Modern Vespa

I've seen some talk lately about wearing earplugs while ridig at high speeds or in wind. I've always thought that reducing your hearing capability was a bad idea while riding/driving. Though, the wind noise can potentially be damaging.

What thoughts does everyone have about this? I'm currently wearing a Shoei full face helmet, but the wind noise is still pretty loud. I ride the freeways the majority of the time.

I've never been a fan myself but now that I'm a bit older I'm more aware that I'm breakable. I'll be purchasing and wearing earplugs in the very near future.

And I've never experienced it myself but supposedly you can get headaches and early fatigue from long term exposure to loud sounds. Fatigue on a bike is no picnic.

you can accually hear better cause the wind is not whistling in your head

I find that long rides without them causes my rears to hurt for a few days.

I can hear what is going on around me with them in. I still hear the wheel noise of the vehicles around me, horns and sirens are there too but much more muted.

They do not get rid of the sound but they reduce it to safe levels.

There are different sound grades, the highest I beleve are around 33 db muted. I use these and whatever the bucket of 50 pairs at Walmart do. I think they are slightly less muted.

There are a few secrets to earplugs that I'd like to share. I am a musician, and until I got my electronic drumkit, i always wore earplugs while playing. Now, I use in-ear monitors, so that's not an issue, however, I still wear plugs to concerts (gotta maintain!).

First and foremost, it's better to spend $20 on one pair of plugs that you can wash & re-use than it is to spend $15 on 40 disposables. You'll be creating less waste, and the plugs will be of much higher quality- as will what you hear. Cheaper plugs block a varied range of sound, whereas nicer plugs block a uniform sound range- i.e., you'll hear everything, just at a lower volume.

Here's what I wear (concerts and riding):
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Vater-Safe-N--Sound-Earplugs-104229588-i1170172.gc

They come with a case, and two filters. The filters change how much is blocked- i use the lighter ones for smaller shows, and the heavier ones for louder ones. i ride with the lighter ones in. I highly recommend them for riding.

good luck! protect that hearing!

The ones that work the best for me are "Hocks Noise Brakers". They allow lower-volume sound to pass through and only block loud, potentially damaging sound. They are available at Ear Plug Superstore. They have a good variety and great advice.

I found that I needed to snip off the smallest flange to get a comfortable fit.

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/

I use a pair of silicon molded earplugs that I had made for $50 at the motorcycle show. (They also show up at gun shows.) I have tiny ears, so I have problems with the foam ones. The silicon ones are comfortable, washable and picked the brightest colors I could find for when I drop one.

upon just how stupid you are. If you are in a vegetative state or have an IQ of 6 then earplugs are either an option or an impediment.

If you exceed the above criteria and do ANY research, repeat ANY research on the topic, then you will find unanimity among all otolaryngologists that you should wear good quality earplugs with at least 25-30db of high frequency noise reduction at ALL times while riding.

This goes for ANY type of helmet.

88

N.B. I encounter and ride with many folks who fall in the first criteria.

Tell us how you really feel 88

I would add to your list "young and feeling indestructible". That was my excuse for most of my youth. Luckily I have always had and still have amazing hearing. Now I'd like to keep it. And lucky for me there is a Guitar Center just down the road from where i work. I'll be picking up a pair of those Vaters tomorrow. Thanks for the tip Big Monty.

Seriously, this is important to me now. when you hear your first child's heartbeat for the first time hearing kinda becomes several thousand times more important. Or maybe I'm just a sappy fool

So, would my question above qualify as an attempt at research? Or are you implying that I am asking the wrong people?

In case anyone else is also not in a vegetative state or having an IQ of 6, here are two articles to start you on your road to any research:

DMV's Must-have Accessories for Your Motorcycle
http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/motorcycle-accessories.php

Cornell University's Dept. of Otolaryngology
http://wo-pub2.med.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/PublicA.woa/4/wa/viewHContent?website=wmc+ent&contentID=458&wosid=TYaQ9EKEiTBeZynaEQ1jU0

Thanks to those who offered suggestions. I will look into earplugs this weekend.

Yes it qualifies as research and puts you in the talking/walking category.

There are many places to source ear plugs from your local drug store, to the automotive supply store, to many motorcycle shops or parts supply, to an audiologist.

I visited my local audiologist: She took custom molds and delivered form fitting and very comfortable ear plugs in about 7 days. Cost was about $75.00 and I have used them for years.

Note Bene: 25-30db will allow you to hear but cuts the wind noise to a level that should prevent any hearing loss even when used for an extended period of time.

88

+10 to earplugs for any sustained riding over 30mph.

However in town I tend not to wear them - the wind-noise is much less and in London at least you need every possible clue as to what's around you.

Have been using earplugs from day one of my motorcycle riding career (about 11 years now) and would not ride without one no matter the helmet. Used to have a Shoei then an Arai. Currently have a KBC and an Arai but still use earplugs for them, Even wear them to a concert and give my kids a pair if they were going to a concert with mom. I even wear them while cutting the grass. I guess you could say I am a dork but down the road I will be the dork that hears everything. Lol!

I use ear plugs when I ride and I find the only downside is trying to hear the tilt-lock beep when I engage the system. I've gotten really good at knowing when to engage but I'd rather not glance down to check for the yellow light, hearing the beep would be nice but not at the expense of some hearing loss.

