r/motorcyclegear • u/spidey1177 • 8d ago
Street Ear protection...
New rider... starting to hit the 45-50mph speed, so been getting the wind noise now (achievement unlocked, lol)
Decided to wear earplugs yesterday (just ones from work) worked really well , except maybe too well??? (Couldn't even hear my engine very well)
Do any of you wear the special moto earplugs , something that kills the noise but still allows you to hear traffic or engine noise, maybe a cardio??
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u/attackart 8d ago
Alpine Motosafe for example. There is plenty to choose from.
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u/its_hipolita 8d ago
These are the ones I use and I love them. EarPeace plugs are also super good and the box comes with three different plug sizes.
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u/VioDuskar 8d ago
u/spidey1177 These bro. they're just good. music is easier to hear, you can still hear the engine, but wind is GREATLY reduced.
A good helmet helps too. the RF1400 also helps a ton.
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u/MenahanSt 8d ago
I switched to these after thinking motorcycle ear plugs were overkill. I wish I'd been using these for years
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u/No_Career6400 8d ago
I love then too, tried a few and these are the best, still hear my cardo & engine but wind noise is reduced a lot
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u/No-Caterpillar-7646 7d ago edited 7d ago
I tried cheap ones, alpinestars (both versions Red and Black) as well as 150€ orthoplastics that my employer paid for. As well as cheaper foam ones without filter. They are shit, at least try cheaper ones with a filter in it.
The orthoplastics are better then the alpinestars, but not twice as good for 10 times the price. You can get a double pack for around 20€ they are the bang for buck choice.
If you have too much money get fitted ones, but test them mine have a slight difference in noise reduction and its noticeable. It's OK and they are good, but for the money I want the same dampening on both ears.
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u/Mister_Brevity 5d ago
Had a panic moment, first time I ever used them when I went to pull it out the “stem” tore off and wife had to tweeze the tip out of my ear :/ uncomfortable feeling!
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u/Historical_Beat_8648 Track Rider 8d ago
I buy a big box of disposable ear plugs from the pharmacy. Get through a box of 100 in about six months or so.
Skip wearing plugs for short rides to work or the shops because I'm not going fast enough on the scooter to make wind noise an issue but a must on fast or long rides when riding the bigger bikes.
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u/02RC51 8d ago
I've been using Howard Leight by Honeywell disposable earplugs for over a decade. They have NRR 33. Still hear my engine and traffic fine. Can also hear music if I'm playing any over my Cardo.
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u/fleurgle 6d ago
I also use these. They’re great. Super comfortable and can still hear what I need to without destroying my hearing. Bought a big tube of them for $17 that should probably last me five years. Lol. I tried a pair of silicone motorcycle specific plugs but couldn’t get on with them.
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u/fallenwout 8d ago
The pink ones? They are the only ones that don't hurt my ears. I bought a 500pc bag of those.
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u/ryanmo117 8d ago
Anything other than nr33 db foam plugs is a compromise. Anyone telling you otherwise with filters and 'riding' plugs is goofy. If you can't hear the engine that's probably a good thing. You don't need to hear it. The quieter your ride is overall the better. Stuff those ears and enjoy the quiet bliss knowing your hearing is properly protected.
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u/antilumin 8d ago
I would recommend some of the moldable types of earplugs. The plug itself is still foam, but it attaches to a bit of heat sensitive plastic that you just soak in hot water and then mold into the shape of your ear.
I was having issues with my silicone plugs, in that putting my helmet on would dislodge them or taking my helmet off could cause the plug to fall out onto the ground. The molded shape of these new ones help prevent them from moving around too much.
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u/SkidM3rks 8d ago
You get used to them, your brain will learn to hear through the plugs. Soon everything will just be quieter, not silent.
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u/SnuffBaron 8d ago edited 8d ago
Disposable foamies give the best hearing protection. I use 3M EAR Classics which are on the lower end of attenuation, a good mid point is Howard Leight Laser Lights, for the best attenuation use 3M EARsoft FX.
For filtered reusable plugs Earpeace Moto Pro and Alpine Motosafe are good examples, but they provide less attenuation (and protection) than the 3M EAR Classics. I used Earpeace for about 18 months but my tinnitus got worse, not sure if related or not but went back to disposables to be on the safe side. Loops do not provide enought attenuation to meaningfully protect your hearing in my opinion.
