How can earplugs be legal?

[5v3d3b0]

How much can you actually hear when wearing them? I don't see how it doesn't reduce your abilities enough to make it illegal to wear them. Should be in the city at least

[Ade]

Presumably you would ban deaf people from the road too?

I wear them on motorways because the wind hurts my ears. Mixed with a huge amount of clubbing that I do, im in the prime group for hearing problems.

I will happily rely on my eyes a bit more and keep my hearing to an old age

Its not like they block 100% out anyway, I can usually hear horns and the likes, although much more faintly

[5v3d3b0]

Fine, if the wind on the motorway hurts your ears that's fine, but if people wear them in the city it's rediculous cause the speed limit is low enough that wind noise should never "legally" appear

[Ade]

That depends though - some peoples ears are a lot more sensitive than others

Also, when coming off the motorway, should people pull over and take them out? - quite a bit of hassle if its raining and you want to get back home.
Same for getting on - should they pull over as soon as they are on the motorway and put them in?

Wind isnt the only cause of noise sadly, general city noise can be pretty bad in some places

There is just too many factors to go for an out-right ban.

People often forget how much noise protection a car gives you.

[sagalout]

Just try wearing them and you'll see what effect they have. I can still hear everythign on the road, it just cuts out certian frequencies, making the ride much more relaxed. As said above, its a bit like the noise deadening you get in cars.

[5v3d3b0]

I love hearing the Rs go rrrRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Everytime I hit the powervalve I cum in my pants so I get busy on red lights wiping up

[KTM Gordo]

Earplugs are actually an aid to road safety as it cuts out wind noise and lets you concentrate fully on what's going on around you.

HTH
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KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

[TheShaggyDA]

[R4nger]

Why don't you ban knifes, sticks, paper (in case you get a paper cut) and ovens. Hell, I could call you mother...

[Wooly R6]

try them - i wouldn't ride without them - you can still hear everything!!!

they just make it bearable, as most wind noise comes through your skull anyway!!!
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R6 has been sold - 2004 Honda VFR VTEC now sold too - no bike at the moment

[5v3d3b0]

There's no need to bash me

[steveh]

i wear them, it actualy helps, cuts out wind noise, can still hear horns, beeps from crossings ect.

also makes my exhaust sound sexual
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[D O G]

[MarkJ]

I find I can actually hear more with earplugs in. I went out without earplugs the other day for the first time in ages, and all I could hear was wind noise. Put the plugs in an I can hear everything much better - bar wind noise

I've become that used to wearing them now that I'll walk around for a good few minutes after getting off my bike with them still in

[mistergixer]

I usually always use them unless i'm travelling a short distance at low speeds - i.e. nipping round to the local shops etc.
I find my concentration is greatly improved without a large amount of the wind noise there.
On my first helmet (an AGV), the top of the visor had a wind leak that only appeared at a certain amount of lean - in a straight line it was silent, but mid-bend there would always be a sudden, distracting bit of extra wind-noise that would ruin my concentration, and send me towards the nearest hedge!

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[St0rmer66]

I wore some of my disposable earplugs for the first time today on a ride out. Did about 40 miles and my ears were killing by then. Anything I can do to stop this pain or is it just a case of getting used to them?
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::

[Finglonga]

[LeeR]

Yeah I used to use the E.A.R Classic but found them uncomfortable and since I now do more motoway riding I found the 25db SNR rating insufficient, so I'm now trying the E.A.R Soft FX which are very squishy but are rated at 39db SNR, and after 5 mins I hardly notice they're in. I bought them here www.sounddistribution.co.uk/products.asp?category=Motorcycle+Earplugs&subcategory=Earplugs they also do a pix-n-mix multi-pack so you can try different types.

pdf explaining Single Noise Rating (SNR) www.sensorcom.com/pdf/Earplug_ratings_NNR_SNR_sensorcom.pdf
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[Pte1643]

By far the best earplugs are Laser Lites.

The Red and Yellow coloured ones that look like the old fashioned Rhubarb and Custard sweets.

They got decent attenuation, and are nice and soft and very comfy.

[Mooncatt]

i just cant imagine wearing ear plugs at all, i think i would find them very distracting, i dont have any problems with noise at all and dont find it at all uncomfortable (see the helmet thread) i payed £50 for my lid and find it cuts out a lot of the noise anyway.
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"you always need more chicken"

[Pete.]

[LeeR]

[trickysax]

I would swear by Moldex earplugs. I'm a musician and sound engineer so need to protect my ears, and they are great. I can hear road noises (horns, sirens etc.) but wind noise is massively reduced. Makes cruising at 60 in the country no struggle and prevents bus and lorry noise from giving me a headache in the city. Never caused me a problem, you just keep your wits about you and ride safely and it is a huge help.

Wouldn't ride without them now!
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Its not about the destination, its the journey that counts.

[Pete.]

BTW if you ride around London you'll be subjected to damage-causing noise levels from traffic. Buses have been measured at well over the safety limit for example.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[purplepower]

All bike cops are given ear plugs as standard, and when I did the Bikesafe course, they advised us all to use them, in fact we got a free pair in our pack.

Me and the other half have plug ear phones so we can combine ear plugs with being able to hear music. Personally I don't know how I managed on long journeys before I started listening to my MP3 player, but I guess thats a whole new topic!
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