Hearing Protection (ear plugs)

[LOKi]

OK this came up on another thread but I feel it deserves its own. Ear plugs. The noise from a motorcycle or rather the wind at speeds is loud enough to cause serious herring loss. WEAR EAR PLUGS! If I'm traveling on the HWY for more than a mile or two I have my ear buds in. Not really needed if your not going over 50 or only doing so for a minuet or two. I find that without ear plugs of some kind I feel much less worn out after a day of riding. The difference is night and day.

My tried on my roommates ER-6i ear buds one day going to work (50 mile total commute). I ordered a set that same day while at work. I was already in the habit of putting in ear plugs buy this time so might as well have ear plugs that have tunes in them. They do cancel low end noise like people talking and things like that but you can still hear whats going on around you. What sold me on these ear buds was setting the volume level on the MP3 at a comfortable (low) level. Then driving to work not having to adjust the volume to account for wind noise. Well worth the money. I never leave home without them.

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


Your thoughts on ear protection?

[dbracing]

Because I am a pro musician and am around lots of situations where I am subjected to loud sounds, I have a set of custom moulded earplugs. They are unique in that I can change the "pads" on them to afford whatever level of protection I may want. I find that the 15db pad works well in that I can be protected and still carry on a conversation while they are in. You can source them at most hearing aid stores or audiologist offices. They are commonly referred to as "musician earplugs"

I wear these all the time when riding.

[happycommuter]

First bike I had a 3/4 helmet and liked finding the speed where wind noise overcame engine/road noise.

Second bike I ordered the earplug sampler kits from Aerostich.  Turns out I am very picky, and only one pair worked well.  I eventually had to seek that maker's plug out on eBay, and bought a dozen pair or so.  I think I carry a spare pair in my tank bag.

Besides preserving my hearing, earplugs also filter the raucous clatter of the engine/exhaust into a mellow rumble. 

[Bumblebee]

Your thoughts on ear protection?

Choose one:

(a) silence
(b) a constant annoying high frequency eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sound for the rest of your life.

[skramer360]

My usual commute to work is only six miles and top speed is only about 50mph, so normally I don't wear any ear plugs. On longer rides I will though.

[Brittles]

I don't wear them with a full face helmet. Sound is muted enough for me.

Sometimes I ride with a half helmet and use these http://hearos.com/earplugs/products-02225.html which I can purchase locally at Rite Aid stores.

[JordanA]

I ride with either no plugs, or my stereo ear buds.  I've never found any highway speeds to be too loud.  My helmet seems to do a pretty good job of insulating sound.

[Wahrsuul]

Choose one:

(a) silence
(b) a constant annoying high frequency eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sound for the rest of your life.

I have Tinnitus, so I have that noise pretty much all the time.  However after riding without earplugs, the noise does tend to be louder.

[LOKi]

Thanks. I really just wanted to illustrate how important hearing protection is on a motorcycle. Especially to new riders who might not realize the hazard. When I started commuting on the old Rebel 250 I thought this thing is so slow I don't need ear plugs. It didn't seem bad while riding at all. Barely noticed that the wind was a bit loud. Besides it was only a 30min commute. Everything seemed fine. Then I went for a little longer ride. My first ride over 100 miles on the Rebel. At first without ear plugs. By the first stop I was wiped out. I thought it was just the bike. The Rebel 250 is not a very comfortable bike. My head was hurting a little and decided that ear plugs would prevent a major headache from setting in. Well that it did but I found that I wasn't nearly as tired after putting in the ear plugs. Whats the deal? How could just blocking 40% (don't know exact percentage ear plugs block and I'm sure it varies) of the noise getting to my ears help my fatigue level? Well it does. The constant loud rumble of the wind cases fatigue over a period of time. You might think your helmet blocks the noise pretty well but I'm sure it could be better. Might as well get some noise canceling ear buds and pipe in some tones.

Here is a little bracket to hold a MP3 player on the dash. You can just throw that MP3 player in your pocket if you want but changing music or just adjusting the volume is a pain. I used a 5KW laser to cut this one but you can just snip it out of just about anything. Here is a little hint. Bend it. If you put a crease in smaller gauge metal it gives it rigidity. I just used 16ga material and left it flat. Attached it to the back of my GPS so I wouldn't have to make yet another attachment point on the bike. Handy because now the MP3 player can go where ever the GPS goes. Like on the kayak. Get some adhesive back hook and loop and stick the fuzzy side to the MP3 player and the hook part on the metal plate. On and off in a snap.

Picture before I put the hook and loop on.

[Bumblebee]

You might think your helmet blocks the noise pretty well but I'm sure it could be better.

And that is exactly what people who haven't tried earplugs do not realize. They think it's ok and not so loud..until they're exposed to the lack of noise that earplugs provide.

Seriously, if you think riding without earplugs is not too loud, just spend $2 on a pack of 4 or 8 and try them on every ride you do for a month. When the earplugs wear out, try riding again without them and see what you think.

[Rusty B]

I have Tinnitus also, caused from an air horn on a Fire Truck
I have 50% loss in midrange in right ear.
The constant EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE will sometimes drive you crazy and other times you don't pay any attention.
But I do use ear plugs even on shorter slower rides.
My commute to work is 25 miles each way, and 55-60 for omly about 5 miles of that , rest of the way is 45.
I may try the ear buds and Easy Listening on the IPod.
Might be more relaxing.

Rusty

[gammer]

Ear plugs are great, especially for long trips. I don't use 'em when commuting to work. But long trips are a must...also my exhaust is loud, so my wife likes to wear them when sitting on the back.

Another thing is eye protection. Not just having a visor, but having proper sunglasses is a must too. I have quite a few 'floaters' in my eyes/vision (since birth) and they can be distracting when its bright out. Wearing sunglasses not only helps with me not noticing them, but it cuts down on glare big time.

Although there really is no solution when you are driving into the sun at dusk...except maybe not driving at that time at all.

[Bumblebee]

Although there really is no solution when you are driving into the sun at dusk...except maybe not driving at that time at all.

I got some black posterboard and box tape and made a few visors of different height that fit in the helmet that acts like a sun visor in a cage. They slide into the small crack that's between the helmet shell and impact foam. Most helmets I've seen have a small slot on the sides or across the top that can be done that way. I ride with the standard visor I made all the time to the point that it's weird wearing the helmet without it now. The mid height is for late afternoon sun angles. The lowest one is really annoying for putting on glasses however I can ride safely into sun angles that cages wimp out, or should wimp out, on. Of course there comes a point where there's nothing you can do except pull over and wait for the sun to rise/set further.

[9c1]

I know two guys who ride who both say that they don't need/like ear plugs even though I explain the benefits.  One says he just plain doesn't need them (thinks I'm wierd in suggesting it) and the other says he needs to hear the engine. 

I don't wear ear plugs on my 5 minute ride to work (low speeds, couple of stoplights), but every other place I ride I wear them.  To those that don't use ear plugs, do what was already suggested and try them out.  Save your hearing - there's no going back once you damage it.

[skramer360]

I started wearing them even on my short ride to work (10 min). I was amazed at what I could now actually "hear." Sound is vibration that is picked up by your eardrums. I started "hearing" the different sounds of the bike, because of the vibration that was transmitted through the hand grips and the foot pegs, even the seat. Plus it is way more comfortable without the noise.