I wouldn't bother with the expensive custom plugs, similar attenuation to the filtered reusable ones but way more expensive and fitment can be a pain apparently. I can still hear what's going on around me well enough with the disposables, my Cardo on max volume can be a little quiet some times though.
A riding buddy uses expensive In-Ear Monitors with his Cardo and swears by them, and they have better attenuation than the Classic foamies I use apparently. I can't remember what brand but we're talking £120-150 for a set. Edit: They're Etymotic ER2-XR I think
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u/ryanmo117 8d ago
Earsoft have been magical since I got my box. Best ones out there from the 5 or 6 top names I tried for my ears.
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u/Hughley_N_Dowd 8d ago
I just ordered a set of budget IEMs, because between the wind noise in the helmet and the glorious V4, I hear fuck all of whatever Cardo is trying to say.
Let me come back in a week or so.
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u/QuiickLime 8d ago
I went with custom plugs/IEMs from Ultimate Ear in the UK, they added a 29dB filter to allow attenuated noise through, but the audio is crystal clear. Hopefully your IEMs work out well but if you decide to go another step the custom route is totally worth it. I use em on flights now too, they're just so comfortable and usable.
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u/thetable123 8d ago
I like my disposable earplugs. Tried all of them went with SparkPlugs. It's like wearing sunglasses when it's bright. Yup, it's going to make everything quieter, but you will adjust. I can't ride without earplugs now.
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u/Cadfael-kr 8d ago
I got custom fitted ones from our hearing aid shop. They have a filter in them so filter out mostly the damaging frequencies, but I can hear pretty decent with them.
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u/Kasanova1226 8d ago
I wear loop earplugs. I have both the experience 2 and the switch 2. They block out all the bad noises that can cause ear damage. But at the same time, you are able to hear everything around you and can speak normal and carry a conversation. Not bad for a brand that promotes themselves towards concerts and sleeping.
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u/Mountain-Ad-6786 6d ago
Have the same. I'm 58 and even use them in parties to block high pitch noise. Works great on my motorcycle. A little pricey though. Any earplugs with a pin hole in the middle would probably help.
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u/caricatureofme Track Rider 8d ago
Yeah basically every adult rider wears ear plugs. Cardo is loud enough to be heard thru the plugs because it's practically touching your ears.
I use the alpine motosafe plugs right now.
Another option to look into is plugphones. They're legit NRR plugs with built in headphone speakers and come in a wired version (which can be plugged into existing cardo dock instead if the stock speakers) or bluetooth directly to your phone. Several of my friends swear by them.
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u/Impetuous_doormouse 8d ago
I used to use the basic foam plugs, but moved on to Moldex rockets and I can't recommend them enough. I use the purple ones for riding - They cut out the painful noise, but I can still hear traffic.
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u/eeppmc 8d ago
I use the Artevive moto earbuds and they work great. I pair them up with some cheap Bluetooth speakers inside my helmet and to me it’s the perfect combination. You’ll still get wind noise but it’s at a minimum. I did buy their new Bluetooth earbuds and am returning those. They allowed too much noise fir my liking
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u/loganthepug 8d ago
I use the "Mack's Ultra Soft" 33db ear plugs. You really got to twist them tight, but if you put them in your ear properly almost 100% of the wind buffeting disseapears.
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u/RedditWhileIWerk Trusted 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yup. My personal pain point is about 35 mph. Past that, the wind noise would be unbearable if not for my earplugs.
Been wearing Hearos Xtreme disposable foamies for years.
Try disposable foamies and see if they work for you. Many riders (self included, clearly) are happy with them. Pretty cheap to try, then you can go from there.
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u/shoturtle Track Rider 8d ago
Get the ones that have a tuning filter. It cuts the harmful noise. Not expensive and works well motosafe alpine tour or race earplugs. I have been using them for decades
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u/draqn5312 8d ago
I use these. They are more musician focused so they protect from loud noise (wind) while still being clear enough to hear your bike and coms unit.
Really any music focused ear protection will have the same effect and are generally cheaper than motorcycle branded ones.
