Do you wear ear plugs while riding?

I don't, but wearing the new (still very tight) helmet yesterday, along with a balaclava, I noticed how quiet it was, and also felt a bit detached from the enviornment.

So, just wanted to know what you all thought about ear plugs, the pros and cons, what ones work best, etc, etc, etc

I dont use them, but i do own a set of fitted earplugs. my shoei lid when i first bought it used to be really quiet on wind noise......but not so much now, so maybe i should be thinking about wearing the plugs while riding the bike

I use em if i'm leaving 30 speed limit, if i'm not I wont bother.

Dont go in with the whole fitted ear-plugs side, have a couple of foam boots ones, but used to have a really good pair of bright flurescent orange ones I got free through one of the bike magazines (possibly ride?).
One of the things I hope to get at the NEC is some decent pairs of foam earplugs as I find the boots ones are slightly less comfortable.

And never had a helmet that was quiet, my shoei was loud, my caberg is just as loud.

well,,, it depends on where I am going..


If only around Town,, I don't bother... since I hardly can go fast enough to really feel the noise etc......


But I f I am going somewhere reasonably far where I will be going at speed, I do find that wearing Ear-Plugs makes the journey much more confortable and I feel I can concentrate much more on the Road...
Specially on Motorways....



yes you can feel a bit detached at first,,,, but soon you get used to it....



Now I always have spare ones in the bag, my pockets etc....

As with others I generally don't bother when just going for a quick spin round town, but always try to when out on the open road.

One thing I have noticed is that having become accustomed to wearing them the engine sounds bloody awful if I don't have them in!

Also it is worth trying different types I have found that some do not stay in my ears very well and are a hassle to put in (because they keep popping out) whereas others go in easily and stay in.

There are a few places that do selection packs so that you can try them out.

I did think about getting some custom fit plugs but I would probably lose them so decided that mail ordering cheapo ones bulk was the way to go.

i dont use them for short trips but if im going long distance i allways do, my hearing is important to me

Always on every trip. I would no more go out without them than go out without my helmet. I forked out for a pair of fitted ones. They were worth every penny - they fit better than the foam ones and cut down the noise more efficiently.

HI All



For those that are not sure why using an Ear-plug is important...


see link bellow

hearing - related topic

Looks like a trip to the local bike shop to pick up some earplugs then - well, any excuse to go for a ride

Never tried it!

I'll have to try one pair though...but I can only find huge bags of it..I just want one pair to try!!!!!

Always wear ear plugs if you use 60 or above speed limit roads, to prevent fooked hearing in the long term.

No this is not scientifically proven by me, but the engine note combined with the wind noise at that speed on my bike is very loud which can't be good long term.

Try your local boots, they should do foam ones, but make sure its foam, one chemist I tried had airline pressure ear-plugs, swimming ear-plugs and wax (??? I thought you were supposed to take the wax OUT of your ears not put it in! ???) but no foam ones. (None of the others are suitable).

oh and easiest way to put them in (i find) is just roll them between thumb and forefinger to make a narrow "sausage" and then slide it into your ear, should then expand to fit.

Put a little saliva on the plug before inserting into the ear to create a better seal....Oh if anyone thinks germs, saliva has antiseptic properties unless you have some other health issue.

I don't wear them, purely because I suffer from ear infections frequently... my doctor did tell me once that the only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow

If I'm going to ride faster than 30 or 40 m.p.h I always try to remember to use them some times I forget and it reminds me why I should. I find as well as cutting wind noise it helps me concentrate as I can hear engine and chain noise more distinctly with the lack of wind whistle. I always by a large bag of disposable plugs, as I suffer with excess ear wax, use the plugs a couple of times then throw them away and start on a new set. I cannot wear 'Fitted Plugs' as I can't be bothered with them effort of cleaning them after use, and for me the disposable ones are totally acceptable.

I never wear ones and the noice when driving dosent bother me. I'm more worried that if I do I can't hear whats happening for example emergency car behind me or something.

Ear plugs are designed to block nusance noises at certain frequencies. If you are hearing wind noise it will eventuaslly damage your hearing. Wearing ear plugs you can still hear traffic about you, your own engine noise, transmission and road noise and certainly emergency vehicle sirens of all types.

That was my sensation when I tried them; like I was separated from the experience.

Maybe I should have stuck at it a bit longer and I'd have got used to it, but I really didn't like the feeling and have never tried again since.

HI JP,


Well if you are coming anywhere near London,, let me know and I give you some pairs to try.....

otherwise,,,, DIY stores might have them, as well as Boots etc....


or, send me a PM with your address and I send you a pair to try.... falou!!!

