Thread: Earplugs when using motorbike

Hey team.

Do any of you long time riders use earplugs when riding? I feel like I am getting bombarded with ads for this and that earplug. Do any of you actually use them? The wind noise does get pretty loud once I get above 70kmh.
Cheers

I do. It makes a huge difference to the wind noise.

Dont know about bikes but sometimes driving with wifey it feels like I need one for my left ear

ridden big sports bikes for years never ever worn earplugs and wont - full face helmets deaden a lot of noise and I like to hear me bike - why put after market pipes on to then deaden the sound - but ya gotta like sports bikes I quess - if it was some little asthmatic 300cc I may not want to hear it

If your going to wear ear plugs...the local wof guy may as well not check car horn is working . Motor cyclists hear less than car drivers anyway,why would you want to make it worse??? I always wore full face helmets,if not using visor it was mirrored shades( it was the 80s OK) & never had issues with excess noise.

I'll use them if I know ill be sitting on the motorway for a while, short rides or lower speed roads i don't. The wind noise at 100kmh+ can get a bit tiring after awhile

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

If your going to wear ear plugs...the local wof guy may as well not check car horn is working . Motor cyclists hear less than car drivers anyway,why would you want to make it worse??? I always wore full face helmets,if not using visor it was mirrored shades( it was the 80s OK) & never had issues with excess noise.

WOF guy may as well not check car windscreen either as some drivers don't seem to look through them much

Always...Well almost always. I use washable cheap Airsoft brand plugs similar to the link below .
https://worksafegear.com.au/products...IaAgckEALw_wcB

I started riding sports bikes in the early 90s. Atthat age I was young enough to think that if the bike had a redline, it would be wasteful not to use it.....One day I thought I would like to listen to my walkman and take it easy fr the ride...started off and as I got up to about the speed limit I realised I could not hear the music. I turned it up, and again and finally again and still could not hear anything. So I pulled over to figure out why it wasn't working....As soon as I stopped I could hear it...so could anyone withiin several meters and that was with in ear head phone plugs.....After that I paid a bit more attention to what I could actually hear and what was drowning out the music. I quickly realised even with a 17000rpm redline, it was still all the wind noise drowning out everything. Since then I have tried expensive helmets and cheaper helmets (always full face) and while some are marginally better than others, I can assure you none of them are as good as they claim eevenif you turn into a fud and ride at the speed limit like I mostly do now.

The brain is very clever at working out which noises pose danger and which ones are safe and it thinks constant noise regardless of volume is not a physical danger about to attack or harm you so ignores it and you cease to notice it...but it is still there.

Have you ever finished a ride and stopped to listen after you take your helmet off to see if you can hear ringing? ANd it happens in cars too...next time you are driving turn onsomething like talkback and turn it up so you can hear the speech clearly....then when you stop and turn off the car is it now much louder?

Have done for years. Custom made ones through Bay Audiology.
Once you have worn them you will not go back to not.
Have 2 sets and used one set at work.
The wind noise gets up and especially when you are doing big kms at speed you are damaging your hearing.
And the wind noise gets up the faster you go.

I've ridden with a few guys who wear them. I have never seen the need myself but it might depend on how snug your helmet fits which probably reduces the noise.

I've been riding bikes for 60 years and have worn earplugs for about 50 years, after I stopped being a dick and thinking noise was good for me (and others). I use washable plugs for every day and foam plugs for long trips because they cut out more noise and they are the most comfortable of all of the plugs I've used (I've tried every type on the market). I like being able to hear, especially in a crowded room.

Ok...you fellas have convinced me. One of the most eye opening things for me about noise was when I got a pair of electronic ear muffs that switch of sound above certain level... Using chainsaws is funny as when at idle the birds chirping can be heard. I wore them in my fert truck one day and was surprised they cut out noise with power applied...did not think was noisy...I do turn up radio if window is open so are aware of wind noise levels.

I use the scrunchy foam ones from work. They are fine , and fit in the pocket of my tank bag.

I also have some flash harry ones like the ones that are bombarding the original poster with ads. They are not really any better than the foam ones , but anything is good after half an hour or so of wind noise......

I always wear them. But I do have noisy bikes.

I use plugs like this..
https://www.motomail.co.nz/user/imag...g?t=2505011506
After a couple of hours on the bike it’s a bloody pain having ringing ears. Droning twin plus a bit of wind noise doesn’t help. The earplugs definitely help without blocking out everything and pretty comfortable to wear.