
you people are WEIRD!!!
ear plugs! you wanna be deaf , like me?!?!!!
http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/tongue.gif :cool: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif
just messing with everone!
on the flip side.. if everyone here learned signlanguage.. it maes group rides much more fun.. you can talk across a parking lot with out shutting of your bikes :laugh:
[image: View Post]gll429, on Oct 18 2009, 01:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]sweet97, on Oct 17 2009, 08:46 PM, said:
Hey all, just curious about how many here ride with earplugs, and why you do. Since getting the VFR, I started wearing them, and now won't ride without them. Much more pleasant ride - not near as much noise. Let's hear it....
Dave P.
you people are WEIRD!!!
ear plugs! you wanna be deaf , like me?!?!!!
http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/tongue.gif :blink: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif
just messing with everone!
on the flip side.. if everyone here learned signlanguage.. it maes group rides much more fun.. you can talk across a parking lot with out shutting of your bikes :beer:
Actually.... That was my reason for learning "American Sign Language" , but of course no one else wanted to bother..... It turned out for the good in the long run, met some deaf pip's that were highly educated(I'm just a HS grad), and some of their hearing friends, which made it much easier to learn without slowing down the conversation.
We'd go to these disco's (read loud) in the 80's, and it was the 1st time I injoyed talking with someone (with out shouting and asking WHAT?). Also learned how to sign while holding a drink..... :cool:
You are "right on"(point/then palm down on the back of the other hand)
[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Oct 18 2009, 12:32 PM, said:
I'd have to disagree with some of the statements about helmet speakers being worse than in-ear ones. There aren't many in-ear headphones that are specifically designed to block out wind-noise and background noises associated with motorcycling - you're going to have a lot more protection from really good earplugs than headphones.
And the additional background 'noise' of music at the same level as wind noise is not going to add more damage to the hearing - it's not additive. Noise over 90db will damage your hearing with prolonged exposure - reducing the noise by 25-35db will effectively negate the damage.
Actually, a good pair of in-ear monitors can provide better protection than ear plugs. Custom fit is best (be it IEM's or just ear plugs).
But there are two main reasons beside this that you will get better sound from IEM's than helmet speakers and ear plugs.
1. Earplugs do not attenuate evenly. This means that your ear plugs are blocking out higher frequencies much moreso than lower frequencies. Listening to music past earplugs always distorts the signal. Custom musician's ear plugs make great strides to attenuate evenly, and can actually make certain situations (like concerts) sound better where more noise distorts anyway. But by putting a piece of foam between the speaker and your ear canal will always distort the signal.
2. Signal-to-Noise ratio is improved. By using IEM's, you are cutting the sound level of external noises only. By using a speaker and earplugs, you are blocking both wind noises AND the signal you are trying to reproduce faithfully.
Custom-fit IEM's are the best bet for sound quality AND hearing protection. But, again, you can get pretty good options for fairly cheap.
For most people, none of this is an issue, but for the discriminating audiophile, such as myself, sound is important. And keep in mind the sound quality of most MP3 players (both bit-rate and cheap pre-amps) is bad enough that none of this probably matters.
So, if all you want is to be able to tell that music is there--and don't want to fuss with a cord, go with ear plugs and helmet speakers.
If sound quality is important, and one doesn't mind having to fuss with the cord, go with In-Ear-Monitors.
I wear plugs all the time.
Hearing aids in both ears for the last 18 years; partly hereditary and partly from constuction work when I was younger and had no insight/education/advice. Totally regret it - I thought plugs were enough during jackhammering, nailgun...
To anyone who would say we don't need hearing protection while riding a bike, LISTEN UP!
Wind noise is among the highest-energy sounds we can be exposed to.
What is sound, after all, other than vibrations in air?
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 03:42 AM, said:
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
Better late than never, I suppose... :blink:
Quote
Get any cheap,foam type earplugs.
Put em in correctly.
Roll them up between your finger.Reach over your head with your right hand,pull up on your left ear and slip the plug in with your left hand.Repeat on your right side.This is important!
They will expand in a few seconds and you will hear the world get quiet.Ahhhh,!They should be snug and not extruding from your ears.Putting on or removing your helmet should not make them fall out.If so ,they are not put in correctly.
