Ear protection?

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Andybear13 said:
I don't ride with ear protection, wind noise has never really bothered me (maybe helmet better than some??) but even if I wanted to, my ears are weird somehow, nothing stays in them. Earplugs and earbuds alike, they all fall out seconds after putting them in.
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Hearing loss is very gradual. The first sign is tinnitus (ringing in your ears that won't go away) and difficulty hearing another person in a noisy environment. I would highly recommend some type of hearing protection. Foam plugs will not fall out if they are inserted properly. Sometimes it's a little tricky to get them in.
 
RodneyBR said:
I tried earplugs for the first time tonight and you are right, they help you focus on what's important plus saving your heading. I kinda felt like I was in my own acoustic bubble, but I could still hear the louder noises around me. One downside though is I can't hear my bike growl as loud.
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All the more reason to go faster... ;)
 
There is another thread on earphones for riding. They knock down ambient by 23-26 db versus 33 for foam plugs ( some think it's to isolatiing - there are other levels - a couple of db is a big difference.

Riding with tunes PLUS ear protection.....:D
 
I'm not sure listening to music while riding is something I wanna do, at least not yet. If a song I really like comes on, I might crank the trottle a little to much. LOL Besides, I think it would just distract me.
MacDoc said:
There is another thread on earphones for riding. They knock down ambient by 23-26 db versus 33 for foam plugs ( some think it's to isolatiing - there are other levels - a couple of db is a big difference.Riding with tunes PLUS ear protection.....:D
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I'm going to try this out.. the fatigue aspect never really dawned on me, but I can see its validity
 
gtm said:
I'm going to try this out.. the fatigue aspect never really dawned on me, but I can see its validity
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IMHO it does reduce fatigue. At least for me anyway.

Again, it does make the ride more enjoyable when you arrive at your destination and your ears aren't ringing.


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I now always wear either earplugs (nothing fancy - usually the colourful ones that GP Bikes has at their cashier) or my Etymotic MC3 earbuds with the foam-style tips. When I wear my half helmet, these are absolutely necessary. But even when I wear my full faced Shoei I find that I need additional ear protection. I am far less fatigued now that I block out the majority of wind noise.
 
Test after test has shown reduced fatigue with ear protection across many industries One reason I where them for airline flights as well.

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I'm not sure listening to music while riding is something I wanna do, at least not yet. If a song I really like comes on, I might crank the trottle a little to much. LOL Besides, I think it would just distract me.
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Yeah = been known to happen :D - leave the tunes for another year but it does make for pleasurable riding especially on longer runs - I can turn mine off from button on the cable.

You will find the ear plugs up your ability to focus on traffic without the noise stress.
 
I wear the Shoppers' orange ones when I'm not listening to music and Etymotic isolating buds when I do listen.

It definitely gets fatiguing if I forget to wear either. Plus I'm preventing (or at least minimizing) eventual hearing loss.
 
There are a few threads going on about ear plugs. If you don't wear ear plugs, your inner ear is vibrating away for your entire ride. Thus, your inner ear is sending a signal to your brain the entire time. The result is vertigo, headache, and rider fatigue. Ever hop off your bike and feel a little "wobbly?" Above 90 db for 15 minutes is enough to cause permanent hearing loss. Most HD straight pipes are way above 90 db's at open throttle, as well as some SS aftermarket pipes. For those that have strange ears that they "pop out" of, Google "skull screws." Think of ear plugs as part of your gear.
 
 
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