Wind noise is the main offender for hearing loss.

I used to ride without any earplugs for a few years, but when reaching my late 30s I noticed ringing in my ears, basically tinnitus. After which I started using earplugs and finding a good helmet, it hasnt increased any further but the damage has already been done. Sight and hearing are the two most important aspects of communication, losing either one will drastically alter your life and not worth the risk or complacency relating to it. I have a H2 SX SE and still ride "enthusiastically" on alot of occasions but my hearing is still reasonably good

@notworthit1096

2 ай бұрын

Ive had that shit since I could remember

Earplugs are dirt cheap, once your hearing is gone its gone. Its your choice after all but I don't think its worth it. What I don't like is that there is no way to test a helmet for noise reduction before you go for a ride. Personally I choose comfort and then wear plugs.

Always protected. Can't afford to lose my hearing.

Forget the noise what a fabulous feat of engineering.A fabulous take on the old 70s H2😊

Hearing loss through motorcycling is a slow but inevitable and irreversible process, regardless of helmet, screen or speed (above 30mph). All you can do is slow down the rate of the loss. By the time you actually notice hearing loss, it's already way too late. No prizes for guessing how I know! Assume the worst and both get a quiet helmet AND wear hearing protection, because once it's gone you're not getting it back. Suffering from hearing loss really isn't fun. 😥

After getting tinnitus from being in the US Navy aboard aircraft carriers, yeah, I NEVER ride my bike without my earplugs in.

I thought this was pretty common knowledge. I always ride with industrial earplugs, which are dirt cheap and work the best from my experience. Hearing damage (as in losing frequency range and/or volume) might not be the biggest issue (or fear) for most people, but tinnitus aint no joke.

If you start wearing hearing protection after you notice hearing loss/damage, it's too late. You can never mend your ears. The best time to begin wearing hearing protection is today. From someone who has hearing damage, I wish I knew earlier. I would have taken every measure to mitigate hearing damage.

Earplugs every ride. Wind noise is no joke (plus the shorty exhaust on my zx6r is loud even with the baffle in)

I wear a small pair of earphones every single time I go out on my bike! I only have a slip on but on long touring days it’s enough to make my ear ring if I don’t wear my hearing protection. This Z H2 is absolutely beautiful too, some people might see her as ugly but I love the “futuristic” look she has…and the raw power too of course haha

@gpzfan5272

2 ай бұрын

The wind noise around the helmet does far more damage than any exhaust could

@LiterFreedom

2 ай бұрын

@@gpzfan5272 that’s very true! It’s extremely uncomfortable riding on a windy highway for long periods of time! With the exhaust at least you can lower the RMP but there’s no running from the wind haha

25 or so years ago I read an article in motorcyclist magazine that extensively covered this topic and after that I have always worn ear protection while riding. You absolutely will damage your hearing if you don't.

Measure it. Put a tiny wired mic near your ear, use your phone to measure db. Without this its hard to connect the numbers to the loidness. What is 70db? what is 120? Just to get a feel for what number is what activity.

I always wear earplugs. I used to use the foam disposable ones (borrowed them from work) but recently got some eggz. If I forget yo put them in before riding I notice ringing in my ears after a ride, even a short ride. My helmet is an Icon Alliance GT and I find it to be very noisy. I added a chin curtain which helped a bit, but it's still quite loud.

Anyone else want a little rubber ducky companion now?

@bryced7126

2 ай бұрын

the propellers definitely give you +5 mph

I can't wear ear plugs man, always get ear ache if leave them in, ear gets wet and water gets trapped. Pressure builds in up nose effecting hearing for days+. Loss of balance worse than anything. Think from surgery back in the day, even just headphones will do it. Bike never sounds that loud but that probably says all, hearing already shredded.

@h.d.h

2 ай бұрын

Try different types of earplugs and clean your ears out (not with a q tip). The only times I have experienced what you're describing is when I once used a q tip mistakenly or after a shower when I haven't dried off sufficiently.

Just with an Akra slip on my ZH2 my ears were ringing, had to throw in the baffle lol. It also nearly drown out the supercharger noises for me also. The ZH2 is loud AF once you remove the stock 50lb muffler.

Not only that, just imagine how much noxious gases you're breathing in. I don't like sitting behind those smokey exhausts.

Aftermarket exhaust with wind noise = tinninitus

a crotch rocket

Ear plugs dude