I started to use earplugs toprotect my hearing, because of my loud pipes. It has made a huge difference in the pleasure of the ride experience. The exhaust volume is muted to a more pleasant sound, but that is only part of the reason.
The other day it sounded so good, I thought it couldn't be that much of a difference, so I pulled over and removed my earplugs. What I found out was, it wasn't the sound volume that bothered me as much asthe pulsing between the pipes.The pulsing was hitting my ear drums more like a feel or vibration,than a sound. It was like a jackhammer.
With the earplugs in, without giving it any thought,I bring it up a lot higher in RPMs before I shift and the bike seems to even handle better in tight turns,etc.
Has anyone else noticed that much of an improvement by just using ear plugs or am I just having some kind of psychotic experience.
Tom

 

Imagine how the public feels.

 

Never admit to psychotic experiences!

Loud pipes or not, ear plugs will save your hearing on a bike. The wind noise will do enough damage by itself. Loud pipes just add to it. I've got the test results to prove it. My right ear is significantly worse than the left one; drag and other open pipes for nearly 34 years.

 

When I bought this bike, the previous owner had it setup this way. It didn't have baffles. I added drag pipe baffles to quiet it down some. A couple of days ago I also added some lollipops which makes the tone a bit deeper (which to my ear makes it sound a bit quieter). The problem is the bike runs great and I am afraid if I switch the exhaust system and have it re-tuned it will never run the same.
Tom

 

My pipes do not affect my hearing, the wind noise does. So I wear them for long trips.

 

Oh I hope they do hear me LOUD and clear as we already know that they are blind so im just helping the hearing impaired drivers out there[:@]

 

I use earplugs, not because the volume of my pipes, but because wind noise is brutally bad for my hearing!

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

 

yep, I wear them all the time. My commute is an hour each way and between the wind noise and SEII pipes it's fatiguing and I'm sure hard as hell on the ears over time.

 

Always on long trips. Wind noise kills me. Get earaches as well.

 

Huh? What did you say?