This is as good an explanation as I've seen. When I first started wearing earplugs I wasn't inserting them properly and didn't get the full benefit. As the foam expands, you should experience a rapid sensation of enveloping quiet, the result of which should be like Bonneville at midnight. The key for me was to only use "fresh" foam earplugs, as the old ones (or the, er, "used" ones) expand too quickly after being rolled-up. Unless there's a delay, you can't get them deep enough into your ears...
[image: View Post]JZH, on Oct 18 2009, 02:48 PM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 18 2009, 03:42 AM, said:
I think it's my cheap mp3 player that just doesn't have good volume, mine cranked I cant hear anything really past 65-70. I've tried it with plugs in before and I couldn't hear a thing. The helmetaudio site has an inline volume control for bout $6, I wanna try that. I think that combined with my POS mp3 player will give me enough volume that I can put back in the plugs. But for the simplicity, quickness with my helmet and I can still have music and ear plugs I'm staying with the helmet speakers.
Better late than never, I suppose... :blink:
Quote
Get any cheap,foam type earplugs.
Put em in correctly.
Roll them up between your finger.Reach over your head with your right hand,pull up on your left ear and slip the plug in with your left hand.Repeat on your right side.This is important!
They will expand in a few seconds and you will hear the world get quiet.Ahhhh,!They should be snug and not extruding from your ears.Putting on or removing your helmet should not make them fall out.If so ,they are not put in correctly.
This is as good an explanation as I've seen. When I first started wearing earplugs I wasn't inserting them properly and didn't get the full benefit. As the foam expands, you should experience a rapid sensation of enveloping quiet, the result of which should be like Bonneville at midnight. The key for me was to only use "fresh" foam earplugs, as the old ones (or the, er, "used" ones) expand too quickly after being rolled-up. Unless there's a delay, you can't get them deep enough into your ears...
Ciao,
You make a good point!
Another add on to insertion, is to lick it quick after the rolling technique..... Roll/lick/insert/hold.....
Wow - turned into some great discussion! I'm also one of those guys that tried the Ipod while riding, and found that it was too distracting for me. Each to thier own, I guess. I currently use disposable plugs from work, but may pursue some custom molded plugs, as they are probably more comfy - any recommenations?
I didn't use anything at first when I started riding. Then I purchased a Scala rider and would listen to the radio. But once you got up to highway speeds, you couldn't really hear anything unless you turned it up and that made me uncomfortable. So, then I just went without for a while then I tried the expandable foam ones that you can get anywhere. But I was really missing music, so I started looking for in ear. A couple of friends recommended the "etonics," I believe and that's what I almost when with. Looking around some more, I found Blockades for a lost less money. They are less than 30 bucks and are shaped just like the etonics. I can listen to music at any speed, and I really don't have to turn it up too much. The nicest part about the blockades is they have a push button volume control so they're easy to use with gloves. I found them at Lowes where they sell ear protection. Now I use them anytime I am doing any kind of work. Don't forget about around the house, cutting grass, using saws, etc. They block alot of noise, but not all of it. I can hear cars, and sirens, etc. And after a good 200 mile ride with my buddies, I have found that I am far less fatigued when I wear plugs.
I started wearing them this year, after seeing it discussed on other forums. Now I won't ride without them. I'm glad to hear (pun intended) that you can use a intercom, etc. with earplugs. I'm considering getting one next year as the woman will be riding with me a lot more, now that I have the VFR.
I've tried a couple of different types, but haven't settled on one particular just yet. I'd love a set of custom made ones, if I ever have the money.
I am an example of what happens when you don't wear earplugs. I now have to wear hearing aids all the time, and even that leaves me asking people to repeat what they just said. I watch the sub titles on the tv!
This all came to a head while my daughter was a small girl (she's 23 now) and I found I couldn't hear her. I had my hearing tested and found I was normal for the first couple of base measures and then there was a massive dip. I had up to 40% loss in some areas.
I have been around motorcycles, race car engines, power tools and convertible top cars since I was 14, so that's 40 years, and the hearing loss has crept up on me and continues to grow.
I periodically have to have my hearing aids reprogrammed to boost my hearing. I have a fancy new bluetooth set that have a little amp I can plce on a meeting room table to get better amplification, and it links to my Blackberry seamlessly. all that for a few thousand dollars, but I can hear.
