I have some friends that ride and they use earplugs to tone down the wind and exhaust noise. Lord knows those Remus pipes on my M900 get a bit raspy at times and when coupled with the air intake suck of the FCR's I can darn near feel the eardrums being pulled out of my head. So I finally tried some earplugs. It took me two stops to remember to take them out of my pants pocket and put them in my ears.
What a difference! I had no idea that I was so audio dependent. It was awful. I could swear that my other senses were shutting down along with the hearing. I was missing shift points, brake points and couldn't even feel the suspension working the way I normally do (so it seemed). After about 10 miles of riding and waiting for things to normalize (which they didn't) I pulled into my next stop. Out came the plugs.
All better after that. It was a very strange experience. (I don't ride with music either but some people tell me I should try it)
I used ear plugs occasionally on the california trip. It felt soo much better for the ears, but it was a completely different riding experience. I keep forgetting to try back home on the regular steed.
You'll get used to it, it may take a few rides though. Personally for any trip over 10 miles I keep a few sets handy. constant exposure to the engine/wind noise over 70db will take its toll.
Quote from: factorPlayer on June 16, 2008, 04:28:49 PM
You'll get used to it, it may take a few rides though. Personally for any trip over 10 miles I keep a few sets handy. constant exposure to the engine/wind noise over 70db will take its toll.
+1
I can get an extra 20 miles when I wear plugs, it cuts down on fatigue.
Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 16, 2008, 04:38:13 PM
I can get an extra 20 miles when I wear plugs, it cuts down on fatigue.
+eleventy billion. I didn't understand this practice either, until I tried it. You'll be way better off on, say, the last 2 hours of a 4 hour ride.
around town i don't typically use plugs, but if i'm going to be doing any riding at speed they go in. less fatigue, more relaxing, and when you get to your destination you don't feel like you just stepped out of some dingy bar that was hosting a punk band.
Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 16, 2008, 04:37:03 PM
WHAT DID YOU SAY???
Sorry, didn't catch that! [laugh]
Quote from: mac900 on June 16, 2008, 04:18:16 PM
What a difference! I had no idea that I was so audio dependent. It was awful. I could swear that my other senses were shutting down along with the hearing. I was missing shift points, brake points and couldn't even feel the suspension working the way I normally do (so it seemed).
I've had exactly the opposite experience. I always earplugs on long rides & track days.
I think it actually heightens the other senses by reducing input to one... I focus more on vision bike/road feel, less on how loud the exhaust is ;D
Just my .02
Quote from: mac900 on June 16, 2008, 04:18:16 PM
I have some friends that ride and they use earplugs to tone down the wind and exhaust noise. Lord knows those Remus pipes on my M900 get a bit raspy at times and when coupled with the air intake suck of the FCR's I can darn near feel the eardrums being pulled out of my head. So I finally tried some earplugs. It took me two stops to remember to take them out of my pants pocket and put them in my ears.
What a difference! I had no idea that I was so audio dependent. It was awful. I could swear that my other senses were shutting down along with the hearing. I was missing shift points, brake points and couldn't even feel the suspension working the way I normally do (so it seemed). After about 10 miles of riding and waiting for things to normalize (which they didn't) I pulled into my next stop. Out came the plugs.
All better after that. It was a very strange experience. (I don't ride with music either but some people tell me I should try it)
Toilet paper works a treat. Tear off a bit, chew for a second..and Plug. It doesn't shut out all the noise.. just trims it down by whatever percentage you want!
And you never have to worry about leaving your earplugs somewhere :D
Quote from: roy-nexus-6 on June 16, 2008, 05:00:26 PM
Toilet paper works a treat. Tear off a bit, chew for a second..
Unused, right?!? :P
I use earplugs now.
I felt like I was starting to loose my hearing. I actually think I damage it already.
The DB at freeway speeds is to loud with out them.
Quote from: factorPlayer on June 16, 2008, 04:28:49 PM
You'll get used to it, it may take a few rides though. Personally for any trip over 10 miles I keep a few sets handy. constant exposure to the engine/wind noise over 70db will take its toll.
+ 2... I have earplugs that cut out about 65+% of the noise; they work great and I wear them 90% of the 15k+ miles I do a year...
