🌟EARPLUGS and STUDIES MENTIONED 🌟 ◇ Hearos (I like these, multipurpose and cheap): amzn.to/3y920jG ◇ Trackside (These are also good & have a case) bit.ly/trackside_earplugs ◇ No Noise: bit.ly/NoNoise_ZLA ◇ Vibes (Don't like these, uncomfortable for me): amzn.to/3WjKsJD ◇ Loop (only get the Quiet2 or Experience 2+ with the inserts and just be aware that they don't have any hearing safety data published yet) loop-earplugs.sjv.io/JzG1GR STUDIES/RESOURCES ◇ www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46741-5 ◇ journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00164.2013 ◇ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24012803/ ◇ NRR calculation estimate (pg 32): www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/pdfs/312-11a.pdf ◇ www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/80081/pain/tinnitus-steps-take-drugs-avoid/page/0/1
I've always worn the loops at concerts and under my helmet on my bike, they may not have safety data published but my ears are thankful for them. I was on the rail at the blink 182 show last night and despite the bass shaking my body my ears were perfectly fine and had no ringing on the drive home. The only thing I don't like about them is they occasionally get snagged when I'm pulling on my helmet and I have to put them back in because of their shape.
6:44 please don’t lick your earplugs. Horrible ear infections await you if doing that. Just read the directions on the box. Yes, you need to apply traction to the outer ear to help open the canal and the “rolled foam” plug should slide in easily. Then expand. But glad you made this video to help the masses. Seen so many people wearing them incorrectly.
Add to this moisture conducts sound so you are diminishing the noise reduction quality. I can definitely hear a difference after a hot ride that makes them moist.
I went to a local hearing aid store and they made me custom filtered earplugs that fit deep in my ears for $105. They are wonderful for motorcycle rides.
@@King_Spartan4117 I’d suggest a Google search. There are several hearing aid stores in the town I live in. The one I went to was called Elite Hearing Center.
A quick tip for putting the foam plugs in. Don’t squish them - roll them between two fingers to expel air out of the foam, then insert now much thinner plug into an ear channel. It’ll expand within 5-10 seconds giving a proper seal. You will never achieve the same result by trying to force a not fully “deflated” plug into the ear while pulling it with other hand. Also, make sure to discard the plugs after a few rides. The foam is covered with a smooth layer of polymer that not only eases insertion, but also makes the foam harder (by not letting the air to escape the pores quickly). If you wear the same set of ear plugs - that layer wears away and you end up with much softer and thus louder foam
I´m using Alpine MotoSafe Pro. They dont block everything but especially those deep fluttering wind noises. But you still hear other people, sirens and horns. I like them a lot
@@Fonsie85 i just purchase a pair of Alpine Motosafe Race and they really do a good job of blocking the wind noise while allowing me to hear my music at a lower volume. I highly recommend them.
Been using the red ones for 3 years now. Slightly more noise damping than the standard black ones I still hear all the sharp sounds, yet wind, engine drone is quite low in volume
I was using the same ones! They don’t block much, they don’t fit properly (which has never happened before for me), and the bag is so cheap it just ripped and flew away when I was riding and I never saw them ever again. Farwell. I’m gonna try regular ones instead of that overpriced thing and see how it goes.
I use the Alpine MotoSafe Speed and love everything about them. As someone who has suffered from tinnitus without hearing loss since my pre-teen years I have to say that personally I have not found a better all around earplug. I love that they add a tool to the set to make sure that even if you do not properly pull your ear back, you still get a great seal. When using firearms I use my Decibullz custom molded and often time double up and use a full around the ear muffs, something that you really can't do in moto so no less than a full face helmet for me.
Another vote for Alpine Motosafe, I have been using them for a few years now, very comfort and effective and the tool is useful as it allows them to use a shorter stem ( more comfort). I also use their dedicated swimming ear plugs ( to eliminate water not noise), also effective.
I used Alpine for a while, but in the end I'm back to foam ear plugs, they are more efficient at filtering noise. Also with silicon ear plugs, I get a strong low frequency rumble for some reason
Also use the Alpine, but I use the MotoGP and Le Mans version. The Le Mans version is very quiet, which is nice for long stretches of questionable highway speeds.
I tried the Alpine MotoSafe Pro and they eventually just didn’t work for my ear shape and didn’t cut enough audio on my ADV bike with an LS2 Blaze helmet. I changed for the EarPeace Motorcycle (26dB) set and those have solved the level and the comfort issue. I have less of a round ear canal. My wife uses the Alpine set fine.
i'm just past 50 and have been going to metal and punk shows since i was a kid and Tinnitus is real. None of my bikes are loud and i wear a full face on long rides but a skully on short rides around town. i find that constant wind noise will cause temporary tinnitus. Glad to see you bring this up and i'd like to see more riders pay attention to this.
Like you I went to plenty of punk shows and clubs back in my youth and didn't wear hearing protection. My tinnitus is permanent and has been for years now.
Hi Lali, I'm a retired machinist and a avid motorcyclist. Give the 3M 1100's a try - this is what I've worn for 42 year in a machine shop and still do when I go riding. I've tried the Blue Hearos that you showed. They are nice but my ear canal is too small for them so even after I get them in, they will work their way out of the ear canal. One of the most annoying things to happen after you start your ride is to have to pull over and re-seat your ear plugs. I've tried a lot of different ear plugs to get the right fit and I keep coming back to the 3M 1100's (these are cheep too you can get them for 25-27 dollars for 200 pair - Amazon). Also Vale is doing it right - I've taught Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) classes which include ear protection. What I find that works best for me is to clean out my ears before inserting the ear plugs. Like Vale I also wet my ear plugs before inserting them. I just don't stick them in and go, I put them in and hold my finger over the end of the ear plug until it expands... 15-30 seconds. Also the 3M 1100's are so inexpensive I just use them once and throw them away. Some people even wash them and use them again... in my experience washed one's just don't work like a fresh pair. Lastly stay away from Outrageously Loud Rock & Roll concerts - They'll make you go deaf way before riding a motorcycle will.
One of the things that often isn’t mentioned is that hearing loss can be insidious. You don’t necessarily develop tinnitus. You just start to slowly lose your ability to hear a certain range of sounds. Has someone who has lost most of his sense of smell due to an industrial accident, I can tell you that you never really appreciate your senses until they’re gone. (Nearly lost my vision in that same accident and was blind for several weeks while I was in the hospital and they had to perform multiple surgeries on my eyes) When you consider that you can get two sets of three foam earplugs off of Amazon for 25 bucks it seems almost disrespectful to yourself to not use them.
hi everyone, I got tinnitus last year which I felt after taking a pain killer medication though dr told me that we can't conclude it happened because of the med...anyway, tinnitus can be so frustrating in initial months. It gives panic attacks sometimes knowing that it will be with you for lifetime...kinda scary, ain't it. I watched lot of videos of curing it but it didn't help though I found some videos of how to cope with it and believe me it really helped. As I am typing these I am hearing my ear ringing...it sounds exactly like putting our television on av mode though I am not giving it attention. I reckon embracing your tinnitus is the key to be tension free. I would say that protect your ears and if anybody need help regarding it feel free to comment.
Excellent topic Lali. I have tinnitus. Caused from military service. Therefore, I use hearing protection when riding and highly recommend it. Having an after market exhaust, and doing track days, hearing protection is a must in those situations. There is a misconception between tinnitus and hearing loss. Correct, hearing loss does not always cause tinnitus, however, when you have tinnitus, and the more hearing loss the more you notice the ringing. Notice when its quiet, you will 1:28 have ringing? But when outside, the sounds of nature will mask the tinnitus. The more hearing loss the more you notice the ringing because its like turning down the volume. Although these are theories, they do make sence. 🤔 Glad you pointed out the different types of hearing protection. 😊
I used NoNoise for a year before realizing I was wearing them wrong. I used to angle them as the ear canals were angled, and the stems were always pressed against the inner part of my ear, and it used to hurt after an hour of riding. Some months back, I decided to test them further before moving to another brand and tried different ways of wearing them. Then I realised that I don't have to shove it hard into the ear canals, and I can insert them perpendicularly rather than at an angle. This cut off enough wind noise without completely drowning road noise and stopped the pain.
@@jordan9339 I need some of these. I've been using the orange Howard Leight (32nrr iirc) for ages and hadn't seen anything higher than 33 before. I have mild tinnitus from growing up around farm equipment but have been a lot more protective of my hearing since early adulthood.
Thanks for addressing this issue Lali. I’m 70 and my tinnitus is getting worse. My doctor appointment is on Monday. I’ve been very careful to protect my hearing throughout my life. I started riding in 1974. I feel a connection with you because my grandparents are from Transylvania, Romania.🏍️🙏
I learned early on from factory work, the required hearing protection was a good thing. Don't ignore that. Also putting them in properly was a huge benefit and continue to use today when riding. I do use a standard pair, and they do block a lot of noise, but I tend to ride where everything is out to get me. So, I'm always cautious.
Great video! My search for the earplug that fits me is over. I have a pair of custom plugs and it is great! It is a acrylic plug with a filter. They are comfortable and block the noice real good. I payed just under 100 euro. The audicien made a cast form from my ear canal with a two component goo, a bit of a strange feeling, a week later they arrived. Best of all, I got to choose a color!
6:40 -- You want to do it like Rossi, but you don't want to lick them - Twist them in your fingertips until they are very well compressed, and don't do it haphazardly; try to keep the surface and shape as even as possible. Work the material slowly and methodically. It doesn't have to be more than 15 to 30 seconds or anything, but do it cleanly by rolling into a longer, more noodle shape and size. Then you want to insert them quite deep. They should be pretty much not visible from the front, but removable with a pinch. The plugs should slide into your ear easily, and they will expand to completely seal off your canal. If it ever takes you less than 10 seconds to roll and insert one, you probably haven't done it properly or effectively.
I like the Pinlock ones. They are a lot like the NoNoise ones, but you get 2 sizes for the same price. Which might not mean too much to you at first. But a lot of people don't know that most peoples ear holes aren't the same size. It filters out the wind and road noise, without making you feel cut off. Also they don't have the hard plastic bit, so they are more comfortable. Downside to that is: if you lose the little red insert they are significantly louder.
Seconding the Pinlock recommendation. EarPeace and Senner also make a very similar design, which I've had good results with too. I have to say, though, Loop 'Quiet' are my daily go-to earplugs, as the loops are easier to handle than the little tabs on the Pinlock / EarPeace / Senner ones. I once had to take out a Pinlock ear plug with a pair of tweezers because it went in too far for my fingers to grab the tab!
