Motorcycle Noise Poses Hearing Risk

Wed Dec 8, 5:02 PM ET

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8 (HealthDayNews) -- Your hearing may be at risk if you were born to be wild.

In an informal survey of 33 motorcycles, University of Florida audiologists found that nearly half of them produced sounds above 100 decibels when throttled up -- equivalent in intensity to a loud rock concert or a chainsaw. The survey is part of an ongoing effort to identify recreational activities that may pose a risk to hearing, including noise levels experienced by motorcyclists, the researchers said.

The audiologists noted that the sample was small and not representative of all makes and models and those motorcycles with exhaust systems modified to make them louder. So formal research is needed to measure noise levels under typical riding conditions and to determine whether these early survey findings can be generalized to a larger number of bikes, they added.

Exposure to noise at 100 decibels is safe for only 15 minutes and permanent hearing loss can occur with prolonged exposure to noise levels of 85 decibels or higher, says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

"Almost all of the motorcycles we tested reached action-level noise, which in the workplace would require ear protection," UF researcher Joy Colle said in a prepared statement.

"The loudest bike we tested measured 119 decibels with the engine revved, and the recommended exposure time at the level is only 11 seconds." (This made me think of Danii's new pipes!)

"Potentially, the vast majority of motorcyclists could be exposed to dangerous levels of noise," Colle said.

Motorcycle helmets don't offer any significant protection against noise. But inexpensive foam earplugs can reduce sound levels by 20 to 25 decibels, Colle said.

A ringing sound in the ears immediately after exposure and muffled hearing are warning signs of noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent.

We've all heard the saying, "Sound Saves Lives", and I've got my quiet SEII's on, but I work with three people who are hearing impaired, and believe me, deafness IS a very lonely disease...so, as in most things in life, everything in moderation, please!

Not to stir up the topic but I don't understand the loud pipes save lives (granted I am running CS slip ons on my bike). My reasoning is that the sound waves travel back from the bike so how can this help the idiot who turns left IN FRONT of you?

Motorcycle Noise Poses Hearing Risk. A ringing sound in the ears immediately after exposure and muffled hearing are warning signs of noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent.
We've all heard the saying, "Sound Saves Lives", and I've got my quiet SEII's on, but I work with three people who are hearing impaired, and believe me, deafness IS a very lonely disease...so, as in most things in life, everything in moderation, please!

Excellent post and reminder, Planb, to protect our ears in whatever we do. I'm on my 3rd pair of hearing aids over a 12 year span. The most recent ones are digital costing $4,200. My hearing loss is a result of just plain abuse. I could blame it on a number of things, but primarily, I blame it on the motorcycle. I must say, that loud pipes are a culprit, but even more, I blame it on the loud beating "wind rush", as I never wore a helmet in my younger days. I've made fun in previous posts, but I'll tell the truth here - I've always wanted people "ok...girls", to see this good looking bad boy ride past on his motorcycle. Ya know, a guy can't ride, flirt and blow kisses, with a helmet covering a beautiful face.

I admit, there are still hot summer days, I go lidless. It's a quiet ride with aids removed. I guess, I figure that the damage has already been done.

The "key" indicator to those bikers that are headed in the same direction as me, is any "ringing,humming or rushing" sound (called tinnitis) in your ears after riding your bikes. The sounds might be detected just after you get off your bike or later while in bed. The sound is an indicator of a degree of permanent damage. even if your lucky and the sound might disappears, your hearing is damaged to some degree. The short delicate vibrating hairs (high tones) in your inner ear are dying. If it occurs as a result of a concert you've attended, or a "walkman" type earplug radio/cd player you've listened to, your ears are damaged. You are headed for possibly a dull sounding world, like Uncle Billy.

Hearing loss is quite subtle until you realize you cannot hear birds, crickets, clocks, car wipers, running water, etc. I've walked out of the bathroom a number of times, leaving the water run an entire day. I live in a world of "bass" sounds without my hearing aids. I cannot understand womens higher pitched voices nor enjoy a radio or TV, if even turned up all the way.

Hearing loss places you in some very embarrassing situations. You often misread peoples conversation and you make remarks based on what you think you heard. Example- Someone says to me "How is that." and I exclaim back to them, "Hey, I'm not fat"! Often times, people who don't know that I'm hard of hearing think I'm a "dullard" or a "dinglewad".

Well, this became my rant of the day. Planb is giving good advice to all of us little biker buddies, to protect our hearing. However, I bet nobody will go out and buy nice little soft earplugs to place in their ears while riding. I guess it might be regarded a safety hazard! I wear them even while mowing the lawn, using power tools, etc.. I learned my lesson too late..

