Just curious how many people wear ear plugs?

No ear plugs for me thank you.

i use a 3/4 helmet instead.

I had a pair of molded ones made.
I wear them on long rides.
It helps alot, my ears don't ring after rides and my DR told me to wear them
It is because I am already tone deaf and it will only make it worse.
By the way the tones I have a hard time with are women and children.
I am unsure if that is good or bad.

By the way the tones I have a hard time with are women and children.
I am unsure if that is good or bad.

That is a blessing from God.

I don't wear earplugs yet, but I have been considering it. Wind noise at highway speeds gets annoying real quick.

I wear a half hemet with a zip out liner for the colder months but found the noise is too loud without the lining so I leave it in year round now. I don't know how anyone can ride with no helmet for this reason alone, the wind noise is unbearable.

I don't leave home without them.

A friend gave me some of those Hearos soft foam ear filters, but I've never tried them or any other earplugs.

But I do wear one of the Carhartt watch caps most of the time when riding, and sometimes pull it down over my ears. :D

http://dogsdoom.com/PI/carhartt.jpg

I do wear earplugs, but it depends on my configuration/ length of the ride...

I have found that my shield blocks ALOT of wind noise normally....

Without the shield, if I don't wear the zip-on ear muff for my 1/2, I definately wear plugs...

I'm trying to save what little hearing I have left so I don't do anything without hearing protection of some kind. At $2,000 a side for hearing aids its a real no brainer today with all the information out on hearing lose. Oh! very few insurance programs offer hear aids so it is out of the pocket

Live to hear, hear to live. Yes, I wear them all the time.

i use ipod works great and i have tunes:tour

For short ride I don't,but for the long haul I just stick a carrot in each ear.That helps alot.

When i wear my 1/2 helmet on long rides or on the highway I wear them. If it cold or raining I wear a full face and the noise doesn't get to me. This is the first year I've worn ear plugs and I can't beleive I waited as long as I did. Those long rides are sooo much more fun now.

Don't wear them on my 10 mile commute but any long rides at highway speeds and I wear them. I have ear plugs in all my jackets and pants that I wear when riding.

Whatcha Say ????????

I have ear plugs in all my jackets and pants that I wear when riding.

Try putting them in your ears next time you ride. It's amazing the difference it makes. :smoke

Full face helmet, filters out sound pretty good... havent noticed any ringing yet from riding

Try putting them in your ears next time you ride. It's amazing the difference it makes. :smoke

They go in your ears?
:roflblack :roflblack :roflblack :roflblack

Only when I'm welding or firing one of my guns. Never on the bike. But then I don't intend to "pay any taxes."

Someone already said it but I keep some in my riding jacket, Only use them on long rides not puttin' around hops.

I though you wanted to hear yourself! Isn't that is why you got the loud pipes for?

Cameron 05 XL 883 SS (Standard Stock) I love to hear the whisper of the wind. That is why I ride.

I though you wanted to hear yourself! Isn't that is why you got the loud pipes for?

Cameron 05 XL 883 SS (Standard Stock) I love to hear the whisper of the wind. That is why I ride.

It's not the pipes that cause the problems with hearing.
It is as you call it "The whisper of the wind"
The wind rushing passed your ears is what causes major hearing problems.

I will wear them on a long ride, helps with the wind noise and makes the ride more enjoyable.

I tend to wear them regardless of if I'm wearing my full-face helmet, or half-helmet with or without the zip-on bottom half. Under the full-face helmet, it makes things real quiet. I can still hear car horns and emergency vehicle sirens and screeching brakes and the like, but the wind noise is practically non-existent. With the half-helmet, I wear them whether or not the lower half is zipped on or not. I unzipped the lower half and forgot to put my plugs in one time, and the wind noise was unbearable. For those of you who haven't tried using them, you'll be amazed at how much quieter the ride is with them. 'Course for those who are too cool to wear them, we'll compare hearing abilities in a couple of years and see who's a better candidate for expensive hearing aids...

I wear em for long runs but not around the hood.Wore them just today and now my ears are screwed up.Inner ear infection.

I wear a 1/2 helmet yearround. If I'm going to be at highway speeds for any length of time, I have those cheap foam earplugs. Drugstore, buy a sackful cheap, fleshcolored ones. They work. No more ringing in the ears and people don't sound like Mickey Mouse on Helium any more after a ride.

I wear them when I'm going to be on the hiway or at speeds over 45 for any amount of time. I have a bad(broken) ear drum from other activitys and the wind buffeting around my head makes it hurt after about 10 miles, especialy if its cold. The only down side is, I can't hear my pipes as will.

After 24 years of flying in these prop jobs, many of my fellow crewmembers experienced permanent hearing loss...I was teased for wearing ear plugs PLUS ear muffs during my military career, but my ears are as good as a 21 year old geek's ears even today! In addition to flying, I rode my motorsickles and went to rock concerts, too...with ear plugs! So yes, I'm a believer in those little pieces of foam! Deafness is the loneliest disability there is, and if possible I'd rather not lose mine! I want to be able to hear those chick-a-dees when they call my name! No missed opportunities for me, thank you! :D

http://www.highgallery.com/USmilitaryAircraft/Fairchild/Fairchild-C-123_2.jpg

http://www.military.cz/usa/air/in_service/aircraft/c130/c130flig.jpg

Its not the pipes that get to me, its the ambient noise from the wind. So I wear them and I can hear my pipes, cages, and emergency vehicles better.
I also use an iPod for anything other than commuting and with my W/S I can hear it at 3/4 vol. That's less that 80db. My cord on my ear plugs has a mute button I can use if the music needs to be turned off in a hurry.

I wear a full face helmet, and ear plugs if I'm riding somewhere and planning on going more than 50 MPH. If I'm not planning on any speeds like that, then just the helmet (around town, for example.) It's not the exhaust noise, it's the wind noise, that causes the hearing loss. On my bike anyway - my Supertrapp is quiet (relatively speaking.)

-- Chris

I can't take the wind noise on the bike.
I have lost enough hearing through the years I still want to be able to hear later in life.

I wear a great fitting 3/4 helmet with shield, which muffles the wind down nicely. I don't wear ear plugs.

I should have worn them on a particular occasion years ago while target shooting. I've had tinnitis in one ear since then.

