It seems ear plugs range from 10p to £260, so there is evidently room for a wide spread of opinions. I have tried various types occasionally, but not found any I like. And my hearing is still perfect after 50 years of riding, thanks.
Same here, sounds like an old CRT tv when you first turn it on, no getting away from it but I still use the Max-lites to keep it from getting worse. £20.99 for 400 (200 pairs) Howard Leight Max Lite Ear Plugs - Box of 200 Pairs | eBay
Absolutely right. A friend of mine has just had to order a new set, after three years his were no longer fitting as well as they did.
I had these made and have never looked back! At around £100 is it not worth trying??? Even had them colour coded to match my ears!!!
As I said I would , I've emailed Auritech and given them rather negative feedback, so once I receive any response, I'll feedback to anyone interested on 'this ere site'.....:Nailbiting:
Hearing is a tricky one, as you never notice your own hearing deteriorating. (By the same token it's a good idea to have a trusted mate ride your bike and drive your car occasionally) Helmets can vary greatly, and flip front and open face helmets are apparently significantly quieter as they are somewhat 'sprung' over the ears. The type of bike can make a big difference too, sitting behind a big screen a lá multistrada is considerably quieter than a Sportsbikes.
It might seem like locking the door after the horse has bolted since I am deaf and wear two hearing aids but I still can’t bear to ride without my custom made earplugs. Apart from anything else I can’t risk my hearing getting any worse! My custom earplugs are silicon rubber and were bought about 15 years ago for about £50 from a gun shop shooting range (no I don't shoot). So at £0.50 / year not what I would call expensive. I also have very small ear canals and didn’t get on at all well with foam plugs. I didn’t find them comfortable and my worst nightmare was having one properly seated and one not, then having to stop and faff around to reinsert it. Like MrsC_772 it seemed that pulling my helmet on would often be enough to dislodge one or both. I’ve not experienced any of these problems with the custom plugs and if ever I lost them I would replace them in a heartbeat. Incidentally I haven’t noticed the fit deteriorating over the years, maybe because my ears have ear moulds in them almost permanently? So custom for me every time but if you get on OK with foam stick with them I guess. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
So my asthma worsens, my memory is weakening, my eyesight was always crap, and I have got cancer. But it just so happens that my hearing is still good. My mother's hearing was still pin-sharp at 87 years old, when everything else had packed up. Sorry that disappoints you, but I'm quite pleased you think I'm "physically impossible".
Different ear shapes seem to need different solutions. Some don't find an improvement with custom ear plugs while others (like me) find them much more effective and a reliable fit.
Yeah, well, ok then Pete, but has your mother been riding motorcycles for 50 years ? When did you have a hearing test last, I said "WHEN DID YOU HAVE A HEARING TEST LAST". :smiley:
My hearing was perfect for 44 years , then I got tinnitus - you think at first it's going to go like when you get ringing in your ears after a gig . But it doesn't go and it stays I worked in an engineering shop for a year and there was no such thing as compulsory ear protection , then years of load music and windy helmets I hope those of you that don't have it don't get it It's not really very well understood
Whilst at the nec bike show I ordered some ultimate ear custom fit ear plugs. Used them for the fist time today. A bit fiddly to get them in at first but getting faster each time I fit them now. Pleased with results. Obviously riding a pani it's never going to be a quiet ride. However what I felt that they were really good at was cutting out wind noise. These are only observations from my initial experience.
The more you use them the easier it is. May sound a bit grim but I wet my finger and rub into my ear first, as I find this makes it much easier for me.
My custom moulded ear plugs were never terribly comfortable and tended to push wax into the ear which then built up requiring periodic syringing. I now wear 3M E-A-R Soft Yellow Neon Ear Plugs | Disposable Ear Plugs | Hearing Protection | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Protec | Protec Direct which fit my narrow ear canals very well and are very effective.
Custom made for me too. The soft squishy ones not the the ceramic ones. Deffo wouldn't go back to the foam ones. Far too many times I've set off with one of the foam ones not quite set leaving wind noise and a reset needed. That became difficult on tours cos the guide usually just fecks off and leaves you . No problems now with the customs