spokes (Rookie)

Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:10 am

I'm Out . . .

I'm Out . . .

But not for the reasons I might have expected. Love bikes and my Ninjette. But this winter, I had constant ringing in my ears, which wouldn't go away. This follows a year and half of 95 mi/day commutting with full face helmet (HJC CL15) and ear plugs, and a Windrider chin guard.

Did some reading, forget where, found estimates that sound levels inside the typical fullface helmet are around 115 decibels. Even if I could get 30 db reduction from my foam plugs, the would barely et me down below OSHA levels. SO

I went to an ear doctor, who tested me and said that the ringing (tinnitis?) is permanent, and hearing test should some loss at high frequencies, although not profound for my age (49). We discussed custom earplugs, but he said the range of reduction would only be 9-25 db.

So I do not think I can reasonably keep motorcycling. I thought about a big windscreen, but I think the improvements would only be marginal.

As such, after a career of 80 to 90K of riding on 7 different bikes, I'm out. Nice '98 Ninjette for sale here in NJ, if anybody is interested: http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?p=801113

Spokes

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• I'm Out . . . — spokes, Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:10 am

  • Try riding naked... — kraig7777, Sat May 01, 2010 7:37 pm

    • Re: Try riding naked... — BobA, Sun May 02, 2010 2:31 am

  • There ARE some quiet bike/windscreen combos — funkshn, Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:19 pm

  • What I've read about tinnitus — MIK, Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:21 pm

    • hell its a great excuse to ignore (insert person) when they are talking (n/t) — OldMarine, Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:27 am

    • Re: What I've read about tinnitus — spokes, Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:28 pm

      • Re: What I've read about tinnitus — ouzakris, Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:19 pm

        • Re: What I've read about tinnitus — spokes, Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:41 am

          • that's the problem with a cheap bike... — djrussell, Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:25 am

      • Well, the choice is yours, obviously. — MIK, Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:34 pm

        • He has a HJC helmet...don't they sort of suck? Shoei+Plugs=silence (n/t) — baehad, Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:39 pm

  • Tinnitus — cultureslayer, Sun Apr 25, 2010 1:17 am

    • Re: Tinnitus — spokes, Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:31 pm

  • 115 is too high — Wes, Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:27 am

    • Avoid riding next to Harleys . . . (n/t) — XBeemerRider, Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:54 am

    • Re: 115 is too high — spokes, Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:46 am

      • Re: 115 is too high — djrussell, Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:10 am

        • Re: 115 is too high — Kris, Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:11 pm

          • Re: 115 is too high — djrussell, Mon May 03, 2010 10:31 am

          • +1 on the ear infections — kraig7777, Sat May 01, 2010 7:49 pm

  • Re: Better Link — spokes, Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:13 am