Modern Vespa

I have becaome a true believer! I've ridden scooters for 4 years now with a 3/4 helmet and face shield, 50cc for 2 years and 150cc for 2 years. I never felt the need for any hearing protection.

New scoot is a 250cc. While they were replacing my fuel pump I had them add a top box and small fly screen. Picked it up Saturday and have put about 200 miles on it since then. I became aware that it is now a MUCH noisier bike to ride - guess the fly screen redirects air from my gut to my head. I am still too claustrophobic for a FF helmet.....

Stopped today at hardware store and bought a pair of ear plugs - silicone, each with 3 concentric rings getting larger, like a Christmas tree, attached by a plastic string. Comes with a small case about the size to carry a pair of in-ear hearing aids (get the message here?) Cost: under $4. Box says they reduce noise by 25 decibels. Put them in and went for a ride.

What a difference. I said:"WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!" I could still hear the scoot, kids shouting at a playground, guys working with power tools. But when I stopped and took them out, I could hear everything very clearly with no residual problems from wind noise. Wow. It's hard to put into words, but the experience was shocking to me.

I'm an acapella singer and a trial attorney. Both require the ability to hear nuances and changes in the human voice in all ranges. My hearing is so important to me, and I had NO IDEA how I could be damaging it on my scooter until today. I don't want to preach or offend - just sharing my personal testimony. Even cheap plugs can save your ears!

+1000
I used to work in tunnel construction with miners and couldn't believe that they wouldn't wear hearing protection even though they all clearly had lost a good percentage of their hearing!
When I started riding motorcycles, I could tell that the wind noise alone was at least as loud as the the construction equipment! With hearing protection the standard rule is if you have to raise your voice to be heard, you are causing hearing damage. Which obviously you couldn't have a conversation with someone on a bike (or scooter) without raising your voice.....

I notice a drastic difference in my fatique level alone when wearing earplugs. Also, if I don't wear them, my ears are ringing after a short ride on the freeway.....
and if you've every had ringing in your ears (tinnitis), it's is worse than chinese water torture! And I know people who have dealt with it for years!

I always recommend earplugs when riding.... thanks for the "plug" (no pun intended)!
Saftey first! We talk about wearing proper gear here, but protecting your hearing should be something to consider too- you don't have to have a "get off" to have serious and irreversable damage.
~R

Ok, I have tried several different styles of plugs, but they almost always fall out while I'm putting my helmet. I have a Modular and have to take off my glasses to get it on and off, then put them on. The earplugs I haven't been able to figure out yet, and I really need them!

I always got sore ears from wearing foamies or christmas tree ones, so I went to my local audiologist and had some molded to my ears. What a difference. No more noise, no more pain and discomfort.

The problem I had was, as these plugs come on a string, when I put my helmet on I would pull them out. So no I look the string over and behind my ears and they stay put!

Can only recommend!

Good to see ear protection getting traction . . .

All of the plugs I use are corded--I've taken to looping the cord through the hanger loop on my Corazzo--keeps me from losing them.

Do you know what the rating for decibel silencing is on these? And may I be so rude as to ask for a ballpark price?

No matter what the distance I won't ride without them now.

I've lost too much of my hearing already to want to lose anymore.

They take out the roar of the wind but allow you to hear other traffic and people shouting at you.

You'll never catch me using an Ipod. Nothing like blanking out one of your important senses with music.

I knew of a bike racer once who felt that he could hear how well balanced his carbs were with the aid of ear plugs.

Bill X

Mine were $100. Latest hearing aids were $4700.

I have been making custom earplugs for about 4 years...(although allegedly that company is now out of business without prior notification) so I really love the custom molded plugs.

If you live in an area where there is a large motorcycle show (like the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show- IMS) go to that and get yourself some custom plugs made. They may be between $50-100 but well worth the investment since they will fit perfectly every time, you can wash them and they last nearly forever or until the shape of your ear changes.

If you can't find custom plugs, I like also like the "Hearos", as they are soft and smaller... in fact, since I have small canals, I cut them down a bit in length so they don't protrude into and get dislodged by my helmet. I find them much more comfortable. Be sure to roll them up tight and hold them in place while they expand. If they don't sound right then reinsert them before putting your helmet on, it will only get worse.

