Would this concern you.

[Blue Star]

I have noise masking. It's called tinnitus.:hun:

Off subject, but, my hearing aids fixed that too.

 

[Utah Geezer]

Selective Hearing

My wife says I have selective hearing. I said "what did you say". When I'm riding I'm usually tuned in to everything but what is around me. That's why I ride. To forget and let go of everything. Probably not the safest thing but sometimes mental health is just as important as physical health. Ride safe and what they said. I'll bet you hear it next time.

 

[BajaRon]

As mentioned by several already, ear plugs will let you hear more than wearing no ear plugs. Wind noise is a killer. Much worse, usually, than even loud pipes.

If I go from one gas stop to the next without ear plugs my hearing is just about the same when I stop as it is with 33db ear plugs in, if that makes sense. Roughly speaking, riding about 100 miles without ear plugs reduces my abiltiy to hear by at least 33dbs, which is quite a bit. But at the same time it isn't exactly the same quality of hearing loss. With ear plugs in I can hear everything, just at an attenuated level. Without ear plugs after several miles, I can't hear lesser sounds at all, the sound has to rise above a certain level before I can hear it. And I have trouble distinguishing sounds, like words, which is not so much a problem with ear plugs in.

Also, hearing loss can be segmental. Your ablity to hear some sounds may still be 100% while other sounds don't register at all (like your wife's voice, which can result in additional medical issues when your wife discovers it :yikes.

And lastly, some trucks have VERY Wimpy horns. You might want to have your friend honk their horn for you to see if that may be adding to the problem.

 

[bruiser]

Guess I didn't mention, i do wear ear plugs when I wear my half helmets. As mentioned, my 3/4 helmet does have good noise attenuation. My tinnitus and hearing loss are the result of 20 years in the Air Force. I do ride with folks who don't wear any type of ear protection, that have the ultra loud pipes and wear half helmets. I try to explain to them that although they may think their hearing recovers after the ride, hearing loss is cumulitive. But, to each his own. Ooops, thread hijack.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

A NOTE ON DECIBALS

The way they measure decibals ( loudness etc.) is similar to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes.....A small number change equals a very large change in the volume....i.e. earthquake 4 = not so bad, 6 = catastrophic....same thing with tornadoes catagory 3 = really bad, catagory 5 = It can remove your entire town........Mike.....:thumbup:

 

[dancogan]

...It's a wet blanket on the "loud pipes" crowd: at highway speed, this effect precludes anyone from easily hearing loud exhausts coming from *behind* you until they're right on top of you. Next time you're in a car and you spot a biker in your rear view mirror, pay attention to when you hear them-- you'll discover that their exhaust is loudest next to you and in front of you, but behind you, there's little to no warning.

:agree: Loud pipes simply :cus: off people who have to interrupt conversations as they go by.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Try another truck. You seem to be getting all upset over one data point.
Maybe the truck horn was of low quality, low volume. A pickup might not be louder than a car.

Don't forget Wolo and Nautilus sell to automobile owners more than motorcyclists.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

 

[joet82]

Over the holiday I was riding my RT with friends behind me in a truck. They received a call that the place we were going was closed and wanted me to pull over and discuss a change of plans. They blew the horn several times and I did not hear it. They were directly behind me only a few feet. I only stopped when I saw them flashing their lights. My hearing is fine and I did not have the radio on. I was wearing a Shoei helmet which covers your ears. The thought that I could not hear a loud horn that close to me concerns me. I like a half helmet but know that the Shoei is safer. Has anyone else experience something like this, does it concern you?? Should I consider removing some of the helmet padding around the ears??

Just wanted you thoughts.

Take a look at your horn, I can guarentee that it's facing backwards....they all come from BRP like that. Since it's right at an opening for the fog lights, BRP doesn't want/thinks water will get in if rotated around, they installed them so the horn faces the driver. there is just enough slack with some finagling to rotate the horn so it faces forward (I have done this with my RS), and I have also installed the Wolo Bad Boy Airhorn.



It might be tough to see, but you can see how I have the horn positioned now in this pic.

 

[Green RSS]

No doubt; the louder pipes was all that it took to cover the sound of their horn... :shocked:
You might want to consider some interbike communicaiton system... (Nady, Cardo..) :thumbup:

X2

we just purchased the Sena SMH5 Bluetooth intercom system and we love it. We can each listen to our own music (if we want) and with one push of the button, we have the intercom working. It is very clear also.

 

[Bob Denman]

Nobody has mentioned the fact that there's an awful lot of horns out there that sound more like party favors than a REAL horn... :gaah:
Please don't remove the padding from your helmet. If the worst thing possible happened; you'd want it in there to keep the helmet secure on your head...