For those interested in the OSHA recommendations for noise level exposure you can find them here:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...ards&p_id=9735

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Anything over 80dB will cause cumulative long term hearing damage.

That means WIND NOISE is enough to damage your hearing long term if you don't ride with earplugs.

 

Keep in mind, I measured SPL using a "C" weighting which includes frequencies less than 500 HZ. You will see a 2 to 4 dB change (lower for my tests) in peak readings than I measured when you exclude those frequencies by using the "A" weighting.

Even so, a "custom pair of ear plugs is a great idea.

Bikers are nuts!!! Why do we put loud pipes, etc on the bikes to make them sound cool to others and then want to quiet them down for the riders???? Takes me back to my Hot Rod days in the late 50's & early 60's when we didn't know about hearing loss.

Now what was that you said? I didn't quite hear it..................................

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WhAT???

Speak into my good ear....

 

It is a very good point about the wind noise that completely slipped my mind. Wouldn't be suprised if it is actually louder at the ear than the pipes....especially without a winshield or using a half helmet which I do

 

I read a study a while back where they did some testing and even a really good full face helmet only cuts the wind down by about 3dB at highway speeds.

The conclusion was that you need ear plugs on the highway no matter what you put on your head.

Food for thought.

 

I don't need a study when my ears tell me that riding with a full face Shoei RF1100 reduces the wind noise to next to nothing. I rode the bike a couple of days ago without a helmet to confirm that the belt was chirping and needed adjusted (could barely hear the belt with the helmet on) and could not believe the wind noise at higher speeds. Don't know how you guys ride without a helmet.

 

Hell I always ride with a full face.

 

Hell, I always ride with earplugs. The wind noise can be deafening! Huh, what's that you said?

 

The very 1st year that the V&H BigShot Longs came out I bought a set and had the same problem...the reverberation humming in my ears was killing me! I went right on V&H Site and ordered "V&H Quite Baffles"...they cured the hum in my ears & on the dyno I lost 1. something HP but picked up 2. something Tq....Are the baffles you guys talking about the same ones?