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ear plugs?

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Posted by: moto guy---------------------

just wandering if you guys were ear plugs.


Posted by: r0yal---------------------

I dont race, but when I'm rippin around a track I dont wear them.


Posted by: ttr125biker---------------------

well i don't stop to listen during a race but if i get a chance i realy like the sound of a buch of dirt bikes being pushed realy hard espeacialy at the start its very thrilling roar


Posted by: biglou---------------------

I wear "foamies" (the kind you roll up and insert into your ear canal - I steal'em from work...) when I'm watching the pro's race, but not when I'm riding or hanging out at the local tracks.


Posted by: elliot-cr133---------------------

i haven't yet..but if i keep on getting these headaches, i think i might have to start.


Posted by: robwbright---------------------

My father in law has been racing karts, modifieds and various other 4 wheeled machines for 45 years. He swears by earplugs when he races - but not to save his hearing. Says that you can actually hear your own motor better than without them.

I found this out relatively recently and I haven't tested it yet.


Posted by: Okiewan---------------------

Maybe it's just me, but earplugs seem to effect my balance for some reason?


Posted by: SpeedyManiac---------------------

Never worn ear plugs while riding or racing. I would definitely take them to a Supercross race though. Fourstrokes indoors = LOUD.


Posted by: yamayz125---------------------

I used ear plugs for the first time last weekend.
It was a bit strange. I think I hold full throttle longer now and rides at higher rpm.
Don`t think I`ll change back, because it was more comfort with the plugs!


Posted by: GETMETOCA---------------------

I don't wear them riding and I HATE wearing them at work too.


Posted by: adam728---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by robwbright
My father in law has been racing karts, modifieds and various other 4 wheeled machines for 45 years. He swears by earplugs when he races - but not to save his hearing. Says that you can actually hear your own motor better than without them.

I found this out relatively recently and I haven't tested it yet.


I agree. I wear them on longer road rides. I notice with them in I can "hear" the bike better because the wind buffering is dramatically reduced.

Maybe it'll work off-road for me too. I mean, if there is a 4 stroke within 1/2 mile of me I can't hardly hear the KDX run.


Posted by: rm_racer---------------------

Never tryed ear plugs, but I've ridden (or is it rode?) listening to music. (The head phones were the little ear bud kind). It cuts out some of the engine noise (but it may have just been the music) but you can still hear the bike and whats around you.


Posted by: mtk---------------------

I wear earplugs whenever I ride: street, dirt, or road racing. I've never noticed a problem with my hearing, or lack thereof, with plugs in my ears. Yes, it is illegal to ride on the street with earplugs. That's OK, because I value my hearing more than I value following some bull**** laws drawn up by a bunch of clueless politicians.


Posted by: Dirt Rival---------------------

I don't wear them but I should because I ride so much and because my bike is as loud as hell.


Posted by: MXGirl230---------------------

hmm...never thought about it...Maybe I should give it a try. I can't ever hear my 125 over the 450s


Posted by: Brian---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirt Rival
I don't wear them but I should because I ride so much and because my bike is as loud as hell.



Quiet the bike down. Your not helping anything or looking any cooler by having a loud bike.

I know Scott(motometal) swears by them. I've been meaning to try them on the next ride out, but I'm waiting for it to drop below 100* before that happens!


Posted by: moto guy---------------------

when i wear them i can really hear the rpms of my engine.... and not everybody elses, and plus my dad makes me wear them.


Posted by: mtk---------------------

If you race, an added bonus of wearing earplugs is that if you can hear the other guy, you KNOW he's close. If he's not close enough to overpower your earplugs, he's not close enough to matter.


Posted by: apb---------------------

yeah, I don't like to ride without them. They do help hear what my motor is doing better as well, and they keep my ears from ringing after a long ride!


Posted by: Mullenhead---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie
Maybe it's just me, but earplugs seem to effect my balance for some reason?


You are right Okie, hearing does effect balance...

"The inner ear contains the sensory organs for hearing and balance. The cochlea is the hearing part of the inner ear. The semicircular canals , the utricle and the saccule are the balance part of the inner ear."


Posted by: motometal---------------------

Hmmmm, interesting thought on the balance. I've never had a perceived problem with it, but maybe my balance would be better without them.

Yes, the earplug/hearing conservation topic. Add this to 401k investment, smoking, etc etc. I'm talking about things that as we age, we tend to wish we did differently when we were younger. I rode for many years without earplugs, and I rode alot. Also had car stereos with several thousand watts. I have also been known to shoot guns, and beat things with hammers. These are all activities which cause hearing loss. Heck, even a shop vac, lawn mower, etc. under the right circumstances and if used long enough will cause hearing loss.

So anyway, I can't put back what my stupidity took away, but I urge everyone out there to wear earplugs when riding. Another benefit I notice, I can actually ride longer without getting fatigued because even though most folks don't realize it, the loud noise actually tires you out mentally.

Many people give them a half arsed try, find them uncomfortable, and give up. No offense, but that's lame. I parallel this with contact lenses, anyone who wears them knows where i'm going with that...it's very uncomfortable at first but once you are used to it, you don't even notice. There are many types of earplugs out there, and they are inexpensive.

Keep in mind that your body adjusts it's sensitivity/response based on input level. When around loud noises without earplugs, your body "tunes out" the noise to some extent within a short time, and it isn't perceived as "very loud" although the damage is still being done. So my point is, if you are wearing earplugs that decrease noise 26 db, the perceived difference won't be that great because of this affect. An easy way to demonstrate this to yourself, is to wear only one earplug while around a loud noise for awhile. After you take that earplug out later on, you will notice your hearing appears to be better in that ear (although this effect is only temporary of course).

If you want an excercise in frustration, try convincing a factory worker, who has already had significant hearing loss, to wear earplugs. They are at the point where even loud noises aren't perceived as loud anymore. They will say something like "I can't hear that well anyway, why would I want to wear earplugs?". The sad thing is, the little bit that they have left is being beaten to death by the noise, accelerating the loss even more.


Posted by: mtk---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by motometal
Hmmmm, interesting thought on the balance. I've never had a perceived problem with it, but maybe my balance would be better without them.


Almost all roadracers wear earplugs so I don't see how they can effect balance in the majority of cases.



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