Ear Plugs

[jonothan]

I went riding out this weekend both on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday I was with a fellow doctor, John, who has a CBR600, and we went through the Lincolnshire Wolds to Mablethorpe and Willingham Woods.

On Sunday, I went with my mate Ian who own a Piper Cub and we rode to the airfield where he keeps it, an old WW2 bomber base in Breighton in Yorkshire.

Great rides, the both. But on each occasion, my riding companion offered me ear plugs. Both occasions, I accepted. And they made both rides much more enjoyable.

Anyone else wear them? Disadvantages must be that it's harder to hear stuff you need to hear (engine problems, other traffic) but it sure made riding a lot more pleasurable.

J

[frevrod]

I never go anywhere without them, I'm so retentive I even wear different colours in each ear to avoid possible cross infection. No problems knowing what's going on around me plus I find I can concentrate better without the distraction of extra noise.

[jimcameron]

I always wear them.

1. They prevent fatigue which results in the ability to ride longer with more comfort.

2. They assist in protecting my hearing, and to prevent any hearing loss.

They are an essential component of my protective riding gear, which always includes armored pants/jacket/gloves/boots and full face helmet.

I would caution riders that not all jurisdictions allow for a rider to wear them whilst riding. You may save your hearing at the risk of a ticket.
I accept that risk, based on the benefits.

Ride On!

[Boxerboy]

There's plenty of old deaf motorcyclist's out there, hey what!!

I once rode a loud Guzzi LeMans about a 900-1000ks in one go. My ears were ringing the next day. Damaged I'd say. I now have trouble hearing things when there's a lot of other noise around, (eg pubs) more so than most people I know. I have no evidence that my experience co-relates to my current "ears", but I do know they definately need protection for the rest of my life.

You can get plugs to different design and decibel levels also. I pay about $2 a set. I use for about a month then replace. As they're not expensive a selection can be tried to find the ones you're happy with. I can still hear my engine, the traffic and most things going on. The wind noise is markedly reduced.

I also think that your level of awareness may also help. That gets down to good visual surveillance at all times.

Ear plugs can also be custom made for more $$$. Anyone I know with them says they're great.

[Acacia]

I Always use them. I feel naked without them. I am so used to wearing them now they are a part of the protective dress up. Makes riding that more enjoyable and relaxing - particularly the long rides. I am mostly
protecting my ears from the wind noise of the helmet above 45 mph.

I can still hear the NB noises. Bought a whole box of 100 disposals - with the strings that attached them to each other. I tie a knot at the one end of the string and that side always goes in the left ear. They go soft after a while and exposure to moisture and dont compress - that is when they get tossed. Tank bag always has a half dozen stes in it.

[jm1515]

I went riding out this weekend both on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday I was with a fellow doctor, John, who has a CBR600, and we went through the Lincolnshire Wolds to Mablethorpe and Willingham Woods.

On Sunday, I went with my mate Ian who own a Piper Cub and we rode to the airfield where he keeps it, an old WW2 bomber base in Breighton in Yorkshire.

Great rides, the both. But on each occasion, my riding companion offered me ear plugs. Both occasions, I accepted. And they made both rides much more enjoyable.

Anyone else wear them? Disadvantages must be that it's harder to hear stuff you need to hear (engine problems, other traffic) but it sure made riding a lot more pleasurable.

J

I never ride without them. They allow me to focus better, without being isolated. Not to mention they will save your hearing, esp if your helmet is as noisy as my Nolan.
It is harder to hear the engine etc, but if I don't insert them too deeply I can still hear the clatter of the boxer below me just fine....

[rdsmith3]

I almost always wear ear plugs. The only exception might be a casual afternoon ride with my wife, when we are going at moderate speeds and it is important that I hear her every word

I never have a problem with hearing sirens, etc.

I wash them after just about every ride so i don't worry about infection.

I highly recommend that you get an assortment of different kinds from Aerostich/Rider's Wearhouse and find the ones that you like the best. I prefer the reusable type:



I got them "hear":

http://www.aerostich.com/product.php?pr ... t=0&page=1

[The Velvet Monkey]

On long trips, I like to wear my Shure noise-excluding earbuds for use with my Ipod. They act as earplugs and sound great.

[priapismic]

As rdsmith3 says above, "I almost always wear ear plugs. The only exception might be a casual afternoon ride with my wife, when we are going at moderate speeds and it is important that I hear her every word "

All the more reason I wear ear plugs on every ride!

Really, I'm one of those old, deaf guys mentioned above. Well, more like middle-aged and suffering some mild hearing loss. Which sometimes works to my advantage (see above). I've been wearing various forms or ear plugs for years, and now wear custom molded ones, but wind noise over 25 years of motorcycling has taken it's toll. All you younger folks out there, don't think you're immune to hearing loss, it'll sneak up on you.

[rdsmith3]

It is difficult to convey sarcasm over the internet!