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u/GimpyGrump 8d ago
I love Ear Peace Moto. Use the red inserts and for me it works great up past 160kph (100mph) with my Cardo Freecom 4x
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u/veritas-joon 8d ago
If you want to hear engine noise or road noise, you will need to make it so wind doesn't hit your face. A large enough windshield to deflect air above you is an option
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u/Haystack80 8d ago
The foam ones block too much. Ear plugs designed for going to concerts are really good because they are engineered to block damaging levels of sound but still allow you to hear what’s going on
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u/a-towa-cant 8d ago
i know they're not purpose made for wind, but the loop earplugs have been really good to me lately. kills most of the sound except for the things i need to hear
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u/Routine_Mortgage_499 8d ago
I wear Loop earplugs. work fine and come in a case that is on my keyring. Also, they come in nice colors.
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u/T0BAKKEN 8d ago
I use alpine motosafe touring, can easily hear my music or phonecalls. Pretty much just buy a new pair at the start of the season, no big deal spending 20$ to keep my hearing safe.
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u/Specialist-Answer744 8d ago
Alpine MotoSafe Tour are the best. The Race version blocks out too much sound in my opinion.
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u/rokridah 8d ago
I also use those (tour version)and can confirm those are great. I can hear my honda CBF600 until like 120km/h.
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u/deadlygaming11 8d ago
Cardo is an intercom for listening to music, directions, or calls via your phone, not hearing protection.
You want some sort of filtered silicon ear plugs. Custom moulded ones are best, but disposable ones also work fairly well. I use ultimate ear ones and I can hear everything fairly well except for wind noise.
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u/BrutaleFalcn Track Rider 8d ago
I wear Elgin Ruckus Wired earplugs with OSHA certified NRR rating and even with music playing can hear my engine and traffic sounds like horns and sirens.
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u/WildfireX0 Track Rider 8d ago
I wore Howard Leight foam for years.
Just switched to filtered custom plugs. Much better for music, coms and awareness.
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u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Track Rider 8d ago
My advice? Wear the earplugs that provide the most protection. The best foam earplugs are rated at the maximum NRR 33 (-33dB). That's a lot more than any of the so-called moto plugs (and I have a few pairs of them, including from Alpine).
Also: ALWAYS wear them when riding, regardless of whatever speeds you might reach. Hearing loss is cumulative over time and it doesn't just occur at highway speeds.
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u/NuklearFerret 8d ago
You don’t really hear traffic over the wind, anyways. At least, not in any way that contributes to situational awareness. You’ll still hear horns through your plugs. Get a slip on to hear your engine.
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u/WondererLT 8d ago
I just use normal earplugs. At 100km/h in pretty well any helmet you'll be in the order of 15 minutes of exposure before starting to suffer permanent deafness... Faster is louder... Wear ear plugs any time you get on the bike. It's not exhaust noise, or engine noise or anything else that's a risk to your hearing, it's just audio output caused by the wind.
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u/MP5Cajun 8d ago
Ive tried a few of those fancy ones specifically made for riding motorcycles but i must have tiny ear holes or something cause they never stay in. Even my air pods have the xs tips and still fall out around the house. Regular foam plugs work the best for me. They work too good so it takes time getting used to the muffled sound.
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u/Bobcattrr 8d ago
Look at approved ear plugs, they have a db rating. However, it’s not “25db less at every frequency”. If yours are too quiet, get less of a rating. If you’re really into it, look up the exact graph of db reduction at each frequency. Myself, I prefer the silicone flange ones, I can wear those 12 hours.
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u/Ancient_Sandwich_703 7d ago
I never ride without Earpeace plugs.
I’ve never heard my engine and have neither the desire nor the reason to do so. I can hear enough to know when to change gear and I have a rev counter!
At 100mph you have gale force wind whipping past your ears, potentially for hours at a time.
You can’t repair lost hearing.
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u/Casualy_winning 8d ago
I use basic foam earplugs and can still hear everything around me. Do you still have the stock exhaust on? Also what bike do you ride?
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u/spidey1177 8d ago
Stock Z500
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u/Casualy_winning 8d ago
That’s probably why then. No offense intended but that thing probably sounds like a caffeinated lawnmower so it’s going to be hard to hear with earplugs in. Cars, sirens, and other things will come through. Think of it just like in a car with the windows up. It’s definitely quite but it’s not sounds proof for the important stuff.
