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Well, my choice of leaving my iPhone in the tail bag is based on Apple's decision to leave the display on, if you use step by step itinerary guidance. How arrogant of them to always second guess that everyone wants to look at a screen rather than on the road. Even if I turn the display off, it will automatically turn on, and stay on at the next step. There is no option to keep the display off, and to only follow spoken directions. That explains why I need to keep my phone in my tail bag, connected to a battery else, it would drain battery in four hours. Recently, I rented a car with a HUD, and directions superimposed in front of my eyes. This is safer but listening to spoken indications is perfect for me. When I grew up, and got my first car, an Innocenti Cooper 1300, my first investment was to install an after market cassette player, amplifier and additional speakers. Today, I no longer listen to music in my 911. Even if I got a good audio system. I feel that I enjoy the driving better by simply being only focused on it and the cars surrounding me. I make a mental note of looking for mistakes or potential threats. I know, it is kind of excessive. To my defense, I can say that I drove vehicles in places where a simple accident can result in being lynched on the spot. If I was completely true to myself, I would do what I used to, when going to rallies in the 60's and 70's. Study the map and memorize the itinerary. That's no longer an option though, because getting traffic in real time is something a map cannot control. In the autumnal part of my life, I am trying to go back to the simple and uncomplicated pleasures that we remember from before. Yeah.... back to earplugs! I like the Slimbuds excepted for the necessity to have additional controls. I removed the microphone arm from my "Shark Tooth", and the only controls I use is the On/Off button. The exhaustion part of riding without noise attenuation is just so incredible. When I rode to South Padre Island and back, I was completely knackered, but could not sleep because of the continuous whoosh in my ears. This is when I started my quest for alleviating the problem to the best I could. Yesterday we had these incredible torrential rains in my part of the city. I took the V11 out and enjoyed riding around the neighborhood. People in their cars were looking at me, probably with empathy. If they could have seen my face, they would have witnessed a grin. I came back soaked, but happy to have verified the Front Michelin Road 5 could take it. Also, the V11 got liquid cooled, and I could tell she liked it.....

I love music, but abandoned riding with a music feed (outside of my head!) finding it too distracting at inopportune times. I saw the same happen to others. The last molded earplugs I had made in "vibrant colors" . . . right and left (standard maritime/aviation designations). Much easier to find when dropped onto the tarmac at a fuel stop than the standard, neutral color of silicone. How people ride without ear protection just stuns me. Might as well ride in shorts and a tank top with your cap on backward, as well.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-moto-guzzi-v11-sport-naked-2/

Doc has excellent advice. My two cents; Installing a free flowing exhaust is generally not going to fix any fueling related issues. If anything it will probably make them worse. If you have fueling related running issues I would either fix that or install the free flowing exhaust you want and then fix it, as installing a free flowing exhaust will typically require additional fueling corrections. No point adjusting things twice, if you want a better sounding exhaust run one and fix the fueling as required. GuzziDiag can allow you to make the required fueling corrections, after you have set all the basics as mentioned by doc in the "Decent Tune-up" comment. A better sounding exhaust isn't going to make your bike noticeably faster or more powerful. It can sound and feel faster and more powerful, though. And in the end, isn't that what matters?

As I recall we all pulled over to watch as someone had to re-attach their muffler with safety wire on their BMW. That was quite a ride, everything from sunshine to fog so thick you couldn't see ten feet in front of you.

Seems to me that in light of the subject here(hear), you should be mostly happy to hear...

Just thinkin What if that phone under the seat had a stereo mike turned on, and transmitting to wireless buds? Would this replace a $1000 set of pipes while keeping out wind noise?

Ha ha...Maybe I could pull the wool over my ears....? I do realise that if you bought decent ones they'd fit better and perform better but just not my cup o Darjeeling I'm afraid. Ole mate Dave won't ride without them either and shakes his head at me too! Each to our own I guess eh. Cheers

Truth be known, with fourteen of us in the queue (never again!), I knew there were several unprepared to roll into that 55ºF/13ºC cloud ceiling from the 90ºF basin we rode up from, and pulled us off to regroup and "suit-up". The hapless fellow's dangerous exhaust falling off was spotted by one of our sharp-eyed SpineRaiders . . .

