How to protect yourself from noise when riding a motorcycle? Hearing protection, earplugs,...

Hear ye, hear ye, fellow motorcyclists, long-distance riders and inveterate pistards. Aren't you tired of your ears ringing, your ears whistling, your hatches pounding?

In this article, we talk about motorcycle noise, its dangers and, above all, a great tool for protecting yourself against it: earplugs. They're the all-too-often forgotten accessory on long journeys. And yet, they perform the minor miracle of being comfortable to wear while attenuating annoying noises without isolating you from the outside world. Here are our tips for keeping your ears sharp on the bike.

Ah, the joys of a roadtrip on a bike: stunning scenery, great memories with friends and those delicate tinnitus sounds that accompany you back to the bunkroom after a day's riding. And yes, motorcycle noise isn't just the preserve of track racers or motocross aficionados. But where does all that noise come from? There are two origins. The first is mechanical noise - such as the engine running, the exhaust or a dry clutch - and the second is aerodynamic noise, such as the wind blowing around and through the helmet when you're riding at high speed.

That said, you may be thinking that ringing in your ears at the end of a ride is a lesser evil, or even part of the motorcycling spirit. But no! In fact, any kind of auditory trauma can lead to damage to the eardrums, hearing loss, long-term tinnitus, the list goes on and on... And what's more? This damage is irreversible. This is because the hair cells that line our inner ear cannot regenerate.

For your information, the danger threshold is 80dB. At this level, prolonged exposure can cause damage, with hearing loss, tinnitus and all the rest. 120dB is the pain threshold. But driving at 100km/h, you're exposing yourself to a sound volume close to 90 decibels. That's why it's so important to protect yourself!

We've seen that motorcycle noise is both mechanical and aerodynamic. But how can we limit the noise produced by the motorcycle itself? Changing the engine architecture seems complicated. In fact, the only thing you can do is change the exhaust system. If you've replaced it with a model of your own, then changing back to the original one will enable you to reduce the noise level. You can also install a baffle on your muffler. This little device, also known as a dB killer, allows you - as its name suggests - to lose a few decibels.

Here, you have three options. First, you can opt for a grinding wheel that doesn't exceed 70km/h. No more high-speed noise! You can also replace your helmet with a higher-quality model offering better soundproofing. There are many factors to take into account: motorcycle model, rider size, bubble dimensions, etc. To help you, here are our references for silent products:

----> Modular motorcycle helmet Nolan N100-6 CLASSIC N-COM WHITE

----> Scorpion EXO-GT SP AIR BLACK helmet

----> HJC RPHA 71 GRIS NARDO motorcycle helmet

Last but not least - and this is the most affordable solution - you can equip yourself with earplugs. Attenuating sound volume by up to 25dB, they protect your delicate eardrums at low cost. We'll explain in detail.

From good old earplugs to molded prostheses, there's something for every taste and every budget. The common challenge of all these technologies? Isolating you from mechanical and aerodynamic noise, without isolating you from outside elements. And yes, it would be dangerous to be completely deaf, as you wouldn't be able to hear fire sirens or the horn of another rider trying to tell you that your saddlebag is on the way out. The key word for these earplugs is selectivity.

Expansion foam earplugs

This rudimentary plug has two major advantages: it's the cheapest of the lot, and it's super-comfortable because it takes the exact shape of your ear canal. So much for the positives... The downsides? Plenty. First of all, in terms of selectivity, we're out. All sounds are attenuated. Secondly, as the inside of your ear is completely obstructed, it' s impossible for your eardrums to equalize pressure. Every mountain climb, every tunnel passage, will give you that delicate sensation of someone trying to stick their finger in your ear. Finally, as these plugs are not washable, they are for single use only.

• Sound attenuation: 39dB
• 20 to 50 centimes per pair

----> Bike It EAR FOAMS motorcycle earplugs

Silicone ear plugs

These 2.0 earplugs are capable of filtering out certain noises only. They attenuate low frequencies related to the engine and high frequencies generated by airflow over the helmet, but they let other sounds through, such as the voices of your road-trip buddies. So you're not isolated from the outside world. Comfort? They feature two half-spheres of different sizes, to fit the shape of your ear canal as closely as possible. What's more, these silicone plugs have a central hole to allow your eardrums to equalize pressure. So you don't feel like you're trapped in a jar. Finally, thanks to their design, they're easy to clean and therefore infinitely reusable.

• Sound attenuation: 20dB
• Expect to pay between €15 and €30, depending on brand.

----> MotoGP MotoSafe Race earplugs

----> Earsonics EARPAD Universal earplugs

----> Nolan N-Com HPS earplugs

Ear plugs molded to the shape of your ear

Are you an avid track driver? Or do you simply want extra protection and comfort? If so, we recommend a visit to your hearing care professional. Custom hearing protection means unrivalled comfort and maximum, selective noise attenuation. And, of course, it's a guarantee that your earplugs won't fall out of your ear when you're out with your mates. In most cases, all you have to do is visit a store to take an ear canal impression, and a few days later your custom-made protection is ready. Some brands even offer a phone application so you can analyze your canal yourself.

• Sound attenuation: up to 28dB
• 110€ to 150€ per pair

----> Audika Motorcycle Noise-Canceling Plugs

----> Alvis Audio custom earplugs

The principle is simple: throw a sound into your ears that is the opposite of the ambient noise. The two cancel each other out. It's total silence. On paper, it sounds wonderful. Except that? The sauce doesn't take. In fact, Sena - the chief acoustician for motorcycle helmet manufacturers - has been talking about it since 2015, but nothing concrete has emerged. This electronic device has an efficiency/cost ratio that can't compete with the good old insulating foams that line our helmets - and which provide sufficient soundproofing.

However, some of this technology can be found in certain intercoms. In other words? Some models feature Advanced Noise Control to reduce ambient noise. It's not quite the same principle, but it does filter out sound, leaving only the voice when talking over the intercom.

On the face of it, you'd think so. But no! In fact, wearing earplugs can even make it easier to listen to your favorite music on the bike. And how's that? Well, because they cut out wind and engine noise, you can hear your music more clearly. Of course, this only applies to selective plugs (not foam plugs).

This article is coming to an end. We hope you've heard the message: protect your ears, you've only got two of them! By the way, these tips are not limited to motorcycling. What do you mean by that? Whether you're a musician, a traveler, a gardener or a Sunday handyman, these earplugs can be used every day. They're less bulky than a massive pair of noise-cancelling headphones. As you can see, they're an almost daily essential.