I've never bothered using ear plugs. Even riding a naked bike I've never found the noise to be a problem, the helmet I have is fairly quiet.
I did try them once but found it quite wierd. After reading some of the things posted though I might give them a try again.

always wear them, like longrider fitted ones though mine are earphones for the intercom also rather than just plugs. If you feel detached wearing them now give it a few years and then see how detached you become from everyday conversations as you become deaf or develop tinitus, then you will wish you had used them. Gloves protect your hands visor protects your eyes, leathers and helmet and boots protect the rest which we all (well almost all) agree is important. Why take a chance with your hearing?

Speak up young man!!

Always wear plugs of one type or another. Usually cheap throw away ones. I have special ones for shooting, but no way to wear them under a crash helmet.

Like wot Ian said. Protect everything else, why not hearing?

I found the disposable plugs hurt, and havent found any yet that don't, I guess I could get some made but they are pricey and my RooF helmet is one of the quietest available.

And don't forget to wear them next time you see a band down the pub or stood by a motorway or using power tools....

Seriously tho I have used them on motorways and they have made the journey less hard work...I should use them more than I do...I have found using a buff helps to kill some noise...but recon if I carry on my bad habits I'll need an ear trumpet as opposed to a Strumpet Trumpet

I tend to use them now with the ZZR. I began noticing my hearing was a bit iffy after riding for an hour (Eh? WHAT?) and thought that can't be good!

I was considering those HSL things with audio capability as I find my autocom speakers hurt my ears (as does the missus). We've got big ears.

AncientD was very persuasive on the case against them ... anyone tried them?

yes, those are the ones I have, perfectly fine imho.

wear ear plugs on longer trips other than poppin down town. used to wear them all day when working in a workshop (air tools, grinders, hairy arrisd mechanics with hammers) you get used to wearing them and can still hear ok

okay am I a sad git then? I use ear defenders for mowing the lawn, and ear defenders + eye protection (no that doesnt mean I wear me helmet with the visor down!) when using the drill

No, not at all - a friend of mine lost the sight in one eye because he didn't. The drill bit broke and flew back into his eye.

Hi Finn


I am with you on that one......



I have Protective glasses for when drilling etc,,,,,

and do use Ear Protection if using something Very loud,, unless it is only for a few sec....

When I installed my Ground Anchor,,,,,, I didn't have proper ear-plugs, used cotton pads and and those large head-phone like protectors, but it iwas an old one, so i guess not very efficient
after almost 1 hour of drilling,, my ears were ringing...


Imagine if I was Not using anything....???


and yes,, Gloves and Glasses

I'm with you. Probably don't use the protective stuff as much as I should, but I wouldn't criticise someone who does. I'm at fault for being lazy and careless when I don't bother.

Earplugs *adds something else onto list of things to buy*

Ebay sells earplugs by the boxfull.

I got mine from screwfix direct!

does anyone have a set of earphone earplugs? I always wear earplugs when on long rides but find myself wanting a little music when travelling. Rather than drown the wind noise out with music, i want to kill the wind noise and then introduce the music, thus protecting my hearing. I dont have a problem with concentrating when listening to music as its something which ive spent most of my motoring life with...

now thats a good idea,,,can take the mp3 player on long runs

I always use earplugs, the green foam ones which are the highest rated out there (well were when I bought a bag of 100 pairs!) that block up to 34db...

I started using them when I fitted race cans to my ZZR. It took me a while to get used to them but no I could never go back. Even on really short trips if I don't bother to put them in the ride is not as enjoyable.

I used to worry about being detached or not hearing things but I find I can hear everything I need to, in fact it feels like I hear some things better as I don't have wind noise or any other "white" noise in the way.

Just a quick note on the music idea... determine how much of your concentration if any will move from your riding to your music if a really good tune that you love to "get into" comes on... that is more likely to stop you hearing something you should, like a siren, or a warning hoot etc than anything else.

Personally I put music up there (on bikes definately) with mobile phones; its not for riding with.

For long journerys I tend to let my mind play whatever music is in my head, that way there's still room for whatever is happening around me... but thats just me!

Music isn't a problem because you mentally switch out from it when the road demands higher concentration. A mobile phone involves a conversation - a whole different matter. The person on the other end of the phone doesn't know what is going on, so will still carry on talking and the subject may demand greater concentration or be potentially distressing - music is just music.

I've ridden and driven thousands of miles listening to music - it really isn't an issue. If it was, there would be carnage out there.

Personally I think it depends on how "into" your music you get, which is why I said they should think about it. I've been known to put more concentration into a song than a phone conversation.

Everyone is different.

And sometimes is IS carnage out there!

I believe that anything which can tap into your concentration should be thought about before being put into use, thats all.

I am deff one of those that music will detract from my concentration.....

I remember being in my car head banging to sommat and slowly driving into the car in front....which had a tow bar and punched a hole in my bumper then as the two cars parted from the collision pulled my bumper clean off.

