Do you wear earplugs?

Don't you like to hear your bikes exhaust note?

That is a misconception. I can hear the exhaust well on my bike as well as sirens and other things I find helpful to hear. I also like my hearing and follow the science.

As I said earlier though, each to their own.
 
Why do you wear them though? Simply get a quieter pipe or wear a thick necktube up over your ears

Just as good imo

Don't you like to hear your bikes exhaust note?

It might be that I have a noisy helmet, but it's not the exhaust noise that's the issue, it's wind noise. When I had my stock can on, and even now with my loud can, wind noise over 30/40mph is annoying at best, and bloody loud at worst!

The only thing earplugs cut out is the wind noise, I can still hear my exhuast crack and pop on the over-run, without earplugs in the wind noise drowns it out to the same extent that earplugs block the wind noise.

So essentially, I can hear pretty much the same, but without the annoying (and potentially damaging) wind noise. There's no way a neck tube would be as good as earplugs.

It might be that with a nice quiet helmet the wind noise isn't half as bad, but in my Arai it's pretty loud.
 
I used to but they would sometimes fall out,and I enjoy hearing my exhaust note and not a muffled mumble

Only pansies and men who moisturise wear earplugs

You need to try different plugs then as they should stay firmly in and not muffle sound.

It's all very well insulting those who wear ear plugs, but to be frank it's not very smart to not care about your hearing.
 
what did you say??:p

I cant ride without a neck tube though,it cuts a lot of wind noise out besides keeping my neck warm and free from flies hitting it

I think its a good alternative to earplugs
 
what did you say??:p

I cant ride without a neck tube though,it cuts a lot of wind noise out besides keeping my neck warm and free from flies hitting it

I think its a good alternative to earplugs

Just like Quentin Crisp used to wear? Very butch :p

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Moldex are good but I find the 3M 1100s more comfortable and just as good in the noise department. I've also used the Howard Leight plugs but don't find them comfortable at all for me.

You can get a mixed pack to decide what suits you best from the rainforest for a couple of quid.

I used to but they would sometimes fall out,and I enjoy hearing my exhaust note and not a muffled mumble

Only pansies and men who moisturise wear earplugs
What's wrong with moisturising............

**gets popcorn**
 
I've also used the Howard Leight plugs but don't find them comfortable at all for me.

I use these.

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I have to agree that they aren't the most comfortable, but I like them as they're quick to insert, because no squashing and rolling is required due to the hard blue bar running up the middle of them.

Once they're in I forget about them, so I don't think they're exactly uncomfortable, just not luxuriously soft.

Probably ideal for a commute, for example, rather than touring.
 
Your hearing is too precious to risk when you can easily, cheaply and without any hassle prevent losing it.

LOL such an ironic argument for a biker to make.

I wear them, why not, my helmet muddles most of the noise anyway so I wear them to further protect my hearing. I already have tinitus, and have to focus hard to listen to people in busy locations so I'd rather it not get any worse. I can still hear back firing when I come off the throttle.
 
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I wear them all the time and I can hear everything
cops/fire etc
exhaust sounds fine. those that say they cant hear there exhaust I don't think they have ever used any, because if they have they would know you can still hear everything going on around you, just at a safer lower DB level.

as for fitting them, you roll them in your thumb and finger 3/4 of there length.
you leave a little unrolled so they don't go into the ear to far.
hold it in place a few seconds for them to start expanding in the ear and they will never come out till you want them too.

I think it can be a generational thing as the forum I had this discussion on has most riders over 51 and a lot over 60. Saying that I'm 47 but have been heavily involved in H&S in the workplace for years so have the information I need to make the best decision for me. Good to see you lot see it the way you do.
I have my hearing tested at work and if I fail I cant work on the ramp any more and I like working outside on the aircraft.
I get my ear plugs from work so cost me nothing, I don't use them at work though(there mainly for people that visit) I have a proper pair that enclose the ear
 
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Why do you wear them though? Simply get a quieter pipe or wear a thick necktube up over your ears

Just as good imo

Don't you like to hear your bikes exhaust note?

Hearing loss has nothing whatsoever to do with the exhaust, it's wind noise that does the damage. Because it's a kind of random noise, like white noise, it can get to damaging levels without appearing to be particularly loud as you brain filters it out.

Wearing earplugs actually lets you hear the exhaust and engine more clearly at high speeds.

Up until last year I only used the Howard Leight ones as I found them far easier to fit. However, since discovering the "lick" technique I can fit the normal foam style ones with no problem and they are a lot cheaper.
 
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