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Ganeshan · 08-06-2010, 07:53 PM

Wind noise! What about it? It's not exactly something we tend to worry about. We have a great time riding our bikes and wind noise is just part of it.

Yet, we easily forget that wind noise travelling on a motorcycle is generally too loud for our hearing, and can lead to permanent hearing damage, much as repeatedly listening to any loud noises will do, such as loud music or machinery.

Regular exposure to noise that exceeds 85 decibels (dB) “is considered to be dangerous” and can cause permanent damage to our hearing. The amount of time you listen to a sound affects how much damage it will cause.

Now, even with the best full-face motorcycle helmets, the wind noise is about 85 dB, and depending on your speed and helmet, can go up to 120 dB...

My hearing got damaged because of this, something I realised about 15 years ago because my hearing sounded muffled after a ride, with often ringing in the ears. The faster the ride, the worst it was. And long motorway rides were the worst in that respect. Realising that some damage was being done, I started wearing earplugs whenever riding my bikes. Although not a “cool” thing to do at the time, wearing earplugs made a huge difference to the ringing in my ears, and riding comfort altogether. In fact, I got so used to that comfort that I would no longer contemplate a ride without them.

Still, about 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition called Tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears (Maybe I started wearing earplugs too late...). At times it is louder than others, but it never stops. What I constantly hear could be best described as a high-pitched electrical noise. The following link (French Tinnitus site) gives a few excellent examples of ringing noises. Click on any graph to hear different types of ringing - France Acouphènes - Entendre des acouphènes

Because the noise comes from within the ear, it's there all the time, whether I ride my bike with earplugs on, watch TV, etc, etc... Needless to say this is a real pain and can cause great discomfort to my everyday life.

I certainly don't want to scare anyone with this post, but this is something to keep in mind. All I'm trying to do is raise awareness about this problem, and underline the importance of wearing good earplugs under the helmet if you can, especially on long trips. They help prevent Tinnitus because they simply cut down the noise levels. Prevention is better than cure..., but tough luck in this case there's no real cure! It is, so the doctors keep saying, an irreversible condition. Once you have it you have to learn to live with it.

08-06-2010, 07:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ganeshan Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lisbon Posts: 66	Wind Noise Wind noise! What about it? It's not exactly something we tend to worry about. We have a great time riding our bikes and wind noise is just part of it. Yet, we easily forget that wind noise travelling on a motorcycle is generally too loud for our hearing, and can lead to permanent hearing damage, much as repeatedly listening to any loud noises will do, such as loud music or machinery. Regular exposure to noise that exceeds 85 decibels (dB) “is considered to be dangerous” and can cause permanent damage to our hearing. The amount of time you listen to a sound affects how much damage it will cause. Now, even with the best full-face motorcycle helmets, the wind noise is about 85 dB, and depending on your speed and helmet, can go up to 120 dB... My hearing got damaged because of this, something I realised about 15 years ago because my hearing sounded muffled after a ride, with often ringing in the ears. The faster the ride, the worst it was. And long motorway rides were the worst in that respect. Realising that some damage was being done, I started wearing earplugs whenever riding my bikes. Although not a “cool” thing to do at the time, wearing earplugs made a huge difference to the ringing in my ears, and riding comfort altogether. In fact, I got so used to that comfort that I would no longer contemplate a ride without them. Still, about 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition called Tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears (Maybe I started wearing earplugs too late...). At times it is louder than others, but it never stops. What I constantly hear could be best described as a high-pitched electrical noise. The following link (French Tinnitus site) gives a few excellent examples of ringing noises. Click on any graph to hear different types of ringing - France Acouphènes - Entendre des acouphènes Because the noise comes from within the ear, it's there all the time, whether I ride my bike with earplugs on, watch TV, etc, etc... Needless to say this is a real pain and can cause great discomfort to my everyday life. I certainly don't want to scare anyone with this post, but this is something to keep in mind. All I'm trying to do is raise awareness about this problem, and underline the importance of wearing good earplugs under the helmet if you can, especially on long trips. They help prevent Tinnitus because they simply cut down the noise levels. Prevention is better than cure..., but tough luck in this case there's no real cure! It is, so the doctors keep saying, an irreversible condition. Once you have it you have to learn to live with it. __________________ The spirit of a motorcyclist is what matters. It doesn't lie in an image or in the power of an engine. Two-wheel fun is an option for everyone, and is hard to beat.