I was not so into my music after that

Must just be me but I find every moment on the bike can be filled with something,every gust every tweek of the throttle all seems to be enough for me to keep interest.

So for me no music but each to their own

I use an autocom pro sport 7 for music and bike to bike conversation. refuse to use my mobile with it thought due to what others have mentioned, when your talking bike to bike you both shut it at the same time and only jabber on when riding along straight undemanding roads etc.

Although the speakers dont fit in your ear they do a damn good job of cancelling the noise, and the music mutes to 50% when you speak to you don't have to shout. I have a personal DAB as i find general radio less distracting than pure music, plus you get bord after 100 miles of back to back tracks with no breaks.

I know we all have different ideas about this stuff but for me my time on the bike is just that...I don't want aircon, music, mobile phone, sat nav, bike to bike or pillion comunication..

That's why I ride a naked bike I get to feel the wind (that also means how fast you are going) I like to get invloved with the bike and I want time away from every that's EVERY thing else.... If I have to hang on for dear life on a ride then when I get home I feel all the more satisfaction for the spin I have had..

My view is...What the feck do you all want to have all sorts of crap going on while you are riding your bike


But I appreciate that is just MY view

Because it adds to the riding experience. SatNav makes navigating a strange city less fraught - the voice prompts mean I can concentrate on riding and traffic conditions rather than trying to navigate. The autocom means I can communicate with my pillion without having to shout over my shoulder - this means I can concentrate on what is going on in front of me. The music is no different to listening to music in the car - it's background burble. Yes, I am "into" my music, but it does not impinge on concentration in the same way as a mobile phone conversation does. When I need to concentrate on traffic conditions, I cease to consciously hear the music. Mobile phones are another matter entirely and not comparable. RoSPA have been carrying out plenty of research in this area, so it isn't just my opinion here. Their data is suggesting that a mobile phone conversation may affect concentration for up to 20 minutes afterwards. So, no, I don't use a mobile while on the road.

I think it depends on whether a bike is a leisure item, or a means of transport.

I have the impression (I may be wrong) that for Mot the bike is a hobby, he goes out on it to have fun with no real destination in mind, probably on roads he knows.

Whereas for longrider the bike is a means of transport (not to say he doesnt enjoy it) but simply want to add something to the transport experience.

Maybe i'm barking completely up the wrong tree here though.

Yup I think you have just about summed it up. It hasn't always been that way it's just that I drive all day so can't commute on the bike like I used to..so it is now used for fun when ever I can get out on the thing...

But saying that I have done quite a few long journeys and never felt the need for music so maybe just different strokes

You are absolutely spot on.

I've never ridden a big bike before so I'm interested how this affects your hearing? Surely it can't be that loud with a helmet on???!!
In the army I never used em and as soon as you fired the first round my hearing always "went" but always recovered for about the day after...don't think it effected me long term. Though a mate of mine lost hearing permanently in one ear doing that....seriously there's more risk with a motorbike than a rifle??!!

Any time your ears are ringing or you lose your hearing like that it is damage which doesnt heal. That damge is cumulative and can cause problems later on.

it doesnt need to be that loud to cause damage, for instance earphones are quite easy to have loud enough to cause damage.

It is also dependedent on the duration of the noise, its possible to have a very loud very short duration "bang" and cause no damage, but a quieter sound for hours on end does do harm.

Personally I prefer not to take the chances, have suffered from tinitus for short times after being in a club or whatever and would hate to have it permenently, would drive me nuts!

Ultimately its your own choice though, just dont complain later on!

Well I suppose I'm done for then, cos I've fired assault rifles (and I'm talking 7.62mm not the pansy 5.56mm NATO rounds) countless times and everytime (except for the first few times which they forced us to use ear-warmers) my hearing went. Strangely I thought my hearing was quite good...maybe I'll get my ears checked.
Strangely enough I could never fire well with me ears blocked, don't know why...even though after the first round your hearing was buggered anyway. Not to mention the first cold round was highly inaccurate because of a cold barrel...but I always aimed it, silly that. And what's with NATO policy of making the first round a tracer when it can't be aimed properly!!!???...just to give your position away?!! Tracers are put in a ratio of 1-4...1 tracer per 4 rounds so every fitfth is a tracer. Hard to explain but if you evered fired a rifle, I'm sure you'd understand...

I only wear earplugs if I'm heading out for a long ride. for commuting where the top speed would be about 40mph and only for about 25 minutes i don't feel there is any real danger to my hearing. i like to be able to hear what's happening around me too. the only real problem I've found with wearing plugs on the motorway is the tendency for my speed to creep up without knowing it, the wind noise is usually a good indicator of speed and the dampening effect takes some getting used to, honestly officer........