| Author | Message | ||
     Joojoo |
Hey all, Question. I do a lot of long distance touring, and I plan to continue this riding style on my 12S. I would like to go with the race kit, but Im having concerns about the loudness of the pipe for along haul. I dont want to be annoyed with ringing in my ears all evening after a days ride....any thoughts? Jack | ||
| Mookie |
Jack, My thoughts are about earplugs. well not my dirty thoughts at least. but we arent here to talk about those. I have only been riding for a short time but i can tell you that with the race kit on my xb9, I have some ringing. ear plugs are a must I would say. I havent put mine in yet but thats because I have headphones in. | ||
| Josh_ |
Hearos ear plugs. Work great no matter what the pipe. Get 'em online or at any guitar/music shop. Use a 35mm film case to keep 'em clean when they're not in your ears and carry q-tips to clean yer ears before you use the hearos. | ||
| Leeaw |
Most people with a pipe on any bike end up hearing more wind noise at highway speeds. Like the others stated, get ear plugs. I have been playing drums for close to 3 decades and always use hearing protection, and my hearing is fine. The real proof is that I have 3 young kids who don't wear ear protection of any kind, and they cannot hear a darn thing I say. I use the foam ear plugs I get a CVS, which are supposedly a 29db decrease. | ||
| Mookie |
leeaw, I dont think the kids cant hear you because they dont wear hearing protection. if they are anything like my daughter. its simply because to arent listening. | ||
| Dynarider |
The race kit pipe isnt much louder than the stock pipe. Now if you have a D&D or a Force then it would be an issue. As others have said, wind noise will affect you more than your pipe will. I have never worn earplugs, but I know I am starting to feel the effects of it after 25 years & am going to start wearing them, but its already too damn late. PS..on my Dyna with drag pipes the wind noise drowns out the pipe noise at higher speeds. | ||
| Dasxb9s |
If you don't use ear plugs to defend against loud pipes and wind noise... the ringing in your ears will not just be annoying for the evening... before long it will be for the rest of your life! It only take ONE exposure to cause life long damage, or continuous exposures to gradually do the same damage. AND... often the damage in the high frequency range and it is nerve damage which will not be helped by hearing aids. My left ear has a major loss... and both my ears have ringing from ONE exposure to gunfire back about 1970. I could not hear for the ringing the following day... and though it gradually reduced... the ringing will never go away... if it has not in 33 years... I am betting it never will!!! I guess the good news is that much of it now is job related... and workman's comp will settle when I retire... all things considered... I'd rather have my hearing back!!! | ||
| Darthane |
I never wore them until the Northeast Adventure. XB9 gave me a pair and now I don't go anywhere without them. I'm astounded by how loud my bike sounds when I don't have them in, now. Cheap insurance, just like oil. Don't leave home without them. Bryan | ||
| Dynarider |
My hearing got a little screwed up a few years ago. Went down south for X-mas & brought a few guns with. The wife & I went out back of her dads place down into a valley to do some shooting. Well we didnt bring any ear protection & shooting a .357 magnum & my 9mm really did a number on the ears. It actually hurt to hear loud noises for over a month. I wear ear plugs at work because it can get pretty loud & have wron them there for years, just never have worn them on the bike. | ||
| Daves |
What? Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Joojoo |
Thanks for the thoughts crew! Jack Ill go with the kit, and get the plugs. | ||
| Gonen60 |
The race kit pipe isnt much louder than the stock pipe. Odd, My Buell Race Kit Pipe is twice as loud as the stock pipe. I ride with a friend who has a firebolt, with stock pipe. He gets upset, Because his bike is so silent compared to Mine.} | ||
| Gonen60 |
Can't understand Why anyone on a Street Buell would wear ear plugs. With a Full face helmet on, and even with an after market exhaust, the bike are just not that loud. Nothing like a drag piped v twin. I understand Racers wearing them, but cutting out part of your hearing for street riding is dangerous. Motorcycle riders need all the vision and sound they can absorb. | ||
| Josh_ |
Gone, If I don't wear earplugs and then ride 600+ interstate miles, when I pull off my helmet I can't hear anything until my ears calm down. With ear plugs, my ears are always (and will always be) just fine. At 65MPH the only sound you're absorbing is white noise from the air rushing by which will damage your hearing over time. If all you do is 30mph around town the sure, ear plugs are a waste of resources. But when you normally ride 80+ on the interstate 30miles each each way to/from work you'll need earplugs. | ||
| Dynarider |
Gone is out of touch with what noise ear plugs cut down on. They reduce the amount of high frequency noises which are the most damaging. You can still hear traffic sounds..car horns, etc. But like Josh pointed out they significantly reduce the amount of damaging wind noise. | ||
| Gearloose |
Dave cut your hair,you might hear!!!!!  Gearloose | ||
| Daves |
 Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Dynarider |
I dont think Dave can cut his hair. Remember the story of samson & how when his hair was cut he lost his strength? Dave might lose his ability to sell bikes. And then what would happen? Might have to go get a job with CJ in the dog food factory. Or I could always teach him about plastics.  | ||
| Darthane |
Gone, You can still hear fine. Horns, sirens, and the like are still easily heard. It seriously cuts down on the 'junk' noise that you get, especially when riding at high speeds. Hell, if I stop and need to make a call, I don't even take the damned things out. They do make a HUGE difference, especially on longer rides. Saves your ears and can keep you from getting stress headaches too! | ||
| Leeaw |
