K75S Wind Noise

[98lee]

Are there any of you K75S owners out there with the stock "Wind Noise Generator" (also laughingly referred to by BMW as a windscreen or windshield) that still do not use earplugs?

I had always been of the thinking that "I want to hear everything", until last year. But I used to get so tired because of the constant wind noise in my helmet. Finally, my wife and I decided to try the cheap ($2 for 5 pair) yellow roll up foam plugs that you can get at any hardware store. OH MY GOD! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!

You can still hear sirens and horns. We can still hear each other on the in-helmet speakers for bike to bike communication. You can still hear other riders speech at stop signs.

What you don't hear is the oppressive wind noise that the S windscreen generates. And it is definitely noise generated by the way the air is directed off the screen. (Try standing up at any speed and the noise gets MUCH QUIETER).

The down side to using the earplugs is there is a very nice sweet spot at around 100mph on the freeway that creeps up WAY too easily if you aren't paying attention!
Before, the wind noise would hammer you so much with increasing volume that it was easy to stay at 80. Not any more!

The plugs really let you appreciate the smoothness of the engine and encourages you to use the higher RPMs more because you can actually hear the engine instead of the roar of the wind. It is actually more relaxing a 100 with the plugs in than at 50 without.

Try it. It'll only cost you $2 (for the first 5 sets). Make sure you use them properly so they seal well (roll them up real tight, push them in as far as you can, hold them in place until they fully expand and seal [20-30 sec.]).

I believe it will make riding your K75S MUCH more enjoyable.

Feedback??


:dance :dance :dance

[Burnszilla]

I even sleep with them on..
I find the yellow cylinders a little rough.. I prefer Max Lites. I order them by the box online. I rarely wear them when riding now because I listen through my ER6i's.
http://www.google.com/products?q=max+lite+ear&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1

[SheRidesABeemer]

It's not just the K75...earplugs are a good idea for any ride.

I prefer the cheep ones myself, this lot will last me a season.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/srab/2362698678/" title="Gotta Have Ear Plugs by sheridesabeemer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2362698678_104ac439be.jpg" width="500" height="440" alt="Gotta Have Ear Plugs" /></a>

[k75s]

Over the last 10 years I have used just about every kind of ear plug for noise reduction. There were two different kinds that became my favorite, but they each still had their own issues, usually comfort after wearing for extended periods of time.

Then at last years BMW International Rally at West Bend, Wi., I decided to try custom fitted ear plugs. This is really a good, but somewhat more expensive solution. They are much more comfortable for a longer period of time, and reduce a few more decibels.

Check out http://www.earinc.com

You want the "Insta-Mold" type.

[GregFeeler]

A) I don't think my K75S windshield makes any more noise than the ones the K1200RS or the K1. :thumb
B) Have used earplugs for many years - I kind of like that feeling of sneaking up on the ton. :evil

[hsprague]

I have the same bike and use the stock screen only in hot weather, when you really need the extra air flow. My other setup is an Aeroflow with a Laminar Lip. The latter is nice and fairly quiet, but still I wouldn't want to ride without hearing protection.

I'm thinking about adding the Laminar Lip to the stock screen as well since, after jumping the gun a bit and putting the stock screen back on over the weekend, I felt quite beaten up from my ride to work. I've heard good reports from those who have used the lip with the stock screen and it did do wonders for the Aeroflow.

[rlswim]

I have the same bike and use the stock screen only in hot weather, when you really need the extra air flow. My other setup is an Aeroflow with a Laminar Lip.

I have both the stock screen and an Aeroflow which I use for long trips. I could still use a bit more protection for those long hauls with the Aeroflow. What laminar lip are you using and where might one find one?

Thanks - Richard

[BeemerMike]

I had always been of the thinking that "I want to hear everything", until last year. But I used to get so tired because of the constant wind noise in my helmet. Finally, my wife and I decided to try the cheap ($2 for 5 pair) yellow roll up foam plugs that you can get at any hardware store. OH MY GOD! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!

Congratulations on discovering using ear plugs for hearing protection when riding a motorcyle! :thumb

I haven't noticed my K75S being particularly noisy over the past 20 years. I'm 5'-10", and it seems the stock windscreen (tinted) sends the air up just grazing the top of my helmet.

