Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: basmntdweller on May 12, 2012, 08:07:25 AM
-
I am sure this is old news for most of you here. Yesterday, two buddies and myself too off work early for a ride. Actually one didn't show up to work. Shortly before leaving work he called me and asked me to grab a few sets of ear plugs for him as he forgot to get his. I grabbed a few sets for myself as I had always meant to try them but never thought about it until I was on the bike. We both put in a set before leaving work.
That was the quietest ride I have ever been on! I could hear myself think and everything ( not always a good thing ). They still give me a slight headache when wearing them but nothing like the headache I'd have after 5 hours of wind noise without them.
We had a great ride, beautiful day and no problems other than having to stop about every 75 miles so my buddy could put gas in his V-Max.
Matt
-
I agree. Up until about three years ago I just couldn't deal with ear plugs. I finally ordered a sample set from Aerostich and found a pair or two I could handle. Now I can't even think about riding without them anymore.
-
I am sure this is old news for most of you here. Yesterday, two buddies and myself too off work early for a ride. Actually one didn't show up to work. Shortly before leaving work he called me and asked me to grab a few sets of ear plugs for him as he forgot to get his. I grabbed a few sets for myself as I had always meant to try them but never thought about it until I was on the bike. We both put in a set before leaving work.
That was the quietest ride I have ever been on! I could hear myself think and everything ( not always a good thing ). They still give me a slight headache when wearing them but nothing like the headache I'd have after 5 hours of wind noise without them.
We had a great ride, beautiful day and no problems other than having to stop about every 75 miles so my buddy could put gas in his V-Max.
Matt
Matt;
What brand of Ear Plugs did you use ? I've tried the orange colored plugs (can't remember the brand name) and they want to fall out even after rolling them into the ear canal.
Brent
-
I am sure this is old news for most of you here. Yesterday, two buddies and myself too off work early for a ride. Actually one didn't show up to work. Shortly before leaving work he called me and asked me to grab a few sets of ear plugs for him as he forgot to get his. I grabbed a few sets for myself as I had always meant to try them but never thought about it until I was on the bike. We both put in a set before leaving work.
That was the quietest ride I have ever been on! I could hear myself think and everything ( not always a good thing ). They still give me a slight headache when wearing them but nothing like the headache I'd have after 5 hours of wind noise without them.
We had a great ride, beautiful day and no problems other than having to stop about every 75 miles so my buddy could put gas in his V-Max.
Matt
You posted with a useless subject (" Wow! What a difference") and then didn't even say what brand or model of earplugs you purchased! Bad Matt.
-
When I toured on my Katana, I'd use Hearos blue ear plugs, cheap, work well. I also take them to concerts in case they are too loud.
I used to use them on my C14 as if I didn't, my head would be ringing after a long trip. After putting on a calsci tall shield, things got so quiet that I didn't need to do this. A quieter windshield can remove the need for ear plugs, something to think about.
-
You posted with a useless subject (" Wow! What a difference") and then didn't even say what brand or model of earplugs you purchased! Bad Matt.
The subject line was intentional, the brand name is forgotten. They were some of the cheap foam disposables. They were in a mostly yellow package if that helps. I have a handful of different ones here to try out soon. Mostly they are still the cheap disposables but all are Howard Leight brand. The ones I used yesterday were not the Howard Leight brand.
With the warmer weather upon us here in the midwest, I am planning to reinstall my original '09 factory shield. I rode yesterday with a shield off a 2010 bike and it stayed at lowest position all day.
Matt
-
i've used "quiet please" for years. I think I have caluses in my ear canals to them though
-
I always use Macks silicone earplugs - cost $5.00 for three sets, available at most drug stores. They are not quite as effective as the earplugs that are completely inserted into the ear but they are easy to insert and are reusable.
-
Get custom plugs that are made in your ear. You will NEVER NEVER look back or use the foam squeeze plugs again.
-
Get custom plugs that are made in your ear. You will NEVER NEVER look back or use the foam squeeze plugs again.
Maybe... I had 2-3 sets of custom plugs made over the years and (at least for me) they get a little painful. I am most satisfied with the Howard Leigh 27 dB foamies...
-
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4448 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=4448)
-
Maybe... I had 2-3 sets of custom plugs made over the years and (at least for me) they get a little painful. I am most satisfied with the Howard Leigh 27 dB foamies...
You must have really odd ears. Foam plugs push and cause pressure. Plugs made in your ears shouldn't "push" any direction. But as with most everything, there are certainly exceptions to every rule.
-
Can't imagine riding without them. Luckily I work in a place that has the foamies hanging on the walls in dispensers.
-
Back to work today. I checked to see what brand and model the earplugs were that I had used. They are Moldex Pura-fit 6800 with a NRR of 33. They worked awesome but they do get uncomfortable after several hours. I searched the net and found a molding kit made by Radians that I am going to try out. I bought them shipped for about $16 from The Ear Plug Superstore. They should be here by the weekend and I will see how well I can mold a set for myself.
Matt
-
I've been happy w/ a variety of cheap foam earplugs. Some work better than others, but they are cheap & effective, so I've never felt much need to drop the big bucks on custom plugs. W/o earplugs, the C14 is uncomfortably noisy at speeds over 45mph within 15 minutes. I've been putting off cutting down the stock '08 windshield, but think I will go ahead with the project for the warmer weather. I'll keep the oem tall w/s for cooler weather.
-
I buy from these guys (http://WWW.SOFTFOAMEARPLUGS.COM), and I buy 1000 at a time.
I use two pairs every day.
One each way.
If I use them more, I end up with ear aches.
