I always wear earplugs on a long ride and sometimes even on the shorter rides if it's cold out, but always on longer rides since I have V&H Big Shots on the bike (they are fairly loud). I wear a half helmet so even the wind beating on my ears over a long ride gets to them.

 

After 48 years of rideing I must confess I sure wish I would have wore earplugs and glasses..I now suffer from severe ringing in my ears and a condition called dry eye..although one looks cool blasting down the road without a helmet, earplugs or glasses when you finally reach the age of regretts, that will be one of them..

 

I have to agee cobb, my hearing is shot from years of riding, working in the trades as well as rock n roll music.

 

I wear ear plugs except forshort rides around town.

 

Actually I can hear everything just fine, thank you very much (eh? What did you say? ). I can hear things like my stereo at speed, as well as horns, tires screeching, etc. Pipes still have that nice rumble while riding. What it cuts down on is the background noise, such as the wind rushing past you, which is the part that is really destructive to your hearing.

I was a huge doubter/disbeliever, especially that I'd still be able to hear my stereo while riding. Until I tried them. You should try them as well before you knock them......

 

Must not do much hiway riding, do ya?

I can tell you from experience300+ miles at 70+ mphwill leave your ears ringing for quite some time - far more than the loud pipes you rail constantly against.

So earplugs are EXTREMELY sensible. I had a set of custom molded made, and they allow me to still hear rather well, but cut down on that wind whistle.

 

some helmets are quieter than others. There is a certain amount of wind noise generated by wind flowing past the helmet/ears, couple that with the drone of pipes at hiway speeds on longer runs and you will get fatigue. you might look at www.aerostich.com they have an assortment of reusable ear plugs. By getting the assortment, you can find a pair of plugs you feel comfortable wearing and reduces noise.

 

Yep, I wear em all the time, long or short trips. Geez my ears are bad enough from all those jets while in the fleet, I'm trying to preserve what hearing I still got

 

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(and I ride on the highway a lot, if anybody asks....FF helmet and typically at 75-80mph)

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: grunt

Must not do much hiway riding, do ya?

I've done and still do alot of highway miles. I guess perhaps the thing that makes a big difference is that I always ride behind a windshield or fairing. I have never taken a long highway trip without one or the other. This has to make a difference because I have never (key word being never) had a need for ear plugs.