Author Topic: ear plugs - do you / don't you & why ? (Read 10549 times)

Enceladus · « **on:** 18 May 2012, 09:59:09 pm »

do you use ear plugs ?
if so, why ?
and vice versa

always used them myself as i value my hearing (being an amateur musician) but would love to hear other peoples opinions.

steeeve66 · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 May 2012, 10:08:03 pm »

I always wear them, even when I'm not riding...

mcyoungy · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 May 2012, 10:08:45 pm »

always wear them on the bike. I don't want my hearing damaged. simples.

CRH · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 May 2012, 10:10:02 pm »

too late for me!!! just been diagnosed with meniers disease! ( combination of clay pidgeon shooting and loud exausts!! over last 20yrs or so!my hearing now fooked!!! handy though when missis is shoutin at me

dekker555 · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 May 2012, 10:47:16 pm »

Yes, I've always worn them since I returned to biking about 14 years ago. I have tinitus (a ringing in my ears), and am begining to go deaf, good enough reasons I would think. Still, at 80, I've a lot to be thankful for!

CRH · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 May 2012, 10:54:20 pm »

bloody hell and you still riding?? ime 57 and nackered!! and yes i too have tinitus! i dont get the ringing mines more like a whooshing!! drives me mad? only got it in one ear though? worst when its quiet??

solorider · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 May 2012, 11:02:03 pm »

around town i dont bother but on a run i do wear ear plugs,one of my helmets is extremely noisey

rufus t glasgow · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 May 2012, 11:04:49 pm »

i've tried a few different kinds and they all lead to instant short term tinnitus.

if anyone can recommend some good i'll be,..ahem..., all ears

rustyrider · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 May 2012, 11:09:22 pm »

Tried them once and very soon stopped to take them out. Felt far too quiet, cocooned almost. My Shoei helmet is quiet anyway and I like to be able to hear what is going on around me in case I haven't seen it.

Dunky · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 May 2012, 11:21:29 pm »

Always wear them no matter how short a ride or listen to the ipod.

Dunky.............

Dave48 · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 May 2012, 09:31:51 am »

I wear them nowadays-they cut out a lot of noise.Try them on the motorway-they get rid of a lot of tyre noise from cars,trucks etc. Arrive less tired and ride more alert.Didnt start wearing them til a few years ago after I noticed some hearing loss but I can still detect the rustle of a £10 note @ 50metres!

CRH · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 May 2012, 10:05:35 am »

hey? what!!....you can still direct your russel to a £10 note @ 50mtrs!!... eye sight perfect then DAVE ???????

robby boy · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 May 2012, 10:09:41 am »

I usually wear them as I find the wind noise inside my Nitro lid can be quite distracting, plus they have not found a way to transplant peoples hearing.

eddie · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 May 2012, 10:45:19 am »

wear ear plugs all the time when riding bike, even to live music gigs

Motorbreath · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 May 2012, 10:56:07 am »

Always on road too

Grahamm · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 May 2012, 01:26:36 pm »

I tried without when I first started riding, but even with the Shoei XR-1000 which is supposed to be a quiet lid, I found the noise too tiring.

I use the Howard Leicht foam plugs at the moment, but I'm thinking of getting some of these "mould your own" ones someday.

ddtwelve · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 May 2012, 02:36:30 pm »

I dont wear them if the noise is too loud outside or your exhaust is too loud your helmet is not fitted properly

Hodge · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 May 2012, 06:44:31 pm »

I wear them all the time now. I can still hear enough but I noticed it made me more vigilant of what's going on around me. The other thing it affected was that feeling of oneness' with the bike.

griff86 · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 May 2012, 06:51:22 pm »

I ride with them all the time. Never when I'm motocrossing though, with the lack of wind noise I've never felt the need for them.

I play in a band and have always used them, also I can't sleep without them in either so I'm all for ear plugs.

acid drop · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 May 2012, 06:53:30 pm »

wear them always when riding

pilgrim · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 May 2012, 02:07:03 am »

I dont wear earplugs at all when I'm on my bike.
27 years, ex courier, 500k + and counting.
Dont bother arguing with me cos I cant hear you

But seriously, on the few occasions that I have done I've always found myself going much faster than I would normally.
Guess its a cocooned in my own little world and disconnected from reality type of thing.
Anyhow, its too late for me to worry about hearing damage, saw Motorhead on the Ace of Spades tour in 1980, squished up against the stage at Manchester Apollo, at the tender age of 16

131db

All I could hear for 3 days was WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
Awesome!

What?

dcm1000 · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 May 2012, 09:30:03 am »

I wear then on my sports bike because of the exhaust noise, I've only had the fazer for 7 weeks so I were still getting used to it. I will be using ear plugs again because of the wind noise.

JZS 600 · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 May 2012, 10:31:28 am »

Always,,,

I was a bit doubtful once but on a long ride, one popped out of my ear and I didn't bother to stop to stick it bad in.

The difference between ears when I stopped was incredible! It was like one side (the non ear plug side) had gone deaf and it took ages to get the hearing right again.

Phil TK · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 May 2012, 10:51:48 am »

Quote from: pilgrim on 20 May 2012, 02:07:03 am

Anyhow, its too late for me to worry about hearing damage, saw Motorhead on the Ace of Spades tour in 1980, squished up against the stage at Manchester Apollo, at the tender age of 16
131db
All I could hear for 3 days was WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

If you are not careful you might hear WEEEEEEEEE!! for the rest of your life. A mate of mine has a similar catalogue of ear abuse over the years, also a big Motorhead fan actually, was a biker and played in bands too and then suddenly last year he woke up with tinnitus and the low hissing sound in his ears has been there for months now. He can't enjoy any sort of music now, he says.
Wear earplugs before this happens to you too folks.

CRH · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 May 2012, 02:18:20 pm »

phil tk is 100% right? ...years of abuse,ie, abnormal noises like clay pigeon shooting (without plugs) and up to close in pits etc! loud exausts!! has left me deaf in one ear! and nearly deaf in other!!!i now suffer with tinnitus(drives me fkn mad)....and just been diagnosed with meniers disease!! affecting me balance!!! at the moment not riding bike very far, till sort out some medication to try and stop it? wouldnt wish that on me worst enemy!!!!!.....so take my advice?? if you can wear them do so!!!!! like i should have done? clive.