Recommendations for a quiet helmet please.

[FastBikeGear]

Time to replace my 1997 Shoei X-Ceed.

Although it's had very little use - only previously used for car racing it's driving me bloody mad with the high pitched wind noise now I am riding a bike - no combination of air vent positions quietens it. (I had ringing in my ears and a headache after a two hour ride in the weekend)

Other than the noise it's a lovely light helmet and perfect fit for me.

Here's my wish list.


White for higher visibility and so I get mistaken by cagers for a cop with my fluro jacket. (Maybe then I 'll get some more road room - although I might get some of them slamming on their brakes in front of me to slow down to the speed limit?)

Quiet. I suspect I can't test ride them on the motorway before handing over my dosh. I think my current noisey helmet is dangerous because I can't hear what the bike is doing or what's going on around me over the wind screech.

Flip face would be nice but might be more noisey?

Light weight

ECE 22-05 or five star sharp rated. ( I suspect a better guide to safety than price or what it's made of). I am not a fan of Snell ratings.

Easy to undo with gloves on.


Many thanks in advance I really appreciate your suggestions.

[slimjim]

buy a whisper kit , slips around lower edge of hat, tucks into neckcoller ,
and as for a fliptop hummm even more noiser ...
and even with earplugs you should be able to feel rather than hear your bike ...... unless its a big air cool bike , then it won't matter what you have on your mullet you'll hear it .... :msn-wink: yea...

[FastBikeGear]

buy a whisper kit , slips around lower edge of hat, tucks into neckcoller ,
and as for a fliptop hummm even more noiser ...
and even with earplugs you should be able to feel rather than hear your bike ...... unless its a big air cool bike , then it won't matter what you have on your mullet you'll hear it .... :msn-wink: yea...

Should I be wearing ear plugs? won't this stop me hearing screeching brakes heading towards me and bits falling off my bike, etc?

[CookMySock]

Should I be wearing earplugs? won't this stop me hearing screeching brakes heading towards me and bits falling off my bike, etc?Fuck yeah. It's completely impossible for me to ride more than ten minutes, or at speeds over 80k without earplugs - helmet noise is like a 130dB subwoofer. There won't BE anyone coming towards you coz you are faster than anyone. If you bike is still going forward after something fell off then you didn't need that bit. If the bike stopa, go back and get the bit and stick it back on.

Get some roll up earplugs and try them. There are good ones and suck ones, so try a couple of different brands. After you roll them down, get your bf to lick them so they slide in your ears easily, or lick them yourself. Nice.

Or else soften some blutack and mold that in your outer ear. Don't put it too far in or you will need your bf again to get it out.

HTH
Steve

[slimjim]

Fuck You's Hear That nose Fuck won't matter what ya's wearing its gona Hurt ..... :innocent:

air pressure levels are high .. so some different brands of helmets are quieter ... however they are only helmets ....... not earmuffs ... sorry ... bits falling off ya's "BIKE" shit then i'll spend a few dollars and buy a ringspanner set and check and tighten before riding Fuck Ya's not want your brake cali's falling off :msn-wink:

[Winston001]

Some people don't use earplugs but I have for 20 years and always do if I'm going on the open road. Never found it a problem to hear whats going on but really, the eyes are the dominant sense, followed by your hands and feet.

There are some quiet helmets and others will post advice. Nevertheless try earplugs anyway.

[yod]

yep

earplugs FTW

i don't leave home without 'em unless im just pootling around town, i feel naked without them when im touring

[slofox]

Earbuddies will attenuate loud wind noise but you can still hear reasonably well..

[Pussy]

Don't buy a Shoei X-Spirit if you want a quiet helmet... I've got one, and it's fairly noisy. The quietest Shoei I've had was the XR800. I've since had an XR900, Z-Two and the present one, none of which were as quiet as the 800

[glice]

yup just get a helmet that fits and go get yourself some ear plugs. youl still hear those tires screching.

[FastBikeGear]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It Seems like the consensus is wear ear plugs. I also like the sound of slimjims suggestion of a whisper kit.

I did some experimenting today while riding and putting my hands up to my neck to deflect air and stop it whistling between the bottom of my helmet and the top of my shoulders seems to stop about 70% of the noise. However riding like this makes the Waitakere scenic road more challenging - so need a solution where I can get through the corners easier.

[Sparky Bills]

Shoei Multitech Flip front.

$699 and comes with clear visor, light smoke visor, whisper kit.
Very good value for money.

Worth a look.

[banditrider]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It Seems like the consensus is wear ear plugs. I also like the sound of slimjims suggestion of a whisper kit.

