Ear plugs

[R1150Rclean]

I never used to use ear plug when I was younger, but noticed the wind noise was affecting my hearing so use them all the time now even for short 5 min. trips.

Here is what I use: http://www.macksearplugs.com/details/Mo ... m-earplugs.

Publix has them, cheap, reusable, and really quiet. After I role them up I will wet them a little before I slip them into my ears. That makes sure they go in all the way straight, instead of folding up (will not blook out all the noise if they fold over in the ear canal). Just be careful to not stick them in too deep, sometimes I do and have to use my key to get them out.

[f4tweet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPNPZJingZA

It really works if done properly. I learned about this 20 years ago.

[riceburner]

I use the "Laser Lites" by MaxLeight from Sperian. Work fine for me.

Again - I used to not wear them, but after realising that I was getting ringing in my ears on occasion I now won't ride without them.

[slowtorque]

Cheap, foam plugs work OK for many people. I could never get a good reliable seal on any I tried. The silicone rubber plugs are just downright painful to wear. I even went so far as to have custom molded plugs made by an audiologist. Better than foam plugs, but still a bit disappointing. Then one day I stumbled across this: http://www.earplugsonline.com/

I ordered a pair and they actually sat in my shop for weeks as I was not expecting them to be any better than what I had tried. Wow, was I ever wrong. These plugs have changed my life on the bike, on the mower, trying to sleep in a hotel room. They are comfortable and highly effective. I have no affiliation with this manufacturer, but I swear by these moldable plugs.

[Grey Thumper]

My faves are Howard Leight Maxs. 33dB of noise reducing goodness. Aside from the bike, they're fantastic in hotel rooms, airplanes (especially when there are screaming kids around), long bus rides, pretty much anyplace you find even moderately noisy.

[Sunbeemer]

I've been using these silicone self-moldable earplugs since I couldn't get foam ones to fit right:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t104381280
They take about 15 minutes to form in your ear, and reduce noise by 26 dB, good enough for all but really windy days.

[michelsmith]

Think it's more dangerous to ride without, due to the fatigue after prolonged exposure to noise. A tired rider is a poor rider.Can't remember the source now, but there's a test in a magazine somewhere that proved that there is _no_ helmet available that
provides sufficient noise protection in itself at 40mph plus. Ear
plugs relieves the rider of the discomfort of the constant noise. It
also protects the ear from the long term damage associated with that exposure! This is no little concern, hearing damages are very
serious illnesses. The numbers of people totally disabled by hearing
damage is huge.I do a bit of sound engineering, using a sound pressure level meter to keep things in the safe area. Can usually guess the dB level fairly accurate now. Got a good idea of what sort of pressure 90 deciBels are, the safe level limit for 8 hours of exposure to sound and 95db for 4 hours, 100db for 2 hours, and so on. An unsilenced motorcycle is about 110dB(according to the litterature, haven't tried!), which is damaging after 30 minutes of daily exposure!

Even with plugs, those 90 dB's can easily be pushed on the

motorbike. Particullarly if the speed is high, headwind is strong or

the helmet/head gaps makes a lot of turbulence. This varies a lot

with the helmet/rider fit.

The most prominent noise comes from the gaps between the neck and

the helmet, probably especially so for those gaps making a tube of

air going up into the helmet. Try covering different spots on the

base of the helmet with one of your hands while riding. The noise

will almost disappear when you find the points of turbulence.

Had some success patching these spots with duct tape. Would

probably work better with a flexible material like neoprene. There's

neck warmer tubes available that totally fills the gap around the

bottom liner of the helmet. Anyone got any experiences with these

regarding noise?

Just have to say this as an audio geek: Take care of your ears! All

hearing damage is accumulative and nonreversible.