Motorcycle Hearing Protection: Do You Need It?
Think about all the things you hear on a daily basis, and imagine what it would be like to live without them. Your family’s voices, your favorite music, the audio on your television—imagine it all disappearing. That’s the future that could await any motorcycle rider who doesn’t take wearing hearing protection seriously.
Hearing protection may not get as much attention as helmets or outerwear when it comes to riding safety gear, but in some ways, it’s just as essential. Below, we cover the basics of why hearing protection is important, what types of hearing protection work best, and how to use that hearing protection. For all your riding needs, stop by Barnes Harley-Davidson® in Langley, British Columbia. We proudly serve the areas of Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Why Hearing Protection is Important
One of the most satisfying parts of riding a motorcycle is rolling back on the throttle and hearing the roar of the engine as you rocket down the road. But what you might be considering as the adrenaline sets in is what effect that sound is having on your hearing. Motorcycles are loud enough to lead to a condition known as noise-induced hearing loss. Exposure to noises greater than 80 decibels for an extended period of time can lead to hearing damage. In most states, motorcycles are limited to about 90 decibels when measured from a distance of 50 feet away. When riding your motorcycle, you’ll be closer to the source of the noise and thus exposed to greater volumes
Unfortunately, engine volume isn’t the only thing that can damage your hearing when riding a motorcycle. The wind you experience as you ride can have a larger negative impact on your hearing than the sound of the engine itself. At a speed of 60 kmh, the effects of the wind will equate to 90 decibels of volume. Increase that speed to 160 kmh, or 100 mph, and you’ll experience 110 decibels of noise. That’s enough to do permanent hearing damage.
Different Types of Hearing Protection
Choosing the right hearing protection is important. Some riders rely on their helmets to protect their hearing, but this isn’t a good option. Studies have shown that helmets aren’t effective for reducing noise. Worse than that, some research has indicated that some models of helmets can vibrate with the wind at a frequency that could be potentially damaging to hearing. You’ll need purpose-built hearing protection if you want to protect your hearing.
Because helmets impose space restrictions, there are really only a few types of hearing protection that is helpful for motorcycle riding. You won’t be able to find banded earplugs or ear muffs under your helmet, and earplugs with stalks for insertion can be dangerous to wear with a helmet. The best solution is also the simplest. Simple foam earplugs will reduce noise by up to 30 decibels. That should be enough to reduce even highway riding noise to manageable levels.
How to Put in Hearing Protection
If you’ve never thought about it before, it’s important to realize that there is actually a wrong way to put in earplugs. If you just try to jam the plug into your ear canal, you won’t create a good seal and you’ll reduce the plug’s effectiveness. The correct way to put in earplugs is to roll one plug between your pointer finger, middle finger, and thumb to reduce the diameter. Then, reach over the top of your head with your opposite hand and pull on the top of your ear to open up your ear canal. Insert the earplug and then repeat the process on the other side. Wait a minute or so to let the plug expand before you put on your helmet.
Hearing protection is important, so don’t ignore it! If you have more questions about riding or motorcycles, stop by Barnes Harley-Davidson® in Langley, British Columbia. Our team of Harley-Davidson® experts proudly serves the areas of Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.