Topic: Do you wear ear plugs?

[toytuff]

To make a long story short I have been reading about noise levels. A lot depends on the individual. The reason I did this was to "gauge" the exhaust I will be putting on the Ducati. It's the full race version at 105 db.

I have been in contact with the Distributor in Canada for the parts to install DB Killers. (Arrow's name for baffles.) Over two (2) months of being ignored by the US Distributor. Not the only one reading the Forums.

For many, many years I wore ear plugs while working in Locomotives. I carried that to riding and always have extras. It's like putting on my helmet. Part of the drill.

Here is a copy/paste post from another forum.

The term “SPL” stands for sound pressure level. SPL measures are taken with respect to the minimum threshold for human hearing. A 20 dB difference in SPL represents a ratio of ten-to-one in sound pressure.


Thus, a 40dB SPL would be a sound pressure level that is 100 times greater than the sound pressure level of the quietest sound that normal human hearing can detect.

Perception of Loudness (20dB = 4x)

Interestingly, our perception of loudness is not the same as sound pressure level. Although the actual formulae
is somewhat complex, as a rough rule of thumb, an increase of 10db SPL is perceived to be approximately twice as loud.


Thus a 20 Db gain would seem to be about 4 times as loud.
And a 40 Db gain would seem to be about 16 times as loud.

dB SPL in Real Life

To give you an idea of how a dB SPL measurements relate to daily life, a listing of the approximate sound pressure level for various sounds is provided below. (Fromhttp://www.state.me.us/spo/landuse/d...TABulletin.pdf - with the “Approximate Loudness” column added) (see also dB SPL and dB(A) SPL discussion on next page)

Sound Environment Sound Pressure Level (dBA SPL) Approximate loudness with regard to ordinary conversation
Threshold of hearing 0 Don’t hear anything
Broadcast studio interior or rustling leaves 10 1/32nd as loud as conversation
Quiet house interior or rural nighttime 20 1/16th as loud
Quiet office interior or watch ticking 30 1/8th as loud
Quiet rural area or small theater 40 1/4th as loud
Quiet suburban area or dishwasher in next room 50 1/2 as loud
Office interior or ordinary conversation 60 Ordinary Conversation
Vacuum cleaner at 10 ft. 70 Twice as loud
Passing car at 10 ft. or garbage disposal at 3 ft 80 4 times as loud
Passing bus or truck at 10 ft. or food blender at 3 ft. 90 8 times as loud
Passing subway train at 10 ft. or gas lawn mower at 3 ft. 100 16 times as loud
Night club with band playing 110 32 times as loud
Threshold of pain 120 64 times as loud as conversation (twice as loud as night club)

Interesting. Looks like a forth coming project.

tt

[78 k550]

I don't wear them.

Paul

[martin99]

Me neither.

[Stev-o]

Me neither.

+1.   My hearing isnt the greatest, all the rock concerts and car races have taken their toll

[70CB750]

I have them in every motorcycle jacket but only use them for longer rides.

My cheap helmet is noisy and ear plugs cut down the whistling and other higher noises and leave the engine loud enough to feel safe hearing a problem - at least I hope so.

I heard that Shoei helmets are quiet enough that you don't need plugs, but I never wore one.

Plugs I use are just the typical orange cones but I plan to get custom casts next time I get to a gun show.

In my experience for long trips ear plugs help with fatique, one less thing to eat from you.  Last year GZ I wore them whole 660 miles.

[CB750R]

Unless it's 20k or so I wear my earplugs.

I find the wind noise very annoying on longer rides, I sometimes shorten a set of "laser-lite" brand foam plugs, in order to reduce the wind noise but retain more comfort and some more engine/ background noise.  I think the constant wind noise is fatiguing too.

What I'd really like is some custom molded plugs with headphones!! Would make long trips with some tunes awesome!!

[toytuff]

I heard that Shoei helmets are quiet enough that you don't need plugs, but I never wore one.

I wear a Shoei and it is just a little quieter as my Bell 500. It is the Multi Teck model however. Much better with plugs and like others it's the wind noise that gets drowned out.

tt

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/earplugs.htm

[cougar]

Ear plugs ? Heck yeah !! Tooo much loud Rock & Roll, factory work, gunfire and Big ears plus Tinitus (constant ringing) ! Unless I'm going to the nearest town (11mls. away) , I've always got my plugs in !   ...cougar...

[Johnie]

My hearing has suffered from 22 years as an EMT back in the day when no EMS workers wore hearing protection. Times have changed, but to late for me. I do wear it on the riding mower and using the snowblower. I found the most noise I got riding was when I wore a 3/4 helmet with no shield. I have since changed to a full face helmet and shield which greatly reduces the wind noise past my ears. I do not put hearing protection in when I am riding.

