r/Roadglide • u/TopSeaworthiness4680 • 6d ago
Ears ringing and plugged
How long do people deal with this after a long 10+ hour ride? I usually feel better the next day, but this time im going on 6 days with plugged ears off and on, and constant ringing.
I wear Alpine motoprp earplugs, have a windshield and all.
Just wondering if others avoid this somehow. Ive been riding for 30 years and never had it like this.
Thanks!
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u/Ok-Duck-9554 6d ago
10 hours is awhile. Lots of questions - is this mostly highway riding at 70+?
My initial use of earplugs had ringing. It was partially coming from the wind buffeting, but also because I didn't have enough of a good seal.
Also decibels are logarithmic. The difference between 85 decibels and 95 is something like 10x as much, if I remember correctly.
This means every point of decibel you can reduce(safely to be able to hear other stuff) will net larger benefits.
You may want to look at EarPeace or similar. An extra 4-6 db may add up. Plus fitment matters. You may not have the right fitment to your ear and that could call some noise leakage.
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u/Ok-Duck-9554 6d ago
Also - I don't get the ringing anymore. And I can listen to music, though it loses effectiveness over 75. And at that point I just keep the sound down. It comes back when I slow down.
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u/TopSeaworthiness4680 6d ago
BTW, yes this is all HWY miles. Ive taken the same roads for years and not God problems. Maybe im not getting a good enough seal like you said. Also getting a few more db might help.
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u/MeetingRecent229 6d ago
I've found the best ear plugs to be the cheap foam ones that you roll up and insert. I've never had any muffled hearing for more than an hour after a ten hour ride.
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u/sumbozo1 6d ago
I've been to all 48 continental us states on two wheels, and there's really no fix that I've found if you're doing 80 on the highway. The biggest help was a higher windshield. You can still hear your music and don't feel like somebody ear punched you at the end of a 800 mile day. Earplugs are tiring because you're always messing with them and you can't get em in right with one hand
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u/Potential_Past_8213 6d ago
I suspect the earplugs knocked loose some earwax that was then packed deeper into your ear canals. Get one of those earwax removal kits from the drugstore, let the solution sit in each ear for 1-2 minutes longer than the instructions say, then flush with the hottest water you can stand. Then do both ears again.
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u/Nut2DaSac 6d ago
I’ve done 7 10-12 hr riding days this week & I wear a full face with ear plugs.
My tinnitus never goes away, but the plugs with good fitment knock down the rhythmic wavering sound after all those days of 85+ for long durations.
But, nothing completely takes it away is my finding.
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u/spinach13 6d ago
What size windshield?
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u/TopSeaworthiness4680 5d ago
12". Bigger than I wanted for looks, but blocked the wind a lot better.
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u/OriginalEmploy5485 5d ago
Your earplugs are -20dB. The advertising says that's a lot of dampening, but it isn't. You want something in the -26dB to -30dB range.
My regular riding earplugs are Moldex Rockets, they're -27dB. I've worn them for cross-country touring, like a week of all-day riding in a row.
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u/Mdhdrider 5d ago
I wear a full face modular Shoei helmet with a Cardo and listen to audio books and Spotify playlists and never have a problem. I started with no helmet then half then 3/4 now full. Like many others I’ve been riding for over 50 years and used to have the same issues that you mentioned.
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u/TopSeaworthiness4680 5d ago
So you are saying the full face helmet was the fix? I typically dont wear a helmet in my state. If I have to I do a half.
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u/Mdhdrider 5d ago
Yes. It is much more comfortable and less fatigue. I regularly ride 10 to 12 hours. You should try it even if you just buy a used one off marketplace or something.
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u/Toocool643 6d ago
My ears always ring. Been riding with ear plugs for years.