As the wind rushes past you while riding your motorcycle, the sights, smells and sounds all play a part in the experience and thrill of the ride. However, beneath the excitement lies a potential danger—prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can have a significant impact on your hearing health. On this episode, we are joined by Michael Carley, a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath and Paul Jobin, CEO and founder of Snugs custom earplugs. We explore the science behind motorcycle noise, its effects on your ears, and most importantly, how you can protect your hearing.

Michael Carley is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath in England. Michael Carley comes from Dublin where he studied before working in Rome and, for the last twenty-three years, Bath. He works on aerodynamically generated noise, mainly from aircraft, but also in motorcycling, as part of a Leverhulme Trust funded study. Michael currently rides a VFR800Fi, and has toured in eleven European countries, in particular Italy, where he has covered the leg from waist to heel. Some day he will finish rebuilding his first bike, a 1977 CB550F.

A few years ago, Michael and his colleagues did research on noise in motorcycling, mostly related to noise caused by flow over helmets. They also looked at the affects of windscreens as they interact with the helmet and generate quite a bit of noise inside the helmet. From that, they looked at what the affect on hearing, damage, some temporary hearing loss and how it can affect your perception of hazards and concentration, especially for riding long distances.

The research was completed by Michael Carley, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath in England, Ian Walker, Professor of Psychology at Swansea University in South Wales, John Kennedy, Engineer at Trinity College in Dublin and Nigel Holt, Psychologist at Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Aeroacoustic sources of motorcycle helmet noise

Paul Jobin is the CEO and Founder of Snugs, makers of custom-fit earphone tips and plugs designed for a range of different uses including motorcycles.
Moto

“SnugsMoto are designed to be worn under a helmet making them ideal for skydiving, biking and other motorsports. Their flush profile is custom fitted to your ear, so they’re comfortable and stable, while ensuring you can still hear your surroundings or communicate through your in-helmet mic.” More at SnugsMoto.