Nowadays a bit of wind noise and the pipes is an improvement to just listening to the ringing in my ear.:rolleyes:

ed in az I have tinnitis also, in both ears. too much rock-and-roll, shooting the 30-06 and 7mm mag and riding bikes... I now wear a FF and use ear plugs religiously, I really need them with my D&D 2:1... I don't want to loose anymore of my hearing....

I am getting real tired of contantly saying "what" when someone is talking to me...

ed in az I have tinnitis also, in both ears. too much rock-and-roll, shooting the 30-06 and 7mm mag and riding bikes... I now wear a FF and use ear plugs religiously, I really need them with my D&D 2:1... I don't want to loose anymore of my hearing....

I am getting real tired of contantly saying "what" when someone is talking to me...

Tinnitis is awful, and permanent. Mistakes with your hearing will cost you. I probably should protect what I have left. But at this point it's a love hate relationship.:o

Plugs for me.
I wear 'em almost religiously.
('xept for stoping at the groceriestore, on my way home, which is less then a minute away)
Besides protecting your hearing (little that's left), they also reduce fatigue on longer rides.

Being an Audiophile I find plugging quite necessary.

Only when the wife is yakking at me...LOLOL

i only wear them on long rides. The wind noise gives me head aches


Longer than 30 minutes.

Wear them all the time, with a full face helmet. The wind noise is still very noticeable even with a full face. Recent report in "RIDE" bike mag over here into helmet noise showed big differences in Full Face db levels, quietest was a Schuberth. Conclusion was "wear earplugs".

have not used them but planning to start. I just have to remember to put them in. And for me remembering can sometimes be a problem. Also I read that you should either dispose of or disinfect your plugs at the end of the day or you risk getting an infection. Don't ask me where i read this because I don't remember.:)

I didn't used to until one long cold windy ride. I felt :censor deaf and my ears were killing me by the time I was done. Now I wear them all the time. If I forget them, I'll pull over and put them in. It's probably very entertaining for the people driving by watching me try to put earplugs in with my helmet and gloves on!

pretty much have em in 8-10 hours a day anyway so why not on my bike, actually I use em for longer rides cause the wind can be quite annoying howling in your ear for hours.

FF and ear plugs since late 70's. Wind noise just flat does me in if I don't wear them.

I just started to wear them. I mostly wear them on long rides and when it is cool outside. I usually don't have my windshield on and I take a beating on longer trips.

I do only when it is pretty windy. I feel like I don't have complete use of one of my senses when I wear them. Maybe I have bad hearing already and with plugs just can't hear anything at all. Sort of scares me to hear nothing. My riding partner wears them all the time.

itumes for me!......................:p

the wind noise is my bigest concern as well

Hi All.

Ok, I used to wear them whan I had my Cycle shacks on, but now with the Thunderheader, i don't need them, and it dumps far enough behind my ears.
I do wear a Full face, and on long rides, I use a MP3 player.

no ear plugs, not needed at this time.
:smoke

Got good hearing, but also got tinitis. Only really a problem at night when ambient sound is low... or anytime else when other noise iis also low...

I use ear plugs for anything more than around the block, mostly to block out wind noise at speed.

Someone already said it but I keep some in my riding jacket, Only use them on long rides not puttin' around hops.

I do the exact same thing here. :tour

I wear them when I am in the helicopter.

No I don't were plugs my helmet it is full face and came with coverd inserts to put into the ear cut out section. The inserts make a difference but plugs with out the insert would be better. I do were them at work.

I will renig on what i've posted before. Since then i've changed up a bit. I don't wear ear plugs at all now. Previously i wore a full face and it helped with alot of the noise the helmet generated. Now that i run w/ a half helm i always have a hankie on my head underneath. I wear it in such a way that it covers my ears. That alone quiets down the ride enough to where i don't need ear plugs. Plus i can hear alot of the necessary noises that the bike makes. Like, if a noise happens that isn't supposed to. lol

I keep a few pairs in my bag on my bike for longer trips, they help with fatigue on longer trips.

I wear a full face helmet, and the scoot has no windshield. I used to feel the (new) helmet was enough to keep the noise out. This year the wind noise seems to be worse - either I'm riding faster, or the helmet is breaking in a little. I am required to wear ear plugs at work - so I figured I'd wear them under the helmet and see. They really do make a difference! I was beginning to think I needed louder pipes because I couldn't hear them all that well through the wind noise. The ear plugs filter out the high pitched wind stuff, and make hearing everything else better! A coworker just bought a BMW K-series which has a radio and such. He said he couldn't hear anything without ear plugs - ironically enough, he put ear plugs in, and now can hear the radio and bike much better.
As others have stated though - for short hops to town or something, I generally don't wear them, only on longer trips.

Presently ride with no windsheild. I wear them anytime I'm going for a ride at hiway speed for more than a half hour or so.

I wear them when I don't have my windsheild on and I'm planing on doing some interstate riding. It usually isn't to bad until I get over 55 mph.



w00t first post!!!

I always carry 2 or 3 pair of the cheap plugs in my jacket. I wear them any time I'm on the highway, regardless of what helmet I'm wearing. Around town I don't bother with them. Like alot of people have said, it's the wind noise on the highway that bothers me.

Thanks for all the replies -- ironically I never thought about wearing them actually helping you to hear better, but that makes sense. I've been putting off wearing them because I'm still a new rider and not being able to hear my bike makes me a little nervous. After reading some of these responses tho, I think I'll give it a try. What the heck.

My job requires I have good hearing. Yes I wear plugs.

I wear them on longer rides when I'm going to be riding over 50MPH..

I wear them maybe 20 percent of the time, but I am also finding that I ride more carefully when I have them in. I have had ringing in my ears way to many times after riding without ear plugs. I'm scared that my perfect hearing will soon be less than normal, so I am considering wearing them more often.

Just did about 1400 - 1500 miles, for sure on the long high speed runs. Cuts down on the wind noise. Next time I'll wear a full coverage, I think.

Ride to Live and Live to Ride

Reb

Hey Denise,

I wear an HD modular, fullface helmet and I've no problem @ all w/wind noise, or any ringing in my ears.

It's those voices that bother me...

hehe

On the interstate or long rides.

i use a bandana around my head over the ears. once in a while i put .40 caliber rounds in my ears to look more like a freak. thats what i always use when shooting!

I just started wearing em...if it's a really short ride, i don't, but like some other said, if i know i'm gonna be above 50, i definitely will. The plugs I use also make my pipes sound deeper.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

Those are the ones I use. I also have a pair of their ER*4P headphones....amazing quality. Definitely worth the $12.

