Do You Use Earplugs When You Ride?

[OddlyOrdinary]

So being proactive I ordered an assortment of earplugs from one of the links in another earplug thread here. Well I ordered the assortment that are all non-roll up types, and I think that might have been a mistake. They all have a little stick that is used for pushing them in, and then twisting to make a tight seal. They are great earplugs but I can't seem to put my helmet on over any of them without the little stick getting bumped and it coming out. Anyone have any suggestions? Kinda bummed at my 10$ experiment.

Though I now have a dozen or so quality earplugs in case my mother calls again to complain about me owning a motorcycle.

[alex.s]

i use the plugs out of one of these kits. this pair has lasted me ... hmm... a long time.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

[Live2ride]

I went to walmart and bought a pack of 32db (I think) disposable earplugs for about $3-$5 and I've gone through maybe 3 of the 20 sets in almost a year. Seems like a quality investment to me.

[setasai]

Originally Posted by OddlyOrdinary

So being proactive I ordered an assortment of earplugs from one of the links in another earplug thread here. Well I ordered the assortment that are all non-roll up types, and I think that might have been a mistake. They all have a little stick that is used for pushing them in, and then twisting to make a tight seal. They are great earplugs but I can't seem to put my helmet on over any of them without the little stick getting bumped and it coming out. Anyone have any suggestions? Kinda bummed at my 10$ experiment.

Though I now have a dozen or so quality earplugs in case my mother calls again to complain about me owning a motorcycle.

Depending on the design of the earplug, maybe you can just cut the stick so it ends up being shorter? I've used a number of earplugs and have settled on Howard Leight foam plugs along with Etymotics MC5's or ER6's for music.

[EthioKnight]

How about a pair of earphones? I rock Beats by Dre...great bass and diminished wind noise and sounds from the environment...mind you I said "diminished", I keep the volume high enough as to keep me entertained but low enough as to give me some level of situational awareness. What could be better?

[OddlyOrdinary]

Thanks for the suggestions, I followed Setasai's advice and clipped the stick on one of the sets, and it worked fine with the helmet. Just got back from a small outting with them and there is a large difference, I'll definitely use them if I plan on going 45mph or higher for extended periods.

[setasai]

Glad that worked. Riding with earplugs is as essential as riding with a helmet imho. I rarely go for a ride that does not exceed 45mph so if you make the effort to wear it everytime you go out, you wont run the risk of hearing damage because you "think" its not that loud.

The human ear is designed magnificently. It can adjust very rapidly even far beyond safe noise levels which gives the illusion that it is not that loud when in reality, you've already begun causing hearing loss.

I can understand not wearing boots or pants because of look or expenses but refusing to wear hearing protection ANY time there are loud noises (ie. concerts, certain subway/trains, some airplanes, even some nightclubs) for me is hard to swallow.

I'm glad you are using earplugs at all but I will encourage you and everybody else to use them even in slower speeds as well as higher speeds.

**scars and road rash can heal but hearing loss is permanent so I will repeat this as many times as necessary**

[Jninja]

Originally Posted by mcteague

Maybe you should chip in to buy earplugs to everyone else how has to listen to your bike. I HATE loud motorcycles and think they just add to the public perception that we are all hooligans. The old saying "my freedom to swing my fist ends where your face begins". It this case, your loud pipes assault everyone you ride past. Ah freedom.

Tim

What, Do you want to take his freedom away? Ahh maybe you should hit up Obama and he will spread the earplugs around to everyone.Lol

[little fish]

I've read quite a few threads with folks talking about earplugs. what noise are y'all talking about.. the Ninja is a very quiet bike. wind noise perhaps?? i have a Z1R Phantom full face helmet (it was the cheapest i could find) $105.00 and unless my visor is up and I'm rolling with some speed (over 35) all i hear is a little whistling noise.
i have never had any problems with noise and I've been riding for about ..30 years( man I'm getting old). other that the 1975 Yamaha 125 twin (it had straight pipes that barely made it past the engine) that was SUPER loud (but the bike was blistering fast too..i could smoke the 450s and 650s back in the day)i have never had a noise issue...
someone please clue me in to this noise problem.

