Bloody Wind Noise

[Baz]

Well after 2 years of ownership on two 1200s, I may have to sell up & move on to something different.

I have suffered with tinitus for the past 10 years, but it is getting to a point now where I can hear hear it whilst watching TV and where it was primarily in my left ear it now noticeable in both.

I have tried different screens, tobinators, different helmets, earplugs etc but no matter how quiet I make it I still suffer.

Bit pissed off cos I only bought my second one last October & it was fantastic in the Alps & Pyrenees this year, but at 43 I need my hearing for a few years yet.

Will give it a few weeks to see if it settles down, but may have a 55 reg with all the usual extras for sale soon

baz

 

[Mr K]

Whatcha wearing?
I think my Arai Quuantum F is a bit noisy?

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Baz

At the risk of teaching you to suck eggs, have you had your hearing checked at the doctors? There might be many reasons why you're havign problems, and it'd be a real shame to sell the bike, miss out on years fo fun and find out later that it was unrelated.

From the little I've read about hearing problems from exposure to noise, the effects aren't noticeable for years. So your tinnitus could be the result of exposure years ago and further noise now might not be affecting it. This worries me, given the amount of riding I did when I was younger before earplugs had ever been given a second thought.

I also think that ringing in your ears after exposure to noise (long ride, rock concert and so on) is different to tinnitus that is there all the time. A medically qualified view is what you really need.

I hope you have no long-term problems.

 

[jimswms]

I feel your pain and solved it with an Aeroflow screen. Silence is golden and after riding the bike with it, I've forgotten how ugly it is. It truly is as good as "they" say.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Have a try without any screen, if better, then fit a cut-down one (NN?)

 

[Baz]

Seen specialists, had scans etc, nothing wrong as far as they can tell.
Noise will affect you now not in years to come. What you may mean is that as it is gradual, you may not notice it for years by which time it is too late. You may keep damaging the hearing until its gone completely & this does not take into account the natural loss due to aging.

Any exposure above 85 dBA will possibly lead to hearing damage, which as a rough guide is equivilent to some one rasing their voice at a metre away. So prolonged exposure on the GS at 85mph would be above that I would guess even with earplugs.

If the Gs goes, I'll just look for something else which is quieter. I had no problems with my old VFR so there must be something else out there.

Everyone will be different so its a bit trial & error trying to find the right screen in the right position, right helmet etc. I have spent @ £400 on screens and the Secdem is the best for me but may not suit all.

Baz

 

[chasr]

Baz,

Like you, I suffer from tinnitus (aged 47). I couldn't give up the bike, but nearly made up my mind to sell the soft-top. Then I tried Moldex soft plugs. They are excellent - bought a box of 200 for around £17. Each set can be used 2 or 3 times. Since buying them, I haven't suffered since.

Try them before you sell the GS. Gotta be worth it

 

[Dickieboy]

Well after 2 years of ownership on two 1200s, I may have to sell up & move on to something different.

I have suffered with tinitus for the past 10 years, but it is getting to a point now where I can hear hear it whilst watching TV and where it was primarily in my left ear it now noticeable in both.

I have tried different screens, tobinators, different helmets, earplugs etc but no matter how quiet I make it I still suffer.

Bit pissed off cos I only bought my second one last October & it was fantastic in the Alps & Pyrenees this year, but at 43 I need my hearing for a few years yet.

Will give it a few weeks to see if it settles down, but may have a 55 reg with all the usual extras for sale soon

baz

Hi Baz I've got quite bad Tinnitus which sounds like the noise a Tuning fork makes and it only affects my left ear, had all the scans etc and no apparent cause found, strangely enough one of the things that helps is a nice ride out when I can sort of switch off, it's still there but because I'm doing something I enjoy and which takes a degree of concentration it fades a lot, sometime I use earplugs sometimes I don't they don't seem to have any bearing on the condition. Don't sell the bike because it's not going to get any better if you do.

 

[Baz]

No, but it could get worse

I've been offered a standard screen to cut down which I will try as I really dont want to sell.

Anyone know the best way of cutting the screens. Think I used my Dremmel last time & ended up with blobs of melted persex over the cut down area.

Baz

 

[The Burpster]

Have a chat to Ultimate ear!

Baz, dont give up on ear plugs.... Have you had a pair of anatomical ones made for you? My mate used to get the same as you after clay shooting, had a pair of Blockers made by Ultimate Ear and can now shoot as much as he likes... You do have to shout like Bl***** hell to talk to him whilst he has them in tho'....



http://www.ultimateear.com/

Me? I have just ordered the GSA screen for my '05 GS Its AWESOME.... See the thread for pics and part no.s when its done (hopefully tommoro!)

 

[JayGee]

A good pair of custom moulded plugs should be able to attenuate about 30Db which should stop hearing damage at 85mph but once you've got tinitus you're stuck with it. It does seem to be aggrevated by riding the bike, I sometimes find it worse the day or night after a long fast ride but don't notice it at all when riding. The GS is an incredibly noisey bike and like you I'll probably go for something else next time. I did get a Schuberth S1 lid and that made a big difference and with custom plugs it's just about acceptable, I'm going to cut the screen down next (when I can find a used one to canabalise!) as I think that will reduce the noise more than a barn door type screen. Definitely worth trying the plugs and quite helmet before changing the bike.

 

[Wizard]

Anyone know the best way of cutting the screens. Think I used my Dremmel last time & ended up with blobs of melted persex over the cut down area.

Baz

Assuming you don't have access to a bandsaw, try a junior hacksaw, coping saw, or a jigsaw.

 

[Andy B]

Make sure it is a hand saw - not electric. You need the control.

At risk of stating the obvious, mark it out well with a thin black marker first, and put masking tape or similar each side of the line to cut to avoid any marking of the bit you want to keep!

Good luck!

 

[Baz]

Thanks for the advice guys.

JayGee, I agree it does seem to agrevate it, but I feel it is getting worse.

I have an S1 and tried 2 sets of custom earplugs one of which is ultimate ear, neither of which are as good IMO as disposables as I find the seal can break rendering them useless.


Baz

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Cutting perspex(or the modern equivilant)

There is a vbrating saw called a Hegner which will do a beautiful job - but there are plenty of cheap imitations which will also do it OK. The important thing is to stick SELLOTAPE where the cut will take place - on both sides, otherwise it will melt and jam up. It requires a certain amount of skill and practice, you have to turn the work so that it ALWAYS advances in a straight line and the blade does not bend. A pity I am rather a long way away or I would do it for you.

 

[Baz]

Came into work on the fireblade today, not ridden it for a while. What a difference in noise levels, feels like half the volume. May have to go back to a Jap sports Tourer.

Baz

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Baz,
I think the difference is helmet is in airflow on the fireblade and in the turbulence on the 12. Had the screen off my 12 once and rode to DIY shop for something or other,very smooth....
Bin

 

[JayGee]

Came into work on the fireblade today, not ridden it for a while. What a difference in noise levels, feels like half the volume. May have to go back to a Jap sports Tourer.

Baz

Yep, I've also got an old blackbird which I seldom ride (the GS is so good!) but when I do I notice how quiet it is at 90+ and how little turbulence there is compared to the GS. But, it doesn't handle the twisties like the GS and my knees ache on a long trip. The two are just chalk and cheese and I like them both. The GS wasn't made for motorways and fast A roads and it's really only there that you sit at high speed for long, I usually take the twisty routes anyway, which is where the GS really has the advantage and the noise is not an issue.