EAR PLUGS........what's the best / easiest to use ..??

[032846]

I've been riding since 1962 (!) and just now am thinking of joining the "never ride W/O earplug" crowd........I just bought a beautiful 1999 R1100R with the BMW "factory" windscreen .. the wind noise inside my Shoei Multitec is unbelieveable / so I guess earplugs are the best solution ??
what's the general opinion / what really works...please....thanks !!

from the swamp..
JPFITZ

[20774]

Some previous discussion hear(!):

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...ar-Plug-Source

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...ing-protection

[queretaro]

You have asked a question that has been discussed at length in 2012, most probably found in the 'gear' section. Try searching for it. However, since you asked, I use the bright orange tekk disposable ear plugs by 3M. Bought a pack of 80 at either Home Depot or Lowes. I find them very comfortable and easy to insert. You can buy these, or similar, in a pack of 10 at an auto parts store or WalMart to try them out. Other members will have many different opinions.
regards,
Mark

[71243]

You have asked a question that has been discussed at length in 2012, most probably found in the 'gear' section. Try searching for it. However, since you asked, I use the bright orange tekk disposable ear plugs by 3M. Bought a pack of 80 at either Home Depot or Lowes. I find them very comfortable and easy to insert. You can buy these, or similar, in a pack of 10 at an auto parts store or WalMart to try them out. Other members will have many different opinions.
regards,
Mark

This is what I use and I agree with the above. However a friend, that also used them, just had custom plugs made, and he says the difference is amazing.
He says quieter and as,or even more comfortable and well worth the $45.00 charge. As such I am considering a pair of customs.
Ron

[amiles]

I have trouble inserting the little yellow or white foam cylinders into my ear canals. I squeeze them down & pull on my ear as instructed. I must be just a bit fumble fingered and they have time to start expanding before I get them in.Just recently I discovered, courtesy of my cold garage, that the plugs are much slower to expand when cold, giving me just the needed extra time to make a proper placement. Once in the ear they do warm up and expand properly.

Keeping ear plugs on ice/refrigerated sounds crazy but works for me.

[20774]

I bought molded earplugs at the Johnson City rally...Big Earz I think. I like them a lot.

[na1g]

Howard Leight MAX ear plugs. These are disposable but good for many uses first. They are shaped to make insertion and removal (exsertion?) easy, have a smooth skin for comfort and have the highest noise reduction rating (33) I've seen. I bought a box of 100 pairs from a safety supply store. Compared to the cost of hearing aids later in life, they are cheap money. I wear 'em when lawn mowing, snow blowing, hammering nails and I even bring a pair along when I go to the movies. Trying to save what's left of my hearing. In short, any ear protection is better than none.

pete

[GeorgeK1200RS]

Howard Leight Laser Lite. Softer and more comfortable for me when in for a long time. After smashing the plug to insert, wet it a little and it goes in easier.

I buy them in quantity on Ebay in a large enough quantity to supply friends and family.

[PGlaves]

There is no answer, or more precisely, there are thousands of answers. Voni has used the yellow cylindrical EAR Classic plugs for years. She still does. Once, she tried custom molded plugs but thought they were not as quiet and went back to the EAR Classics. I tried the EAR classics, smaller orange ones, smaller white ones, and some little green ones. Apparently riding over-pressurizes my skull ( ) because they stay in about ten minutes and then slide outwards sufficiently to be almost useless. When I started riding my F650 Dakar with a minimal windshield I had to do something better so got a pair of custom molded ear plugs a couple of years ago. I really like them and now don't ever ride without them.

I think they may be a little less effective than the EAR Classic yellow foam plugs if the classics are firmly stuffed and stay in my ears, but after that first ten minutes or so when the classics slide outward the attenuation is pathetic. So on balance the custom molded plugs work for me and I have never found others that do.

[kantuckid]

I protect what hearing I have left but as you started riding the year before me a good question is how much hearing do you have left? Many years of firearms & heavy industry also eroded my hearing,esp. prior to protection being commonly in use. If you are not aware of the aspects of hearing loss you might want to read up on a site like WebMD or similar place the doesn't sell HA's. Noise induced hearing loss is accumulative , so what you lose you never get back-never ride MC's or operate anything that makes noise w/o protection. Use muffs for other activities. You can read about others plug choices but need to try some out for your own opinion of comfort.

[glenfiddich]

Some previous discussion hear(!):

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...ar-Plug-Source

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthre...ing-protection

It's hopeless. Starting a new thread is much easier than using search.

[05Train]

Don't screw around with your hearing, get yourself a custom-fitted set and be done with it.

[WalterK75]

Some people have found that a Laminar Lip can make a windscreen more quiet. I did. There have been multiple discussions of this device on the Forum. I wear earplugs all the time. I use 3M 1100 model. They are foam and cut sound dramatically. The local fire department uses them.

[ka5ysy]

As Paul noted, there are hundreds of answers. I, and my wife, use iPlugz brand custom molded earplug speakers. They work great with our Autocom intercom system and definitely keep out noise when running at speed. Pricy, but definitely worth the protection and for listening to radio/music/intercom.

Site is here:

http://www.earinc.com/p2-iplugz.php

[71243]

Some people have found that a Laminar Lip can make a windscreen more quiet. I did. There have been multiple discussions of this device on the Forum. I wear earplugs all the time. I use 3M 1100 model. They are foam and cut sound dramatically. The local fire department uses them.

I've used both the Laminar Lip, and a top mount deflector, and I agree they do cut the noise, by cutting the 'snap'? and buffeting of the wind. But for me anyway,..plugs are still needed for anything more than a ride to the grocery,..etc.