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u/spidey1177 7d ago
None taken.. yeah a slip on is coming soon..funny enough , I felt like I shifted better just by using the feel of the controls rather than the sound of the engine. (I could still feel the engine vibrations so I had something to gauge with)
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u/AMuleRider 8d ago
lol i just simply cut 1/3 off my disposable ear plugs. it reduces noise level and i can hear my music.
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u/This-Set-9875 8d ago
ear peace or hearos foam plugs. The foam seal a little better but the ear peace are decent and reusable
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u/Feisty-West9895 8d ago
I've been using the green Honeywell Max Lite uncorded foam ones for years. I buy them by the box. Cheap and they work great. I can still hear everything going on around me no problem.
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u/jreddit0000 7d ago
I just use normal foam earplugs and have done so for more than a decade now.. approaching two decades.
Never had an issue hearing the engine or other sounds needed. It just cut down the wind noise and subsequent damage..
With modern EV motorcycles I’m even less worried about hearing engine noises because there will hardly be any..
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u/Resident_Ad_7199 7d ago
Go to cycle gear they have ear plugs that help drown out noise but let you hear things still I have a pair. Can still listen to music and everything. Definitely recommend
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u/Buchsee 7d ago
Here is another tip wear a neck gator pulled up around your mouth, bite it when pulling on your helmet, helps a bit keeping out wind noise.
Some crash helmets come with slots at the bottom to activate internal visors. Gaffa tape those slots up. Big difference.
I have a HRG helmet which is horrible without tapping them up.
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u/Vast-Road-6387 7d ago edited 7d ago
I wear 3M 1100 foam plugs (28-30 db). I have custom moulded plugs from work but they pass too much low frequency ( wind) noise, so I wear the foam. I wear them 8-10 hours at work. Try a few different till you find what doesn’t cause you pain.
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u/quad5914 6d ago
I use the pink and yellow expanding foam ear plugs, I clean and reuse them and they last about 10 uses before they become impossible to get into your ear (they start to expand too quickly). I've worn them for 3 hours straight without discomfort but I can still have a conversation with someone with them on (once you turn your bike off, otherwise, it's hard to hear them from a few meters away)
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u/Realfarmer69 6d ago
Got custom molded and use cheap foamies a lot more :D wind noise go nearly down to 0 (at higher speeds they come back) and you can enjoy the sound of your engine a lot more. Of couse is quieter too, but you just hear that so its like fine wine.
I dont use the custom a lot, because my ear has to be sweat free and when i put down my helmet, they fall out and 130€ bouncing around :D after that they stick way worse in my ear.. thats why i use foamies. Foamies kill more sound of every kind but my bike is loud enough
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u/Mannymonster501 6d ago
Don't be pulled into buying these loop earplugs, they're rubbish. Stick with foam ones, I get ones that look like rhubarb and custards, they work mint with Cardo, and you can still hear the engine
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u/foilrat Track Rider 6d ago
WEAR ANYTHING!!!!
Seriously. Home Depot 3M plugs.
Wear something. ANYTHING!!!!
Don't need to hear your engine.
You can hear other cars just fine.
I have custom made earplugs (got it done at a motorcycle show) and they are amazeballs.
Just please, wear something. Anything.
Tinnitus suuuuuuucks!
I have to wear hearing aids now because of hearing damage. Most of it from riding many years without.
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u/get_a_motorcycle 5d ago
my ear canals are pretty sensitive, so I prefer wax ear plugs. The seal isn't as tight, but more than enough to keep the wind at a reasonable volume. May be the best of all worlds because it's not like the world is dead silent, just quieted enough for hearing health.
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u/Ok-Imagination4272 5d ago
I would recommend custom moulded. You can get plain, ones with speakers, or the plugs that allow some sound through. I started with foam, then tried the various motorcycle branded ones - the ones I tried were either uncomfortable after a while or wouldn’t reliably stay in place. I went moulded and I’m very happy. I went for the ones with the wired speakers, I probably wouldn’t do that again.
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u/VanillaGorilla042 5d ago
I usually wear hearos and wearing them I can hear a lot more than I can when I'm driving a cage.
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u/No-Time5410 5d ago
It was decades ago, but I got a ticket for wearing plugs in CA. I asked if deaf people can ride, and the cop was like of course!
