Ear plugs or no ear plugs that is the question?

[hunterfz6]

hmmm

Good fodder for serious thought. I do not wear earplugs atm, however I may pick up a set. But it seems the padding in my full face helmet is very tight on my head. I dont know does that help any at all? I really need to hear the car that is sneaking up behind me in my blind side. I did invest 4 bucks for some convext mirrors and put them on the outside top of the mirrors, It really helps me a lot when I'm laying on the tank doing 90mph and I want a break from the wind. I normally would have to raise up from the tank to see if anyone is behind me, but with the convext I can see without raiseing up. I just look behind when passing.

 

[hunterfz6]

oh yeah!

On my way out for my mind clearing ride, I stopped at the local walgreens and picked up a pair of earplugs, i paid around 4 bucks for them. Oh, yeah. Wish I knew before what a difference they make. One side thing, I can hear the high frequency sounds from the vents in my helmet, which I couldnt hear before cause the wind was drowning it. The engine sounds really great too.

 

[Nelly]

On my way out for my mind clearing ride, I stopped at the local walgreens and picked up a pair of earplugs, i paid around 4 bucks for them. Oh, yeah. Wish I knew before what a difference they make. One side thing, I can hear the high frequency sounds from the vents in my helmet, which I couldnt hear before cause the wind was drowning it. The engine sounds really great too.

Another convert who will live to hear another day.

 

[dark_isz]

..........

 

[OneTrack]

I went for a fairly long ride this afternoon/evening, probably the longest duration ride I have done in years. I have never worn earplugs while riding. However, when I got home, parked the bike, got my gear off, cracked a beer and sat down, I heard (and am still hearing 2 hours later) the classic high pitched ringing in my ears that I used to get after a day shooting at the range even after wearing both ear muffs AND ear plugs.
I am not riding again without earplugs.

 

[Nelly]

I went for a fairly long ride this afternoon/evening, probably the longest duration ride I have done in years. I have never worn earplugs while riding. However, when I got home, parked the bike, got my gear off, cracked a beer and sat down, I heard (and am still hearing 2 hours later) the classic high pitched ringing in my ears that I used to get after a day shooting at the range even after wearing both ear muffs AND ear plugs.
I am not riding again without earplugs.

I get this problem to if I have sustained runs of 90mph +. It was really this that prompted me to start wearing them.

 

[GConn]

In town at low speeds I never use earplugs. On the other hand, I rarely ride my bike in town

When I am going for a trip I ALWAYS use them. Without the plugs I go deaf if I move over 120kmh. I think people that claim that you can't hear with the plugs are the ones who haven't tried them on. You can still hear all the important noises (cars horns bikes etc). In fact the plugs just minimise the low frequency rumbling that prevents me from hearing anything else.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

It appears that the use of ear plugs is beneficial for high speed rides, like on freeways and for long distance riding. However, 95% of my riding here in Vegas is in constant traffic, through countless intersections with stoplights. I want to make sure that I hear everything around me, therefore I choose not to wear them. It seems that everyday I read the local paper, there has been a motorcycle accident. Last night, it was a motorcycle cop. Not sure about anyone else, but I seem to get asked for directions quite often when I'm at a light, so not wearing earlplugs helps me hear what questions the cagers are asking me. But if I ever take a road trip, or a long distance ride, I will probably wear them. Where I work, there are no shortage of earplugs (Airport)

 

[Nelly]

It appears that the use of ear plugs is beneficial for high speed rides, like on freeways and for long distance riding. However, 95% of my riding here in Vegas is in constant traffic, through countless intersections with stoplights. I want to make sure that I hear everything around me, therefore I choose not to wear them. It seems that everyday I read the local paper, there has been a motorcycle accident. Last night, it was a motorcycle cop. Not sure about anyone else, but I seem to get asked for directions quite often when I'm at a light, so not wearing earlplugs helps me hear what questions the cagers are asking me. But if I ever take a road trip, or a long distance ride, I will probably wear them. Where I work, there are no shortage of earplugs (Airport)

I had a short trip last week 65 miles each way. I left my ear plugs in my back pack and couldn't be arsed to take them out as traffic was so bad and I was losing time. I closed the vents on my helmet to reduce noise to. I had to check in to a hotel, honestly I had to ask the receptionist to speak up twice. I was traveling between 30 - 70 mph. You know it makes sense.

