Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Ears ringing from riding?

Just wondering if your ears ring after riding. Is it possible to have hearing loss from riding with aftermarket pipes? It would seem that wearing a helmet and ear plugs would prevent that, but it hasn't. What say you fellow riders?

Mine do, but it's more from the wind than the exhaust. I wear earplugs on longer trips. With the windshield on, the wind noise is okay, but above 70 mph the tone of the exhaust is too much. Full face helmet is definitely quieter.

After @200 miles with de-baffled Sceptres my ears would definitely ring, with or without a helmet, and i'd have a headache.. I've changed to a slightly quieter exhaust and it's made a difference.

Yep, after I had my BA about a year, back around late 2002, and right after I foolishly punched my TOR shorties clean through 'cause I thought my bike wasn't loud enough, I used to get that ringing in my ears too! I'm guessin' it was not only the higher decibel level comin' out of 'em, but also the less than enjoyable somewhat high-pitched "WAAAAAAHHHH" sound comin' out of 'em too that might've caused that. And, after only a ride of about 50 miles or so, that annoying sound would also give me a friggin' headache too!

However, a couple years after that, when I decided to grab my standard Triumph Longs from the corner of my garage and drill out ONLY the first forward baffle on 'em, ultimately giving me a much more pleasant "rumbling" sound and a lower decibel level, the ringing in my ears AND those headaches have pretty much subsided since then, even after hundreds of miles in the saddle.

Guys, be sure to wear earplugs when you're riding - stock pipes or not.
Tinnitus is a pain in the... ear!

I already have some sort of tinnitus in my left ear -> all those Motörhead concerts I guess, so I'm trying to hang on to what's left of my hearing. Nowadays I wear earplugs (custom made for my ears) every time I ride.

Believe me, it's not the exhaust but the wind and other noises that do make you deaf in time (if Motörhead doesn't do the job first).

I dusted off my stock slashes and put them back on. And with the windshield and lowers I got the ultimate 'geezer' ride happening. No abuse to the ears and no ringing... however after band practice I can't, ummmm wait a minute... someone's trying to talk to me. "What did you say? I can't hear you?"

Problem I have is that earplugs hurt my ears after a while.

The RX stores sell a product called ear health. It improves blood flow to the inner ear and can help. I have Tinnitus pretty bad sometimes and a little all the time.

Its permanent damage and is mostly from the wind noise. At high speed the db levels exceed a rock concert first row. Some of the louder pipes are downright dangerous. They cause temporary deafness. Ever walk out of a live band bar and can barely hear for a while. That is your body shutting down hearing for protection from the sound. Little bits of damage every time you do it.

Oldroadie probably knows a ton about this stuff.

I predict the tinnitus for this poster has always been there but the temporary desensitized hearing makes it more apparent.

If your helmet is a bit too big, the wind noise is worse than with no helmet IMO

My wife and I have custom fitted earplugs. They are AWESOME. And, they don't hurt your ears. They take a mold of your ear, and they fit perfectly.

www.protectear.com

H.

A lot of riders on a Touring Forum I frequent swear by the Fuze Custom Do It Yourself Ear protection. And not a bad price at $44's. Sound as well.

http://www.earfuze.com/store.html

what?....what....did someone say something?

On my trip to VA last summer I couldn't hear for a day, it actually scared me. From the wind at 80 to 100mph though I think, not the exhaust.

I know after all day rides a couple years back with the Bub's I would have ringing in my ears all night, partly from the Bubs, and partly from the wind, even with a full face and ear plugs. Think before my next long trip, I'll definitely go for a windshield to at least take the wind noise out of the equation.

I always wear foam ear plugs on long trips. You really have to watch your speed at first because the bike sounds like it's going so slow.