| Author |
Message |
    
Teddagreek
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 07:18 pm: | 
|
I'd have to say first a helmet will help this problem or make it worse..
Depending on your head for example; If you have long oval melon and are putting into a semiround or round oval helmet..
Web bike world has a good review of helmets and their interior shapes... They also have a good write up of head shapes and proper helmet sizing and fitment for your shape..
If I'm traveling long distances I wear plugs and it kills the wind noise... Some one told me wind noise is worse than a loud exhaust because its more of a pressure thing.. Don't know if that is true or not..
Good luck.... |
Kootenay
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 07:20 pm: |
|
it didn't hit close to home but it just gets under my skin to see people bitch about how others live their lives.
Hey, do whatcha want--but there's a point at which you gotta take some responsibility for what you do. When the things you do start impacting others, you gotta expect them to respond. In my case, riders with loud bikes have caused a situation which reduces the enjoyment I get from riding.
If I was walking down the street and decided to piss on your lawn, you'd probably have something to say to me. Same thing, IMO.
"Hey if my neighbor wants to something stupid, then by all means go ahead and do it. I'm not going to say shit.
OK, as an example, a friend of mine was talking to his neighbour, and the guy starts telling him about the bear he'd had the other day standing on his propane tank, and about how he'd taken several shots at it. Now, that's stupid enough...but the thing is, a few hundred meters away is my buddy's house, with his kids in the yard--in exactly the direction the guy was shooting! If this had happened to you, you sure you wouldn't say anything? |
Dick8008
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 08:48 pm: |
|
Just thought I'd toss in the mix...
THRESHOLD OF HEARING/PAIN
There are two sound level thresholds commonly referred to as the "Threshold of Hearing" and the "Threshold of Pain". The first was established at 0 dB-SPL by Bell Labs as the quietest sound perceivable by human hearing. The second, Threshold of Pain, is constantly being re-evaluated by legislative bodies and can change according to locale. The last number I heard for the State of Ohio was 120 dB-SPL or 12 times the quietest sound perceivable. } |
Dick8008
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 08:49 pm: |
|
I'll also toss this in there.....
Loud Pipes Save Lives |
Fl_a1a
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 09:02 pm: |
|
Try ear plugs with the Schubert C2 helmet... last I checked it was the best for killing sound due to the design in which your ears do not make contact with the padding.
From my own experience it makes a big difference. I use to have a custom exhaust setup and without the C2 the after ride ring would come.
(Message edited by Fl_a1a on January 09, 2007) |
Fl_a1a
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 09:11 pm: |
|
More about the air pocket in the c2:
http://www.helmetharbor.com/streethelmets/helmets/ schuberth/s1/schuberth_s1.htm |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 10:14 pm: |
|
Damnut, I understand what you are saying. I'm one of the ATGATT nuts, but the reason I am one
is NOT to try to dictate how others should live and ride, it is out of concern for the health
and welfare of my fellow riders.
I bet you'd be surprised to find that I am anti-helmet law while being pro-helmet. I hate
the whole concept of a nanny state telling you what you have to do is repugnant.
I don't look at that the same way as I do family or friends suggesting something that may
keep me safer. My stomach litterally does a somersault every time I see these guys out in
thier little plastic yamulke, tank top, shorts and flip flops on the road. It's not because
I want to dictate their life. It's because I know what chronic pain to the point they
install morphine pumps and electrical stimulators directly into your spine so that you
can function normally is like. I don't wish that on anyone.
Back on topic:
In addition to the ear plugs a quieter helmet will help with the noise issue, and if it
is still too loud you may need to put on a quieter pipe. Even if you have to sacrifice
some HP. It would be worth it to me if it meant I still got to ride. Other people can be
more "all or nothing" in their philosophy so really it is up to you Wazza. |
Bdabuell
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 10:59 pm: |
|
+ 1 on the Howard Leight Max plugs...they work very well
+ 1 also for taking the time to put them in correctly...that's key...I don't do it like CorporateMonkey explained, but you need to take an extra second to get them fitting/seated correctly |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 - 11:36 pm: |
|
When I went from my HJC Symax modular helmet, to my new Suomy Spec-1R, I suddenly found my Cyclone, with Wileyco slip on, was too loud. I went back to the stock exhaust. It's still too loud. I found Sony noise canceling ear buds, and next I'm installing the Race exhaust, and upgrading the headphones with Shure tips. At this rate I'll get the dang Schuberth.