@@ZeroKitsunei i do like the design of the pinlocks, my favorite of motorcycle aimed plugs. But theyre still filtered. Which i firmly believe to be a bad idea.
I've been riding for 46 years, about 350k miles. My Dad rode and always told me to wear ear plugs. I have no hearing loss beyond what is normal for my age. (Also, wear sun screen.)
MAX LITE, by Howard Leight (a Honeywell company). NRR is 30. I've used these for nearly 20 years and I've found nothing better for motorcycle application. They are a sealed, soft foam (roll, insert, hold for expansion), T-shaped to limit insertion, and inexpensive. These are green in color; the orange is for industrial use. The green allows enough sound to be safe for riding while eliminating all the bad. I keep them in a small, flat, pill case and use them every ride. They are so comfortable I never think about them. The ride is so much more enjoyable and safer when you can focus on vehicular dynamics and traffic. Oh yeah, they'll save your hearing too, but that is actually secondary for me. I wear a helmet so I can have better vision at speed, not necessarily for crash protection. Similar logic.
Same here. Used to use MAX LITE but switched to orange MAX (NRR 33) just due to availability. Both are good. Super comfy all day and pretty easy to insert properly. Very effective at blocking wind noise. This is important as I find wind noise masks other sounds I want to hear and is gnaws away at attention and comfort. Plastic sheath over the soft foam underneath means I can use a few times before getting too crusty and maybe helps getting a good seal.
I have to listen to podcasts while I go to sleep because the tinnitus is so loud in a silent room. It never stops and it never go's away. Looking after your ears is a good shout.
I started driving a motorcycle at 16 (am 65 now) always wore a helmet but never even thought about earplugs other than that they would keep the bugs out of my ears when one came in the helmet. At 35 my hearing was tested one the job site and there was a small very specific range I couldn't hear anymore, I was convinced it had to do with the large machines I was operating and the noice of the big engines. But the man who tested me declared that that wasn't the case it was a sound range that was produced by the passing wind on the motor. From that time on I bought and always used ear protection! Stay save, please...
100% agree! It is super important use hearing protection, ideally before you start hearing that high pitched whine, because it may not go away. I started wearing earplugs when riding pretty early on after I got my first bike, due to road/wind noise and I still wear them every time I ride. Like you, according to my audiologist I don't have hearing loss either, however I have had tinnitus in both ears, ever since I went on a duck hunting trip with inadequate hearing protection, and a shotgun with a ported barrel(which is significantly louder than a non-ported barrel). I have had constant ringing in both ears 24/7 for about 8 years now, which started the day of that hunting trip and has never gone away or lessened. I was told that mine is permanent and in my case it is so persistent/loud and makes it so much harder to understand people speaking when there is background noise, that at one point I asked my audiologist if it would be possible for him to render me deaf, then set me up with cochlear implants to restore my hearing without the tinnitus. If I could find an audiologist who would do it, I would literally rather have worse hearing with no tinnitus. Yes, I do miss some audible cues when riding with NRR 33 foam ear plugs, and talking to the police if I get pulled over requires that I take off my helmet and remove my plugs. As a result, I have to rely more on my vision and look around more than I might otherwise, but not making my hearing or tinnitus any worse is well worth it in my opinion.
Alpine MotoSafe Pro user here, MotoSafe tour ( Black -23dB ) while commuting and MotoSafe Race ( Red -26dB ) on highways, I still ear everything around pretty well while being protected from engine and wind noises, I don't feel them at all and they are affordable ( around 25€ on Amazon )
I'm an earplug wearer every time, because I've done plenty of damage in other situations. I very much appreciate the quality information. Don't talk about fight club, we'll all be fine
Good info, as someone with Tinnitus and have been a bike rider from a young age, it's important. Other sources of damage came from discos, bands. Industrial/construction sources a big factor (often not wearing muff) & unmuffled exhausts. I now do try to remember my ear plugs while riding. But I have learnt to ignore it with reasonable success.
You might find this paper helpful: “Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity”. Just like focusing on tinnitus makes it worse, if you listen to music you like… that has a notch filter reducing the volume in the frequency range of your tinnitus, your brain will apparently stop noticing the tinnitus even when you’re not listening to that music. It’s called TMNMT (Tailor Made Notched Music Training).
Also noise, not only damages your hearing but what many people dont realise its extremely fatiguing. The difference in fatigue level when i started to travel in car in noise cancelling headphones (xm4) and alpine moto plugs when riding is insane. its like 60% of fatigue comes from noise ;
I've been investigating active ear pro recently since my exhaust is oddly louder with my helmet on (acoustics are fun!) .. I want to hear sub 80db stuff.. but want to attenuate anything over that. Also having dual purpose ear pro that I can use for range use helps justify cost since good active ear pro is NOT cheap. Thanks for addressing this.. most of my bike friends do wear ear pro but I've never heard it come up in conversation. Edit: ended up going passive type since.. Well.. Cost. Chose the Alpine motosafe-race and they're fantastic. What's wild about them is that I can still hear voices perfectly fine but wind noise is basically gone at highway speeds and they've proven to be super comfy. Game changer for my riding comfort. Highly recommend them.
Been using the NoNoise motorsports ear plugs for about 12 years now (use to use foam ones) . I've found them to be very comfortable & reduce a good amount noise and I can still ear cars, sirens, people talking, etc. * they last too... Bought my second pair about a year ago, kept he first as backups.
One contributing factor that is rarely mentioned in these conversations is the degree to which bone conduction contributes. As someone who wears glasses almost 100% of the time that I am awake, I have noticed that when putting on my helmet, everything seems relatively quiet, but once my glasses are on, I hear a lot more mid and high frequency tones being conducted through my glasses to the bones of the base of my ear. I fully appreciate that this sort of subjective qualitative analysis is effectively useless from a scientific standpoint, but I think it is helpful to consider When selecting your headwear and hearing protect protection.
I bought the Vibes for my musician daughter, they're advertised as "all frequency attenuators". Rather than maximum hearing protection which tends to make audio sound muffled and woofly, the Vibes are meant to filter all frequency ranges more evenly, so you get a modest reduction in volume, but the sound remains nice and clear. Not recommended for noisy machinery etc, but specifically good for listening to loud music.
Finally, very happy you had the time to get to this video. I use my ear plugs in every ride no matter how short. And had a friend who would mock me for earplugs.
Thanks for the video! I am a new rider and have been riding for 3 weeks now!! I have no issues with ringing in my ears, my helmet is a Shoei GT Air 2 that includes cutouts for my sunglasses so they fit perfectly within my helmet, and the wind noise is not too bad. I bought the Sena Mesh for my helmet too!
I am 42 years old, and I've had Tinnitus for the past four years now. No known reason. Just constant ringing in my ears. I started riding a motorcycle less than a month ago, and I am going to start using ear plugs, not to increase the damage. Thank you for talking about this.
This a very imprtant topic which you have covered well. I am 76 and live in the UK. I've had tinnitus all of my life. I use 'made to measure' earplugs and I CANNOT ride without them. My tinnitus is genetic although the roaring noise from the wind passing over my safety helmet is nothing short of painful. I am losing my hearing little by little but the tinnitus remains the same which means it actually sounds more and more loud to me as the background sound is getting lost. I have never found a safety helmet that fits properly and I am sure that is problem that affects lots of riders. Ear to ear I need a "small" and front to back I need an "M" so it's aways a compromise.
@@brocketthave you tried different shaped helmets? I think icon makes helmets that are bigger front to back and narrower from the sides/ ears. Might be a good fit.
I have had tinnitus far back as I can remember. My mother has it now, after she started to lose hearing. I think in many ways being 48 years old, I'm sort of lucky because I have learned to ignore it over my lifetime. Unlike those that have come across it later in life, I know it drove my mother crazy at first. That said only time I find it an issue, is going to bed at night. Which is why I typically have some sort of white noise etc. To add I never "ruined" my hearing as a kid, the extent of "loud" noises was the lawn mower. Which hindsight I should have had protection on, but it was the 80's/90's. I was tested for hearing as a kid for other reasons, and had nothing wrong. I to this day still hear better then most people around me at 48.
The most informative and understandable video to date on this subject, well done Dr Lali. Being a gentlemen of 60 years young it can sometimes drive me nuts trying to sleep with some bugger running their finger around a wet glass top next to my ear at night! And your comment about the more you focus on it the louder it gets, bang on. You've convinced me to go and get some custom ear plugs made. Too late to cure any damage already done but still better to prevent any more.
It was about $75 USD for the ear impressions, then sent them off to England to get the actual custom EMIs made that was around $400. They actually reduce the sound by 31dB. The cord is made to be 50cm (about 1.6 feet) so that you can plug them into the Sena / Cardo and still have some slack to get the helmet on. They are called the Driver Comms Pro, and they are made by Ultimate Ear Protection. Kimi Räikkönen used this brand in F1 for his ears (with a screaming V10 behind his head), so they must be fairly good. :)
I wore pinlock ear plugs for a number of years, before switching to decibulls. The decibulls come with mouldable plugs, enabling them to be custom fitted at home, with added advantage that if you are not happy with the fit the first time they can be re-heated and reshaped for a better fit, all for a way more affordable price than the custom fit options from the hearing clinics. Having a well fitted helmet, one that doesn't fog up forcing you to lift the visor, really makes a difference in terms of wind noise, making any hearing protection that bit more effective.
I grew up with guns, chainsaws and loud music but didn't get tinnitus until I suffered a middle ear barotrauma from scuba diving. There is no cure. I've learned to live with it. I wear the loop ear plugs and they do make a difference. Also, my hearing is incredibly good! In fact it's too good.
Many riders don’t realize the hearing loss motorcycles can cause. I’ve always been careful, using high-quality earplugs when I ride-it not only protects my hearing but also makes the ride much more enjoyable.
Good on you for highlighting this issue. I have tinnitus in both ears and one of my brothers has some degree of tinnitus. Ours was the result of motorcycle riding. I've ridden for many years and only in the latter years have worn earplugs. Mine is (I think) quite loud. I was a mental health clinician before retiring and I've attended to people at the ER (ED) who were suicidal with what seemed to be the level of tinnitus that I live with every day. My tinnitus has not reduced over the years (I'm 74 yo). With high noise reduction foam plugs - you need to slowly roll them into a skinny tube - and then insert as deeply as possible. I have custom silicone moulded earplugs -- but they aren't as effective as the best sound reducing 3M foam ones I use
Started riding recently. Got myself some custom fitted ear plugs (-30db). Best 130 bucks I ever spent and worth every single penny. I can hear the engine just enough to know when to shift. Wind noise from the helmet is now the loudest thing I can hear. No issues hearing sirens.
