Ear Plugs?

[jimdaworm]

I am just interested, what do you people think? Is it ok to wear ear plugs while riding?

[Jackrat]

Hell yeah,but I'm cheap as so I just use cotton wool.

[surfchick]

Hell yeah,but I'm cheap as so I just use cotton wool.

try blue-tack...but cotton wool sounds warmer

[Big Dave]

I am just interested, what do you people think? Is it ok to wear ear plugs while riding?

Only time I ride without them is when I have the iPod pumping.
$9.10c for a pack of 30 pairs at the safety shop Jackrat - would last me 6 months easy - that's prolly cheaper that your cotton buds.

[Grumpy]

Yep. Was told that no matter how good your helmet is, 30 minutes riding is enough to start to do damage to your hearing. Don't know if this is a little exaggerated or not but why take chances with your hearing.

[Aitch]

My ears ring for ages even after an hour on the road

[Krusti]

WHAT?.....

[N4CR]

I used em for a while when I got my can 'renovated' but realised... hey if I'm braking and a truck locks up behind me I'm not going to hear it.. or sirens (cant really hear them anyway).

I got rid of them.. I might do what I do with drums sometimes and cut them in half so its not blocking sound as much.

You can also get custom ones for about $250 that have a custom fit and inner core that blocks only certain frequencies YOU specify.. ear specialists will know. That sort of investment would only pay off for musicians like myself and others , only bikers might just want to try half ear plugs...

[Beemer]

I used em for a while when I got my can 'renovated' but realised... hey if I'm braking and a truck locks up behind me I'm not going to hear it.. or sirens (cant really hear them anyway).

Holy hell, I don't like to point out the obvious, but do you ever use your mirrors? If a truck was locking up behind me, I'd hope I'd seen it coming first before I heard it! I don't always hear sirens even in the car as it depends on the direction they are coming from, but I usually notice the flashing lights...

I always wear ear plugs but didn't when I first started riding. Now I find the wind noise (the whistling) from my helmet really annoying if I don't wear them. I have trouble getting them to fit and I'm too tight to pay to have some custom-made, but when they are in place properly, I can still hear everything but the wind.

[NinjaBoy]

Always wear them when I on a weekend blat but don't when I'm commuting. Generally commuting is at lower speeds and close quarters riding makes it essentials to have all your senses available.

I find the soft yellow or orange sponge ones are the best but you need to keep them clean and soft. It doesn't completely cut out the wind noise but takes the edge off and allows me to hear the engine note (so I know when to change gears)

[Big Dave]

I used em for a while when I got my can 'renovated' but realised... hey if I'm braking and a truck locks up behind me I'm not going to hear it.. or sirens (cant really hear them anyway).

you're dreamin - all they cut is wind noise and a bit of engine whir - you can still hear other vehicles and sirens just fine.

[Pixie]

I used em for a while when I got my can 'renovated' but realised... hey if I'm braking and a truck locks up behind me I'm not going to hear it.. or sirens (cant really hear them anyway).

I got rid of them.. I might do what I do with drums sometimes and cut them in half so its not blocking sound as much.

You can also get custom ones for about $250 that have a custom fit and inner core that blocks only certain frequencies YOU specify.. ear specialists will know. That sort of investment would only pay off for musicians like myself and others , only bikers might just want to try half ear plugs...

I always worried that a meteorite will be heading for me and I won't hear it.

[Ixion]

I always worried that a meteorite will be heading for me and I won't hear it.

You that worried about little Royal Enfields ? Not many of them round nowdays. Wouldn't mind picking up a meteor m'self

[TygerTung]

Yeah I noticed it was bloody loud at 100kmh, I always thought it was cos I had a cheapo nitro helmet, but is it like that with all helmets?

[wkid_one]

you're dreamin - all they cut is wind noise and a bit of engine whir - you can still hear other vehicles and sirens just fine.

I agree - had them when I had the VTR and R1 - never had a problem with other vehicles. Most over the counter plugs are only good for a reduction of 20-30dB (refer back of packs). You can go to safety shops for higher rated ones.

Even with Arai, Shoei etc - studies have proven that at 100kph and above, wind noise created can cause hearing loss. You would be a mug not to wear them. This also doesn't take in to account the fatigue of having a loud noise in your ear all day.