Ride better with Ear Plugs?

[gammer]

Just an observation about riding with ear plugs vs without ear plugs....

Whenever I ride with earplugs I ride with more confidence, roll through corners faster and my overall ability feels better...I am more comfortable on the bike. I also tend to let the bike rev higher.
I'm not sure if blocking part of the sound (with ear plugs) makes me more at ease with the engine 'notes' or if the lower volume allows me to concentrate more...or a bit of both.  

[ariwhiteboy]

The earplugs just block out the "voices"...

[skramer360]

I almost never ride without earplugs, but the other day I rode somewhere for work. It was only a mile away so I went without. Top speed was 45mph and I hated it. I can't hear anything except wind noise without earplugs.

[Old_Rider_54]

For any ride longer than 15 - 20 minutes I always use earplugs.   I find that I an less fatigued after a long ride with them.   Short rides at speeds below 50, I don't bother.  I agree that the reduced noise makes it easier for me to concentrate.

[luckylindy]

+1 on being more comfortable w/ear plugs.

[gammer]

The earplugs just block out the "voices"...

I think you're right...  

Seriously though, when I don't wear ear plugs, I tend to pay more attention the the engine sounds. I think it distracts me. When the ear plugs are in, I don't hear those sounds, I just hear a muffled exhaust note. So I relax a little.

I think my next helmet I get will have better sound reduction around the ears. I don't mind using ear plugs, but sometimes I forget to put them in.

[tcoop]

The earplugs just block out the "voices"...

I hear the voices better with ear plugs And its usualy "Go FASTER!!!!"

[gammer]

The earplugs just block out the "voices"...

I hear the voices better with ear plugs And its usualy "Go FASTER!!!!"

Then it is usually followed by a voice that says: "Do you realize how fast you were going, sir?"

[CraigF]

Just an observation about riding with ear plugs vs without ear plugs....

Whenever I ride with earplugs I ride with more confidence, roll through corners faster and my overall ability feels better...I am more comfortable on the bike. I also tend to let the bike rev higher.
I'm not sure if blocking part of the sound (with ear plugs) makes me more at ease with the engine 'notes' or if the lower volume allows me to concentrate more...or a bit of both. 

I could have written this exact post.  I love riding with earplugs (or Etymotic ER6i earphones).

[RustyFairmount]

If I may offer my open and honest opinion:

For me, ear plugs drown out the wind and road noise.  They allow me to recognize the engine RPM's, the texture of the pavement, and the vehicles around me.  Raw road noise fatigues me.  That's dangerous.

For me, earphones are the blindfold that prisoners wear when being shot to death.  They break the connection with the world around me.  Besides being illegal in some states, I find them outright dangerous to wear while riding and I wish they were illegal in all states.  "Iron Eagle" was a movie.  All but completely forgotten.  Music and piloting a high performance vehicle don't mix.

Just an observation about riding with ear plugs vs without ear plugs....

Whenever I ride with earplugs I ride with more confidence, roll through corners faster and my overall ability feels better...I am more comfortable on the bike. I also tend to let the bike rev higher.
I'm not sure if blocking part of the sound (with ear plugs) makes me more at ease with the engine 'notes' or if the lower volume allows me to concentrate more...or a bit of both. 

I could have written this exact post.  I love riding with earplugs (or Etymotic ER6i earphones).

[gammer]

With foam ear plugs, I can hear the engine RPM just fine (thanks to notes coming from my Supertrapp). Its just not as deafening to my ears.
With foam ear plugs I can barely hear any wind noise. And I don't hear any road noise...however, I don't hear road noise without foam ear plugs.

I don't find foam ear plugs block all sounds. In fact it seams to just take that edge off.

I do think that listening to an MP3 player or iPod while driving would be distracting and drown out too much sound. Just my opinion though.

[drdubb]

I tried the ipod, while riding, but I didn't like it.

[geaux]

I have been wearing foam earplugs and think it makes the ride more enjoyable.



 

[CraigF]

I have a Parrot SK4000 Bluetooth headset for the helmet.  I needed/wanted something that would let me know if someone was trying to reach me while riding. 

My position at work changed about a year ago, but I used to be on-call 24/7 every 3 weeks (for 1 week).  I felt that the 30+ minutes when I was riding to or from work--or when I'd just go on a pleasure ride on weekends--could get me in trouble if I wasn't available.   

The Parrot SK4000 has a boom mic and in-helmet speakers, along with controls that clamp on the left hand grip.   I don't make calls while on the bike, and I pull over if I get one, but I have found that listening to the built-in FM radio at a very low volume does not distract me from riding. 

A couple months ago I removed the built-in speakers and installed a 3.5mm jack.  Now i use Etymotic ER6i earphones and listen to the radio at a volume setting of 1.   That's right... 1.   I think with the built in speakers I used a setting of 9.  That's just not good for my hearing.

Earplugs or these earphones take away the wind and road noise.  I can still hear the engine and cars around me even with my low volume radio. 

/shrug

I guess if I thought I was compromising myself, I'd turn the radio off.  I take all the other precautions to be safe--jacket, overpants, gloves, full-face helmet, and boots.   

[Soupskin]

I have a Parrot SK4000 Bluetooth headset for the helmet.  I needed/wanted something that would let me know if someone was trying to reach me while riding. 

My position at work changed about a year ago, but I used to be on-call 24/7 every 3 weeks (for 1 week).  I felt that the 30+ minutes when I was riding to or from work--or when I'd just go on a pleasure ride on weekends--could get me in trouble if I wasn't available.   