Suomys are cool, light, and LOUD! |
Damnut
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 12:01 am: |
|
I bet you'd be surprised to find that I am anti-helmet law while being pro-helmet. I hate the whole concept of a nanny state telling you what you have to do is repugnant.
DiabloBrian......I'm with ya and agree 100%. I'm not looking to start arguements on the board. I wear gear, maybe not all of it but I do wear it. didn't mean to start with the ATGATT group, I have heard your story and kinda know where your coming from. well no where near as bad as your injuries but having owned dirtbikes for 20+ years and streetbikes for 15 years, I have had a few bad crashes and know the importance of gear. And this suck that I'm highjacking this post and being "THAT GUY".
I was only responding to Kootenay's post when he is basically ripping someone who has a loud exhaust and is looking for a solution to his ears ringing. People are nice enough to suggest everything from custom made earplugs to going back to a stock pipe. I used the ATGATT reference because sometimes you ATGATT guys come across as ripping people for not wearing gear.
Then here comes this "never any police presence, then suddenly they're everywhere, and when I'm stopped the cop starts in on me about all the complaints they've had about motorcycles."
Well let me see here......... I know for a fact that I have NEVER been pulled over for doing absolutely nothing wrong or for having unmodified equipment. Every time I have been pulled over I DESERVED IT. I don't go around bitchin cause the guy that was there yesterday had a loud exhaust and my loud exhaust got me pulled over today. I own up and am responsible for what I do and my actions.
It just came across bad as I'm sure I am coming across to certain folks here. Like I said, there isn't any malice in the words I write. |
Kootenay
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 12:47 am: |
|
Likewise, I don't really intend any malice.
But, as you can probably tell, I'm not a big fan of loud bikes. I think they give us all a poor public image. And yeah, I'm "ripping someone who has a loud exhaust and is looking for a solution to his ears ringing." Laughing, more like it. Because the solution is obvious--lose the Micron! The guy's parked his bike because the noise is making him deaf, but he's too cool to ride it stock. He'd rather not ride at all, than ride with a quiet exhaust.
Oh well, to each his own I guess. Me, I'd rather ride.} |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - 12:56 am: |
|
It's all good guys, riding is a passion for many of us, and it's obvious we have
strongly felt opinions on issues related to riding.
We all want the same thing...to ENJOY our ride without hassles or pain.
Sorry about the thread hijack, we all have our little gris-gris (or sacred cows if you prefer) |
Wazza
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 12:13 am: |
|
Hey guys thats for terrific responses,
Its now Thursday mid afternoon here in the land downunder and I can still hear a ringing in my ears when its quiet so I have damaged my earing no doubts 
I am going to obtain medical advice Friday.
I have had sports mufflers before on other bikes - but the mufflers were sitting behind me and directing the exhaust rear-wards and thus I think did not feed so much noise back to the rider as the underneath exits on my Buell that are directly below me and also bounce noise back off the road.
I didnt set out to be loud - I just tried everything to solve the rotten midrange throttle response on the 9 engine and ended up with the Micron after the exhaust shootout showed that was the solution.
Returning to stock exhaust is not something I'd consider, I was quite disappointed in the bike with standard exhaust and obtained the Buell race kit then tried the TFI and different velocity stack and cut up air box all trying to solve the poor throttle response until I got the current setup which delivers a simply huge performance gain and finally good clean throttle response. I can't bring myself to go back to stock or to a black frame 12S at this stage
Going to go look at more helmets including the Aria and Shoei mid to upper models, cannot buy the Schuberth's in Australia except their older model labelled as BMW sports integral helmet at their dealerships?
I have ordered boxes of two types of 30+db rated ear plugs the Max and Grabber models.
I like the idea of trying to tame the exhaust down a bit with inserts - some hope that I may be able to keep things running well and just trim the noise and improve the ear plugs and helmet and reach a solution?
