It’s no secret that motorcycles are loud, and even if it was one, they couldn’t keep it. And yet, while it’s obvious that a motorcycle riding past will disrupt your outdoor seating brunch conversation, what might be less obvious is that the noise is loud enough to cause you some serious hearing damage in the long term through a condition known as a noise-induced hearing loss.
So how can you avoid hearing damage? Read on to learn more about motorcycle hearing protection. If you’re still in the market for your first motorcycle, stop by Indian Motorcycle of Orange County. We’re located in Orange County, serving the areas of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Los Angeles, California.
The Importance of Hearing Protection
Nothing matches the experience of hearing your motorcycle roar to life when you turn the key and hit the gas. But a motorcycle engine produces a significant amount of noise, and when you factor in the noise of the road, you could end up with hearing damage. By government regulation, motorcycles aren’t allowed to produce more than 88 decibels of noise when measured at a distance of 50 feet away. For the rider, that noise will be even louder. Think about that when you consider that it only takes 85 decibels of sound to cause permanent hearing loss.
As mentioned above, the volume of your motorcycle engine isn’t the only thing that will cause hearing loss. The noise of the wind as you ride can actually be an even more damaging force. When riding at 60 kph (about 35 mph), you’ll experience some 90 decibels of volume due to the wind. By the time you get up to 160 kph (100 mph), you’ll experience 110 decibels of noise.
Unfortunately, a motorcycle helmet does little to prevent hearing loss. Most studies show that they not only have little to no effect on the volume experienced by the rider, they also might be doing more harm in and of themselves. Your helmet can vibrate when traveling at high speeds, which creates a resonance that’s hard for the hearing.
Hearing Protection for Motorcycles
Since your helmet won’t do much to protect your hearing, you’ll need to find another solution. Of all the fancy and high-tech solutions to the problem, one of the best is an old-fashioned foam earplug. The reason is that many modern pieces of personal hearing protection fit over the ear, outside the ear, or stick out from the ear. While band earplugs, earmuffs, and stemmed earplugs work great on their own, they don’t fit under a helmet.
The good news is that old school foam earplugs actually reduce enough noise to keep the amount of volume you experience in a safe range. Many models can reduce noise by as much as 30 decibels, which is enough to make even highway riding safe for your hearing. There are a few other types of ear plug on the market, such as wax and silicone earplugs. If you use these, check the packaging to make sure they reduce at least 30 decibels of noise.
How to Use Hearing Protection
For hearing protection to do its job, it needs to be installed correctly. The correct way to install earplugs is relatively simple. First, take the earplug in your right hand and roll it back and forth between your thumb, forefinger, and index finger. Once the diameter of the earplug has been compressed, reach over the top of your head with your left hand and pull on the top of your right ear. This step will help to open up your ear canal so the earplug can fit in snugly.
Once you’ve installed the first earplug, follow the same instructions with your left ear. Allow a couple minutes for the earplugs to expand and set themselves in place before putting your helmet on.
Protecting your ears is important, if you want to maintain your hearing. Getting in the habit of wearing hearing protection will help to extend your hearing for years of riding. If you need parts or maintenance services for your Indian motorcycle, stop by Indian Motorcycle of Orange County. Located in Orange County, we proudly serve the areas of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Los Angeles, California.