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Thinking of lining the underside of gastank with whatever ? -material ,(not water absorbent) ,to help deaden valve-tick noise. A mini-mid-winter project.
Noise Suppression
- Thread starter Torontonian
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batrider
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The car builders do this all the time. The material is fairly expensive and I'm not sure what it is either. Maybe you can find a "fast and furious" kind of shop that would have some around to give you a small piece. Not sure how much deadening you'll get on the valve tick though...
Hard (well hardish) rubber between front fins to combat a bit of the 'ringing'. I tried this with lengths of plug lead but it did fall out eventually. From what I recall it did suppress the noise a little. Some Japanese aircooleds came with this feature, someone will know.
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Yep rather nicer lack of ringadinging with a wider IS tank fitted and even lest with a full tour fairing that hugs tank to block even more sound. Point being might get some softening by sound material but a lot will get past Roadster tank anyway. Another thing that pleased me noise wise was exhaust wrap which takes out the header ringing form exht. blasts so mainly hear the back of mufflers rather than head ringing form valve train.
But that is a normal sound and part of the mystique.
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Marc they are actually hollow exhaust bolts not nuts and the bronze or alloy versions tend to muffle the ringing clinking. Its nerve wracking to me to travel far from home with the sounds of two blacksmiths and helpers banging away so either go fast enough the wind covers sounds or relax in cruise putting out of mine when the banging will stop while still rolling. Combats with IS tanks are the quietest and quickest Cream of Commando Crop to me all day long.
You could just ride with ear plugs in.
But is sound proving the under side of tank going to be that effective ?? I would think most of the noise would pass around it an so it would not help as much as it does in a car where the engine is contained more by the vehicles bodywork .
You could sound prove the cylinder head but this would effect cooling an may also look ugly depending on how its done.
Would it not therefore be best to try and reduce the noise as much as possible from it source inside the engine.
But these are old designs an back in those days these noises where not seen as unusual or a great problem providing all was working as it should do.
But is sound proving the under side of tank going to be that effective ?? I would think most of the noise would pass around it an so it would not help as much as it does in a car where the engine is contained more by the vehicles bodywork .
You could sound prove the cylinder head but this would effect cooling an may also look ugly depending on how its done.
Would it not therefore be best to try and reduce the noise as much as possible from it source inside the engine.
But these are old designs an back in those days these noises where not seen as unusual or a great problem providing all was working as it should do.
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Toppy, that makes sense, and yes, I always ride about with foam earplugs scrunched -up and jammed into my ears before any outing. Has anyone tried newer noise cancelling technology earplugs where there is a micro-delay that picks up the offending noise , processes that ultra-fast, then delivers silence to brain ? Studying relationships of noise to stress levels too,seems those who deal with noise can arrive fresher than those who tough it out.
I to wear ear plugs when riding an all the time at work. Some are better at noise reduction than others an so you may find changing the type of ear plugs help. Maybe a different crash helmet may help I have a shoei neotec not cheap but quiet an comfortable all day.
Modern cars an motorcycles have to conform to noise regulations so there designs most take this into account. The last Commando saw the start of these changes with black cap silencers an plastic air box.
I used until a few months ago drive a 29 year old dies landrover that had nothing by way of sound reducing in it so I know how stressing an tiring noise can be.
Good luck with your search for piece an hope you will up date us on any solutions you come up with.
Modern cars an motorcycles have to conform to noise regulations so there designs most take this into account. The last Commando saw the start of these changes with black cap silencers an plastic air box.
I used until a few months ago drive a 29 year old dies landrover that had nothing by way of sound reducing in it so I know how stressing an tiring noise can be.
Good luck with your search for piece an hope you will up date us on any solutions you come up with.
Torontonian - I agree, noise is a problem, especially on long journeys. I keep meaning to get some custom moulded ear plugs at motorcycle shows. There are some firms on this side of the pond that make them. Here's one: http://www.ultimateear.com/motorcyclist.php I am sure you can get some in North America if you do a web search.
And the evidence: http://www.isvr.co.uk/at_work/m_cycle.htm
Apparently, noise damage to our ears is cumulative and foam doesn't really cut it. I only know one person that has the moulded ear plugs and he thinks they are worth the outlay. If our ears ring and our hearing is slightly muffled after a trip, and we repeat this regularly, we will likely suffer permanent hearing damage.
I used wax earplugs instead of the usual foam on my last long trip, and they worked very well, maybe too well. I would prefer custom ear plugs that one hopes would filter out the worst of the noise and allow the sounds we need to hear on the road come through.
Dave
And the evidence: http://www.isvr.co.uk/at_work/m_cycle.htm
Apparently, noise damage to our ears is cumulative and foam doesn't really cut it. I only know one person that has the moulded ear plugs and he thinks they are worth the outlay. If our ears ring and our hearing is slightly muffled after a trip, and we repeat this regularly, we will likely suffer permanent hearing damage.