Great video. I’ve been riding for years, and tried lots: nothing (not wise), foam plugs (good for 25-33 db (also check gun stores), without the slip on exhaust), custom molded plugs (most db reduction, but need getting used to), and any plugs with helmet ( recommended). Look after your hearing. I’ve lost some of my hearing range. And, you don’t always get it back.
I like that you mentioned derating the NRR value of earplugs. The problem is that you cant find ear plug style hearing protection with more than a 35db NRR value, which isnt enough for the noise of a motorcycle. One thing to take into consideration though, is that your actual hearing protection strength will be somewhere in-between the actual value and the calculated value, depending on a number of factors. If you can stomach dry scientific writing, i recommend reading through the ANSI and OSHA standards on noise levels and hearing protection
As a veteran with hearing damage, AND an audio engineer, AND a motorcycle rider... I've been really concerned about earplugs aimed for motorcyclists. road and windnoise and loud music in our helmet cans come in a large range of frequencies.. Most of these filtered earplugs only attenuate non speech frequencies and.. that means guess what you loose more of every time you wear them? your non speech frequency hearing gets protected more than your speech hearing and.... suddenly you can't hear people in normal conversations anymore.. I"m 100% sure that the entire rider community has a big class action in their future.
I’ve worn NoNoise for several years, and ride about 12-15K miles/yr. They’re comfortable (for me), allow me to reasonably hear my music/intercom, and I’ve experienced no measurable hearing loss from hearing tests, or noticeable tinnitus. My first few months of riding I didn’t wear ear pro, but now I can never go back. It also makes long riding days far less fatiguing. High frequency wind noise is the biggest threat to your hearing, especially if you ride a motorcycle with little wind protection. Engine noise is a far lesser contributor to hearing loss, especially when most the noise is ejected aft. It’s very possible that for Lali that riding a sport bike with minimal wind protection is why she has tinnitus which doesn’t show up on a hearing test above 8K Htz.
On one ride my right earplug got really loose and I was to lazy to stop and put it back in properly. After a couple of hours of riding like that (was riding above 100 km/h) I got tinnitus which didn't go away for almost 2 months. And the worst part was, the pitch wasn't constant, it kept changing every 10-15 seconds. I got barely any sleep during those 2 months. I was so happy when I noticed it finally stopped. Don't play with your hearing kids.
I enjoyed your research. I had a pair made at the Moto GP race in Indy (good ole days!) that were molded to fit my own personal ear canal(s). It took about 30-45 minutes and I literally have had them for over 10 years. Several companies offer this type and I would highly recommend them for comfort and efficiency in reducing wind noise. I wear hearing aids and so I am trying to save what I have left. One more thing, I read a study several years ago regarding several different models and their comparable decibel reduction properties and one of the highest reducing types was the WAX swimmer’s ear plugs that you see kids wear at the pool!! I want to say it was like 33 dB reduction!! These are like $3.00 at any drug store!! Anyway, that’s my 2 cents. Thanks for the info!
A MUST WEAR !! Been using ear protection since mid '70s.. We are all going blind ,becoming weaker as we age..finding it more difficult to swing a leg over these tall modern adventure bikes..so wear ear plugs..you do NOT want to become deaf. LOVE your videos.. Stay safe..enjoy the ride
I have been riding for years and just started using earplugs when riding for the past two. I never gave it a second thought before, but now after the short time I've been using them, I can't ride without them.
Ears Secret makes smaller ear plugs for those of us with smaller ear canals, I've worn these for several years now, i put them in for my ride to work (30 min), keep them in for my 12 hr noisy environment shift, then wear them on my ride home (another 30 min), and have never had a problem with comfort, they're about $17 USD on Amazon for the 50 pair box.
With foam earplugs you should also roll them to compress them, insert them, and then hold them in place while they expand to make sure they’re in the ear canal.
I didn’t know what was the cause of that noise, I was hearing from time to time when I had my bike. This was really helpful thank you for sharing this information.
As someone who had a lot of ear/hearing issues as a kid, plus being in every part of band in high school and being in Marine Aviation, I know having hearing loss. My thing now is keeping the hearing I have left.
Picked up a pair of Alpine motosafe (race - that’s all they had) last week, and it’s a game changer for me. If I’d done the trip I did last week without them I would’ve been out of commission. I will say that I personally find the race ones a little too quiet at lower speeds/city riding. They have a two pack with the lower db rating, but they didn’t have that in stock. Gonna wait for a sale and get a pair of those too. And they’re super comfortable.
Thank you for posting this! I use EarPeace ear plugs every time while riding and I've been very happy with them. They are super-comfortable and very quiet. Everything else I've tried has paled in comparison.
My father is deaf due to lots of motor(cycle | car) noise over the years. Thankfully I was able to learn from that example, and keep a few earplugs in every bike jacket.
Great video and nice to see you again Lali! So glad you talked about this "unspoken" topic of hearing loss among us riders. Like you, i wear ear plugs 99% of the time. I'm an ATGATT type of rider anyway and earplugs is part of the ensemble so I've never failed to not have it on. Ive worn NONoise in the past and I do like them but like you mentioned, they are pricey. So now its just good ol fashioned orange foam ear plugs from Home Depot. Wesr them like the Motogp riders do and you can't go wrong😊
I have tinnitus, over the years it has become really bad. I have always worn earplugs on a motorbike, and contribute my hear loss to music concerts. I have switched from foam earplugs to custom silicone earplugs, which are expensive but fit really well. I will continue to wear them, as I don't want to make my symptoms any worse. You can definitely 'zone out' of the noise, which is present all the time with me. However I am unable to hear high pitched beeps from electrical appliances (when the washer has stopped and the beeps of setting a house alarm). Hearing loss is definitely no joke, and irreversible, and I urge everyone to wear ear protection, you can thank me later. Just remember to use at loud concerts too.
Thank you for posting this. Spoken like a true scientist. I have been riding since I was 14. Now I am really old but I will take your advice to heart to keep whatever hearing I have left (and it is still pretty good).
Nice research Lali, hearing is a big issue for MC to be sure, very under spoken (no pun intended) about. I won't put the link here (if I do UA-cam will likely not show my comment and declare it as spam) but you can find them easy enough. They are made by a hearing aid companythat starts with the first letters ph and an o in the middle, the last two letters nak. I will call them P for short in this post. Look for Serenity in the name also the word motorsport. (Let's see if UA-cam lets me make this post this time). The P filters out the frq of the exhaust and wind, but you can still hear the radio (if you have s system in your helmet) you can also hear street noises so that your awareness is not totally diminished. The foam ones cut too much noise out in my view not really as safe as they cut too much of the street noise out). If nothing else with looking into. Soory to be so cryptic, it's UA-cam. Cheers.
I got the Loop Switch and what I like about them are two things, they are comfy and the fact that I can switch the filtration of sound. If I put them on "Quiet", it is somehow scary when I ride in the city due to the lack of surrounding noise, but it's mandatory when I ride on the national roads with speeds over 100kph (60mph). What I use the most is the "Engage" mode, which is the mid filtration setting. I also like to ride with my Airpods on noise cancellation and blast the music.
I started to suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus about 20 years ago, that's also about the time I started to wear earplugs when I ride (too little too late)! I've tried so many different brands of earplugs, its quite ridiculous. The best I plugs that work for me are the Howard Leight Laser Lite for the foam type but my go to for almost everyday are Earpeace Moto Pro. I cant say enough good things about the Earpeace. They come with a 24db filters but you can order optional 27 db filters, which is what I use. Comfortable enough to wear all day.
Consciously thinking about tinnitus absolutely makes them 10x more noticeable. I've lived with 18 kHz tinnitus my whole life and I thought everyone heard the same thing. Glad to know that everyone has a baseline level of tinnitus, but those of us who are bothered enough to search are obviously affected to a higher degree.
I wear the No Noise almost every time I ride. I just got a used bike with a straight pipe and the exhaust is too damn loud. That plus the wind noise, even with my Shoei NXR2, it's too much. I have another one I bought at the MotoGP venue called Motosafe by Alpine. Those block out a lot of sound and is great when you are track side. But I cannot hear anything else. With regular earplugs I also feel like it is blocking too much sound and makes me nervous while on the road where there is traffic and other motorists. With the No Noise I can still actually hear people speak, while it tones down the wind noise significantly. Does a decent job with the exhaust too. If you have a cardo or something similar, put up the volume a little and the sound is fairly clear and doesn't sound muffled. However, I am going back to stock exhaust. The bike still sounds good when I am sat on the bike and riding. And that is what matters to me. I don't want the kind of attention or ear damage that an excessively loud exhaust brings.
3M EAR classic are the best I've tried. Open cell foam is much more comfortable than the closed cell kind, and more effective than any other earplug that I've tried.
Nice research Lali, hearing is a big issue for MC to be sure, very under spoken (no pun intended) about. I won't put the link here (if I do UA-cam will likely not show my comment and declare it as spam) but you can find them easy enough. They are made by a hearing aid company Phonak. The phonak serenity choice motorsport K125. (Let see if UA-cam lets me make this post while mentioning the brand). They filter out the frq of the exhaust and wind, but you can still hear the radio (if you have s system in your helmet) you can also hear street noises (lower intensity) so that your awareness is not totally diminished. The foam ones (by the way HDX from HD) work well, however they too cut too much noise out in my view not really safe as they cut too much of the street noise out). If nothing else with looking into. Cheers.
