I wear ear plugs almost all the time, both in town and on the road. Use the soft vinyl ones on a lanyard that I get from Lowe's for about $3.00. They come with a little carrying case and are about 25 db. Last a long time and are washable. I can hear traffic and I shift off the engine noise more often than the tach. Tax deductible as I wear them for work too.

 

I am using Moldex Pura-fit 6800, these are disposables that have a noise reduction rating of 33. I got a box of 200 pair for about $20.00 at a safety equipment supplier (who unfortunately closed his business recently, I knew it was too good a deal). Anyway, they really soften the road noise and I don't find myself saying "what?" after riding for an hour plus, then trying to have a conversation. Interestingly, however, when I use the plugs, I am more aware of the subwoofer like vibrations my dyna transmits through the seat, hopefully this kind of sound conduction is not harmful.

 

I wear them most anytime unless it's just running up to the store. The wind buffeting around my ears was literally making my ears hurt-like an earache. Also,a lot of the concrete highways here are grooved and the tire noise from the cages can be horrendous. To bad they didn't do some sort of impact study on that before they implemented it....

 

The question to ask yourself is how long do you want to enjoy the "Harley sound" of your pipes. If you're cool with only a few years worth of enjoyment then ditch the earplugs. However, if you want a lifetime of enjoyment then put them in. Personally, I wear them anytime I go over 30 mph. I don't like the feeling/pain in my ears after crusing highways speeds. The high winds here don't help.

 

 

The wind was driving me crazy and after a long ride the ringing was getting to be a problem. Combine that with the idea that I like to listen to music while I was riding made me take the big step. I got some fitted earplugs and had the Pilot Shop make me a set of earphones to work with my ipod. It was about $250 by the time I was done, but now I won't even take a ride to the corner market without plugging in. The noise change takes a while to get used to, butI can still appreciate the rumble - andI get all the music without having to turn it up so loud that my ears ring from that. I expectthat might even be able to keep most of my hearing so I can hear it all for a long time to come.

 

it helps with thewind

 

Ipod with Noise canceling Ear buds.

 

What?

 

I've always used ear plugs. It takes all the top end noise away on my old ironheads and shovels. If I didn't wear them, especially when it's hot, I'd swear my bikes were gonna blow. I went out withhout em the other day and even my 07's top end was bugging me! tick,tick,tick..... Never heard it with the plugs in!