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BATH, England, July 29 (UPI) -- Motorcycle helmets may protect bikers' brains but they also may contribute to hearing loss, researchers in Britain say.
Researchers at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University in England say the distinctive roar of a Harley's engine is loud, but studies have revealed the biggest source of noise for motorcyclists is actually generated by air whooshing over the riders' helmets. Even at legal speeds, the sound can exceed safe levels, the researchers say.
There's nothing surprising about this. At 50+ mph, the wind whistling past your melon is loud. That's why I always wear ear plugs when I take any kind of trip.
A more accurate thread title would be, "Loud Wind is Hard on Hearing."
I figured this out the first time I rode on the highway for about 5 minutes. Since then I've always had earplugs in. In addition to saving your hearing, it also makes the ride more pleasant. Even if you're not at hearing loss levels of noise, the loud and constant wind noise can tire you out quickly.
And for what it's worth, windshields don't always help. The windshield on my bike channeled the wind directly under my helmet, making it extremely loud. Without a windshield, it's actually a lot quieter.
There are probably millions of people with ringing in their ears as they get older that have never even sat on a motorcycle before. There are health problems that cause this. You should check into that.I started riding in the early 70's and have never even considered using earplugs. I have excellent hearing.
I have mild Titinius nothing that needs checking out.
Hearing loss is like shocks wearing out on your car. You never notice until it is leaking.
Are you saying you hearing is excellent from a self assessment or did an audiologist say that it is?
And for what it's worth, windshields don't always help. The windshield on my bike channeled the wind directly under my helmet, making it extremely loud. Without a windshield, it's actually a lot quieter.
I have to agree. I put on a decent size, sporty windshield on my Vulcan 900 Custom which was blocking the wind and it looked good too. A year later, I took it off when upgrading the brake line with a steel braided one and forgot to put it back on before riding again. After first ride, I was like "Wow!" Now, I am riding without it. Imho, unless the screen goes all the way to somewhere around rider's eye level, you are better off without it.
Yeah, earplugs are a simple solution. I use in ear headphones... muffles the noise quite well.
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