Earplugs?
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
Did a search and didn't come up with anything and no obvious places to post so I'm gonna ask this here...do any of you use earplugs when out riding/touring and if so what kind? I'd like to block out some of the wind/mechanical noise but still be able to listen to the infotainment system...thanks in advance!
I got a Harley helmet and it whistles Dixie once ya get over 35-40 mph, yet my Shoei helmet is a lot less prone to wind noise at 60-80 mph but you can still hear traffic and surrounding sounds.
Ya get what ya pay for in anything nowadays
Wiz
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 444
Likes: 92
From: xx
I can't imagine riding without ear plugs these days, but I did enough damage riding without them when I was younger, and have some tinnitus.
Besides protecting your hearing, ear plugs just let me enjoy the ride a lot more. They cut a lot of the bad noise out, but I can still hear other cars, bikes, music, etc. Much calmer.
Besides protecting your hearing, ear plugs just let me enjoy the ride a lot more. They cut a lot of the bad noise out, but I can still hear other cars, bikes, music, etc. Much calmer.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
That's one of the main things I've noticed as well!
It's just so much...calmer. Before, by comparison, it was like I was always "on edge", or there was a degree of "tension" while riding.
Now, I'm much more relaxed. And the music sounds better!
It's just so much...calmer. Before, by comparison, it was like I was always "on edge", or there was a degree of "tension" while riding.
Now, I'm much more relaxed. And the music sounds better!
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 281
From: Long Island NY
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.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
Ironic, I was out Sunday flying with a friend in his 172. We both had headphones and he had some type of noise cancelling device hooked up to them, it's a small box attached to the headphones. You'd push a small button and everything would instantly quiet down, all you could hear was radio and internal communications, really made flying in a high noise environment acceptable.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 334
Likes: 12
From: Central Cal
I started a post about this very same subject not too long ago and from that post I started using foam earbuds however I am not too crazy about them as they block out too much of everything. the only thing I want blocked out is the wind noise. I like to hear the sound of my own pipes and the pipes of those around me. I just cant stand the wind noise. I know that sounds counter productive but thats what I like. When i had the windshield on my road king it was perfect but I have since put Carlini gangster apes that prevent the windshield from going back on.
Much respect to all the old timers who never used a windshield or earplugs. Warriors!!
So which plugs will cut just the wind noise?
Much respect to all the old timers who never used a windshield or earplugs. Warriors!!
So which plugs will cut just the wind noise?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 281
From: Long Island NY
Just an update and thanks for all the excellent info posted here. I went to my Audiologist and they estimated $250 for an impression and to make custom earplugs, I owe them a few favors but not $250 worth of favors so I passed. After reading everything here I ordered a set of the Ear Peace brand from Amazon, about $23 including tax. I went for a 100 mile ride today and they are great, night and day difference over the foamies. They fit very comfortable, no pressure on the inner ear at all. They blocked out pretty much all the mechanical noise EXCEPT the low rumble of the stock pipes. I didn't hear the clunk of the shifts or any lower engine noise and my only change was to raise up the stereo volume 2 clicks. Even when I stopped at a restaurant I didn't remove them and I could hear people talking just fine. And they do have a somewhat calming affect, I can't explain it but I felt much more relaxed during and after the ride. I'll be ordering another set as I can't see myself riding without them from here on forward...thanks again to all!