Why would anyone want to even risk their hearing? I am only 37, but I worry about retirement, don't drink, never touched cigarettes or drugs, and strictly drink water. Boy I must be a moron not a mormon).} | ||
| Mikej |
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| Dmuz |
Just put over 400 miles on my XB9S-L (race-kitted) and didn't wear plugs, just a full faced helmet. The wind is pretty noisy and the engine is more of a constant drone. Did have a bit of ringing at the end of the day. Yep, that means I did a little damage. Still, I have problems wearing ear plugs for that long, even though I clean my ears first. Plugs for that long get really uncomfortable and usually mean I'll have a mild ear infection in a day or two. I've usually worn plugs for (don't everyone lecture me at once) non-helmet rides when I'm just putting around and want to take in a nice day. What I want is a good set of headphones that fit in my helmet so I have tunes for the ride... oh, and a digital MP3 player that can put out for a long time on one battery. Suggestions?  | ||
| Mookie |
What I want is a good set of headphones that fit in my helmet so I have tunes for the ride... oh, and a digital MP3 player that can put out for a long time on one battery. Suggestions? I am using the sony minidisk. its ok and holds music. but it is a bit bulky. I had recieved an RCA mp3 player for christmas that held 256 mbs and was tiny and worked off of one AAA battery. it was sweet. I would also suggest when you are looking to find one that the controls are easily used with gloves on. my minidisk player works ok as it has a joystick to control everything but I have the end of it sticking out of my pocket so i can get to the controls. charles | ||
| Darthane |
Ear buds, or permanently install them in your helmet like I did with my chatterbox speakers. | ||
| Henrik |
Dmuz; Ear plugs: try the moldeable (sp?) silicone ear plugs instead of the foam ones (if you're not already). I've found that they put less pressure on the inside of your ear canal - which is less uncomfortable in the long run - while still sealing well. I've also found foam plugs with less dense foam which, for me, accomplishes the same. MP3 player; if you want top of the line - endless playing, the Apple iPod is the way to go The new ones will run 6 - 8 hours on one charge, but there are car adapters that you could rig to work on the bike. Henrik | ||
| Joojoo |
Im on an iPod....its the best for Full Face helmet listening...I still cant find the right headphones though. I hear the Sony store has some good model that I still have to try out...Ill keep you guys posted as to what I find that works well. Till later! Jack | ||
| Dmuz |
This is great feedback! Adding tunes to the ride will make it worlds better! Thx, D | ||
| Henrik |
Check out Headwize for instructions for spiffing up the sound quality of Koss "The Plug" in ear headphones. That should be a decent option at a great price. Henrik | ||
| Dynarider |
Dont forget that in most states wearing headphones for music is against the law. Not saying dont do it, just be careful if johnny law catches you. I've also found foam plugs with less dense foam which, for me, accomplishes the same. I wear plugs at work & couldnt stand the real dense ones, hurt my ears & I work 12 hr shifts. Shopped around quite a bit & found some that like you say are less dense. Work great & are comfy. PS..I hate the EARS brand, very uncomfortable. | ||
| Coolice |
I got a set of the molded plugs at the bikeshow in Chicago and really like em. As for sound I have the Autocom Pro 1 system its awesom plug in your favorite music maker-radio,cd,mp and cell phone(yes u can talk clearly even at 80 my buddy was at his office could not tell I was on thebike), and rider to rider intercom, plus 2-way radio. The system is small I have a fanny pack I wear runs on 9 volt battery about 3 days. Sound is great even with ear plugs check out their website | ||
| Henrik |
Coolice; thanks for the Autocom review. I bought a rider/passenger setup awhile back, but never got around to install it. I'll get it done this winter. Henrik | ||
| Chainsaw |
"Don't forget that in most states wearing headphones for music is against the law" Massachusetts and Rhode Island are the only 2 states that prohibit the use or posession of helmet speakers. California, Minnesota and New York allow single speakers. Pennsylvania allows speakers for communication only. That leaves 42 states with no helmet speaker restrictions. | ||
| Fed |
THESE IN EAR EARPHONES (ER-6) WORK O.K. WITH MY SONY MINIDISC ....WWW.ETYMOTIC.COM | ||
| Al_lighton |
I think these are the same as the ER-6 but rebranded, not sure. Typically about $139, but here they are only $99 http://www.musician-center.com/live/w/Wireless_Components/Hearos_Studiophonic_24 6500.htm I've not used them, but am consdering them. Tried the ones that Henrik mentioned above, can't say they fit real well even with modded ear plugs. | ||
| Coolice |
Henrik you'll like the Autocom system. I have 3 street bikes so I don't want a permanent setup and the Autocom works great. I used it last year for the ride to the Buell factory open house and at Daytona this year for the music and phone(you can't dial very easy so I do it when stopped and leave my helmet on and talk while driving) This year I want to connect the GPS to it now that I have the mount on the XB tankbag and it will talk me to destinations. I use it solo and 2 up depending on which bike.Trying to get others I ride with to buy basic Autocom system with 2-way radio so we can commuicate especially in traffic or hey check that out at Daytona or where ever | ||
| Mookie |
that is a question that I wanted to get answered as well. can I use any autocom/chatterbox/etc with one another. if my grandma is riding her 'busa down the freeway and she has chatterbox and im riding my bolt with an autocom, can i communicate with her? | ||
| Dynarider |
Chainsaw, 4 states prohibit helmet speakers of any kind, 4 permit single speaker only & 2 allow speakers only if they are for communication. Which is kinda weird because some states that allow helmet speakers, still have them illegal to wear in a car or truck. |
