Earplugs

[biker7]

When I'm on my cruiser in town with loud pipes I like to hear the lovely throbbing sound rise above the traffic. On my quietest bike at speed or in windy conditions I like to ride with earplugs in. It seems to improve the ride for me. I find the spongy ones pop out unless I get them in just right. How about you guys? Anyone use ear plugs? What sort do you use? How do you like riding with plugs in?
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[...]

I use the spongy ones for motorway trips, with a full face helmet they stay in place and keep wind noise down.

[Moo.]

I used some rubbery ones for when im gunna be on the motorway for a while... otherwise im deaf for a few hours
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Kingstondavo]

I use the spongy ones on my commute every day - find I can still hear everything, just at a lower volume....
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Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[kiddakidda]

Spongies.

But they seem a little hit and miss. Sometimes they fit well and keep the noise out, other times less so.

Anyone use the Moulded ones? Any good?

[Gobbin]

If your plugs are popping out, maybe you haven't got the right ones for your ears.

Buy a trial set from Lucy Dell earplugs (earplugsbypost.com) for 9.95 - you get 20 different pairs to try - and you should find something that fits you perfectly.

I'm little, with little ears, so I thought I'd need little earplugs. Turns out my earholes are the size of the Mersey tunnel!!

HTH.
gobbin

[pikestar]

I'm another one just using cheap spungies to keep the wind noise down.

[Walloper]

I've made a couple of these.

https://www.enhancedlistening.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1810

Set for bike set for work.

I've had more than a years use out of them.

The benefit with solid plugs is that they are 'easily' re-useable.
The foam ones work as well but I find after they warm up in the lug they are a bastart to roll and shove back in.
Plus they get grubby and absorb rain/water/earjuice. The silicone rubber ones can be washed using soap and water.

I use earplugs daily and can vouch for these.
I have had proper medical cast/impression and mould at £100 but once lost they are lost.

For foam, I prefer the 3M model. I do not use the ones with the cord (or pull the coprd off) as the cord transmits noise to the plug.

Loud pipes now and again will not make you deaf but wind noise will.
Hearing damage due to Noise is related to time of exposure more than dB energy.
So one hour at 87dB will probably damage your hearing.

Incidentally, listening to shit R&B, Pish Heavy Metal or any sort of RAPP will cause instant brain stem damage at any dB level.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Fifteen15]

I have these, under £20 from Hein Gericke. Owned them for about 8 months now and really happy with them. They allow just enough noise so you can hear around you yet the wind noise is greatly reduced. They fit perfectly and I forget they're in a few seconds after fitting them.
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[wasted_ace]

Only stick the plugs in for long runs on the Motorway.. no need for them at any other time unless the Missus is rattling on

[biker7]

Hey I just found a big piece of packing foam from a telly or something. Pulled bits off with pliers. After a few attemps got 2 pieces a perfect fit for my ears. Wet them and push in - total seal!
Will try on a run today and report back.
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[CB77]

If that doesnt work out - Max Lite ear plugs. Cheap if you buy a big pack, and can be re-used loads of times. Very comfy - just roll them up tight before you pop them in, and they expand to fit.

I always use them, and found that the persistent whistling in my ears when it's quiet has abated somewhat.

[Walloper]

[snikks]

I use the rubber types, as the foamy ones seem to irritate my ear canal for some reason.

I find they make riding a much more relaxed experience, and less tiring. They also come in very handy at work for blocking out all the "networking" that an open-plan environment encourages, at the expense of those of us who actually need to concentrate.
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- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[Skudd]

I have made to measure ear plugs, best £70 spent on bike kit ever.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[biker7]

[Noxious89123]

These; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370027597494?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Use them all the time, comfy and keep noise to an acceptable level, whilst still being able to hear the bike After riding for a couple of hours, I used to get a ringing sound in my ears. Not good!
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[steven_191]

i got some custom ones done at the bike show. waiting for them to arrive now.

ive tried the foam ones but after an hour or so they are really uncomfortable. feel like its pushing my ear apart from the inside.

hopefully these will be better for biking and for work. £75 for the ones with some sort of filter so you get some sound but not at the high volume.

think it was £55 for the non vented ones.

also the guy who does it travels to wearever you want to come take a mould of your ears. so you dont even need to leave the house if you wanted

www.customearprotection.co.uk

if anyone is interested.

[621andy]

I have a noisy job and plan to get some moulded ones made shortly. Apparently, they can be 'tuned' with filters depending on the type of noise you most often encounter.

My cheapish flip-front is very noisy, and since I started using silicone earplugs I've felt much more relaxed after a ride out.

Because I end up having to sleep at odd hours of the day, I use Ohropax wax earplugs to sleep with. I wouldn't recommend them on a bike though as they get too dirty.

I've been using foam plugs for work lately, and they seem to be a big improvement on the bit of plastic on a string ones you get in DIY shops, but I need to take them out to communicate with my passengers, hence the moulded ones...
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'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)

[garth]

I've just bought some of those mouldable ones.

£13, see how I get on.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[biker7]

Success! Bought some Blue Tac (white) in the £1 shop. Make a small grape size, roll into a tear shape, insert and flatten to seal edges. Stickiness will prevent it coming out en route. Very quiet ride I had today. Not worried about being too quiet as motorists are cocooned in silence inside their sealed windows anyway. Found my ride was much more enjoyable. You can still hear car engines but not much else. As for wind - what wind?! Pulls outer ear hairs a little when removing but definitely worth it. Can replace often as very cheap. Highly recommended. Here are some pics:
https://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc504/Radyr/three.jpg[/img]
https://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc504/Radyr/two-2.jpg
https://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc504/Radyr/one-3.jpg
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[Noxious89123]

[keggyhander]

When I first started wearing a piss pot I couldn't ride without earplugs. The problem was the helmet had no proper cut outs for the ears. I acquired a different one with proper ear cutouts and I don't need earplugs anymore.

[Dazbo666]

I've tried a number of different sized disposable ear plugs, but very few felt comfortable for any lengthy journey.
So I've since had reusable earplugs which have proved much more practical...

I guess I don't use them anywhere near as much as I should, but my intention is usually to have them with me particularly for motorway journeys
https://www.earplugshop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/a/l/alpine_22_white_plugs_musicsafe_1.jpg
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[ThatsTheBadge...]

I used Moldex Spark Plugs, they're foamy plugs that mould to your ear canal and block most of the noise, mostly used by track bikers, drivers and racers etc.

I like ear plugs when I ride mainly because my hearing is fecked enough, I don't want to damage it any more!

Here's a link to them on FleeBay, 100 pairs for 8 quid you can't go wrong!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-EAR-PLUGS-50-PAIRS-MOLDEX-SPARK-PLUGS-EARPLUGS-/360246853879?pt=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item53e062c0f7