24 years old, been riding for 2 years and can confirm, tinnitus is real and very annoying. I rode for half a year without and then chose Alpine motosafe pro's. Those mushroom/partyplug type things which I used to about a year and a half. But, using my motorcycle nearly daily, I noticed that they became uncomfortable and didn't want to stay in properly after 3 days consecutive riding, at roughly two hours a day. At some moments I had to put them in very far and worse, they eventually started to vibrate in my ears no matter how they were in my ears, causing a high frequency sound sort of like tinnitus but waaay worse and unpleasant. That was the moment I wanted better and way less hassle getting them in. Then switched to custom made ones by Alpine, and had them remade once but both times they just didn't work. The first set I used for two rides, and I severely regret the decision of putting them back in for my ride home.... This set caused most of the tinnitus I currently have with the same vibration issue as the mushrooms/partyplugs. And the second set didn't even last ten minutes before I put the even more uncomfortable but better noise canceling mushrooms back in. I don't know the name of the custom/tailor made ones I have now, but they are an absolute treat. They are not as airtight as the Alpine ones and even though both are rated for 20db, with these I can actually hear people talk (with a slightly raised voice) and don't have to turn up my music to max to hear anything. Beyond halfway is actually loud now😂 I opted not to have the little stubs which aid in getting them out of your ear. As I got asked if I wanted that (unlike at Alpine who didn't ask), and I wear a balaclava to avoid my helmet getting dirty. The person who made the mould stated it might be because of that balaclava, that the earplugs would vibrate as the stubs would touch it, and thus in a way touch the helmet. Sorry for the long winded post, hope it did help you make the right decision though Ride safe reader✌️
Great video thank You so much! My story. 31 years rides enduro bikes.Riding 40 weeks a year, for 20years And a 12yrs on a CBR1000 mixed in that. With ear bugs 18 dB. No hear loss or tinnitus. (Stock exhausts). The last 5years riding a ADV bike. 45000kms. I have no hearing lost. But I do have Tinnitus 😞 It's the wind noise. I think helmet manufacturers need to do more. Wind tunnel, Sound insulation eg... The fun thing is. I swear my MX helmets are 3 to 5 dB quieter then my ADV helmet. I spent $70 Aus on custom made earplugs. They are Meant to be 40 decides quieter? I have my TV very quiet. And with them in I don't need to turn the vol up??? 🤔 They are also very sore after hrs of riding. Also even with great fitting helmets. I found turing my head can sometime change my ear shape.. Breaking the seal??? Returning the seal with my head straight again. I will try to get some 33dB era bugs. I'm also thinking of buying some motorcycle inflatable ear muffs. On top of the ear bugs!!!
Lali, thanks for an informative video! You asked about what other riders use and think about plugs. I ride a road glide with a short windshield and the wind smacks me right across the face. Adding to that, there’s a lot of turbulence across my half-helmet chin straps that run past my ears. Because of this, wind noise is so loud that anything over 30 mph or so it makes riding just unenjoyable. I have found that the foamy plugs work best but there’s still a fair amount of noise. I found some silicone rubber “Christmas tree” ones like those you showed with a stem. The little stem is like an antenna that transmits its own turbulence noise into your ear, even if they seal well. I’m in the process of putting a longer windshield on the bike; we’ll see how that goes with noise abatement. After adding an amp and better (louder) speakers, I’ve decided that those bone-conducting headphones work pretty well and allow me to listen to music on long rides while I have the foamies inserted. It also keeps me from being “that guy” with a crazy blaring stereo at lights.
Fully custom full shell earplugs are the only way to go in my opinion. It completely eliminates the problem of incorrect insertion/wearing, they are by definition the most comfortable because they are made from a perfect mold of your ear, and they block out the most noise by a mile. They are expensive but like seriously, get over it, your hearing should be a priority. Also they don't keep you from hearing important noises, you're still going to be able to hear if a car is honking or an emergency siren. Overall having a dramatically lower noise floor makes any ride much more enjoyable.
I spent $150 once at a top clinic for custom plugs one of which I managed to misplace while on a ride 🤷♂️. Just another aftermarket pain in the ass. I went back to 3M 1100’s - good noise reduction - chart is on the box. 200 pairs around $30. I think they are what MotoGP riders use
I did eventually get custom molded ear plugs, and they are by far the best for obvious reasons. I've worn them for hours on end without discomfort because they're molded to my ears. They cost me ~$200 at my local audiologist, and come with a lifetime warranty. Prior to that, the Alpine motorcycle plugs *were* the best I've used. Neither made my Sena/Cardo useless and I can enjoy music even at interstate speeds. The good foam ear plugs (3M usually) are probably the best at total noise reduction and price, but I had to remove them to have a conversation while stopped and it really reduced how well I could hear my bluetooth system. They just block everything, whereas better options filter certain frequencies. If you're a serious motorcyclist doing a lot of highway riding, go get custom molded ones because they're worth the money. Price out some hearing aids and you won't complain about price. Nothing is as good as your natural hearing and that fidelity...so protect it!
Nice video :) Yes, the Vibes/NoNoise are more oriented for musicians, that type of plugs intends to slightly lower db's, or some of those plugs have various frequencies cuts.. So you can't expect DB drop from plugs with hole in them like the ones without hole ... Cheers !! :)
to everyone riding a naked, cruiser, chopper, without the windshield, or with the windshield but with buffeting also - earplugs are nr 1 priority I did extensive research to determine wind noise in the helmet. I wish there would be some good ANC ssytems to mount into the helmet so that you dont need to stuff Your ears, cuz it is cumbersome, especially if someone has tiny canals like me
Just baffles me that people won’t wear a helmet. I started working in industry after a break in college flipping lumber at a lumber mill. To go on the floor you had to put plugs in and you had to be instructed how. I had no idea I had been doing this wrong for all the shooting and chainsaw action, I was 21 then. Now that we have kids way back when they were young I showed them how to correctly.
I've had almost constant tinnitus "without hearing loss" according to tests for YEAR. Like since I was in my early 20s, before riding (I started riding at 35 about 2 years ago), and absolutely always wear earplugs when riding cuz I don't want it getting worse. I personally do love my loops quiet because they are so far the only ones that don't make my ears hurt for some reason. The squishy foam ones are my backups, but I can only wear them for an hour before needing to take them out cuz the pressure is sooo bad. Most of the others Ive tried I can barely go 30 min before my ears hurt and I have to take them out for a couple hours. I had a custom pair once upon a time (i seem to have lost them), but even they hurt cuz of the pressure the helmet puts on my tragus and antitragus and so the helmet basically squishes parts of my ear against the ear plugs. So even if Loops aren't the best, I opt for them over extreme discomfort that would make it so that I either dont ride or don't wear any hearing protection... 😬
No, since I have always worn earplugs on every ride since I started riding decades ago. Now I use in ear speaker earplugs that are OSHA rated for NRR. Allows me to use my comm with low volume and still hear at speed vs those that external speakers and need to crank the volume. I had only one good ear before my most recent surgery so I've always protected my hearing. I tell all new riders to wear earplugs on every ride, regardless of the helmet they wear.
I use the loop quiets. I absolutely have tinnitus and had it before riding. i highly rate them, they reduce a fair bit of noise for me because they create a really nice seal in my ear canal. And they fit in under my Arai Quantic really really well. Wont change them!
I work in IndyCar racing, we get custom earplugs with earphones installed made for us by an ear specialist. They work fantastic and are the most comfortable option for long periods of time in my experience. They cost around 200~$250. I wear mine while riding all the time.
Custom ear plugs all the way. It just makes a huge difference in comfort. Paid for my last ones around 100€. The whole process took maybe 30min and after that I think under 2 weeks. Used these foam plugs before and I think they are by far the best bang for the buck. But my custom plugs let me hear certain noises way better, while filtering out the harsh noises. For my next pair I will try out 'Alpine MotoSafe'. They cost a bit more, but have good reviews. Also, your helmet is a huge part of your hearing protection. Take a silent hemet, instead of a fancy racy looking one for your trips, makes a huge difference. Especially I you ride a naked bike like myself.
the biggest difference in noise is making your bikes windshield aero. if you have high enough windshield with deflector that noise doest hit your helmet directly that alone reduce noise by like 80%. That plus alpine moto racing earplugs and im super comfortable noise wise, now i hear the most my front knobby tire lol ; weird that she didnt mentioned that. If you ride naked bike you should use the best protection you can and avoid long riders on highways etc. generally dont take naked bike outside of city. Or do yourself a favor and stop riding naked at all 😂👍🏿
I think I’ve always had very mild tinnitus but it intensified this year after I rode on a super loud exhaust for nearly two hours with no ear protection. It was the most miserable 6 weeks of my life as the tinnitus came with migraines and no doctor could help me. The daily migraines have gone away but the tinnitus remained and after 5 months I finally habituated. Riding has become super trendy since Covid I would say, and everyone seems to be throwing money on these super sports and Pistas and Insta 360s, but hardly anyone has enough common sense to spend ~$30 on a decent pair of earplugs. Some people will learn the hard way when half their hearing has gone to shit.
I think there is a difference between NRR and SNR. Oversimplifying: NRR is calculated as you say, but SNR is directly subtractive, a protection rated at 20dB SNR reduces the 100dB noise to 80dB. Neither really communicates the freq response. The question is: are vendors correctly using and communicating these terms in their materials? Knowing life they bend the truth as much as they can...
I started "damaging my hearing" before my teenage years IE my brother and I tried squeezing as many cap gun caps as possible with pliers then hit the pliers (on our concrete driveway) with a hammer = POW (and instantly ringing ears). That was just the prelude that graduated up to driving, riding just about everything without mufflers and of coarse shooting guns (all with zero ear protection). So long story short (55+ years later), the only time "I don't notice my ears ringing" is when I'm either around a lot of noise or focused, concentrating on something and then of coarse when I'm sleeping. ...edit... And sadly all takes to make the ringing noticeably worse (instantly) is any type of sharp clapping (and or) overly loud sounds...
Great video Doc! I've been struggling this year with noise. Ears ringing every time I get off of the motorcycle (and even the mower). Turns out the bulk pack of HDX ear plugs I bought are GARBAGE! I bought a DeWalt branded pair that were more expensive, and holy cow they work great. All ear plugs are not equal!!
🌟EARPLUGS and STUDIES MENTIONED 🌟
◇ Hearos (I like these, multipurpose and cheap): amzn.to/3y920jG
◇ Trackside (These are also good & have a case) bit.ly/trackside_earplugs
◇ No Noise: bit.ly/NoNoise_ZLA
◇ Vibes (Don't like these, uncomfortable for me): amzn.to/3WjKsJD
◇ Loop (only get the Quiet2 or Experience 2+ with the inserts and just be aware that they don't have any hearing safety data published yet) loop-earplugs.sjv.io/JzG1GR
STUDIES/RESOURCES
◇ www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46741-5
◇ journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00164.2013
◇ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24012803/
◇ NRR calculation estimate (pg 32): www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/pdfs/312-11a.pdf
◇ www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/80081/pain/tinnitus-steps-take-drugs-avoid/page/0/1
I can confirm that the no-noise are great.
I've always worn the loops at concerts and under my helmet on my bike, they may not have safety data published but my ears are thankful for them. I was on the rail at the blink 182 show last night and despite the bass shaking my body my ears were perfectly fine and had no ringing on the drive home. The only thing I don't like about them is they occasionally get snagged when I'm pulling on my helmet and I have to put them back in because of their shape.
