Earplugs

enrique66_35 · 23-11-2020 1:13pm #1

Hi all,

Just over a year into riding and haven't been using earplugs, headphones etc but I see a lot of warnings on Youtube and the like about potential hearing damage from riding au naturale...so to speak!

Looking for what the general consensus is on this, particularly guys & girls who are on bikes for years and their experience of hearing loss (if any) and thoughts on the necessity of ear plugs or similar. Thoughts?

GBX · 23-11-2020 1:22pm

I wear ear plugs all the time. I didnt at first but eventually started wearing them as the combination of wind and exhaust noise left me with a slight ringing in my ears. Said id try nip it before it got any worse. Feels normal now. Can still hear music/radio in the head set without issue.

enrique66_35 · 23-11-2020 1:29pm

Thanks GBX - I suppose my concern/reluctance is about not being able to hear things I want to hear like troubling noises from the bike/sirens or other road hazards.
I see from doing a search of older threads (I know should have done that before starting a new one) that a lot of people are saying they just reduce wind/exhaust noise but not eliminate the noises you need to hear so might need to give it a shot and see for myself!

Still welcome the veterans input nonetheless...

LLewellen Farquarson · 23-11-2020 1:35pm

Riding 38 years. Now suffer from tinnitus which I'd say is a direct result of not wearing earplugs on the bike. If not a direct result, then a major contributing factor
I find riding with earplugs nicer as it cuts out a lot of high pitched noise. I can still hear the comms and traffic.

And I don't think there's any helmet that doesn't need them. I might go 5 miles locally without them, but any sort of spin, they go in.

I know they say look after your knees, but look after your ears as well.

SantaClaw · 23-11-2020 2:33pm

I might skip them when going for a 5min ride in city traffic. But I would never ride for a longer or faster stretch without them.

If you are concerned about not hearing things you would like to hear there are plenty of earplugs that filter specially for frequencies of noise while keeping the important stuff. I use these https://plugzz.co.uk/product/plugzz-filtered-all-purpose/ and I am quite happy with them.

IrishGrimReaper · 23-11-2020 3:30pm

They are a must 99% of the time unless a quick spin to the shop like the other posts above.

I found when I started out and was not using them I was very fatigued and tired after being out on the bike. Ear plugs stopped that and I could stay on the bike all day now and not get tired. Mine were a 100 pack from ebay they do enough to lesson the noise but not by a huge amount you can still hear things fine.

I'd say anyone who gives them a go would be converted. You don't mess about when it comes to your hearing.

listermint · 23-11-2020 3:36pm

I wear a pair of Shure SE215 in my helmet and theyre great. I say wear, but i got a new helmet over the summer and have not transferred everything fully over as am not commuting presently pandemic being the issue.

But i will install this with my BT headset soon, just have to locate the Shure's i put them somewhere safe, but my somewhere safe is somewhere smart where i thought id find them again next time...

enrique66_35 · 23-11-2020 3:38pm

Thanks lads, the tiredness thing I just put down to concentrating on something that is still relatively new to me but would welcome something as simple as earplugs lessening that effect. Not to mention the peace of mind with protecting my hearing...there's no end to the cost!!

zubair · 23-11-2020 4:06pm

As per GBX, when I first started I didn't use them. But when I did I couldn't go back. I don't wear them on spins to be honest but commuting I do. If you're on a motorway for more than 10 minutes you'll need them, it's way more comfortable to ride on a motorway with them. You can still hear normal traffic just the wind noise is blocked out at higher speeds when you can't hear any traffic anyway. To give you an example of how much you can still hear, I listen to music and take calls with a cardo while wearing them.

CJhaughey · 23-11-2020 5:11pm

I use the cheap disposable orange 3M ones, I find them the best for my ears and once they get a bit manky I just toss them.
I have tried the christmas tree type but they usually stick out and feel strange.

Fabio · 23-11-2020 5:54pm

enrique66_35 wrote: »

Thanks lads, the tiredness thing I just put down to concentrating on something that is still relatively new to me but would welcome something as simple as earplugs lessening that effect. Not to mention the peace of mind with protecting my hearing...there's no end to the cost!!

You really need to be wearing them as a matter of habit, you're guaranteed to experience hearing loss in future otherwise. The noise tires one out too.

Feel free to pop up to me for a few pairs if you want!

enrique66_35 · 23-11-2020 6:16pm

Fabio wrote: »

You really need to be wearing them as a matter of habit, you're guaranteed to experience hearing loss in future otherwise. The noise tires one out too.

Feel free to pop up to me for a few pairs if you want!

Careful what you're offering there

bladespin · 23-11-2020 6:19pm

I should wear them all the time but tend to only think of them when I', out for a 'serious' run - distance or speed (or both lol), at the tracks I don't take them out usually so loadsa wha???s and Hah????s

TBi · 23-11-2020 6:29pm

After one trip from Cork to Limerick without i was almost deafened. Always wore them on long trips afterwards. Usual commute distance was 10km though do didn't wear them then.

listermint · 23-11-2020 9:28pm

listermint wrote: »

I wear a pair of Shure SE215 in my helmet and theyre great. I say wear, but i got a new helmet over the summer and have not transferred everything fully over as am not commuting presently pandemic being the issue.

