My unscientific noise study

[CO Rider]

This is probably about as bad as an oil thread, but here goes...
Not trying to sway anyone one way or another about hearing protection. You do you. I don't really care.
But for those who may be curious, I just completed a short ride with a db meter on my phone.
Low at about 25 db, high at 115, average 86.
Notes:
I never got above 55mph. Obviously at 85 next to an 18 wheeler it's going to be much louder.
I suspect the app won't go above 115 or 120. No idea if that's a phone or app limitation.
I always wear earplugs. But like I said, you do you. It's none of my business.
Long term exposure above 85db results in hearing loss.
The Spyder has many, many faults, but it's one of the quietest machines I've owned. At least as good as my Goldwing was.

Let the games begin!

 

[BajaRon]

A very worthy subject. I've had riders tell me that their hearing is shot so they don't need plugs. My hearing is diminished, but it isn't shot. Still, I have discovered that 'No matter how bad it is now, it can always get worse'.

When I forget ear protection, I'm alway sorry for it. I've got plugs in everything these days. Storage areas on the bike, jacket, and riding pants. This has cut down on my not having plugs available. Now I just have to remember to put them in!

 

[mecsw500]

Sound level measurement in decibels is a logarithmic not a linear scale.

10 dB increase = 100 times the sound level intensity, if my memory serves me correctly.

Baja Ron is correct, my hearing is shot but I should still preserve what’s left of it. Too much loud on stage amplification is what killed mine most likely.

Careful out there kids, or you’ll end up a deaf old grump like me.

 

[pegasus1300]

I worked in a steel mill for 30 years. Although some safety equipment was required as a condition of employment hearing protection was not, though highly recommended and provided. I always wore it and as a result came out of there with my hearing intact, as shown by yearly hearing exams. I do have to admit to getting lazy in the last few years about wearing it. I don't know if it is old age or excessive noise, but I do notice it seems to be diminishing over the last few years. I do prefer a quiet bike for myself, I spent 25 years on Yamaha Ventures, both Royales and Royal Stars, before going to Spyders, which I also find very quiet. I like the sound of a good set of pipes, just not for me. Thank you for the gentle reminder of how little it takes to damage hearing - Or protect it!

 

[BajaRon]

Sound is actually quite complicated. There are multiple ways to measure it (all in db's) depending on the aspect you are wanting data for.

Sound Energy is the standard hearing safety measurement. Presumably because this is the aspect that can damage hearing. On this scale, each 3db increase represents a doubling of sound energy. A 10db increase is a 900% increase in sound energy.

The deception is that this same 10db increase in sound level registers as only a doubling of volume to the human ear. I wonder if this is brain function attempting to attenuate the volume. I didn't research it to that depth.

Suffice it to say that we are not a good judge of how 'Loud' something is. I spent many hours at the pump panel of fire engines before hearing protection was deemed important. I had to move some distance from this position to have any kind of communication. No days you'll see the operator using substantial hearing protection.

So, depending on our senses to tell us when the volume is too much is not a good idea. It's like the seat of the pants G-Force impressions. Definitely not reliable.

 

[mecsw500]

Oh yes, I forgot about the different dB scales. I’m getting senile.

Either way, you are correct in that we tend to hear sound as some kind of inverse scale that rises more slowly than actual sound pressure.

That makes sense as running a Marshall full stack at 5 is deafening, yet running it at 10 seems not a lot louder, it just hurts more.

How you have the frequency curve set is important too. A Roland Jazz Chorus 120 is excruciatingly loud even at 5 despite pushing probably less air than a Marshall full stack. My 1960’s Fender Bassman combos at 7 seem bearable, but yet you can’t hear a thing for hours afterwards.

It’s a good job stage volumes have been reduced over the years with in-ears monitors and DI to the PA system being more common. But, there is nothing like the feeling of having that whole body vibration from an amp running flat out.

Perception of loud is weird. I think it has to do with frequency response as well as the percussive effects as opposed to sustained sound levels. Drum kits sound louder than they perhaps actually are when measured with a dB meter.

We used to measure dBA for instantaneous or and LAeq for long term exposure. dBA was weighted for human hearing and filtered out bass and treble ends. I think these days, I told you my memory is sketchy, dBA is 10 times for every 10 dBA. I’ve heard of concerts measured in dBD for heavy rock. I forget the equations they all are calculated from, it’s been a while. I know sound engineers in studios use yet another dB scale which was always confusing.