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Just a reminder of how important is to wear ear plugs when you ride your bike - not only on track, but on the road too.
If you´re not using them yet, think twice - remember that the damage in your hearing is irreversible! :jsm:
The importance of motorcycle ear plugs
"Even when wearing a full face crash helmet, riding a motorcycle subjects our ears to noise levels that can in fact be damaging, so it’s surprising to know that there are still quite a number of motorcyclists that ride on the road and do bike track days that still feel the need not to wear some form of hearing protection.
Below I have outlined some of the key facts about the noise levels we experience during riding as well as some of the effects that noise can have on our hearing which I hope will convince you that motorcycle ear plugs are well worth the small price tag they come with. I’ll also cover some of the best motorcycle ear plugs as well as how they should be properly fitted.
The facts
It is not uncommon to think that the bulk of the noise that motorcycle riders experience comes from the sound that the bike makes, often believing that loud pipes are what causes the worst of the problem, but while loud pipes have a contributing effect it is in fact the ‘wind noise’ produced by the turbulent air around the helmet that is the major contributor. Let’s look at the numbers to give you a better idea of the levels we’re talking about.
Even at modest motorway speeds of 70mph the noise level a rider is subjected to can be as high as 105db(A), which as you’ll know from track day noise testing feels pretty loud even at this level. Moving up to 100mph you can expect to experience noise levels up to 110db(A) which is getting close to the painful levels which are around 112db(A). The fastest test for motorcycle helmet noise I could find went up to 120mph, from which the readings were as high as 115db(A)! Those are some pretty big numbers and I can’t imagine what the readings would be as you pop your head up at 150mph+ at the end of the long straight.
So those are the noise levels, but what is classed as safe and what can we be subjected to before the damage sets in? Even with noise levels at 105db(A) the safe exposure time is as little 1 hour and as we go up the scale to 110db(A) that exposure time is halved to 30 minutes. Remember that 115db(A) reading at 120mph? Well you can only be exposed to that for a maximum of 15 minutes before you start to damage your hearing if you aren’t using motorcycle ear plugs.
It has been said that riders who do a lot of road miles where the noise is a constant tend to be affected more, but track riders should be equally concerned because they are in fact being subjected to a lot louder noise levels than a road rider travelling at 70mph for a few hours.
It’s also worth a mention that hearing loss is cumulative and is compounded every time you reach the harmful levels of noise, which means every time you hop on your bike and go for a ride you are only increasing the chance of experiencing some hearing loss. It is also irreversible; once it’s gone, it’s gone.
The noise levels that we are subjected to will obviously differ depending on the type of bike we ride, what screen it has, as well as the brand and model of the helmet we use, but you can’t deny from the above that protecting our hearing with motorcycle ear plugs should be of paramount importance.
Best motorcycle ear plugs
Disposables – By far the most popular form of ear plug, simply because of the cost and the fact they can be had for pennies a pair when you buy in bulk. There are a few different types of disposable ear plugs and you may find some work better than others, but as they cost so little it’s not an expense worth worrying about when looking for a comfortable pair that fit your ears nicely. Personally I use Moldex as I find they provide the best in terms of comfort and performance."
For more info consult
http://biketrackdayshub.com/about-me/
Just a reminder of how important is to wear ear plugs when you ride your bike - not only on track, but on the road too.
If you´re not using them yet, think twice - remember that the damage in your hearing is irreversible! :jsm:
The importance of motorcycle ear plugs
"Even when wearing a full face crash helmet, riding a motorcycle subjects our ears to noise levels that can in fact be damaging, so it’s surprising to know that there are still quite a number of motorcyclists that ride on the road and do bike track days that still feel the need not to wear some form of hearing protection.
Below I have outlined some of the key facts about the noise levels we experience during riding as well as some of the effects that noise can have on our hearing which I hope will convince you that motorcycle ear plugs are well worth the small price tag they come with. I’ll also cover some of the best motorcycle ear plugs as well as how they should be properly fitted.
The facts
It is not uncommon to think that the bulk of the noise that motorcycle riders experience comes from the sound that the bike makes, often believing that loud pipes are what causes the worst of the problem, but while loud pipes have a contributing effect it is in fact the ‘wind noise’ produced by the turbulent air around the helmet that is the major contributor. Let’s look at the numbers to give you a better idea of the levels we’re talking about.
Even at modest motorway speeds of 70mph the noise level a rider is subjected to can be as high as 105db(A), which as you’ll know from track day noise testing feels pretty loud even at this level. Moving up to 100mph you can expect to experience noise levels up to 110db(A) which is getting close to the painful levels which are around 112db(A). The fastest test for motorcycle helmet noise I could find went up to 120mph, from which the readings were as high as 115db(A)! Those are some pretty big numbers and I can’t imagine what the readings would be as you pop your head up at 150mph+ at the end of the long straight.
So those are the noise levels, but what is classed as safe and what can we be subjected to before the damage sets in? Even with noise levels at 105db(A) the safe exposure time is as little 1 hour and as we go up the scale to 110db(A) that exposure time is halved to 30 minutes. Remember that 115db(A) reading at 120mph? Well you can only be exposed to that for a maximum of 15 minutes before you start to damage your hearing if you aren’t using motorcycle ear plugs.
It has been said that riders who do a lot of road miles where the noise is a constant tend to be affected more, but track riders should be equally concerned because they are in fact being subjected to a lot louder noise levels than a road rider travelling at 70mph for a few hours.
It’s also worth a mention that hearing loss is cumulative and is compounded every time you reach the harmful levels of noise, which means every time you hop on your bike and go for a ride you are only increasing the chance of experiencing some hearing loss. It is also irreversible; once it’s gone, it’s gone.
The noise levels that we are subjected to will obviously differ depending on the type of bike we ride, what screen it has, as well as the brand and model of the helmet we use, but you can’t deny from the above that protecting our hearing with motorcycle ear plugs should be of paramount importance.
Best motorcycle ear plugs
Disposables – By far the most popular form of ear plug, simply because of the cost and the fact they can be had for pennies a pair when you buy in bulk. There are a few different types of disposable ear plugs and you may find some work better than others, but as they cost so little it’s not an expense worth worrying about when looking for a comfortable pair that fit your ears nicely. Personally I use Moldex as I find they provide the best in terms of comfort and performance."
For more info consult
http://biketrackdayshub.com/about-me/
