Thread: Earplugs when using motorbike

the last ten years on bikes I had a Nolan xtralite full face cost me a bundle but did not need ear plugs with that helmet

If you value your hearing, you should protect it. Hearing loss is so uncool its anti-social causes embarrassment, misunderstanding and a huge list of other issues. I make every attempt when I am likely to encounter noise to use ear protection. I have 15% loss and I am on my 3rd set of hearing aids, which I will add are not the solution in my experience they are annoying, need cleaning, maintenance charging, and nightmare especially when using glasses a lot as well as you can flick them off and not know at 6-7k each they're something you don't want to lose.

Protect your hearing once it's gone and if you have experienced tinnitus you're already on the wrong side. Thank me later.

I was pretty religious about wearing them. Met plenty of old boys who were deaf as a post.

When I used to work in a factory the big steel stamping machine was awful. would give you headaches so I wore ear plugs nearly all of the time.

despite these efforts I do have tinnitus. it sucks.

try your best to save your hearing!

Yep the wind noise will kill your hearing faster than the engine/pipe noise will. I recommend a softer class 4 foam plug (class 5 plugs are firmer and less comfy) just go buy a hundy box from the local safety shop. Added bonus they're mint for sharing a hut with an old fella snoring n farting noisily on the bunk below you.

Was looking into this very thing about a week ago. Long story short, yep, I wear them all the time personally. You can still hear everything around you, traffic, horns, your bike etc.... however reduces noise levels down to below long-term damage levels.

Image in post was the one I arrived at with my reading. At a minimum, it'll reduce fatigue at the end of your rides and prevent long-term hearing loss....of which we only get one set!

And I don't wear anything fancy, just cheap 3M ear plugs and they work just fine and don't fall out if put in correctly.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/3m-corded...plugs_p0157007

I religiously wear ear plugs for so many things.
Short rides around town I'm not fussed, any ride longer than 15mins at highway speeds the earplugs go in.

As noted above hearing aids dont do all that much to fix the issue and its bloody awkward when you forget them, I forgot mine a few weeks back for a quiz night and yeah, I wasnt much use for any conversation.
Made for a boring and frustrating night for me

Yep I was a sparky for 16 years before my current role and I have always been fastidious about hearing protection. I was also in a band many moons ago and also always wore ear plugs. I had a hearing test a month ago and my hearing is all good, so far must have been careful enough. I’m 41 now and want to keep my hearing. I have seen how bad my father in law is even with his hearing aids in, no thanks haha

In my last role I was working night shifts I had an audiologist make up some fancy moulded silicone plugs. I’ll dig them out and use them I think.

Cheers team

I think any form of protection is better than none. Tthe foam plugs are fine and easy to store too - and most workplaces supply them so no excuses really

Earplugs shouldn't be required on any bike with more than 160bhp. The noise from the end of the pipe is always left behind you, all to do with physics.

Originally Posted by fawkes

I think any form of protection is better than none. Tthe foam plugs are fine and easy to store too - and most workplaces supply them so no excuses really

the foam plugs are good because if you lose them you're not salty. I'd hate to lose some 100 dollar plus or whatever molded ones cost!

If I could wind back the clock and do one thing different it would have been to look after my hearing. Mid 50's, constant tinnitus and my hearing is not great. Which sucks for me and my family.

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Originally Posted by Ned

If I could wind back the clock and do one thing different it would have been to look after my hearing. Mid 50's, constant tinnitus and my hearing is not great. Which sucks for me and my family.

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same hear

Originally Posted by Ned

If I could wind back the clock and do one thing different it would have been to look after my hearing. Mid 50's, constant tinnitus and my hearing is not great. Which sucks for me and my family.

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Agree 100%, I've put up with severe noise induced hearing loss since my late teens (yay Army!) now in my early 40s and have had hearing aids for a year and while an improvement they're nothing compared to normal hearing (I think, it's been a while) it can be very socially awkward, asking "pardon?" every sentence and then getting a look like your thick, not pleasant. If I go for a ride without earplugs, the ringing ears/tinnitus is more noticeable than usual, whether I'm wearing a expensive/high end helmet or a cheaper one, don't think they make a big enough difference to not wear plugs.
/life story over/

Originally Posted by outlander

Earplugs shouldn't be required on any bike with more than 160bhp. The noise from the end of the pipe is always left behind you, all to do with physics.

My bike has nowhere near that power but it still outruns the noise ...those behind me probably need plugs too.....but the faster you go the louder the wind is....

I rode a rocket 3 and as much as I like bike fast bikes, I found the throttle too responsive...it was 160+ hp and it felt like every one of them hit at the same time very time I hit a bump, pebble or cat eye.... They say never meet your heros or ride your dream car.....there might be something too that..

Originally Posted by timattalon

My bike has nowhere near that power but it still outruns the noise ...those behind me probably need plugs too.....but the faster you go the louder the wind is....

I rode a rocket 3 and as much as I like bike fast bikes, I found the throttle too responsive...it was 160+ hp and it felt like every one of them hit at the same time very time I hit a bump, pebble or cat eye.... They say never meet your heros or ride your dream car.....there might be something too that..

Yeah, no. I was just been silly again. Very few can ride a big capacity sport bike at or near full pelt. Least of all on NZ roads. Eighty horse should see most riders right, in my opinion.