Nopw I have custom made ear plugs from my audiologist, and I won't go near an engine or a motorcycle without them in. I wear muff style hearing protectors when i cut the grass or use power tools.
everyone, protect your hearing!!!!! You may not think it matters now, but it does.
ok well i do where one in one side but thats as its for music some ppl call it and ear plug and some call it an ear phone u prob mean as in ear plugs to reduce noise but cant get on personaly its to quiet lol prefer music on low in just one ear
[image: View Post]francois_payen, on Oct 18 2009, 07:22 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 18 2009, 01:56 AM, said:
Cool! What do you guys play? (I know, off topic, but 2/3 ain't bad)...
I play bass. Would eventually love to do that for a living, but right now the Army is my day job...someday, maybe :pissed: I played in punk bands, classic rock bands, a 7-piece disco band (complete w/ outfits, although I think I successfully destroyed all photographic evidence of that), and a System of a Down tribute band. My G&L five stringer is my second most precious material belonging after my bike.
huh, what'd ya say? (low freq rumble especially brutal)
fender jazz & precision, schecter 004, schecter stiletto studio 5 played through 6x10 and 1x18 sub @ 1200 watts
Edited by bigbadbass, 18 October 2009 - 06:50 PM.
Hey, Muppet
Try some punctuation, grammar and maybe capitals, even...
Most of the folks here have at least high school education.
No offense, just askin'.
I have found foam earplugs in the 32 to 34 DB range. The highest in-ear speakers, molded earplugs, or ear phones I've been able to find are only 27 DB or less. I'm sticking with the 32 to 34 DB foam earplugs. Anything less doesn't seem to work for me.
[image: View Post]GP Paul, on Oct 18 2009, 07:51 PM, said:
Hey, Muppet
Try some punctuation, grammar and maybe capitals, even...
Most of the folks here have at least high school education.
No offense, just askin'.
Hey! Lay off! He's just a Muppet! (J/K)
[image: View Post]Knife, on Oct 18 2009, 07:42 PM, said:
I have found foam earplugs in the 32 to 34 DB range. The highest in-ear speakers, molded earplugs, or ear phones I've been able to find are only 27 DB or less. I'm sticking with the 32 to 34 DB foam earplugs. Anything less doesn't seem to work for me.
The Shure in ears come with different size sleeves and they just recently (last year or so) they added a formed foam sleeve. I'm not sure what the db rating is, but the couple times my MP3 stopped playing (battery or end of playlist), they seem very close to the 34db plugs I normally wear. I work in the audio industary and a pretty good judge audio levels.
They block enough outside noise that I have the music at the same level riding the bike as I do when I'm doing yard work around the house. I makes the music a lot more of a background thing, than a main thing. More enjoyable riding.
[image: View Post]francois_payen, on Oct 18 2009, 04:22 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 18 2009, 01:56 AM, said:
Cool! What do you guys play? (I know, off topic, but 2/3 ain't bad)...
I play bass. Would eventually love to do that for a living, but right now the Army is my day job...someday, maybe :pissed: I played in punk bands, classic rock bands, a 7-piece disco band (complete w/ outfits, although I think I successfully destroyed all photographic evidence of that), and a System of a Down tribute band. My G&L five stringer is my second most precious material belonging after my bike.
Hehehehehe... you'd be surprised how much family and friends keep old pics around... :fing02: And then there's youtube...
c
Just something to remind us all that this country was settled by people that didn't have a formal education,etc......
This is just something I remembered seeing, when I first joined this great forum.......
CONDUCT
Flame wars will not be tolerated
If you feel the need to trash talk members about your bike or what ever, hold that thought and forget it. This board is for serious bike talk and not tit a tat baloney. Any inappropriate post will be deleted, membership privileges can be revoked for serious violations of the rules
[image: View Post]coderighter, on Oct 18 2009, 09:25 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Knife, on Oct 18 2009, 07:42 PM, said:
I have found foam earplugs in the 32 to 34 DB range. The highest in-ear speakers, molded earplugs, or ear phones I've been able to find are only 27 DB or less. I'm sticking with the 32 to 34 DB foam earplugs. Anything less doesn't seem to work for me.