The Parrot SK4000 has a boom mic and in-helmet speakers, along with controls that clamp on the left hand grip.   I don't make calls while on the bike, and I pull over if I get one, but I have found that listening to the built-in FM radio at a very low volume does not distract me from riding. 

A couple months ago I removed the built-in speakers and installed a 3.5mm jack.  Now i use Etymotic ER6i earphones and listen to the radio at a volume setting of 1.   That's right... 1.   I think with the built in speakers I used a setting of 9.  That's just not good for my hearing.

Earplugs or these earphones take away the wind and road noise.  I can still hear the engine and cars around me even with my low volume radio. 

/shrug

I guess if I thought I was compromising myself, I'd turn the radio off.  I take all the other precautions to be safe--jacket, overpants, gloves, full-face helmet, and boots.   

OMG you use ER6i's with an SK4000?

 

I would LOVE to know how that is done.  I sold my SK4000 and use ER6i's now but I sooooo miss the remote on my bars.

[happycommuter]

I'm an earplug wearer, so I can affirm the converse: I lack confidence without earplugs.  The sound has too much clatter and every little imperfection is revealed.

It's the audio equivalent of soft lighting.  Take a person or a meal and shine bright lights on them and the ugly truth is in stark contrast.  Dim everything down and it evens out in a much more appealing way.

Since audio feedback is a big part of riding, when it is unpleasant and just too much information, it causes apprehension and dissatisfaction. The autotuned earplug sound has positive associations, leads to confidence

[green427]

Think any of you can ride without hearing anything at all?

[Brumbie13]

I feel like I'm going deaf if I don't wear earplugs.

At first I thought the idea was dumb, but the first time I rode with them, and could hear when I got to my destination, I was sold.

[fishmeister]

Take a person or a meal and shine bright lights on them and the ugly truth is in stark contrast.  Dim everything down and it evens out in a much more appealing way.

I've had dinner dates like this....off to buy some softer light bulbs.

[gammer]

I'm an earplug wearer, so I can affirm the converse: I lack confidence without earplugs.  The sound has too much clatter and every little imperfection is revealed.

It's the audio equivalent of soft lighting.  Take a person or a meal and shine bright lights on them and the ugly truth is in stark contrast.  Dim everything down and it evens out in a much more appealing way.

Since audio feedback is a big part of riding, when it is unpleasant and just too much information, it causes apprehension and dissatisfaction. The autotuned earplug sound has positive associations, leads to confidence

HC, thank you.
This sums up exactly how I feel about riding with ear plugs. I wasn't sure if I was feeling insecure about this subject, or what? But I feel better now with the responses given.

[CraigF]

I had an errand to run tonight, so I decided to make it a leisurely ride, too.

I wore foam earplugs for the 25 miles to my destination, and I made mental notes that really did confirm that I felt more confident, let the bike rev a bit higher, and felt more comfortable.

I forgot to put them in on my ride home.  I made it 1 mile before I realized what was different.  Wind and road were too noisy, and I felt over stimulated.   I pulled into a parking lot and put my earplugs in.   

[hockeyhawk]

I've never worn ear plugs while riding but I have tried the ipod and it came off after about 15 minutes. The blue tooth I understand if your on call, but when I'm riding that is my time and I don't want to be contacted while riding, but of course my cell phone is in the tail bag, If I'm really needed I'm still reachable. As far as the ear plugs, I think I'll be trying them out.

[LOKi]

For me, ear plugs drown out the wind and road noise.  They allow me to recognize the engine RPM's, the texture of the pavement, and the vehicles around me.  Raw road noise fatigues me.  That's dangerous.

For me, earphones are the blindfold that prisoners wear when being shot to death.  They break the connection with the world around me.  Besides being illegal in some states, I find them outright dangerous to wear while riding and I wish they were illegal in all states.  "Iron Eagle" was a movie.  All but completely forgotten.  Music and piloting a high performance vehicle don't mix.

Funny. That first paragraph I agree 100%. I can actually hear car tires in the lane next to me while doing 80 with ear plugs in. Without ear plugs I hear nothing but wind at hwy speeds. The funny part is this is with the ER6i's in and music playing. I don't see how hearing music is dangerous. Do you listen to music while driving in your car? If so why is it so much more dangerous to listen to music while on a bike. Me hearing music in my helmet isn't any more dangerous than not wearing ear plugs all together.

With the ER6i's you can set it at a nice quiet level while standing next to the bike before even turning it on. Later when your cursing at 70mph you can still hear the music at that same level.

After really long rides I feel less fatigue with music than without. I think it has to do with what your ears are doing. Without music you hear the same tone the entire ride. The music stimulates the ears and gives them the full range of hearing instead of a single tone that drones on for hours. My head phone wire broke one day and I had to ride with regular ear plugs all day. At the end of that ride (200+ miles with Pants) I felt more fatigue than a 600+ ride. If I'm more fatigue after 200 miles without music than with wouldn't it stand to reason I'm safer riding with music than without?

[Captainkirk]

I find the wind noise wears me down without the plugs, though I often ride the Nighthawk without them. Every time I ride the Buell without them I feel like I've been in a streetfight...and lost. So I can testify to the posters who say they feel more confident and less distracted with the foam plugs. I'm trying to make it a regular thing these days whatever bike I'm riding.

[drdubb]

Ear plugs are good. I find the ride more enjoyable in all respects. I am more relaxed. I was coming back from an all day ride last week and stopped about 1/2 hour from home to get a drink. Took out the earplugs while resting and forgot to put them back in.   I really didn't like that last half hour. I've got speakers in my helmet, but I've yet to use them.