US scientists realise “Motorcycle noise can cause hearing threat”

**Bob** · 17th September 2004, 23:41

The US Department of Transportation has finally caught up with the rest of the world. Despite the rest of us knowing that unless you protect your ears (something that, up to a certain point, wearing a helmet does), they have spent who knows how much commissioning the University of Florida to study the effect of motorcycle noise.

"Potentially, the vast majority of motorcyclists could be exposed to dangerous levels of noise," said Joy Colle, an investigator in the Florida study, which the university released before it was published in a medical or scientific journal.

According to the report, the noise from a motorcycle is as intense as ‘that from a loud rock concert and can permanently damage hearing’.

Of course, they could have saved a fortune and read any number of bike magazines from around the world – especially the ones that conduct tests of crash helmets, ear plugs…

**Warren** · 17th September 2004, 23:58

Originally Posted by Bob

‘that from a loud rock concert and can permanently damage hearing’.

Is that from the back or at the front near the speakers, and which song?

**Coldkiwi** · 20th September 2004, 13:16

... yet another reason I think American bikers are stupid for not wearing helmets.

I reckon the rock concert analogy isn't far from the mark. I always use plugs and the wind noise that I had to endure last time I lost my ear plugs at a track day at Pukekohe going down the back straight was enough to make me come in and flag the rest of the day.

**Drunken Monkey** · 20th September 2004, 13:41

104 decibels, baby!

eh?

**riffer** · 20th September 2004, 13:50

Originally Posted by Bob

According to the report, the noise from a motorcycle is as intense as ‘that from a loud rock concert and can permanently damage hearing’.

Crap. Only if you stick yoiur head next to the exhaust for more than an hour or two.

Try sticking you head inside a W-bin out of Oak Park's biggest rig when Motorhead are playing.

No comparison. I know. I've tried.

**dhunt** · 20th September 2004, 15:08

Originally Posted by Bob

The US Department of Transportation has finally caught up with the rest of the world. Despite the rest of us knowing that unless you protect your ears (something that, up to a certain point, wearing a helmet does), they have spent who knows how much commissioning the University of Florida to study the effect of motorcycle noise.

What took so long. Biking as been around for a long time. That paper trail must be pretty impressive.

One ride out of town on my bike at speeds >=100km (only up to 109km of course) and you can feel your ears start getting sore.

**riffer** · 20th September 2004, 15:25

Originally Posted by dhunt

What took so long. Biking as been around for a long time. That paper trail must be pretty impressive.

One ride out of town on my bike at speeds >=100km (only up to 109km of course) and you can feel your ears start getting sore.

True, but I have NEVER on a motorcycle encountered volume at such a level that your ears are crackling and distorting with the sound, and when you clean your ears out the next day there is blood in them.

I have, however, done that after rock concerts.

And yes, to answer your next question, my hearing is not the best. Ask my wife. If there are two sources of noise going on, I can't understand what's going on. ie if you try and talk to me while the stereo or telly is going, or one of the kids is talking too, I don't know what you've said.

I guess it's all downhill from here....

**Blakamin** · 20th September 2004, 15:28

Originally Posted by celticno6

I have, however, done that after rock concerts.

And yes, to answer your next question, my hearing is not the best. Ask my wife. If there are two sources of noise going on, I can't understand what's going on. ie if you try and talk to me while the stereo or telly is going, or one of the kids is talking too, I don't know what you've said.

I guess it's all downhill from here....

sounds like mine.... drives me nuts
and i'm sick of people lookin at me strange when i go to concerts these days and take earplugs

**Coldkiwi** · 20th September 2004, 17:44

Originally Posted by celticno6

True, but I have NEVER on a motorcycle encountered volume at such a level that your ears are crackling and distorting with the sound, and when you clean your ears out the next day there is blood in them.

well, I only did it for a few laps before coming in, but if you're really interested in the comparison, give the pukekohe treatment a go.. (wouldn't recommend it professionally though!)
having said that.. I have been to some concerts where I started fearing for my hearing and had ringing for the next 3 days!

**Mongoose** · 20th September 2004, 18:06

I wonder if there was a bike comparison study done. Wind noise does a fair bit of deafening at certain ranges of noise. But I bet a cranked open HD with straight pipes makes a hell of a lot more noise than a, ummmm, Pacific coast?

**dhunt** · 20th September 2004, 18:19

Originally Posted by Mongoose

I wonder if there was a bike comparison study done. Wind noise does a fair bit of deafening at certain ranges of noise. But I bet a cranked open HD with straight pipes makes a hell of a lot more noise than a, ummmm, Pacific coast?

Have a look at this link. This talks about it.
http://www.msgroup.org/TIP150.html

**Coldkiwi** · 21st September 2004, 13:31

'helmets only cut noise by 3dB?'

YEAH RIGHT! Maybe on an open face lid but its blimmin obvious to me that my full face KBC (not that flash) drops the noise by at least 7-10dbA (3dbA reduction is 'just noticeable', 10dBA reduction is half the volume)

anyway... hows this!?
Second, you can wear earplugs. There are some problems associated with doing this, not withstanding the fact that in some states it is illegal to do so. (You can legally drive a motorcycle if you are deaf, but not wear earplugs - fancy that.)
Illegal to wear ear plugs!? what numbnut american state put that law through?

thanks for the link Dhunt. I've been looking for some information on that (being an acoustic engineer and all) and I've even thought of doing some tests but i have yet to come up with a cunning way of mounting a microphone in the helmet and suitably measuring the noise while on a ride.... *brain ticks away*

**Coldkiwi** · 21st September 2004, 13:41

Did a brief bit of digging and it looks like the issue has been recognised for some time and there is a considerable amount of information being gathered. Interesting articles I've found so far are:
Green Leopard News
University of Florida

theres a guy called Dr McCombe who seems to have done a HECK of a lot of work on this subject so I'll have a trawl through and see what he's come up with

**Mongoose** · 21st September 2004, 13:41

Originally Posted by Coldkiwi

'helmets only cut noise by 3dB?'
thanks for the link Dhunt. I've been looking for some information on that (being an acoustic engineer and all) and I've even thought of doing some tests but i have yet to come up with a cunning way of mounting a microphone in the helmet and suitably measuring the noise while on a ride.... *brain ticks away*

Just hollow out the soft white stuff in your helmet to the size required for a microphone, no worries! Heard of one dude that did that to fit his radar detector in "Well, that makes it the highest part of the bike for better detection" Wonder what would happen to the scull in the invent of a prang?

**jrandom** · 21st September 2004, 13:47

Originally Posted by celticno6

True, but I have NEVER on a motorcycle encountered volume at such a level that your ears are crackling and distorting with the sound, and when you clean your ears out the next day there is blood in them.

Ouch.

I say again, OUCH.

I've had a couple of times when people thought that letting off a 12-gauge or .308 inches away from my head (pointing elsewhere, obviously) seemed like a good idea, but that just resulted in me saying "eh?" to everything for the next hour or so, Black Hawk Down style. No blood, and I can still hear CRT capacitor whine quite clearly.