Thanks for the heads up. I've been looking for a good pair of earplugs. I've already developed a minor case of tinnitus and don't want it to get worse. I don't have particularly loud pipes but between the pipes and wind noise for hours on end I'm not doing my hearing any favors. Just ordered a pair of the DUBS from Amazon. $20.00 is pretty pricey for earplugs but I can return them if I don't like them so they're worth a try.

 

Good for you for being the exception. It's the countless others that intentionally put the loudest pipes they can find on because loud is cool but wear ear plugs because it is too loud for them to ride. To hell with anyone who may be riding in the vicinity or may be trying to sleep in their home. Yet another reason among many why I ride alone. My dad had a tour glide with straight pipes without baffles. I followed him on my bike once and at the end of that brief ride I told him I am never riding with him again. He asked me why. I told him because his bike was too damn loud.

 

Should've pulled in front of him. The noise wouldn't be so bad. I don't hear bikers with loud pipes when they are behind me-just as they pas or in front of me.
I refuse to ride behind anyone with Rhineharts or other loud mufflers. It seems like they just HAVE TO blip the throttle at every stop sign. Very annoying.


I have stock exhaust but run my music a bit louder then normal. I wear E.A.R. round yellow ear plugs when on the open road. I found them to be the best of all the replaceable plugs. I bought a box of 100 pairs for $30 - that will last me almost 5 years. Plugs make your bike sound fantastic - you don't get all the mechanical noise just the deep rumble.

 

Do like they do in Ca, ride an annoying bagger with loud pipes and loud rap audio.

 

I don't think you should generalize all those who wear earplugs when riding their bikes. I think most of those who wear earplugs are not wearing them due to the loudness of their pipes but rather due to wind noise at highway speeds. Bimmeer and Gold Wing riders wear them too, and their pipes are quieter than a dead mouse. So why criticize those who are trying to maintain the health of their hearing?

Many health institutions and universities have studied the effects of wind noise on the hearing of convertible car drivers and motorcycle riders and all have conclusive evidence that shows traveling at highway speeds either in a convertible or on a motorcycle for extended time is BAD for your hearing; it has nothing to do with the loudness of the pipes. Here are just some numbers for you to consider:

- OSHA has defined 85 dB as the intensity beyond which there is the potential for permanent damage to your hearing. They recommend workers who are subjected to noise level great than 85 dB to wear hearing protection.

- According to a Cambridge University study using 5 different convertible cars, at highway speeds (75 mph), the wind noise behind a windshield averages 89.9 dB. At this level of noise, OSHA has a Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure of 8 hours (and NIOSH recommends only 2 hours of exposure without hearing protection).

- Another study done specifically on motorcycles shows that the wind noise at highway speeds can expose helmeted motorcyclists to sound levels in excess of 100 dB – that’s the equivalent of using a gas-powered chain saw. Helmetless riders can experience noise 10 times greater than that, which would make the noise level 110 dB and resulting in potential hearing loss in as little as 30 minutes (OSHA's Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure for 110 dB is 30 minutes, and NIOSH's recommendation is ZERO minutes of exposure.)

Here are just a few of the multitude of links you can go read (all are written for the layman and not for scientists, so are they are easy to read and digest):

Is your convertible damaging your hearing? -- https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0106092034.htm

Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart (which shows both OSH's guidelines as well as NIOSH's guidelines) -- http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html)

Motorcyclists Are At Special Risk For Permanent Hearing Loss -- http://www.hearingtestlabs.com/motorcycle.htm

Motorcycles and Hearing Loss -- http://www.motorcycle.com/features/m...ring-loss.html

Believe it or not, there ARE Harley riders who not only want to (and do) look badass on their bikes, but they also want to (and do) stay healthy.

 

now I'm confused if loud pipes save lives or if loud music does it. Did that car stop backing up because of the pipes or music?

 

And so we break out the political correctness, you are generalizing, you are judging me, I am offended crap. Yet another reason to ride alone.

I thought I was pretty clear but here is a different way of stating it. Loud *** pipes with ear plugs is hypercritical and stupid. Wearing ear plugs with reasonable pipes for whatever reason such as radio, wind noise, preventing deafness, feels good nice and squish in ear canal, whatever, is cool.

My dad has Rineharts on his Road King. I am not sure about the baffles but they sound good and are not obnoxious. I rode with him a few times and it was fine.

Good review on the ear plugs OP and your reason for wearing them is sound.

 

Political correctness? Not sure where you get that from. Just want to educate the ones who are ill informed.

 

Neither one. He did not stop backing up because he heard something - he stopped because he SAW the bike coming. I bet the car driver didn't hear anything because all the exhaust sound was going in the opposite direction and he had his windows up listening to his own radio and A/C blasting away. Even I don't get the full effect of my exhaust sound while sitting only 4' away because the noise is going out behind me.
Now if the exhaust was turned toward the front, then I'd believe the "loud pipes" saying.
Why do you think all the sound tests are done from BEHIND the bike and not from the front or sides???

Remember we bikers are tolerant to the loud pipe riders - NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC - they would outlaw it immediately if they could.

 

He's not an exception. I wear plugs for wind noise, and I know lots of other people who do as well. At highway speeds, you can't even hear straight pipes over the wind noise.