Earplugs/headphones

[graham22]

You actually find they cut a lot of "uneccessary" noise and allow you to hear the engine (and "woo-woo's") better.

Agree with this, always use ear-plugs on a long run, yeah did take a bit of getting used to originally, used to always end up with 'tinitus' type noise for 30mins or so after stopping at the end of a long fast ride.

Personally I find that earplugs cut out the windnoise but you can still hear the exhaust note fairly clear.

I did try earplugs with a length of cord type material between them but found the wind noise around the exposed part of the cord (between jacket & helmet) was transmitted directly into your ear, the same goes for earplug not fitted properly when they are touching the inside of the helmet.

Not keen on the earphone idea though - think how often you turn your car stereo up & down depending on speed - you won't be able to do this on the bike & will end up with the music at it's loudest when you're in slow traffic which is when you'll want to hear everything.

[AlexG]

As Speedy points out it is the wind noise that does the damage - the longer you subject your ears to the noise the greater the damage.

I have pretty good hearing because I have always taken care to use ear defs or plugs (depending on circumstances).

I find that it is very easy to get used to ear plugs, I actually don't like riding without (though I do for those odd trips across town) because I hear too much transmission noise and the bike being a krappysaki it sounds like a bag of spanners!

And how the f*ck some of you can claim to want to hear cars behind you with some of the pipes I have heard is beyond me (me included )

[speedy(delboy)]

But Guv, my pipe is very quite, honest

[baskie]

I have tried ear plugs, I tend not to wear them unless I'm going for a long lonely run. I'll wear one headphone so I don't get bored and can listen for woo woo's. It all depends how my mood takes me.

pretty much what i do. makes sense