Quiet Helmet?

[Don Tuite]

Has anyone who's owned many different helmets found one type that's particularly good in terms of suppressing wind noise -- the low frequency stuff that comes from around the neck hole?

Alternatively, is there one type that really sucks?

I'm just interested in helmets. I wear earplugs, I have one of those elastic neck rings (Don't bother with 'em.), and I don't use anything that requires earphone(s).

I'm expecting that the consensus will be that, in terms of noise, no helmet is sufficiently different from other helmets to influence a buying decision. But I'd be happy to find out I'm wrong.

Don

[Twisted]

Actually I have noticed a significant difference between my Shoei and my buddies HJC. I think it all comes down to design. Shoei covers a lot more of my neck/chin than the HJC. I rode with the HJC for about 15 minutes and hated the amount of noise and wind coming up under the chin.

[xgambit]

try one of these on your helmet

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=1&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=MRX_MSW3&tier2=14

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/chessm/stopwind20picture_310x307.jpg

i dont know why the pic isnt working but just click on one of the links

[serazin]

It really has a lot to do with where you position your head in the airstream.

I was using a HJC clsp and when I went to a carbon I wondered where all the noise was coming from. What I forgot was that I had adjusted the position of the handlebars too, which made me hold my head a an ever so slightly different angle of attack and bingo, I had a bunch of noise.

I put the bars back to where they were and the noise went away.

I have since changed windscreens and things have gotten even better. ( Moved the airstream from the chin to face shield.)

You may also find that what one rider finds to be a quiet helmet may be one noise makin' mutha for you.

I always try to wear earplugs and I have one of those stretchy bottom seals like in the post above.

[Don Tuite]

Analyzing the situation:

I have the Aeroflow touring windshield on the K75s, but in terms of wind noise, that ceases to be effective above about 60 mph. (And I'm only 6'1".) In fact, the Aeroflow isn't markedly better than the stock windshield.

My helmet is a Shoei, which has those channels in the padding that go from the neck opening to your ears. That's why I thought I'd try the neck-gasket thingy y'all are talking about, but I can't detect any effect from that beyond a slight tendency to pull my ears off. (I take a 17" shirt collar, so the thing seals tightly.)

I have an assortment of earplugs. The most effective (and cheapest) so far come from that Japanese dollar store in downtown San Mateo. I think I'm going to stop at a gun shop today, though, and see what they have.

I sure miss the Vetter that I had on my old R60 back in 1980.

Don

[jake28]

Shoei helmets happen to be the quietest helmets in the market today. Shoei is the only helmet company in the world that uses a windtunnel in the development of their helmets. If you happen to have "a Shoei head," give the RF1000 a try. It is not as vented as the X-11 but the lack of vents, and thus protrusions from the helmet shell, are what keeps the lid from whisteling and howling at speed.

[xgambit]

Originally posted by jake28
Shoei is the only helmet company in the world that uses a windtunnel in the development of their helmets.

:wow schuberth lied to me!!! :cry

[Sidewalk]

So far, I haven't been able to tell a difference in any of my helmets. So it isn't a consideration for me.

I just wear the ear plugs and not worry about it.

[Aluisious]

I wear an HJC CL-SP that works pretty well. I wear earplugs too, of course, but my helmet doesn't howl or scream like some apparently do.

[zeefrenchspy]

I concur, my HJC is a pretty loud helmet. If I'm riding on the freeway or the track, I need to wear plugs. But as others have noted, in the winter when I wear a neck wrap (which does effectively the same thing as the ring shown above), the noise level goes down significantly.

[serazin]

Lots of noise info here. (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/helmet-noise.htm)

[Don Tuite]

Thanks. I started with that BikeWorld Web site, which is what led me to try the neck gasket.

And I did go to a gun store Friday to see what they had in the way of earplugs. The spendy ones were the kind that block sudden big bangs but allow most normal ambient noise to pass, so that didn't seem to be a good choice. I did buy a package of foam plugs rated for 29 dB and tried a pair on my ride home. My impression is that they're as useful as the ones from the Japanese five and ten in San Mateo, but softer, so they'd probably be less annoying on a long ride.

I started this thread because I'm sorta looking for a new lid, if I can find one that doesn't look like it was painted by a Maori tattoo artist (Peace, I'm just an old paheka.), and I thought it'd be nice to find a quiet one. But it looks like too much depends on other factors than the helmet.