😅😅
0:18 "... and it's a topic I don't really *hear* a lot of people talking about"
I see what you did there 😂
6:44 please don’t lick your earplugs. Horrible ear infections await you if doing that. Just read the directions on the box. Yes, you need to apply traction to the outer ear to help open the canal and the “rolled foam” plug should slide in easily. Then expand. But glad you made this video to help the masses. Seen so many people wearing them incorrectly.
Add to this moisture conducts sound so you are diminishing the noise reduction quality. I can definitely hear a difference after a hot ride that makes them moist.
I always wear hearing protection. It is the most common motorcycle injury.
@@dbrockha 99% of riders out there, and on UA-cam don’t have common sense. It’s prevalent from all the videos I see 😂😂
@@Ніл87
I recommend the Motosafe Alpine "Race" - amazing how many riders you can meet at the petrolstations who do not wear any hearing protection 😵💫
I went to a local hearing aid store and they made me custom filtered earplugs that fit deep in my ears for $105. They are wonderful for motorcycle rides.
@@Hookmeister how would one find such a store?
@@King_Spartan4117 I’d suggest a Google search. There are several hearing aid stores in the town I live in. The one I went to was called Elite Hearing Center.
@@King_Spartan4117 any hearing aid store should also be able to make you custom molded plugs without the "aid" part.
A quick tip for putting the foam plugs in. Don’t squish them - roll them between two fingers to expel air out of the foam, then insert now much thinner plug into an ear channel. It’ll expand within 5-10 seconds giving a proper seal. You will never achieve the same result by trying to force a not fully “deflated” plug into the ear while pulling it with other hand.
Also, make sure to discard the plugs after a few rides. The foam is covered with a smooth layer of polymer that not only eases insertion, but also makes the foam harder (by not letting the air to escape the pores quickly). If you wear the same set of ear plugs - that layer wears away and you end up with much softer and thus louder foam
I´m using Alpine MotoSafe Pro. They dont block everything but especially those deep fluttering wind noises. But you still hear other people, sirens and horns. I like them a lot
@@Fonsie85 i just purchase a pair of Alpine Motosafe Race and they really do a good job of blocking the wind noise while allowing me to hear my music at a lower volume. I highly recommend them.
I've got the same ones they fit fine but once I put my helmet on the pressure makes the pain in ear unbearable
Been using the red ones for 3 years now. Slightly more noise damping than the standard black ones
I still hear all the sharp sounds, yet wind, engine drone is quite low in volume
I was using the same ones! They don’t block much, they don’t fit properly (which has never happened before for me), and the bag is so cheap it just ripped and flew away when I was riding and I never saw them ever again. Farwell.
I’m gonna try regular ones instead of that overpriced thing and see how it goes.
Man, I've tried so many ear plugs, it's ridiculous. By far the best one's I've use are the Alpin MotoSafe plugs! WELL WORTH THE COST.
I use the Alpine MotoSafe Speed and love everything about them. As someone who has suffered from tinnitus without hearing loss since my pre-teen years I have to say that personally I have not found a better all around earplug. I love that they add a tool to the set to make sure that even if you do not properly pull your ear back, you still get a great seal. When using firearms I use my Decibullz custom molded and often time double up and use a full around the ear muffs, something that you really can't do in moto so no less than a full face helmet for me.
Another vote for Alpine Motosafe, I have been using them for a few years now, very comfort and effective and the tool is useful as it allows them to use a shorter stem ( more comfort). I also use their dedicated swimming ear plugs ( to eliminate water not noise), also effective.
I used Alpine for a while, but in the end I'm back to foam ear plugs, they are more efficient at filtering noise.
Also with silicon ear plugs, I get a strong low frequency rumble for some reason
Yes! Prior to going for the custom molded ear plugs, Alpines were goated.
Also use the Alpine, but I use the MotoGP and Le Mans version.
The Le Mans version is very quiet, which is nice for long stretches of questionable highway speeds.
I tried the Alpine MotoSafe Pro and they eventually just didn’t work for my ear shape and didn’t cut enough audio on my ADV bike with an LS2 Blaze helmet.
I changed for the EarPeace Motorcycle (26dB) set and those have solved the level and the comfort issue. I have less of a round ear canal.
My wife uses the Alpine set fine.
i'm just past 50 and have been going to metal and punk shows since i was a kid and Tinnitus is real. None of my bikes are loud and i wear a full face on long rides but a skully on short rides around town. i find that constant wind noise will cause temporary tinnitus. Glad to see you bring this up and i'd like to see more riders pay attention to this.
Like you I went to plenty of punk shows and clubs back in my youth and didn't wear hearing protection. My tinnitus is permanent and has been for years now.
🤘🏽me too!
Hi Lali, I'm a retired machinist and a avid motorcyclist. Give the 3M 1100's a try - this is what I've worn for 42 year in a machine shop and still do when I go riding. I've tried the Blue Hearos that you showed. They are nice but my ear canal is too small for them so even after I get them in, they will work their way out of the ear canal. One of the most annoying things to happen after you start your ride is to have to pull over and re-seat your ear plugs. I've tried a lot of different ear plugs to get the right fit and I keep coming back to the 3M 1100's (these are cheep too you can get them for 25-27 dollars for 200 pair - Amazon). Also Vale is doing it right - I've taught Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) classes which include ear protection. What I find that works best for me is to clean out my ears before inserting the ear plugs. Like Vale I also wet my ear plugs before inserting them. I just don't stick them in and go, I put them in and hold my finger over the end of the ear plug until it expands... 15-30 seconds. Also the 3M 1100's are so inexpensive I just use them once and throw them away. Some people even wash them and use them again... in my experience washed one's just don't work like a fresh pair. Lastly stay away from Outrageously Loud Rock & Roll concerts - They'll make you go deaf way before riding a motorcycle will.
I like the Alpine hearing protection. Cheap, easy to use and work great
One of the things that often isn’t mentioned is that hearing loss can be insidious. You don’t necessarily develop tinnitus. You just start to slowly lose your ability to hear a certain range of sounds.
Has someone who has lost most of his sense of smell due to an industrial accident, I can tell you that you never really appreciate your senses until they’re gone. (Nearly lost my vision in that same accident and was blind for several weeks while I was in the hospital and they had to perform multiple surgeries on my eyes)
When you consider that you can get two sets of three foam earplugs off of Amazon for 25 bucks it seems almost disrespectful to yourself to not use them.
hi everyone, I got tinnitus last year which I felt after taking a pain killer medication though dr told me that we can't conclude it happened because of the med...anyway, tinnitus can be so frustrating in initial months. It gives panic attacks sometimes knowing that it will be with you for lifetime...kinda scary, ain't it.
I watched lot of videos of curing it but it didn't help though I found some videos of how to cope with it and believe me it really helped. As I am typing these I am hearing my ear ringing...it sounds exactly like putting our television on av mode though I am not giving it attention. I reckon embracing your tinnitus is the key to be tension free.
I would say that protect your ears and if anybody need help regarding it feel free to comment.
Excellent topic Lali. I have tinnitus. Caused from military service.
Therefore, I use hearing protection when riding and highly recommend it. Having an after market exhaust, and doing track days, hearing protection is a must in those situations.
There is a misconception between tinnitus and hearing loss. Correct, hearing loss does not always cause tinnitus, however, when you have tinnitus, and the more hearing loss the more you notice the ringing. Notice when its quiet, you will 1:28 have ringing? But when outside, the sounds of nature will mask the tinnitus. The more hearing loss the more you notice the ringing because its like turning down the volume. Although these are theories, they do make sence. 🤔
Glad you pointed out the different types of hearing protection. 😊
I used NoNoise for a year before realizing I was wearing them wrong. I used to angle them as the ear canals were angled, and the stems were always pressed against the inner part of my ear, and it used to hurt after an hour of riding. Some months back, I decided to test them further before moving to another brand and tried different ways of wearing them. Then I realised that I don't have to shove it hard into the ear canals, and I can insert them perpendicularly rather than at an angle. This cut off enough wind noise without completely drowning road noise and stopped the pain.
I'm using 3M 1100 Ear Plugs, SNR 37dB for years and riding is even more enjoyable. I can hear my coms even with them.
@@jordan9339 I need some of these. I've been using the orange Howard Leight (32nrr iirc) for ages and hadn't seen anything higher than 33 before.
I have mild tinnitus from growing up around farm equipment but have been a lot more protective of my hearing since early adulthood.
same here. I knew about them through work and know they are good. And good on the motobike they are!
Thanks for addressing this issue Lali. I’m 70 and my tinnitus is getting worse. My doctor appointment is on Monday. I’ve been very careful to protect my hearing throughout my life. I started riding in 1974. I feel a connection with you because my grandparents are from Transylvania, Romania.🏍️🙏
I learned early on from factory work, the required hearing protection was a good thing. Don't ignore that. Also putting them in properly was a huge benefit and continue to use today when riding.
I do use a standard pair, and they do block a lot of noise, but I tend to ride where everything is out to get me. So, I'm always cautious.
Great video! My search for the earplug that fits me is over. I have a pair of custom plugs and it is great! It is a acrylic plug with a filter. They are comfortable and block the noice real good. I payed just under 100 euro. The audicien made a cast form from my ear canal with a two component goo, a bit of a strange feeling, a week later they arrived. Best of all, I got to choose a color!
6:40 -- You want to do it like Rossi, but you don't want to lick them -
Twist them in your fingertips until they are very well compressed, and don't do it haphazardly; try to keep the surface and shape as even as possible. Work the material slowly and methodically. It doesn't have to be more than 15 to 30 seconds or anything, but do it cleanly by rolling into a longer, more noodle shape and size.
Then you want to insert them quite deep. They should be pretty much not visible from the front, but removable with a pinch.
The plugs should slide into your ear easily, and they will expand to completely seal off your canal.
If it ever takes you less than 10 seconds to roll and insert one, you probably haven't done it properly or effectively.
I’ve had Tinnitus since I was 23 when I started my custom Sportster in a small garage & now I’m 57 years old. Its very mild, Im use to it now
I like the Pinlock ones. They are a lot like the NoNoise ones, but you get 2 sizes for the same price. Which might not mean too much to you at first. But a lot of people don't know that most peoples ear holes aren't the same size. It filters out the wind and road noise, without making you feel cut off. Also they don't have the hard plastic bit, so they are more comfortable. Downside to that is: if you lose the little red insert they are significantly louder.
Seconding the Pinlock recommendation. EarPeace and Senner also make a very similar design, which I've had good results with too. I have to say, though, Loop 'Quiet' are my daily go-to earplugs, as the loops are easier to handle than the little tabs on the Pinlock / EarPeace / Senner ones. I once had to take out a Pinlock ear plug with a pair of tweezers because it went in too far for my fingers to grab the tab!