I have used others, including the ones with the larger base, which I have experienced are harder foam, these are soft and don't make my ears hurt with extended use.
I also keep several pair in my car for my track days, or when I am at a hotel and can't sleep.
-
I buy from these guys (http://WWW.SOFTFOAMEARPLUGS.COM), and I buy 1000 at a time.
I use two pairs every day.
One each way.
If I use them more, I end up with ear aches.
I have used others, including the ones with the larger base, which I have experienced are harder foam, these are soft and don't make my ears hurt with extended use.
I also keep several pair in my car for my track days, or when I am at a hotel and can't sleep.
Pretty sure we have those at work too, just never tried them. One of the other guys at work said the ones I got were the ones to have. We have about 10 different foamys and several corded silicones and a couple that I am not sure what they are made of.
Matt
-
I buy from these guys (http://www.softfoamearplugs.com/), and I buy 1000 at a time.
I use two pairs every day.
One each way.
If I use them more, I end up with ear aches.
I have used others, including the ones with the larger base, which I have experienced are harder foam, these are soft and don't make my ears hurt with extended use.
I also keep several pair in my car for my track days, or when I am at a hotel and can't sleep.
Thanks for the link MP, that's a good price for having free shipping! :chugbeer:
-
You must have really odd ears. Foam plugs push and cause pressure. Plugs made in your ears shouldn't "push" any direction. But as with most everything, there are certainly exceptions to every rule.
According to some... That's not all that's odd. :rotflmao: My issues with the molded type is that they don't have as much "give" as the foamies. Hell, you can't believe how may pairs of ear buds I've gone through just to find some that don't bother my ears.
-
LOL...I've heard that a time or two about myself.... but nobody has ever described me as "sensitive"... LOL I hated working industrial with ear plugs...better than hearing loss, but darn did my ears get sore.
-
Does anyone know of eagplugs which will filter out nagging wife?
-
Does anyone know of eagplugs which will filter out nagging wife?
Roll up a few hundred dollar bills and stick them in her ears. You won't hear her for at least a few hours ... ;)
-
Get custom plugs that are made in your ear. You will NEVER NEVER look back or use the foam squeeze plugs again.
Couldn't be said any better.
-
I can't use these, I'm too prone to ear aches from infections.
-
I can't use these, I'm too prone to ear aches from infections.
Custom molded plugs are good for that since they can be cleaned easily and aren't porous. Keep them clean and you will be okay.
-
I would have to clean them each day. I'm better off with the foam. Costs me around $100 for 2-3 years worth.
-
That does sound like a great option for you if they don't hurt your ears. I've never found foam plugs that don't make my ears sore in an hour.
-
That does sound like a great option for you if they don't hurt your ears. I've never found foam plugs that don't make my ears sore in an hour.
If the foam hurts in an hour you may have put them in too deep. When you take 'em out does it feel like you've taken pressure off your eardrum? The relief is "in" your head. Sometimes I stuff mine in too far. Have Big Ear brand wired with speakers. They don't get along with the Shark RSR2 very well. Gotta get everything "Just Right." Usually foams with FM radio from my Cardo system...
-
No, the pain is in the canal itself, from the plug expansion.
-
I would have to clean them each day. I'm better off with the foam. Costs me around $100 for 2-3 years worth.
It takes about 20 seconds to clean them each day. I had terrible problems with pain and infections wearing foam earplugs. I wear earplugs every day and since getting the custom plugs I have had zero problems and can wear them all day with no pain. Well worth the $90.
-
The subject line was intentional, the brand name is forgotten. They were some of the cheap foam disposables. They were in a mostly yellow package if that helps.
Matt
I found two sets of corded yellow foam earplugs at Farm and Fleet for $3. Clear packaging.
Have a 26.5" CeeBailey shield blocks a lot of wind. But using the earplugs quiet things down nicely.
Matt also
-
Glad somebody posted a link to the thread I started a while ago.
[i,g]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/SVonhof/moto/IMAG0516.jpg[/img]
I still use those plugs every time I ride and I only have an issue with discomfort when I am on the bike for 3+ hours in a day. And that is just minor discomfort, nothing to cause me to remove them from pain.
I have never had luck with the foam ones as I can never get them to seal properly. I like the custom ones I have especially for the fact that they DON'T filter out 30+ DB of sound, and take the edge off the engine and wind noise, but still let me hear things like sirens, music or people talking when I stop to show my badge when going in to work in the morning.
-
I keep about a dozen pairs of hearing protection with me at all times...any ride over 30m...and the hearing protection goes in.
I also like to listen to music and had some Shure earbuds that provided minimal hearing protection. After they wore out, I went with some damn OTS earbuds from a big box store.
This year at Daytona Bike Week, I got a set of dB Plugz http://www.dbplugz.com/product_info.php?directimage=#/content/Product%20Slideshows/Product%20Info/1.jpg (http://www.dbplugz.com/product_info.php?directimage=#/content/Product%20Slideshows/Product%20Info/1.jpg) earspeakers/hearing protection. They sound great and provide around 28db reduction. They are custom fit, took about 5m to mold, 30 of waiting for them to cure...and they were good to go. They'll probably last many 10's of thousands of miles. They cost about $180.
My hearing is worth it.
YMMV.
-
I have a big ole head, but small ear canals. I have been happy with these for a few years. They are re-usable and I clean them when needed. Because of the style you can push them in as needed, with the foam ones, I felt like I had to jam them in too far. I do usually cut off the cord...
http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/airsoft--2 (http://www.howardleight.com/earplugs/airsoft--2)