[knary]

I even sleep with them on..
I find the yellow cylinders a little rough.. I prefer Max Lites. I order them by the box online. I rarely wear them when riding now because I listen through my ER6i's.
http://www.google.com/products?q=max+lite+ear&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1


:nod

[OfficerImpersonator]

The helmet makes a huge difference in wind noise. I had a 10 year old Shoei TZ-1 which was very loud on the K75S. I got a new Multitech just before trading in the K75S on the RT-P and I was able to forgo the earplugs with the new lid as it is MUCH quieter.

The RT-P is a much quieter bike than the K75S, so the only earplugs I'll wear now are my Shure iPod earphones for long rides. The combination of the quiet helmet and a quiet bike with a huge fairing makes it as quiet on the RT-P as it is in a car.

[soccerchainsaw]

On long trips my ears ring even after using ear plugs. I'm sure I'd be completely deaf without them. I'm looking into getting a taller windshield, when I ducked down behind what I have now the roar went away and only the engine noise remained. I just couldn't maintain that posture for very long. Every helmet I've had roared at me, my sportier riding days are long behind me.:violin

[knary]

On long trips my ears ring even after using ear plugs. I'm sure I'd be completely deaf without them. I'm looking into getting a taller windshield, when I ducked down behind what I have now the roar went away and only the engine noise remained. I just couldn't maintain that posture for very long. Every helmet I've had roared at me, my sportier riding days are long behind me.:violin

If you're not short, consider cutting the shield down. The noise isn't from air flow so much as the kind of air flow.

[98lee]

The noise isn't from air flow so much as the kind of air flow.

Absolutely! The turbulent air, generated by the particular shape of the S windscreen, is worse than no windscreen at all. That's why, when you stand up, it's quieter.

There is no buffeting, but the noise is significantly louder than on a full faired large windscreen bike like a R1xxxRT. There is no dead spot behind an S windscreen unless your helmet is on the tank and I haven't been that flexible for years.

I like the looks of the factory smoked screen. Plus the larger aftermarket screens put a much larger load on the mounting points at high speed. BMW rates the stock screen for below 90 mph only, which I regularly exceed. New windscreens start showing stress cracks within a year or two.

But again, the original purpose of this thread was to alert those that don't already use earplugs that there is an enjoyment benefit to using earplugs in addition to the safety benefit. Safety benefits are not always high on some rider's priorities (look at all the non-ATGATT riders, or worse yet the helmet less or beanie wearing riders.)

Thanks to all who have suggested more comfortable and efficient plugs.:thumb
:dance :dance :dance

[knary]

Absolutely! The turbulent air, generated by the particular shape of the S windscreen, is worse than no windscreen at all. That's why, when you stand up, it's quieter.

There is no buffeting, but the noise is significantly louder than on a full faired large windscreen bike like a R1xxxRT. There is no dead spot behind an S windscreen unless your helmet is on the tank and I haven't been that flexible for years.

I like the looks of the factory smoked screen. Plus the larger aftermarket screens put a much larger load on the mounting points at high speed. BMW rates the stock screen for below 90 mph only, which I regularly exceed. New windscreens start showing stress cracks within a year or two.

But again, the original purpose of this thread was to alert those that don't already use earplugs that there is an enjoyment benefit to using earplugs in addition to the safety benefit. Safety benefits are not always high on some rider's priorities (look at all the non-ATGATT riders, or worse yet the helmet less or beanie wearing riders.)

Thanks to all who have suggested more comfortable and efficient plugs.:thumb
:dance :dance :dance

:thumb
I destroyed two aeroflow screens in the high speed riding of Nevada before going back to the stock screen.

[soccerchainsaw]

If you're not short, consider cutting the shield down. The noise isn't from air flow so much as the kind of air flow.

Maybe my ears are more sensitive than most but I've had this noise issue with:

My first bike was an '82 R65LS - original nose cone
Same bike - with Pickler fairing (still fairly low windshield)
Current bike, an '85 K100RT - non-stock windshield (probably lower than original)

I am sorta tall, but the real issue seems to be the wind rushing past the helmet. I've always used full-faced helmets. They all had noise issues. Once, in a moment of (hopefully) fleeting stupidity, I rode without a helmet. The wind rushing past my ears created a roar.

The noise pretty much goes away when the flow of air is about at my forehead or higher. Anyway, that's been my experience so I'll be looking for a taller windshield.

Happy riding all!