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Pavement paranoia!
- Thread starter wildbears
- Start date
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- Tags
- riding safety
KenDittrick
Rocky Bow BMW Riders #197
Nice reminder video about our inherent invisibility while riding. Also may help to keep emotions in check by not assuming cagers are not looking, checking, and observing or are purposefully trying to hit us. No use getting upset at others on the road when we are arguing against science in many instances - which is pointless.
KenDittrick
Rocky Bow BMW Riders #197
You first! 
pglaves
#13338
It won't stick to the tinfoil. Now what?
Proponents of this concept had the tin-foil on their heads and were not concerned.
OM
36654
New member
Just for you, I wish I still had my Woolrich wool hunting suit.....
brownie0486
Well-known member
Strange to say that it is currently illegal in New York for motorcyclists to add stuff to the exterior of their helmets.
This includes items like Go-Pro's.
Maybe not a primary offence, but if you get pulled over for something else, such as a motorcycle check point, you can get cited.
I wonder if that would include 3m reflective tape being added for visibility? "To add stuff" should be well defined, not that general statement.
pglaves
#13338
I doubt the law says you can't "add stuff." More likely the language is similar to can't "mount a device" or some such.
Reflectors and stickers are ok, but noting that sticks out that could effect how the helmet works in a crash. Camera mounts, spikes, mohawks and similar things.
36654
New member
Ear plugs with a high NRR is a direct approach to limiting noise fatigue.
pglaves
#13338
Quiet mufflers stop the noise at the source. I have had riders with loud exhaust join us while riding, or I have come up on such a rider. I simply will not follow or ride along with a loud bike and will either pass the bike or stop myself until the nuisance is gone. I wear ear plugs but certainly don't rely on them to suppress some rude jerk's bleating exhaust.
36654
New member
Paul, there's no way I will disagree with you on the loud mufflers. Boorish behavior is just that.
However, in this day of 80MPH highway speeds, it's critical we get all riders to wear hearing protection. At those speeds, the wind noise will exceed the worst straight pipe.
pglaves
#13338
I agree 100% and did not intend to imply folks should not wear ear plugs. They should now, or hearing aids later. But even though I do wear ear plugs all the time, I am still greatly annoyed by loud pipes and will not ride with or near anybody with a bike so equipped.
Anyname
Active member
I find that ear plugs make wind buffeting seem less obnoxious. For bikes that handlebar fairings will fit on, I like National Cycle Deflector fairings. The are fairly small but the seem to be mostly effective at stopping wind and vehicle turbulence without introducing any on their own. They are also very reasonably priced, something like $130.
36654
New member
If someone could quantify the difference between noise and buffeting that would be helpful. I fear we're talking around individual perceptions of high and low frequency noise.
36654
New member
Good question!
Noise is heard and buffeting is felt.
It's possible that you're talking about two perceptions of the same phenomenon. Noise can be quantified by a sound level measurement and we have established exposure levels relative to hearing loss. I'm not aware of allowable exposure levels for buffeting or the standard measurement methods.
In summary, it's best to target the environmental factors with established thresholds and prior research on measurement methods. Placing all issues on the plate of the riding public will soon lead to a myriad of subjective discussions that will detract from the critical message you want to relay.
pglaves
#13338
Good question!
Noise is heard and buffeting is felt.
That is exactly what I was planning to say, but I got beat in the race to say it.
36654
New member
Back in the early 2,000's, I test road a Honda Gold Wing.
Then, and maybe still, the bikes were designed for the usual Gold Wing rider.
The latter usually don't wear helmets and, if so, not full face.
I have always worn full face and did so on the test ride.
At speed, the aerodynamics of the bike were such that it seemed as though someone was slapping the back of the helmet (wind-slap is another term for buffeting) with a rapid and regular rhythm.
While an unusual form of buffeting, it demonstrates the essence.
And is essentially absent if not wearing a full face helmet.
Another example...
Last year we test rode the latest Gold Wind, two-up.
With this iteration the "wind-slap" occurs along both the captain's and pillion's sides.
Wind flow around the helmets is smooth and without buffeting (wind-slap).
More to follow later on wind-noise, wind-buffeting, causes, and solutions.
If you're going to discuss the topic of wind noise and motorcycle riders, I suggest you start your discussion with a review of the work by Dr. John Kennedy of Trinity College Dublin. His experiments on correlating sound pressure measurements around the helmet with at-ear measurements, provides a strong indication that exterior turbulence isn't a dominant factor in the at-ear noise levels. His measurements indicate the noise source is the flow passing underneath the chin of the helmet.
