Tony, where did you get them?

I've just been looking at the hearingprotection web site and wondering what to do about it.

I'll be coming to the UK in about a month and want to get something good before a year of riding.

Thanks

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http://www.robstravels.com

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http://www.robstravels.com

Tried using the classic cylindrical plugs with the squared off ends years ago and hated them. Furthest I managed was 10 miles, very uncomfortable.

A couple of years ago I found a special offer from Lucy Dell (ltd?) who supplied a sample test kit of a range of plugs. There were 15 - 20 types, made of different materials and in different shapes. I tried them until I found one I liked and order 25 pairs for £7.50, still using them. Settled on a type that was valve shaped with a rounded & tapered end.

I have Lucy Dell's number somewhere, will put it in a future posting ASAP - can fully recommend this method of finding a cheap earplug that suits you.

Steve

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My photos: www.possu.smugmug.com

I have been using their ear plugs for four years and have tried just lots of diffent ways to have music and hearing protection. www,hearingprotection.co.uk have the best solution. I spoke to them today and they have a new model coming out that has better base response and better noise protection. You need to go to an appointed specialist to have a mold made of your ear. I love music when I travel and have found these are great. However the DAP 32db foam earplugs from the USA cost about 5p and are remarkable for comport and noise reduction, but without the music. Using an ipod gives you all your CD's in a tiny package.

If you live in the uk there is Ultimate ear protection you will find them at most shows
mine cost £45, They can fit a filter in them to keep out the sound that damages your ear but you can hear your music,or for people with more money to spare they can fit speakers. www.ultimateear.com
e-mail davidmarshal@ultimateear.com
regards Gary

While browsing this thread my wife saw teds pic and wondered if / why I was looking at sex toys
Anyway I allways take a big bumper bag of cheap ones for the same reason as above.....they hide themselves away some how? But they do turn up later when I shake out the tent and sleeping bags. 100' s of them ! Great for sleeping in noisey places too. I have had the odd time when its been a bit of a task to remove them. Also the odd time when I have been ashamed of how dirty they have got on one use. I reckon wearing earplugs adds several hundred miles to a daily ride, by reduced fatigue. Frankly if you do more than 50mph on a bike I think its a must.
For people who dont wear earplugs: FRANKLY IF YOU DO MORE THAN 50MPH ON A BIKE ITS A MUST.
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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

hahaha...

Rules of travel.....

Improvise, improvise, improvise....

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Not sure if that says more about your wife's expectations or the size of Ted's ears

Even without the hearing loss issue I'm an ear plug advocate because they give me both another 10mph on my cruising speed and a sense of wellbeing as I ride along because I can't hear the mechanical torture going on in the engine. It works particularly well on a small engined bike like a 125 where you have to hammer it to get anywhere.

However I've had so much trouble (= takes so long) getting the foam plugs to seat properly in my ear canals that I've often wondered whether I'd save time overall by dumping the plugs and riding slower. Most of the time the things are one shot because they only compress and stay compressed long enough to fit when they're cold. Once they warm up with the heat from your fingers they rebound too quickly to fit easily - in my ears anyway.

Whether the expensive custom fit ones have the same problem or not I've not ventured to find out but I'd be somewhat annoyed to find I'd spent the money and still had to spend 10 mins fitting them.

I have a pair of custom made plugs. Whilst they take a little fiddling, it's only around 30 seconds until I'm good to go. Great inestement, and have probably paid for themselves in the three years I've been using them.

I bought a do it yourself custom earplug kit and combined it with a set of decent music earbuds. Works great. Blocks noise well and I can play music at low volume levels.

Also bought the best helmet I could afford - a Schuberth C3. The quiet helmet is well worth the investment!

Roborider - 1150 GS Adventurer - Galax VA

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Roborider
Rob Osborne
Vail (Tucson), Arizona USA

Hmm,

I have a C3 and I still get hearing problems, some times made worse (!) by wearing earplugs. I really want to try and get some of the custom made plugs but I'm nowhere near a place that can do it.

PS. The C3 doesn't do well in the sharp tests.

I think that noise is a complex combination of bike, windshield, head size/shape, clothing, bike options that channel wind, earplugs and (for me) level of hearing loss. .. that it is almost impossible to do an apples to apples comparison on any one factor. I only know that I find the C3 comfortable and very quiet and that I often don't even wear my earplugs unless I'm planning to listen to music or TED talks while on my 2 hour airport slab commute.

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Roborider
Rob Osborne
Vail (Tucson), Arizona USA

Studies show most hearing loss while riding is caused by low frequencies from wind noise. The low freq's shake the tiny and delicate scilia fibers surrounding the ear drum.

Listening to music loudly will damage your hearing MORE than wind if loud and long enough exposure. Use Caution. If the drivers are right next to your ear drum ... you'll be deaf in no time. (trust me on this one ... I wear headphones for a living)

Studies also show riders are calmer and more focused when riding with ear plugs. Also, at days end, you will be less fatigued if wearing hearing protection. Quiet and calm is good ... less stress, less fatigue, better riding.

A UK study done on road racers showed with ear plugs, riders heart rate was down significantly. A good thing.

As a sound pro, (movie sound guy) I've dealt with all kinds of hearing protection for the last 25 years ... including "custom" fit ones. I've never liked custom ones, they get gunked up with ear wax and when you lose them ... you've got to pay again. $$$ But as always ... IMHO and YMMV.

For the last 7/8 years I've gone with the Howard Leight Laser Lite plugs.
Like Ted, I carry about 10 pairs with me ... and usually replace a set after
four or five days of use. If you can keep them clean ... and dry, (and not lose them) they last longer. Never wash them. Won't work.

The Laser Lite's have 32db attenuation. Better than most custom plugs.
Now up to about $28 per box of 200 pair. (In USA) CHEAP!!

They are soft and comfortable, easy to insert ... but I see MOST riders don't put them in far enough. They must be rolled SMALL, licked, then inserted as far as possible, held in place while they fully expand. DONE! If wet, they can't be rolled up. Toss 'em.

I would disagree with Ted about windshields. A shield is no guarantee of quiet air flow, in fact many shields produce MORE noise (by far) than no shield at all. Getting a shield tuned for quiet is a bit of a black art. I've chased this phantom for years on certain bikes. My DR650 uses no shield and is quieter than most bikes I've owned that have a shield. YMMV.

An under-chin noise dam under your helmet can help reduce low frequency damage, but ear plugs are the best way. The Laser's for me are ALL DAY comfortable ... and a must if sleeping in strange, noisy places.

Howard Leight | Laser Lite Earplugs

http://www.northernsafety.com/Produc...r-Plugs-NRR-32

FYI just buy a custom earplugs kit and DIY. Mix the compound, press into your ears, let it set and you're done. Wash and dry your ears beforehand. Lol

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Roborider
Rob Osborne
Vail (Tucson), Arizona USA

Halfords sell large bags of them. Just a thought.

I bought a bag of 25 pairs from Halfords the other day as I already have hearing damage from too much time spent in night clubs and at concerts, they go under the GT Moto brand but when you open the pack they are actually manufactured by 3M and are excellent quality giving a noise reduction rating of 33 dB. However when I tried them on a relatively short trip I found myself too isolated for my own comfort and had to take them out again, hopefully I will get used to them on longer trips.

Product details:

EARSOFT FX UNCORDED