These are what i wear ~~~> (http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/earplugstore/silentearclear.jpg)
Perhaps you should try another pair? You can get ones that don't block as much noise, you might like those better. The ones I use seem to cut out more wind noise than anything else. Can still hear my motor, it even sounds deeper. [evil]
maybe you should look into a different style of plug. The ones I ride with shut out enough noise that my ears don't ring, but I can still hear my bike. The horn on the other hand is muffled. But I agree you tend to focus more on what you have to take care of. But like others have said, wind noise WILL take its toll on your hearing.
it took some getting used to, but now i don't do long rides without them.
I like wearing earplugs, and agree with other posters who've indicated this helps them sharpen their other senses. My theory is that the fatigue thing is caused by the fact that your brain, subconsciously, is continually trying to catalogue and inventory sounds, which obviously requires energy. Over an extended period, that would most certainly result in fatigue.
Maybe stating the obvious, but that's about all I know how to state.
I usually ride w/earplugs if I'm out riding/not-commuting. In town and commuting (well, when I was working...), I like prefer to be able to hear what's going on. I find myself riding faster when I have earplugs, or baffles in the exhaust. Not entirely sure why. On my KTM, the vibe monster (single cylinder LC4 engine vibrates quite a bit), I noticed that the low frequency vibrations were going straight to my head via my sit bones through the seat get amplified when wearing earplugs. It's like when you cup your ears and humm, only louder. I wonder if I should worry about that?
Hey Mac, maybe your bike just isn't loud enough. Seriously though, I use them on any ride over 20 minutes. Try some different kinds. I buy soft foamy ones from walmart. They work great at reducing the wind noise and the constant droning from the engine while still letting in some softer noises. I can actually hear my cellphone ringing in the inside pocket of my leather jacket while doing moderate freeway speeds. Kinda freaked me out first time I heard it. I find I can relax much more and concentrate on those perfect apexes better with them in.
I know I should but I do not wear them, not on the Ducs or the Victory's. I wear full face helmets, except on the Victory's at Daytona, Myrtle beach, short rides. I've got over 750K miles and 38 years on two wheels on the road, amazing that in the early days we did not have full face helmets, bubble shields were the ticket in those days, no windshields either. Anyway, I find they dull my senses. Nowdays I think it is the helmet that matters I wear quiet helmets, Shoei. I have one Scorpion which is a little noiser and just started wearing a Ducati Suomy on my S2R, the shield plates, like an Arai causes more noise than any of the otehr helmets. But I also rode quiet bike in the early days, so who knows. - Gene
One word for you young-uns. Tinnitus. I never wore plugs until I got my current bike two years ago. I grew up around motorcycles, car stereos, and garage bands. The weirdest thing to get used to when I first started using ear plugs? All I could hear was the permanent ringing in my ears that is left over from years of abuse (didn't feel like abuse at the time either). I can usually tune it out enough to fall asleep at night, and now enjoy having plugs in on a long ride. Like others here I don't put them in for a few miles across town, but do if I'll be on the freeway or for any stretch of a tyipcal Sunday ride. I actually prefer it with plugs now, much less fatigue as mentioned. It's the wind noise that'll getcha.
I'm going to start using it from now on...great tip. [thumbsup]
+1 on trying a different type of ear plug, also if you find that the foamies cut out too much, try not inserting them as far, they will be a little less effective, but will still work. i use foamies i get from work, cuz i can get em for free and i figure i wear em all day at work so im very used to wearing them and i dont get that isolated feel at all, just quieter.
Quote from: Dietrich on June 16, 2008, 08:13:24 PM
One word for you young-uns. Tinnitus. I never wore plugs until I got my current bike two years ago. I grew up around motorcycles, car stereos, and garage bands. The weirdest thing to get used to when I first started using ear plugs? All I could hear was the permanent ringing in my ears that is left over from years of abuse (didn't feel like abuse at the time either). I can usually tune it out enough to fall asleep at night, and now enjoy having plugs in on a long ride. Like others here I don't put them in for a few miles across town, but do if I'll be on the freeway or for any stretch of a tyipcal Sunday ride. I actually prefer it with plugs now, much less fatigue as mentioned. It's the wind noise that'll getcha.
+1 Great advice,
I also have ringing of the ears, I was diagnosed with Tinnutus, right after coming back from Iraq.
Exposed from loud explosions, smallarms fire, etc. without earplugs.