Marc

I have always worn earplugs, and find I can ride longer with less fatigue.

I went for a ride on the interstate yesterday with no helmet. I wanted to hear those little men in my motor trying to hammer thier way out. What a mistake, it was so loud I had to find some for the ride home. Then with ear plugs I couldn't hear anything. I'll stick to my full face Buell.

After my ear surgery I started to wear ear plugs, doctor's orders. Not so much for the noise as for the wind blowing in my ear.

I definitely wear ear plugs or my sound isolating shure ear buds. Check em out. Shure E2c.

i like earplugs. the wind is a little too much at times. after my first few runs wearing a half helmet (and a slight ringing in one of my ears), i dug out my set of hearos, and put them on my keychain to remember to wear. they're comfortable, and reduce the wind/noise to just the right level. get a set, they're like 3 bucks. i wear them to concerts, too. i've gone to way too many shows where my ears rang for more than a day afterward; music is a big part of my life, and preserving what hearing i have left is a good thing.

Started to play drums in '61,got a drum set right when the amps got big and it was cool and way too loud so we got all various plugs,.motorcicle sounds,job sounds,plug thy ear as far as that goes.

I went for a 700 mile ride this weekend and decided to try ear plugs. I wear a full-face helmet and have a detachable windshield. The plugs reduce the sound so much all you hear is muted wind noise. I didn't like it. While I don't need to hear the engine to shift properly, I still like to hear it in case of problems. But, my biggest complaint was that I couldn't hear other vehicles. Part of the drive was through a major city on a multi-lane freeway. With that many cars, you can't keep track of all them coming up behind you so it's nice to hear them. With the plugs, you don't hear them at all which I found scary.

So, the second half of the ride was plug-less. A little noisy but I liked it better.

I wear a full face helmet most of the time. Especially at high speeds where wind noise would become a factor. So I don't need any ear plugs.

For anyone that wears them for the exhaust noise, well, that's just crazy. There are quieter exhaust systems out there that will still give you great performance. Having the cool sound is not all that great if you have to plug the ears to enjoy a ride.

It's interesting that a majority answered "no" to the poll, but most of the comments appear to endorse the use of earplugs. I have to say that I don't wear them, but I try to stay off the interstates. With a half-helmet and no windshield, the wind beats me up as it is. I plan to add a QD windshield this week and begin taking my bike to work (45 miles round trip, most of which is 65mph (posted), but more like 80-mph to survive). I'll wear my 3/4 HD/HJC for that ride, but if it stays hot, I might try the half-helmet and get some plugs. My hearing is already going...

I got my hearing checked today. I was worried about the test, but it turned out my hearing is great. Better than average for most tones.

I experimented with ear plugs on a couple of 700+ mile vacation trips over the last couple of months. I do find that they help a lot on the interstate and eliminate the ear pulsing feeling at the end of a long riding day. In general, I think I'll wear ear plugs for anything over a two hour ride at higher speeds. For other rides, I won't wear them. I like to hear all the noise around me.

I had custom ear plugs made for my 40th birthday and wear them every time I ride now. Full face or half shell.. the plugs make the ride a lot more enjoyable.

No plugs for me. Doc says hearing is good and no ringing..........

No plugs for me. Doc says hearing is good and no ringing..........

My hearing was great for the first year I rode. Then, tinnitus showed up. I have reluctantly worn them on longer rides but I must say it's a real improvement. I need to get in the habit of wearing them for most any length ride. As a new rider - I felt I wanted all the "input" available....but I want to preserve my hearing more. Now, if I could just convince the old man to try them - he's adamantly opposed.

Almost all the time. Between the loud pipes (that is not going change) and the wind noise I'd be nuts not too. I have audiograms done annually at work. My hearing has already been rebased because at 35 it wasn't as good as at 18.. thats normal. Now Im 42 and am not going to speed nature along any faster than will already happen. I've also found that sound of the bike is even better with plugs in it sounds deeper, rumbles more.

Always wear them now . Have ridden wearing a 1/2 helmet . Without earplugs the windnoise is unbearable over 40 mph .That has got to do some serious damage to your ears?
Although windnoise is not as much a problem with a full face helmet on the Sporty (on the CBR where I could ride all day at 100mph + it was) ,I have become assustomed to wearing them ,and its the first thing I do after starting the bike.

Also , I quite like the sound of the bike when wearing earplugs . Cuts out a lot of valvetrain noise .Have no problem hearing what is going on around me though.

I wear the ultra cheap, disposable foam plugs by EAR. They can be had at Harbour Freight in bulk.
I cannot understand people who use headphones with music and think they are getting hearing protection.
I also can't understand the philosophy that, "I haven't noticed any problems or ringing or whatever so I don't use them." These people are damaging their ears and don't realize it.

I don't know if it is my little gook ears or what but when I ride without a helmet or with a half helmet my ears sometimes start to hurt from the wind noise.

Yeah, under those friggen circumstances I wear earplugs. In fact I keep a package of the spongy type in my saddlebags just in case. Right now it is full helmet (no need for plugs) only out here because it is REALLY hot in the desert this month!

Lead

Have never wore 'em and don't plan too. Same with windshields.

I have tried them a few times, different types, but they were uncomfortable. I still intend to get an iPod and some Shure headphones and use them as earplugs.

i wear a half helmet so if i know im gonna get on the freeway, i put them on.

I have never worn them while riding. However when riding in cold weather I have often wished I had some disposables or cotton I could pop in. Almosts feels like an ear ache setting in at times when it is cold.

Depends on where I am riding. Just around town and short jaunts, no. The 600 mile ride to Myrtle Beach, yes.

Best Regards,
Norm

No plugs for me. Doc says hearing is good and no ringing..........


Practice this with me...'HUH??? WHAT???'


:D



No ringing yet is great, so take care of what hearing you've got. I trashed my hearing spending near 9 years standing in front of Marshall and Mesa/Boogie stacks so I'm trying to take care of what hearing I've got left. Earplugs are always in no matter how short the ride. I like the fact I'm protecting what hearing I've got left and at the same time the gawd awful top end noise disappears and I can actually hear my pipes sing... It's a win/win... :clap

every now and then, depends on what type of mood i'm in :smoke

I never wore earplugs when I used to ride in my early 20's, but now that I have a bike again I want to protect my hearing as much as possible. I wear a full-face, and use plugs on almost every ride.

