OMG! - Earplugs - A state of Zen

I know most VFR owners are long-time riders and know the benefits of earplugs.  Well, I didn't.  Rode for over a decade without ever trying them.  Now that I'm getting back into riding (a bit older with a body less forgiving), I decided to give it a try. Well the first couple of times I tried them, I thought 'Cool' this is better than stock ears.  I still heard plenty of wind noise and began to suspect I wasn't doing something right.  Enter youtube and a video that EXPLAINS what 'roll' means and 'insert'.   .  I'm using Moldex Pura-Fit 6800s. WHOA!  that's a difference.  Virtually no wind noise facing directly forward.  It was like a new consciousness level.  A Zen state.  Tried a ride without them and it sounded horrible.  I can't go back (on rides over 10 miles at least). Now I have a new problem.  It's like having sex with ear plugs (not that I've tried). Sound is part of the experience.  Even with my Akrapovic pipe, I don't hear the bike under 8000 RPMs.  It's almost too quiet.  No cams, no exhaust.  I feel Zen, but not powerful.   Anyone else with this experience?  Should I switch to less effective plugs or maybe just ride over 8000 all the time?

Sometimes when I get my disposable foam earplugs in just right, I can hear my Remus pipes pretty loud but don't hear the wind noise and that's how I like it. Now I'm going to watch your video.

As an older rider who became concerned about taking care of my future hearing, I began using foam ear plugs over a decade ago. At first, I was uncomfortable with what I perceived as the dulling of one of my critical senses with ear plug use. It worried me that I might ignore a hazard that I was now unable to hear.

It was not long before I realized that wearing ear protection helped to minimize fatigue. Once I got used to the it, I felt that I could still enjoy my favorite engine sounds. I tried several styles and levels of attenuation until I found ear protection that was comfortable, enjoyable and safe.

For the past couple of years, I now to use in-ear Etymotic ER6i ear buds with silicone tips. I find them to have the right combination of comfort, attenuation and the ability to enjoy the sounds of motorcycling. They work great with the V1, GPS and music, too. I also feel that I am not abusing my hearing.

I recommend riding with ear protection as a way to prolong good hearing. It takes some patience to get acclimated.

Great video, Thanks.........

I,ve been rolling and using them properly, but it's good to see that I'm not the only one. I keep a bunch of plugs in my tankbag, so I'll have enough to give to riders I come across, and show them the same thing about insertion, and tell them if they like them to keep the little plastic thingy they come in, that it has the web-site to order.

I thought putting all that attention on rolling and inserting it was more due to me doing things according to my "Operational Command Directives",
AKA: OCD   :tour:

I can hear well because I ALWAYS rode with ear plugs.  I just never listen though...... :laugh:

Yup, I'm 37 and always wear earplugs now.  I started when I was about 30 and never looked back!

Probably another thread, but any hints on disposables that offer a good balance between attenuation and enjoying your motorcycle sounds?

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 11 March 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

Probably another thread, but any hints on disposables that offer a good balance between attenuation and enjoying your motorcycle sounds?

I studied this quite a bit because noise bother me a lot, and the higher the db attenuation rating the better as far as your hearing.  I bought a box of 200 Howard Leight foam plugs and could hear my engine and exhausts fine.  They're rated about as high as you can get....33 db.  You get used to them and hear everything well enough.  I'm not one of those people that says "huh" all the time.  I just don't listen.....

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 11 March 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

Probably another thread, but any hints on disposables that offer a good balance between attenuation and enjoying your motorcycle sounds?

They make them with holes in them. When I use my music I'll use a hole ponch on one of my sets of plugs and stick the music earbud in it. So I still don't have any ambient sounds while I'm listening to the music.

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I use ear plugs, have for some time, but went many years without them & now have tinnitus. Not blaming wind noise entirely as I used to love listening to music on full volume.
I got a pair of ear mold plugs a few years back & their terrific, They take a mold from your ear & make them up to a perfect fit. You can get them wired for your MP3 player (or what ever) which is what I got them for, the beauty of them is that you don't have to crank the volume for good sound. I don't use them so much for music anymore. Amazing thing is, you can still hear the bike & other sounds without wind noise.

I've used the disposable earplugs too but found them to filter out too much sound. I prefer the custom earplugs, perfect fit and very comfortable (as are foam plugs).

These charts shows how important it is to wear eaplugs. The first shows several helmets and the windnoise at 100kmh/60mph and at 130kmh/78mph. The second chart shows how long your hearing can withstand different noise levels without permanent damage (uur=hour, minuten=minutes). My Schuberth S1 is performing very well, one of the reasons I bought it.
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Great video!
Most ear plugs have instructions similar to this included with them, but the video is much better than reading some instuction sheet.

Practice proper insertion a few times and you will find the correct procedure is quite easy to follow.
Remember, they aren't any good if you don't wear them.

Realist,
Not sure if the 5th gen has a snorkle on the air box, if it does, remove it and you'll enjoy a new closer sound from intake!!

I have always used ear plugs. I have to wear them at work so it's no big deal to grab a handful for on the bike. My employer has no problem wih us doing it and I get a big thumbs up from the nurse when I do my annual hearing test.

Got a set of customs done last year at T-Mac, took about 10mins to get use too and they have been outstanding since. I've even gotten in to using them on the snowmobile in the winter, little harder to work with in the cold however.

I can't ride without them now.

