Jump to content

My First Ride With Earplugs


RSparky

Recommended Posts

I cant stand to ride without earplugs for even a short ride. I am more focused with the lower noise level.

 

+1 to the Hearos Ultimate Softness series foam earplugs. I've tried a lot of different brands and these seem best.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I rode for a long time without even thinking about earplugs....something about being young and stupid.  With that being said, this is my take on it now:

 

If you know you were going to crash, you would put on all your gear; so why not put in hearing protection if you know you are going to be exposed to damaging levels on wind noise.

 

There is no reason not to wear some form of hearing protection, and a quiet helmet is not quiet enough.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You are still young, one day you will realize that us older guys were right.

 

No shit. I have been riding for 30+ years. Many of those years without a helmet and pretty much all of them without plugs. Time is catching up and the hearing is slipping along with the eyes.

 

It sucks, big time. I wonder back on how my ears would be now if I had taken better care of them while I was young. Same with the knees.

 

I wear plugs now. Biggest issue is making sure to get them in correctly.

 

If you are going to wear them, be sure to take some time and learn to properly insert them and try a few different types to see what works the best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out on track once without plugs, realized I forgot them and pulled in the same lap.  

 

They make a huge difference no matter what helmet you have and they're extremely cheap protection. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still don't agree with the consensus with the ear plugs but I've clearly hit a nerve with a lot of you. I don't need them and I don't wear cheap helmets.

To each his own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

helmets: you know where that hardware is on the sides, that your shield attaches too?

I have, in the past, loosened those screws and played with them to tighten the tolerance between helmet and shield. 

I had a Bell (the OP) and the wind noise was horrid. Wanted a new helmet, but thought I'd paint it first (helmet fit well, wasn't banged up, thought if I painted it, I could live with it a bit longer) 

Part of the masking process I unscrewed that hardware- after painting, put it all back together and the gap was BIGGER..wtf...

Taking a look I loosened them, forced them rearward and tightened. One side too tight-sheild wouldn't close all the way..wtf again.. messed around and got that plastic shield very tight against the foam lip/seal.....way quieter- 

Your mileage may vary: worked for me, might be a worthwhile look

in the last year I noticed my shoei has gotten louder- the top vents dont seem to be closing. going to see if I can tweak those. anyhow just my .02

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just swing by someplace like Gander Mt. (or even Walmart) that sells shooting supplies and pick up a jar of them for a couple of bucks.  I keep one in the garage so I can grab fresh plugs whenever I need them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just zipped home on the scooter, wind noise isn't that bad with just sunglasses if you can't go over 50... I also think the aeros play a role, my bike seems to direct way more air past my head even at lower speeds than the scooter. Maybe with a full wind screen, earplugs wouldn't be necessary at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hearing loss in motorcyclists: occupational and medicolegal aspects (NIM.GOV article)

Noise on a motorcycle that can cause hearing loss comes from a variety of sources on and around the motorcycle.

Some of these frequencies can hardly be heard normally, but still cause permanent hearing loss at other frequencies.

 

 

All groups have used essentially similar techniques: a miniature microphone is placed at the rider's ear under the helmet and sound levels are measured in various riding conditions. All these studies show excessive wind noise around the helmet—about 90 dB(A) at 60 km/h and increasing linearly when plotted against the log of speed, to reach 110 dB(A) at 160 km/h. In addition our group has measured the sound attenuation characteristics of various motorcycle helmets—a matter that had previously received only limited attention.

 

Modern helmets, we found, offered very poor low-frequency sound attenuation and we also demonstrated a phenomenon of resonance at 250 Hz. The source proved to be a turbulent boundary layer, vibrating against the outside of the helmet shell, with its maximum sound energy focused between 250 and 500 Hz.

 

 

High speed on a motorcycle can generate enough noise to cause hearing loss,

Similar results are seen in noise environments industry wide.

Common results of excess noise (particularly above 110db at any frequency):

 

loss of audible signals

fatigue

headache

disequilibrium

increased risk of accidents

hearing loss

 

Our feeling was that earplugs were and are still the only realistic option, particularly in the absence of commercially available sound-proof helmets.

Edited by ReconRat
  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Due to poor choices as a youngster, it's too late for me. Wear then while you can still hear!

This message has been brought to you by Remington, Bush Light, Mötley Crüe, Metallica, and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had Arai, and Shoei helmets and have come to the conclusion there is no such thing as a quiet full face helmet.  I've ridden with ear plugs for over 20 years and ear plugs will cut the noise on any helmet.  It's not just the helmet but other factors that contribute also to wind noise.  Windshield shape, head winds.  For me it's a lot more enjoyable ride wearing ear plugs. If you're looking for a quiet helmet the Bell RS1 that I have now is the quietest full face helmet I've owned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Loud pipes, for the hell of it." was a patch I saw yesterday....

My dad had me try some ear plugs he got t a plant. I had been using the little foam half circle on a stick. Aka, not a lot of attenuation, but definitely formed a seal, which did its job.

Anywho, skull screws. Sounds like a dick filled porno, but man. Squeeze those suckers in and say goodbye to the world. The other plugs would soften things. These, I can hear the ocean! In a parking lot full of whiny kids! Love it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I rode my bike for 2 weeks before I said screw it and started wearing ear plugs all the time. My first lid was an Icon Domain 2 it was a little heavy but fit very good. I replaced  that with a $700 Bell RSD its a whole lot lighter but considerably louder.

 

I wear ear plugs all day at work so putting them in and out is second nature to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hearing loss in motorcyclists: occupational and medicolegal aspects (NIM.GOV article)

Noise on a motorcycle that can cause hearing loss comes from a variety of sources on and around the motorcycle.

Some of these frequencies can hardly be heard normally, but still cause permanent hearing loss at other frequencies.

 

 

High speed on a motorcycle can generate enough noise to cause hearing loss,

Similar results are seen in noise environments industry wide.

Common results of excess noise (particularly above 110db at any frequency):

 

loss of audible signals

fatigue

headache

disequilibrium

increased risk of accidents

hearing loss

Absolutely.

 

And as far as I know hearing loss is gone forever, it doesn't heal and get better.

 

I use those cheapo construction earplugs (foam kind) when on long trips.  Its amazing how much better you feel after 8 hrs riding with ear plugs compared to without.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I hate the ringing in my ears, but the one time I wore plugs on the way down to KY I got EXTREMELY sleepy because of the quiet.

Or maybe I didn't get enough sleep. But I wasn't tired once I took them out in KY.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...