Although wind noise (high-pitch whistle) and Samson BG3's exhaust noise (low-pitch rumble) can be loud and damaging, I wear the plugs mostly for the AC intake noise (Ness Big Sucker)... it pulls the air in at cruising speeds (40+, around 3K-4K rpms in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear) and causes a loud, mid-range whine that actually hurts after awhile.
DEFINITELY not good for the hearing long-term.

almost always wear ear-plugs. If I'm tooling around town, usually no, but on the highway definitely.

My brother was in an artillery battery in Vietnam. I see the crap he goes thru currently with hearing aides and trying to understand what the heck you are saying. Something I don't want to go thru...

never use to
but now i do and they have tense little battery's inum.

I wear a half hemet with a zip out liner for the colder months but found the noise is too loud without the lining so I leave it in year round now. I don't know how anyone can ride with no helmet for this reason alone, the wind noise is unbearable.
Same here!! Also I can hear my SE ll Mufflers better with the lining in!

i use them, I get the Hearos soft ones from ECKERD drug store They're GREAT. I can reuse them for a little while and i get a 40 pack so i have plenty.

They give a 32dB reduction and it surely helps with the wind noise..

If it wasn't for the wind, I wouldn't wear em.

I don't like to and don't have to because my exhaust isn't too loud and I wear a helmet so there's less wind noise.

No earplugs...Stock exhaust & AC and a full face helmet keeps the sound at a reasonable level. I would worry that I would missing important sounds (honk, siren, screams etc...) if I were to wear earplugs.

No earplugs...Stock exhaust & AC and a full face helmet keeps the sound at a reasonable level. I would worry that I would missing important sounds (honk, siren, screams etc...) if I were to wear earplugs.

Hey not passing judgement on your personal choice, but the concern of missing something around you, is not warranted.

Even with ear plugs you can still hear most things (some frequencies are cut out more than others), your just lowering the volume so to speak. Sirens, horns, hell even a cager asking for directions at a stop sign are all still clearly heard. Like others have said, the biggest noise, that i worry about is the wind roar most times.

But like i said, that's everyones personal choice, and even when I'm just riding around town running errands I won't bother with them. I still love the sound of going thru the gears every now and then :)

No ear plugs. I use an MP3 player sometimes. I usually wear a full face unless it's hot out, though.

yes..on long trips

I do wear them but It is hit or miss. I just need to get better at remebering them before I put the helmet on.

Huh? Dewey wore year bugs?
http://www.jrj-socrates.com/Cartoon%20Pics/Fox/Simpsons/Grandpa_300.gif

:buddies I didn't use to but I'm starting to more and more. I really enjoy them on the freeway. I was at Myrtle last week and saw the custom made ones. So I called an Audiologist here in town and they make them for $60. They were $85 there. I have an appointment tomorrow morning to get a pair made. I even got my 24 year old nephew to wear a set of foam plugs when we rode up and he was surprised at how they cut down on the fatigue level when you wear them. Now he's thinking about getting a set made too. Also you get use to the sound difference and can still hear what's going on around you just fine. If the custom ones work out the way they say I'll probably get a set of custom ear monitors (read; Very expensive ear buds!!!) to listen to tunes while I ride. (Plus I can plug then into the scanner at the races and won't have to wear that big clunky headset.)
I've gotten old enough that I have started to notice that I don't hear as well as I used to and I want to keep what hearing I have left.

Huh? Dewey wore year bugs?
http://www.jrj-socrates.com/Cartoon%20Pics/Fox/Simpsons/Grandpa_300.gif

No, No, No Grandpa...

Do ewes bear fear jugs!!!!!!!!!!

When wearing my bucket (which is always), I'll tie a bandana around my head so that it snugly and completely covers my ears. It works wonders for cutting out wind noise at freeway speeds but still lets me hear more of the other stuff (like my pipes, which is what I really like to hear when I ride). If I'm going on a longer trip I might couple that with plugs as well and put my fists to the wind and enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet.

I haven't tried yet. What's interesting is I wear them 10hrs. a day 5-6 days a week, and take them off right before heading out to my cycle. I keep meaning to try riding with them in and see how I like it, I imagine I will.

A note to those who don't wear earplugs, but want to try them out. Try a few different types some will bother your ears others won't. (Cessna provides their workers with 5 differnt kinds of disposable ones 2 out of 5 work for me.)

I only have worn them on a long haul... I have noticed anything over a 4 hour trek,.. the air noise starts to mute my hearing...

Seems pretty close to a 50/50 split, I dont wear earplugs, but generally on longer rides i wear a full faced helmet.

No earplugs for me, I just love the sound of my ride to much for that:smoke

nope......

I wear them on longer rides. With the wind noise blocked, I can actually hear the engine and drive train better, I think.

Nah-I kinda like the sound-but then again my bnike ain't real loud

I voted no...but I went for a ride today and both of my ears are stopped up as I have a cold that I must have caught from Satan.....so I stuffed em with cotton to keep out the chilly wind.
Felt like crap but the sun was out and the riding weather days are getting short.....still feel like crap but I have a smile on my face ! Gee...thanks Satan.

Only on long hi speed rides, like 2 or 3 hours on the hiway.

Once you realize you have a loss of hearing, its gone and ain't comming back. Ear plugs cut the back ground/wind noise but still allow you to hear what you need to. They did take some getting used to at first.

Yep, what Fourcats said. Once it's gone, it's gone. I actually enjoy my bike more when I'm not listening to it. My era sporty seems to be notoriously noisy. With my ear plugs in, I'm more in tune with the performance and handling 'cause I'm not listening to the engine. I can still hear it, and still hear my pipes (awesome), I can even hear my boyfriend next to me at stops. Just can't hear it sound like it's going to rattle to death.

Tried the cheap foam plugs once, but they start to hurt after a while, so I gave up on them. After 4 hours on the highway ears rang for hours once off the bike. Since the rides are going to be getting longer and I don't want to be 50 and deaf, I just bought a pair of custom plugs. The guy pours silicone in your ear and you get a comfortable custom plug. Good for riding and shooting. The company's EarInc if anyone's interested.

eh? .... what's that you say?

HUH??

HUH??

Speak up I can't hear you !!!

Whats that ? Huh?

Ahh ! "No i don't need any Beer mugs" !!

