| Author | Message | ||
     Hoover_uly |
What are you using for hearing protection? I've tried the foam squishy plugs that can work well if you manage to get them stuffed in perfectly but often, they block out too much sound for me to be comfortable on the bike. Also tried other types but all are drug store or hardware store options. Seems like they all start to lose effectiveness after a few rides are become very uncomfortable after a while. I would love to not wear any hearing protection but that is probably not realistic. I already have a significant hearing loss and would like to keep what is left. Anyone tried custom fitted plugs? What brand? What cost? Thanks, | ||
| Trevd |
Haven't tried custom plugs, but I've been wearing these for years: http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/laser-lite If inserted properly they stay there for me, and block out just enough sound to avoid that ringing ears sensation after a ride, but allow me to hear any emergency traffic situations. Trevor | ||
| Uly_man |
Hoover you will need to try a number of types to find what you like best. They vary a lot. At the moment I am using the ones Trev suggested and they work very well and comfy. You can have custom ones made for you with speakers in for music/ phone, etc. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Hoover, I have larger ear canals and most off the shelf plugs do not work for me. Years back I was riding to Sturgis, no helmet like most times, going through Wyoming and we rode through the whole day in wind. Me left ear rang for 2 days straight. I had seen the custom earplugs place at Rapid City Harley before and said screw it might as well. As soon as they put the stuff in my ear it stopped ringing. OH the blessed silence!! Ever since then I have ridden with earplugs. Those cost me $65. I also use them to sleep on airplanes as they fit further into my ear canal. A few years ago I thought I lost them and got a kit of DIY off of ebay for $12 shipped. They are by Radians. They work really good as well. They just sit further out in the surface of the ear. I would start there. FYI, as told to me by an audiologist, the constant wind noise can damage you ear follicles and cause deafness at that range, which is about what normal conversation is. I am a real proponent of ear protection: so here are a few pictures: The tan are the $12 Radians and the purple are the $65.  In the ear:   The little marks are only in the right plug to tell then apart, especially in the dark. Hope this helps. | ||
| Timberwolf |
Thanks. Just ordered a set of the Radians from ebay | ||
| Hoover_uly |
Big island rider, Thanks! 65 bucks is cheap and 12 is a lot better. Going to try the Radians first. | ||
| Xtrmbkr |
Are these only needed when not wearing a helmet | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Xtrmbkr, Depends on the helmet. If I wear one it is a 1/2 helmet, so yes. I suspect you would not need them for 3/4 or full. | ||
| Dpb |
I wear ear plugs all the time with a full coverage helmet. Makes for a much more enjoyable ride. | ||
| Jetranger_2000 |
I have a set called Db blockers. They are custom plugs. When inserted you can hear regular conversations but no loud noise. My work paid for them but I do love them | ||
| Trevd |
You should wear earplugs all the time. About 15 years ago when I was on an ST 1100 email list, there was a discussion about earplugs and an older gent posted about the importance of hearing protection, which i had never used in my 10 years of street riding. After many years of riding without hearing protection in his full face helmet, he regretted it, because now he had issues hearing his grandkids. He said that if you want to be able to hear your grandchildren years from now, wear hearing protection now. He convinced me, and I've been wearing earplugs ever since. Now that I'm 42, I do notice that my hearing is more difficult in noisy situations, probably from the years of riding without earplugs. I can't imagine how it would be had I not been wearing plugs for the past 15 years. It felt weird at first but now is as natural as putting on new my helmet, and doesn't distract from the ride at all. It fact, for me it makes it better - less stressful. And my ears don't ring after a ride. | ||
| Teeps |
Trevd Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2014 - You should wear earplugs all the time. When riding a motorcycle. Sage advice. +1 | ||
| Woodnbow |
Yes. I use custom made plugs almost all the time, when I don't I'm using Foam plugs made by Leight. 1/2, 3/4, full face, it makes no difference. My ear doc says old time truckers (before air conditioners were common in most trucks) are almost all deaf in their left ear. For my ears I use a small dab of Egyptian Magic (sort of a lotion or salve) to keep them happy over long days with plugs in. I will not ride or shoot without hearing protection. | ||
| Djohnk |
Presently I am using a Shoei RF-1100 helmet which is fairly quiet, but I always use ear plugs in addition to my helmet when I am riding on the highway. I find the wind noise without earplugs wears on me and makes me noticeably more tired. It's also smart to protect your hearing whenever you can. I am 54 and already have to wear hearing aides. | ||
| Arry |
What? | ||
| Rdkingryder |
