Earplugs and headphones - what's the story?

[darkwolf]

So I was always of the understanding that earplugs or headphones would not be a good idea while driving or riding.

Then I started riding and realised that at 100KPH I can't hear much else than the wind anyway - being on a VTR250 probably goes some way to contributing to that.

I see that earplugs are recommended for long distance to prevent hearing loss. So what would be the story with headphones? I'm guessing it wouldn't be much different to driving in the car with music on. However, I am sure I once read somewhere that it was illegal to be in control of a motor vehicle while wearing headphones or earphones.

Can anyone clear this up?

[blackdog]

The search function is your friend.

Ahh fuck it. Using earphones while riding will make you blind and impotent.

[darkwolf]

Yeah, I had read a few threads on it but wasn't entirely sure on whether earplugs were fine but just not earphones.

[blackdog]

Yeah, I had read a few threads on it but wasn't entirely sure on whether earplugs were fine but just not earphones.

Common sense will prevail! For the rest Darwin will.

(On this issue for the time being anyway)

I also use my earphones for the sexy pommie chick giving me directions from my GPS occasionally.

[YellowDog]

Common sense will prevail! For the rest Darwin will.

(On this issue for the time being anyway)

I also use my earphones for the sexy pommie chick giving me directions from my GPS occasionally.

I suspect that it is only her voice that is sexy! Best not to shatter that illusion :no:

[shrub]

Yeah, I had read a few threads on it but wasn't entirely sure on whether earplugs were fine but just not earphones.

It depends. I use earplugs because having spent a brazillian dollars on hi fi equipment I want to keep what's left of my hearing. A lot of people use MP3 players when they ride, and I have done and will do again, but the problem I find is I spend too much time thinking about my MP3 player when I want to change volume, change song etc. Mostly I would rather have silence because riding time is thinking time.

Your call ultimately, but I wouldn't use either in traffic.

[Scuba_Steve]

I use an iPod on the bike but have it set at a level where it's more ambient music in the background to have something better than wind rather than a direct sound in my ears.

I think the problem with headphones comes when you pay attention to the music, start listening to it as you become oblivious to that round you, so don't "immerse" yourself in the music & you should be alright :yes:

[Devil]

I regularly listen to music while riding, particularly on long trips.
I use a noise-isolating earphone to keep the external noise to a minimum, enabling me to maintain a fairly low and reasonable volume of the music to avoid hearing damage.

Non-isolating earphones would be a bad idea. Wind noise + volume required to overcome that noise means hearing damage.

[wanpo]

I regularly listen to music while riding, particularly on long trips.
I use a noise-isolating earphone to keep the external noise to a minimum, enabling me to maintain a fairly low and reasonable volume of the music to avoid hearing damage.

Non-isolating earphones would be a bad idea. Wind noise + volume required to overcome that noise means hearing damage.

This.

If you're worried about the distraction of earphones + music though, I would recommend riding with earplugs. I won't go on the motorway without any sort of ear protection (whether it be noise isolating earphones, or earplugs) as the wind + engine noise is easily at a level damaging to the ear.

If I'm out riding with friends, I will generally use my plugs (custom moulded plugs from plugz4lugz), otherwise I'll probably be listening to music.

[baffa]

On a cycle is a slightly different story, but on a bike, you're lucky to hear anything over wind and engine noises so earphones arent really an issue. At low speeds I can hear cars around me sometimes, but it's not something you rely on.

[slofox]

In my case:

Always use earplugs for hearing protection. They still allow me to hear traffic, the radar detector or the Interphone.

Never listen to music - prefer the music of the IL4 screaming its tits off...

Actually the audio feedback from the engine is a big part of my knowing just WTF I am doing at any time on a bike.

[TIBLE_90]

I always wear custom earplugs. Used earphones a couple times and found that I get distracted from riding. With earplugs I protect my hearing and am able to immerse myself in my riding=much better riding as a result :).

[wanpo]

Actually the audio feedback from the engine is a big part of my knowing just WTF I am doing at any time on a bike.

If you can't hear your engine note over the music, a) the volume is too high and you're probably damaging your hearing anyways b) your bike isn't loud enough ;)

[banditrider]

I wear custom ear plugs and have speakers in my helmet. Ear plugs take care of the wind noise so I can hear the music. Music is only there in the background - not loud at all.

Just put some $15 earphone speakers in my new adventure helmet and although I haven't tried them on the road they sound really good - with my ear plugs in. I may have to actually turn the volume down a bit.

Both my bikes are quiet but I can still hear the engine noise - it's just not intrusive at all.

[sleemanj]

I don't think it's an offence to use ear plugs in NZ.

I've heard (hah) it is in some US states though (which is weird, what about deaf people?!).

I find that in-ear isolating ear phones are too uncomfortable, after about 1/2 an hour it's unbearable.

For me the best are just your plain old 3M orange plugs, 60c a pair or something from Bunnings.