Try these with your mp3's/ipod/Dave Matthews etc.., you'll feel like you died and went straight to heaven..   :tour:

[image: View Post]k13sman, on 13 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Try these with your mp3's/ipod/Dave Matthews etc.., you'll feel like you died and went straight to heaven..   :tour:


I agree.  Good price...Although I have not shopped recently, I paid nearly double that amount a few years back.  I have found them to be very durable.

I pretty much ride with earplugs all the time. It makes it easier to concentrate on the roads. I tend to ride faster than without the plugs. I typically use the disposable barrel plugs. I did try those Howard Leight plugs but the didn't stay in when I put the helmet on for some reason.
Everyone should wear ear protection.

Since I've gotten back to riding a few years ago, I wear ear plugs all the time. I'm not sure where I found the instructions, but I have been doing it properly. When I used to ride in my younger days, I never thought of ear plugs. Now, I won't ride without them. Even on short trips, I can't stand the noise.

Re: Rosso's post, I'm not surprised that Suomy and AGV are so up there in sound levels. I used to own a Suomy, but didn't like it. I tried on an AGV the other day and it reminded me of my Suomy. Hated it. As for the quiet Schuberth, I'm not surprised there either. I tried one on at the show and wore it for a while, and it was nice and quiet and soft. I'm just not sure if it fits my head properly or not. (Plus I don't have that kind of money right now.)

[image: View Post]bayarearider, on 11 March 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:

Realist,
Not sure if the 5th gen has a snorkle on the air box, if it does, remove it and you'll enjoy a new closer sound from intake!!
I'm sure snorkle is a technical term like "farkle."  Being a 2000 and in CA, I'm sure it has every air restricting device known to man.  I'll take a look at what I can do when I replace the air filter with the Pipercross unit I just bought.

[image: View Post]k13sman, on 13 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Try these with your mp3's/ipod/Dave Matthews etc.., you'll feel like you died and went straight to heaven.. :tour: I researched these when I was first thinking of getting a bike.  They've been discontinued and can't find them anywhere.  I like the helmet speakers solution better although I'm sure the sound is not as good.  It's a convenience thing.  Let me know if you know of anyone selling those though.  The ones they replaced it with have better sound, but stick out too much to fit under a helmet.

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 13 March 2012 - 02:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]k13sman, on 13 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Try these with your mp3's/ipod/Dave Matthews etc.., you'll feel like you died and went straight to heaven.. :tour: I researched these when I was first thinking of getting a bike.  They've been discontinued and can't find them anywhere.  I like the helmet speakers solution better although I'm sure the sound is not as good.  It's a convenience thing.  Let me know if you know of anyone selling those though.  The ones they replaced it with have better sound, but stick out too much to fit under a helmet.

Did you use the link??

[image: View Post]k13sman, on 13 March 2012 - 02:28 PM, said:

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 13 March 2012 - 02:25 PM, said:

[image: View Post]k13sman, on 13 March 2012 - 11:26 AM, said:

Try these with your mp3's/ipod/Dave Matthews etc.., you'll feel like you died and went straight to heaven.. :tour: I researched these when I was first thinking of getting a bike.  They've been discontinued and can't find them anywhere.  I like the helmet speakers solution better although I'm sure the sound is not as good.  It's a convenience thing.  Let me know if you know of anyone selling those though.  The ones they replaced it with have better sound, but stick out too much to fit under a helmet.

Did you use the link??
I did.  Led to a purchase page that said backorder.  Gone through that enough already.  Backorder on a discontinued product means you never get it.

[image: View Post]bryan217, on 13 March 2012 - 01:57 PM, said:

Since I've gotten back to riding a few years ago, I wear ear plugs all the time. I'm not sure where I found the instructions, but I have been doing it properly. When I used to ride in my younger days, I never thought of ear plugs. Now, I won't ride without them. Even on short trips, I can't stand the noise.

Re: Rosso's post, I'm not surprised that Suomy and AGV are so up there in sound levels. I used to own a Suomy, but didn't like it. I tried on an AGV the other day and it reminded me of my Suomy. Hated it. As for the quiet Schuberth, I'm not surprised there either. I tried one on at the show and wore it for a while, and it was nice and quiet and soft. I'm just not sure if it fits my head properly or not. (Plus I don't have that kind of money right now.)

Schuberth helmets(the last time I tried them on are made for a "round" head) other wise they're great. just a reminder that different helmet makers have different average shaped fits. There's round/oval/squar-ish.........and ppl have off shaped heads from not being massaged, or left sleeping on the same spot all the time while the skull is developing.

As it's been said many times on here, "try them on at a shop for 20+ min. each". Ask if you can sound test them(leave them your helmet and some I.D.

One thing I like to suggest is for all ppl to start wearing a "Skull-Cap" , even though most helmets come with removable/washable liners, It's a heck of a lot easier to throw a skull cap in the washer or when traveling to wash in sink.
The key is to have the Skull-cap with you at the time of fitting the helmet.

Skullcap is great idea.  Hadn' thought of it.  Just purchased - http://www.motorcycl...lmet-Liner.aspx

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 13 March 2012 - 03:35 PM, said:

Skullcap is great idea.  Hadn' thought of it.  Just purchased - http://www.motorcycl...lmet-Liner.aspx

FYI....Fitting......... When you put the skull-cap on, keep the edge of the liner below the(frt)helmet and above your eyebroughs. You don't want the Rolled/sewn edge of the liner inbetween the helmet and your forehead...... HOT SPOTS !

Looks like you got the best choice of their lot, it's the only one with a low hem.