[boatsdickson]

Ill vote yes, I do too. Since I went to a modular full face from my Shoei (sp) the wind noise drowns everything else out.

[Holubs]

I don't wear ear plugs.  Most of my hearing loss was caused by rock concerts and running farm equipment 12-18 hours a day with no cab.  Had a Shoei helmet years ago, was a little quieter than the Hawk modular I am using now.  Love the modular helmet with glasses...

My ears rang for 3-4 hours after seeing Kiss in 1980, haven't decided if it was worth it yet :-)

Holubs

[greenjeans]

yep, I wear them.   Took me a while to admit it, but they really do help.

[TwoTired]

I assumed the vote was for motorcycle related activities.  I simply won't own or ride or ride with motorcycles that are loud enough to require ear plugs.  There is no justifiable reason to have a motorcycle loud enough to require ear plugs on public thoroughfares, imo. 

I've been using Shoei Helmets since the 80's, I think.  Thinking about going to an Arai for the next one.

At the gun range, airport, or other venues with loud noises, yes, I wear ear protection.    I have molded ear plugs, and over the ear muffs, which I sometimes use simultaneously.  I also have Peltor electronic ear muffs which block noise above db levels which are damaging.  These are great at the gun range for teaching, as you don't have to yell instructions.

[toytuff]

Ill vote yes, I do too. Since I went to a modular full face from my Shoei (sp) the wind noise drowns everything else out.

I love my modular also. 

tt

[dave500]

I found proper ear plugs work too well,i just use a little cotton wool to take the edge off but still lets noise you need to hear through.

[Bob Wessner]

My helmet does a pretty good (enough) job for me, so I haven't felt the need for ear plugs.

[toytuff]

My helmet does a pretty good (enough) job for me, so I haven't felt the need for ear plugs.

Try some once and report back. I think you will like it.

tt

[simon#42]

i always wear them these days , its not the noise of the bike that causes the damage [ unless its stupid loud ] its the wind noise .
unfortunately it wasn't until after i had damaged one ear that i wised up .
give them a try you will be surprised at how they make a long ride more relaxing .

[TwoTired]

Sound is an important safety input, imo.  Particularly while so exposed on a motorcycle.

[Bob Wessner]

My helmet does a pretty good (enough) job for me, so I haven't felt the need for ear plugs.

Try some once and report back. I think you will like it.

tt

I just might. Never too old to learn something. 

[toytuff]

Sound is an important safety input, imo.  Particularly while so exposed on a motorcycle.

Doesn't effect any sound given the db the sound makes. I can hear cars coming up behind me, horns, whatever.

tt

[seanbarney41]

Sound is an important safety input, imo.  Particularly while so exposed on a motorcycle.

Doesn't effect any sound given the db the sound makes. I can hear cars coming up behind me, horns, whatever.

tt

+1, you can probably hear many sounds better because they filter out high frequency's more than mids and lows

[TwoTired]

Sound is an important safety input, imo.  Particularly while so exposed on a motorcycle.

Doesn't effect any sound given the db the sound makes. I can hear cars coming up behind me, horns, whatever.

tt

Non-active ear plugs are indiscriminate in what they attenuate.  I didn't say you couldn't hear, but the hearing effectiveness is reduced, particularly if masked by your own loud motorcycle.

Sure you can hear cars behind you.  But, they will be much closer before detection than without ear plugs. Distance attenuates sound as one singular factor.  Earlier warnings are what I prefer.  Then there is your reaction time to the sound to factor.

Chose whatever risk you wish to take.  But, don't tell me you can hear as well with plugs as without.  If you believe that, you are only fooling yourself.

Forgive me if you would rather have opinions than science.  But, it also matters how deep you insert ear plugs.

[azuredesign]

I had custom -20db plugs made 25 years ago on advise from a drummer I was working with. I never was able to use them, as has already been said, they filter high frequency much better than anything else, and I was already missing the upper end.

After an aurally agonizing 1800 mile fast bike trip down to Big Bend, I started using the plugs I had had made. So much more pleasant!  I use them routinely for long, fast or both rides now.

Fwiw, I do not think I could hear much besides air and my own bike noise over 70 mph. A car horn better not be the first indication that I have company! Also, I am wearing a 1 year old Arai Profile.

[scottly]

its not the noise of the bike that causes the damage [ unless its stupid loud ] its the wind noise .

1+ on the wind noise; I can barely hear my exhaust when cruising at 65 MPH. Years ago I had a devise called an apple-warmer. It was a sort of turtle neck dickie that stretched over the bottom of a full-face helmet, and tucked under the collar of your jacket. Not only did it help keep you warm, it stopped all wind noise; you could hear your own breath sometimes.