Yep, ear plugs are the go. I've also got a Shoei XR1000 with the Shoei whisper kit - it helps but you still need the plugs. There are aftermarket whisper kits that'll fit a range of helmets too.

[Winston001]

Shoei Multitech Flip front.

$699 and comes with clear visor, light smoke visor, whisper kit.
Very good value for money.

Worth a look.

Yikes. :gob: Is it made of gold or something?? I got a spare FFM flip-front a few weeks ago, admittedly old stock, for $100. Should have ordered 2. :blink:

[Grub]

I did some experimenting today while riding and putting my hands up to my neck to deflect air and stop it whistling between the bottom of my helmet and the top of my shoulders seems to stop about 70% of the noise. .

Good man! The day i did that i realised too where all the noise was coming from and so immediately started wearing my self-designed "Whisper Kit". Most people think that noise comes from the shape of the helmet when in fact it comes from that vortex right under your ear.

Buy a long acrylic scarf from Farmers, mine goes to my knees when draped around my neck. Put the helmet on, then wrap each side of the scarf around your neck gap twice and tuck it into itself. It completely fills the gap between helmet and shoulders and cuts out ALL the wind noise.

THEN (as well) I wear Plugz for Lugz which are rated at 45dB (most of the others are 25dB). I still hear the bike, I still hear traffic, I hear cars too close but I don't get wind and other extraneous damaging noise - while I talk on the phone that's wired into my flip-face Nolan N102 or chat to Nasty on our bike-to-bike bluetooth comms.

[Sparky Bills]

Yikes. :gob: Is it made of gold or something?? I got a spare FFM flip-front a few weeks ago, admittedly old stock, for $100. Should have ordered 2. :blink:



Ummmmmm... You arnt seriously comparing an FFM with a Shoei are you??
Slightly different market mate.

[CookMySock]

Buy a long acrylic scarf from Farmers, mine goes to my knees when draped around my neck. good idea, but be careful wrapping long strong things around your neck. Make sure its short enough to not get into trouble, or weak enough so that it can get torn apart, instead of the think that its wrapped around getting torn apart.

Steve

[Grub]

good idea, but be careful wrapping long strong things around your neck.

Good point Steve. The reason I mentioned the length of mine is that after two wraps around the neck, the ends are tucked into the scarf just behind the ears. The result is perfect - no loose ends, the ends are out of the direct airstream and the tuck-in just adds the perfect extra bulk to ensurre that the gap is filled

[Hitcher]

mine goes to my knees when draped around my neck.

A gentleman never tells. [Blushes, modestly]

[Daffyd]

good idea, but be careful wrapping long strong things around your neck. Make sure its short enough to not get into trouble, or weak enough so that it can get torn apart, instead of the think that its wrapped around getting torn apart.

Steve

I stand to be corrected, but I seem to remember that's how Lawrence of Arabia died... got his scarf caught in the wheel of his bike.

And the famous dancer, Isadora Duncan died the same way, only in a car.

[slimjim]

A gentleman never tells. [Blushes, modestly]


O dear...:innocent:

Nope i don't think that's a good idea... ok off bike ..:cold:

as fucking around with it around your's neck ...:sick:

nope $34.95 whisper kit. there are dearer ones yup..however it also allows you a hell of alot better to move around in ... than a fucking long piece of cloth...wrapped around your neck and helmet..:yes:as well as overheating ..:shit:

[Griffin]

I can vouch for the Shoei MultiTec... its a fantastic helmet. And with the whisper kit on its pretty dam quiet for a flipface. Nothing like the convenience of popping the front of your helmet up when your darting into the shop / servo.

As for a helmet thats easy to take off with your gloves on... not sure there is such a thing. Why do you want to take your helmet off but keep wearing your gloves? Even at quick pop ins to shops I need to take at least one glove off to sort out paying for stuff (getting cash from wallet, wallet from pocket, eftpos buttons etc)

[PZR]

I wear a Schuberth which is tested as the quietest helmet on the market (along with the BMW) But you gotta pay for what you get as well. Somewhere between $1100.00 to $1400.00. But well worth it for keeping my hearing intact. Like the man said its all about the air coming in around your neck. I also wear custom made Plugs for Lugs. Then I went out and got a bike with a really loud exhaust. Go figure??
I found the Shoei XR1000 as noisy as my old cheap HJC so I spent a lot of time getting a really quiet helmet and am very pleased with it. Weight is about the same as most other brands at around 1450 grams. Full on race helmets drop down around 1200/1300 grams but can be noisy. Flip fronts can get up to 1800 grams and you can notice it on the neck muscles, but the flip up option would be handy
Earplugs are a must

[Ryder]

get some plugz for lugz...??? :blink:
they even second as earphones if you get th more expensive ones :niceone:

[FastBikeGear]

buy a whisper kit , slips around lower edge of hat, tucks into neckcoller ,

Thanks Slimjim I tried out a whisper kit - Excellent suggestion it reduced the noise level extremely well. - not sure if I would now bother with earl plugs except perhaps on a long trip.

