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http://www.insidescience.org/content/lo ... clists/714

Helmet and acoustics research might offer riders a quieter trip.
Originally published: Aug 2 2011 - 1:00pm
By: Chris Gorski
(ISNS) -- Before hopping on his motorcycle, Michael Carley puts on earplugs, followed by his helmet. It's a step many riders take. After accelerating, most of the sound that a rider can hear isn't from the bike engine or other vehicles on the road, but from the air rushing over and around his helmet.

The helmet Carley wears is designed and tested for comfort and impact protection -- but not for sound protection. Noise inside the helmet can reach rock-concert levels when traveling at highway speeds.

Carley, a mechanical engineer, has gathered a group of engineers and psychologists to study how to minimize helmet noise. The group includes researchers from two U.K. universities, the University of Bath, where Carley works, and nearby Bath Spa University. They are studying how to protect riders from hearing damage and reduce the potential distraction that noise poses to riders.

"Riding a motorcycle is a very noisy endeavor," said Rick Korchak, editor of webBikeWorld, a popular motorcycle website that carries detailed helmet reviews. "There are no quiet motorcycles and there are no quiet helmets."

While riders and others recognize that noise can be a problem, many U.S. jurisdictions prohibit the use of earplugs or other noise-reducing devices. One long road trip could take a rider through numerous changes in local laws.

more at the link.

I think the major problem has been pointed out by you before Sibbo, the low pitch roar.

Firstly tho', screw anyone who says I can't wear earplugs.

The correct fitting of earplugs is just as important as the correct ear plug. In Aus we have different levels of protection available in earplugs. Mostly class 4 and 5.
I bought a box of 200 sets for 40 something dollars and always have them on longer trips.

Interestingly, With earplugs in my ears at highway speeds, I can hear the 'off' and 'on' of my Go-pro camera. Impossible without the plugs.

Yep, I've finally come up with a some decent plugs and it's made a huge diff to my pleasure in riding !

Where do you get yours from Jeff ?

I got them from a tool supply shop Sibbo, Total Tools. What a name, tools.

Most industrial supply stores will have catalogs with what's available.

There is a little 'art' involved in fitting these things in yer head. They need to be rolled with two hands (I'm a fuckin' champion )
Use the thumb and forefinger of both hands to roll and compress them into a reasonably tight, thin cylinder and then 'quickly' insert deep into the ear before they expand.

The correct fitting of these plugs is far more important when riding my bike, than working in a steel fabrication plant.
That can only suggest the difference in noise levels experienced on my bike, and at work.

Bear in mind tho', not everyone's ears readily accept earplugs due to their ear canal's shape and size.

I've worked out the fitting bit.... finally. Found a decent brand but now I think I need to investigate the gradings thing. The things I buy are good but you wouldn't know as there is no rating on the pack. it was just luck I bought them instead of the crap Auro One sells.

I hate stuff in my ears. At work, and at home when using a noisy tool, I wear ear muffs which lower noise levels much better anyway. On the R65 it's quiet behind the 'Jammer. On the Triumph, well... my hearing hasn't changed in the 30 years I've been having it tested.

It would be cool to learn how to purposely stuff your ears, like when you change elevations. But with control over the pressure difference so it doesn't hurt.

I don't ride without earplugs or my noise cancelling ear plugs. I'd like to find a quiet modular helmet that is light weight, but they aren't made yet.

I wear earplugs if I know I will be traveling over 50 MPH for any length of time, say more than about 10 minutes or so. I normally don't wear them for commuting to work and back because I usually don't take the freeway, I take backroads so don't get going fast enough for wind noise to be an issue.

I sure don't see how Harley guys ride without helmets, riding without a helmet makes the wind noise unbearable, even with earplugs. I guess those Harley guys are pretty tough. Or deaf.

What?!?! Speak up, please.

I need to see the audiologist to get proper fitted plugs that will clear my helmet. I use the Chinese Tool Store foamies for any trip involving more than 5 miles of freeway in the Kombi, but they stick out enough that they get dislodged putting the helmet on.

melville wrote:What?!?! Speak up, please.

I need to see the audiologist to get proper fitted plugs that will clear my helmet. I use the Chinese Tool Store foamies for any trip involving more than 5 miles of freeway in the Kombi, but they stick out enough that they get dislodged putting the helmet on.

What is a "Chinese Tool Store"?