The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: williamemack on October 05, 2008, 06:02:29 PM
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I'm interested in members comments regarding the use of earplugs while riding. My problems are wind noise and muffler resonance. No windshield and don't want one.
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The disposable foamies work well. A package of a dozen is easily stowed on the bike. I do tend to be visually more observant of traffic - mirrors, head on a swivel, etc - when wearing the plugs.
Monte
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Best deal I've come across is an MP3 player and a good set of ear buds. Some can be had that are molded to your ear shape. Then you avoid the noise and cruise to your tunes.
Wish I'd had them back in "The Day". ;)
Ed
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I love my earplugs! When I started using them I noticed how much less tired I was at the end of a long ride. My partner, who has been riding for 30+ years, noticed that too. Neither of us will ride without them now. In fact, when we were at a rally last year he bought us both the kind of earplugs that are molded to your ears. Oh man, those are so comfortable. I can actually hear the traffic noise better.....not louder, just better..........as it cuts out all that wind noise. I've already got tinitus (sp?) and I don't want it to get worse.
Oh, did I mention I love them? 8-)
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+1 on the earplugs. Melena hit the nail on the head. I also like the wind in my face, no big windshield for me. The earplugs makes all the difference. You will really be surprised once you start using them. They tend to block out all the extraneous noise so you can hear the important stuff. I won't ride without mine, either.
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...I've already got tinitus (sp?) and I don't want it to get worse...
Tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears", is a symptom of hearing loss.
My entire life has been, and still is, centered around loud motorcycles, cars, aircraft, shop equipment and weapons. Unfortunately, I'm of the generation that was uneducated regarding hearing protection. My bad!
Last May, I dropped $6000.00 for some very exotic Swiss hearing "enhancements"- that's the newest PC term for "hearing aids- and now I can hear my grandchildren speaking. High frequency loss is the issue.
Anyway, I simply remove the "enhancements" when I ride as I'm already deaf as a stump. The upside is I can turn 'em off at family reunions. ;D
Y'all be sure to use some sorta hearing protection even when you're mowing the yard. It'll get 'cha.
Monte
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+1 on the plus and +1 on the lawn mower.
better yet, go electric if you yard is reasonable. mowers don't have very efficient mufflers, imo.
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+ to what Melena posted. Earplugs really reduced my fatigue on long highway rides. They are a must now on all my extended rides.
rich
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Agreed - I can even get them in Bali - and I wouldn't be without them - Even at night when the local go crazy with their amplifier-assisted gong-bashing (and that goes on for hours). They also drown out the sound of the frogs in the rainy season ( which seems to last from January to December
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Been riding with earplugs for years - really great on group rides with the loud exhaust guys. I also found that the helmet itself can make a BIG difference. I tried a popular brand modular and gave it back after 2 miles - too much wind noise - fortunately the store was willing to take the return. Checking the web I found that the Shoei TZ-R was very well rated - see
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/shoei/tz-r/
It is their lower priced model (if you can call that lower) but worth every penny. YMMV
ps - I also wear ear muffs while mowing the lawn. ;-)
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I wear earplugs on all rides, even short ones. Wind noise just isn't that pleasent, riding with less distraction certainly is! I even use 'em on my fully faired touring bikes! :)
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Thanks everyone. I appreciate the input. I knew from previous experience about the comfort, but was curious about the current thought on safety. I too am getting to be as deaf as a stump and am careful to use ear plugs or muffs whenever necessary. Gotta save what's left! Those $6000 aids are just around the corner.
Thank you all again.
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+1 on the cheap orange foam ear-plugs from me, especially on long rides !
I don't always use them for shorter rides, largely because I cannot always find where I've stashed the things (gotta make better use of my tankbag, I know). They allow me to still hear important sounds but cut out the wind noise, which definitely helps with hearing protection and reducing fatigue at the end of a 600 mile day..
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I loved my earplugs which were the molded to your ear type that I got from a site called earplugsthatfit.com. They don't seem to exist anymore and somehow the EMS people lost my set as they never showed up in the few things that I got back! I am thinking of trying Ed's idea of the earplugs that are mikes too so I can listen to the MP3 and have plugs in the ears. So far I guess I'll be getting the foam type plugs as a replacement/ I want to keep my hearing!! Earplugs are essential riding equipment. They just need to be comfortable though. Try a bunch out for starters.
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Id love to someday have some of those fancy custom-made jobs like all y'all rich folks ;) , but for now the good ol' Hearos from Walgreens work just fine: 4 pairs for 3 bucks! Comes in 3 colors that I've seen: beige fits me the best.
Those silicon dealies work okay too and are super easy to use, though not quite as quiet. Just a ball of a soft waxy/putty substance that you mash up against your ear and it smooshes out and seals off the hole therein. Quick 'n' easy! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
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On weapons ranges in the Army, we used to remove the filters from cigarettes and insert them in our ears.
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I used earplugs (the cheap foam type) today for the first time for my 4 mile ride into work this morning. I had been saving the plugs to use on a longer ride, but after reading the comments from those who never ride without them, I thought I’d try it.
I did find it made riding surprisingly more enjoyable, allowing me to focus a little more on the road conditions and the “physics” of riding the bike – application of power, leaning in turns, shifting, braking etc. I also found that I was tending to ride a little faster than normal. I guess the sound of the engine is something I use to gauge my speed and with less engine noise getting to my ears, I feel like I’m going slower. I also found it quite enjoyable to not hear that beeeep beeeep that the turn signal makes when I’m stopped at a traffic light. I do plan to continue to use the ear plugs full-time and just watch my speed till I get used to riding with them.
Thanks again to all for more great advice!
John
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John, you may need to do some troubleshooting. I believe your annunciator is supposed to silence when the clutch is pulled in or trans. in neutral.
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I think my annunciator (I had to think for a minute to figure out that was the beeper) is an aftermarket add-on. It is a little button-sized thing that's stuck onto frame with double-stick foam tape and wired directly to the signal relay socket, so when the signal's on it's on. I'm not sure where to even look for the OEM annunciator. I think it's gone. I've thought about pulling it off but there are times when it has reminded me to cancel my signal, so I've kept it. Hopefully it won't cause a problem. With the earplugs I can hear it when I'm stopped, but it seems very far away.
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Seems I remember there's a diode involved... I think that only the '79 and '80 models came with it.
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I have a two sets set of Tim McCarty's custom molded ear plugs. One set is sold and one set is for listning to music. I like the solids best. I wear them every time I ride. I also keep them handy and wear them when ever I feel like it (like around the airplanes I fly). I have also got into the habit of wearing them when I walk about a city. Its amazing how noisy they are.
Tim is in Marrietta GA an attends a lot of motorcycle ralleys. His numbers are 770-992-0048 or 404-610-1051. He has a company called Ear-ific Molds.
TTFN,
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I bought a set Tim's custom earplugs 3 years ago and couldn't be happier. Great guy too. I wear Super Hearo foam earplugs for commuting and short rides because the are a bit easier to put in and take out. I use the custom plugs for longer trips because they are more comfortable for all day use.