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

[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

[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.