The Shure in ears come with different size sleeves and they just recently (last year or so) they added a formed foam sleeve. I'm not sure what the db rating is, but the couple times my MP3 stopped playing (battery or end of playlist), they seem very close to the 34db plugs I normally wear. I work in the audio industary and a pretty good judge audio levels.
They block enough outside noise that I have the music at the same level riding the bike as I do when I'm doing yard work around the house. I makes the music a lot more of a background thing, than a main thing. More enjoyable riding.
Like the majority of others here, I use the rollup earplugs religiously. Generally buy them in a big jug from Lowes. Carry them in my jacket in an altoids tin.
I hate riding w/o them. Tinnitus sux. Foam earplugs clean the wax out real good too.
Someone should make an iPhone app that changes the volume based on speed. They could use the GPS and accelerometer to do it. That way if you stop it would pause the tunes and you could talk to your buddies and when you get going to would slowly bring the volume up....
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 18 2009, 08:53 PM, said:
[image: View Post]coderighter, on Oct 18 2009, 09:25 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Knife, on Oct 18 2009, 07:42 PM, said:
I have found foam earplugs in the 32 to 34 DB range. The highest in-ear speakers, molded earplugs, or ear phones I've been able to find are only 27 DB or less. I'm sticking with the 32 to 34 DB foam earplugs. Anything less doesn't seem to work for me.
The Shure in ears come with different size sleeves and they just recently (last year or so) they added a formed foam sleeve. I'm not sure what the db rating is, but the couple times my MP3 stopped playing (battery or end of playlist), they seem very close to the 34db plugs I normally wear. I work in the audio industary and a pretty good judge audio levels.
They block enough outside noise that I have the music at the same level riding the bike as I do when I'm doing yard work around the house. I makes the music a lot more of a background thing, than a main thing. More enjoyable riding.
Remember, decibel levels are an exponential, not a linear progression. 35 db's is a good bit of reduction.
Actually it's Logarithmic function, however you're right, 35db is a good bit of reduction. I wasn't really focusing on the number, since db's can be measured on different weighting scales. That being said, with the noises involved with riding, the Shure foam plugs seem to give close to the same results, as I hear them. 34db is just to reference to a known, rated ear plug, not necessarily the measurement of sound block. Kind of an "A" to "B" camparsion if you will.
I damaged my ears enough by the time I got to riding. I was a hip-hop and techno DJ for many years mixing it up on the wheels of steel. I played clubs, raves, and house parties with the loudest PA systems you can imagine and never wore ear protection. Also, I had to have a loud stereo with a sub in my car too during those years - that didn't help much either.
My main thing for wearing them is that the wind noise (at freeway speeds) is unbearable without them. It also causes rider fatigue on longer rides. Sometimes on short rides in town, I'll go without though. I must be gettin old I guess.
ridden for years and even when it was uncool I wore earplugs, mainly because I worked in heavy industry and always a readily available supply.
Found it greatly reduced the wind noise and made riding much less tiring.
Best setup I ever had was Shoei RF1000 and custom moulded ear plugs. The Shoei definitely reduces wind noise due to the flush design of the visor (no side pods) and the custom fit earplugs are so comfortable. Can easily wear them for 10-12hrs a day with no discomfort.
Found I cannot ride with music playing, its just too distracting for me, but each to their own.
I wear ear buds witch cut down on the wind noise and I got my music. But I have all the problems with my ear buds. I want to get a set of customs but
at $200 to $600 not today. I found the best of both worlds, custom earphones at a good price. No I have not tryed them yet, maybe next pay check.
Has any one tryed these???
[image: View Post]Monk, on Oct 18 2009, 06:50 PM, said:
Just something to remind us all that this country was settled by people that didn't have a formal education,etc......
This is just something I remembered seeing, when I first joined this great forum.......