If I'm just riding around town, I don't wear them, but if I know I will be doing sustained speeds of 40 and above they're a must. Not only do they effectively filter out the white noise of the wind while allowing critical sounds in (horns, other vehicles, sirens, etc.), they also allow me to ride more relaxed.
My $0.02
Dongoose

One thing that might help the question:

Hearing damage is permanent. It can't be reversed. It's also an "intellectual" thing because you don't notice the loss immediately.

Are there people who [/i]don't wear hearing protection when they mow the lawn?

I also wear earplugs or muffs for absolutely any loud activity. They're mandatory on the ST1300 at any speed. I wear them in a laboratory that has more than a couple PC's going at once. In airplanes. I also have a hard time filtering out loud conversations, so I wear ear plugs at lunch when I read.


As an everyday wearer, I feel a little differently about "these are the ones you should have." The silicone molded ones don't stay in for me as well as foam disposables. They also transmit the low-mids, so a bumpy road is like somebody thumping on my ears with a soft mallet.

It took a couple years of trial and error to find what was right for me. The earplugstore had some samplers that simplified my search.

Sorry for the diatribe. Don't get me started on earplugs!

Thanks everyone. I just ordered a few different kinds from the Earplug Superstore.

Interestingly, I just found out that earplugs (non-custom fit ones) were illegal to wear in California until 2004. Fortunately, that has changed and I'm looking forward to a more comfortable, safe ride.

I put cotton batting in my helmet behind my headset speakers, Im always wearing a Cardio Headset and listening to music or talking to the riders Im with....anyways....I've often wondered if this is a safe alternative to earplugs.
Any comments on this?

I have found that the custom molded plugs work the best at fitering out wind noise. I also think they offer the most comfort for long trips and won't work out of the ear canal overtime. the only problem is cost 50-150 for molded plugs. look at a site called ears inc. for more info.

If you can find a major motorcycle show in your area, there's usually a couple booths making custom plugs. I'd never ride without a set of plugs.

You can actually get custom fitted plugs with speakers inside them for listening to music/com systems. They are expensive, but everyone I've talked to says they're well worth it. I ride with a set of "musician's plugs" I bought from Watermelon music in Davis, CA. They're bright orange so I don't leave'em anyplace, washable and come with a little case.

Cheffie...
Comment: Worse. Because you have to turn up the sound to overcome the noise. This will take out the highs in your hearing quickly and permanently. Try earplugs. You might be surprised how much better you can hear at lower volume.
The intercom audio frequency is, roughly, 750 - 1500 hz. ( cycles per second ). The earplugs will remove the frequencies above 1,500 quite well. This is about the same for a telephone.

Earplug headphones are a good idea.

I know this sounds a little like the helmet-freedom argument, but if you haven't heard about hearing loss, it's not going to come to you from experience, because by the time you realize what's causing your deafness the damage can't be reversed. Prevention is the only cure.

+1
I use Livewires in canal headphones when on the freeway....

http://www.livewiresforyou.com/

These fit within my helmet (Shoei RF-1000) They block out all the wind noise and you can hear your favorite tunes on your iPod. They sound great even with my old tired ears... Like jimc I do not wear them while driving in the city...

I wear earplugs all the time. Believe it or not--I can tell when my tire pressure is low by the change in the tire hum (on my BMW that is). I highly recommend you wear earplugs. Once you get used to them you will feel naked without them. You have nothing to lose by trying them and your hearing could suffer over time if you don't. JM2C.

Here are the ones I use.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

Can get them on Amazon for half the retail price.

I work in a Data Center all day and it's real loud.

Wayne B

I use these. $.116 per pair (200 pair for $23.20.) Copy the link to your url. On a two week trip I'll go through five to seven pairs. 200 pairs should last a long time.

http://www.restockit.com/EARsoft-Yellow-Neon-Blasts-Soft-Foam-Ear-Plugs-Uncorded-Regular-Size--(CBT3121252).html?source=froogle

But, once I am out on the back roads I plug in the I Pod and have Quality music too.

Wayne B

That's great. I'm not knocking your choice--just providing an additional one. Rock on Wayne B.

i took a good 4 hour highway drive on the weekend, 4hrs down and back, I picked up a pair of cheap little foam plugs and turned the headset off. WOW. I dont see my self driving the highway without earplugs now.
Thank you guys for your advice, and I think I might actually look into putting those live wires on my headset.

If wind noise is disturbing you, you would have shure (3266) earplugs which definetley cuts of environmental noises and you would have relaxing silience but i have to say that this silience is a bit expansive around 200bugs. also if you are giving this money i would recomend it to plug it to your ipod with your favorite music list )

I always use earplugs on any but the shortest commutes, and always when I'm riding my 850 Norton Commando.

The best earplugs I've ever used come free on Qatar Airways Business Class flights , but I think it might be best to experiment with a variety of low cost foam plugs, rather than go for the more elaborate and expensive types. Before the above mentioned free ones I found the various types sold under the "Hearos" brand were excellent value for money.

The Aus. ebay site.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=hearos+ear+plugs&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270.l1313&ul_noapp=true