[slickwill]

On Saturday I put 400 miles on my bike (Mid America Motorplex and back...but that will be another thread). I knew it was going to be the longest I had ever been on a bike in one single stretch so I decided that I should give earplugs a try. I wore a pair of North Sonic II ear plugs that are designed for rifle and shotgun shooting. I've been using the same pair for twelve years now and they are still as good as new. Anyway, I wasn't sure on the way there how much difference they were makeing, I kept convincing myself that it wasn't that much quieter. I had a 30-40 mph crosswind the entire way which made everything worse. On the return trip I forgot to put them in. I knew immediately that I had forgotten them and couldn't find a place to pull over soon enough. I couldn't believe how much more relaxed and comfortable I felt without having so much noise in my head (not to mention the lack of hearing damage). Anybody who has been holding off on trying it out should do it today.

[Quick 26]

i like riding with mine in, and hate it when i forget

[sinfuldragon]

never tried it. Doesn't ever seem that loud in there to me

[Quick 26]

if you try plugs there is a night and day difference

[sinfuldragon]

I'll give em a go this weekend

[sinfuldragon]

wouldn't this be harmful to defensive driving? will I still be able to hear horns and skidding tires and such?

[f1_hurricane]

yes, foamies just block out the ambient noise but you can still hear things. When wearing mine I can still have conversations with somebody when I take my helmet off but it drowns out background noise

[HondaGalToo]

Originally Posted by sinfuldragon

wouldn't this be harmful to defensive driving? will I still be able to hear horns and skidding tires and such?

Yup, what f1 said. You'll still be able to hear the important things. Give it a go, afterwards you'll wonder how you ever rode without them.

[JeepinJeff]

how about hearing people? I ride with buddies and we'll chat at stoplights about where we're going next, if we both saw the hottie in the car, etc. That would be my concern.

[Quick 26]

you can still hear

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by JeepinJeff

how about hearing people? I ride with buddies and we'll chat at stoplights about where we're going next, if we both saw the hottie in the car, etc. That would be my concern.

you're gonna have to yell so everyone within a block can hear you or come up with hand signals. the one for boobs is pretty obvious so I think you're all set.

[slorider18]

Originally Posted by sinfuldragon

never tried it. Doesn't ever seem that loud in there to me

that's cause there isn't that much going on in there.

[JeepinJeff]

sounds like maybe when riding with others, I'll not use them, by myself it may be a good thing. Though when I am by myself, I'll often use the ipod. So, who knows.

[Zippy]

I think that having the plugs in actually makes it easier to hear other sounds around you, at least while you're move at speed. It quiets down the wind noise so that it doesn't drown out all the other sounds around you. When you are sitting still, such as at a light, they aren't helping in that way. But, they quiet down everything pretty much equally, so you should not have too much trouble.

There is some adjustment that you will learn to make after a few rides with them in. Everything is so quiet that it seems surreal. One of the nice things about that can be that you have an easier time focusing on the little nuances of how the bike and rider are behaving. If you ride at speed, it clears out a lot of sound clutter to let you focus.

[slickwill]

If you ride at speed, it clears out a lot of sound clutter to let you focus.

That is exactly what I thought

[Atreyu]

I just listen to my ipod when I ride

[N23]

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Yup, what f1 said. You'll still be able to hear the important things. Give it a go, afterwards you'll wonder how you ever rode without them.

Even just going down to gas up the bike or fill up the tires, I'll put them in.

[Effie]

Originally Posted by slorider18

that's cause there isn't that much going on in there.

[slorider18]

i see another plus 1 sign, and no plus points. oh well.

[Andrew1400]

Getting a set of custom earplugs are the best. They fit better so you don't even feel that they are in. As well the db cutoff is amazing.. if you get the right type they cut off the noise above 85db but you can still hear everything. I remember standing on the floor of a Rolling Stones concert and having a conversation with a buddy who has a set of these as well and we were only raising our voices slightly to hear each other. Any audiologist can get you fitted with a set, they last a long time.. last set lasted me 15 years and I just got a replacement set last season.

Andrew

[Joseph900rr]

I have used many types of earplugs over the years, including every day for 6 years in a factory machine shop. If you are looking for really good ones I would suggest Quiet Ear. I have ridden on several long trips with them and they are very comfortable and stay in.

QuietEar <br><font size="2">Selective Noise Reduction Ear Plugs from HearTech</font> - Motorcycle Ear Plugs

I got all 3 sizes, just in case one side of your head is a different size.

A review is here: Heartech Earplugs - Ear Plugs - webBikeWorld

[briflight]

I have to say that I did the same thing most people do, I tried them. On a long trip and loved them. Now that I have the tanker with out all the wind buffeting of a sportbike, on the road I don't wear them as much(wifey gets mad when I don't answer her thru the intercom). I religiously wear them on the track though, makes that intense concentration needed for a fast lap time easier.

[IMATOPGUN]

I wonder if ear plugs effect equilibrium?

[Sime]

Would never contemplate riding without them! They haven't affected my balance at all at any time.

You have to make sure they're inserted properly too though. Too many people just smash them into their ear, without the plug going into the ear canal. You have to roll them, lift the ear with the opposing hand and then also possibly wet the plug to help it slide in. Then you hold it there while it expands. I know it sounds gross, but I use a bit of spit to lube my plugs. Works a treat.

[IMATOPGUN]

I use to use them for landscaping. Gas backpack blower. The taste of old earwax when wetting them .......yum.

[slickwill]

Originally Posted by IMATOPGUN

I wonder if ear plugs effect equilibrium?

They would in no way affect equilibrium. Equilibrium is controlled by the vestibular system which is in the inner ear. It doesn't have to have any connection to the outside. The vestibular system is activated by movement of the head not by outside stimuli through the ears. You do need outside stimuli from the eyes though for your cerrebellum to be able to fully integrate all of the necessary stimuli. By placing ear plugs into the external auditory canal you are only inducing a simulated conductive hearing loss.

[IMATOPGUN]

We will call you Doctor slickwill. Thanks for the info.

[cherry02cr250]

I sometimes have problems with dizziness and used to