Oh, they were flat out not in properly. But if you have smaller flatter ear holes like me then it becomes increasingly probable that you might not fit them well.
A friendly warning about being careful with your hearing. Ear plugs and things.
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Well, unfortunately something similar happened again, but a different risk/issue.
For the last few weeks my left ear (same one as above, it had recovered) has been wet and problematic, but I set off on a ride to, ironically, buy a better and quieter helmet. When I arrived my left ear was 'deaf' and full of fluid. The hearing itself seems fairly normal (conductive hearing and frequency range the same).
This was different though, that the ear plug was too deep this time, and I think it came into contact with my ear drum, which I suspect is partially ruptured anyway (from years back).
So, after dusting the bike from its winter slumber and only getting a few rides in, and forking out for a nice new expensive lid, I think best to take another break to let my ear recover. Took a couple of weeks before, then it got better, not sure if the things are related but I have been getting 'this' a few times in the last month. I think both times it's some sort of fluid in the ear rather than actual damage as such, but for different causes and it's cumulative damage over time (aka 'getting older'). Sigh.
For the last few weeks my left ear (same one as above, it had recovered) has been wet and problematic, but I set off on a ride to, ironically, buy a better and quieter helmet. When I arrived my left ear was 'deaf' and full of fluid. The hearing itself seems fairly normal (conductive hearing and frequency range the same).
This was different though, that the ear plug was too deep this time, and I think it came into contact with my ear drum, which I suspect is partially ruptured anyway (from years back).
So, after dusting the bike from its winter slumber and only getting a few rides in, and forking out for a nice new expensive lid, I think best to take another break to let my ear recover. Took a couple of weeks before, then it got better, not sure if the things are related but I have been getting 'this' a few times in the last month. I think both times it's some sort of fluid in the ear rather than actual damage as such, but for different causes and it's cumulative damage over time (aka 'getting older'). Sigh.
I use Mack's earplugs, NRR29~30 the ones I use. They have up to NRR33 tailored for shooting, motorcycling, swimming etc. Moldable ones, too. Have a look.
www.macksearplugs.com
Motorcycle Ear Plugs - Mack's Ear Plugs
These comfortable ear plugs for motorcycles help reduce the potentially harmful effects of noise exposure from motorcycles and motor sports. Mack’s® motorcycle earplugs provide hearing protection for auto racing/NASCAR, loud events, shooting sports, concerts, traveling, etc.
www.macksearplugs.com
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I got a pair of Eargasm plugs in a charity raffle. Very comfortable... quite impressive actually. I use them on my Harley and I have gotten to my destination and forgotten to take them out because they're so comfortable.
eargasm.com
On the track I wear some custom made silicone plugs. I've had them for some time and I honestly think my ear shape has changed a bit. I got them at a GP race, and sadly Indy lost that... I'm sure there's a gun store that does them nearby. Absolutely no substitute for those.
Eargasm Product Line | Best High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts
Shop all the newest, best high fidelity earplugs for concerts, musicians, noise-sensitive users, and more! Custom in-ear headphones and earplugs now available. CLICK HERE TO SHOP NOW
eargasm.com
On the track I wear some custom made silicone plugs. I've had them for some time and I honestly think my ear shape has changed a bit. I got them at a GP race, and sadly Indy lost that... I'm sure there's a gun store that does them nearby. Absolutely no substitute for those.
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They look almost the same as the Eggz ones, which at least shows me that they should be comfortable, will report once they arrive! The issue with these above is they're stateside products, whereas both QRO and myself are in the UK 😅
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The Eggz arrived yesterday, 2 sizes as standard M and L but they do a S and XL version as well if they are a better fit. I'll try them next time I go for a ride out and give you my verdict. The little filters look interesting, and can be removed for cleaning or I guess if you wanted to wear the plugs simply for a lesser audio reduction maybe, instead of the full 25dB. They seemed comfortable during testing and more so than the squashable foam. The true test will be with the helmet on of course.
2004 GSXR 600, 1992 GSXR 750, 1983 XN85 Turbo & some Euro bikes
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The only real issue I have with foam ear plugs is at times a helmet will touch the end of the plug and transmit noise through it. It isn’t enough to be problematic but it is enough to be annoying.
That said, I have had the same issue with other, washable/reusable plugs. Some more than others. Please don’t ask for brand names & models as it’s been well beyond 25 years since I just went exclusively to foam plugs.
That said, I have had the same issue with other, washable/reusable plugs. Some more than others. Please don’t ask for brand names & models as it’s been well beyond 25 years since I just went exclusively to foam plugs.
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I guess it all comes down to fit; both helmet and ears and how the plugs sit. Neither option take up much space to carry so I plan on having the foam ones with me too. They probably offer more of a reduction, but over long journeys tended to be uncomfortable, that being said there's nothing to say these new ones won't be either. Although they do sit neater in the ear
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Must admit I've never had an issue with plugs rubbing on my helmet, but then I wear a balaclava anyway. I tend to use Howard Leight Laser Lite plugs with 35dB reduction, they were recommended to me years ago by Karl Foggarty who I used to live about 1/2 mile away from and went riding/drinking with (not in the same session I must clarify).
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They don't rub on my helmet, I just find after a long time I'd rather not wear them anymore. I'm talking like a couple of hours, short rides = no problem. I'd also like something that is completely reusable, rather than the disposable plugs, which I did tend to use more than once but after a few re-uses lose their ability to "reshape".
