Please someone stop the noise

[Laser Dude]

For those of you that are wearing ear plugs, do you use intercom systems with them? If so, can you hear the intercom well with the plugs in?

 

[BigOgre]

WEAR EAR PLUGS. Even the quietest helmets are at 100db at 70mph. Anything more than small stints will cause irreversible hearing damage. You'll be amazed how much less fatigued you are at the end of a long ride wearing earplugs as opposed to not.

+1 on all of the above but I think sometimes that last sentence gets overlooked when discussing ear-plugs.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Use plugs with Senas. Still hear quite well.

 

[lonerider]

For those of you that are wearing ear plugs, do you use intercom systems with them? If so, can you hear the intercom well with the plugs in?

With the Howard Leight plugs and a Scala G4 with upgraded speakers, I have great volume and sound quality.

 

[BakerBoy]

+1. Whether with my etymotic noise isolation earbuds, or my Howard leight foam plugs, hearing my helmet blue tooth headset isn't a problem.

 

[FJRLoonie]

I actually find that the music has more bass when listening with foam earplugs in. Without earplugs, it's very tinny and harsh at any decent volume.

 

[graler]

I had the SENA SMH10 with the speakers. I ran those with plugs in and at highway speeds could not hear music well. I ordered a new base for that unit that used the ear buds. Wow what a difference and I was using cheap ear buds. I recently upgraded to the 20s. These allow you to run buds or helmet speakers. I can hear these speakers very well even at highway speeds. I believe this has more to do with the pad underneath. I did not mess with the initial set of speakers and their mounting location. Chances are likely they would have been fine. I still swap back and forth - the ear buds can cause hot spots on my ears and the softer plugs don't tend to do that. Running around town it is always plugs with helmet speakers.

By the way the reason I switched was to get the two channels for bluetooth. The zumo on one channel the iphone on the other. They operate independently and it works well. My only complaint is when I am listening to the radio and zumo interrupts with directions, the radio announces the station when it starts playing again - every time. It gets very annoying when you are in an area where there are alot of turns. Yeah - wah wah wah. I know - first world problem.

 

[Geezer]

I use a Sena SMH10 with the speakers that come with it. I also use soft foam ear plugs. The brand of ear plugs varies a little because I switch off for comfort. I wear a modular HJC helmet, which is quite noisy. I have no problem hearing anything from the SENA.

 

[want2ride]

I wear a Nolan N104, ear plugs and use a Sena 20. I get good sound with the plugs, much better than without like FJRLoonie! I was surprised at the sound quality using the Sena with ear plugs. Was using Plug fones with my Nexus 6 before which gave good sound and noise isolation.

 

[Old Guy]

Do you (the OP) wear earplugs?

I think that's what he was referring to when he said "those little yellow marshmallow things."

I did feel from his usage that he doesn't want to, and I agree with others -- wear them regardless.

I also wear earplugs even when listening to my helmet speakers. They help filter out road noise, and I can turn the speaker volume up. It works very well. Occasionally, I'll put the helmet on just to ride a block to a hotel or something and forget about the speakers. Lordy, that's loud!

 

[HyperPete]

I find that with my windshield up most of the way that it is very quiet. I have an RF1200 (Shoei) and it's not particularly quiet, but I have not felt the need for earplugs yet. Of course, I am coming from an 1800 CC V-Twin and a half-shell helmet. THAT was very loud, and earplugs were a must.

 

[Pterodactyl]

One advantage of not wearing ear plugs while riding is that eventually there will be no need to use ear plugs while riding.... IMHO.

 

[Brodie]

I ride with custom fitted ear plugs, and a very snug fitting Arai helmet. Both help in moderating the wind noise, but the best thing I did was to get a windscreen that directs ALL the wind blast up and over the helmet. I ride with a Rifle barn door which measures +4 wide, +8 tall. With the rake adjuster it angles further back which helps it cut the wind; I usually only have it 1/2 way up. They are a bit pricy, but of the several different brands the Rifle barn door gives me the quietest ride by far.

Hope this helps.

Brodie

 

[wheatonFJR]

I find that with my windshield up most of the way that it is very quiet. I have an RF1200 (Shoei) and it's not particularly quiet, but I have not felt the need for earplugs yet. Of course, I am coming from an 1800 CC V-Twin and a half-shell helmet. THAT was very loud, and earplugs were a must.

I think maybe you have solved your own loudness problem by not wearing earplugs previously. See Pterodactyl's post below. Have you had a hearing test recently?

...I SAID, HAVE YOU HAD A HEARING TEST RECENTLY?

One advantage of not wearing ear plugs while riding is that eventually there will be no need to use ear plugs while riding.... IMHO.

 

[HyperPete]

I said that I *DID* wear earplugs before. Perhaps it's you that needs a hearing test!

earplugs were a must.

 

[graler]

I said that I *DID* wear earplugs before. Perhaps it's you that needs a hearing test!

earplugs were a must.

Or at least an eye test coupled with reading comprehension.

 

[K_Flyer]

I use a Scala Q3 helmet-mounted intercom/Bluetooth but would like to go with earbuds as the sound is too low with the helmet speakers and earplugs. What are preferences for earbuds?

 

[Bill Lumberg]

Ear protection is normally required for riding at speed, regardless of the helmet. I use Bell, Nolan, and Shoei. While shoei is the quietest, the Nolan N104's aren't bad at all. I have two right now and they are my go-to helmets. Only time I've ever had problematic noise was when I had a leaf fragment stuck in the top vent (where most noise comes from anyway on these helmets, at least when the vent is open). I used to use earplugs, but I switched to Shure in-ear-monitors, recommended to me by a forum member. Perfect. Shure 215K. I've used them almost daily for approaching 25K miles. Still good as new, knock on wood.

 

[rbentnail]

I use a Scala Q3 helmet-mounted intercom/Bluetooth but would like to go with earbuds as the sound is too low with the helmet speakers and earplugs. What are preferences for earbuds?

IMHO earbuds are like seats, windshields, grips and exhausts- you gotta try them until you find the ones for you. Best advice? Don't cheap out. Second best advice? https://www.earfuze.com/store.html

 

[Old Guy]

I use a Scala Q3 helmet-mounted intercom/Bluetooth but would like to go with earbuds as the sound is too low with the helmet speakers and earplugs. What are preferences for earbuds?

IMHO earbuds are like seats, windshields, grips and exhausts- you gotta try them until you find the ones for you. Best advice? Don't cheap out. Second best advice? https://www.earfuze.com/store.html

When I read "Don't cheap out" I expected something really expensive under that link. I was about to order a set of Etymotics for $59, but I'll give Earfuze a try. Thank you, kind sir