[Beeza]

Wear ear-plugs? You must be crazy! I once had a Nolan polycarbonate fullface which was brilliant -- especially as I have a rather large schnozz and most other lids didn't have enough space between visor and nose. But now I ride with an open-face helmet or -- pay attention -- a brilliantly quiet FFM polycarb full-face with a visor I can lift or drop with a gloved hand.

[FastBikeGear]

Time to replace my 1997 Shoei X-Ceed.

Thanks to the forum feed back and advice from my local bike shop I have revised my requirements for my next helmet.

Here's my revised wish list for my next helmet.


Full face
Internal flip down sun visor (I know these are currently not popular but I think the writing is on the wall and these will be a lot more popular when/if the more highly regarded brands such as Shoei, etc begin to roll these out in the market. I don't want the unnecessary inconvenience of sunglasses)
White for higher visibility
ECE 22-05 or five star sharp rated. (It would be nice if it also had a good SHARP (http://sharp.direct.gov.uk) rating. (Currently rules out flip face)
Light weight (rules out flip face)
Quiet. (Yes I know it's an outdoor activity and all helmets are noisey)


I have found only a few helmets that have an internal sun visor and can meet a few of the above criteria.

Givi - Not available in white, no SHARP rating. (seems nice quality and weight though)

Schubert S1 - Not available in white, heavy (Currently undergoing SHARP evaluation) reputably one of the quieter helmets but also a little heavy and very expensive!

HJC FS-10 - Only 3 stars in the SHARP rating, not available in white in New Zealand

Have I missed any that should be on this list?

[MaxCannon]

I have the Givi 401 and I'm really happy with it.
The visor works really well and the I find the helmet very comfy.

I think in silver it's pretty visible too.

[FastBikeGear]

I have the Givi 401 and I'm really happy with it.
The visor works really well and the I find the helmet very comfy.

I think in silver it's pretty visible too.

Thanks for the feed back/suggestion. I had a look at them too and I agree they seem to have one of the better internal visors...but I really want white - and they don't come in this colour. I note that they are European standard approved (22.05) but they haven't been rated by SHARP yet.

[bikemike]

Schubert S1 - Not available in white, heavy (Currently undergoing SHARP evaluation) reputably one of the quieter helmets but also a little heavy and very expensive!

S1 Pro comes in white
http://www.schuberth.com/index.php?id=20&L=1
And the R1 comes in metallic silver.

[pritch]

I stand to be corrected, but I seem to remember that's how Lawrence of Arabia died... got his scarf caught in the wheel of his bike.

And the famous dancer, Isadora Duncan died the same way, only in a car.

Have 5/10. You got the Isadora Duncan thing right, but I don't know where you got the T E Lawrence story.

Without checking, he was killed when a cart appeared on the road in front of him. (Courtesy of the local butchers boy?)

[Daffyd]

Have 5/10. You got the Isadora Duncan thing right, but I don't know where you got the T E Lawrence story.

Without checking, he was killed when a cart appeared on the road in front of him. (Courtesy of the local butchers boy?)

I seem to remember seeing it in the movie, but as I saw both around the same time and many years ago, my memory may be playing tricks...I stand corrected. :niceone:

[JimO]

i had a 400 mile ride yesterday (bike is in mph not ks) and was getting pissed off with the wind noise at around 70, so at around the 100 mile mark i got some cheap roll up earplugs and bunged them in, what a difference i found myself able to go faster in fact i almost overcooked it on a corner because i was going a tad fast for it (80k corner at 75mph) because of the reduced noise

[icekiwi]

i had a 400 mile ride yesterday (bike is in mph not ks) and was getting pissed off with the wind noise at around 70, so at around the 100 mile mark i got some cheap roll up earplugs and bunged them in, what a difference i found myself able to go faster in fact i almost overcooked it on a corner because i was going a tad fast for it (80k corner at 75mph) because of the reduced noise

Cool that confirms what i've been thinking the last 10 weeks...
Blaardy earplugs cost me my licence i'm sure of it...
Next time i'm asked why i was going so fast i'll drop my waxey,shitty,grotty earplugs in the coppas mitts an see what happens...

