My right earplug fell out today as I was putting my helmet on to head home, I didn't notice until I got on the freeway.

That was a pretty miserable experience.   I should just spring for the custom ones that stay in better.

Quote from: somegirl on September 15, 2009, 11:24:23 PM
My right earplug fell out today as I was putting my helmet on to head home, I didn't notice until I got on the freeway.

That was a pretty miserable experience.   I should just spring for the custom ones that stay in better.

go to a gun show, you can have custom ones made which work better.  they make a mold of your ear and ear canal.  they fit inside your ear and don't come out easily.  they can also integrate an electronic device which blocks only sound > 75-85dB instead of just blocking everything. 

mine are the electronic type and it makes a huge difference, althought they cut out (sound) pretty much the entire time when i am at speed...

+ eleventy billion on the wind noise. I wear the cheap foam ones. They work fine for me and I am not cussing if I lose one. You can still hear your engine just fine with the ear plugs in, but it sure cuts down on the wind noise!

Quote from: ducatiz on September 16, 2009, 05:52:28 AM
go to a gun show, you can have custom ones made which work better.  they make a mold of your ear and ear canal.  they fit inside your ear and don't come out easily.  they can also integrate an electronic device which blocks only sound > 75-85dB instead of just blocking everything. 

mine are the electronic type and it makes a huge difference, althought they cut out (sound) pretty much the entire time when i am at speed...

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into it.  Are those different than the custom ones you can get at moto events?

Quote from: somegirl on September 16, 2009, 09:19:45 AM
Thanks for the tip, I'll look into it.  Are those different than the custom ones you can get at moto events?

i haven't seen them at moto events, but if they make a mold of your ear then they are probably the same.  it's a franchised business and i imagine they go to any loud-hobby event!

can anyone clear up for me, do music buds help?

i dont wear earplugs only because i love to ride with music. i wear ear buds 100% of the time

i saw several people made similar comments but i didnt see anyone reply with
"youre stupid that isnt going to help"
or "thats just as good/almost as good/the next best thing to real earplugs"

just wondering, id rather not lose my hearing or my tunes if possible!

This style of ear bud does almost nothing to block noise. Sure, it sits in the path of your ear canal and blocks some noise, but as it doesn't seal, the pressure is still there causing damage. It simply puts speakers close enough to your ear to be able to hear your music over the wind noise, which means you're probably getting about the same (or higher!) SPL's.



This type of ear bud, with the little plastic cup that creates a seal in your ear canal, is actually capable of blocking some serious noise. Not nearly as much as properly-fitted, purpose-designed ear plugs, but definitely a measurable amount. Try walking around the house with some in and no music playing some time. It may surprise you just how much they can block out. That being said, when using music to cover background noise, most people listen to it at dangerous/harmful levels anyway, especially when its through headphones or ear buds. The end result is you may be doing just as much harm as not wearing anything.

Like anything else of this nature, protecting yourself and getting checked out regularly are important.

thanks for the headsup, i will invest in some higher quality / better sealing buds!

those pictured are actually the two sets i have, but the skullcandies are broken, time for a new pair
(the apple sealing type look nice, but 80 bucks!! dang!  )

Love my SkullCandies.

Quote from: somegirl on September 15, 2009, 11:24:23 PM
My right earplug fell out today as I was putting my helmet on to head home, I didn't notice until I got on the freeway.

That was a pretty miserable experience. : I should just spring for the custom ones that stay in better.

Paula, if you have a Fastenal outlet in your area , they have an earplug that is dy-no-mite ! They are like rubber screw like plugs on a very fine plastic cord so if you dropped one you wouldn't loose it.

They are made by  Air Soft. They sort of screw into your Ear.

They cost $1.70 here in Ohio for a pair and they are reusable with washing after use w, hand soap.

They are so good that on my 1098 R w, the open race pipes , I can't hear the pipes. I can only barely hear the engine .

I can still talk to someone close to me with my Helmet on but they make it like you are in another world when riding.  Almost silent, it's eery !

Dolph    

We keep the cheap foam ones at work (we make large steel weldments and assemblies), so I just keep the ones I remove when I leave after visiting the shop area.  They're really good at blocking high frequency noise, like wind noise....which is why I wear them, mostly.  They really help reduce fatigue on long rides.

As to exhaust...the MH900e is box stock and very quiet, the Supersport has a Termignoni spaghetti system on it and isn't too loud (though it produces a nice, rich basso profundo), and the Aermacchi (Ultra Lightweight Vintage racer) has an extremely loud open reverse cone megaphone.

Quote from: DoubleEagle on October 15, 2009, 11:00:43 PM
Paula, if you have a Fastenal outlet in your area , they have and earplug that is dynomite ! They are like rubbery screw like plugs on a very fine plastic cord so if you dropped one you wouldn't loose it.

Thanks Dolph, I'll check them out.

Quote from: somegirl on October 16, 2009, 12:03:39 PM
Thanks Dolph, I'll check them out.

You're most welcome Paula.

Dolph       

I always wear a full face helmet and that pretty much drowns out alot of exhaust noise itself.

If you have an exhaust that is so loud that it is penetrating through your helmet, then imagine how loud it is to the unfortunate neighbors and other people who have to listen to the noise.
It  also seems to be contridicting if you prefer to have a loud exhaust then end up wearing earplugs so you can't hear it.

Then figure you have riders who wear earphones while listening to their Ipod, etc.  Isn't that just the opposite of wearing earplugs when you have music blaring in your ears?

Exhaust noise is not the reason I wear ear plugs. Wind noise is.

Quote from: Duki09 on October 18, 2009, 09:52:27 AM
Then figure you have riders who wear earphones while listening to their Ipod, etc.  Isn't that just the opposite of wearing earplugs when you have music blaring in your ears?

See my earlier post.