Wow!! Check out the results , almost 50/50.

I have worked around a lot of high frequency motors that have hurt my hearing in the High ranges, Once the wind/exhaust kill the lows I wont have to listen to her at all !!!!

HUH?
No I don't Have Any Deer Slugs !! GEEEEZZZ!!

Wow!! Check out the results , almost 50/50.

I have worked around a lot of high frequency motors that have hurt my hearing in the High ranges, Once the wind/exhaust kill the lows I wont have to listen to her at all !!!!

HUH?
No I don't Have Any Deer Slugs !! GEEEEZZZ!!

And you won't be able to use sign language on the bike afterwards, either...unless you ride no-handed for long periods of time! :D

Been bit by many "steer bugs"?

I'm going to start now that half of my baffles were removed. Any suggestions?

I'm going to start now that half of my baffles were removed. Any suggestions?

Here's a great ear plug article with lots of links from webbikeworld :

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/earplugs.htm

And a couple of more:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/

http://www.e-a-r.com/e-a-r.com/default2.cfm

Grainger has bulk ear plugs at great prices, too...(not affiliated with Grainger, but use them at work)...

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?originalValue=ear+plugs&L2=Disposable&operator=prodIndexRefinementSearch&L1=Ear+Plugs%2C

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?originalValue=ear+plugs&L2=Reusable&operator=prodIndexRefinementSearch&L1=Ear+Plugs%2C

That is a blessing from God.

I don't wear earplugs yet, but I have been considering it. Wind noise at highway speeds gets annoying real quick.

:iagree:iagree

Same here, when I was riding in Guam, there was not enough runway to get up to highway speed for very long, but now that I am back on the mainland, that is not a problem. The wind does get pretty loud after a while.

I just bought some online. Thanks planb.

I wear earplugs when i go to bed so i dont have to hear the kids or ol lady.Take them out in the middle of the night.Cantolina,that was a good idea im going to use on long runs,otherwize i like the sound of the bike the wind in my ears never bothered me.Also im used to hearing the bike i can hear when somethings wrong.I was going to try mp3 player on a long ride but rather hear if my chain is slaping or something elese.

Only on rides of 30 minutes or more at freeway speeds. if you're going for protection and safety, wear a full-face helmet and you won't need ear plugs.

I never used to wear ear plugs.
I do now though.
I have a fair bit of hearing loss from working in the music industry playing in bands so ear plugs are a must otherwise my tinitus gets worse after a ride.
If I use plugs in I can handle the tinitus alright.

I do, but don't really do it for hearing protection, but more for blocking out sounds that don't matter (wind, valve train noise, etc..) and for the fact that it improves my concentration, kinda puts me in my own little(focused) world. Can't explain it, but it works for me.

Best decission i ever made to wear the plugs

I am not a young as I used to be, and I notice a bit of hearing loss...wind noise is as bad/worse than exhaust noise. Wear the ear plugs now or pay later.
If the visual is the issue get the flesh colored ones instaed of neon and ride on!
Panhead63

Highway speeds mean plugs for me. I hate the wind noise and when the plugs are in the mind goes to a happy place to think. You become by yourself and the mind clears. What a wonderful feeling!!!

I never wear ear plugs. I'd rather hear the sound of my Harley. Plus I like to hear my boyfriends loud pipes behind me, so I always know where he is. He always makes me ride in front of him.

I always intend to, but never remember to get them and put them in. My semi-annual hearing tests have shown that I'm going deaf at the ripe old age of 22, mainly from the lovely melodies of diesel engines, so I don't think the motorcycle could do too much else to hurt it.

I never wear ear plugs. I'd rather hear the sound of my Harley. Plus I like to hear my boyfriends loud pipes behind me, so I always know where he is. He always makes me ride in front of him.
That's so he can look at your butt! or he just thinks it's cool that you ride!
I think chick's on bikes is HOT!! I'd make my Wife ride in front too.
As for the earplugs..... I used to drive a big rig and I wore em on the long hauls to cut out road and engine noise. I agree it puts you in your own little world.:clap :rolleyes: :clap

I don't wear ear plugs, but on long rides I have wrap-around ear buds I use with my MP3 player and it keeps alot of wind noise out.I usually wear a full face during the winter,so there are no noise issues with that.

On a recent ride to Ca. from Az. I decided that on my next long ride I would. It took hours for my hearing to return to normal after the ride. The biggest problem for me was the wind noise.

Too little, too late. I wear ear plugs . . . NOW. My audiologist says I have significant hearing loss in the upper tone range. Not from farming, radio but from my Sporty with SE pipes. Officially cannot hear higher tone voices clearly. Wife says, "its just an excuse." :shhhh Hearing loss is true.
~Webb~ :tour

i use a 3/4 helmet instead.
Me too. SE II's

only on long runs..

What did you say? Why would you want to know if I tear beer mugs?

I wear a 3/4 helmet all the time and that pretty much takes care of the noise. I can still hear the engine, traffic, sirens, etc. ok but it's not too loud. I would wear ear plugs if I didn't wear a helmet. I tried ear plugs with the helmet one time and it felt like I was detached from the bike. It just felt too weird.

I don't wear them.

I have tried, but I find they actually make it sound more loud. I wear a full-face helmet and it seems to amplify the wind noise against the helmet. Really annoying and counter-productive.

I'm partially deaf in my left ear, so why not balance out the right. only kidding.

My pipe isn't much louder than stock, so most of my noise comes from the wind. At cruising speeds I don't even hear to the pipe.

Only on rides of 30 minutes or more at freeway speeds. if you're going for protection and safety, wear a full-face helmet and you won't need ear plugs.

I have always worn a FF...and I can tell you, there's enough wind noise even with them that plugs still help!

I have started to wear them on hiway rides. Never bothered me before helmets became mandatory, but the wind noise gets pretty bothersome now without the plugs.

Huuuh?, Whaaaaaat?

I wear an ear plug in right ear or am wearing speakers for my MP3.