[SteveL]

May be you have a hearing problem, most people find that cruising at over 70 mph for long periods the wind noise becomes very annoying.

Steve

[dubojr1]

I think wind noise is the biggest enemy. There's an article somewhere where its been proven that truckers suffer hearing lose due to having their window rolled down while traveling.

Personally I own a higher quality Shoei RF1100 and have had $700 Arai helmets in the past but I still prefer now to use foam hearing plugs for protection. To me it also makes the ride more focused and peaceful.

Maybe your hearing is already gone from your 30 years of riding....








J/K..... I guess it's all personal preference.

[Alex]

/thread merged with main earplug thread

@little fish - a good amount of helpful info in this thread on the topic, just start from pg 1.

[little fish]

probably so
my wife always complains that i never hear her
i guess i'm just used to the wind noise and dont pay any attention to it (part of riding to me)
ok thanks.. just didn't know what the fuss was about

[tazz]

So I ordered these 3m earplugs ( http://www.pine-environmental.com/3m-earplugs.htm 3M™ Foam Ear Plugs 1100 and 1110 )

The problem I am facing is, these things come in contact with the helmet. And they are in ear so, basically even the slightest bump cases them to move. And its very irritating as I can feel the slightest bump... In my ear.

Maybe I'll start using a balaclava to solve this problem. Lets see.

How do you guys deal with this?

[Alex]

If they are hitting your helmet and causing them to move in your ear, I think you may not be inserting them deep enough in your ear canal. You need to roll them tightly between your fingers until they are quite small, insert them all the way into your ear, and in a few moments they expand to fill your ear canal.

If they aren't inserted all the way, they will not be providing much, if any, hearing protection.

[alex.s]

i usually use a q-tip to jam it down there as far as i can

[spartanturtle333]

only when I forget or I have an ear infection do I go with out. I'd rather not ride than ride without ear plugs. I ride 95% on the hi-way and own a 2010 ninja that I have had for 1year and one month. My ninja 250 has almost 9000miles on it and that and my piaggio 250 mp3 (3wheeled scooter ) are my only transportation for the 75mph hi-ways of AZ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzJQ7z2IweI

[Boom King]

[pjed]

I wear earplugs 100% of the time at the track. The M4 on my 600 is super loud and actually hurts my ears at high rpm. It also helps me concentrate. For street riding, I try to wear them most of the time...especially on longer rides.

[Mikey408]

What helmet speakers are you using and is the quality any good

[cuong-nutz]

Holy crap! I wore some foam ear plugs instead of my earphones and man, what a difference it was! Almost all the wind noise was gone and the exhaust drone is toned down a lot. With the foam ear plugs I can hear the engine whine at high speeds over the exhaust now. What was a thinking switching to earphones??!

[choneofakind]

Glad you made the switch Cuong

[AlanDog]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

Personally I own a higher quality Shoei RF1100 and have had $700 Arai helmets in the past but I still prefer now to use foam hearing plugs for protection. To me it also makes the ride more focused and peaceful.

I had a cheap helmet my friend gave me my first few weeks on a bike, and the wind noise was getting to me. I bought a Shoei RF1000 expecting a significant difference... at first I thought it was a little quieter, but after going back to the cheap helmet to compare... they're pretty much the same! Maybe some REALLY expensive helmets are quiet, but I think ear plugs are the real solution. I bought a bag of like 100 for $6 at a hardware store and I'm sure it'll last for years.

[Ytse Frobozz]

"Do you use earplugs when you ride?"

...WHAT?

If I'm going on the highway, I'll wear them. Otherwise, I don't. The stock 250 is pretty quiet. If I'm riding with other people, they can't even tell my bike is running.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Ytse Frobozz

The stock 250 is pretty quiet.)

not so much the bike noise to worry about as much as the wind noise.

[alex.s]

you dont realize how much noise there is until you ride without it. people dont think they need earplugs because they dont need them in a car, but fail to realize how much soundproofing there is in cars. not to mention aerodynamics compared to a human torso and the front of a motorcycle.

