Ear plugs vs baffles

20-05-2009, 09:46 AM

Got a pair of Marving cans on my 620 with or without baffles, I usually ride with baffles and the sound is much better than standard cans.
Tried without baffles for about an hour the other day and got nice ringing ears and a mild headache but what a sound!

Today I tried without baffles but with ear plugs and -well- I'm not sure it sounds better to me as it seems my ear plugs are working too much

Maybe I could core my ear plugs..?

20-05-2009, 10:12 AM

An Mp3 complements the cans nicely

20-05-2009, 04:47 PM

neither and toughen up

20-05-2009, 05:30 PM

I can't really understand why fitting loud pipes and then wear earplugs?
Maybe other people beside you can't get along with the sound level either.

Don't get me wrong I have pipes that are not road legal, but I wouldn't
expect people wanting to hear the noise if i couldn't stand it myself.

20-05-2009, 06:13 PM

Oh I don't mind hearing the sound at all, I love it!
It's just that an hour with the sound in the ears deafens me a bit, was trying to save my audition whilst still enjoying most of the sound.
That being said after the without plugs nor baffles session I may now be deaf enough to stand it

uksurfer · 20-05-2009, 06:22 PM

IMHO (which will probably get me shot)
Anything that goes in your ears whilst riding is not good.

Get a better helmet?
________
FETISH JAPANESE

21-05-2009, 12:04 AM

My termignognis on my 2000 M900 sound like pavarotti (to me at least), and when I change down after a furious (but controlled) ride, they bank like shotguns - awesome

singletrack · 21-05-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowsider

neither and toughen up

Pardon?????????

I can't hear you - I'm going a bit deaf - it must be years of using no baffles or earplugs.

gary tompkins · 21-05-2009, 10:23 AM

I personally value my hearing as much as my eyesight and other senses

There are strict health and safety limits (at work) on exposure to noise, making it mandatory to wear ear defender/plugs in many locations. It's now medically proven that long term exposure to loud noise wrecks your hearing permanently, and by excessive we are only talking 80db+. The wind noise in many helmets at 70mph is often far higher than 80db, and that'll do more damage than a loud exhaust noise on longer rides.

I always wear plugs nowadays & have done for at least 10 years. My hearing's already suffered from 25 years of riding un-plugged in the 80's & 90's, and I want to protect what have left. To be honest riding any distance on straight through pipes (90db+) just gets on my tits now, and prefer to run db limiters.

By all means ride unplugged if you wish, but don't complain if you have to wear hearing aids or learn to lip read in later life. My Stepfather has acute industrial deafness caused by years of working (unprotected) for the paper mills, and it's not a huge barrel of laughs for him now.

uksurfer · 21-05-2009, 05:00 PM

is there not also HSE guidelines about wearing earplugs (headphones) etc in yard areas and warehouses where forklifts operate, going about 5 mph?
________
Weed

21-05-2009, 05:21 PM

uksurfer> not a massive fan of having stuff up the ears either

I've got an AGV Ti Tech which I think isn't too bad.

Chopped off the last third of the ear plugs and it now sounds much better without ears ringing!
Maybe I'll get softer ear plugs that don't remove too much dbs next time.

21-05-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary tompkins

I personally value my hearing as much as my eyesight and other senses

There are strict health and safety limits (at work) on exposure to noise, making it mandatory to wear ear defender/plugs in many locations. It's now medically proven that long term exposure to loud noise wrecks your hearing permanently, and by excessive we are only talking 80db+.

By all means ride unplugged if you wish, but don't complain if you have to wear hearing aids or learn to lip read in later life. My Stepfather has acute industrial deafness caused by years of working (unprotected) for the paper mills, and it's not a huge barrel of laughs for him now.

Its all about taking things in moderation and being sensible, you can enjoy the sound of an exhaust that's open with some hearing protection and not put your health in danger, i also like the bonus of knowing other road users and pedestrians can hear as well as see me (yellow monster lights on white lid).

reduced hearing is an awful disability, i know health and safety gets some stick but a lot of lads in their 40`s 50`s 60`s from the construction industry would gladly turn back the clock.

Dave G · 21-05-2009, 10:38 PM

I dont wear earplugs as I hate the sense of being seperated from the surrounding environment they cause.
Most of the noise that'll affect your hearing is from wind noise through your helmet though.
Your exhaust note mostly benefits those behind you but its good to share sometimes.

24-05-2009, 10:22 AM

I always wear earplugs, they take away the paranoia of all the sounds a bike makes, and actually lets you hear the things you need to hear (like rattling tappets)..

as well as making a ride more comfortable..

and saving my hearing..

does make me look stupid when I cant hear people talking to me though.

feel naked without them now, same as when I rode the bike to the shops in trainers.. feet felt bare without the protection of boots - I wont ever do that again either..

singletrack · 24-05-2009, 01:28 PM

I went out on my bike this morning and forgot to put my earplugs in. It was a bit loud, with the noise of the exhaust and the wind noise.
I won't be doing that again!

