Chatting and Earplugs

[Yakaru]

Hey guys, I have had an issue that I was hoping to resolve -- when riding I often filter up to a bike or have another filter up to me. Often they say something to me and I can't hear a word of it due to my plugs. Does anyone have a good solution? I hate pointing at the side of my helmet and saying "sorry" :P

Oh, as an interesting addition, with the Contour I can hear what was said when I get home. The most common are 'hi', 'nice bike' and cheesy pick up lines; but some have been good. My favorite was the guy on the big touring bike who filtered up way slower than me due to his bike's width/weight. Said he and his bike both needed to lose weight after seeing me :P

[xaple]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

Hey guys, I have had an issue that I was hoping to resolve -- when riding I often filter up to a bike or have another filter up to me. Often they say something to me and I can't hear a word of it due to my plugs. Does anyone have a good solution? I hate pointing at the side of my helmet and saying "sorry" :P

Oh, as an interesting addition, with the Contour I can hear what was said when I get home. The most common are 'hi', 'nice bike' and cheesy pick up lines; but some have been good. My favorite was the guy on the big touring bike who filtered up way slower than me due to his bike's width/weight. Said he and his bike both needed to lose weight after seeing me :P

Filtering is illegal here and highly frowned upon

[Motofool]

That happens to me, not after filtering (we are not allowed in Florida) but at parking lots.

Not only I can't hear well, but I speak and nobody understands a word.

Most of the times I just nod and say: I agree with you.

Maybe a sign on the helmet stating: "Don't ask, don't tell"????

[Aggrotech]

in my experience pushing up the lid works well..

ooh and yelling, lots of yelling.

[tfkrocks]

Unfortuntely, I haven't had any luck with this issue. I've totally had people yell out a car at me and I didn't notice until the light turned green and I saw them as the car pulled away lol. When I do realize that people are trying to talk to me, I usually tell (or yell) that I can't hear anything.

[Yakaru]

Thought I'd make a post with the 'best' idea I've had so far:
I have my ear plugs formed around my iPhone headset so I can listen to the GPS; I've considered trying to find some form of app that will play back what the mic picks up -- sadly I don't think I could make it so I could turn that app on and off easily and fumbling into my jacket to open the app would also take too much time.

[xSean13]

idk how effective it would be, but would if you took like a toothpick and made a hole through it down the middle or something?

[Alex]

Lots of yelling and pointing. Every once in awhile a conversation seems interesting enough to remove the helmet and earplugs, but it's a rare event.

[hamm]

Sounds like your earplugs are too strong?

I've never had a problem hearing other bikes while stopped with my ear plugs in.. If they're too strong how are you going to hear a siren or car horn?

I actually posted a video about earplugs here, earplug advice is at 7:12 :

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=125475

[Yakaru]

Originally Posted by hamm

Sounds like your earplugs are too strong?

I've never had a problem hearing other bikes while stopped with my ear plugs in.. If they're too strong how are you going to hear a siren or car horn?

I actually posted a video about earplugs here, earplug advice is at 7:12 :

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=125475

I can hear horns and sirens no problem, I can also hear the person talking but it's echoed/fuzzy enough that I can't make out what they're saying.

[hamm]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

I can hear horns and sirens no problem, I can also hear the person talking but it's echoed/fuzzy enough that I can't make out what they're saying.

I'd suggest getting some plugs with removable filters so you can reduce/increase the sound depending on your ears.

Other than that get your hearing checked? Or don't wear ear plugs?

[Yakaru]

Originally Posted by hamm

I'd suggest getting some plugs with removable filters so you can reduce/increase the sound depending on your ears.

Other than that get your hearing checked? Or don't wear ear plugs?

I'm probably due for a ear check, but the problem is likely the plugs -- I got the strongest ones I could. Good for the freeway, bad for chitchat. I may try some weaker ones, but then I couldn't use my GPS

[YamiLionheart]

Need someone to engineer sound cancelling earmuffs that are built into our helmets, and when we raise our visors the muffs will release from your ears and pull back into the sides of the helmet.