Don

[serazin]

if I can find one that doesn't look like it was painted by a Maori tattoo artist

:laughing

I know what you mean..

[Don Tuite]

So how's the buffeting on your Beemer, Berry? Have you encountered anything that's significantly better than the stock fairing/windshield?

Don

[Aluisious]

Originally posted by Don Tuite
Thanks. I started with that BikeWorld Web site, which is what led me to try the neck gasket.

And I did go to a gun store Friday to see what they had in the way of earplugs. The spendy ones were the kind that block sudden big bangs but allow most normal ambient noise to pass, so that didn't seem to be a good choice. I did buy a package of foam plugs rated for 29 dB and tried a pair on my ride home. My impression is that they're as useful as the ones from the Japanese five and ten in San Mateo, but softer, so they'd probably be less annoying on a long ride.

I started this thread because I'm sorta looking for a new lid, if I can find one that doesn't look like it was painted by a Maori tattoo artist (Peace, I'm just an old paheka.), and I thought it'd be nice to find a quiet one. But it looks like too much depends on other factors than the helmet.

Don The CL-SP I have is solid yellow. More visible and costs less than funky patterns.

[B-mtrd]

go with the one that fits the best and put some ear plugs.

[JCleary]

Originally posted by jake28
Shoei helmets happen to be the quietest helmets in the market today. Shoei is the only helmet company in the world that uses a windtunnel in the development of their helmets. If you happen to have "a Shoei head," give the RF1000 a try. It is not as vented as the X-11 but the lack of vents, and thus protrusions from the helmet shell, are what keeps the lid from whisteling and howling at speed.

My RF1000 is super loud when I'm riding my K1200GT. It was even worse with my K1200RS.

It loses 1/2 the noise when on my SM. I believe buffeting from the windshield has a lot to do with it. Even if I stand up on my GT the helmet quiets down. Not enough to go w/o ear plugs, though.

I would really like to find a helmet that doesn't force me to wear ear plugs.

That said, I have no idea how anyone can ride without plugs. I think Helmet City is my best bet for the next helmet. You can send them back if they don't work out for you.

[JCleary]

Originally posted by Don Tuite
Thanks. I started with that BikeWorld Web site, which is what led me to try the neck gasket.

And I did go to a gun store Friday to see what they had in the way of earplugs. The spendy ones were the kind that block sudden big bangs but allow most normal ambient noise to pass, so that didn't seem to be a good choice. I did buy a package of foam plugs rated for 29 dB and tried a pair on my ride home. My impression is that they're as useful as the ones from the Japanese five and ten in San Mateo, but softer, so they'd probably be less annoying on a long ride.

I started this thread because I'm sorta looking for a new lid, if I can find one that doesn't look like it was painted by a Maori tattoo artist (Peace, I'm just an old paheka.), and I thought it'd be nice to find a quiet one. But it looks like too much depends on other factors than the helmet.

Don

The plugs I use come from Cintas. They're rated at about 32 or 35 db reduction. They're not too expensive, I think around $16 for 100 or 200 pair. They're bagged in pairs, and I always keep a handful in my tank bag. I've been commuting with the same pair for a week now. As long as you keep your ears clean, they last a long time w/o getting nasty.

The brand is "The Safety Director" fyi

[serazin]

Originally posted by Don Tuite
So how's the buffeting on your Beemer, Berry? Have you encountered anything that's significantly better than the stock fairing/windshield?

Don

Geeeze...

Sorry about the long time to reply but I forgot about this thread.

I have a first gen k1200rs and I use an aeroflow wind screen.
I'm fairly tall so the stock screen does nothing in the way of protection.

With the aeroflow and the matching aerogards I "almost" have that elusive pocket of quiet air. If I dip my head 1 inch or so it is very quiet. Of course it's also hot there too when the temps are over 100 but then I put the shield down and put up with the noise.

The wife won't ride on back with the stock screen installed. The buffeting knocks her around too much. When I added the aerogards ( and the daylong seat ) she became much happier and is willing to do those 600 mile days .... sometimes..:laughing

For earplugs I am really fond of the Moldex Pura-fit 6800. Soft and pretty quiet. Cheap too.