CONDUCT
Flame wars will not be tolerated
If you feel the need to trash talk members about your bike or what ever, hold that thought and forget it. This board is for serious bike talk and not tit a tat baloney. Any inappropriate post will be deleted, membership privileges can be revoked for serious violations of the rules
Where's BR when we need him?!? Oh wait, I remember where he is... Ok, for this time, but only this time BR, you get away with not modding this thread ... :pissed: :cool: just kidding oh look no punctuation either :fing02:
[image: View Post]coderighter, on Oct 18 2009, 11:26 PM, said:
Actually it's Logarithmic function, however you're right, 35db is a good bit of reduction. I wasn't really focusing on the number, since db's can be measured on different weighting scales. That being said, with the noises involved with riding, the Shure foam plugs seem to give close to the same results, as I hear them. 34db is just to reference to a know rated ear plug, not necessarily the measurement of sound block. Kind of an "A" to "B" camparsion if you will.
Exactly. You're right, technically it is a logarithmic function, but the point is that 10 db is more than twice the intensity of 5 db, and so on. Technically levels of attenuation are relative measurements without a reference point, but for our purposes we can speak about 25 db of attenuation vs 35 db. Etc.
[image: View Post]Old School, on Oct 19 2009, 01:03 AM, said:
I wear ear buds witch cut down on the wind noise and I got my music. But I have all the problems with my ear buds. I want to get a set of customs but
at $200 to $600 not today. I found the best of both worlds, custom earphones at a good price. No I have not tryed them yet, maybe next pay check.
Has any one tryed these???
Stephen
I have not tried DIY types, but have heard it can be very hard to get the epoxy deep enough, and that you can get better results for cheaper by using non-custom IEM's. If you do decide to go with custom-fit ones, Big Ear http://www.bigearinc...ucts/BE-1C.aspx offers motorcycle specific ear buds (and we have an authorized rep on here!) and Fidelity audio offers quality systems for cheap http://www.inearsystems.com/ that won't fit as well inside a helmet, but have multiple drivers for a good price. Either require you go to an audiologist to get a mold, which costs about $25 (call around, different places have different prices).
I'm in your boat, I want to get some custom ones, but can't afford the $350 for a quality set. If you do go the DIY route make sure to post up a review for us!
I'm in your boat, I want to get some custom ones, but can't afford the $350 for a quality set. If you do go the DIY route make sure to post up a review for us!
Ken (wera81something :pissed: ) made my set at the last tmac and charged around 70-80 dollars, was a slight discount as i got them together with stero earphones.
These are the tips I use as well. They are pretty comfortable. With the cord up and over my ear and these shoved in, I don't have any issues with the helmet either.
I have a nice set of Shures that I love, but they were a PIA to wear riding (keeping them in getting helmet on/off). I broke down and bought a nice set of custom molded ones. Very very nice. Glad I spent the coin. Hope they last.
I don't usually wear anything on my commute though. I think hearing :fing02: (pun intended) you guys, I'm gonna start. I understand hearing loss is cumulative, and I think mine has been deteriorating for a while. (Can't for the life of me figure out how I passed the hearing test at my last physical.)
I`m 25, riding for four years and I always wear them on journeys longer than 15 mins. I used to get ringing ears after longer journeys but no more! Best one`s I`ve got were from the airport. They`ve got interchangeable inserts for a high pitched filter and one for low. Absolutley brilliant, and they`re the rubber type one`s that go inside your ear like the ear buds on my iphone... Recommended? A MUST!
For short trips earplugs are nice, but for longer trips they are essential. I even use them with my autocom system and it works lovely. Listening to the wind for hours on end isn't pleasant.
I've been wearing the standard E-A-R yellow foam classic plugs for nearly 30 years. Occasionally I'll try another brand but none seem to work as well for me. Some seal too tight and will give you a headache during long stints. I run a J&M wired system combined with a Zumo 550 specifically to listen to podcasts during my commute. The earplugs actually enhance the sound. Without them, it's crap. Recently I tried some highly touted Moldex pura-fit 6800's. They suck. Even thought the NRR rating was higher than my Classics, the wind noise (resonance) was such that they made things much worse. I thought it was me so I gave a bunch of them to several of my riding buddies who also use com gear. They reported the same thing. Back to the Classics. I buy them by the case, 200 pairs in the little cardboard pillow pouch.
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 09:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Get a Boostaroo, $30. doubler your output of your speakers.