Bam. Now someone get on it

[krolinked]

Stop dressing like a girl. Then nobody will yell at you in the first place

[Domagoj]

I've decided that looking at someone like an idiot every now and then is way lesser price to pay than having all that noise with you for the duration of the ride.

[Motofool]

Riding and chatting don't mix well.
I look like a grumpy old man on an under-powered motorcycle; who wants to talk to me?
Again, in the event that somebody talks to me, I just agree and carry on..............people just look for approval anyhow.

Originally Posted by Yakaru

..........I can also hear the person talking but it's echoed/fuzzy enough that I can't make out what they're saying.

Half of the people say things that don't make sense; the other half don't speak proper English.

Originally Posted by YamiLionheart

Need someone to engineer sound cancelling earmuffs that are built into our helmets, and when we raise our visors the muffs will release from your ears and pull back into the sides of the helmet.

That is a great idea !!!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by YamiLionheart

Need someone to engineer sound cancelling earmuffs that are built into our helmets, and when we raise our visors the muffs will release from your ears and pull back into the sides of the helmet.

Bam. Now someone get on it

+2

[dave42]

Originally Posted by Alex

Lots of yelling and pointing.

Yup, that's what normally happens with me too. Occasionally gesturing by flailing around like a nut.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

The most common are 'hi', 'nice bike' and cheesy pick up lines;

i wonder what kind of corny pickup lines you would get while on a bike....


"i see the asphalt scrapes on your gear! you must have fallen from heaven!"
"is my bike overheating, or are you really that hot!"
"i think my bike is broken... can i ride you instead?"


super cheese factor 10.

[EternalNewb]

Originally Posted by alex.s

i wonder what kind of corny pickup lines you would get while on a bike....


"i see the asphalt scrapes on your gear! you must have fallen from heaven!"
"is my bike overheating, or are you really that hot!"
"i think my bike is broken... can i ride you instead?"


super cheese factor 10.

I wish they put that much effort into it. Usually it's some guy on a cruise asking "Can I have your number?" or "Want to grab a beer?"

[nickjpass]

Even without plugs, I hear anyone. I probably have poor listening skills. Whatever.

edit : I don't hear anyone is what I mean..

[ai4px]

I got an electronic ear muff for shooting that fully encloses your ear but has two mics and two speakers inside. When the ambient noise is low, the mics are patched into the speakers inside. When the noise gets loud, the mics shut off. It's a shame something like that doesn't exist for corded in your ear foam headsets... maybe it does??

I'd hate to try it with an app on my cell phone since I think it would eat batteries, but that's probably the quickest way to get it done.... Got me thinking... I usually ride with ear plugs in and music from my Sena is loud enough to get thru.... if the phone had a walkie talkie or microphone to bluetooth function that would work.....

[ai4px]

Try this??

http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/ipad-i...aring-aid.html

[EternalNewb]

Try musician's earplugs. They're usually made to reduce the really damaging sound while still allowing one to hear. They're basically the cheaper alternative for those of us that can't afford fancy pants in-ear monitors.

[tooblekain]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but try out the Surefire Sonic Defenders. They're about $20 and they are the best of both worlds. It uses the Hock Noise Breaker design where it allows certain frequencies to pass through and some to not. You can easily insert the plug to block even more noise.

http://www.surefire.com/ep3-sonic-defenders.html

I use these plugs as my commuter plugs without the additional plugs. For the track it seems like they are not enough and I prefer my Howard Leight Laserlight Pink and Yellow plugs.

http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/laser-lite

[RollTide-LDub]

I just wish someone would at least say hello. Only thing I've gotten is a guy trying to tell me that my bike was stolen from him over 8 years ago (I didn't realize they made 2008 250R's before 2005 ), and one of the members of ZZ Top on a Softtail that would even look over at me.

[leed]

I thought about getting some vinyl stickers that said "Sorry I'm wearing earplugs" on both sides of my helmet! Otherwise I have the same problem...

[Yakaru]

Originally Posted by leed

I thought about getting some vinyl stickers that said "Sorry I'm wearing earplugs" on both sides of my helmet! Otherwise I have the same problem...

That's actually not a bad idea.