Billy Amplifierears

My running mate suffers from 90% hearing loss - shooting and riding are the culprits in his case - and it's tragic to see a friend suffer in this way. Foam plugs don't seem so bad; we seldom chat when riding anyway!!! Small price to pay... we've begun to try and learn to sign, but he reads lips VERY well as long as he can see head-on. We are also fly-fishin' buds and being on streams in northern MI where bears also abound has become a challenge - hard to warn someone who can't hear.

Hey Billy,

I use the soft ear plugs anytime I ride for over a half hour. I enjoy the ride better and can hear when I get off the bike. You are right once the hear is gone ther isn't any going back. I hope you story helps some of the younger guys.

planb,

Very Good Point!!! I myself have suffered some hearing loss from working around Heavy Machinery and Riding without a helmet and a 1/2 helmet with loud Pipes!! :D

As a former rock tour manager/ sound man, I find myself surprised that they didn't factor in the wind rush....not only is it SIGNIFICANTLY louder than MOST bikes, its range is in an area that is quite dangerous to hearing....

If you don't wear earplugs when you ride, expect to wear a hearing aid as you get older...period. There IS no maybe....

I lkove loud pipes, because they sound great...I even subscribe to the notion that they MAY save lives on occasion...but anyone using this rationale as an excuse to run straight pipes because they sound cool is a dinklewad, IMHO...

MY .02

Not to stir up the topic but I don't understand the loud pipes save lives (granted I am running CS slip ons on my bike). My reasoning is that the sound waves travel back from the bike so how can this help the idiot who turns left IN FRONT of you?


bass waves are omni directional meaning they travel in all directions

subwoofers ,foghorns and the like send out sound waves in a "bubble" like fashion , thats why killer stereos only have one subwoofer and many mids and tweeters , bass does not relate well to true stereo sound

as for sporty pipes I like em loud so thats how I run em

If any riders are experiencing hearing loss to a degree that it is affecting your job or relationships with people, please don't wait as long as I did. Even in my early fifties, I was vain enough, that I didn't want hearing aids sticking in my ears, making me look "old". For moderate losses, nobody ever notices the small CIE (Completely In Ear) aids. It is either "vanity" or "financial" concerns that hold most of us from getting hearing aids, when needed. I have grown to love plugging in my hearing aids when I wake up in the morning. It clicks on a whole new crisp sounding world for me. I'm not at the level of "profound" loss, but yet I've opted for the OTE (Over The Ear) aids. In many ways, they are superior for programming and to maintain. No room for vanity with these megaphones.

If there are any little biker buddies on the XLforum that might want some hearing aid tech info., please don't hesitant to PM me!
Billy

Hey Flathead,

Hey all sound waves are omnidirectional but, I think you forgetting the doppler effect (that is the pitch changes as you approach a stationary observer) which actually rasies the pitch as you approach.

I'm not knocking you desire for loud pipes I just don't think the argument maks sound scientific sense.

When I first wore an open-face helmet on a long trip, I had to pull into a pharmacy after 20 minutes, due to pain in my ears. I bought earplugs and felt instant relief. I've worn them on any highway or extended ride ever since & would not go without them. I know I've already lost hearing due to riding/concert going/loud rock music in cars with loud stereos, etc.
BTW, studies have shown that not only exhaust noise and wind noise affects you, air-intake & chain drives (on chain drives bikes obviously) also create high frequency sounds that should concern riders.

Huh! What did you say?

Hey Flathead,

Hey all sound waves are omnidirectional but, I think you forgetting the doppler effect (that is the pitch changes as you approach a stationary observer) which actually rasies the pitch as you approach.


The doppler effect may be present, but you are not traveling at the speeds to make the noise from pipes so compressed that they would be useless. Most accidents are putting around town at about 45 mph or less. You can hear a bike coming, doppeler or not, at that speed.

I think the biggest thing that kills pipe noise is the sound proofing in cars. The newer they are the quieter they are.

imo

Yeah you are right at 45 mph it only raises the sound about a tenth of an octave, but I'm still not convinced that the "benefit" of loud pipes is anything measurable and the downside is the negative effects it has on the general public. (of course I am not very fond of those new exhaust for the imports but they get less crap than bikers do)

....This is one of those topics that, like the never ending story, keeps coming back to haunt us. I know from personal experience that the sound of loud pipes will get drivers attention....so will loud horns. thats my $0.02
ps....Tinitus sucks....also from personal experience....it never quiet in my little world.

loud and proud ......


















