I give years of working the flight line credit for my Tinnitus. I did start wearing ear plugs when I started where a half shell. I have had some extremely loud bikes but I think the wind noise permitted by a half shell does more damage than the loud pipes.Originally Posted by XKnight
I recently had my hearing checked and my Dr. suggested ear plugs regardless of pipes...He is also a long time rider and says he has gathered a lot of data than indicates wind noise and other sounds coming from the highway are far more damaging to ones ears than loud pipes, as a lot of the noise from pipes is behind the riders ears to a point....This is the second Dr. that has told me the same thing, that wind noise can cause far more damage to hearing than loud pipes, especially if you ride on the super-slab without a windshield, helmet or something to diminish wind noise.....No opinion, just repeating what I was told......My Dad never rode a motorcycle in his life, but his hearing went bad in his 70's from jet engines taking off and landing on the Naval base he worked on in California for over 20 years....Go figure....
I find myself wearing ear protection with my full face, I feel less fatigued after a long ride.
And I still have my stock pipes on my bike as well. My wife asked me if it was safe to ride with ear plugs?
I can still hear pretty much what's around me with no problems.
Stock pipes are good . No needs to upset the neighbors and on the road sound of wind is just enough . Gambling with costly pipes + tuning vs. questionable effect is not worth the effort .
Me Too !!!!!!!!!!!!!
" Truth is often deemed rude, blunt and to the point which is why so few make their friend " Freddy Hayler ..352-267-1553 Sanford, FLA Gutterman6000@Gmail.com
Silence is indeed golden.
Last two H-D's made enough noise for a lifetime. Loving my stock pipes on the 6.
After years of noise with Harley, I appreciate the silence of the F6. *The police did not look at me anymore. Almost sorry. But I hear the radio at low volume.
I no longer want to change parts as when I was on the harley
Wind noise, loud pipes, rock concerts, playing in a band, shooting guns, has all added up over the years to cause me hearing problems now. I figure if I can hear the pipes over the wind noise on the highway then it's going to cause hearing damage eventually. Any prolonged sound exposure over 85 decibels will eventually cause hearing damage. Most aftermarket Harley pipes are well over 85 decibels.
I don't know...but, when I bought my F6B in July.... I had put 52,000 miles in a VTX 1300 over the last 4 summer riding seasons and it had loud Cobra drag pipes on it for all 52 K......
I found the stock F6 mufflers too quiet...I like to hear the engine at all speeds...
and I liked the look and low drone of the Cobra 6 into 6 mufflers....
I put them on before I had 500 miles on the bike and I love them....not loud and I can hear this honey purrr and any speed....but, at 65, I liked the quieter ride
Four things are guaranteed in Life.....Birth, Change, Taxes and Death !
Never thought I would But really like the stock pipes....to many years of loud pipes....Really like listen to the tunes going down the road....I used to tell my riding buddy Id hear the radio on his Gold Wing before I'd see him....He tells me that now......
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