How can you hear for the cops, fire dept & etc?

 

On my Duece I wear ear plugs almost always, unless I'm just putting around town.

On my Limited, which is a much quieter ride with the fairing, windshield, quieter mufflers, etc., I only wear them occasionally and then it's usually on a several hour ride.

 

Had an OSHA class once that mentioned losing your hearing after 5 minutes of riding because of the noise decibels. The ear plugs only block out a certain decible, thats why they make them, they are not intended to block all sound.

I started wearing them and noticed I concentrated more on the road and the bike. I also noticed when I showed up somewhere I wasn't as tired.
Your brain hears the wind noise and thinks it's going faster than you really are...

 

Usually wear them unless I'm making a really quick run. I can hear my radio better. Wearing Schure noise cancelling ear buds when using the iPod
still able to hear the surroundings

 

YES. all the time!...Learned the hard way.

 

I wear ear plugs whenever I ride....specially on long rides....no more headaches or ears ringing after the end of a long day riding

 

I wear them all the time.
Even for a short hop to the corner store, you can not get your hearing back once it is gone.
I already have tinnitus in both ears and under age 50, so I do want to keep my loss as slow as possible.
It isnt/wasnt caused solely by riding and shooting, but industrial noise in my younger days.
Ride Safe,
Rob

 

I always have them with me and try to remember to use them for anything more than around town riding

 

Always, Always, Always! I have a constant low level hum in my right ear from abusing them my whole life. By using the cheap foam inserts I find the ride more relaxing yet I can still hear quite a bit going on around me.

The wind noise is deceptive. It is damaging your ear without the realization it's occurring. One day you may get the tinnitis all of a sudden and then its too late.

Disclaimer: Years ago in my job's underground parking lot I happened to be near a pineapple (very large firecracker) that was placed under the rear spoliler of a woman who recently broke up with a wacko. The blast was so loud I was dazed and fell to the ground. This may have been the start of the humming but I only began wearing hearing protection after 10 years of on/off full helmet riding.

 

I try to remmember to use them to cut down on fatigue caused by wind noise and to protect my hearing.