Earplugs?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,535
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
When I ride solo, I sometimes wear EAR foam plugs, sometimes I wear bluetooth ear buds with noise cancellation that do a decent job of reducing noise, and allows me to listen to music at a level not too loud.
I believe folks that ride loud bikes with loud stereos cranked up are asking for double trouble, but to each their own.
I believe folks that ride loud bikes with loud stereos cranked up are asking for double trouble, but to each their own.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 92
From: Michigan
Earplugs, say it ain't so? Don't you know everyone says all the sound goes out the back?
A half helmet for wind noise and some real mufflers for the engine noise works for me.
I once had expensive molded ear plugs back when I thought I had to be heard in the next state until I finally lost them because I set them down on the bike while taking a small break. This almost happened several times until it finally did, end of story.
A half helmet for wind noise and some real mufflers for the engine noise works for me.
I once had expensive molded ear plugs back when I thought I had to be heard in the next state until I finally lost them because I set them down on the bike while taking a small break. This almost happened several times until it finally did, end of story.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 56
From: Milwaukee
Never wore ear protection while riding. Might be time to start. I think my hearing is starting to go. The wife says I never hear anything she says. I use to say its selective hearing. LOL Serious though I think its time to preserve what I got left.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
Then, bonus, you'll have a much better idea what kind of earplugs would be best for you.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 217
From: Puyallup Wa.
Working in an industrial environment and very familiar with earplugs as I have used them for years. Out of all the different ear plugs I've used in custom ones etc. My preference is the spark plug type that has been mentioned early in the thread. On a bike ride I might use a pair of earplugs for the day but I always have plenty of extras I may use a couple pair of the day if my hands get dirty or whatever. At work and the dirty environment and what not I wear one time and throw them away.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 1,412
From: Northern NJ
My issue is background noise; I can't understand people when there is background noise. I have stopped going to restaurants with friends because I can't understand people; it is annoying to me (and them) when I keep saying: what, excuse me, ...
Looking back, I have always had this issue without knowing it, but to a much lesser extent, now it is really bad.
So, in the hopes of not making it worse: I wear plugs for rides longer than 15 minutes and especially when I will be travailing at speed.
Last edited by hairymoth; Nov 12, 2017 at 05:21 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
I rode for years without, now use whatever foam plugs are handy.
Wind noise on a bike isn't as bad as the noise in a small plane. When I started with those, we used to use a hand mike and nothing on the ears. Fortunately, I didn't do that for long until switching to a headset.
Wind noise on a bike isn't as bad as the noise in a small plane. When I started with those, we used to use a hand mike and nothing on the ears. Fortunately, I didn't do that for long until switching to a headset.