[image: View Post]thedrunknmastr, on Oct 19 2009, 10:54 AM, said:
[image: View Post]vlj1216, on Oct 17 2009, 09:07 PM, said:
I used to wear them from time to time, defiantly cut down the wind noise and made for a much nicer ride. Now, I have speakers in my helmet and I think music makes for and even better ride. I want to get some kinda volume booster cause at highway speeds and beyond I can barley hear it, if I can get it loud enough to hear through earplugs then I would start wearing them again.
Get a Boostaroo, $30. doubler your output of your speakers.
Make sure you have your helmet speakers positioned directly and exactly at your ear canal. Even if off a liitle bit, it makes a big difference for the worse.
Here's what I did.... I took the hard rubber bud off the ear piece... cut 1 of my soft ear plugs in half and stuck(punched hole with forceps and spread and inserted)ear piece in the bud..... works great and cheap to change ear bud...
Hi.
It looks like everybody tries desperately to cut the external noise out by using earplugs. So did I. And it did not work satisfactorily. Taking the helmet off took my ears off (almost). Than i started to try everybody's high tear helmets. To my surprise BMW or Shubert flagship helmet was not much better than my cheap Streetfighter Bronx egg shell. BIG surprise. Bigger than price difference. So i started to experiment twisting my neck in all directions while riding fast to find out what really produced the noise. When my head was down so that i saw only the fuel tank lock, the noise was very little. A set of mirrors projecting the road ahead on the fuel tank would be too much McGyver like and probably illegal :fing02: That made me go searching for other solutions. I strted to wear a turtle neck stuffed with a mohair scarf. All the way up to my chin. The noise dropped down to 10-20% of usual level. Good, but not good enaugh. I went to the bike shops selling cheap helmets and accesories to them. One had a piece of rubber to be attached to the bottom rim of helmet's chin section. I bought it and mounted on my helmet. Almost close to but not enaugh. It was rubbing my neck with it's nasty edge. Next try was a piece of my wife's fur collar. (rabbit or something like that) Eureka! gaffer taped to the helmet's lower front edge after i took the helmet on it did the trick. And disclosed source nr 2 - the screen. Short trip to an old gentleman restoring oldtimer photo cameras (those using glass negatives) To make it light tight he used some velour like stuff. In short terms a kind of brush with a lot of short hairs. 5 mm wide stripe of the tape attached around helmets edge where the shield contacts did a miracle. I can hear my bluetooth phone loud and clear but..... yes there always is a but :goofy: 1. at the traffic light i have to open the shield immediately if i want to see anything. 2. The preperation of the fur under my chin takes a looong time and does not look pretty. So for now on i jog my brain to find a permanent solution. Any ideas? Even these too far out are appreciated......Maybe a full size beard would help? Neeeea not enaugh hair i suppose. Or even worse.... it might generate the additional noise.....
Edited by vfr2b, 19 October 2009 - 12:50 PM.
:blink: Simple answer; I do ....Not so simple reason why; After spending 30 years of my life working in and around jet aircraft with hearing protection and driving motorcycles for the last 36 years without, I have noticed a problem called "tinnitus" after long rides (at any speed). A riding companion once asked me; "Why I didn't wear ear plugs?"...I thought about the reasons why not (or lack of them) and then ordered a box of EAR soft foam ear plugs....I now ride longer and in more comfort than before...and the quantifiable difference is very little "buzzing" after the ride is over...Ear plugs are a priceless addition to your riding gear...IMO :cool:
All the ear plugs, all the time. Loud concerts left me with ringing in my ear for the duration of that day. Then: 12th row tickets to Rolling Stones, right in front of the speakers. That was 20 years ago and the ringing has never stopped. And I could not hear well. Then got motorcycle. Rode without ear plugs for about 3 months. On my way to Daytona, at Deals Gap, a stranger gave me some earplugs. Wore them on and off next couple of days. When I got to Florida, I noticed I could not hear as well as when I left home. Since then, I always wear them. At age 62 I am about half deaf. Preserving what I have left.
