Questioning wearing Ear Plugs while riding

[askitee]

I just saw a post on Reddit of a guy being hit on an MC from behind while slowing for traffic lights and it reminded me of my intention to post this.

A few weeks ago I was away for a weeks holiday with my wife on the coast. An event happened that has me questioning the types of ear plugs I will wear while riding if ever.

We were on the only road into a small coastal town (Yamba NSW ) and traffic ahead was stopped. I stopped about 2 car lengths away from the car in front, and the vehicle behind (a lady in very small car) stopped back from us about two car lengths. I didn't have plugs in. I always check my mirrors when in this situation every few seconds. I heard a screech of tyres then a bang, I began to watch for signs of what was happening behind and another screech and bang, then the 3rd. I had begun to look at my exit point options and the 4th could be heard. I elected to move forward into the empty on-coming lane I heard the 5th, and as I stopped a Tradesmans Ute loaded with building gear is on two wheels and has crossed where we were originally stopped and speared into the body of water on the edge of the road.

Had I not heard the commotion behind us and moved when it was developing, we may have been hit by the Ute. There was no verge on the sides of the road, just the rock like structure and water (like a breakwall with a road on top) and the only space available was the oncoming lane which luckily was empty. It shook us both but my wife took it hard later - it really shook her up but she got back on the bike because she saw how I reacted and felt my habit of watching the traffic behind made her feel safer.

I had worn Pinlock Ear plugs and liked them for the fact some sound gets in. As I lost all four a mate gave me some industrial ones that leave only the slightest amount of sound in. I was about to adopt the industrial ones for the "quietness", but not any more.

Anyone have an opinion they want to share?

The lady in the small car - in the remotest chance you are on this forum or someone you know is, we can not thank you enough. I know your car was a write-off and thanks to you we came out unscathed.

[MNBK]

I use a brand called Earpeace. It has several different filters you can insert into it. The different filters have different noise levels so you can choose how much noise you want block out.

[RickWB]

I got custom made earplugs. The current filters are for musicians. I can change the filters, and traffic noise, but cuts most of the exhaust noise, and may help with wind noise as well.

[redrazor]

I used to wear them when riding my different Harleys with modified (loud) exhausts! Don't need them with my RT-L

[staneric]

Riding without ear plugs will eventually destroy your hearing

[Dasmoetorhead]

I just use Foamies.

[Mikey]

Riding without ear plugs will eventually destroy your hearing

Listening to music at concerts will destroy your hearing also. Or playing your headphones to loud will do it, mow the lawn, cut firewood,.shooting a gun. My self, if you want to shut out the world while you ride go for it, your ears. I don't wear ear protection ether.

[Peter Aawen]

Riding without ear plugs will eventually destroy your hearing

That is true, but as askitee pointed out in his original post at the start of this thread, not hearing and then not reacting quickly enough to what's going on around you could well mean that you're on the receiving end of a speeding truck or worse, and that might mean losing far more than just your hearing!!

It can be a tough call, can't it.... hearing, or ???

Ps: For many years I wore specialist hearing protection that was meant to limit/cancel the damaging noises that abounded in my various 'work environments', but didn't really and for the last decade or so, I usually wear hearing aids that have a 'special setting' that works far better at 'cropping' the damaging noises and that still work when worn under my helmet - I still basically hear 'everything that I still can', but the damaging components & volume spikes are reduced to much safer levels; and they get regular updates too, cos the programming is getting better all the time!

[Dasmoetorhead]

All I know is hearing loss really sucks..

[Latrappe]

All I know is hearing loss with Tinnitus is the next level of hearing discomfort, that does not include selective hearing which all us men suffer (I think it is the tone) my hearing loss even I have riden since 18 with no ear protection was compliments of 37 years in the army as a GRUNT and yes hearing loss really sucks

Take care and Ryde Safe

[blacklightning]

I don't wear ear plugs for the same reason that I don't wear ear buds when riding. I want my ears to be one more sense that will possibly alert me of someone or something coming in my direction to do me harm. I never wear a 1/2 helmet anymore, so the 3/4 or full modular helmet blocks out enough road and exhaust noise for me. I actually had 5 incidents this past Sunday on my 110 mile round trip to church and back that scared the crap out of me on my 2 wheeler. On at least 2 of those close calls, hearing is what alerted me of the situation. They were so bad that I actually posted my 2 wheeler up for sale that evening. I love riding the 2 wheeler, but I can just maneuver better in those close call situations when riding my spyder.

[Mikey]

All I know is hearing loss really sucks..

I kind of like it when mother starts mumbling around and I can't hear her. Sorry ladies!!!

[JayBros]

Dasmoetorhead and Latrappe are right in the bull's-eye! When the frequencies of normal human speech are just noise you can't decipher, or you can't use a phone that isn't Bluetoothed right into your hearing aids, or you can't understand your wife of almost 60 years unless she talking directly in front of you face-to-face, life really stinks. Of course, some might think the lattermost situation is a blessing, but it really pi**es off my bride.

[staneric]

I always wear ear plugs when riding and have never been compromised by not being able to hear something important.
I don't go to concerts and wear sound canceling headphones when using power equipment.
My sources for my original post are an audiologist and a ENT doctor.

[AndysF3S]

I used to wear custom made noise blockers in noisey areas from Costco that block most of the industrial noise but allow the conversational frequency to get in, they are inexpensive to have made and are molded to your ear and comfortable to wear. Costco in Canada has hearing centers in some locations that make these. I have hearing aids that I wear occasionally when I need to hear people in noisey arears but don't wear them at home which aggravates the wife.