To be honest my 750 has a quiet exhaust, especially compared to my friends Street Triple R which is technically illegal in terms of noise! All I can hear even with plugs in is his bike if we're in slow moving traffic! 🤣
To be honest my 750 has a quiet exhaust, especially compared to my friends Street Triple R which is technically illegal in terms of noise! All I can hear even with plugs in is his bike if we're in slow moving traffic! 🤣
2004 GSXR 600, 1992 GSXR 750, 1983 XN85 Turbo & some Euro bikes
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It’s not the exhaust noise/sound you should be concerned with but the wind noise. That will cause you fatigue on a long ride and hearing loss in the long term.
I went to see a dr today and being an engineer I tend to find medical diagnoses a bit wishy-washy. Could be this or that, do a bit of this or that, see what happens, sort of thing. The equivalent of turning a thing off and on again, or hitting it with a hammer, and hope it works. (If you are an engineer I think you will understand!)
However, today engineering and biology converged and I am satisfied with the diagnosis. Apparently, I have dried ear wax that I was pushing up against my ear drum as I put the ear plugs in. That is why it felt like I was pushing the plug in and it was contacting something. It was!
Maybe that might help clear something up for someone finding a similar situation. I mean, clear what it is, not clear the wax out! I have to put some stuff in my ear to soften the wax, and if it doesn't clear after a week or so then they'll do some water cleaning for me.
I think that might mean I hadn't deafened myself in the first post of the thread, it was an ear wax issue. Still, I think we all agree that the wind noise possible in a motorcycle helmet is something you really need to protect yourself against.
Hope that might help someone if they find a similar situation and wonder what the temporary deafness might be.
I mean, in my case there might be more to it, but the wax is obstructing the view to the drum, so for now have to clear that up.
However, today engineering and biology converged and I am satisfied with the diagnosis. Apparently, I have dried ear wax that I was pushing up against my ear drum as I put the ear plugs in. That is why it felt like I was pushing the plug in and it was contacting something. It was!
Maybe that might help clear something up for someone finding a similar situation. I mean, clear what it is, not clear the wax out! I have to put some stuff in my ear to soften the wax, and if it doesn't clear after a week or so then they'll do some water cleaning for me.
I think that might mean I hadn't deafened myself in the first post of the thread, it was an ear wax issue. Still, I think we all agree that the wind noise possible in a motorcycle helmet is something you really need to protect yourself against.
Hope that might help someone if they find a similar situation and wonder what the temporary deafness might be.
I mean, in my case there might be more to it, but the wax is obstructing the view to the drum, so for now have to clear that up.
2004 GSXR 600, 1992 GSXR 750, 1983 XN85 Turbo & some Euro bikes
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I’ve been in the same situation as you. I had excessive wax build up deep in my hearing canal. It was discovered when I went to processing for basic military training back in the mid 80s.
I didn’t know, it certainly wasn’t visible from the outside. It took a medic with one of those periscope things with a light to find it. All he said was, my ear drum was occluded. I didn’t know what that meant.
Next thing I know another medic is holding my head while the other took a wood handled swap and reached way in and broke the wax off. He told me “Don’t move, whatever you do”
When he was done, he fished out a piece of wax so large it was incomprehensible to me that it had ever been inside my ear. I’m not joking. Some 3” in length and about 3/4” around. It looked like he’d pulled a Brazil nut out of my ear.
I seriously looked at it, pointed and said “THAT, was inside my ear?” He just nodded and put it on one of those stainless steel jelly bean shaped pans. All I heard after that was “Next!”
Such was the volume of people entering military service that particular day. Didn’t faze either medic apparently, so it must be more common than you’d think.
I didn’t know, it certainly wasn’t visible from the outside. It took a medic with one of those periscope things with a light to find it. All he said was, my ear drum was occluded. I didn’t know what that meant.
Next thing I know another medic is holding my head while the other took a wood handled swap and reached way in and broke the wax off. He told me “Don’t move, whatever you do”
When he was done, he fished out a piece of wax so large it was incomprehensible to me that it had ever been inside my ear. I’m not joking. Some 3” in length and about 3/4” around. It looked like he’d pulled a Brazil nut out of my ear.
I seriously looked at it, pointed and said “THAT, was inside my ear?” He just nodded and put it on one of those stainless steel jelly bean shaped pans. All I heard after that was “Next!”
Such was the volume of people entering military service that particular day. Didn’t faze either medic apparently, so it must be more common than you’d think.
Yeah, I never thought I'd have wax because I never have and have had perfect hearing. My hearing was stupidly good, too good, I woke/wake up at night if a squirrel squeaks on a tree half a mile away. TBH, having my hearing go away a bit in that ear has not been as horrible as you might think, I really don't want to hear as much as I do. Makes me wonder if I might get back my 22kHz hearing once it is all gone! TBH, hope not, having hearing like that is more a curse than a blessing. Likewise I have been through such tests and never had that sort of wax thing, but I did cause them to top out on their audiology kit, they ran out of sounds quiet enough for me not to hear. I saw one of the charts, where they put dots and it only had a couple on either end of the frequency range and missing in the middle, I said 'oh, is something wrong?' the guy just said they didn't have a chart for my hearing. Well, that was then, now is something else. [True story!
]I'll mention that the dr said that this happens in people who use ear plugs often, like in industry. I think probably that since I started riding again last year, it's not so much more wax, well a bit more due to age, but since then last year I have been scraping it up and pushing more and more down there. So I will just have to be mindful. I wonder the size they'll pull out, too!
So, maybe worth bearing in mind for folk going back to riding again.
So, maybe worth bearing in mind for folk going back to riding again.
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I find that I suffer with ear wax due to wearing plugs (I work with large diesel engines). Fortunately, as I'm a mobile radiator, the wax tends to stick to the plugs and most of it comes out when I remove them. I can usually hear better after wearing them for a while, unless the OH starts complaining about something
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