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Message started by babyhog on 09/09/13 at 16:12:59

Title: Hearing protection?
Post by babyhog on 09/09/13 at 16:12:59

Was watching a hunting show and saw these and thought "that would be nice to use riding the bike too"... So I looked at the website. http://www.wildear.com/

Wow, so they are quite pricey!! And that's putting it mildly! But what do you think of the idea? And do you ride with any hearing protection?

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by gizzo on 09/09/13 at 16:58:10

They look like noise cancelling earplugs? Might be a good thing. When I'm leaving town on the bike, I always use industrial earplugs. Shorty lid is too noisy without, and being deaf is not cool.

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by Serowbot on 09/09/13 at 17:24:02

For $1,000 I'll follow behind you and yell at you... ;D...

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by Charon - FSO on 09/09/13 at 17:41:04

I have been using earplugs for over twenty years when I ride. And when I mow the grass or run a chainsaw, too. I also use either electronic earmuffs or earplugs when I shoot, depending on whether I am alone or need to hear range commands. You only get issued one set of ears. I wish I had started using hearing protection a lot sooner. I kind of pity the young kids with earbuds turned up so loud I can hear them over the idling engine of the school bus when they get on.

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by oldNslow on 09/09/13 at 18:29:47

I've always just worn the disposable foam earplugs. They keep the wind noise down to a comfortable level without keeping me from hearing horns, sirens etc. Spend a few bucks on a handful of them before getting anything more expensive. They might be all you need.

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by GridMonkey on 09/09/13 at 22:31:53

babyhog,

I work as a sound engineer, and in reference to those electronic ones you posted that started this thread, those plugs would be useful, to a point. while motorcycles can get to 100db or more depending on how you ride what you would be hearing after the dampening would be the upper whine( the annoying part ) of the motor. The compression curve takes out the lower register, but also most male and about a third of most female voice pitches. depending on the mode of course depends on how much you hear. Amusingly it would prevent hearing the backfire..... if you have one due to its auto compression. but that takes batteries. Stick to orange foamys they reduce sound levels more evenly but cut out the higher frequency severely, it makes talking sound funny but you still hear your bike better.

I use these http://www.etymotic.com/hp/er20.html when im mixing concerts and such, i haven't ridden with plugs because i ride with a full helmet but i bet they would work very well.

Just a graph to show you the frequency level shift to compare it to the expensive ones. (also a place to get custom ear plugs for musicians with an even reduction)

http://www.hear-more.com/musician.htm

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by Serowbot on 09/09/13 at 23:25:27

I have those musician earplugs... you definitely don't want to pull a helmet on yer' head with those...
...(they have a pokey tube sticking out that will not accept a helmet... yeeouch!)...

Most of the noise you get on a bike,.. is wind...
More specifically... it's the noise of wind bouncing off yer' chest, and blowing upward...

Wear a scarf, if the temperature allows... it will cut wind noise by half...
;)...

Title: Re: Hearing protection?
Post by prechermike on 09/10/13 at 02:53:27

I wear ear plugs when I ride, and mow, and shoot, and do many other things. Like Charon said, I wish I had started much sooner. But now damage has been done to my hearing and there is no getting it back.