I wore custom ear plugs for awhile and my ear canals have changed and I get wind noise with them. The Ulysses seems to let a lot of wind blow up from below right into my helmet, a Nolan N90. I was also wearing ear plugs from Northern and they were somewhat better, being silicon. I almost gave into trying to get a quieter helmet like a Schuberth until I came across a sample pack of Moldex Spark Plugs corded in my stash. They work very well. I do have to fit them right, but they are like Tempurfoam and expand slow enough to get them in my ears. I hated foam plugs until I tried these. Liked them enough to order a tub full. I already have a bit of Tinnitus and reccommend you guys protect your hearing. | ||
| Kennywiz |
http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipment/hearing -protection.html Surefire Sonic Defenders!!!!!! Only trouble is, you may have to buy several pairs to find the right "fit". Wind noise is cut significantly and a normal conversation can be had, as well as helmet speakers. | ||
| Teeps |
Djohnk Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2014 I find the wind noise without earplugs wears on me and makes me noticeably more tired. Agreed. Same goes for airplane travel. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have issues with ear plugs. I have tried many kinds and sizes, I even have those expensive speaker deals that pilots use. I cannot stand to have anything in my ears. I have tried external speakers and cover plugs but cannot tolerate any pressure on the cartilage of the center ear part. I tried in helmet speakers that had me pulling over in a few miles to rip them out of the helmet. My speaker in ear plugs are great for blocking wind and listening to the MP3, but the foam screw on pads are like $9.00 a pair. If I use them more than a few times I end up with plugged pores in my ears and wax ducts that plug up causing much more unwanted pain. I ended up at the doctors office a couple of times for zit like infections in my ear canals. The only thing that I have found that does not cause me problems is to tear off a piece of a Bounty paper towel, then dispose of it at each removal. This is one issue that makes me a fussy little bitch.....like the guys on the Snickers candy bar commercials. Some of my riding buddies have communicators, it bothers them a bit that I won't join them, but it is because of this issue. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
What? | ||
| Etennuly |
Exactly!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Did you try the silicone putty? I've had decent luck with that, though you have to spend a little more time putting it in. | ||
| Trevd |
I actually just tried the silicone putty this weekend for a short ride. Never even made it out of the driveway before one fell out. Not sure if I didn't put in in properly, but I tried my best to jam it in there. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
I sprung for the custom ones they sell at the races. Worth the money. They work well, stay put and are comfortable | ||
| Krabykarl |
I'm with Trevd and wear Howard Lite Laser Lites. My wife snores like a Hoover, plug in a pair every night. I credit Howard Lite with saving my marriage. Buy them by the box of 200 from http://www.tasco-safety.com/ | ||
| Motorbike |
Etennuly, I have exactly the same issue. I cannot stand to have anything in my ears. Never have, never will. I have problems with my ears not draining properly and ear plugs only make it worse. I also hate not hearing the actual noises and I feel like I am missing out on something. I guess I will just slowly go deaf.... One of my brothers wears those little foam ear plugs every time he rides and swears I should too. I wish I could. | ||
| Djohnk |
I have used/tried quite a few different disposable earplugs over the years. That includes a lot of different company supplied ones I got at work over ten years in a noisy manufacturing environment. A biker friend gave me a pair of these to try out when we were out riding a couple years ago. Haven't tried any others since. They are super comfortable and my favorite type to date: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/hearos-ear-plugs- --xtreme-protection-series/ID=prod6143128-product | ||
| Reepicheep |
Nice price also. Never thought about looking for them at the drug store, but it makes perfect sense. | ||
| Ourdee |
ARRY, AND SKIFASTBADLY HUH? | ||
| Etennuly |
Motorbike, I was wondering if I were the only one with this problem. Thanks for coming back with that. The only thing that I have been able to use is the corner of a Bounty paper towel rolled up into a ball and stuffed in. I make them big enough to stick out to remove them easily. I guess I will just slowly go deaf.... It is not as slow as you might think. Try the paper towel thing. Throw them away after each use, make a new one. They are definitely the cheapest, easiest to get, things out there. I just hate it that I cannot use a communication headset, or my MP3 for listening to music on long trips. I might have to consider something like the sound system on my son's Ultra Classic. Speakers aimed at my passengers ass cheeks and a couple on the bars. That way I can share what I want to hear with the entire neighborhood.....the way all good Ultra Classic Custom Limited riders do! Loud pipes and a louder sound system!  Another thought about using the paper towel for an ear plug is that it absorbs the ear canal fluids where everything else blocks or pushes the stuff in deeper. Maybe this is why it works for me.  (Message edited by etennuly on May 15, 2014) |