Some pics of the machine in question.
|
Old_man
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 12:39 pm: |
|
I have an HJC Sy-Max helmet and a 2/3 open helmet that I use in the very hot weather.
The exhaust noise seems much louder in the full helmet than the open helmet.
The full helmet has foam by my ears and you would think would be quieter.
The only reason I can think of for the difference is that the full helmet may collect and amplify the noise.
I wonder if anyone else has noticed this. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 05:33 pm: |
|
The symax and other "convertible" or flip-face helmets are notoriously loud.
This is due in large part to the hinge located by your ear. The outside shape causes
more turbulence and therefore wind noise. I think that this may be even further amplified
by the pivot point, some sort of solid pin, transmitting the outside noise to just
the other side of that foam by your ears.
In any case it is a nearly universal truth that flip face helmets are louder than the
equivalent full face model by the same manufacturer. It is a trade off they make for
the sake of convenience, or the neccessity of wearing glasses in your helmet.
If I had to wear glasses in my helmet (and I have worn sunglasses with many of them) I
would try to find a full face that fit well and had an opening large enough to insert
the glasses through. |
Old_man
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 06:09 pm: |
|
I have the Sy-Max because of glasses.
I tried to put the glasses on wearing regular full face helmets. If the helmet fit snug enough I couldn't get the glasses on.
I suppose I'll live with the extra noise for the protection the helmet offers.
Thanks for the input. |
Liquorwhere
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 07:55 pm: |
|
Wazza that is sweet!! My buddy did the 90cu Big Bore, direct link and micron full pipe on his 2005 XB12R, chain drive, apparently it is sick, I haven't rode with him since it was finished, he said he hit 156 mph on it, but I remember when I still worked with him at the dealership and he fired that thing up...OMG that was loud..unbelievably loud..I understand what you are going through, the standard race kit on my bike sounds ok, but is certainly not that noisy...I didn't realize Australia had no noise pollution laws like the European Union does... 92 db I think..shipped a couple customers bikes back to Germany for them last year and I think that was the paperwork we had to obtain...can't be sure. Ok well sweet bike bro!! Get some plugs and ride that beast.
D |
Wazza
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 10:16 pm: |
|
Hey Guys how do you find the Arai helmets these days? I just seem to be hearing their old style side pod covers make a bit of wind noise and can pop off after a couple of years? But thats by shops that have LOTS of Shoei helmets for sale?
Have not found anything on the net that I could fashion into some sort of quiet insert for the Micron muffler so far but am of the opinion with the advice given here that this is needed. |
Roadrailer
| | Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 11:17 pm: |
|
The performance gains and improved driveability from your exhaust aren't doing you much good if you can't even ride the bike. Return the exhaust to stock and ride on!
Kootenay...  |
Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Friday, January 12, 2007 - 04:33 am: |
|
Wazza, I have an Arai profile. Frankly when I was looking for a new helmet I avoided Arai because of price. Big mistake. I really don't think I could wear anything else.
The side pod covers are now fixed. The shield removal is a pain the first few times, but it gets easier. Now I have no issues with shield replacement.
The only noise issue I have is when I open up the 2 top vents. They cause considerable noise, but I have found it more than bearable in the heat with them closed. I just open up the shield vents, the chin vent, and finally the rear vent and it keep cool just as well.
Last thing is color. I have a "black frost" helmet. I basically is a dull metallic black. I wouldn't go so far to call it primer black, but you get the idea. They are the only manufacture that makes something like this. Icon makes (made?) a rubberized flat black helmet that looked cool, but the rubberized material showed fingerprints, and bug stain really well.
The best part is the black frost goes VERY well with my kick ash cityx, not that anyone should care when it comes to safety. |
Wazza
| | Posted on Friday, January 12, 2007 - 12:55 pm: |
|
What model is that Corporatemonkey - I know one is quieter than other with vents and living here with no winter vents are open all year round so would not suit.
