A new reason for hearing loss: Motorcycle Helmets

While we won't advocate not wearing your motorcycle helmet because of this, recent studies have found that they may be contributing to hearing loss.

While the roar of a motorcycle engine is loud, after scientists mapped the airflow over the riders' helmets, it was found that the biggest source of noise for motorcyclists is actually generated by AIR!  That air whooshing over the riders' heads can exceed safe levels even at legal speeds.

Now, scientists have identified a key source of the rushing din. Researchers from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University placed motorcycle helmets atop mannequin heads, mounted them in a wind tunnel and turned on the fans. By placing microphones at different locations aruond the helmet and at the mannequins' ear, the researchers found that an area underneath the helmet and near the chin bar is a significant sourse of noise that reaches the rider's sensitive eardrums. 

The team also investigated how helmet angle and wind speech affected the ludness. Future tests will move beyond the wind tunnel to real-life riders on the open road...findings may one day be used to design quieter helmets, saving riders' ears for the enjoyment of hard biker rock.  :)

So, while Kenwood is in the business of ears and hearing, we find it important to share this information with you - however we still choose protecting the brain with that helmet for now!

Source: The American Institute of Physics