there's a little pachinko ball in the middle of our heads
Technically advanced Hearing protection
- Thread starter ST-Traveler
- Start date
When I first started riding, I was parking next to a BMW commuter at work. He rode about 45 min each way on the commute. One day, I saw him put in earplugs and asked him why. He said it was for noise fatigue.
Noise fatigue is real. Hearing loss is real. The first you can get through. If you ignore the second long enough, you eventually won't need earplugs. Costco is the largest seller of hearing aids in the world when that time comes.
Edit: I have Costco stock. Please do not wear earplugs!
Chris
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I had no idea okay well thanks for that, I do wear hearing protection frequently but just never thought of it in relation to riding bikes until reading about it here a few weeks or months ago
But wouldn't dampening the sound have other detrimental effects on equilibrium and perception
[edit] I don't have any noisy bikes never had,
But wouldn't dampening the sound have other detrimental effects on equilibrium and perception
[edit] I don't have any noisy bikes never had,
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I still don't get it [edit] maybe pressure inside the helmet can be a problem
If you're riding around with earplugs in your ears because you can't hear what's going on around you, because of anything or everything that you've done before, the barn door has been open for far too long and those cows you might see out there, well, I'll get to that later; this is not the kind of world where you can blurr out one of your very few and limited senses, last count I think you had four or maybe five, I could be wrong
If you're there already, every time you get out on your bike you're a menace by even the weakest definition of the term
there comes a time
If you're there already, every time you get out on your bike you're a menace by even the weakest definition of the term
there comes a time
can't hear, Geronimo
I think the main benefit to me is that the ride is much more comfortable/enjoyable which keeps you fresher and more aware of your surroundings. If I ride 4 hours without earplugs I will be more weary than after 8 hours with earplugs. I use to only wear them for longer rides but now a 20 minute ride will have me insert them. That may not be your experience but it is mine and many riders I have discussed this topic with.
ST Gui
240Robert
Hearing loss caused by exposure to excessive noise is a curve based on volume and length of exposure thresholds. Anyone who's ridden with and without a helmet should be able to understand that it's often noisier with a helmet than without. Helmet surfaces can generate wind eddies that make noise and the opening at the bottom of the helmet can funnel engine noise right into the helmet. I had a Lockhart helmet gaiter that reduced helmet noise. Ear plugs would have helped even more.
As pointed out excessive noise can cause fatigue. None of this is new or "wokeness". High volume levels or not so hight levels sustained long enough will cause hearing damage in varying degrees depending on the constitution of any given individual.
Reducing a lot of noise by way of hearing protection can reduce the noise floor of some frequencies allowing others to be heard better than with no hearing protection. We shouldn't need "perfect" hearing to ride a bike and as many here have stated they don't have perfect hearing. There is a point where too much protection (for non-deaf riders) becomes a problem and were too little protection can cause hearing loss. We have to decide for ourselves where that is and not let others decide we're imaging it.
For short surface street riding I don't wear earplugs. Anything else I put them in.
Obligatory disclaimer: riding with hearing protection is illegal in most states (prove me wrong and I'll acknowledge your ire) and can result in an award. That could change. Just sayin'.
As pointed out excessive noise can cause fatigue. None of this is new or "wokeness". High volume levels or not so hight levels sustained long enough will cause hearing damage in varying degrees depending on the constitution of any given individual.
Reducing a lot of noise by way of hearing protection can reduce the noise floor of some frequencies allowing others to be heard better than with no hearing protection. We shouldn't need "perfect" hearing to ride a bike and as many here have stated they don't have perfect hearing. There is a point where too much protection (for non-deaf riders) becomes a problem and were too little protection can cause hearing loss. We have to decide for ourselves where that is and not let others decide we're imaging it.
For short surface street riding I don't wear earplugs. Anything else I put them in.
Obligatory disclaimer: riding with hearing protection is illegal in most states (prove me wrong and I'll acknowledge your ire) and can result in an award. That could change. Just sayin'.
If you're a HiFi nut like me, you're even more carefully and protective of your hearing sense...
At 60mph you can have like 85~100 dB(A)...
the first number is emitted by a jackhammer
the second equals a starting jetliner...
our workplace regulations qualify 90dB(A) as noise environment where hearing protection is mandatory...
Already 90 minutes exposure to mentioned levels can result in permanent hearing damage...
It's not the bike you're worried about, it's the wind noise. It'll absolutely wreck your hearing long term.
It doesn't seem that loud because it's not, but it is loud enough to cause damage over time. I can tell you all about my tinnitus if you'd like to know more.
"Technically" I don't have hearing loss. When I went to the ENT and they tested me I could hear up to 8khz which is where he said the standard test is limited to. I was able to hear up to 15khz in my left ear and 12khz in my right when he tested further. Yet i have tinnitus. Lucky me. Lol. I'm also a Mix engineer and probably got listening fatigue from mixing in headphones for hours on end and years of working with Artists in the studios who listen to the playback at full volume on some huge Augspurger 415 monitors. I rode for many years with no earplugs and I didn't start wearing any ear protection well into my 40's (I'm 57 now).
I've had some Tinnitus from as far back as I can remember. It just ramped up in my right ear about 10 years ago. Back in the day when we used to listen to those little transistor radios with one earplug, I always preferred my left ear, probably because it aways had better hi frequency response.
I've had some Tinnitus from as far back as I can remember. It just ramped up in my right ear about 10 years ago. Back in the day when we used to listen to those little transistor radios with one earplug, I always preferred my left ear, probably because it aways had better hi frequency response.
