Earplugs or whisper kit (or both)?

[BMWST?]

My r100gs is noisy for me.I dont get buffeting but i sit in a zone of acellerated or at least slightly turbulent air.Are whisper kits(i wear a shoei raid) worth it?.I dont like the foam earplugs (one of my ears has a very small channel) are the custom made type any better comfort wise?.I will wear foam plugs if thats what the voices of experience advise.
voice your experiences please

[Ghost_Bullet]

I have a whisper kit on my shoi, and that works ok.
But especially longer trips, I used to wear the foam type plugs, but all types ended up giving me grief, and cause discomfort.
I ended up getting those Moulded plugs from the plugs4lugs guys. They are not as effective as foam plugs, but added to the whisper kit, I can wear them all day long and not feel any pain, or ringing ears from a days glorious riding.

[Neon]

How many different types of foam plugs have you tried? I found that some were very uncomfortable (such as EARsoft FX), while others are fine (such as Moldex Spark Plugs). I can't comment on custom moulded plugs although I gather there is a slight trade-off in terms of noise reduction for improved comfort.

I also use a NOJ Quietrider cuff around the bottom of my helmet, which cuts down the wind noise quite a bit, but not entirely. The downside to this product is that it is useless in the rain, as the elastic cuff around the bottom edge wicks water in around your neck.

I always wear ear plugs, but on long trips even with the wind cuff and a balaclava, I still get ringing in my ears after a couple of hours riding.

[BMWST?]

How many different types of foam plugs have you tried? I found that some were very uncomfortable (such as EARsoft FX), while others are fine (such as Moldex Spark Plugs). I can't comment on custom moulded plugs although I gather there is a slight trade-off in terms of noise reduction for improved comfort.

I also use a NOJ Quietrider cuff around the bottom of my helmet, which cuts down the wind noise quite a bit, but not entirely. The downside to this product is that it is useless in the rain, as the elastic cuff around the bottom edge wicks water in around your neck.

I always wear ear plugs, but on long trips even with the wind cuff and a balaclava, I still get ringing in my ears after a couple of hours riding.

I used to wear ear plugs in my previous life on my K100rs which dumped the air of the screen right at the base of my helmet.I havent tried earplugs in this incarnation.
Find a better solution,ringing ears aint good it points to ear damage.

[Hawkeye]

I ended up getting those Moulded plugs from the plugs4lugs guys. They are not as effective as foam plugs.

Strange one this. I've tried quite a few different types of plugs and have never been happier than when I got a set made by Plugz4Lugz. Could ride all day in them and never had an issue. Extremely comfortable and great at blocking the noise.
Unfortunately, I lost one of the plugs and have been waiting for them to pass through Welly again to get another set.

There is another guy in Kapiti that makes custom ones but my understanding is he works from moulds that you have to get made by a specialist. (could be wrong on this).

[Gremlin]

both are my preference. I've used a whisper kit for a few years now, but it doesn't stop all the noise. plugz 4 lugz is also very good, but I've found they start hurting when riding in excess of 1000km at a time

[sinned]

The whisper kit for the Shoei Raid2 works really well. I didn't need it when I had a naked as there was no airflow from a screen. Try this test; when riding put you hand up under the helmet - if the noise level drops then a whisper kit will reduce the noise. I also wear molded earplugs as my ear channels are small and plugs don't stay in. To make molded earplugs work properly you need to apply some lubricant - auragel for molded earplugs from your pharmacy.

Answer: you always need earplugs and may need a whisper kit.

No matter what you do wind noise will present a danger to your hearing.

[Laava]

Funny you should mention this as I have a simlar problem with the moulded foam plugs. My left ear just won't accept them unless pushed in so far that it hurts. I have a whisper kit on my Multitec but would prefer plugs if they were a decent fit. The Whisper kit makes for discomfort in summer, other than that it is OK

[mugins]

I also have a Shoei (xr1000) with wisper kit and also always use plugs as well. Bikes loud and love the sound but get sick on the wind noise .Sounds like you need to get custom plugs.

[HenryDorsetCase]

My r100gs is noisy for me.I dont get buffeting but i sit in a zone of acellerated or at least slightly turbulent air.Are whisper kits(i wear a shoei raid) worth it?.I dont like the foam earplugs (one of my ears has a very small channel) are the custom made type any better comfort wise?.I will wear foam plugs if thats what the voices of experience advise.
voice your experiences please

The whisper kit is worthwhile for a Shoei Raid definitely. I wear foam earplugs if I am going to be over about an hour at highway speeds, but other than that dont bother.

[BMWST?]

Try this test; when riding put you hand up under the helmet - if the noise level drops then a whisper kit will reduce the noise.

yes,if i hold my hand flat, hard under the bottom of the helmet and hard into my head at about the same line as my ear,the wind noise is reduced somewhat.

[greenman]

I've got the same problem with my earholes being too little for foam plugs.
So What I've done is to get the Howard-Leigh airsoft plugs, and cut them down until they fit correctly, by carefully reducing the diameter of the wee fins on them.

[Rover]

I always wear earplugs. But there are many different types of ear plugs available. I find the foam roll up ones difficult to get in and kept falling out. At Safety shops like NZ safety they have a full range. The foam roll up ones are less than 50c/packet. The next three have cords that connect the ear plugs.There are cone plastic plugs on a cord that cost around .75c. Good for small ears but for me not comfortable after a while. Next up foam balls on a string, somewhere around $2.50 a pair, these were more comfortable, then there is the all soft plastic Rocket brand name, around $5.00 a pair. I find these very comfortable and being plastic easily cleaned for using the next time. So I go with the Rocket band ear plugs. There is another brand very similar.
Plus there is a right and wrong way to insert ear plugs. By placing your arm up and over your head straightens and widens the ear canal allowing best inserting. They can show you how at the Safety shop.

[KoroJ]

......There is another guy in Kapiti that makes custom ones but my understanding is he works from moulds that you have to get made by a specialist. (could be wrong on this).

David Taylor is his name and he's on info@kiwiplugs.co.nz

He made me a set of Molded Audio Plugs that I feed the MP3 through and I've worn them through GC's, Southern Cross and TT2000 in comfort. A dab of vaseline or auralgel is essential for comfort and helps seal them for better attenuation. He makes the ear plugs directly but makes the audio ones from a mold (that he makes himself) He seems to be exactly the same as PlugsforLugs.

I have a Raid 2 which I think is crap and would be concerned that a whisper kit would further reduce an already poor airflow through the helmet enhancing the fogging properties in inclement weather. I'm considering a new Shoei Qwest as these are touted as being 40 or 60% quieter than the Raid2.

Another cheap alternative to the Whisper kit would be a scarf....not so comfortable in Summer but!

[boman]

Plugs. for Lugs. Recommend them. I have two Pairs. Would not ride without them