Posts
1823
Joined
6/26/2007
Location
Golden, CO
US
Fantasy
1464th
Edited Date/Time
1/25/2012 7:08am
Since riding my honda 450f thumper for the last 8 years or so. I've notice a loss of hearing on my right side which is the exhaust side. At one point I did have a louder white brothers carbon pipe. Was curious if anyone else has notice this. I first noticed this by covering up one ear versus the other and notice the sound in my right ear had much less hearing. Not all gone, but almost like I can't hear the treble level noises anymore in that ear.
I guess all these years, I always thought the helmet was a enough to protect my ears. Wondering this year if I should wear noise reduction devices in my ears.
Thoughts? Anyone else experience this?
I guess all these years, I always thought the helmet was a enough to protect my ears. Wondering this year if I should wear noise reduction devices in my ears.
Thoughts? Anyone else experience this?
The Shop
No, nothing work related, work on comptuer all day. Only other thing close would be my lawnmover or snowblower. But I'm not doing this several hours at a time.
I have these: http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETYPlug-Protection-Earplugs/dp/…
Remember, once you lose your hearing, you can not get it back without hearing aids. Some people may think ear plugs are gay, but i say hearing aids are much more homo!
Compare that with the sound pressure level of your bike which I have measured on my meters at above 126db+ at mid throttle. I have a military meter A B and C weighted, a car audio meter for measuring up to 190db ABC and a handheld meter C weighted and accurate to 140 and all of them have the current 450's above 126-130 at half throttle 1 meter from the exhaust outlet. At half throttle, the 450's are usually 10 -12 Decibels louder than a 250 2 stroke PINNED.
It is true with horsepower and sound pressure levels... There is no replacement for displacement.
"Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) – this is hearing loss due to exposure to either a sudden, loud noise or exposure to loud noises for a period of time. A dangerous sound is anything that is 85 dB (sound pressure level – SPL) or higher"
Note: An increase of the sound level by 6 dB corresponds to a doubling of the sound pressure. A motor that has an SPL output of 126dB (450 half throttle) is effectively twice as loud as a motor with an SPL level of 120dB (250 2 stroke at 3/4 throttle). Two 250 2 strokes at more than half throttle are not as loud as one 450 at half throttle. This is not taking into consideration aftermarket pipes as 450 pipes can be significantly louder than stock whereas louder 2 stroke pipes rarely add to power or SPL output.
Maybe people think it's a no biggie, but the frequency we loose, is within the spoken word one, which means we will or have already become one of those: What, speak up, old fucks...
Sometimes in restaurants, or pubs when a large group speak, the problems becomes more evidently.
No way around it, prolonged exposure is going to cause hearing loss...It's not something many people notice until it's too late. How about the damage from spectating and working on running bikes with no protection? I can't go to a national without earplugs, the volume makes me want to cry. When I'm at home running the bikes I wear ear muffs from my days as an aviation mechanic
Just a generic chart to give you an idea..Think of the current DB standards (94db last I knew?) for stock bikes below 4500rpm and figure on reducing that a bit with a helmet..Still loud enough to cause damage over time..
*Just looked it up real quick....race bikes are pushing 110db when running, while meeting the AMA limits. That'll do some damage.*
I have pinpointed the most likely cause of your hearing loss. Does she often sit on your right? Right now mine is on the couch across the room on my left and I am about to insert my noise reduction device.
Pit Row
I started wearing ear plugs in 2003 when I last started racing, which is also when 4 strokes were moving in. I've been wearing them ever since and wouldn't dream of racing and riding without them. Eli Tomac uses them also. I can still hear all the bikes just fine, but the noise doesn't approach the level that causes damage to my hearing. Also-and this is big-I believe the decreased noise level aids in reducing noise-related fatigue. It also helps calm the mind to not have a herd of 450s revving in my unprotected ears on the line and during the race. If you think wearing them will cause you to ride less effectively, please note that I've won 4 high point championships in 5 years at Washougal wearing ear plugs.
It takes a little while to get used to them while riding, but once you do, you won't go back.
when the bikes ran open stingers on the expansion chambers,no silencer at all, and four strokes have not improved it.
Post a reply to: Hearing Loss.. From My Thumper?