Hearing aids all the way. There are some great companies out there that make custom fit ones. That is the route I plan on going soon. Otherwise a cheap set of .50 foam plugs way out weigh the cost of hearing aids.

fish fuzz

but more for blocking out sounds that don't matter (wind, valve train noise, etc..) and for the fact that it improves my concentration, kinda puts me in my own little(focused) world. Can't explain it,
but it works for me.
Yep, lets me dump some of the outside world out,

i can still hear what's going on, wind/pipes not IN YOUR FACE loud,
only "unusual" sounds inject into my concentration.

my ears are starting to ring more and more. really annoying.

wake up night, if i am not really sleepy, i can't fall asleep with the tinnitus.

wearing ear plugs to bed makes my ears ROAR.

wearing the ear plugs with the Full Face on road trips with the fairing REALLY cuts down on fatigue - much less tired when i get there.

i wear ear protection when i cut grass (foam & muffs) and weed eat, or use most power tools - have 2 sets of muffs, one each of garage.

tinnitus is AWFUL.
my hearing loss is right in conversation range - can't heard anything in a room with medium background noise. my wife is TIRED of having to recap all the conversations for me.

I've started wearing ear plugs when not riding with my wind shield. I've noticed some hearing loss due to wind noise across my 3/4 helmet.

I've never worn them while riding. I wear a full-face helmet and have never really thought about it. Although I have noticed things sounding funny after a nice 500 mile ride.

I havn't worn them yet, but this log is going to change that for my long freeway rides...work is just a 3 minute ride on the bike...20-30 minutes coming home, just riding around town to unwind and enjoy the bike/avoid the wife...ha ha.

I use to wear earplugs until I put on a windshield. Now I do not need one because the windshield reduces a lot of the wind noise.

only when we're talking about dawn till dusk riding.....

cheers
Thespis

Gotta wear them. I enjoy destroying my ears drums in other ways. I ride with a pair of Shure (E2C Sound Isolating) ear buds attached to my Ipod shuffle. Tool please..

This may seem funny but I stumbled upon this post and was very pleased. I have not been riding long and felt a bit like a wuss for thinking I needed earplugs while riding. I DO wear them and they work fine, but I have been thinking about a "custom fit" set. Knowing that I am not the only one who feels the need for these is a huge ego booster. Thanks everyone. I learn more form this site as the days go by.

bluetooth ear bud, play my mp3. i like to leave the house playing eye of the tiger.....:clap

I never wear them & I have straight throughs on!.

bluetooth ear bud, play my mp3. i like to leave the house playing eye of the tiger.....:clap
I got that song too. Foreigner Rocks!

I thought Eye of the Tiger was by Survivor??

I use the foam plugs, and cut them in half. It`s enough to stop that dam wind noise ,but I still get the sweet melody from my pipes.

I wasn't comfortable with ear plugs, hard to get them to fit without blocking my hearing. I always wear head-cover or cotton with a 3/4 helmet to block the cold and wind from my ears(because of previous MC accident my ear bleeds and extremely painful.)

Sometimes , depends if the wife is with me.

I thought Eye of the Tiger was by Survivor??
Yup:

"Eye of the Tiger" is a song performed by the American rock group Survivor. It was released on January 1, 1982 and was written at the request of Sylvester Stallone for the film Rocky III. The song became a popular sporting event anthem, especially in boxing, and was for a short time the entrance theme for professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. This song has also been used satirically, such as the trailer and ad campaign for the Will Ferrell film, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, released in August 2006."

But is WAS also done by Foreigner as well, just not the original.

I don't but after some of my longer rides wish I had. Mostly I don't wear them because I want to have the advantage of hearing anything that I may need to be on the lookout for.

i took a 13 hour ride 2 weeks ago.


ears are STILL ringing much worse than they ever did before. da**it.

FWIW, after 10 years in the middle of artillery firing batteries, range instructor on old fashioned military firing ranges, being shot, grenaded, mortared and tons of hours flying in AF cargo planes, I never used them.

I lucked out BIG TIME, though. Can still hear pretty well... against the odds.

The above is NOT RECOMMENDED, though.

Lesson learned in the jungle, use those little modern headset thingies that plug into each ear. If they fit well & comfortably, they do a good job of blocking out ambient noise. There's a lot of acoustic engineering that goes into them to do this.

Plus they counteract with modest volume of your CD/DVD player, small radio (while cruisin' distance), MP3, or whatever you choose to use. The importance with these are modest volume.

A really good Special Forces medic explained it to me this way years back; hearing is cumulative. Meaning it accumulates over your lifetime. In other words, like a bank account; when it runs out, it's empty.

FWIW,
Bob G

i dont wear them when i ride. only when sitting home with the wife. dave

say WHAT????

Yes. On any rides at more than city traffic pace.

I really got vigilant about them once the ringing in my ears quit going away.

Tinitis sucks...

Wear my earplugs 90% of the time. Really cuts down on fatigue even with a full face helmet. If I've been wearing them on a ride and forget to put them back in at a rest stop the noise is really annoying.

-Hugh

I was amazed how much of a difference in comfort it made during a week long trip.

It filters out white noise and made it easier to listen to the voices in my head

I put a yes in the poll, but it really depends on what helmet I'm wearing and how far I'm going to be traveling.

I was amazed how much of a difference in comfort it made during a week long trip.

It filters out white noise and made it easier to listen to the voices in my head

heh, that made me giggle.

If you got to wear earplugs, Your bike is too Damn loud!! IMO

WIND noise....wind noise......and I have a GOOD full face helmet:)

I can't hear anything over my MP3 player anyway when I ride ;) :p.

Sprink
I thought about doing that too but was afraid It would distract me too much from the job at hand!:doh :doh

Sprink
I thought about doing that too but was afraid It would distract me too much from the job at hand!:doh :doh

It could I guess, but so far no problems for me. Just keep an eye on the mirrors! :tour

just tried em this past year, jury is still out on this one.. But I don't like listenin to mp3's or the like.

Jam....I think I actually hear better....or maybe it's "feel"....but eliminating the wind noise makes my ride much nicer!

Only on trips of 100 miles or more, kinda like the way they make the pipes sound. You only hear your pipes no wind, no engine noise, seems like long trips go by faster for some reason.

I'll only wear ear plugs if I'm gonna do a long ride, I've already damged my ears and dont wanna do anymore damage

I'll only wear ear plugs if I'm gonna do a long ride, I've already damged my ears and dont wanna do anymore damage
That's the same for me.
I'm working on an airport which is enough noisy.....

i work in a motorpool and dont use my plugs around the air tools and such, but i do use them on long highway trips. my hearing sux anyways. im probably about half deaf........other half is selective. :laugh

Wind and exhaust noise are not good for your hearing. I have lost a lot over the years and want to keep what's left. Wear plugs!

