michnus

4th May 2020

Why earplugs make riding motorcycle safer and a review of the Alpine Hearing Protection Motorcycle earplugs

If you want to walk around when you are old with impaired hearing and keep responding with a “Whaaat did you say?” to your kids cheating at board games, then keep riding without proper earplugs. I am sure in this modern information age there is enough information available on the WWW, for the majority of people not living in caves to know that wind noise and noise levels while riding motorcycles can cause permanent hearing damage.
In case some people are not aware of it, let me give some reasons and arguments as to why wearing earplugs is a very good idea. Remember, it is not only for ear protection; it makes riding motorcycles safer.

Hearing damage is irreversible. In plain English, you will not get your hearing back. Listening to your favourite music, the voice of your kid or wife will never be the same again.

The majority of noise while riding a motorcycle is wind noise. The wind noise on motorcycles at 100 km/h is roughly 100 dB. Our ears are not designed to handle this kind of noise for prolonged periods of time. Unfortunately, we did not evolve, knowing we would ride motorcycles and work in factories with high noise levels. Even just 7 minutes of exposure at these levels can cause hearing damage. It is untrue that only people with loud exhaust must use earplugs. At speed, the exhaust sound is less than the wind noise. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), says this: “The Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure is 85 decibels, A-weighted, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA) using a 3-dB exchange rate. Exposures at or above this level are considered hazardous.”

Hearing loss is cumulative and increases in effect every time you reach the harmful levels. What that means is that every time you go for a ride, you are imperceptibly increasing the chance of experiencing more hearing loss.

As for the argument that helmets are silent,

I researched a bit and found this statement: “Still one of the quietest helmets available, the C3 Pro transfers just 84 dB to the rider at 65 mph. Which is still pretty high numbers for noise.” There is not really such a thing as a quiet helmet, period.

There are many factors that can contribute to and cause helmet noise. Helmet design, windscreens, motorcycle design, crosswinds, and turbulence all contribute to helmet noise. The point is that no full-face helmet is quiet enough to limit or stop hearing damage.
ISVR Consulting at the University of Southampton wrote a very informative article on the topic of motorcycle helmet noise.

Why are earplugs making riding motorcycles safer?

Limiting the wind noise to a level that is more normal to the human ear reduces fatigue as well as the constant hammering of noise into your head. I have been using earplugs for the last 15 years, and I’m a big advocate for using hearing protection. When I first used earplugs, it was an amazing feeling. I immediately noticed that I felt much less fatigue on long trips.

Everything was calmer and more relaxed. I could focus and concentrate on riding and the sounds that were more important, like car sirens. We are more likely to make mistakes when we are exhausted. The same goes for when we fly internationally; you also suffer from noise fatigue. I feel much less fatigued after a 16-hour flight after using my earplugs than without.

Temporary Threshold Shift (also referred to as TTS)

As you ride and the wind noise bombards your ears, it eventually creates a condition called Temporary Threshold Shift (also referred to as TTS), which is a temporary hearing loss that results from continuous overexposure to sound. Basically, you go partially deaf for a while after an extended period of riding. It bears a striking resemblance to the auditory experiences of rock concerts and clubs.

It is especially dangerous for motorcycle riders, as you lose all frequency of hearing. Proper hearing protection, like Alpine hearing earplugs, prevents that and removes the high-frequency wind noise while still allowing the rider to hear the important low-frequency sounds.

Foam earplugs leave you with a complete sense of isolation; just do not use them!

In effect, causing another problem and damage to your hearing. Noise does not only enter through the ear but even more so through the bone of the skull surrounding the ear. For example, if you fit foam plugs and tap your skull, you will experience a loud banging sound in your hearing. It is still noise, and that banging sound will also cause fatigue over time. Here is an article about that.

I have used every type of earplug, from cheap foam ones to custom earplugs made by an audiologist. Then in 2013, I got hold of a pair of Alpine Hearing Protection earplugs. These earrings have uniquely designed filters. Every set comes with 2 different filters, one for high-level riding (high speeds) and one set for more technical/low-speed riding.

We have since been on long-term trips for the last 3 years and used our earplugs every time we get on the bikes. We were so impressed we contacted Alpine and started to distribute the earplugs in South Africa. We have since sold the business, but the new owners are still selling Alpine successfully.

Earplugs with filters attenuate harmful noises and do not leave you with that completely deafening feeling of isolation, like the foam filters. Basically, the harmful wind noise—the constant noise that damages your hearing—is cut but not the sounds you need to hear. And it is a game-changer.

Another benefit is that I can still listen to music through my intercom system, and I can speak to a fuel pump attendant normally without taking off my helmet or screaming. I can hear sirens and other important sounds clearly. The Alpine Hearing plugs enabled me to replace my lost custom ones without having the big expense and inconvenience of getting a new set measured and moulded.

More information on other brands as options.

OPTIMAL ATTENUATION

The Alpine MotoSafe filter earplugs attenuate harmful noises without giving a sense of isolation. Traffic, navigation, intercom, and the motorcycle itself remain sufficiently audible. These earplugs are ideal for a variety of applications, allowing you to customise the attenuation level to your preference.

Alpine has a proper research team and constantly interacts with its testers, and this Dutch brand dates back to 1995.  Alpine quotes on their website, and this is no BS: “The earplugs have a perfect fit. The durable and flexible Alpine ThermoShape material ensures a perfect fit. The warmth of the ear allows the soft material to mould to the ear canal. Alpine MotoSafe earplugs are also the only ones on the market with soft filters. As a result, they are also very comfortable under a helmet. AlpineThermoShape™ material contains no silicones. For this reason, the earplugs do not sweat, itch, or irritate. You can wear them all day without any problems.”

Alpine’s competition and I have used all of them; they are mostly made of a harder silicone and use a generic one-style-fits-all-all filter. The shape and size of the plugs are sometimes too big for people, causing ear pain over time while riding. We have each had a set of Alpine earplugs now for the last 2 years and they kept their shape and lasted all this time with daily use. The Alpine set even fits people with small ear openings.

Conclusion:

There is enough information available; earplugs do not cost an arm and a leg. It is plain stupid and just not worth sacrificing your hearing for a product that costs USD $40 and would last the better part of 5-7 years.

This article updated: 2024