Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-crg!styx!ames!oliveb!tymix!sbaldwin
From: sbaldwin@tymix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: New Bell Helmet
Message-ID: <904@tymix.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Nov-86 16:16:38 EST
Article-I.D.: tymix.904
Posted: Thu Nov 20 16:16:38 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Nov-86 06:53:39 EST
References: <932@cuuxb.UUCP> <4597@reed.UUCP> <154MJWCU@CUNYVM> <1414@utastro.UUCP>
Reply-To: sbaldwin@tymix.UUCP (Scott Baldwin)
Organization: Tymnet NTD, Cupertino CA
Lines: 39

>>     All this talk of quite helmets has me wondering.  Am I the only
>> person that likes to listen to my bike when I'm riding?  (Granted, I
>> ride a Harley that sounds better than the typical 'japper', but that's
>> another argument altogether.)  I really question people that want to
>> block out the bikes noise, (and 'foam-rubber ear plugs? Jeeez!).  If
>> I were unable to hear the bike...

I think the reason Harley riders need to ask about whether ear plugs are
for blocking out wind noise or machine noise is because Harleys never
go fast or far enough for ear fatigue to occur.  I have talked to several
people over the years who have claimed prodigeous riding feats on their
Harleys, but these are just religeous fanatics, like Brit-bikers.
It just seems that whenever I see a Harley off city streets it is close
to a city, in the right lane, getting passed by the majority of vehicles on the road.  Wind noise is not a problem when one only travels short distances at low speeds. 

The only thing worth getting religeous about with bikes is the way they make
you feel.  Excess fatigue and permanent physical damage definitely do not feel 
good to the vast majority of riders.  Getting shaken up on a noisy machine
is fun for only a short while.  That is why most bikes nowadays have 
mufflers and low vibration levels.  I currently own bikes with one, two, and
four cylinders.  The shakers are fun, but don't get nearly as many miles racked up.

Here is a simple way to tell if ear plugs would be of benefit to you, or not.
Do your ears ring after a ride?  If the answer is Yes, plugs will help 
preserve your hearing.  It is a well documented fact that every time the ringing in your ears goes away, some of your hearing ability goes with it.

I own a new Bell GT-2 helmet.  It is the quietest helmet I have owned yet.
I have been through more than a dozen helmets in the last 16 years.
The GT-2 has a large face opening which makes it possible to look at the
instruments without having to tilt your head down to see past the chin bar.
It also is cut lower on the forehead than my previous helmets.  This lower
forehead is better on the street, but not as good when I am road racing.
For the street it is better because I can more easily block out glare from 
overhead light sources (sun, parking lot lights).  It is not so good for
road racing because The same low cut obstructs the view ahead when in full
racing tuck (head down on the tank).
-- 
	Rose Runner
	!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!sbaldwin