For music, when you're at bunnings grab a length of thin clear tubing and a couple of NETA right angle watering fittings from the gardening section. Heat up a nail good and hot and stick it through the middle of a pair of 3M plugs, right angle piece goes into hole, other end of right angle piece goes in tubing, then attach other end of tubing over/to a cheap pair of in-ear headphones. End result, an airline-style acoustic pipe, very thin and comfortable, for a couple of bucks and 5 minutes work. I wrote a thread here with pictures a year or two back.

[Gremlin]

I use a noise-isolating earphone to keep the external noise to a minimum, enabling me to maintain a fairly low and reasonable volume of the music to avoid hearing damage.

Non-isolating earphones would be a bad idea. Wind noise + volume required to overcome that noise means hearing damage.
Wot e sed. Worth noting, the wind noise at 100kph is sufficient to give permanent hearing loss, over time.

Around town, working etc, I use custom ear plugs while riding, when in the country and riding for leisure, I use the same plugs, but the helmet has comms and audio gear, so speakers in the helmet. Sound is up quite loud, but only to counter the big blocking effect of the custom plugs. I've made the mistake of jumping on the bike to go around the corner without plugs, forgetting the sound levels more than once... :rolleyes:

[NZsarge]

Around town, working etc, I use custom ear plugs while riding, when in the country and riding for leisure, I use the same plugs, but the helmet has comms and audio gear, so speakers in the helmet. Sound is up quite loud, but only to counter the big blocking effect of the custom plugs.

With the audio going and plugs in does it sound like someone mumbling down a long tunnel or is it not too bad quality wise?

[bluninja]

For music, when you're at bunnings grab a length of thin clear tubing and a couple of NETA right angle watering fittings from the gardening section. Heat up a nail good and hot and stick it through the middle of a pair of 3M plugs, right angle piece goes into hole, other end of right angle piece goes in tubing, then attach other end of tubing over/to a cheap pair of in-ear headphones. End result, an airline-style acoustic pipe, very thin and comfortable, for a couple of bucks and 5 minutes work. I wrote a thread here with pictures a year or two back.

I used to have an acoustic 'intercom', really clear sound so you can hear when the pillion screams. Doesn't quite work bike to bike with a longer tube :)

[The Singing Chef]

I always ride with music, I have in-ear earphones which means I can have the volume at an acceptable level so I can still hear everything. Only time I turn it right up is when comfortably numb comes on. Only gets annoying when trying to have a convo with someone.

[rossirep]

ear plugs for me if im out on the open road, round town its to much hassle taking them in and out every time i stop, i use to listen to music when riding but it didnt work to well for me, id raher be able to hear the bike over some music, but each to their own..

[Blackshear]

Foam earplugs for longer trips, definitely.
Canalphones up enough to arise from the white noise depths on smaller jaunts.
Dunno about earphones, they're different to canalphones.

[Grasshopperus]

Like many others I use custom ear plugs made by 'plugs 4 lugs'. They're really, really good and you will need to use some sort of earplug to avoid becoming deaf.

If you need some music then just start singing; nothing better than belting out some Pavarotti while travelling at 300km/h.

[KoroJ]

I'm too boring for me and have to have music to break the monotony of my own company! Use to use an MP3 with earbuds, but the long rides (ie 5 to 20 hours on end) of wind roar and music did start to affect the hearing with a bit of tinatus.

Got Custom Made Audio Plugs from KiwiPlugs (they have a tube through them which is connected to the earbuds) and can listen to the music now with it set at a normal listening level and can hear that all the way to 130......(or I'm sure I would hear it if I ever went that fast!!)

I now have the tunes fed from the GPS and that's much better than the MP3 as it's easy to adjust the volume or turn off.

As for distraction....those that ride with me usually note a bit of bobbing and tapping going on, but I never hear a thing when I'm in the zone and carving through a sweet piece of curvy macadam. It often takes 10 or 15minutes to even notice that I've lost the sounds or haven't turned them back on after a stop.

[Interceptor]

I regularly listen to music while riding, particularly on long trips.
I use a noise-isolating earphone to keep the external noise to a minimum, enabling me to maintain a fairly low and reasonable volume of the music to avoid hearing damage.

How well does the noise-isolating earphones work with chopping out wind noise? I have been trying to work out whether noise-isolating would work well enough or not - some threads elsewhere seem to give the impression that the noise-isolating actually enhances the wind background noise thereby making it worse. Thanks.

[SMOKEU]

I use these ones here http://www.trademe.co.nz/jewellery-watches/earrings/other/auction-420112051.htm and they're pretty damn good.

[onearmedbandit]

I always ride with ear plugs, even with my intercom. Wind noise will, as pointed out, kill your hearing over time.

[gatch]

Given I can only think on one thing at a time, I never listen to music, other than the ballad of the v4.

Foam plugs however are a lifesaver. Plus I just pinch handfuls of them from work..