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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stig / Major Tom on August 12, 2018, 04:42:01 PM

Title: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on August 12, 2018, 04:42:01 PM
Finished my coffee, got up from my sidewalk table and geared up to ride home on my scooter yesterday morning.
Within 20 feet I thought something was wrong. .....in another 30 feet I figured out what was wrong.
I'm hearing all this racket. .....I forgot to put in my earplugs!
Even my little Piaggio with the new Euro-Quiet standards muffler seems loud if you're used to riding while using hearing protection.
I used earplugs at some part of my work day for decades - so I know that I can hear all that I need to hear while wearing them.

Studies I've read indicate that even full face helmets cause hearing damage when hearing protection is not worn.

Stig
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: ScooterWolf on August 12, 2018, 04:55:24 PM
I've never worn them or felt the need. My bike is pretty quiet compared to many MCs and even while traveling at 70+ mph the wind noise never seemed to be that bad. In a few years I may feel different.

- Wolf
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Snoopzilla on August 12, 2018, 05:36:19 PM
Finished my coffee, got up from my sidewalk table and geared up to ride home on my scooter yesterday morning.
Within 20 feet I thought something was wrong. .....in another 30 feet I figured out what was wrong.
I'm hearing all this racket. .....I forgot to put in my earplugs!
Even my little Piaggio with the new Euro-Quiet standards muffler seems loud if you're used to riding while using hearing protection.
I used earplugs at some part of my work day for decades - so I know that I can hear all that I need to hear while wearing them.

Studies I've read indicate that even full face helmets cause hearing damage when hearing protection is not worn.

Stig
On 2 stroke bikes I have been tempted to, but figured I could miss out on other sounds for safety, which maybe, maybe not.  But I have to wear them at work all day and can’t wait to take them out at the end of the day.  So like to not wear them as much as possible, since they are
In my ears 40+ hours a week


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Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: eamartin on August 12, 2018, 05:59:43 PM
I started wearing them after about 40 years of riding.  I like them a LOT.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: CROSSBOLT on August 12, 2018, 09:34:21 PM
No, I do not. But I DO remove my hearing aids and stick 'em in the DT dash cubbyhole. That way I can't hear expensive noises!
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Tromper on August 12, 2018, 11:24:06 PM
Yup, a lot of the time, almost 100% on longer rides.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: hypophthalmus on August 13, 2018, 02:34:49 AM
Sometimes.

After longer rides at high speeds, without ear protection, everything sounds weird and muffled for a while. I figured that's a sign I damaged my hearing, so I started wearing ear plugs.

The exhaust noise isn't loud at all at those speeds, but the wind is.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: PaulF on August 13, 2018, 05:43:33 AM
I have worn earplugs when I have had helmets that let a lot of noise in especially wind but my new ones are quite good except for my work riding helmet as that does suffer from wind noise.  I do keep earplugs under the seat if I do need them.  If I was doing high speeds then I would definitely wear them.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: jeeves on August 13, 2018, 02:01:44 PM
Tried to use earplugs when riding my motorcycle, but it didn't feel right.

Never used them on the scoot, don't see the need. Would be a pain to put in and out all the time in city driving, and can't say that  I wouldn't feel comfortable with the sounds around me muted.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Charlie P on August 13, 2018, 03:19:39 PM
For me it's hearing aids out, foam ear plugs in (for the wind noise - even with modular helmet all closed up).  I've found I actually hear my communication system (telephone and intercom) through my helmet speakers better when I wear the ear plugs.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: TroutBum on August 13, 2018, 08:22:48 PM
Every time I ride. I have a jumbo pack of 3M bullet style ear protections.  I grab a couple and place them in a zip lock bag to make sure I always have a set or two on hand. I toss after each use ride.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: leomagnus on August 13, 2018, 08:33:10 PM
I wear my wireless earphones, music/noise cancelling to point. I like my music while I ride
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on August 13, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Every time I ride. I have a jumbo pack of 3M bullet style ear protections.  I grab a couple and place them in a zip lock bag to make sure I always have a set or two on hand. I toss after each use ride.
Waste of good cheese there, trout!
Stig
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: stuo on August 14, 2018, 02:03:50 AM
The beauty of being 80: no need for ear plugs! Huh? What ?
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Iahawk on August 14, 2018, 02:48:19 AM
count me in the 100% yes camp...I listened to enough loud music when I was younger that i don't want to speed up the inevitable hearing loss...and about everything you read points to wind induced hearing damage while riding motorcycles / scooters. I also wear earplugs when I mow my lawn and use my trimmer..earplugs don't bother me at all.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on August 14, 2018, 03:43:40 PM
count me in the 100% yes camp...I listened to enough loud music when I was younger that i don't want to speed up the inevitable hearing loss...and about everything you read points to wind induced hearing damage while riding motorcycles / scooters. I also wear earplugs when I mow my lawn and use my trimmer..earplugs don't bother me at all.
Yes, full face helmet users are still at risk due to something referred to as "overpressure", even if they feel that they're experiencing less road noise.
Stig


Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: klaviator on August 14, 2018, 06:53:58 PM
I wear them 99.9% of the time.  Sometimes on a real short ride I won't but that's rare. 
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: TroutBum on August 15, 2018, 03:04:47 AM
Waste of good cheese there, trout!
Stig

I find that after a single use the cheese doesn't hold it form. It maybe due to their age. I've had this pack a couple of years now.

Thinking about it, recycling would be a good use of resources. Stig, send me your snail mail address. I start sending you my once used ear plugs.  ;D
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: hypophthalmus on August 15, 2018, 03:44:36 PM
Researched more into this. It's hard to find numbers, especially from people who aren't interested in selling you earplugs.

One article I found (https://ridermagazine.com/2011/05/13/hearing-protection-for-motorcyclists/) says that 55mph results in 90dB of noise. Another chart says that 95dB is fine for 4 hours. The article also says that 75-80mph results in 105dB, acceptable for roughly 1 hour.

This means that most of my earplug free trips have been fine for my hearing. But those 6 hour trips at mostly 80mph before I discovered earplugs were probably terrible.

Still, I might err more to the side of caution and start wearing them more often.
Title: Re: Do you wear earplugs?
Post by: christianblessing on August 30, 2018, 11:58:03 AM
I backed a project on Indiegogo called QuietOn. Active noise cancelling earbuds. They are super effective at cancelling wind buffeting and low frequency vehicle noise, but I can still hear essential ambient sounds and can carry on a conversation without removing them.

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