I really miss listening to music when i ride long trips.
I tried to on a 250mile trip, but i ended up playing the music as loud as my ipod could and i got really dizzy when i arrived. :doh
I listened to music allot on my virago, but the sound of my harley is music to my ears :) BTW, anyone remember this game? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzEWGaqdtcg) , greatest ever! Ripburger :gun

I've used a FF Shoei helmet for the highway over the last 8 years, and never wore ear plugs. I never had problems with ringing in my ears or the like, however I read that helmets like my Shoei that have padding around the neck and under the ears make a big difference in wind noise.

I made a LOT of bike trips from MN to IL and back while an undergrad. I tried using a CD player, but it just didnt work out. Those long rides alone I'd actually end up singing to myself.:o And I'm sure the cars I'd pass were wondering why my head was bouncing left and right while I was driving. :laugh

If going out onto the highway I will wear a set. In town no. :tour

I left in such a hurry for the NJ XL ride yesterday that I forgot mine. At 45 mph and above, they make a big difference in wind noise without affecting anything else (conversation at red lights, pipes). I actually need them more when I ride with a FF, though. Something about the FF makes the pipes resonate (and not in a good way).

I wear Hearos, got em at Eckerd for like 8 bucks (big bulk package, i think 40)

Can't stand the whistle from the wind at highway speeds. When I don't wear em, and I get over 60, my ears ring for hours afterwards.

I really miss listening to music when i ride long trips.
I tried to on a 250mile trip, but i ended up playing the music as loud as my ipod could and i got really dizzy when i arrived. :doh
I listened to music allot on my virago, but the sound of my harley is music to my ears :) BTW, anyone remember this game? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzEWGaqdtcg) , greatest ever! Ripburger :gun

Maybe you should try these: http://www.etymotic.com/ They are hearing protection built around earphones. Little expensive, but might last longer than your hearing!

Just curious how many people wear ear plugs?

I wear earplugs on long rides. Cuts down on the wind noise. After awhile the wind noise really gets to me.

Maybe you should try these: http://www.etymotic.com/ They are hearing protection built around earphones. Little expensive, but might last longer than your hearing!

Great idea, but way too expensive.

I didn't think I would need them but I took my zippered ear flap off today at lunch and it really makes a difference. I will most likely use a pair at least when wearing my 1/2 helmet. Once I get a ff I'll see how the noise is at higher speeds.

Does hearing aids count as ear plugs? Maybe I should have worn them long ago. Ear plugs are a whole lot cheaper that hearing aids too. Although my career in the Air Force did in my hearing. Ear plugs and aura protectors (headsets) 130 db a little much most days. At any rate proctect your hearing as the saying goes you never miss something till it's gone.

I wore them for the first time the other day. It was very interesting to me how once the wind howl went away, other senses were accentuated. I felt like I was floating down the road. I'll bet on long trips they will minimize fatigue.

I didn't until I read this thread! LOL now I wear them every now and then when the sound of the wind starts bothering me.

I wear a shorty helmet, and i wear plugs in the morning on the ride into work.
I have also noticed that when i dont wear a helmet there is way less noise. I pinned it down to the design of straps on the helmet. I can gently put my hand over the "triangle-o-straps" and it goes away. I though about sewing some kind of frabic in that "triangle" and seeing how that works.
If and when I finally get around to it i will post pics and let yall know.

andy

I always wear plugs.....major hearing loss from field artillery, and deuce and ahalfs bellowing away...don't want to lose the rest!

3/4 or full face helmet here and my bike is not excessively loud with Python3 slipons and glasspacking

no plugs but if I was trying to push my abilities in twisties i would consider it.

With the RB Racing pipe I got, if I ride down the interstae for a length of time I cant hear myself think. so my answer to this thread is on the hiway(yes), in town (no).

too many pages to check and see if I've already responded. I wear plugs no matter if I'm wearing my half or my FF helmet. The wind noise sucks without them.

That is what it is all about. Saving your hearing. Ya gotta askk yourself, how important is your hearing to you?

I wear plugs some of the time. They seem to filter out the wind noise, and also most of the valve train clatter. The result is that the rumble of the pipes seems to be more pronounced. Kind of cool, actually.

always always always for me

I wear plugs some of the time. They seem to filter out the wind noise, and also most of the valve train clatter. The result is that the rumble of the pipes seems to be more pronounced. Kind of cool, actually.

I wore a pair tonight for a longer ride home and this is exactly what my V&H sound like. Kinda neat really.

Wheres The Poll

You should have had a third choice:

What?

This thread is so old, that I changed my mind. I think there are two types of riders: Those who wear earplugs and those who have never tried them.

Since I stopped using a windshield, I started wearing earplugs (good ones, not the foam inserts from Wallgreens). I don't hear high-pitched wind noise any longer. But I do hear traffic BETTER. I hear my pipes BETTER. I hear conversation from other riders at stop lights BETTER. I keep a set on my bike and in my jacket all the time.

you screw up your hearing like I did in 1974 and live with PERMANENT high pitched ringing in your ears with no cure, then take some advice and wear ear plugs 'cos once they're damaged that's it for life.... no going back!!

full-face helmet, stock pipes = no need for earplugs

I dont wear them...cant tell when to shift if I cant hear the motor.

I dont wear them...cant tell when to shift if I cant hear the motor.

Feel that engine between your legs bro....

This thread is so old, that I changed my mind. I think there are two types of riders: Those who wear earplugs and those who have never tried them.

Since I stopped using a windshield, I started wearing earplugs (good ones, not the foam inserts from Wallgreens). I don't hear high-pitched wind noise any longer. But I do hear traffic BETTER. I hear my pipes BETTER. I hear conversation from other riders at stop lights BETTER. I keep a set on my bike and in my jacket all the time.

What plugs do you use? Where did you buy them?

I never wear ear plugs when riding, that's just me though.

Voted no. I am considering wearing them though because of my last ride in the straight into a 20 MPH wind for 90 miles. My ears rang for an hour afterwards. Possibly thinking of a 3/4 or full face helmet for long trips.

road 5 hrs on natchez trace monday and 5 hours tuesday without earplugs the wind noise thru my 3/4 would have made me deaf. earplugs seem a little isolating but at least i can still hear.( well not too well but as little)

Just curious how many people wear ear plugs?