I think my comment about riding in shorts was rather wooly, itself. FWIW, the tube, or channel, built into quality earplugs and hearing aids has everything to do with providing equalized pressure across the eardrum lest balance, equilibrium, or disorientation issues arise . . .

I can't stand wearing ear plugs.... They just aren't comfortable for me and bugger up my balance.Maybe I'd get used to it but not willing to persist with them. I too love the sounds of the bike and the road undiluted by either earplugs or music! Been riding since I was 17 and I've done some big rides in my time and thankfully I still have my hearing and no tinnitus touch wood. Don't know what's going with me but I'll carry on as I've been doing so far.... Cheers Ps It's 8 degrees here so I won't be going out in a tee shirt and shorts.. but maybe I'll wear my Bavarian wooly alpine hat backwards when we go shopping....? Ha ha bound to wind the wife up.

Encyclopedia of Compatible Parts, page four

Don't grab at straws , do methodical evaluations and testing.

@PJPR01 It seems the Slimbuds are no longer commercialized. I can't find them anywhere.

Don't laugh, but we have lots of this here in H'town!!! Apparently, the world's future temperature prediction will make it only harder for motorcyclists to wear safety gear. I seem to be immune to heat exhaustion, so far... I cross my fingers that it will stay this way.

P6x…I found that leaving the IPhone in my jacket pocket I could easily control the the volume if needed…I keep The music low enough just to have some company. At one point long ago I did have a remote Bluetooth device within easy reach wrapped around a mirror stem, but decided against that even though I would really only use it at a stop and not while riding. The Slimbuds are so comfortable that even without music they are excellent wind protection. When I get tired of music I swap them out for the Decibullz…which also have multiple Ear foam sizes for a perfect fit and the tube that goes thru them solves the issue you raise. plus they also come in many vibrant colors so they are easy to see in case you also have vision issues!! i couldn’t ride without ear protection, it’s physically exhausting after a short period of time and too painful. With great ear protection all day riding is a pleasure…not a chore.

I'd be inclined to take the starter apart an have a look inside. I did that with mine recently, and established that it is not that hard. Marty NZ was kind enough to provide links to instructions. There were early on Valeo Starter Motors in which the magnets came loose and caused the starter motor to jam. Maybe the one that is in yours is one of those.

Not so much hearing loss which is inevitable as we progress in our lives, but rather fatigue and tinnitus after a long ride at speed on the highway. Wearing earplugs makes a noticeable difference.

It occurs to me to have some fun approaching this in steps: 1) Decent Tune-up / Ride for a time. 2) Slip on the canisters of your choice / Ride for a time. 3) Decide whether to change anything / (like add a crossover) / Ride for a time 4) Meinolf your map / Ride for a time. 5) Ponder the outcomes / Post what you find / Ride for a time . . . FWIW, I wouldn't expect any significant and measurable "Horsepower and Torque" gains, but would shoot for ride-ability and (how shall we say?): BRIO !

Sorry to hear about such widespread hearing loss. Good news is it's fixable. If this is leading to a wider topic on old rider health issues, I've got lots to say on memory loss. If I can remember.

Heh, well, yeah ! I realize not everyone has special attachments to things like the underside of their exhaust . . . [edit: a topic for another thread . . . ]

@JRD is a bona fide South'n SpineRaider from Eleventh SSR, 2015: Two months to SSR IX, y'all . . . (I'd rather we sort JRD's LeMans from here than from one of those Cherohala overlooks above the cloud ceiling.)

Thanks for providing these solutions. I would rule out the Slimbuds since I do want any microphone nor controls on my bars. What I like of my Shark, is they designed their own Bluetooth communication system that perfectly integrates with their helmet. Unfortunately, the "Shark tooth" is not as good as others in terms of performance. Decibuilz seems to be a possible solution, however the sound attenuation needs to be verified, cut off wind noise but let through other necessary sounds.

Nice to know about Decibulz . I have long used custom molded earplugs made by my audiologist, but they don't fit flush. And they're definitely not $25! Add about a hundred bucks . . .

I did! Clutchless shifting the last five miles. And I suppose I did run that one stop sign, technically. Just test rode the rebuilt clutch master cylinder.