I can never wear the christmas tree kind or very hard cylinder shaped ones. I like the soft ones if I go with foamies.
Be sure to throw them away when they get dirty, so you don't get an infection!
Just wear something if you can and want to! I think you'll learn to like it!

i did a brief (less than 5 minutes) 50mph ride today without my earplugs in and i was amazed at how exhausting it was. i can't believe i used to do highway runs without earplugs in it feels like you're being battered over the head.

i use the christmas tree type and disinfect them in a weak hydrogen peroxide solution every few weeks. with this treatment they last for ages before needing to be thrown out. as a tree-hugger this is important to me

In the Spring I switched out my cut down lg. windscreen (Upper-lip level) to last falls shorty. I was riding without a helmet, the noise seemed oppresive, put on a helmet, still too loud. Went back to my custom screen until I find a helmet that works better.

Helmet here is State law, not an option. Where you are I guess you can choose to protect your brain or not. In the off chance you never wreck and split your head open, I HIGHLY recommend protecting your hearing. I would not have believed, until I tried it myself, what a difference even CHEEEP hearing protection can make. If you die early, it doesn't matter. If you live a long life, you'll want to hear what's going on in the world around you ----protect your hearing (and your vision)!!

Aren't you compromising riding safety by using earplugs?
While driving, specially if riding a motorbike I like to hear clear the rest of vehicles.

Try the earplugs for yourself and see - I can hear a LOT of ambient stuff going on - it only stops the top 25 decibels of wind noise. If you hate it after you try them, pm me and I will refund your $4. On the other hand, you may decide that it protects your hearing and that you will enjoy being able to hear your grandchild's piano/flute/violin/voice recital. Just sayin'

Bunsen, you missed the point, A windscreen up to the middle of your face cuts the noise signifcantly,more than 25 decibels I bet $4. You seem to wish me ill. DE you have to carry a helmet, and wear if a minor. I don't drink or drugs, lay in the sun, eat fatty food, survived a risk filled marriage, don't bungee or parachute. An occasional wind in my hair ride, I'll chance it.

I promise I do not wish you, or anyone, ill. My experience is: Eat right, exercise daily, die anyway. Carrying a helmet or carrying hearing protection (or carrying a condom) doesn't much help you if you need protection at the last minute. Try the $4 earplugs and see what you think. If you think they do nothing to protect your hearing and make you feel LESS safe on your bike, PM me and I will send you your money back and instructions to mail the plugs to me. I will sterilize them and pass them on to another rider. No joke - just give it a try. I promise - I'm good for the $4!!

Living with the aftereffects of 35 years of helicopter flying, tank gunnery and artillery firing, I'd suggest that any measure to protect your hearing is worth it.

Al

not at all. a good set of earplugs will allow you to hear everything you need to hear. I'm amazed at what I can hear with my earplugs in - traffic, engine note, sirens, conversations .... the only thing I don't hear is the constant battering of the wind on my eardrums when i'm traveling at speed, and the higher frequencies of my exhaust when i gun the engine.

i was at British Superbikes a few weeks ago and stuck my earplugs in to mitigate the noise of the bikes screaming past us ... I was still able to have a conversation with the person next to me.

I have found that I can actually hear more. The car sounds, without earplugs, sometimes get drowned out by the wind noise. However, with the ear plugs, the important sounds, i.e. cars coming up behind me, seem even more pronounced.

A tip for getting foamies in: try putting them into the freezer. They will stay smushed longer, so it is easier to slip them into your ear canal, especially if you have small canals.

No. So do I.

I'm a recent convert to hearing protection...just a few months now.
I had the same concerns as you, and I've been riding for years without plugs and without complaint.

I finally decided to get some (Etymotic, in my case) earplugs after reading advice here...after all, they are not expensive so I had little to lose by giving it a try.


In short, I will not ride without them anymore...not even on short trips.

It took a very small while to get used to them, and the minor annoyance of having to put them in and take them out all the time is now is as much second nature as buckling my helmet. Volume is reduced, clarity is not...It's quieter, but not muffled...which was one of my concerns. It makes it easier to focus on riding and it's much less tiring, too.

Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' with it.

And if you have "big canals" try the Howard Leight florescent foam ones available at your local drugstore. They kill the bad noise but still allow you to hear your surroundings and actually help you concentrate on exemplary riding skills. I have a touch of tinnitus as well, and without the plugs I hear that damn wind for a couple of days...

Sorry took so long to answer, back at school and kid keeping me busy!

mine cost, like above, $100, and the audiologist said the decibel rating is around 30.

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