I have worn earplugs since I got back into motorcycles in the mid-'80s (the decade :smile: ). I didn't wear them as a teenager while riding dirt bikes--which was probably a mistake since most bikes then were two-stroke and loud. A doctor was the deciding factor for me. As a kid I had an ear infection that took out some of the hearing (top end) in my right ear. I remember doing a hearing test in a hospital: big headphones and I was supposed to press a button every time I heard a tone. While testing the left ear, the tones just kept getting higher and higher until they stopped the test. While testing the right ear, I wondered why they stopped so soon. The tech was staring at me through the window (I was in a sound-proof room), and I could tell he was waiting for me, but I wasn't going to push the button if I didn't hear anything. My doctor later explained that you start out in life with a finite amount of hearing and use it up as you go. If you listen to loud music, run a jack hammer for a living, play in a metal band, etc. you go through your allotment faster. And I, too, have read studies about the effects of wind noise, so I'm trying to preserve what hearing I have left. And, as others have noted, with the wind noise gone, riding is more relaxing and important sounds (the engine, car horns, etc.) are actually easier to hear.
I also wear the disposable foam EAR plugs which I buy in a box of 200 pairs.
[image: View Post]Belfry, on 07 April 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:
snip... My doctor later explained that you start out in life with a finite amount of hearing and use it up as you go. If you listen to loud music, run a jack hammer for a living, play in a metal band, etc. you go through your allotment faster. ...snip
Not the way I understand it. Sounds like he was trying to scare you. There is a threshold in hearing below which damage does not happen. It is a sliding scale that depends on amplitude and duration. The louder the noise the less time it takes to damage your hearing. That's why most studies use time weighted averages. For example 85 dB for 8 hours or less may cause no damage. 130 dBs may cause immediate permanent damage.
Then again just as in ATGATT you only need it when you crash. As my cruiser friends tell me in shorts t shirts and flip flops, I don't plan to crash. Then again my dB meter doesn't fit on my helmet with my head in it. I really don't know what sound level I'm pulling. On my 10 minute commutes I don't use my earplugs. I use the corded baffle type plugs at work nearly all the time. I will remove hem momentarily for conversation or troubleshooting for a minute or two. Here is OSHA's table
[image: View Post]Monk, on 08 April 2012 - 09:53 AM, said:
No matter which is closer to the truth, the bottom line is to wear plugs.
Right :)
I even wear them in the snowmobile which is far less noise wind noise than the bike, and put them in yesterday well running the chain saw cutting down trees.
Hearing and sight are two things I would never want to even think about living without. For what it takes to put on eyewear or 15 seconds to stick in ear plugs you would have to be crazy to go with out them.
[image: View Post]5thGenJim, on 17 October 2009 - 09:46 PM, said:
Either ear plugs or an iPod, depending on the distance. Funny, I put the earplugs in even using a chatterbox... can hear everything just fine.
That's what I was wondering about. We are talking about getting a chatterbox, but I was wondering if I could hear him if I was wearing ear plugs. I don't wear them currently, but after reading all of these posts I am going to invest in some. I always listened to my music too loud, so I have some ringing inn my ears now...I really don't need to lose any more of my hearing than I already have.
never have before but I tried em today for the first time. Very different experiance for the first 5 minuets, then you get used to it, start feeling the bike rather than hearing it, and youre good to go. I do listen to music and use and intercom in the helmet and was worried about that not working anymore but its actually better as long as the system has enough power. It is nice to get off the bike and have perfectly clear hearing, no ring, no haziness, and I'm way less fatigued. I think I may search out some lower rated ones than what I have now, they are perhaps just a little too quiet (cant hear the bike at all and couldnt hear a siren until the fire truck came through the intersection) but for my track day next week I'll be plugging for sure.
I wear custom moulded earplugs and they are great, way easier to fit than the foam plugs and more comfortable too. They're vented so you don't get the same level of dB rating. You can still hear some engine noise and ambient sound. With the foam plugs I found that they killed all the ambient sound and all I could hear was my breathing and my heart beating. Kind of weird actually.
I can relate to the new sensation of first time ear plugs. With them and a helmet on at first it felt like sensory deprivation. After getting used to them, it is kinda zen now. In the quiet my mind runs rampant. So I have to ride faster to keep up with it. ;-)
I didn't wear them with my first couple of bikes back in college (80's). I never even thought about ear plugs at the time. At least I had a good fitting Arai F1 Schwantz replica back then which made a huge difference compared to the Nolan I started out with. Since then, I've always worn plugs, and I've also made sure to have a really nice fitting helmet, which makes a huge difference.