HUH?! SPEAK UP! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! :laugh

I wear them for two reasons:

1) Wind Noise is loud.
2) Protect my hearing (I don't want to wear hearing aids to help me hear).

I don't wear them, but i ride with a full face helmet....

I have not worn them up till now, but have been seeing a lot about it lately and will probably start using them. I already have some hearing loss, so why continue to diminish what I have left.

I wear earplugs with my half-helmet due to the unbearable noise the earflaps (for the lack of a better term) make. I bought some cheapies, and got about a dozen free samples (free s&h too) of some really nice earplugs here: http://www.peltornext.com/peltornext.com/

(I'm in no way associated with that site.)

i wear them on long rides or in the late and early season when it's cold out.

i have a couple pairs of dispposables purchased from the drugstore.

problem is, i always forget to bring them.

i also forget to wear them whilst mowing the lawn. :doh

I tried wearing them a couple times recently for highway trips. Now, I keep a small plastic canister for them in my riding gear so I don't forget them. They are definitely worth it for long hauls.

I DID notice, however, that by shrugging your shoulders (putting your jacket at the bottom of the helmet) eliminates 90% of the wind noise. I think this supports the theory that more padding and such around the bottom of the helmet, under your ears, reduces wind noise. I might look into that windjammer in the future if I don't want to continue wearing plugs for long trips.

Nope. Never have. Skinner

HELL NO!!!its like going to see a good concert with ear plugs.IT JUST DONT HAPPEN.

It completely amazes me...
Some people really believe there is no need to protect their hearing.




full-face helmet, stock pipes = no need for earplugs
FF helm + stock pipes... the bike still moves, right?
Wind noise will cause hearing loss over time, much more so than pipes.



I dont wear them...cant tell when to shift if I cant hear the motor.
Totally ridiculous. Have you ever tried them?
You can hear the engine just fine.



HELL NO!!!its like going to see a good concert with ear plugs.IT JUST DONT HAPPEN.
Do you ride your bike once or twice a year?
Do you ride your bike several times a week?


Do you go to loud rock concerts several times a week?


Comon... think about it.

WOW...I can't believe so many wear them!!!!!

I have to hear my scoot, the cars, emergency vehicles, and the WIND!

Besides...I'm in a band and at some point...I will loose my hearing anyways.

WOW...I can't believe so many wear them!!!!!

I have to hear my scoot, the cars, emergency vehicles, and the WIND!

Pretty soon, you may not be able to. http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/clarinetcat1/Smilies/blink.gif

You can hear your scoot, the cars, emergency vehicles, AND the WIND just fine with -32db inexpensive disposable foam earplugs.

If you think you can't, you've never tried them.

It sounds like a great idea....I just don't see me doin' it.

It sounds like a great idea....I just don't see me doin' it.

Can't hurt to try.

Who knows, you might like it! :wonderlan

Pretty soon, you may not be able to. http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/clarinetcat1/Smilies/blink.gif

You can hear your scoot, the cars, emergency vehicles, AND the WIND just fine with -32db inexpensive disposable foam earplugs.

If you think you can't, you've never tried them.

Absolutely....

As an audio engineer, I can tell you that you WILL lose hearing over time, most especially if you don't have a windshield....

If the windshield is OFF, the earplugs are IN.....and I can hear EVERYTHING......actually, I hear everything BETTER without the damned wind overtaking everything else...

The nice thing about the windshield is that the wind is pleasant....not overbearing....

Generally always wear them with my half helmet. Makes it a much more enjoyable ride without all the wind noise, yet I still get a lot of wind in the face.

When I got out of the Army (several years back), my getting' out physical detected a slight loss of hearing in a couple of small frequency ranges, and I was warned at the time to always wear ear protection when around loud noises.

I know exactly what day it happened..... I would usually sit to the left of the pilot on a 3-place bench seat in small helicopters. The pilot sits in the middle. The door would be removed on my side so I didn't have to shoot pictures through the Plexiglas. Only the Left position has a connection for the radio, so I always wore the same kind of helmet the pilot wore. That was the only way I could talk to him, so he could put the "bird" where I needed it. One day there was someone riding along in the left seat (who out ranked me), so I was forced to ride in the right seat, and neither door was on the chopper. With no helmet on, I felt the constant concussion from the rotor blades in my ears for several miles, and it was actually painful. I'm pretty confident that was the day I lost part of my hearing.

I suffer from tinnitus, but I don't wear hearing aids yet, and I'd like not to have to... for as long as possible. (...btw, I'm not complaining, least I came back - some didn't :frownone )

__________________________________________
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q208/meskwaki/Sporty0009sig.jpg

full-face helmet, stock pipes = no need for earplugs

I was in this camp till March, when I went with the C/S slip-on's. Now I wear the foam plugs. I can still hear everything around me just fine, it's just a little more subtle.

You guys must be real asses loud pipes and ear plugs?

I never wear ear plugs... WHAT???

For any one who is interested in saving their hearing just a little bit, although it sounds like many don't care if they go deaf, huh, whats that? what did you say? I recently found the silicone moldable type at Walmart. Its a small kit of silicone putty you mix together yourself and mold into your ear and then let set for 10 minutes to cure. Comes with a small carrying bag. Only $12.00. Heck of a deal to save a little hearing. If you have never worn ear plugs, you have no room to down play their usefulness. You can still hear everything just fine. They simply cut down the wind roar past your ears.:shhhh :wonderlan

Loud pipes are not why ya wear ear plugs. lol The wind noise. That is why I wear em.

I agree with Shai`tan... it's not about the pipes, it's all about the wind noise. In fact, I'd prefer NOT to wear plugs just so I could hear the pipes better, but after working on jet aircraft 25 years, I know what its like to "lose a little" and I definitely do NOT want to lose more...

Mark

If I'm wearing my brain bucket the wind noise kills me.........It actually took 2 days for my hearing to become clear again after a day highway riding and I forgot my plugs. I've tried different ones and so far the blue hearos have been the best.

I can't hear now after 35 years in industry. I wear 'em for anything more than 20-30 miles.

What? No I do not wear ear plugs, but I am thinking of getting a full face helmet to block the noise. Well, really to protect my head but it sounded good. No puninteaded.

I had custom musicians' earplugs made a few years ago when I was in a band. Nowadays I use them for long rides, and they're great. They lower all frequencies by 15 dB, so you can still hear everything clearly, just quieter. I don't wear foamies because I find they muffle things a bit too much.