Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[aclass]

Most definitely!   blocking out the wind thrashing makes for a much more pleasant ride and especially if it's an all-day'er.  I also only have one good ear so taking care of the only one left is a high priority.

[LarryB]

Huh?

[Talon]

I don't wear earplugs, they keep blowing out and besides when it's to quiet I hear voices in my head!


Craig

[DanM]

On long trips I used to wear earplugs when riding my softail. If I didn't my hearing would be as if I attended a rock concert. Since I now have an ultra, I no longer need to wear earplugs.

[ultrafxr]

For those who use custom fit with filter earplugs, what brand do you use and why? Also where did you buy them?

I heard about this company from a friend on this site who was fitted for them at Sturgis:  http://www.earinc.com/p1-filtered.php

To be fitted you must have a wax impression of your ear canal done and I contacted my audiologist to do this.  Yup I have to wear cheaters to hear probably because of exposure to noise in the military, factory floor and of course motorcycling.  Anyway, she said "I can get those for you I get them for musicians all the time."  And her price was about 10% cheaper.

So try Ear, Inc. or check with a local audiologist who does fitting for hearing aids.

BTW I've gotten her to advertise in our H.O.G. chapter newsletter and I've 'converted' several friends who now wear them also. 

[Heatwave]

What did you say?

[faceracer]

Yes on long trips and cold riding days. I found I am prone to ear infections in the cold and the ear plugs help. All day on the freeway 600 miles the wind really wears on me and when I stop can't hear chit! Feels like I am in a tunnel. Started weearing my air force issuesback on the 70's and never stopped. I prefer a rubber plug because the foam ones dry your ears out and make them itch. The one I use now are from:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/silnatrubear.html

[nidan]

I've used them for 25 years,  being a musician I'd like to keep my hearing .

I always ride with a full face, and use the foam variety .. works fine

[Fireguy]

WOW.. this is great info. I'm glad I am not the only one with this issue. And man this got hits right away.

[Ultra2010]

I also keep some cheap ones in the tour pack for "just in case", but I found that cotton balls, half of one per ear, works better than those cheap foam plugs.  Warmer in the mornings also.  I too am prone to getting ear infections. 

[Guilty]

I have never worn earplugs while riding because I like to hear what is going on around me. I have found some new earplugs for my shooting sports habit that I might decide give a try for riding, Surfire EP3 Sonic Defenders. They are advertised to protect your hearing, without interfering with your ability to hear routine sounds and conversation. Surefire seems to have a problem keeping these in stock but I was able to buy a couple pairs at a local tactical shop.

[GregKhougaz]

$.02: 
       Have used foam plugs for years with success.  It's not the motor noise but the wind that damages your ears. Here is one article but there are many:  Why Wear Ear Plugs? Have a set of the silicon custom plugs but while they seem great for shooting and noise, they are not good at filtering out the wind noise while riding and can even make it worse. 

        I now use the "R3 Safety MAX Preshaped Foam Ear Plugs."  They claim a 33db noise reduction but make long rides comfortable even with the half helmet.  Cheap, reusable and even washable.  Works for me. 

[Fireguy]

Great info Greg. Thank you very much.

[CVOTequila]

Try these out from SureFire...I wear them around the big guns (artillery), and they work VERY well http://www.surefire.com/EP6-SignatureSeries

[grandpadoc]

The wind noise really wears me down and it makes a big difference at the end of a 500+ day if I wear ear plugs. I'm also tired of wind/sun burn at the end of the day...so finally after 30 years of riding I caved in and got a helmet with a face shield at the Reno event last summer. I hope that Harley comes up with a fairing that handles the wind so we can hear our premium sound systems and maybe keep our hearing a little longer...at least on the touring bikes.
I guess most of us would go ahead and defeat it anyway by "tuning" in more noise but it would be nice to have a choice.
 
Doc