 

[Cali rider]

I wear Howard Leight MAX earplugs. Although I worked around machinery for years I still have excellent hearing for my age and I attribute this to wearing of hearing protection whenever it was needed. So, I continue to use earplugs while riding. I don't have any problems hearing traffic-related sounds as the earplugs reduce noise across the audible spectrum fairly consistently. The most beneficial effect is the reduction of wind noise, which reduces fatigue and allows me to concentrate on the task of riding.

Purchased in a box of 200 they work out to 15¢/pair, well worth the price. Just my opinion as usual.

 

[GAH]

I didn't in the begining but the last few times on the bike I have and it makes it a much more enjoyable ride (I love hearing those Scorpions, but...).

 

[Khyren]

I wear them anytime that I know I'm going to get above 50. Just riding through town, not a big deal. But at highway speeds, all the time.

Khyren

 

[GAH]

I wear them anytime that I know I'm going to get above 50. Just riding through town, not a big deal. But at highway speeds, all the time.

Khyren

I agree, I don't use them in town but on the open road, I do now.

 

[MSunder]

I wear them only on long trips over the Highway ( Autobahn ), in the city or on the land, I want to hear my exhaust.

 

[Nelly]

Nope, nor me.

Used to work in a factory before Health & Safety realised that constant exposure to noise makes you deaf. Never mind ear plugs, could probably do with a hearing aid :O)

Joking aside mate, Did you know this week a an incentive was launched to identify people who may have suffered hearing loss due to work related noise. I'm trying to find out whi is initiating it. I heard the ad on "talk sport". You may be entitled to compo.
Noise at work – health and safety in the workplace

This is the HSE link, I will keep my ears open (pardon the pun)

 

[briguy]

Like others here, I double up when shooting-30db foam plugs plus muffs and I wear foam plugs whenever I ride. I was not so kind to my hearing when I was in my teens and early 20s and had some damaging noise exposures when I was in the service. At 42, I have slight tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears) and slight, 5-10db loss in the high range for both ears. My doc says my hearing loss is within the norms for my age. I am convinced that if I had not been agressive with hearing protection from my mid 20s on I would be in very bad shape today.

 

[Maverick]

I wear earplugs on the longer rides... when I commute to work, I usually don't wear earplugs due to the short ride...

 

[bike10]

I highly suggest you all wear them!!!!!!!!!!
I was diagnosed with hearing loss and failed the law enforcement hearing test. I went to the EEN specialist and they came up with the fact that I have been riding 26 years w/o them has caused the damage.
The good news is that I started using them and my hearing slightly improved. I now wear them religiously and suggest you all too.
A side note is that a family member also has hearing loss, but in his left ear only. Again the doctors bring it back to the fact that he left his driver side widow open during patrol for 12 years. Wind noise is more damaging than most people realize.

 

[Rich]

I wear Howard Leight MAX earplugs. Although I worked around machinery for years I still have excellent hearing for my age and I attribute this to wearing of hearing protection whenever it was needed. So, I continue to use earplugs while riding. I don't have any problems hearing traffic-related sounds as the earplugs reduce noise across the audible spectrum fairly consistently. The most beneficial effect is the reduction of wind noise, which reduces fatigue and allows me to concentrate on the task of riding.

Purchased in a box of 200 they work out to 15¢/pair, well worth the price. Just my opinion as usual.

I use the same ones. They work very well, and I keep a full box around all the time. Working around noise for 20 years and still having excellent hearing speaks for itself.

I also use ear plugs while mowing or tilling. I urge everyone to take care of the ears, you only have one chance to have good hearing when you get older.

 

[Mattberkshire]

There was a two page feature on this subject in this months bike magazine. It measures the hearing of a normal person, a rider who has always used earplugs and a rider who doesn't. The results are quite a shocker. I scanned and saved it for your delectation, part 2 in the next post due to large files