I used wax earplugs instead of the usual foam on my last long trip, and they worked very well, maybe too well. I would prefer custom ear plugs that one hopes would filter out the worst of the noise and allow the sounds we need to hear on the road come through.
Dave
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I always protect my ears , ear protection cutting the lawn, weed whipper, chain saw, compressor or shop vac in the garage. Once its gone its gone...
I wear the foam plugs for distance but sometimes lazy for short jaunts around town. I checked out the custom fitted ear plugs at the recent Toronto Supershow, they run around $100. It also depends on which helmet I wear. The full face seems to pick up the engine sounds more than the 3/4. But noise volume is noise volume whether its the valve train or wind.
A friend's great uncle was a bush pilot out of Sioux Lookout from the late 20's to 1950 and he was close to deaf after years of radial engines. He warned me early on.
Protect your ears, the effects are cumulative.
I wear the foam plugs for distance but sometimes lazy for short jaunts around town. I checked out the custom fitted ear plugs at the recent Toronto Supershow, they run around $100. It also depends on which helmet I wear. The full face seems to pick up the engine sounds more than the 3/4. But noise volume is noise volume whether its the valve train or wind.
A friend's great uncle was a bush pilot out of Sioux Lookout from the late 20's to 1950 and he was close to deaf after years of radial engines. He warned me early on.
Protect your ears, the effects are cumulative.
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Saw these custom made earplugs fitted to the shape of your unique individual ears at the Motorcycle Supershow last wknd., here in Toronto. Interesting. Sometimes fit I-pod or similar into ears outside of city on scrambled playlist knowing it's illegal. ( not my playlist, ha, but eg. headout on the Highway etc., but the ear activatons to drown out noise ). Norton valve-ticks seem inherent ? Dad lost his upper hearing range from repairing shot-up radar tube arrays on Lancaster bombers in England WW2 on the tarmac with engines running to get in new crew, fuel and bombs etc., as time was essential to get airborne again but fast. Told me he opened the door and an arm fell out onto tarmac ,plane full of holes, refuel etc. ,then up again fast .
My grandfather was in the heavy artillery in WW2 an as you can imagine his hearing was badly damaged he once said they put bits of cloth in their ear but it did little to help. My father worked in steel rolling mill for many years so his hearing to has suffered . I have therefore always tried to protect mine and at work we have twice yearly medical checks including hearing test so while like many other things your hearing gets worst with age I know from these tests mine is as good as it should be. Like you say once its gone its gone I know of many people with hearing problems an they all regret it an would rather have normal hearing so why not spend the money to protect yours. After all once you have your custom fit ones you won't need to buy the disposable type and how much money do you spend to protect the rest of your body from injury. You may (hope you don't of course ) fall an may get hurt but it seems you defiantly will damage your hearing riding at even legal speeds over a period of time.
Interesting that we have learnt from our dads about hearing damage. My dad was in the infantry in WW2 and he was the same. I guess age is a factor as well because I knew quite a few people who never heard the door bang who were hard of hearing when they were getting on in years!
Toppy is right about different helmets - Arais are known to be noisy while Schuberths are quieter. Unfaired classics can be a lot quieter than some modern bikes with low screens. I have a VFR runabout that is the worst I have known for wind noise.
Toppy is right about different helmets - Arais are known to be noisy while Schuberths are quieter. Unfaired classics can be a lot quieter than some modern bikes with low screens. I have a VFR runabout that is the worst I have known for wind noise.
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I've been going through helmets about every 3 yrs/3-4 hard crashes on to note the 70's/80's helmets transmitted lots of noise while the 90's a bit thicker construction and flip up shield were quieter yet the mid 2000's Bell Revolver is huge compared but roars most of all. Battle of the bands with whole wall of speaker/amps and explosions at arm length or closer give me an excuse to too often have to ask wife, HUH What? and not need annoying ear plugs. I much prefer the IS tank covering the racket and better knee grip for me and good cargo platform when I lived on a Combat instead of just recreational risking. Ms Peel definitely gets header wrap again mainly for noise and less burn risk checking and wiping off. i plan to put speaker in helmet for music and maybe stereo in the fairing too.
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Don't try and drown out noise with an IPod or anything else with earbuds/earphones. My riding bud, works at the Brewers Retail, worked in sorting bottles for awhile, wore a Walkman up loud to drown out the bottle noise. Now his ears ring all the time. And he didn't do that for very long.
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And who doesn' t say Huh what? to the wife at times no matter how good the hearing...
Was it Madass that made a cam follower to pushrod spring dampner that quietened some of that noise!?
Also Blue Tac makes not bad ear plugs, cheap and molds to ear hole and comfortable to use I've found!
http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2013 ... ear-plugs/
Also Blue Tac makes not bad ear plugs, cheap and molds to ear hole and comfortable to use I've found!
http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2013 ... ear-plugs/
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