I've just started wearing them.  The silicone ones I don't like, don't stay in the ear enough.  Going to try the foam inserts.  One thing though is that my left ear rings a ton with them in.  Kinda annoying.

Quote from: jborders5 on July 10, 2009, 08:21:04 AM
I ride with these:

http://sensaphonics.com/prod_erseries_customs.html

Expensive, but worth it.  No waiting for the foam to expand or loosing the seal when you put your helmet on.  I use the 15db filters around town and commuting and switch out to the 25db filters on long rides.

I got to look into those earplugs.  How good are they ?  My hearing has considerably been affected due to riding .  The tone tests I took on the computer pretty much proved that. 

Quote from: ab on July 18, 2009, 06:06:20 PM
I got to look into those earplugs.  How good are they ?  My hearing has considerably been affected due to riding .  The tone tests I took on the computer pretty much proved that. 

There is absolutely no comparison to universal fit foam and rubber ear plugs.  They are that good.  The interchangeable filters are nice if you want less reduction, but I use the 25db for most long rides.  Foam ear plugs can provide up to 33db of muffled reduction, but it's rare the user can get them deep enough into the ear with the proper seal.  The Sensaphonics are a perfect seal every time with maximum comfort since they were hand made for your ear.  You can see in the pic below how deep they plug is inserted into your ear.  That flat portion with the removable filter sits just inside the outer edge of your ear.  There is no way your helmet can interfere with the seal.

Quote from: yotogi on July 08, 2009, 03:18:51 PM
Wind noise on my X-11 is the reason I wear mine. Maybe you have a quiet helmet?

Update: I was wrong. I just hadn't ridden fast enough to know how freaking loud the wind noise in my lid is. I'm now a highway plugger but I'm still unplugged around town.

Quote from: ducleaner on July 19, 2009, 08:01:39 PM
Update: I was wrong. I just hadn't ridden fast enough to know how freaking loud the wind noise in my lid is. I'm now a highway plugger but I'm still unplugged around town.

  Welcome to the club!

I'm also in the "plugs on the highway, no plugs around town" club.

I ride with headphones, with the music on my iPod turned up just enough to barely hear it above the exhaust and exterior/wind noise (just less than halfway).  Brand: V-moda Vibe.  I've replaced the rubber 'covers' many times and have found the aftermarket Sony replacements fit wonderfully!!  I find that the wind noise is the determining factor, my exhaust is under my bike so don't hear it as much as feel it (the cars next to me do tho!  ), and the 30 mile commute sucks when I forget the iPod in the car!

[jborders5] Thanks.  That was some useful info.  I am ordering those and just had ear impressions taken.  I wish I did this years ago before I got the freaking ringing noise that started about a month ago.

Quote from: Spidey on June 18, 2009, 01:36:25 PM
I wear earplugs for any ride of significant distance.  I don't wear them for my daily in-city commute because it's only a few miles and I don't get up to any significant speed.  And I usually don't wear them around for short in-city jaunts.  I wear them every time I get on the freeway, head to the twisties, go to the track, or anytime I'm going to spend any time on the bike. 

I have custom exhausts.  They're louder than many aftermarket exhausts.  The damage earplugs prevent is not damage from loud exhausts as much as from wind.  You could have a stock bike and you'd damage your hearing with extended riding at freeway speeds.

Yeah, ditto what Spidey said. 

A friend of mine started selling custom molded earpugs for a variety of applications:

Standard
Filtered- slight muffling until above a certain db level then enhanced protection. I have NO idea how but theyre cool
Custom molded plugs for electronic applications( bluetooth, iPod etc)

He just emailed me to come in and test fit- try some new plugs specifically for motorcycle applications- I'll let ya know how they work when I get in to seel him and have them made.

For the SoCal set- I'm trying to find out pricing for a group buy. Prolly come out to IBN or other event and do them right there!!.

Can someone explain the earplugs thing to me?

I've seen a bunch of people say they wear earplugs because the bike is loud. Why get aftermarket/cored/loud exhaust if you yourself think it's too loud? Kinda seems silly to me - now you're subjecting everyone else to noise that you don't like.

I don't think I've ever had an issue with windnoise, either. My first thought was helmet quality, but most of you folks have top notch lids so surely that can't be it?

I can see the appeal of having music on at low volume to keep myself entertained, but earplugs seem like they'd lower my situational awareness and I don't like the idea of that.

Am I missing something (or several things)?

Quote from: Christian on July 24, 2009, 05:20:43 PM
I don't think I've ever had an issue with windnoise, either. My first thought was helmet quality, but most of you folks have top notch lids so surely that can't be it?

Am I missing something (or several things)?

Yup. You don't notice the windnoise at first, you just sorta get used to it, your hearing gets damaged a wee bit....then slowly returns so close to almost normal that you don't even realize what you just did. No one warned me until about after a year and a half of riding. I'm currently make the beast with two backsing half deaf. Really. I didn't notice shit and didn't think the windnoise was all that bad.

As far as situational awareness, you soon realize that's they don't restrict mush of anything-you'll still hear what you need to-it just feels weird for a while.

There's been a number of older and younger riders in this thread saying they didn't realize it either, and are also going deaf.


Wear the make the beast with two backsing things. Seriously.

I bought my exhaust because I like the sound.  However when I am on long road trips I wear plugs to cut down on excessive wind noise etc.  It actually reduces rider fatigue.

Considering that foam earplugs are what, less than a buck, I would be interested to know why people who are curious as to why the pluggers plug don't give them a whirl?

Quote from: MrIncredible on July 24, 2009, 06:24:43 PM
Yup. You don't notice the windnoise at first, you just sorta get used to it, your hearing gets damaged a wee bit....then slowly returns so close to almost normal that you don't even realize what you just did. No one warned me until about after a year and a half of riding. I'm currently make the beast with two backsing half deaf. Really. I didn't notice shit and didn't think the windnoise was all that bad.

As far as situational awareness, you soon realize that's they don't restrict mush of anything-you'll still hear what you need to-it just feels weird for a while.

There's been a number of older and younger riders in this thread saying they didn't realize it either, and are also going deaf.


Wear the make the beast with two backsing things. Seriously.

Well put.
At 70 mph or higher, you're routinely subjected to wind noise at 110 dB or more. That does damage after 30 minutes.