I don't wear hearing protection on the Spyder, skidoos, seadoos or Defender because the helmet(s) seems to attenuate the noise quite well. FYI

[Leaping1]

Several years ago not having ear plugs probably saved my life. I was on a 2 wheeler at the time on a busy single lane road. I was about 5 vehicles behind the lead car when the lead car made a sudden stop to turn left. I heard tires grabbing behind me and saw in my mirrors that a Camaro was not going to be able to stop in time. I pulled on the right shoulder beside the car that had been in front of me. By the time the car stopped he had almost hit the car that had been in front of me. If had not heard him and looked in my mirror I would have been toast. There are always pros and cons in most situations

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

This is a good time to share this.

Peter has a visit with his doctor and asks him, "Doc, my wife's hearing is getting bad. What can I do to get an idea just how bad it is?"

"Well, sometime when she's doing something with her back turned toward you stand back about 15 feet and ask her a question. If she doesn't answer move up closer and ask again. If she doesn't answer move closer and ask again. That'll give you an idea just how bad it is."

A few days later she's standing at the stove cooking. He gets behind her and asks, "Dear what's for supper?" No answer so he move closer and asks again. Still no answer, so he moves closer and asks again.

She turns around and in an irritated tone says, "For the third damn time, MEAT LOAF!"

[Bfromla]

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[Leaping1]

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I am already there and it does indeed come in handy at times!

[BigPoppa]

I use a brand called Earpeace. It has several different filters you can insert into it. The different filters have different noise levels so you can choose how much noise you want block out.

A second vote for Earpeace plugs. My first 20 years of riding was spent without wearing ear plugs then I had a friend of mine talk me into wearing a set during a ride and I've worn them ever since. I found that not only was the elimination of wind noise more relaxing on longer rides but they also allowed me to usually hear my comm unit and on-bike stereo much better...usually. I've been riding with ear plugs for anything more than around town for the last 10 years and won't go back to not wearing them when at freeway speeds.

[vito1943]

I've never been able to wear earplugs of any kind and have them stay in when I am putting my helmet on, or off. I probably should have persevered because after 40 years of riding, and 24 years in the Army I have severe hearing loss. I get by OK, and wear hearing aids most of the time, but I wish I had been more careful when younger.

[BajaRon]

I really like wearing earplugs. It's been proven that with the correct product, you can actually hear better with them in than you can with them out. Because they will attenuate sounds like the wind and droning road noise so that you can hear sounds that are more important. Everything is quieter, of course. But this allows your brain to function at a more alert level.

At speed, you could be riding an electric bike and the wind noise alone will exceed what you should be subjecting your hearing to. On a longer trip, this adds to fatigue and mental dullness.

So, earplugs also reduce fatigue and allow you to stay more alert.

Everyone's ears are different. So, like a pair of shoes. What I like may not work for you. I've tried several types and am currently using these. They are not perfect so I'm not necessarily recommending them. But I like them better than the squeeze, twist and shove in style. They are quick and easy to insert and remove. I thought the stem might interfere with the helmet. But I've found this is not a problem for me. They are 28db which is more than I would like. But after everything settles down, I can hear what I need to hear more clearly.

I know people think they can hear better without earplugs. And maybe stopped or going slow this may be true. Also, I do not have serious hearing loss, and that may be another factor. But all the clinical testing I've read says that you can hear better with earplugs. And this advantage improves a good amount as your time in the saddle increases. Without earplugs, the longer you ride, the more tired and less alert you become. While at the same time your hearing is steadily being reduced. You may not notice the gradual change. But it is a universal effect. Add to this the long term hearing loss you get from riding without hearing protection, and I think it's worth some effort to find plugs that work for you.

Here is just one good article regarding this subject.
https://www.revzilla.com/common-trea...g-hearing-loss

I am not a nervous Nelly. I don't just get something because someone says it's safer. But when I find that it is true. I have learned that it's in my best interest to at least consider it.

I used to think that Real Men didn't wear protection like Helmets, Boots or Earplugs. But I got over it. I'm glad I did because many men my age can't hear very well at all. I'd be able to hear better if I'd have started sooner.

E-A-R Push-Ins 318-1000
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[Sarge707]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
I use these sleeping ones because being half the driver size they go farther in my ear and block most of the wind and engine and I hear my music just at medium -loud. I'm watching my rear more than my front. I will see an emergency vehicle before I hear it.

[OK-DZ9R]

One of the many reasons I don't listen to music when I ride. Also, a vote for Earpeace ear plugs.

[Latrappe]

One thing I forgot to mention, hearing is only a Once in a Life-time thing. Yes, hearing aids help, but go into a noisy environment, shops, or a restaurant while wearing them & you hear everything; with natural hearing you are able to turn off to the external noises, with hearing aids in you can't - you just hear noise! I will vote yes for ear protection; one protect what you have or in my case what you have left, I can sit here and wish I wore hearing protection earlier for riding, but being in Infantry when I started, all we had was a cotton wool like stuff for our ears, not like the noise cancelling stuff you have today; but then you cannot wear it in other environments which destroy more hearing than a quick blat around on a bike.

So, protect what you have or have not lost as they cannot repair Tinnitus or induced hearing loss - Yet! So live life as much as you can, and Ryde as much as you can, and protect what you have! Hearing protection, yes.

That's my 20 cents worth, take it or leave it.

PS: when my Wife can't hear me, she turns the volume up to a deafening roar and I still say "What did you say? It's too noisy!" and then even the dog runs out... (sick OZZIE humour)