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I've had my head stuffed inside bass drums and right up on guitar cabs trying to find proper mic placement when I was a lot younger... Definitely didn't do me any good. My biggest hearing loss came from competitive shooting, I had my muffs fall off my right ear when I went prone, and touched off 3-4 rounds on my Ar15 thinking it wouldn't be a big deal. Felt like I get hit in the side of the head with a frying pan. No idea how the military guys get over that.
Before upgrading to better ear-plugs I actually did a quick wax removing ear check because impaction can affect how plugs seal and how much noise gets through. Once that was cleared, I found the new plugs sealed properly and the road noise dropped more than I expected. Helmets and riding posture matter, but clean ear canals matter just as much. If you ride long distances often, you might want to check that your ear-wax isn’t sabotaging your protection.
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I fell pretty deep into the bike audio question for 2 month motorbike tours in both 2024 and 2025. Started with Cardo, tried custom plugs and several other complicated things. Goal was to have both noise reduction protection and audio comms with my iPhone. Running Chigee carplay system on bike - which I really like, but it has no audio components. Ended up with $32
Use this setup on both a '06 ST1300 and a '97 R1100RT.
Amplifier has a 4 mm plug port that could take a microphone, but I haven't set that up yet (to make calls while riding).
When I don't listen to music or other on phone, the ear plugs provide some continued noise reduction.
I needed to replace some helmet foam I cut out trying to make Cardo speakers work (they didn't).
Only thing so far that works for me.
Cardo is just a speaker pad held close to ear, need very accurate positioning to get any audio and I found it did not provide any reduction of road noise so volume had to be sky high.
Custom ear plugs to 'hard' to be comfortable, would need a loose helmet to fit for me.
MOONDROP CHU II High Performance Dynamic Driver IEMs Interchangeable Cable in-Ear Headphones
driven by $115 (both from Amazon)FiiO BTR13 Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier
Most of more complicated setups did not comfortably work inside my helmet. Above system allows me to keep some padding (NRR?) and keeps out much of the wind noise automatically. I have to recharge the amplifier at lunch stop on long rides, as I do my phone which can't run Chigee all day without recharge or backup battery pack. Whatever audio I wish from phone gets to my ears. Setting volume is a bit of nuisance as no adjustment possible while riding - need to set volume on phone and on amplifier to get what you want.Use this setup on both a '06 ST1300 and a '97 R1100RT.
Amplifier has a 4 mm plug port that could take a microphone, but I haven't set that up yet (to make calls while riding).
When I don't listen to music or other on phone, the ear plugs provide some continued noise reduction.
I needed to replace some helmet foam I cut out trying to make Cardo speakers work (they didn't).
Only thing so far that works for me.
Cardo is just a speaker pad held close to ear, need very accurate positioning to get any audio and I found it did not provide any reduction of road noise so volume had to be sky high.
Custom ear plugs to 'hard' to be comfortable, would need a loose helmet to fit for me.
Looks like this thread has new life. 
I'll add one thing. The hearing scale is logarithmic. It is not linear. You can hear the difference between -30db earplugs and -33db earplugs. So the -26db earplugs in the OP's first post will pass a noticeable amount through to your ears.
Chris
I'll add one thing. The hearing scale is logarithmic. It is not linear. You can hear the difference between -30db earplugs and -33db earplugs. So the -26db earplugs in the OP's first post will pass a noticeable amount through to your ears.Chris
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
Very true. I use NRR 32, I won't use anything less than NRR 30 and that is only if I have no choice for some reason.Looks like this thread has new life.
Chris
Looks like this thread has new life.
Chris
You could also add...
-- Not all plugs are third party certified. Some manufacturers run their own test and you can believe them or not.
-- A 26 rated plug from one brand may in fact work better than a 30 from another brand.
-- And it also comes down to personal fit. A plug that works great for one rider may not filter as well for another.
-- Some silicones do not age well with heat. May have been great on last year x-country, not so good this year anymore.
I have found that now that I am old, my ears are just like my feet now. One canal is not like the other, my hearing aids fit different left to right
I don't think we realize how important our hearing is...till we lose it. We take it for granted. After all, I could hear just fine for the first 60+ years of my life.
And then you start losing your hearing. But...you say, I can buy hearing aids and all will be well. Not so fast. Hearing aids help, and as I sit here typing, I have mine in. But they are not a replacement for what you were given at birth. I shun crowds now. Sitting at a table in a restaurant with a bunch of other rally goers is not enjoyable anymore. The hearing aids pick up sounds in ways your natural hearing didn't. I may have problems hearing the fellow sitting across the table from me...but the kid 20 ft away that's simply enjoying himself as kids do...is loud and clear.
I made it through 26 years of USAF and ANG time with much of it being on the flightline and didn't lose any hearing. The ENT doc says my hearing loss is not from riding, but simply from aging. Nonetheless, I can't stress enough of protecting your hearing. Cause once you lose it, it is gone for good.
Chris
And then you start losing your hearing. But...you say, I can buy hearing aids and all will be well. Not so fast. Hearing aids help, and as I sit here typing, I have mine in. But they are not a replacement for what you were given at birth. I shun crowds now. Sitting at a table in a restaurant with a bunch of other rally goers is not enjoyable anymore. The hearing aids pick up sounds in ways your natural hearing didn't. I may have problems hearing the fellow sitting across the table from me...but the kid 20 ft away that's simply enjoying himself as kids do...is loud and clear.
I made it through 26 years of USAF and ANG time with much of it being on the flightline and didn't lose any hearing. The ENT doc says my hearing loss is not from riding, but simply from aging. Nonetheless, I can't stress enough of protecting your hearing. Cause once you lose it, it is gone for good.
Chris