@@ZeroKitsunei i do like the design of the pinlocks, my favorite of motorcycle aimed plugs. But theyre still filtered. Which i firmly believe to be a bad idea.
I've been riding for 46 years, about 350k miles. My Dad rode and always told me to wear ear plugs. I have no hearing loss beyond what is normal for my age. (Also, wear sun screen.)
MAX LITE, by Howard Leight (a Honeywell company).
NRR is 30. I've used these for nearly 20 years and I've found nothing better for motorcycle application.
They are a sealed, soft foam (roll, insert, hold for expansion), T-shaped to limit insertion, and inexpensive. These are green in color; the orange is for industrial use. The green allows enough sound to be safe for riding while eliminating all the bad.
I keep them in a small, flat, pill case and use them every ride. They are so comfortable I never think about them. The ride is so much more enjoyable and safer when you can focus on vehicular dynamics and traffic. Oh yeah, they'll save your hearing too, but that is actually secondary for me. I wear a helmet so I can have better vision at speed, not necessarily for crash protection. Similar logic.
Same here. Used to use MAX LITE but switched to orange MAX (NRR 33) just due to availability. Both are good. Super comfy all day and pretty easy to insert properly. Very effective at blocking wind noise. This is important as I find wind noise masks other sounds I want to hear and is gnaws away at attention and comfort. Plastic sheath over the soft foam underneath means I can use a few times before getting too crusty and maybe helps getting a good seal.
I have to listen to podcasts while I go to sleep because the tinnitus is so loud in a silent room. It never stops and it never go's away. Looking after your ears is a good shout.
I started driving a motorcycle at 16 (am 65 now) always wore a helmet but never even thought about earplugs other than that they would keep the bugs out of my ears when one came in the helmet.
At 35 my hearing was tested one the job site and there was a small very specific range I couldn't hear anymore, I was convinced it had to do with the large machines I was operating and the noice of the big engines. But the man who tested me declared that that wasn't the case it was a sound range that was produced by the passing wind on the motor. From that time on I bought and always used ear protection! Stay save, please...
100% agree! It is super important use hearing protection, ideally before you start hearing that high pitched whine, because it may not go away. I started wearing earplugs when riding pretty early on after I got my first bike, due to road/wind noise and I still wear them every time I ride. Like you, according to my audiologist I don't have hearing loss either, however I have had tinnitus in both ears, ever since I went on a duck hunting trip with inadequate hearing protection, and a shotgun with a ported barrel(which is significantly louder than a non-ported barrel). I have had constant ringing in both ears 24/7 for about 8 years now, which started the day of that hunting trip and has never gone away or lessened. I was told that mine is permanent and in my case it is so persistent/loud and makes it so much harder to understand people speaking when there is background noise, that at one point I asked my audiologist if it would be possible for him to render me deaf, then set me up with cochlear implants to restore my hearing without the tinnitus. If I could find an audiologist who would do it, I would literally rather have worse hearing with no tinnitus. Yes, I do miss some audible cues when riding with NRR 33 foam ear plugs, and talking to the police if I get pulled over requires that I take off my helmet and remove my plugs. As a result, I have to rely more on my vision and look around more than I might otherwise, but not making my hearing or tinnitus any worse is well worth it in my opinion.
Alpine MotoSafe Pro user here, MotoSafe tour ( Black -23dB ) while commuting and MotoSafe Race ( Red -26dB ) on highways, I still ear everything around pretty well while being protected from engine and wind noises, I don't feel them at all and they are affordable ( around 25€ on Amazon )
I'm an earplug wearer every time, because I've done plenty of damage in other situations. I very much appreciate the quality information. Don't talk about fight club, we'll all be fine
Good info, as someone with Tinnitus and have been a bike rider from a young age, it's important. Other sources of damage came from discos, bands. Industrial/construction sources a big factor (often not wearing muff) & unmuffled exhausts. I now do try to remember my ear plugs while riding. But I have learnt to ignore it with reasonable success.
You might find this paper helpful: “Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity”. Just like focusing on tinnitus makes it worse, if you listen to music you like… that has a notch filter reducing the volume in the frequency range of your tinnitus, your brain will apparently stop noticing the tinnitus even when you’re not listening to that music. It’s called TMNMT (Tailor Made Notched Music Training).
Also noise, not only damages your hearing but what many people dont realise its extremely fatiguing. The difference in fatigue level when i started to travel in car in noise cancelling headphones (xm4) and alpine moto plugs when riding is insane. its like 60% of fatigue comes from noise ;
I've been investigating active ear pro recently since my exhaust is oddly louder with my helmet on (acoustics are fun!) .. I want to hear sub 80db stuff.. but want to attenuate anything over that. Also having dual purpose ear pro that I can use for range use helps justify cost since good active ear pro is NOT cheap.
Thanks for addressing this.. most of my bike friends do wear ear pro but I've never heard it come up in conversation.
Edit: ended up going passive type since.. Well.. Cost. Chose the Alpine motosafe-race and they're fantastic. What's wild about them is that I can still hear voices perfectly fine but wind noise is basically gone at highway speeds and they've proven to be super comfy. Game changer for my riding comfort. Highly recommend them.
Been using the NoNoise motorsports ear plugs for about 12 years now (use to use foam ones) . I've found them to be very comfortable & reduce a good amount noise and I can still ear cars, sirens, people talking, etc.
* they last too... Bought my second pair about a year ago, kept he first as backups.
One contributing factor that is rarely mentioned in these conversations is the degree to which bone conduction contributes. As someone who wears glasses almost 100% of the time that I am awake, I have noticed that when putting on my helmet, everything seems relatively quiet, but once my glasses are on, I hear a lot more mid and high frequency tones being conducted through my glasses to the bones of the base of my ear. I fully appreciate that this sort of subjective qualitative analysis is effectively useless from a scientific standpoint, but I think it is helpful to consider When selecting your headwear and hearing protect protection.
I bought the Vibes for my musician daughter, they're advertised as "all frequency attenuators". Rather than maximum hearing protection which tends to make audio sound muffled and woofly, the Vibes are meant to filter all frequency ranges more evenly, so you get a modest reduction in volume, but the sound remains nice and clear. Not recommended for noisy machinery etc, but specifically good for listening to loud music.
Finally, very happy you had the time to get to this video. I use my ear plugs in every ride no matter how short. And had a friend who would mock me for earplugs.
Thanks for the video! I am a new rider and have been riding for 3 weeks now!! I have no issues with ringing in my ears, my helmet is a Shoei GT Air 2 that includes cutouts for my sunglasses so they fit perfectly within my helmet, and the wind noise is not too bad. I bought the Sena Mesh for my helmet too!
I am 42 years old, and I've had Tinnitus for the past four years now. No known reason. Just constant ringing in my ears. I started riding a motorcycle less than a month ago, and I am going to start using ear plugs, not to increase the damage. Thank you for talking about this.
This a very imprtant topic which you have covered well. I am 76 and live in the UK. I've had tinnitus all of my life. I use 'made to measure' earplugs and I CANNOT ride without them. My tinnitus is genetic although the roaring noise from the wind passing over my safety helmet is nothing short of painful. I am losing my hearing little by little but the tinnitus remains the same which means it actually sounds more and more loud to me as the background sound is getting lost. I have never found a safety helmet that fits properly and I am sure that is problem that affects lots of riders. Ear to ear I need a "small" and front to back I need an "M" so it's aways a compromise.
@@brocketthave you tried different shaped helmets? I think icon makes helmets that are bigger front to back and narrower from the sides/ ears. Might be a good fit.
I have had tinnitus far back as I can remember. My mother has it now, after she started to lose hearing. I think in many ways being 48 years old, I'm sort of lucky because I have learned to ignore it over my lifetime. Unlike those that have come across it later in life, I know it drove my mother crazy at first.
That said only time I find it an issue, is going to bed at night. Which is why I typically have some sort of white noise etc.
To add I never "ruined" my hearing as a kid, the extent of "loud" noises was the lawn mower. Which hindsight I should have had protection on, but it was the 80's/90's.
I was tested for hearing as a kid for other reasons, and had nothing wrong. I to this day still hear better then most people around me at 48.
The most informative and understandable video to date on this subject, well done Dr Lali. Being a gentlemen of 60 years young it can sometimes drive me nuts trying to sleep with some bugger running their finger around a wet glass top next to my ear at night! And your comment about the more you focus on it the louder it gets, bang on. You've convinced me to go and get some custom ear plugs made. Too late to cure any damage already done but still better to prevent any more.
It was about $75 USD for the ear impressions, then sent them off to England to get the actual custom EMIs made that was around $400. They actually reduce the sound by 31dB. The cord is made to be 50cm (about 1.6 feet) so that you can plug them into the Sena / Cardo and still have some slack to get the helmet on. They are called the Driver Comms Pro, and they are made by Ultimate Ear Protection. Kimi Räikkönen used this brand in F1 for his ears (with a screaming V10 behind his head), so they must be fairly good. :)
I wore pinlock ear plugs for a number of years, before switching to decibulls. The decibulls come with mouldable plugs, enabling them to be custom fitted at home, with added advantage that if you are not happy with the fit the first time they can be re-heated and reshaped for a better fit, all for a way more affordable price than the custom fit options from the hearing clinics.
Having a well fitted helmet, one that doesn't fog up forcing you to lift the visor, really makes a difference in terms of wind noise, making any hearing protection that bit more effective.
I grew up with guns, chainsaws and loud music but didn't get tinnitus until I suffered a middle ear barotrauma from scuba diving.
There is no cure. I've learned to live with it. I wear the loop ear plugs and they do make a difference. Also, my hearing is incredibly good! In fact it's too good.
Many riders don’t realize the hearing loss motorcycles can cause. I’ve always been careful, using high-quality earplugs when I ride-it not only protects my hearing but also makes the ride much more enjoyable.
Good on you for highlighting this issue. I have tinnitus in both ears and one of my brothers has some degree of tinnitus. Ours was the result of motorcycle riding. I've ridden for many years and only in the latter years have worn earplugs. Mine is (I think) quite loud. I was a mental health clinician before retiring and I've attended to people at the ER (ED) who were suicidal with what seemed to be the level of tinnitus that I live with every day. My tinnitus has not reduced over the years (I'm 74 yo). With high noise reduction foam plugs - you need to slowly roll them into a skinny tube - and then insert as deeply as possible. I have custom silicone moulded earplugs -- but they aren't as effective as the best sound reducing 3M foam ones I use
Started riding recently. Got myself some custom fitted ear plugs (-30db). Best 130 bucks I ever spent and worth every single penny. I can hear the engine just enough to know when to shift. Wind noise from the helmet is now the loudest thing I can hear. No issues hearing sirens.