(ok winter is 80 degree and summer is 100 so its winter to me in a Aussie sort of way - some people even start wearing jeans or long sleeve shirts during daytime in winter - crazy fools -  ) |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Friday, January 12, 2007 - 05:23 pm: |
|
Have you considered simply welding on some exhaust tips that turn down? I found that with some of the loud pipes that I developed in the past just an extra inch of tip at fifteen degrees of angle will aim the "sharp" sound waves away but the big sound remains. |
Corporatemonkey
| | Posted on Friday, January 12, 2007 - 06:24 pm: |
|
Arai profile
I went on to arai.com to see if they sold in Australia, they do not seem to think your continent exists...
Must be because you are all criminals 
Seriously, the vents are fine unless you are really exceeding the speed limit. I have ridden in 104 degree weather with lots of humidity, and my head stayed as cool as one can expect.
I did have to wash the liner after that trip though (sweat) |
Wazza
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 11:22 am: |
|
Etennuly,
I am going to take the muffler off bike and to a motorcycle muffler shop and ask them to make it quieter. I will ask if change to tips will help.
Corporatemonkey,
Haha yeah we tend to not have many .au big global corporate sites - only 20 million of us on this huge island miles from anyone Not a bad thing however - less cars to spoil our riding enjoyment.
We have the Quantum and RX7 Arai helmets here - but not in many shops. I have found a very good deal from a Sydney online shop on the Shark RSR2 helmet that gets good reviews in USA but is also not so common here. |
Old_man
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 11:45 am: |
|
Many years ago you could buy a devise that was attached in the end of your exhaust pipe that looked like a large washer on a pivot that you could turn by a small knob on the outside of the pipe.
Turned so the washer blocked the flow and quieted the exhaust or it could be pivoted to open the pipe up.
I don't know the configuration of your muffler but, if this could be done to it, it may be a simple solution.
It would be easy to fab up. |
Old_man
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 12:14 pm: |
|
Diablobrian,
I want to thank you again for the information about convertible helmets.
Because I then closely inspected the inside of my SyMax helmet.
I found all they had on the shell by my ears was a small removable pad held by Velcro and the pad didn't even fill the void - No wonder it was loud.
I cut some, thick, stiff plastic elastic foam to completely fill the void and covered it with cloth - It should now be a very quiet ride.
Thanks again.
Jack |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 10:52 pm: |
|
Glad to help where I can |
Ragnagwar
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 10:01 am: |
|
Hey "Old Man" we must be in the same age group. I had many of those washer gizmos on my Triumphs with the TT pipes. It was called a "Snuff or Not". Held up for a while and then would let loose and fly out of the pipe! |
Old_man
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2007 - 12:58 pm: |
|
"Snuff or Not".
You're right, that's what it was called.
I never had one - I always had 2 cycle bikes in the day.
How well did it work while it lasted?
It seems like a good idea.
If you fabbed one up you could make it to last.
Ragnagwar, I'm a little older, but we're in the same group of old farts - still riding sport bikes. |
Treadmarks
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 - 06:56 am: |
|
Lollypops
They work great on drag pipes.
I built a set out of Stainless Steel and put them on my can. Much quieter and drone free.
(Message edited by treadmarks on January 15, 2007) |
Fastfxrs
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 - 08:08 am: |
|
Wazza, I'm dissapointed that I had to go back to stock exhaust on my Uly, but even the Special Ops pipe from Odie was way too loud with a quiet full face and good ear plugs. I've ridden my Harleys with a built motor and Thunderheader exhaust and was able to ride without earplugs and still be comfortable (granted, this is probably where most of my hearing loss occured). The position of the Buell muffler is the problem. I wished I could have tried a Buell race kit before I went with the Spec. ops pipe but now I'm used to the stock setup again and am really enjoying the bike (put 15,000 miles on last year). I don't care if it sounds like a Brigs and Straton-Its the best bike I've ever owned.
PS you'll get used to the ringing in your ears at some point.
Tim |
Old_man
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 - 01:40 pm: |
|
Treadmarks,
Tell us more.
How much sound reduction, what about the change in power output.
I think you may have a market to sell them, if you want to. |
Wazza
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - 10:31 pm: |
|
I would go back to stock if it was a 12 as I have ridden two of them with stock mufflers and performance was fine - the 9 however just doesnt cut it with the stock muffler, I will try and tone it down and not loose the terrific throttle response - if that happens then I will consider trading it on a 12 or another bike at this stage. |
|
