warning for all

[ausgs]

I have done some fairly long rides on the GS500 recently and if there's one bit of advice I have it's always wear earplugs.
During a recent ride I noticed everything suddenly got quieter like someone turned down the volume this happened a few times.
After a couple of minutes everything would be ok again.
About a week after the trip I started hearing  a high frequency sound which has not gone away.
I have seen two doctors and will soon see a specialist but if it is Tinnitus there isn't much they can do.
The noise is incredibly annoying and never goes away. It is caused by exposure to loud noises eg wind noise in the helmet
It is loud enough to make it hard to concentrate on anything at all and trying to sleep is a nightmare.
Even though its probably too late now I wear earplugs every ride and so should you.

[fetor56]

If it is Tinnitus some ppl are more prone & more resistant than others...a specialist can reduce the noise but not eradicate it.Wearing plugs,good plugs,is always a sensible idea.

[Janx101]

Eh? .. What's that? .... Sorry can't quite hear you.. My tinnitus ... from 25 years ago clay target shooting without earmuffs ... Is acting up again 

[TheOzTurkish]

Eh? .. What's that? .... Sorry can't quite hear you.. My tinnitus ... from 25 years ago clay target shooting without earmuffs ... Is acting up again 

+1 to many section assaults across a field with a minimi.....

I have to say after a hard ride my ears do ring like a Buddha Loves You for a couple hours after 

[Joolstacho]

Yeah, earplugs, do it. I've used them for the last 10 years or so, but the wind-noise damage was done by then (Aw well maybe turning up to 11 a few too many times didn't help either)

[joshr08]

If your getting enough wind noise to damage your hearing with a full face helmet you need to look for a new helmet.  I run a scorpion exo 700 and its so quiet in my helmet I have fallen asleep on early morning rides to work.

[yamahonkawazuki]

If your getting enough wind noise to damage your hearing with a full face helmet you need to look for a new helmet.  I run a scorpion exo 700 and its so quiet in my helmet I have fallen asleep on early morning rides to work.

Agreed. id check helmet fit while at it.

[Watcher]

I have learned my lesson after ruining my hearing range from 3 years on the drum line on snare-drum and years more being a drum set player in bars.


Tip: if you have to shout to be heard, the noise level is loud enough to cause damage.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Tip: if you have to shout to be heard, the noise level is loud enough to cause damage.

yup that says it all.

[gsJack]

I have done some fairly long rides on the GS500 recently and if there's one bit of advice I have it's always wear earplugs. .............................................. Even though its probably too late now I wear earplugs every ride and so should you.

I've done a lot of long rides on my GS500s including all day high speed Interstate rides, never wore ear plugs, and still have quite good hearing.  My wife the quilter wears hearing aids but I don't, probably from spending so many years leaning over a buzzing sewing machine.    

A good helmet is important as already mentioned but a good windshield properly placed is more important I think.  If you get that line of turbulence off the top of the shield hitting you right in the face that good helmet won't do it, I've ridden a ways with that condition and found it hard to hear for a while afterwards. 

Use to ride a lot with big cruiser friends and the only comfortable place was in front of them, was following a friend under a bridge one day and he got on it just to hear the noise and I could feel both of my ear drums vibrating like tuning forks.  Still friends, still hang out, but don't ride with any one's loud pipes any more.

After 400k miles without ear plugs I think the constant all day high speed wind noise does the most damage, tune it out with windshield adjustments if you can.  Easier on a naked with add on shield but still possible with full faired models with good choice of replacement shield.

[ohgood]

If your getting enough wind noise to damage your hearing with a full face helmet you need to look for a new helmet.  I run a scorpion exo 700 and its so quiet in my helmet I have fallen asleep on early morning rides to work.

I don't believe a helmet change is enough to prevent damage.


Some people are less prone to the damage, or had reduced hearing to begin with, but no single helmet by itself is enough.

Protect your hearing before it is gone forever.

[ausgs]

I dont really think my helmet is very good its a cheap RXT Atom, would not recommend them.
I know I need a new one, have noticed recently its seems a looser fit now.

[Blueknyt]

some good noise canceling ear buds would help alittle, but ive known many racers who use foam earplugs on their daily rider bikes too.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Guns, guitars, grinding, that was just "g", the ringing makes it easier to ignore the voices in my head 

[GS500F2004]

Hmm never really thought about it or even knew that it could cause a problem in the long run. Didn't notice any hearing loss, but then again who would until it's too late?

[ausgs]

Hmm never really thought about it or even knew that it could cause a problem in the long run. Didn't notice any hearing loss, but then again who would until it's too late?

It's not really the hearing loss mate, but the unbelievably annoying buzzing noise 24/7 

[Janx101]

Or the 16khz hiss/squeal  ...

Well bugger me ... That was an old test I had... Just did a YT test....

Gone is my hearing above 4khz now.... Pretty much.... I get a very slight twinge about 12-13khz .. But not really 'hear it' .. Just a weird feeling in headphones.... 

[Banzai]

It isn't just wind noise. Loud pipes add to the problem too. I've had tinnitus for a few years now. It doesn't keep me awake but it is damned annoying and and can make conversation difficult, especially in noisy locations.

[GS500F2004]

Or the 16khz hiss/squeal  ...

Well bugger me ... That was an old test I had... Just did a YT test....

Gone is my hearing above 4khz now.... Pretty much.... I get a very slight twinge about 12-13khz .. But not really 'hear it' .. Just a weird feeling in headphones.... 

I can hear everything from 20Hz - 15kHz, nothing after that.

Personally, I don't see the advantage of being able to hear these super high frequencies, it's a nuisance. Especially in lecture theatres and such when you get microphonic feedback and everyone except the ancient lecturer can hear it. When kids play around with those mosquito ring tones in trains and most adults can't hear it...pisses off the youth! Lol.

[Watcher]

Its been a while since I looked up noise levels and their ratio to hearing damage, but I do remember that the louder a noise is the less you need to be subject to it in order to receive damage.

Seems pretty obvious, as something like a gunshot would instantly damage you, but something only as loud as a small vacuum cleaner will cause just as much damage if you are exposed to it for a few minutes.  And how long does it take to vacuum a room?  Yeah...

Also, decibels are exponential.  So for example 10 decibels is 10 times louder than something 1 decibel, while 20 decibels is 100 times louder.

I think, if I remember correctly, that 83dB is when you start damaging the human ear.  Its a lot less than you'd think.

Also, if you think wearing a pair of 30dB earplugs under a set of 20dB muffs means 50dB of protection, you are wrong.
Doubling up ear protection results in a level of protection only slightly higher than the greatest source of protection.  Example. 30 + 20 might equal 33...  can't remember why, exactly...