Motorcycle & Moped Noise: How It Can Affect Your Hearing
Hearing very loud Harley-Davidsons or other loud engines can damage hearing, especially if someone is near them often.
Motorcycles like Harley-Davidsons can reach 95 to 110 decibels, and anything above 85 decibels can start to hurt the tiny hearing cells in the inner ear if you’re exposed for long periods. That’s about as loud as a rock concert or a leaf blower!
So if someone stands near them a lot—or rides one often without ear protection—their hearing might slowly weaken over time. Stepping back a few feet from the noise also makes a big difference. Keeping away from long or repeated loud sounds helps ears stay strong.
Here’s a quick guide:
🛵 Motorcycles (like Harleys): 95–110 decibels — loud enough to damage hearing if someone rides or stands near them for long periods.
🛵 Mopeds or scooters: usually 70–85 decibels — still risky if someone listens close up for hours or rides daily.
Even the wind noise when riding fast can reach damaging levels, so many riders wear foam earplugs or special motorcycle earplugs that lower noise but still let them hear traffic safely.
Bottom line: Motorcycles can harm hearing over time.