Earplugs --- Eeew!

[MadDuck]

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)

[eltristo]

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.

[factorPlayer]

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.

[somegirl]

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

[Ducatiloo]

+1

WHAT DID YOU SAY???

[Ducatiloo]

I can get an extra 20 miles when I wear plugs, it cuts down on fatigue.

[Smitch]

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.

[zarn02]

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.

[somegirl]

WHAT DID YOU SAY???

Sorry, didn't catch that!

[Duc L'Smart]

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
Just my .02

[roy-nexus-6]

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

[Duc L'Smart]

Toilet paper works a treat. Tear off a bit, chew for a second..

Unused, right?!?

[ROBsS4R]

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.

[scooby]

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 ~~~>

[Grappa]

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.