Earplugs --- Eeew!

[MadDuck]

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.

[DRKWNG]

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

[MadDuck]

Looks interesting.  But hey, if I want my fancy tickled I can get Gloria to do that. 

[DRKWNG]

That's the spirit!!   

[ArguZ]

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 
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...

[Howie]

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.

[Wanwo]

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.

[CDawg]

WHAT DID YOU SAY???

+1

[hillbillypolack]

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.

[ducatiz]

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.

[eyeboy]

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

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?

[XTR]

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. 

[Statler]

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.

[ODrides]

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.

[zvezdah1]

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