Earplugs increase horsepower!

nomadwest · 08-09-2010, 11:44 PM

Now I now that sounds dumb but for those who wear earplugs like me when your on the highway or interstate and have Vance & Hines exhaust, have you ever noticed that your bike just seems smoother and faster when you have earplugs in? I have thought about changing my exhaust back to stock a number of times, but I love the sound around town and at idle and I know I would miss the increase Iive gained in performance. So I guess I will just use earplugs when I want to smooth out the ride.

Netnorske · 08-09-2010, 11:55 PM

I have definitely noticed that I'm more willing to lay on the throttle when I wear ear plugs, which I often do....especially wearing my half helmet....hence...the increase in HP...

!

I too love the sound of my pipes (V&H w/UB's)....and don't wear plugs for just around town....but do when I'm on longer day rides and such. Less fatiguing no matter the pipes....

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-10-2010, 07:33 AM

I have debaffled stock pipes and wear a 3/4 helmet so don't really need the earplugs. I guess with loud pipes I might need to do that though. Glad it works for you.

macmac · 08-10-2010, 09:20 AM

I know what you mean, but don't wear ear plugs ever. My ears pop in the mt rides i do and i do them just because the mts are here. I don't notice the points where my ears pop into quiet mode, but I do when they pop out of it. V&H set up fer me.

fakebikerdude59 · 08-10-2010, 09:51 AM

I wear earplugs and a modular helmet on every ride. First, it makes the ride more comfortable because the wind noise is fatiguing at any speed. Second, I like how smooth the acceleration feels without the wind noise. Third, riding is a high-noise environment that damages hearing and that hearing loss doesn't come back.

mac · 08-10-2010, 10:02 AM

I don't wear ear plugs and have V&H w/UBs and a half helmet. Don't notice the wind noise and the pipes aren't too loud for me. Maybe I just have good protection up front with the fairings (windshield & lowers).

**ringadingh** · 08-10-2010, 03:45 PM

I usually wear plugs on the highway or coming and going to work, Its easier to hear my radio with the plugs in, it reduces the wind noise for me.

blowndodge · 08-10-2010, 03:57 PM

I wear very porous foam plugs. I hear everything but the wind. Makes a huge difference on a long ride with some tunes playing...

rickb6959 · 08-11-2010, 10:36 AM

Mine sounds like a goldwing with ear plugs.

dank · 08-11-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickb6959

Mine sounds like a goldwing with ear plugs.

Mine sounds like the Jetson's "car" with or without ear plugs. But I don't hear it with the ear plugs in.

lw · 08-11-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Mac

I don't wear ear plugs and have V&H w/UBs and a half helmet. Don't notice the wind noise and the pipes aren't too loud for me. Maybe I just have good protection up front with the fairings (windshield & lowers).

Only those of us who follow Mac on rides need the ear plugs. ;)
Just kidding Dennis, your pipes arent too loud.
I use my JVC earplugs for listening to my iPod when I ride, and they block the majority of background road noise.

**billmac** · 08-11-2010, 04:42 PM

Yeah Dave, you need to get rid of those V&H and go back stock. You can even send me those old loud obnoxious V&H so they don't clutter up your garage. :)

poppy · 08-14-2010, 12:08 PM

I highly suggest everyone protect their hearing against loud noises and constant noises(wind, machine room, etc...). If not, the below photo could possibly be in your future, if not already. I have irrepairable nerve damage PLUS damage caused by exposure to prolonged equipment noise. Two issues with the same result. At least I have my own little remote control!! Oh, tinnitus too.....woe is me!

**Cajunrider** · 08-14-2010, 12:43 PM

+1 on what Poppy said. I have severe high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus both resulting from plenty of handgun shooting and working around very noisy equipment. Just a suggestion to everybody, wear your hearing protection when riding at highway speeds. It's the wind noise that will diminish your hearing, not the pipes. To the person riding pillion, wear the hearing protection for the wind noise and pipes. Ya just don't realize how precious your hearing is until you've lost over half of it. And it will never come back.

audiogooroo · 08-14-2010, 04:10 PM

I'll also weigh in on Poppy and Mitch's posts. If I suffered any hearing loss, I would be out of a job, so I've always protected my hearing. To the point that I'm a bit of an anomaly in my industry: a 51 year old audio engineer who still has pristine hearing. Pretty unusual.
Take care of it guys. Like these guys have said, once it's gone, it's gone forever. And it really does have more to do with wind noise than pipes.