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 19 April 2012 - 05:53 PM, said:
I dont wear them ... need an excuse for not listening to the wife If you don't wear them, it won't be long before you can't hear her at all....... :tongue:
The only problem I have with plugs is that I'm lazy, and don't want to take them out when I stop, which really wouldn't bother me except, ppl won't speak up when they talk, so either I have to ask them about 15 times to speak up, or I have to take one out.......... So if everyone would wear them all the time riding or not I'd be fine......... You ppl that work in places where everyone wears them 24/7 know how well it works for everyone to wear them at the same time.
[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 April 2012 - 09:46 PM, said:
The only problem I have with plugs is that I'm lazy, and don't want to take them out when I stop, which really wouldn't bother me except, ppl won't speak up when they talk, so either I have to ask them about 15 times to speak up, or I have to take one out.......... So if everyone would wear them all the time riding or not I'd be fine......... You ppl that work in places where everyone wears them 24/7 know how well it works for everyone to wear them at the same time.
You should try custom moulded ear plugs. They are very easy to put in and take out one handed operation. Way easier than using foam plugs. And they come on a cord so when you pull them out they hang around your neck. I need to get new ones made up.
I just ordered an assortment of 15 different brands/types of earplugs to see which best suits my riding needs.
The molded ones -made at least 10 years ago- are increasingly becoming uncomfortable after a few hours........
Same with the Alpine ones... http://www.oordopjes...torrijders.html
With a box of 250 pair of plugs costing half of what a set of basic molded plugs costs,I think I will give this a shot.
and no more worries of loosing your custom made plugs....
[image: View Post]auggius, on 19 April 2012 - 06:14 PM, said:
They're vented so you don't get the same level of dB rating.
That's not a vent tube, that's the noise cancelling filter. You can often exchange them for different rate filter. I recently got a new set of custom plugs and got the 25dB filters but I am getting the 30dB again like in my previous set. They don't charge for one change of filter.
[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 April 2012 - 09:37 PM, said:
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 19 April 2012 - 05:53 PM, said:
I dont wear them ... need an excuse for not listening to the wife If you don't wear them, it won't be long before you can't hear her at all....... :tongue:
[image: View Post]V4 Rosso, on 20 April 2012 - 04:41 AM, said:
[image: View Post]auggius, on 19 April 2012 - 06:14 PM, said:
They're vented so you don't get the same level of dB rating.
That's not a vent tube, that's the noise cancelling filter. You can often exchange them for different rate filter. I recently got a new set of custom plugs and got the 25dB filters but I am getting the 30dB again like in my previous set. They don't charge for one change of filter.
They're over 10 years old now but I think I have the convertible vented model. It's about 1/4 down the page: http://www.protectea...s/all-products/. I'll take a closer look at them. But they work for me.
I always wear mine. From the first day I started riding. I have very good hearing and I want it to stay that way. When I go shooting I wear plugs and muffs. Because once its gone, it doesn't come back.
I always wear them. I have been a sound engineer since '91 and now a firefighter. each profession is way too loud. I have at least 5 tones I hear all day long. Now I am just trying to minimize the damage that's already done. Vacuuming, shop work, sometimes for no reason , but peace. I noticed that when I wear them I am much calmer and focused.
I do enjoy being able to hear my bike and I can hear cars coming up along me when I wear plugs.
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 20 April 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 April 2012 - 09:37 PM, said:
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 19 April 2012 - 05:53 PM, said:
I dont wear them ... need an excuse for not listening to the wife If you don't wear them, it won't be long before you can't hear her at all....... :tongue:
Hmmmmm! I win!
I win.... I'm not married....... :laughing6-hehe:
[image: View Post]Monk, on 15 May 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 20 April 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Monk, on 19 April 2012 - 09:37 PM, said:
[image: View Post]opvfr, on 19 April 2012 - 05:53 PM, said:
I dont wear them ... need an excuse for not listening to the wife If you don't wear them, it won't be long before you can't hear her at all....... :tongue:
Hmmmmm! I win!
I win.... I'm not married....... :laughing6-hehe:
DOH!
End of thread · 115 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 18 Jun 2012
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