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Motorcycle Earplugs in Marietta, GA
Most riders assume the engine is the problem. It is the wind. At highway speed, turbulence inside the helmet is loud enough to cause permanent damage on a long ride, and a quieter helmet does not fix it.
IN SHORT
Motorcycle earplugs are filtered custom molds that cut wind turbulence while leaving engine note, sirens and intercom audible. Wind noise inside a helmet at highway speed commonly reaches 95 to 100 decibels or more, which is enough to cause permanent hearing damage across a long ride. We take an impression in Marietta and fit helmet-compatible molds, ready in one to two weeks.
Why the ordinary answer does not work
The noise a rider is exposed to comes mostly from air turbulence around the helmet, not from the exhaust. It rises sharply with speed, it is broadband, and it is present for every minute of the ride rather than in bursts. An hour on I-75 is a serious noise exposure by any occupational standard.
The instinct is to block it entirely, which is wrong. You need engine note to judge revs, and you need to hear sirens and horns. Filtered plugs reduce the wind roar substantially while leaving the sounds you actually use to ride safely.
What it sounds like at speed
Approximate levels inside a full-face helmet. Open-face and windscreen configuration change these considerably.
| Speed | Typical noise level | Safe unprotected time |
|---|---|---|
| 35 mph in town | Around 85 dB | About 8 hours |
| 55 mph | 90 to 95 dB | 1 to 2 hours |
| 70 mph on the interstate | 95 to 100 dB | 15 to 60 minutes |
| Above 80 mph, or with a poor screen | Above 100 dB | Under 15 minutes |
Who we fit these for
- Daily commuters, where the exposure is every working day
- Long-distance and touring riders
- Track riders
- Pillion passengers, who are often noisier still
- Anyone who finishes a ride with ringing ears
Ringing after a ride is not normal
If your ears ring or sound muffled at the end of a long ride, that is temporary threshold shift and it means damage occurred. It recovers by morning, which is exactly why riders ignore it for twenty years. The effect accumulates.
How the impression works
The same five minute process for every type of custom protection we fit.
- We check the ear canal with a video otoscope first, since we cannot take an impression past wax or infection
- A soft foam dam protects the eardrum, then silicone is syringed in and sets in about five minutes
- It lifts out in one piece. Odd rather than painful, and nothing to recover from
- The laboratory makes your protection and it comes back in one to two weeks
- You come in to collect, and we check the fit and seal before you leave
Common questions
Will earplugs stop me hearing sirens or traffic?
Filtered plugs are designed to prevent that. They cut the broadband wind roar much more than they cut the sharp, distinct sounds you need, so sirens and horns generally become easier to pick out rather than harder.
Is it legal to ride with earplugs in Georgia?
Georgia law does not prohibit hearing protection while riding. Rules vary by state, so check before a long trip that crosses state lines.
Will they fit under my helmet?
Custom molds are made low profile for exactly this reason. Bring your helmet to the fitting if you want us to check clearance with it on.
Can I still use my intercom?
Yes. Filtered molds reduce the wind noise that intercoms have to compete with, so most riders find comms clearer, not worse.
Would a quieter helmet solve this instead?
It helps, and a properly fitted helmet with a good screen is worth having. It does not get you below the damage threshold at highway speed on its own.
Five minutes now, permanent hearing later
Appointment or book a time. We will check your ears and take the impression in the same visit.