08-09-2010, 11:44 PM	#1
nomadwest Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Otis Orchards, Washington Posts: 161	Earplugs increase horsepower! Now I now that sounds dumb but for those who wear earplugs like me when your on the highway or interstate and have Vance & Hines exhaust, have you ever noticed that your bike just seems smoother and faster when you have earplugs in? I have thought about changing my exhaust back to stock a number of times, but I love the sound around town and at idle and I know I would miss the increase Iive gained in performance. So I guess I will just use earplugs when I want to smooth out the ride. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-09-2010, 11:55 PM	#2
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	Earplugs increase horsepower! I have definitely noticed that I'm more willing to lay on the throttle when I wear ear plugs, which I often do....especially wearing my half helmet....hence...the increase in HP... ! I too love the sound of my pipes (V&H w/UB's)....and don't wear plugs for just around town....but do when I'm on longer day rides and such. Less fatiguing no matter the pipes.... __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
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08-10-2010, 07:33 AM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Earplugs increase horsepower! I have debaffled stock pipes and wear a 3/4 helmet so don't really need the earplugs. I guess with loud pipes I might need to do that though. Glad it works for you. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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08-10-2010, 09:20 AM	#4
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Earplugs increase horsepower! I know what you mean, but don't wear ear plugs ever. My ears pop in the mt rides i do and i do them just because the mts are here. I don't notice the points where my ears pop into quiet mode, but I do when they pop out of it. V&H set up fer me. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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08-10-2010, 09:51 AM	#5
fakebikerdude59 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 108	Earplugs increase horsepower! I wear earplugs and a modular helmet on every ride. First, it makes the ride more comfortable because the wind noise is fatiguing at any speed. Second, I like how smooth the acceleration feels without the wind noise. Third, riding is a high-noise environment that damages hearing and that hearing loss doesn't come back. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-10-2010, 10:02 AM	#6
mac Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 265	Earplugs increase horsepower! I don't wear ear plugs and have V&H w/UBs and a half helmet. Don't notice the wind noise and the pipes aren't too loud for me. Maybe I just have good protection up front with the fairings (windshield & lowers). __________________ ~Ride Safe~ Mac Dennis "Master Mac" McHenry VROC#880, VBA#673, DarkSide#273 '15 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited '05 Vulcan 1600 Nomad (Left the nest) '02 Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi (RIP) '95 Vulcan 750, (Retired) Houston/Klien, Tx
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08-10-2010, 03:45 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Earplugs increase horsepower! I usually wear plugs on the highway or coming and going to work, Its easier to hear my radio with the plugs in, it reduces the wind noise for me. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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08-10-2010, 03:57 PM	#8
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Earplugs increase horsepower! I wear very porous foam plugs. I hear everything but the wind. Makes a huge difference on a long ride with some tunes playing... __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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08-11-2010, 10:36 AM	#9
rickb6959 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 122	Earplugs increase horsepower! Mine sounds like a goldwing with ear plugs.
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08-11-2010, 04:42 PM	#12
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	Earplugs increase horsepower! Yeah Dave, you need to get rid of those V&H and go back stock. You can even send me those old loud obnoxious V&H so they don't clutter up your garage. :)
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08-14-2010, 12:08 PM	#13
poppy Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Utah; 2004 Nomad 1500 Posts: 510	Earplugs increase horsepower! I highly suggest everyone protect their hearing against loud noises and constant noises(wind, machine room, etc...). If not, the below photo could possibly be in your future, if not already. I have irrepairable nerve damage PLUS damage caused by exposure to prolonged equipment noise. Two issues with the same result. At least I have my own little remote control!! Oh, tinnitus too.....woe is me!
	0

08-14-2010, 12:43 PM	#14
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Earplugs increase horsepower! +1 on what Poppy said. I have severe high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus both resulting from plenty of handgun shooting and working around very noisy equipment. Just a suggestion to everybody, wear your hearing protection when riding at highway speeds. It's the wind noise that will diminish your hearing, not the pipes. To the person riding pillion, wear the hearing protection for the wind noise and pipes. Ya just don't realize how precious your hearing is until you've lost over half of it. And it will never come back. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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08-14-2010, 04:10 PM	#15
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Earplugs increase horsepower! I'll also weigh in on Poppy and Mitch's posts. If I suffered any hearing loss, I would be out of a job, so I've always protected my hearing. To the point that I'm a bit of an anomaly in my industry: a 51 year old audio engineer who still has pristine hearing. Pretty unusual. Take care of it guys. Like these guys have said, once it's gone, it's gone forever. And it really does have more to do with wind noise than pipes. __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad
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