Earplugs, negative affect?

[Dan 4RR]

Hi. I know earplugs have obviously been designed to protect peoples hearing, but sometimes I get a bit paranoid that wearing earplugs on the bike sometimes has the opposite effect. For example, I only started wearing earplugs last February after riding for nearly a year and a half after I found some washable yellow earplugs in the garage my dad had from work (New ones btw). So since then I’ve been wearing earplugs every time I got out. But after riding for say 30 minutes plus, a ringing/tingling sound starts in my ears as if riding with them in triggers this off, and after taking my helmet off I can hear this noise for hours afterwards and it’s as if the plugs sometimes partial block my hearing abilities for a few hours afterwards even though I’m not wearing them.
The other day I decided to have a little ride out without earplugs to see what it was like, and it was horrible, the wind noise, the high pitched scream you hear after 60mph was nasty. So it looks like I’ll continue to keep using the earplugs even though you can’t block out all the noise like travelling at 70mph plus on the m’way. But after going to Squires a few times I noticed that only 50% (probably less)riders use earplugs, I wonder why the others don’t? Meh, maybe I’m been paranoid, but does this happen to anyone else?
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[razy60]

i have to wear them for work as well. try not to push them into far as this sometimes causes problems such as you describe. best thing you can do is go to a hearing center bit like spec savers but for ears. they can make some to fit should not cost too much either.

[Al]

I wear earplus for most rides over 30 mins now.

I don't really get any problems but they can get uncomfortable after a couple of hours ( I wear them all day at work)

I've recently bought one of those helmet skirts and that cuts out most of the wind noise, was a good buy for a tenner
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Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
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[sagalout]

Cant say I've experienced any of that.

Only negatives for me are a) they make me ride much faster, especially on the motorway/long straights and b) I cant use the headset from the tomtom. oh, and c) I cant hear a thing when people talk to me until I take them out, so I probably look like a special needs case pointing at my ears and shouting to them that I cant hear anything.

Might try some of those noise cancelling headphones instead.

[The Tot]

I wore earplugs until i found out that Sony MD-EXL earphones have a flusher fit and remove most of the wind noise. I use the cheap foam ones that come "free" at uni. Not had any noticable difference between the plugs but considerable improvement with them in.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[snapperslappe...]

ride/bike mag had an article in it about how earplugs are'nt much cop, and the majority of noise is transmitted to your inner ear via your skull, from the vibrations of the helmet...

There are some plans to introduce a perforated outer shell to displace the air flow to stop us all going mutton jeff.....

still, i always wear them and seem to be less tired when i arrive than without. Shame they all end up minging after a few weeks use..

[brianmcewan.co.uk]

I would usually wear them if I'm going out for a ride on my own. I don't get buzzing or anything but would get a headache from the sound of the blood flowing around my head

Something quite scary happened recently with earplugs actually. I was on the bike on my own and decided to stop in to the place I bought the Zee. I had actually cut one plug in half because putting a full one in would sometimes feel uncomfortable (can you see what's coming?). So I jump off the bike take the plugs out and put them into my pocket. Have a good gander around the shop and come back out to the bike, usual routine of start the bike zip up jacket and get out earplugs... I pulled out one of them and put it in my ear, pulled out the other one and it was still rolled up a bit. Me being a lazy bastard that couldn't be arsed fiddling with opening it up again fired it straight into my ear. Noticed it wasn't fully blocking my hearing as usual so went to adjust it and found that I could get hold of it and could barely touch it. I think its safe to say at this moment I shit my pants. Put helmet on and rode home in half the time it would usually take me. Got my dad to have a look and he could just about see it, got the tweezers out and it was pushing it further... thank christ for these bad boys...

https://peterthink.blogs.com/hands/_images_P_B0002FS64U.01-A2N6NO8W19JCUN._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Saved me a trip to hospital, wasn't funny at the time but glad I can laugh now... don't think I'll try the economy technique of using one earplug for two ears again
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Kawasaki Z1000 '05
Honda Fireblade 954 '03

[Ariel Badger]

Wear plugs or you will regret it later. I now suffer from bad tinatus from years of riding on minimum silencing. I now wear plugs and wish I had done so previously, I forgot to put any in on the way back from Red Marley and my ears rang for two days.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Ichy]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=107376&highlight=earplugs

All you need to know and only a few weeks old.

[bazza]

[Ariel Badger]

[GixerCol]

I can get earplugs free at work but still buy these cos there that good, wear them all the time, once they expand they set very nice to your ear dont even know they are there
https://www.motrax.co.uk/index.php?page_name=product&product_id=1178
Try them I have gave them to guys who never go on well with ear plugs and they loved them compared to what they have tired

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I use them all the time, unless i'm just going across town.

EAR Classic ear lpugs ftw though, £30 for 250 pairs off ebay and they are washable up to 5 times.
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[bazza]

[MementoMori]

Wearing ear plugs makes me feel sick after a while, as does anything that restricts my senses.
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[Deckx]

[Dan 4RR]

[Kickstart]

[bazza]

[JM]

I have to listen to music on my bike otherwise I get bored. In 30 years time when my hearing is damaged there will be science to make it better anyway.

[ncrn]

I would wear ear plugs, but my right ear is shaped oddly, I find that ear plugs tend to.. how to explain it.. work their way out of my right ear again.

I should probably invest in some custom designed ear plugs at some point..
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https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[Kickstart]

[KTM Gordo]

I didn't wear ear plugs when I started riding, and I now have tinnitus. It's not the noise of the 'bike that's a problem, it's the wind noise. Regardless of what make your helmet is, prolonged speeds of 40mph and upwards are likely to cause damage to your hearing.

They do feel odd at first, but you do get used to it - remember the first few times you wore your helmet? Felt odd didn't it?

These days I'll only ride without ear plugs around town, otherwise I always use them. It feels really odd when I don't have them in...

Wearing ear plugs is a good idea. I SAID: WEARING EAR PLUGS IS A GOOD IDEA... sheesh...
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KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

[steady eddie]

On a ride across the Denbigh Moors on Friday, I noticed that as I got to the end of the twisty stuff and slowed down, I couldn't hear my pipe. Pottering through town, my exhaust sounded as though the baffle had been put back in

I could still hear the traffic, I even spoke out loud inside my lid and I sounded fine, but my pipe sounded muted. The frequency of my exhaust must have messed with my ears.

I never wear earplugs, but I may well start now..........

[Dan 4RR]