[fnfalman]

With earplugs on, I can hear the sirens of ambulances and police cars just fine. As far as hearing traffic, I can hear the horns, but otherwise I can't hear cars coming - with or without earplugs.

I'm 38 going on 39. I think that I'd like to have my hearing not impaired any time soon.

[dallara]

I wear earplugs most of the time... though not on short jaunts around town, nor when we are seriously canyon carving (I like to *really* hear the engine and the tires if we are scratchin' pretty hard... ). Earplugs are really a Godsend on long, long interstate highway drones, reducing fatigue considerably for me.

I like Etymotic ER-20's...

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

Or Heartech SilentEar's...

http://www.heartech.co.il/

Here's a review of the Heartech's...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/heartech/earplugs.htm

If I want to listen to some music while riding, I like my Etymotic ER-6's...

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6.aspx

Which isolate sound so well you can use them for earplugs even when not listening to tunes.

Hope this helps!

Cheers!

Dallara

[wncbmw]

I wear them every ride. I have lost enough hearing already. No problems hearing what you need to hear.

[FGanger]

After 48 years of riding bikes and over 50 years of shooting shotguns and high-powered rifles and pistols without hearing protection, I don't have much hearing left. At a range I now use hearing protectors; it's sort of like locking the barn door after the horse has run away.

I've tried using ear plugs/protectors with a motorcycle to no avail. I hate them; they are either hurting or falling out. Do I know I should wear them? Absolutely I do. Have I tried a large number of different types, well to be honest - no. I've tried about 4 or 5 "good ones," ones that other riders say they like.

I've wanted to try the custom fitted ones, however, I'm reluctant to try them and then find they do the same as the cheap ones only now I'm out more money.

Frank

[AndyfromPoland]

All the time.

The cheap foam ones. Buy them by the few dozen, use them, chuck them away. 3m ones seem best but haven't found them in the UK yet. The ones from Jewsons work fine, though.

[darthrider]

Sure, I wear them all the time.
If I had *worn* them all the time I would be hearing MUCH better today! Loud pipes on street & race cars & bikes really take their toll. The effects are cumulative and irreversable. High speed riding wind noise must be bad for the hearing too (not that I'd know anything about that!)
To make matters worse I was a skydiver for a number of years and the rapid pressure change does the same things that load noises do.
I can hear most traffic noises with good quality earplugs and I can tell what the engine is doing too.
I like "Hearos" brand. Cheap and comfortable. And they work better than the even cheaper little yellow foam cylinders I used to wear.
Roger that on earplugs reducing fatique on long rides!

[Simon D]

Johnathon, after many years of riding the windnoise etc has now taken its' toll and I find myself in my early/mid fifties with irreversible hearing damage. Not only the loss of clarity (which is bad enough) but with Tinitus as well. My riding buddy who is barely fifty now has to wear a hearing aid because of years of exposure to excessive noise.
Please do not risk going the same way as us. We firmly believe that had we protected ourselves we would not be in the situation we now find ourselves in. Never ride without ear plugs, except maybe for short trips at low speed - on your scooter perhaps.
I now use some first class custom fit plugs (shutting the stable door!!) which at £55 might seem expensive but what price your hearing?
I went to Sidcup to have the moulds made for mine but you will almost certainly be able to be measured up at the NEC show.
If you would like some more info, just let me know.
Cheers Simon

[R1150R4ME]

I agree that plugs are important very. I have moulded plugs - can still hear conservations but they take out the wind noise and any high Db. Never ride with out them. I find that I can concentrate better with the plugs in place. I even tried a MP3 player to use music to combat wind noise. Was a big problem for me (although I know many others who like riding with music) as the earpiece moved and the wind plus music was too tiring and reduced concentration.

Never used them years ago on the bikes - no one did. Returned to motorcycling a while ago - did a few courses, bought a BMW, bought good protective gear, Evo 4 BMW helmet for quietness and moulded earplugs. At my age (60) do not want to lose any more hearing.

I found out a lot about hearing as I for the last few years I have been going to a University Audiology School to be tested. I have learned a lot. I no longer use an angle grinder or any power tool or the lawnmower with out good quality ear muffs.

Wear plugs when riding and hold on to your hearing - when your hearing capacity is reduced it WILL NOT improve!

[jonothan]

Thanks for all your replies. I will buy a big box of disposables and wear them whenever I'm riding out of town.

It's very interesting that, in all the magazines and books I have on motorcycling, ear plugs are rarely mentioned.

My hearing isn't that good anyway, or so my wife tells me. So I'd best protect it.

That way I can hear her when she's asking me to take the rubbish out or put that shelf up in the kitchen she's been going on about.

Thanks

J

[Acacia]

Jonothan,

There are different kinds of hearing loss. That from loud noises of the pleasurable kind and that from the "other " kind - make sure you buy the right kind of hearing protection now! There is a difference!