Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

damn ear buzzing !

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 07:14 AM
  #21  
jimmers1817's Avatar
jimmers1817
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Default

Always heard that that is a sure sign that your hearing has been permanently damaged. Same as the ringing you get when you shoot a gun w/o hearing protection.

I used to get that from riding and other things as well such as using a chain saw. Noise doesn't bother me anymore even w/o ear protection. Not a good sign.

Been thinking about getting my hearing checked but what's the point.......can't do anything about it and it'd probably just depress me.

As someone said the ringing will go away but the damage is done.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 08:47 AM
  #22  
Loungelizard's Avatar
Loungelizard
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by jimmers1817
Been thinking about getting my hearing checked but what's the point.......can't do anything about it and it'd probably just depress me.
I hear ya but at least you've got a baseline. Mine wasn't too bad so it was reassuring a little bit ( I have lost some higher frequencies). It was enough to make me go get some really good earplugs instead of the, "I don't need those, I like the sound", attitude I used to have.

My biggest problem has and always been, not with the exhaust, but the wind. Sometimes it feels like the drums are gonna pop from so much wind being forced in there on certain gusts.

In case anyone is interested here's what I use after speaking to the ENT, riding with them and flying twice a week coast to coast:

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/erme.aspx
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:08 AM
  #23  
bjewell's Avatar
bjewell
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 348
From: Ione, CA
Default

"When you get Old and hear water running it called Tinkleitus and you got to watch your step so as not to slip..."

That's funny, I don't care who you are...

Many years ago, my then mother-in-law was complaining about her right ear buzzing. We had her tilt her head over and poured a little baby oil in it. Damn if a little spider didn't coming running out of her ear! I grabbed it and tossed it on the floor before she could see it.

Til the day she died she told people a sure cure for ringing ears was baby oil...
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:34 AM
  #24  
Loungelizard's Avatar
Loungelizard
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by bjewell
Many years ago, my then mother-in-law was complaining about her right ear buzzing. We had her tilt her head over and poured a little baby oil in it. Damn if a little spider didn't coming running out of her ear! I grabbed it and tossed it on the floor before she could see it.

Til the day she died she told people a sure cure for ringing ears was baby oil...
Good grief! Serious? Holy Crap!! That just gave me the shivers. Reminded me of a damn Rod Serling show called Night Gallery episode where a broach that women wore would crawl into their ears at night while they slept.

Nightmares on that one for a while.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:55 AM
  #25  
Great Gazoo's Avatar
Great Gazoo
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 480
Likes: 1
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Default

I had something similar but my ears were popping like a drum-roll. After much investigation it turns out that repeated wind noises irritate parts of the inner ear and either leave you with irreparable tinitus or that popping sound. A simple fix is to wear earplugs to keep the wind sounds down - its that simple. Some are better than others but I found the cheap barrel shaped foam plugs to be the best.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:46 AM
  #26  
Ash16's Avatar
Ash16
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,105
Likes: 1
From: Rowlett, Texas
Default

Good info guys. Gotta get me some ear plugs ASAP.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 11:06 AM
  #27  
Airborne350G's Avatar
Airborne350G
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 28
From: Living in open carry state :D
Default

Originally Posted by Captain Itch
When it is quiet I hear water running.. I think they call it tinnitus..
Yep, tinnitus it is and it sucks. I got mine from being in too many combat zones. Now I can not stand a quiet room, I need ambient noise so I do not hear the permanent ringing in my ears. I wear earplugs or earbuds like skull candy all the time when I am riding. I know that some states it is illegal to wear ear plugs while riding the bike. Wonder what they do with people that are deaf? Not allow them to ride at all?
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 05:45 PM
  #28  
Wide_Open's Avatar
Wide_Open
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 149
From: FL
Default

I always wear ear plugs. People are always asking if it's because of the loud exhaust but I tell them no, I can't even hear it over about 45mph. I wear them because of the wind noise.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 07:29 PM
  #29  
DaddyKnuck's Avatar
DaddyKnuck
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17,625
Likes: 1,665
From: Blairsville GA
Default

Originally Posted by Wide_Open
I always wear ear plugs. People are always asking if it's because of the loud exhaust but I tell them no, I can't even hear it over about 45mph. I wear them because of the wind noise.
I haven't seen any data to say just how much, but my seat-of-the-pants estimate is that riding fatigue is reduced by about 1/3 with ear plugs.
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 07:55 PM
  #30  
lo-rider's Avatar
lo-rider
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Default tinnitus

Originally Posted by Captain Itch
When it is quiet I hear water running.. I think they call it tinnitus..
Yeah, I have that too, in one ear; I'm 66. I was in the artillery (105 Howitzers), and the noise from the machines in my shop wrecked 'em too.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:11 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE