I would be more worried about the music. All you guys are worried about a little noise under your helmet so you use ear plugs which makes your ride more dangerous.
How so?
I’m glad your ears are fine. Perhaps you received normal plots on your last hearing test then? If so, great!
Because there isn't enough noise inside a helmet to damage your ears but wearing earplugs hamper an important part of safe riding; hearing. I would like to know if a big truck is coming up behind me, etc, etc.
So you are an exception. I have a problem with hearing that most people don't have and it's high pitch loud noises that hurt my ears. An example is little kids/babies screaming next to me. I can't figure out if it physically hurts or if it's so annoying that it hurts. Other examples are; train wheels squealing on a track, sirens, and girls screaming.
You might consider consulting an audiologist about the ear pain from the noises you describe. "Normal" is a range but what you describe would concern me as not normal.
Post #18: your ears are fine.
Post #25: you have a problem with your hearing.
You say you don’t know why. People tell you why, with valid reasons. Then you seem to want to argue with them rather than learn. Let’s go with “to each their own” and drop this now. The benefits of wearing hearing protection are well known and supported, and individuals can make their own choices.
I'm in the same situation...guns when young, then rock n roll and motorcycles as I got older. Loud tinnitus both ears 24/7. Had it for at least 20 years. Ear plugs just accentuate the tinnitus by blocking out everything else. Wind noise when riding actually blocks out the tinnitus., but then you have to get off the bike sometime and listen to the ringing again. Can hardly hear regular conversations, or the TV. My favorite expression is WHAT? I'm told hearing aids won't help with the tinnitus. I have learned how to go to sleep with it, but you're right silent environments accentuate the squealing in my head.
I'm sorry that you have to deal with that.
I'm old and are ears are fine other than occasional bothersome noises which I can live with. I think some people can tolerate more noise pollution with no ill effects than others. I still don't buy the "wind in the helmet" theory though.
So you have special earplugs that let in traffic noise but block everything else? You need all your senses to ride safely.
All earplugs generally work like that. Very loud or high pitched noises are reduced/blocked but more common sounds are able to come in. If you’re been shooting think about how you can hear your range partner talk but the report of your weapon is not ear splitting. Personally I’ve ridden both with and without earplugs and find it easier to hear both surrounding sounds and the goings on with my bike when I wear them. The wind noise drowns everything else out at speed. That being said at low speeds (around my neighborhood for example) no hearing protection is preferable when trying to diagnose an issue.
Hmmm, better hearing with earplugs, that's pretty good.
I mean this respectfully. There are things I do on a bike that are stupid and I am not preaching. I had a similar perspective as yours. I never rode with earplugs up until a few months ago and wish I had never ridden without them after the first trip. My logic was the same as yours; we need all of our senses while riding a motorcycle, anything else is unsafe. Interestingly, there is no evidence to support that auditory environmental noise awareness improves motorcyclist safety, and also none that confirms that it doesn't so that remains unsettled ...not my research obviously, I just found it when I was looking into this. I purchased EarPeace filtered earplugs and they are working out pretty good for me. Plus, bone conduction still gives you auditory cues about your environment. It is a fact that once you begin crossing speeds of about 45 miles there are few, if any, helmets that reduce sound to a level that will not cause hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes. I'm almost deaf in one ear from loud noise exposure in my previous career. Only good intentions here.
I did find this on google which was interesting, but I am wondering how I ran skil saws and nail guns, plus rode bikes all my life but I can still hear well. (other than some noises bother me occasionally).
Have you ever had your hearing checked? If you have and you’re still good the just chalk it up to good luck I guess
No, not special. I just opened a 200 count box of Howard Leight Laser Lites Uncorded and have a few Max Lites left from a previous box. There are standards and ratings that earplugs meet so you can compare various hearing protection levels offered. I look for NNR 30-32 for riding.