I think its my choice ...... good enuff for me

Read my lips...no new noise!

Well, I consider myself to be pretty young (25) and I already have some hearing lose. I get hearing tests every year do to the fact the navy says so, and every year I get rebase lined. We have boxes of foamies in every shop in the Division I work in, but for some reason nobody wears'em. There's allot of "fan noise" that you do really notice, so you dont really think you need'em. That is until the 400 hertz goes out and suddenly your ears are ringing because it's so quiet. Sometimes it's even dangerous to wear ear plugs where I work. If your walking threw the hanger bay on a carrier durring flight ops it's pretty damn loud, and if you dont have your head on a swivel you could get run over by a toe tractor or fork lift and what have you. With plugs in you cant hear'em coming. I am however going to start wearing ear plugs and quit making excuses not to. I'm getting to the point where I cant hear "regualr" talking voices, it either has to be louder or quieter. So plugs it is for me, while riding and at work

Luckymic,

I understand where you're coming from...I feel quite fortunate to have my hearing after flying in C-130's (four engine turbo-prop cargo plane) for 24 years! I was quite consistent in wearing ear plugs AND after 1975, my David Clark headset (muffs)...to date, I still have excellent hearing (my girlfriend doesn't think so, tho)...your environment is definitely a hazardous noise area, no doubt about it! What I try to do in my job (safety and health) is attempt to engineer out the hazards from the job so you don't have to wear any personal protective equipment...but as you know, some working environments it's just not feasible...I'm sure Flathead45's former job in the foundry wasn't a quiet one, either! I know that flight deck and hangar bay duty is dangerous, but if at all possible I'd highly recommend wearing those ear plugs whenever you can! Keep your head swiveling and try to cross those areas where the tow tractor doesn't normally go!

I had mild hearing loss in my early 20's while in the service, but it was nothing to be concerned with...

A few years later, while prowling around for Saddam Hussein, I was exposed to 25mm chain gun fire without hearing protection at about 6 feet from the muzzle. I have not been the same since.

The tinitus mentioned earlier is a curse of sorts. It never really leaves you, but what's worse is that in your most peaceful moments (like right before drifting off to sleep) you are inundated with this horrible ringing noise that will not go away.

If there is something you can do to keep this from happening to you, please by all means do it. You will thank us half-deaf bastards in the long run.

As a former aircraft handler and tractor driver on the USS Enterprise, I know I have some hearing loss and it has gotten somewhat worse over the years. An F14 on the catapult at 100% is louder than any plug or cranial helmet with muffs can handle. The sound waves penetrate your skull and neck area and bypass the hearing protection altogether.

When my non-riding friends asked me why I wore a helmet, I told them it was mostly because I did not like the discomfort of the wind roaring in my ears at speed. They just sort of laughed it off as "He doesn't want to let on he's a helmet wearing pussy!" Whatever.

If you have to ride without a helmet that covers your ears, at least invest in some earplugs. Admittedly it does take some getting used to. I seemed to travel slightly faster when wearing only plugs. I was used to gauging my speed by how bad the roaring in my ears was!

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!

I find that wind is more of a problem than the sound of my pipes. Anyway it's a sporty so you can go faster than the speed of sound :chop

After riding for over 3o years..I have learned a few things. I ALWAYS ride with ear plugs! I use a type that is very soft and pliable and will conform for a perfect fit. Rated excellant as well. Sure, they cost a bit more than those 12@$2 type, but it's my hearing I'm dealing with..so who cares if it cost a bit more. You can sometimes tell a "seasoned" rider when he pulls up at the pumps...they are the ones pulling the plugs from their ears :tour

Guys a very imporatnt thread... thanks for the info. I'll be getting my straight thru's put back on, plus a set of earplugs. Can't stand the feeble sound of the factory pipes. Had to put them on for rego. I guess SE2's are the answer, but then I'd have 3 sets of pipes. Keep hearing... Dave.

I am running a D&D pipe on my F4i and it is the loudest in the industry. I don't notice the noise when I have my lid closed (I ride full faced with a sportbike). I do notice the wind rushing by my head. That roar is what always gets to me. I can hear the pipe but it sounds like a normal motorcycle exhaust to me.

Do you think that longer pipes would solve the problem? By getting more noise towards the back of the bike would that not reduce the problem? ? I know I have thought about using ear plugs. I have shooting plugs but those would be too powerful. Any recommendation on what type to get.