20-05-2009, 09:46 AM	#1
damo Guest Posts: n/a	Ear plugs vs baffles Got a pair of Marving cans on my 620 with or without baffles, I usually ride with baffles and the sound is much better than standard cans. Tried without baffles for about an hour the other day and got nice ringing ears and a mild headache but what a sound! Today I tried without baffles but with ear plugs and -well- I'm not sure it sounds better to me as it seems my ear plugs are working too much Maybe I could core my ear plugs..?

20-05-2009, 06:22 PM	#6
uksurfer Its all grey now Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: southampton Bike: M1200s Posts: 2,940	IMHO (which will probably get me shot) Anything that goes in your ears whilst riding is not good. Get a better helmet? ________ FETISH JAPANESE Last edited by uksurfer; 01-04-2011 at 01:40 AM..

21-05-2009, 12:04 AM	#7
alexkorff Guest Posts: n/a	man up! My termignognis on my 2000 M900 sound like pavarotti (to me at least), and when I change down after a furious (but controlled) ride, they bank like shotguns - awesome

21-05-2009, 10:23 AM	#9
gary tompkins 1/2 man - 1/2 pogo-stick Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Dartford, Kent Bike: M900ie Posts: 7,241	I personally value my hearing as much as my eyesight and other senses There are strict health and safety limits (at work) on exposure to noise, making it mandatory to wear ear defender/plugs in many locations. It's now medically proven that long term exposure to loud noise wrecks your hearing permanently, and by excessive we are only talking 80db+. The wind noise in many helmets at 70mph is often far higher than 80db, and that'll do more damage than a loud exhaust noise on longer rides. I always wear plugs nowadays & have done for at least 10 years. My hearing's already suffered from 25 years of riding un-plugged in the 80's & 90's, and I want to protect what have left. To be honest riding any distance on straight through pipes (90db+) just gets on my tits now, and prefer to run db limiters. By all means ride unplugged if you wish, but don't complain if you have to wear hearing aids or learn to lip read in later life. My Stepfather has acute industrial deafness caused by years of working (unprotected) for the paper mills, and it's not a huge barrel of laughs for him now. __________________ GT Fully paid up member of the S.A.S. (Scottoiler Appreciation Society) 27,000 miles on original chain - and still going strong! Last edited by gary tompkins; 21-05-2009 at 10:27 AM..

21-05-2009, 05:00 PM	#10
uksurfer Its all grey now Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: southampton Bike: M1200s Posts: 2,940	is there not also HSE guidelines about wearing earplugs (headphones) etc in yard areas and warehouses where forklifts operate, going about 5 mph? ________ Weed Last edited by uksurfer; 01-04-2011 at 01:40 AM..

20-05-2009, 10:12 AM	#2
Pomp1 Guest Posts: n/a	An Mp3 complements the cans nicely

20-05-2009, 04:47 PM	#3
Lowsider Guest Posts: n/a	neither and toughen up

20-05-2009, 05:30 PM	#4
MagnaJeep Guest Posts: n/a	I can't really understand why fitting loud pipes and then wear earplugs? Maybe other people beside you can't get along with the sound level either. Don't get me wrong I have pipes that are not road legal, but I wouldn't expect people wanting to hear the noise if i couldn't stand it myself.

20-05-2009, 06:13 PM	#5
damo Guest Posts: n/a	Oh I don't mind hearing the sound at all, I love it! It's just that an hour with the sound in the ears deafens me a bit, was trying to save my audition whilst still enjoying most of the sound. That being said after the without plugs nor baffles session I may now be deaf enough to stand it

21-05-2009, 05:21 PM	#11
damo Guest Posts: n/a	uksurfer> not a massive fan of having stuff up the ears either I've got an AGV Ti Tech which I think isn't too bad. Chopped off the last third of the ear plugs and it now sounds much better without ears ringing! Maybe I'll get softer ear plugs that don't remove too much dbs next time.

21-05-2009, 10:38 PM	#13
Dave G Imagineer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Kilbride Bike: S2r Posts: 1,002	I dont wear earplugs as I hate the sense of being seperated from the surrounding environment they cause. Most of the noise that'll affect your hearing is from wind noise through your helmet though. Your exhaust note mostly benefits those behind you but its good to share sometimes. __________________ "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man" -Elbert Hubbard

24-05-2009, 10:22 AM	#14
kenloen Guest Posts: n/a	I always wear earplugs, they take away the paranoia of all the sounds a bike makes, and actually lets you hear the things you need to hear (like rattling tappets).. as well as making a ride more comfortable.. and saving my hearing.. does make me look stupid when I cant hear people talking to me though. feel naked without them now, same as when I rode the bike to the shops in trainers.. feet felt bare without the protection of boots - I wont ever do that again either..

24-05-2009, 01:28 PM	#15
singletrack Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glossop Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 1,513	I went out on my bike this morning and forgot to put my earplugs in. It was a bit loud, with the noise of the exhaust and the wind noise. I won't be doing that again! __________________ A woman can never have too many bikes!