Great video. I’ve been riding for years, and tried lots: nothing (not wise), foam plugs (good for 25-33 db (also check gun stores), without the slip on exhaust), custom molded plugs (most db reduction, but need getting used to), and any plugs with helmet ( recommended). Look after your hearing. I’ve lost some of my hearing range. And, you don’t always get it back.
I like that you mentioned derating the NRR value of earplugs. The problem is that you cant find ear plug style hearing protection with more than a 35db NRR value, which isnt enough for the noise of a motorcycle. One thing to take into consideration though, is that your actual hearing protection strength will be somewhere in-between the actual value and the calculated value, depending on a number of factors. If you can stomach dry scientific writing, i recommend reading through the ANSI and OSHA standards on noise levels and hearing protection
As a veteran with hearing damage, AND an audio engineer, AND a motorcycle rider... I've been really concerned about earplugs aimed for motorcyclists. road and windnoise and loud music in our helmet cans come in a large range of frequencies.. Most of these filtered earplugs only attenuate non speech frequencies and.. that means guess what you loose more of every time you wear them? your non speech frequency hearing gets protected more than your speech hearing and.... suddenly you can't hear people in normal conversations anymore.. I"m 100% sure that the entire rider community has a big class action in their future.
That's a really interesting point! Do you think custom earplugs filter out evenly across all frequencies?
@@AntiParallali it would depend on the design.
I’ve worn NoNoise for several years, and ride about 12-15K miles/yr. They’re comfortable (for me), allow me to reasonably hear my music/intercom, and I’ve experienced no measurable hearing loss from hearing tests, or noticeable tinnitus. My first few months of riding I didn’t wear ear pro, but now I can never go back. It also makes long riding days far less fatiguing.
High frequency wind noise is the biggest threat to your hearing, especially if you ride a motorcycle with little wind protection. Engine noise is a far lesser contributor to hearing loss, especially when most the noise is ejected aft. It’s very possible that for Lali that riding a sport bike with minimal wind protection is why she has tinnitus which doesn’t show up on a hearing test above 8K Htz.
On one ride my right earplug got really loose and I was to lazy to stop and put it back in properly. After a couple of hours of riding like that (was riding above 100 km/h) I got tinnitus which didn't go away for almost 2 months. And the worst part was, the pitch wasn't constant, it kept changing every 10-15 seconds. I got barely any sleep during those 2 months. I was so happy when I noticed it finally stopped. Don't play with your hearing kids.
I enjoyed your research. I had a pair made at the Moto GP race in Indy (good ole days!) that were molded to fit my own personal ear canal(s). It took about 30-45 minutes and I literally have had them for over 10 years. Several companies offer this type and I would highly recommend them for comfort and efficiency in reducing wind noise. I wear hearing aids and so I am trying to save what I have left. One more thing, I read a study several years ago regarding several different models and their comparable decibel reduction properties and one of the highest reducing types was the WAX swimmer’s ear plugs that you see kids wear at the pool!! I want to say it was like 33 dB reduction!! These are like $3.00 at any drug store!! Anyway, that’s my 2 cents. Thanks for the info!
A MUST WEAR !!
Been using ear protection since mid '70s..
We are all going blind ,becoming weaker as we age..finding it more difficult to swing a leg over these tall modern adventure bikes..so wear ear plugs..you do NOT want to become deaf.
LOVE your videos..
Stay safe..enjoy the ride
I have been riding for years and just started using earplugs when riding for the past two. I never gave it a second thought before, but now after the short time I've been using them, I can't ride without them.
Ears Secret makes smaller ear plugs for those of us with smaller ear canals, I've worn these for several years now, i put them in for my ride to work (30 min), keep them in for my 12 hr noisy environment shift, then wear them on my ride home (another 30 min), and have never had a problem with comfort, they're about $17 USD on Amazon for the 50 pair box.
With foam earplugs you should also roll them to compress them, insert them, and then hold them in place while they expand to make sure they’re in the ear canal.
I didn’t know what was the cause of that noise, I was hearing from time to time when I had my bike.
This was really helpful thank you for sharing this information.
As someone who had a lot of ear/hearing issues as a kid, plus being in every part of band in high school and being in Marine Aviation, I know having hearing loss. My thing now is keeping the hearing I have left.
Picked up a pair of Alpine motosafe (race - that’s all they had) last week, and it’s a game changer for me. If I’d done the trip I did last week without them I would’ve been out of commission. I will say that I personally find the race ones a little too quiet at lower speeds/city riding. They have a two pack with the lower db rating, but they didn’t have that in stock. Gonna wait for a sale and get a pair of those too. And they’re super comfortable.
Thank you for posting this! I use EarPeace ear plugs every time while riding and I've been very happy with them. They are super-comfortable and very quiet. Everything else I've tried has paled in comparison.
The latest research going on in NZ is about creating an app which helps people to distract themselves from the noise. Still in early testing phase.
My father is deaf due to lots of motor(cycle | car) noise over the years. Thankfully I was able to learn from that example, and keep a few earplugs in every bike jacket.
Great video and nice to see you again Lali! So glad you talked about this "unspoken" topic of hearing loss among us riders. Like you, i wear ear plugs 99% of the time. I'm an ATGATT type of rider anyway and earplugs is part of the ensemble so I've never failed to not have it on. Ive worn NONoise in the past and I do like them but like you mentioned, they are pricey. So now its just good ol fashioned orange foam ear plugs from Home Depot. Wesr them like the Motogp riders do and you can't go wrong😊
I have tinnitus, over the years it has become really bad. I have always worn earplugs on a motorbike, and contribute my hear loss to music concerts.
I have switched from foam earplugs to custom silicone earplugs, which are expensive but fit really well. I will continue to wear them, as I don't want to make my symptoms any worse.
You can definitely 'zone out' of the noise, which is present all the time with me. However I am unable to hear high pitched beeps from electrical appliances (when the washer has stopped and the beeps of setting a house alarm).
Hearing loss is definitely no joke, and irreversible, and I urge everyone to wear ear protection, you can thank me later. Just remember to use at loud concerts too.
Thank you for posting this. Spoken like a true scientist. I have been riding since I was 14. Now I am really old but I will take your advice to heart to keep whatever hearing I have left (and it is still pretty good).
People think you can’t hear your com system with earplugs. You can 🎶🔊
The foam can channel the sound, but the use of earplugs will slowly damage things OTHER than the inner ear.
@@AliasTekTVnonsense
@@AliasTekTV like what ?
Plugphones! The best of both worlds! Clear comms over 100mph!
@@AliasTekTV lies
Nice research Lali, hearing is a big issue for MC to be sure, very under spoken (no pun intended) about. I won't put the link here (if I do UA-cam will likely not show my comment and declare it as spam) but you can find them easy enough. They are made by a hearing aid companythat starts with the first letters ph and an o in the middle, the last two letters nak. I will call them P for short in this post. Look for Serenity in the name also the word motorsport. (Let's see if UA-cam lets me make this post this time). The P filters out the frq of the exhaust and wind, but you can still hear the radio (if you have s system in your helmet) you can also hear street noises so that your awareness is not totally diminished. The foam ones cut too much noise out in my view not really as safe as they cut too much of the street noise out). If nothing else with looking into. Soory to be so cryptic, it's UA-cam. Cheers.
I got the Loop Switch and what I like about them are two things, they are comfy and the fact that I can switch the filtration of sound.
If I put them on "Quiet", it is somehow scary when I ride in the city due to the lack of surrounding noise, but it's mandatory when I ride on the national roads with speeds over 100kph (60mph).
What I use the most is the "Engage" mode, which is the mid filtration setting.
I also like to ride with my Airpods on noise cancellation and blast the music.
I started to suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus about 20 years ago, that's also about the time I started to wear earplugs when I ride (too little too late)! I've tried so many different brands of earplugs, its quite ridiculous. The best I plugs that work for me are the Howard Leight Laser Lite for the foam type but my go to for almost everyday are Earpeace Moto Pro. I cant say enough good things about the Earpeace. They come with a 24db filters but you can order optional 27 db filters, which is what I use. Comfortable enough to wear all day.
Consciously thinking about tinnitus absolutely makes them 10x more noticeable. I've lived with 18 kHz tinnitus my whole life and I thought everyone heard the same thing.
Glad to know that everyone has a baseline level of tinnitus, but those of us who are bothered enough to search are obviously affected to a higher degree.
I wear the No Noise almost every time I ride. I just got a used bike with a straight pipe and the exhaust is too damn loud. That plus the wind noise, even with my Shoei NXR2, it's too much. I have another one I bought at the MotoGP venue called Motosafe by Alpine. Those block out a lot of sound and is great when you are track side. But I cannot hear anything else. With regular earplugs I also feel like it is blocking too much sound and makes me nervous while on the road where there is traffic and other motorists. With the No Noise I can still actually hear people speak, while it tones down the wind noise significantly. Does a decent job with the exhaust too. If you have a cardo or something similar, put up the volume a little and the sound is fairly clear and doesn't sound muffled. However, I am going back to stock exhaust. The bike still sounds good when I am sat on the bike and riding. And that is what matters to me. I don't want the kind of attention or ear damage that an excessively loud exhaust brings.
3M EAR classic are the best I've tried. Open cell foam is much more comfortable than the closed cell kind, and more effective than any other earplug that I've tried.
This is one of the best presentations I have heard thank you
Wow, thank you!
Nice research Lali, hearing is a big issue for MC to be sure, very under spoken (no pun intended) about. I won't put the link here (if I do UA-cam will likely not show my comment and declare it as spam) but you can find them easy enough. They are made by a hearing aid company Phonak. The phonak serenity choice motorsport K125. (Let see if UA-cam lets me make this post while mentioning the brand). They filter out the frq of the exhaust and wind, but you can still hear the radio (if you have s system in your helmet) you can also hear street noises (lower intensity) so that your awareness is not totally diminished. The foam ones (by the way HDX from HD) work well, however they too cut too much noise out in my view not really safe as they cut too much of the street noise out). If nothing else with looking into. Cheers.
Definitely agree the foam ones do cut out a lot of noise
24 years old, been riding for 2 years and can confirm, tinnitus is real and very annoying.