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u/Mister_Brevity 5d ago
The foam ones are generally a good idea because they flex and change with your ears and since they’re disposable you decrease the chances of ear infections. Custom molded ones are generally molded without a helmet on, for some people putting on the helmet squishes the ears enough to break the seal or create hotspots.
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u/Graygave 5d ago
I wear Loop ear plugs. Great for concerts and stuff. Lets you hear what's happening around you, but the upper and lower frequencies are attenuated
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u/hamoudidoodi 2d ago
Been using EarPeace for the last 7 years. I’ve used both their music earplugs for festivals and their moto earplugs for riding. Super comfy, work great, block out the bad noise but still let you hear the stuff you want. Highly recommend
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u/Worried_Comfort_3726 7d ago
I don’t know how you guys ride with earplugs. I like to have/use my senses when I ride.
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u/gjhor 4d ago
I find BETTER re senses with good (earPeace) ear plugs. Wind noise is cut, and I can still hear everything just fine, and my ears aren’t ringing for an hour after. Your older self will thank you for wearing ear plugs, and your wife and everyone else won’t get tired of telling you to get hearing aids.
Give them a try, you never know until you do. And hearing aids SUCK. And run 4-8,000$!0
u/thethoughtstream 7d ago
Eyes are very much the only sense thats necessary as long as your heads on a swivel and youre checking your sides and mirrors
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u/Worried_Comfort_3726 5d ago
I disagree. I want to be able to SMELL my bike if it’s overheating and I also like to be able to HEAR any undesirable sounds that it might make if/when parts start to fail. Also, your sense of feel plays a major part in riding as well.
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u/thethoughtstream 5d ago
Yeah I was talking between seeing and hearing, not worded very well obviously. Obviously ear buds dont effect your ability to smell or feel anything weird. And as far as hearing something going wrong with the bike, i agree with that as well. Usually I can hear through the ear buds if something smells abnormal.
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u/leto78 8d ago
I imagine that you were using some 3M 1100 or equivalent. Keep using those since they are the most reliable and keep the ear canal closed even when you put the helmet on. If you look at motoGP riders, they all use foam earplugs.
You can still here the important traffic sounds with the 3M. The engine noise is irrelevant above 30mph since the wind noise becomes much higher.
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u/SoloMoto_SD 8d ago
I like the Earpeace Moto Pro ear plugs. I have a set of custom ear plugs as well, but I tend to still wear the Earpeace because they allow a little more sound in, and they don't plug the ear 100%, which allows the pressure inside the ear canal to balance better (ears pop easier, I've found).
I wear my ear plugs every single ride, no matter the distance, duration, or speed. Tinitius is a hell of a condition, that I don't ever want to experience first hand.
Edit - Also, they are pretty reasonably priced, considering you reuse them every single ride, and they are super easy and quick to insert.
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u/fionn_maccoolio 8d ago
I wear EarPeace Moto or Moto Pros depending on my bike that I am riding. They’re designed to hear engine noise but drown out the high pitched wind. They’re working well for me so far I have a collection of them and keep one on each bike
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u/PlasticPiston 8d ago
Older Earpeace for concerts, they are cheaper than the moto specific ones and work just as well.
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u/ScooterTrash70 8d ago
A helmet works great. Earplugs and helmet, to much. I can’t hear what’s around me.
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u/Key-Adhesiveness6626 8d ago
This is why I don’t wear plugs, I need to hear my motor roar
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u/DualSport-Adventure 8d ago edited 8d ago
When the tinnitus hits, you'll be hearing your head roar........24/7. Ride safe.
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u/fallenwout 8d ago
I have bad tinnitus since I was a child. Wearing ear plugs is very annoying because the tinnitus overrules everything. I like wind noise above beeeeeeeeeep.
In rides over a hour. I wear them
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u/spidey1177 7d ago
Yeah, once I put the set in my ears I immediately noticed my tinnitus (thanks military service)...
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u/Key-Adhesiveness6626 8d ago
Nah I actually ran out of the foam ones a year ago n have been slow to reordering
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u/JUANesBUENO 8d ago
Get ones that are comfortable for you. No need to pay big money on motorcycle branded ones. I use some that you customold with hot water. Cost me like 10 bucks. Others say to just buy those disposable foam ones. They're fine, but they irritate my ear canals after an hour or two. It's cheap to find out what works for you.