But i will install this with my BT headset soon, just have to locate the Shure's i put them somewhere safe, but my somewhere safe is somewhere smart where i thought id find them again next time...

Went looking for it. Found them in my Sena BT box. Just installed them in my new Shoei lid and tried them on. Happy as Larry.

Goose81 · 23-11-2020 9:53pm

enrique66_35 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just over a year into riding and haven't been using earplugs, headphones etc but I see a lot of warnings on Youtube and the like about potential hearing damage from riding au naturale...so to speak!

Looking for what the general consensus is on this, particularly guys & girls who are on bikes for years and their experience of hearing loss (if any) and thoughts on the necessity of ear plugs or similar. Thoughts?

I never don't wear earplugs.

When I had my last Ducati it was so loud that my ears would ring after 20 mins drive into work so that was what prompted me.

Tinnitus is not something you want to get

CJhaughey · 24-11-2020 8:10am

All bikes are different but I find wind noise the most objectionable.
I don't ride more than 10 mins without plugs.

enrique66_35 · 24-11-2020 10:14am

I'm convinced - have ordered a pack of the Quies ones to get me started anyway. Maybe I'm being naive but the advice on wearing earplugs should be mentioned in IBT when discussing protective gear.

Fabio · 24-11-2020 10:58am

enrique66_35 wrote: »

I'm convinced - have ordered a pack of the Quies ones to get me started anyway. Maybe I'm being naive but the advice on wearing earplugs should be mentioned in IBT when discussing protective gear.

That's true actually, it probably should be mentioned. The thing with earplugs is that there's actually a lot out of there of various shapes and sizes. I had to try a few brands before finding ones that I liked and that fitted right. And they need to go in further than you think, heh heh.

IrishGrimReaper · 24-11-2020 1:58pm

Good ole William O Donoghue who did my IBT in Cavan mentioned ear plugs

Probably not the norm thought but 100% should be brought to peoples attention.

Hotblack Desiato · 24-11-2020 2:57pm

Fabio wrote: »

I had to try a few brands before finding ones that I liked and that fitted right. And they need to go in further than you think, heh heh.

Get them up there girls :pac:

OP you should try some variety packs on eBay/Amazon to find what is most comfortable and effective for you, once you know what you want you can get 100 / 200 pairs online quite cheaply. And yeah they're supposed to be single use but I'd use them for a few days until the foam starts to become less springy.

Used to only wear them on long / fast spins but started wearing them on commutes a couple of years ago too. All damage adds up.

Lorddrakul · 30-11-2020 11:10am

Same here. Wind noise is a constant, but fluctuating frequency that is particulararly damaging, according to the consultant I saw.

After much experimentation, I settled on a bag of 500 for about €20 from a safety specialist supplier. I use them for a few days and then renew. They are comfortable and work.

I still suffer tinnitus, but it isn't getting worse.

ratracer · 30-11-2020 11:23am

I’m glad to see all posts on here so far recommend using earplugs. At a hearing test a few years back the doc told me my hearing had decreased from previously, some obviously though age, but he put it down to the bike also. My commute is 70km, and hadn’t been using them at the time.

I bought a set of these a few years ago, and have just got in the habit of popping them in before the lid goes on. Can still hear music/ phone via Bluetooth no problem up to 100km/h. I’ve only ordered a replacement pack of foams once in that time, they have a long lifespan.

https://www.flareaudio.com/products/isolate-2?variant=30011309523047

ElJeffe · 30-11-2020 11:26am

I'm 47 and riding bikes since I was 16 and my hearing is fine. I do wear ear plugs on long motorway stints especially when touring but only in last few years.

30-11-2020 11:29am

enrique66_35 wrote: »

..there's no end to the cost!!

This one is cheap, probably €10 for 12 months worth of 3M earplugs - if you reuse them a few times.

spiggotpaddy · 30-11-2020 2:23pm

Riding 30 years + vat. No hearing trouble and I'm only coming around to them. Forget them a lot but going to try and use them all the time from now on. A lot depends on the bike, Riding a pan or deauville is like being in a car with the window cracked. I bought a brand new fazer 600 in 2004 to commute on and had to trade it in just six months later because of the noise, tried different screens but at motorway speeds it was painfully loud.

Philipx · 01-12-2020 8:21am

Only ever wear them in the house;

More ear-harming droning noise there than you'll ever get riding a Harley with no exhaust on a windy day

:D

enrique66_35 · 01-12-2020 9:49am

Thanks Ratracer - have ordered the Flare audio ones to give them a try. Still waiting on the ones I ordered off eBay thanks to the post delays at the minute. Good thing I have no place to be!

LLewellen Farquarson · 01-12-2020 10:32am

With any plugs, especially the Flare ones (which look good), be careful that they don't touch the inside of the helmet, or speakers if you have them installed. If they do, they will transfer the noise into your ears. As well as vibration.

H_Lime · 01-12-2020 5:51pm

Philipx wrote: »

Only ever wear them in the house;

More ear-harming droning noise there than you'll ever get riding a Harley with no exhaust on a windy day :D

Lol:pac::pac:

enrique66_35 · 09-12-2020 9:44am

I'm a convert - had my first ride with ear plugs yesterday and didn't realise just how much noise I was tolerating before, was almost too quiet

Earplugs

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