As a physician my hearing is important and an integral part of my job. Anyone who says they don't wear hearing protection and states they don't have a problem, probably already has some level of hearing deficit. If you don't think the noise of the wind alone going past your ear won't cause hearing loss over time may not understand the dynamics of noise and/or the effect it has on hearing. I wear earplugs all the time, and I can hear everything including the guy talking to me over the sound of my motor and pipes. I can even hear minor engine noises (when they occur) while riding or that car sneaking up on your inside. If you put ear plugs in and find that it is like being stone deaf, you probably already have extensive hearing loss.
As a physician it is my duty to say these things, I know I don't get to fully enjoy the sound my motor makes (unless some is test riding it after doing some work, then I can't believe its mine hahaha). But my stethoscope is an integral part of my job and if I can't hear out if it, someone else may suffer. So plugs it is, and I use the foam cone shaped ones you get from the hardware stores

 

Obvisouly you ride a bagger, If you rode a windshieldless bike and got on the highway your thought on plugs would change.
For those who lost their plugs and need ones quick,tear up tissue paper,not the best but its alot better than ear damage due to wind.

 

I use the foam ones, highway noise drives me nuts. I've actually posted on this in the past and some claimed they can actually hear things like engine and music better with them in. It does seem to have some merit, just not sure of the mechanism as to why it works.

 

I use the smooth orange foam ear plugs. They're the most comfortable. I've been wearing them for years. 200 pairs on Amazon for about $20. I use them at work, while working on something noisy at home, on the bike, and while flying across the ocean. They're even fantastic when the people in the next hotel room are too noisy.

 

I ride a bagger, and the wind noise and buffeting is far worse than when riding a bike without a fairing. My Shoei helmet is half as loud when riding a bike without a fairing.

I can't imagine riding for more than 10 minutes without ear plugs.

 

I have these for my earbuds, but you could do the same for just plugs. I like this method becuase they don't get ripped out when I do where my fullface. Easy to do and easy to use.

http://www.earfuze.com/

 

I find it incredicle that motorcyclists don't use ear protection, at least when driving highway speeds (55+ mph). I have always used in the canal earbuds for the best protection, with or without music from an i-pod. Can still hear plenty of engine and traffic noise. My favorite in the canal ear bud is made by Sony, sold at Sam's for about $30. They work just as well or better than the $200 in the canal buds. I think that is because due to riding on an mc is not exactly like being in an concert hall!

 

So I read everyones reply and thought I'd try it again. The first ones I got from a buddy who had a bulk box of them. They were white foam and had no tapper to them. They also weren't very soft. I don't know how old they were.

I went to the drug store and bought some bright orange ones that are tappered, almost bell shaped. Went for a short ride with them in and they are mucher better. I could hear everything only at a lower volume. I didn't like the feel of them in my ears but I'll use them on my next ride and see if I can get used to them.

 

Take it from someone with tinnitus, I wish I had started wearing earplugs a long time ago. The doc is right, about the time you don't think you need them its probably too late. I don't care what others think, they don't have to live with the constant ringing, which only gets worse if I don't wear them.

 

Blaster, I switched from a full face to a half helmet about 3 years ago. I found it necessary to wear ear plugs in order to reduce the fatigue I got from the wind noise. I have found that the blue colored hearo's work very well for me. link below:

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CFAQ8wIwBw

I have also used the orange colored plugs with success.

I am a musician and rely on my hearing for obvious reasons. I have noticed that the plugs effectiveness will diminish over time/use and provide less reduction overall necessitating the use of a fresh pair.

Good luck,

Tom