I rode for half a year without and then chose Alpine motosafe pro's. Those mushroom/partyplug type things which I used to about a year and a half. But, using my motorcycle nearly daily, I noticed that they became uncomfortable and didn't want to stay in properly after 3 days consecutive riding, at roughly two hours a day. At some moments I had to put them in very far and worse, they eventually started to vibrate in my ears no matter how they were in my ears, causing a high frequency sound sort of like tinnitus but waaay worse and unpleasant. That was the moment I wanted better and way less hassle getting them in.
Then switched to custom made ones by Alpine, and had them remade once but both times they just didn't work. The first set I used for two rides, and I severely regret the decision of putting them back in for my ride home.... This set caused most of the tinnitus I currently have with the same vibration issue as the mushrooms/partyplugs. And the second set didn't even last ten minutes before I put the even more uncomfortable but better noise canceling mushrooms back in.
I don't know the name of the custom/tailor made ones I have now, but they are an absolute treat. They are not as airtight as the Alpine ones and even though both are rated for 20db, with these I can actually hear people talk (with a slightly raised voice) and don't have to turn up my music to max to hear anything. Beyond halfway is actually loud now😂
I opted not to have the little stubs which aid in getting them out of your ear. As I got asked if I wanted that (unlike at Alpine who didn't ask), and I wear a balaclava to avoid my helmet getting dirty. The person who made the mould stated it might be because of that balaclava, that the earplugs would vibrate as the stubs would touch it, and thus in a way touch the helmet.
Sorry for the long winded post, hope it did help you make the right decision though
Ride safe reader✌️
Great video thank You so much! My story. 31 years rides enduro bikes.Riding 40 weeks a year, for 20years And a 12yrs on a CBR1000 mixed in that. With ear bugs 18 dB. No hear loss or tinnitus. (Stock exhausts). The last 5years riding a ADV bike. 45000kms. I have no hearing lost. But I do have Tinnitus 😞 It's the wind noise. I think helmet manufacturers need to do more. Wind tunnel, Sound insulation eg...
The fun thing is. I swear my MX helmets are 3 to 5 dB quieter then my ADV helmet. I spent $70 Aus on custom made earplugs. They are Meant to be 40 decides quieter? I have my TV very quiet. And with them in I don't need to turn the vol up??? 🤔 They are also very sore after hrs of riding. Also even with great fitting helmets. I found turing my head can sometime change my ear shape.. Breaking the seal??? Returning the seal with my head straight again. I will try to get some 33dB era bugs. I'm also thinking of buying some motorcycle inflatable ear muffs. On top of the ear bugs!!!
Lali, thanks for an informative video! You asked about what other riders use and think about plugs. I ride a road glide with a short windshield and the wind smacks me right across the face. Adding to that, there’s a lot of turbulence across my half-helmet chin straps that run past my ears. Because of this, wind noise is so loud that anything over 30 mph or so it makes riding just unenjoyable. I have found that the foamy plugs work best but there’s still a fair amount of noise. I found some silicone rubber “Christmas tree” ones like those you showed with a stem. The little stem is like an antenna that transmits its own turbulence noise into your ear, even if they seal well. I’m in the process of putting a longer windshield on the bike; we’ll see how that goes with noise abatement. After adding an amp and better (louder) speakers, I’ve decided that those bone-conducting headphones work pretty well and allow me to listen to music on long rides while I have the foamies inserted. It also keeps me from being “that guy” with a crazy blaring stereo at lights.
Fully custom full shell earplugs are the only way to go in my opinion. It completely eliminates the problem of incorrect insertion/wearing, they are by definition the most comfortable because they are made from a perfect mold of your ear, and they block out the most noise by a mile. They are expensive but like seriously, get over it, your hearing should be a priority. Also they don't keep you from hearing important noises, you're still going to be able to hear if a car is honking or an emergency siren. Overall having a dramatically lower noise floor makes any ride much more enjoyable.
A rock concert gave me permanent T a couple of years ago. It sucks so bad.
I spent $150 once at a top clinic for custom plugs one of which I managed to misplace while on a ride 🤷♂️.
Just another aftermarket pain in the ass.
I went back to 3M 1100’s - good noise reduction - chart is on the box. 200 pairs around $30. I think they are what MotoGP riders use
I did eventually get custom molded ear plugs, and they are by far the best for obvious reasons. I've worn them for hours on end without discomfort because they're molded to my ears. They cost me ~$200 at my local audiologist, and come with a lifetime warranty. Prior to that, the Alpine motorcycle plugs *were* the best I've used. Neither made my Sena/Cardo useless and I can enjoy music even at interstate speeds. The good foam ear plugs (3M usually) are probably the best at total noise reduction and price, but I had to remove them to have a conversation while stopped and it really reduced how well I could hear my bluetooth system. They just block everything, whereas better options filter certain frequencies. If you're a serious motorcyclist doing a lot of highway riding, go get custom molded ones because they're worth the money. Price out some hearing aids and you won't complain about price. Nothing is as good as your natural hearing and that fidelity...so protect it!
Nice video :) Yes, the Vibes/NoNoise are more oriented for musicians, that type of plugs intends to slightly lower db's, or some of those plugs have various frequencies cuts.. So you can't expect DB drop from plugs with hole in them like the ones without hole ... Cheers !! :)
Thank you, Lali! This reminds me of that person who often race the SL300 back then
to everyone riding a naked, cruiser, chopper, without the windshield, or with the windshield but with buffeting also - earplugs are nr 1 priority
I did extensive research to determine wind noise in the helmet. I wish there would be some good ANC ssytems to mount into the helmet so that you dont need to stuff Your ears, cuz it is cumbersome, especially if someone has tiny canals like me
I have completely forgotten about this, and yes I do feel it. Thank you for reminding me. Will buy protection today 😊
Just baffles me that people won’t wear a helmet. I started working in industry after a break in college flipping lumber at a lumber mill. To go on the floor you had to put plugs in and you had to be instructed how. I had no idea I had been doing this wrong for all the shooting and chainsaw action, I was 21 then.
Now that we have kids way back when they were young I showed them how to correctly.
I've had almost constant tinnitus "without hearing loss" according to tests for YEAR. Like since I was in my early 20s, before riding (I started riding at 35 about 2 years ago), and absolutely always wear earplugs when riding cuz I don't want it getting worse.
I personally do love my loops quiet because they are so far the only ones that don't make my ears hurt for some reason. The squishy foam ones are my backups, but I can only wear them for an hour before needing to take them out cuz the pressure is sooo bad. Most of the others Ive tried I can barely go 30 min before my ears hurt and I have to take them out for a couple hours. I had a custom pair once upon a time (i seem to have lost them), but even they hurt cuz of the pressure the helmet puts on my tragus and antitragus and so the helmet basically squishes parts of my ear against the ear plugs.
So even if Loops aren't the best, I opt for them over extreme discomfort that would make it so that I either dont ride or don't wear any hearing protection... 😬
No, since I have always worn earplugs on every ride since I started riding decades ago.
Now I use in ear speaker earplugs that are OSHA rated for NRR. Allows me to use my comm with low volume and still hear at speed vs those that external speakers and need to crank the volume.
I had only one good ear before my most recent surgery so I've always protected my hearing.
I tell all new riders to wear earplugs on every ride, regardless of the helmet they wear.
I use the loop quiets. I absolutely have tinnitus and had it before riding. i highly rate them, they reduce a fair bit of noise for me because they create a really nice seal in my ear canal. And they fit in under my Arai Quantic really really well. Wont change them!
Dont forget that we ride with music to, wich adds up to the wind noise and the exhaust, so it can lead very fast to hearing loss ...
I like Surefire earplugs. They're comfortable and have a secondary plug that's attached that fills in a tiny hole if you want it quieter.
I work in IndyCar racing, we get custom earplugs with earphones installed made for us by an ear specialist. They work fantastic and are the most comfortable option for long periods of time in my experience. They cost around 200~$250. I wear mine while riding all the time.
Custom ear plugs all the way. It just makes a huge difference in comfort. Paid for my last ones around 100€. The whole process took maybe 30min and after that I think under 2 weeks. Used these foam plugs before and I think they are by far the best bang for the buck. But my custom plugs let me hear certain noises way better, while filtering out the harsh noises. For my next pair I will try out 'Alpine MotoSafe'. They cost a bit more, but have good reviews.
Also, your helmet is a huge part of your hearing protection. Take a silent hemet, instead of a fancy racy looking one for your trips, makes a huge difference. Especially I you ride a naked bike like myself.
the biggest difference in noise is making your bikes windshield aero. if you have high enough windshield with deflector that noise doest hit your helmet directly that alone reduce noise by like 80%. That plus alpine moto racing earplugs and im super comfortable noise wise, now i hear the most my front knobby tire lol ;
weird that she didnt mentioned that. If you ride naked bike you should use the best protection you can and avoid long riders on highways etc. generally dont take naked bike outside of city. Or do yourself a favor and stop riding naked at all 😂👍🏿
I think I’ve always had very mild tinnitus but it intensified this year after I rode on a super loud exhaust for nearly two hours with no ear protection. It was the most miserable 6 weeks of my life as the tinnitus came with migraines and no doctor could help me. The daily migraines have gone away but the tinnitus remained and after 5 months I finally habituated. Riding has become super trendy since Covid I would say, and everyone seems to be throwing money on these super sports and Pistas and Insta 360s, but hardly anyone has enough common sense to spend ~$30 on a decent pair of earplugs. Some people will learn the hard way when half their hearing has gone to shit.
I think there is a difference between NRR and SNR. Oversimplifying: NRR is calculated as you say, but SNR is directly subtractive, a protection rated at 20dB SNR reduces the 100dB noise to 80dB. Neither really communicates the freq response. The question is: are vendors correctly using and communicating these terms in their materials? Knowing life they bend the truth as much as they can...
I started "damaging my hearing" before my teenage years IE my brother and I tried squeezing as many cap gun caps as possible with pliers then hit the pliers (on our concrete driveway)
with a hammer = POW (and instantly ringing ears). That was just the prelude that graduated up to driving, riding just about everything without mufflers and of coarse shooting guns
(all with zero ear protection). So long story short (55+ years later), the only time "I don't notice my ears ringing" is when I'm either around a lot of noise or focused, concentrating on something and then of coarse when I'm sleeping. ...edit... And sadly all takes to make the ringing noticeably worse (instantly) is any type of sharp clapping (and or) overly loud sounds...
Great video Doc! I've been struggling this year with noise. Ears ringing every time I get off of the motorcycle (and even the mower). Turns out the bulk pack of HDX ear plugs I bought are GARBAGE! I bought a DeWalt branded pair that were more expensive, and holy cow they work great. All ear plugs are not equal!!