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Do your wear hearing protection when riding?

  • Yes, all of the time.

    Votes: 33 49%
  • Most of the time, unless it's just a short hop.

    Votes: 14 21%
  • Only on long rides.

    Votes: 5 7.4%
  • No, never.

    Votes: 16 24%

Do your wear hearing protection when riding?

14K views 62 replies 37 participants last post by  Talisker  
#1 · (Edited)
I was discussing this with jorider61 and thought it might be interesting to see how many people wear plugs.
 
#9 ·
I don't wear earplugs...actually, i never felt that the noise from my bikes were that loud.

However, i do realize that I am likely causing damage although I don't feel like I am being affected. This is one of the reasons that I have decided to trade in my GSX-S1000 naked for a Zero SR/F.

I ride about 20-50 miles on back roads when I am out, so the transition to electric (limited range) works for me.
 
#10 ·
I don't wear earplugs...actually, i never felt that the noise from my bikes were that loud.

However, i do realize that I am likely causing damage although I don't feel like I am being affected. This is one of the reasons that I have decided to trade in my GSX-S1000 naked for a Zero SR/F.

I ride about 20-50 miles on back roads when I am out, so the transition to electric (limited range) works for me.
I think the majority of the noise comes from the wind, so eMC won't help you there, and I'm sure the SR/F is plenty fast.
 
#14 · (Edited)
It is not about the noise from the bike,...... it is wind noise. The human head was not designed to cut through the wind at these speeds, and the ear simply has no defense against it without hearing protection. It does not hurt. No warning. By the time one realizes it, it is too late and hearing loss is irreversible, and the most common excuse is '...it does not bother me', according with Motorcycle magazines.

At 40 mph (64 kmh) wind noise is passing 90db which is beyond what the OSHA allows in the US at the workplace without hearing protection, for prolonged period of time.


….I discovered had acquired tinnitus after just a 15 miles (24 km) motorcycle ride without hearing protection. Now I insert ear plugs even to ride around the block. It may be an inconvenient to put them on, but a whole lot better than going deaf.

…..the plus side is; with ear plugs, everything gets quiet and relax, you can actually hear the engine,....and the best analogy is; like the difference between going in the highway with windows rolled down in a car, and windows up and A/C on. The ear plugs are actually noise filters, not plugs. Riding is not longer that pleasant, unless I have them on.
 
#15 ·
It's the one thing I can't ride without. Riding at anything more than 60km/hr without them is painful after having worn them for the past few years. I use custom molded plugs made by an ear mould Australia provider. I can still hear my new cardo freedom 4+ through them at highway speeds.
 
#17 ·
Yes, always. Once upon a time my ears were critical for the work I was doing, so I am conditioned. Out of habit I still wear plugs for mundane tasks like mowing the lawn and air travel. I recently drove a few highway hours in my Jeep Wrangler - had the doors and top off - and when I got to my destination I could tell my ears weren't happy. So on the return trip I wore plugs.
 
#18 ·
I used to commute 70 miles each way on the freeway for about a year. Now, I have to crank up most speakers when i want to listen to anything. :(

Currently, I'm using either Surefire EP7 or Jaybird Freedom F5, both of which are low profile and work great under a helmet.

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk
 
#19 ·
Yes I always wear ear plugs! I can’t ride without them. Wind noise is horrible on your ears! Have read that anything over 70mph is causing irreversible damage. Like others have said you can still hear everything but it filters out soo much of the loud noises. Did ride from a friends house home which is less than 1/2 a mile from my house without them in and it amazed me just how loud it is without them! Just shutting my visor sounded like someone slamming an old storm door!
 
#20 ·
Yes, I wear custom earplugs with built in IEM. Useful for sat navs/speed camera van alerts etc.

It's a bit of a case of closing the door after the horse has bolted as what seems many years ago I was in the Army and worked on tanks. Too macho to wear ear defenders all the time and now get tinnitus and struggle to hear properly in noisy environments like pubs.

Moral of the story, wear ear plugs or spend most of your pub time nodding and pulling what you hope is an appropriate look as you try and guess the missing words.
 
#22 ·
I use a molded silicone plug in the left ear and a disposable foam cylinder shaped one in the right ear.
The ear on the right rattles unless the ear drum is pushed in a bit. But all good with both silicone plugs with power tools and the petrol mower.

I know now the road vibration comes up the seat via the shock, up my spine, and into the ears.
If I lightly press vertically below the ear(s) (while on the bike riding) at base of the helmet foam, the ear rattle stops.
That foam plug works, where other things like extra padding inside the helmet or even putting a rubber band around the ear all failed.

Rob.
 
#24 ·
This is one of those situations you can either learn from others or learn the hard way. Hearing loss is gradual and irreversible. By the time you realize the problem and decide to correct your actions it's too late.

I have worn them and helmets since day 1 and can't ride without either. I was on a long day trip years ago and while stopping for a break I dropped one of my plugs in the toilet. Decided to ride for a while without them. One thing I found that I hadn't anticipated was how much more quickly I fatigued without them. I finally found a grocery store but they didn't sell them. Asking around, one of the warehouse workers gave me a set of theirs. They were the Howard Leight Laser Lite plugs, so comfortable you don't even know they are there but so quiet.

https://www.uline.com/BL_1071/Laser...7ceLrXLAe8-KI9-ur2hSOqhxhGJwHa5wllznMua4l9YPaNw6DLDHRoCc0AQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Many folks are concerned about being able to hear things like cars and such when wearing them. I attribute them to be similar to sunglasses. Sunglasses impair your vision, but with excess light it reduces it to the point where it's usable again. It's similar with earplugs, I find I can hear things that stand out better when the overall noise level is reduced.
 
#30 ·
Unfortunately I already have tinnitus from the military and working in a factory. But I have ridden with was plugs and head phones and I just feel like I'm not fully aware of what's going on around me when I can't hear everything. I know that will be challenged by the people who feel that you can hear more or better when wearing ear plugs and I'm not arguing that I'm just saying that when wearing them I guess I feel even more paranoid of the cagers around me if you can understand what I mean
 
#31 ·
..... But I have ridden with was plugs and head phones and I just feel like I'm not fully aware of what's going on around me when I can't hear everything. I know that will be challenged by the people who feel that you can hear more or better when wearing ear plugs and I'm not arguing that I'm just saying that when wearing them I guess I feel even more paranoid of the cagers around me if you can understand what I mean
I use a pair of "concert" or hi-fidelity or whatever their called ear plugs... They don't block out as much as the full foam ones, but they keep the sound to comfortable volumes, and I feel like I can hear everything still. I can even carry out a conversation with helmet on and them in without needing everyone to yell at me.

Anyways, i quoted your post, because that's exactly why I went with those kinds. Foams are juuust a little too good at blanking everything out, or too muffled, for my liking.
 
#32 ·
I wear earplugs on anything other than short local hops running errands. Once I got used to wearing them, it feels weird not to have them in when riding. Kind of like when seat belt laws came about. Did not like it at first but now is a bit discomforting not to wear them. Or riding without a jacket for protection..similar for me.