Wear earplugs it will save your hearing.
In the past, I always forgot to wear my earplugs, until i got on the freeway. At that point, I could feel the hearing loss setting in. Nowadays, i've resorted to leaving my earplugs Inside the helmet, after a ride. That way, i'll see it before i put my helmet on and remember to use em.
i always left a couple pairs in each of my jackets.
Quote from: mac900 on June 16, 2008, 04:18:16 PM
I was missing shift points, brake points and couldn't even feel the suspension working the way I normally do (so it seemed). After about 10 miles of riding and waiting for things to normalize (which they didn't) I pulled into my next stop. Out came the plugs.
Are you serious? You're that dependent on wind noise to know when to shift? You should be able to tell by how the bike feels, your RPM's, and habit. My earplugs cut off wind noise and muffle the bike, but I can still hear the engine and exhausts as well as other traffic just fine (I even use baffles in my pipes).
Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 16, 2008, 04:38:13 PM
I can get an extra 20 miles when I wear plugs, it cuts down on fatigue.
+11tby
I also notice that it makes me a more technically oriented rider. I pay attention to all the detail stuff that I should be in the first place. Like road surface, rpms, traffic, apexes, etc. So it saves me fatigue on the slab and makes me faster in the canyons. Can't complain there. I need all the help I can get. :D
Oh! I just remembered. They make a nice custom earplug for musicians that cuts all frequencies equally, with the end result being that you hear the same, just less volume. That may help you (mac900) a bit. Unfortunately they are a bit pricey, but my hearing is valuable enough to protect.
I think it must have something to do with the way brains are structured or something fancy like that. I find that if I eliminate one very pervasive, but distracting, thing then I can concentrate much better on all the rest. Kinda funny, because at other times (off the bike) I find that my brain is going 900 million miles an hour and it just needs something to fill up the empty spaces to let me think... :-\
Please don't point and laugh. I know I'm a little touched...
Quote from: mac900 on June 16, 2008, 04:18:16 PM
I have some friends
I know you weren't talking about me!! ;)
But more seriously, what plugs did you try Mac? I started using mine mainly to block out the wind noise more than anything else. I found myself having headaches after/during longish rides (anything more than half an hour) and the ear plugs prevent that. Plus, all the years that I spent working in the music industry taught me to use them anytime I was around fairly loud noises that persisted more than a few minutes.
I have a few extra sets that you can try if you are interested. Just let me know and I will bring out a pair or two to our next ride.
Quote from: remy on June 16, 2008, 09:39:17 PM
Are you serious? You're that dependent on wind noise to know when to shift? You should be able to tell by how the bike feels, your RPM's, and habit. My earplugs cut off wind noise and muffle the bike, but I can still hear the engine and exhausts as well as other traffic just fine (I even use baffles in my pipes).
Of course I'm serious. I wouldn't have posted in the first place if I weren't. Now that being said it's not the wind noise that is the factor when shifting and I wasn't geeking all over the place. I'm saying the earplugs I used introduced a dullness factor that changed my normal perceptions, detuned them if you will, just enough that everything had a very slight but noticeable awkwardness to it. 40 years of riding isn't going to go away in a snap of the fingers. It was interesting to realize how much all of the different noises the bike makes do affect how I ride it. Kind of like changing from a black & white movie to a color one. I'm open to trying less restrictive plugs though.
I have been wanting to try these out, but won't buy any other sets until I have gone through what i already have at home. But, maybe these could tickle your fancy a touch...
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24306/sesent/00/EP3-Sonic-Defenderssupandreg-sup
Looks interesting. But hey, if I want my fancy tickled I can get Gloria to do that. [cheeky]
That's the spirit!! ;D
Well...
I just came home from a 300 km long distance luggage/rain test , 100% on the highway.
I use http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370058901925 and I totally like em even after three hours.
Over 80 the wind noise its pretty loud and I cant here anything anyway so its great.
I would NOT use them in the city or on short trips.
Also I am used to them because I use em on concerts and against snoring people in my tent [roll]
Speaking of...Just bought a pair of sealing headphones too...thats funny...its like watching a youtube video
You see the driving but you just hear music...
In the beginning ear plugs can be disorienting. After riding with them for a while, not riding with earplugs can be disorienting. Tinnitus will always be disorienting. Use ear plugs.
