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yellowjacket wrote:Googled but still couldn't hook-up.
May I ask where I look to get

custom plugs with the built-in speakers

? That would make bringing the shortwave radio along a treat.

Not sure what you are looking for, but many people, including me, use Etymotic er6i ear buds. I use these when I listen to music. I use ear plugs when I am not listening to music.

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

The Etymotic ear buds have triple flanges, just like my ear plugs. They do an effective job in filtering out wind noise. This might work for your application.

4

I use earplugs all the time, unless the ride is less than 5 minutes & no freeway.

That said, can somebody tell me why no helmet manufacturer has tried built in active noise canellation technology like the Bose or Sony headphones??? They work great on airplanes, which would seem to me to be the exact same thing as a windy MC helmet. It would be so nice just to slip the head bucket on without all the fiddling with the plugs.

Yellowjacket,

R4R&R got his custom plugs from his local Audiologist. I think they do the custom molds of your ear in the office then send off to have plugs made with speakers inside.


DSKYZD

I have a $40 set of sony earbuds that fit in your ear, with rubber, tight like a set of earplugs. They are super comfortable, relatively cheap, and come with 3 different sizes of rubber for different ears.

They do fit under the helmet, and if I am so inclined to ride without it, i just wrap the wires around my glasses a few times on each side. Works awesome. So, i have less wind noise and sweet riding tunes, like Canned Heat - On The Road Again.

The prevention of hearing loss is a big deal but don't discount one other bonus - you get a lot less heat loss when you wear your earplugs too!
You go out riding on a sultry 16 deg F morning and a little detail like that goes a long way towards helping you smile while you go -

dumby - I probably lose more heat from my lack of hair on top than out my ears! Of course, I have probably have more hair in my ears now than on the top of my head. But I guess you might have a point.

BTW, I like your sig line. It was sort of a slogan of my group of friends in college! Back in the day as my boys say.

Tripton wrote:I have a $40 set of sony earbuds that fit in your ear, with rubber, tight like a set of earplugs. They are super comfortable, relatively cheap, and come with 3 different sizes of rubber for different ears.

Sony MDR-EX51LP

I use them too sometimes with a MyFi. Interstate speeds require a lot of volume, otherwise they're great.

DSKYZD

I have not tried ear plugs in my 13+ years of riding. This thread is making me conclude that I should at least give it a try.
I tried my Ipod to auto-com in helmet speakers last week on my road trip from Oregon to Arizona.

It sucked.

I could hear music but not vocals. Tom Petty just didn't sound the same.... It also sounded rather garbled. Also the speakes are just big enough to put a little pressure behind my ear making them sore where my glasses rest...After 300 miles I pushed them away from my ears.

As you all know the little discomfort becomes a BIG PAIN when multiplied by miles.

I am really particular about what is in/on/and behind my ears.

a couple of questions;
1. Do the Sony ear buds or the Etymotics give enough 'room' between the ear and the helmet for the mechanical/electronic parts....
2. Does the wiring match an Ipod or autocom directly?

Anybody know?

a couple of questions;
1. Do the Sony ear buds or the Etymotics give enough 'room' between the ear and the helmet for the mechanical/electronic parts....
2. Does the wiring match an Ipod or autocom directly?

1. I wear the Etymotics with a full face Shoei helmet. Very little of the ear bud sticks out of the ear. There is enough room for clearance inside the helmet. I had previously tried some Shure ear buds, but they stuck out too much and I returned them. I have a 50 mile commute each way to work, and I have no discomfort at all with the Etymotics.

2. Not sure what you mean. The Etymotics have the same mini plug that most electronic devices use. They can plug directly into an iPod, XM radio, disc man, etc. I don't know about an autocomm. They come in white, so they will match the color of an iPod, if that is what you mean.

Here is an anecdote on this topic that has been troubling me the last few days.

The other evening I bumped into another motorcyclist at a DQ. We were talking about the beautiful day for riding, when he mentioned that his 100 mile ride earlier in the day wore him out to the point of having to take a nap afterwards.

"It must have been all that fresh air." he mentioned. I asked what kind of hearing protection he used, and I got a funny look. "Hmm... that might be a good idea." was his reply. When I reached into a pocked to offer him a few pair of disposable pair of foamies to try out he shrugged them off and said "No thanks, I sell those things. I'm a safety products representative."



"Yeah. I think this is the year I break down and buy a helmet." was his next comment.

Wow.

100 miles of highway riding with no helmet or plugs, and I'd be seriously wiped out.

Nice guy. I hope he makes out alright.

My helmet is pretty snug, and i dont have problems at all with the cheapo sonys in. just have to be careful when you put on your helmet so as to not bump them out of your ear, then they dont sound so great. They sound a LOT better than the regular ipod buds...i basically throw those away when I get an Ipod...or keep em in the bottom of my laptop case.

Thanks rd
That was exactly what I was asking. I was not certain about the adaption of the wiring ie ear buds.

Also...

I have never given a thought to the relationship between fatigue and hearing protection. I will ponder on this some more.