Earplugs
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Heritage Park - Friendswood, TX
An interesting fact I read - the noise from riding stimulates your frontal lobe and makes you tired. The Speech and Listen wires get mixed up when your tired and slur your speach... Interesting that overstimulating one or the other affects your range of energy. Thats why people who are public speakers often say a presentation is equal to 8hrs of labor... Just a thought - ever noticed being sleepy after a long ride.
I road all day with some Heroes plugs (foam ones). I found that after the ride I was having trouble hearing and my wife commented that I was talking louder.
This past weekend I rode without the plugs and had no problem hearing and the wife said I was talking normal.
I am confused as hell about the ear plugs now, as it seems that the Heroes anyway seem to change the tone/pitch of the wind noise to a low tone which has a more instant affect on my hearing. I want to get a set of custom plugs next to see what happens, just have to get some money.
This past weekend I rode without the plugs and had no problem hearing and the wife said I was talking normal.
I am confused as hell about the ear plugs now, as it seems that the Heroes anyway seem to change the tone/pitch of the wind noise to a low tone which has a more instant affect on my hearing. I want to get a set of custom plugs next to see what happens, just have to get some money.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Kelowna BC
How much do they filter the sounds from the stereo? It'd be nice to lower the exhaust noise but allow full stereo volume to get through, but that may be asking too much. Or, do they just nix all sound >80db? In that case they should work well.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Noise seems to have two damaging features IMHO, one being loud high frequencies, the other general extreme loudness.
The first will kill your hearing so you no longer hear high frequencies, which is a real bummer if you like hi-fi music and you will no longer hear some bird song, even your wife's voice properly!
The other creates tension and can actually affect your riding, especially on long trips. It adds to fatigue and can even affect the handling of your bike, through that tension.
To anyone who doubts the benefits of using earplugs, stop arguing and try some! They cost pennies and have benefits way beyond their tiny cost.
Stang951, what you describe is to be expected. I assume it doesn't take long before you adjust to speaking in a normal voice? Try other brands of plugs, but stick with it.
The first will kill your hearing so you no longer hear high frequencies, which is a real bummer if you like hi-fi music and you will no longer hear some bird song, even your wife's voice properly!
The other creates tension and can actually affect your riding, especially on long trips. It adds to fatigue and can even affect the handling of your bike, through that tension.
To anyone who doubts the benefits of using earplugs, stop arguing and try some! They cost pennies and have benefits way beyond their tiny cost.
Stang951, what you describe is to be expected. I assume it doesn't take long before you adjust to speaking in a normal voice? Try other brands of plugs, but stick with it.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
15 - 20 minutes of repetitive noise is enough to cause permanent hearing loss. I ride with a half helmet and always wear plugs ( I use the foam ones ) whether city or highway riding. I also wear them when using any power tools or lawnmower etc. I don't think the kind of plugs matter much, as most I have noticed come with a 25 - 30 rating. What matters is that you wear them IMHO.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,710
Likes: 9,212
From: Snow Hill, NC
That would be to quiet for me...I can live with just a wad of Kleenex so 16dB would be great ...i will by a pair. so i can wear with my shorty...I am now mostly wearing a fullface.
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Noise seems to have two damaging features IMHO, one being loud high frequencies, the other general extreme loudness.
The first will kill your hearing so you no longer hear high frequencies, which is a real bummer if you like hi-fi music and you will no longer hear some bird song, even your wife's voice properly!
The other creates tension and can actually affect your riding, especially on long trips. It adds to fatigue and can even affect the handling of your bike, through that tension.
To anyone who doubts the benefits of using earplugs, stop arguing and try some! They cost pennies and have benefits way beyond their tiny cost.
Stang951, what you describe is to be expected. I assume it doesn't take long before you adjust to speaking in a normal voice? Try other brands of plugs, but stick with it.
The first will kill your hearing so you no longer hear high frequencies, which is a real bummer if you like hi-fi music and you will no longer hear some bird song, even your wife's voice properly!
The other creates tension and can actually affect your riding, especially on long trips. It adds to fatigue and can even affect the handling of your bike, through that tension.
To anyone who doubts the benefits of using earplugs, stop arguing and try some! They cost pennies and have benefits way beyond their tiny cost.
Stang951, what you describe is to be expected. I assume it doesn't take long before you adjust to speaking in a normal voice? Try other brands of plugs, but stick with it.
Actually it was quite a while....like the rest of the evening that I had trouble hearing. But I already have serious damage to my ears from when I was a kid. The dr's back then thought I would be 40-60 deaf by now because of ruptured ear drums and the amount of ear problems I had as a kid. Add in driving a boombox as a kid and firing guns / working machinery without plugs and I am amazed I can hear anything.
I am going to stick with it, might order a set of the Surefire plugs and also get a set of custom made.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Here is a link to the motorcycle section f this ear plug store. I have the alpine ears and started wearing plugs a year ago.
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net...yclegear1.html
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net...yclegear1.html