[Kangxi]

have you ever heard a Jardine GP-1 exhaust on a Ninjette?

If you have you'll know why I WEAR EARPLUGS

am I shouting? sorry!

[nycsteve]

Originally Posted by mcteague

Absolutely. One ride with proper earplugs and you will never go without. It may not seem noisy to some of you, most likely already have significant hearing loss, but the constant noise takes it's toll. Here in MD only custom plugs are legal. I got a pair for $100. It's like riding in a fairly quiet car, you can still hear things but just at a lower level. It's amazing how reducing the noise makes it easier to concentrate on riding. The constant howl of wind and road can really add to your stress level whether you realize it or not.

Tim

So true! I believe the saying is... "Silence is Golden".

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Kangxi

am I shouting? sorry!

no. you were just typing in a really large font. sorry...

[austinm911]

I've ridden with ear plugs once. It was super quiet and kind of freaked me out. They were like 30db noise canceling.

But I have an Area P exhaust, and I'm only 18 and I've noticed I'm getting hearing loss. So I'm going to bed riding with ear plugs from now on.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by austinm911

But I have an Area P exhaust, and I'm only 18 and I've noticed I'm getting hearing loss. So I'm going to bed riding with ear plugs from now on.

Dude that's not good at all. wear those suckers for everything. seriously.

I've noticed that my hearing is really sensitive to the point of I get headaches in class if I sit too close to the air ducts, or if I listen to even soft music when I study for long periods of time. I wear earplugs when I ride and mow the lawn or use anything loud. Sleep ear plugs are a good idea.

[Mr.E]

I use the Hearos extreme from walgreens, works like a charm and I can still hear around me for sirens horns wild attacking ducks, ect. lol

[robski11500]

I always wear ear plugs, both for saving my hearing and for the focus they give me by not getting distracted by wind noise. It's also just awesome to be able to hear my ninjette rev up past 10k The ear plugs that have worked out the best for me are the goin' green foam ear plugs (uncorded) by Moldex. Great fit, no pvc to irritate your ears, and they've got a 33 db rating!

Important tip for first-time buyers of disposable foam ear plugs:
If you're going to buy a lot, go for the 200 pair box. They're sealed in a plastic bag by pair so that they are fresh and can squish down to a very thin cylinder for insertion. And, a box costs around $29 including shipping.

[robmilchling]

I wear ear plugs as well. For some reason all the helmets that I find that fit me nicely are all incredibly noisy, or at least more than average. I just use cheap foam ear plugs that were given to me last summer. I may be buying some musician specific ones sometime later this season.

I am 20 and already have some significant hearing loss, I roughly have the hearing of a 35 year old. Too many years of listening to music a little too loudly and when playing music live, its usually obnoxiously loud on stage.

[Buffalony]

Been gone awhile and I'm happy to read all of the positive comments about riders here protecting their ears since then. Ya gonna wanta hear ur grandchildren address you. Stay safe folks.

[Alex]

[fleemos]

I use ear plugs all the time. Like some others have said the highway noise if pretty bad.

[Boomstick1491]

I have noticed my ears ring after a ride of about 20 miles or longer. My bike has a full Area P exhaust with a 12" can, so it's loud. However, as most everyone has said, it's not the exhaust that hurts the ears, but the wind, and I ride with an Arai Signet-Q, which I assume is probably better than a lot of helmets with wind noise, etc.

I keep meaning to grab the ear pro I wore in the Army, but I keep forgetting. Perhaps I can find some in the grocery store.

Separately, I tried to put my helmet on with my iPod ear buds and every time I pulled the helmet over my bean, the ear buds would fall out. What gives? Am I doing something wrong? Or do I need special earphones for riding? Please help.

[etiainen]

If your ears are ringing, you are damaging your hearing.

Put them earplugs in!

[xSean13]

I don't wear earplugs, but I often ride with some noise-cancelling Skull Candy earbuds listening to my iPod. I am also a pilot (student pilot, soon to be in the Air Force) and have no hearing issues.