I like to think of it like driving a car with the windows down. Pleasant enough when you're tootling around but as soon as you get on the highway you wind 'em up.
I used to hate earplugs as well. But I was out on the GS last Sunday, took a break, and found a spare pair in my jacket. I was a bit tired anyway, so as I was getting ready to go, I popped them in. Just to see. . . . .
Wow. It made a lot of difference. In fact, I revelled in the quiet solitude (or muffled reality) of the rest of the day. The GS is one of those bikes that doesn't really have much of an exhaust note, but what I DID focus on was equally important.
The quiet allowed me to focus on smoother controls (not banging up through the gearbox). It also brought to mind front / rear weight transition. So, overall, I was re-learning some subtleties. It was. . . .kinda nice.
From now on, I'm wearing them for rides over 20 miles. Glad I had that spare set in the jacket after all.
i take a regular pair of the shaped foam type and cut them in half. it blocks less noise. (disposable)
the hard plastic type (washable) block less noise.
just practice riding more with them. you will get used to it. all the motogp/sbk guys wear them and do just fine.
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on June 16, 2008, 04:56:49 PM
I've had exactly the opposite experience. I always earplugs on long rides & track days.
I think it actually heightens the other senses by reducing input to one... I focus more on vision bike/road feel, less on how loud the exhaust is ;D
Just my .02
i completely agree... with plugs in ears at highway speed i can actually JUST HEAR the pulsing of the motor.... which may leave my mind free to concentrate on the task at hand... hands?
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/quietnrr14.html
I'm using these to cut the wind noise. I've worn ear plugs in industrial settings for years starting in the 80s in submarine engine rooms. I'm accustomed to it and I think I actually hear the things I want to better with the plugs in.
I have allways ridden with earplugs. Because of that my experience is opposite from yours...if I don't wear a pair I miss shifts, don't match revs perfectly when downshifing, don't hit shift points as accurately while accelerating. I am more distracted and I can't hear the things I am used to in terms of traffic.
I guess it's just being used to something and then making a change.
My take on it is that I've never heard even anecdotal evidence of earplugs causing a problem, let alone a crash, but the hearing loss is pretty clear.
But I also see that if one isn't getting used to them and they made riding unpleasant or unfun, that it would take a lot of convincing to keep at it.
I love the earplugs thread! It comes around every couple of years. I'm a huge advocate of hearing protection. I've played drums for 18 years and my hearing has not suffered because I've protected myself from day one. Wearing earplugs while riding any distance or on the highway was a no-brainer for me. I can understand how it would take a while to get used to them, but I'd recommend TRYING to get used to them.
You will kill your hearing if you ride for extended periods at high speeds without ear protection. It just takes getting used to but, once used to it you'll find you're far less fatigued after a long ride. Missing shift points etc is just because you're not used to it with plugs and the tones being diff. ear plugs+long rides= no brainer.
Chris
After all that loud Jet engine noise the bikes don't seem that loud to me, but maybe I should start using earplugs too.
One thing to watch out for though Make sure your fingers are clean before putting them in. Motor Oil, Fiberglass dust, stuff like that gets on the earplugs and then inside your ears. Ears Hate old turbine oil & composite dust. After a while Ears will want some sort of medication applied to them after such abuse. :-\
Quote from: howie on June 17, 2008, 04:39:34 AM
In the beginning ear plugs can be disorienting. After riding with them for a while, not riding with earplugs can be disorienting. Tinnitus will always be disorienting. Use ear plugs.
+1
Wear ear plugs, save your hearing for as long as you can.
I really like riding with earplugs a must for me I try to keep extras in my pocket when I take them out for lunch I stick them between the cheeck pads and the helmet ..ride long enough and you'll regret it I also use plugs when I ride my dirt bike...4 strk noise
I have a set in every jacket and a spare set under the seat
I started wearing them late last year and I've been wondering..........with a full face helmet and ear plugs I may be isolating myself too much from my surroundings ...Like being in a cocoon and feeling a false sense of security which may be one reason I felt I could run faster on the backroads. Since I wasn't hearing the wind noise to give me a sense of speed or as much of the scream of the engine and pipes that would tell me the sense of speed that you normally associate with certain noises.
I agree that you get used to the ear plugs, especially on long ride. I have to believe that it will keep us from going deaf in our later years.