[Jerry74]

I find my HJC CS12 not too bad for noise.

If it gets too bad you could either wear ear plugs or put on the mp3 quietly to break down the noise of the wind.

[JimO]

I find my HJC CS12 not too bad for noise.

If it gets too bad you could either wear ear plugs or put on the mp3 quietly to break down the noise of the wind.

i found that you have to have the ipod up loud to hear it on the bike but when your off the bike its real loud..you can get earplugs with earpeices in them for mp3 or ipod from plugs for lugs

[BMWST?]

re wearing ear plugs....you get used to it,but at first you will go faster without realising it...but as you become used to it it becomes "normal"

[PHATVW]

I've got a Shoei XR-1000 with a whisper kit, I find this to be quite quiet even though it's my first helmet, only downside... $$$ <_<

[slofox]

Have 5/10. You got the Isadora Duncan thing right, but I don't know where you got the T E Lawrence story.

Without checking, he was killed when a cart appeared on the road in front of him. (Courtesy of the local butchers boy?)

"On 13 May Lawrence takes his motorbike to Bovington Post Office to send a parcel of books to a friend and a telegram to Henry Williamson. On his way back to Clouds Hill he swerves to avoid two boy cyclists and is thrown from his machine. He remains in coma for six days and dies on 19 May."

[Eric]

I Have an HJC for 2 years now. Think its called a kast......not plaster cast:msn-wink:

Anyway its been a good helmet for me.
I use reuseable earplugs like the ones shown below. I cut the cord of and shortned the little stalk just enough to get them in and out of my ear. Theyve been the best:niceone: Have used the plyable ones but the loose their shape quickly. The ones I got you can wash them, and clean them with soapy water just like that. They come in a small container ideal when riding.

Anyway I will try and post a pic.

[PrincessBandit]

A gentleman never tells. [Blushes, modestly]
hahahaha, i'd send green to you if I was not on my laptop! (which wont let me give rep, or add tags :angry:)


Here's my wish list.

...
Easy to undo with gloves on.
[/LIST]

.
My Shark RS2 is lovely and quiet, still wear plugz for lugz on longer rides tho; and a scarf between my collar and helmet helps too. It also has the quick release buckle, so no annoying threading through D rings.



Get some roll up earplugs and try them.

Steve
You do know that you should insert ear plugs with your pinna pulled outward for slipping in easier don't you?

Thanks for all the suggestions. It Seems like the consensus is wear ear plugs. I also like the sound of slimjims suggestion of a whisper kit.

.

The Shoei multitec comes with it's own whisper kit and Balu has been rapt with his - he finds it really quiet even without ear plugs.

[slofox]

Went in to buy a whisper kit for my Raid II yesterday. The dude in the shop says "If it's noisy, it's too big for ya. What size is it?" I reply "Large". He says "Too big - you are a medium - I can tell by looking...." (yeah. right.) So I say "When we measured my head it was right on the cusp between medium and large and after much trialling I went for the large coz the medium felt too tight." So the guy measures my head and says it is medium not large (58cm). But when I measured it myself back in my shop it comes out 58.5cm. Which IS right on the cusp.....I think his tape had stretched, myself.......or he was trying to sell me a new helmet....:shit:
Having said all that, it is awkward getting the right size when you measure between sizes as I do....plus my head is a funny shape anyway (like the rest of me - gruk ick!). But given the amount of compacting that has occurred in the pads of my helmet maybe I should go down a size......
I bought the whisper kit anyway but haven't had a chance to test it yet...In the meantime I better not arse off onto my head!!! :done:

[vifferman]

Having said all that, it is awkward getting the right size when you measure between sizes as I do.
Yayess.
My gourd is 59cm, and until I switched from AGV to Shoei, they didn't fit - either too small or too big, as the AGVs were always even sizes. The XR1000 is an L, and 59-60, and fits very well.

[slofox]

Anyone in here used an Arai helmet? Which model was it and what did you think of it? Am considering one to replace the Shoei one day....

[Zoolander]

Should definately wear earplugs, and no they shouldn't affect your ability to hear whats going on around you, but they sure take the edge off the wind noise which makes for a much nicer ride.

I forgot mine the other day, and after going the long way home I had a fucking splitting headache all night. Too much of that and I'm sure your hearing would suffer long-term.

[Divot]

I wear a Schuberth which is tested as the quietest helmet on the market

I do also and will be buying another when time comes. Retail is around $1000.

Have had mine for a year now and am totally rapt with it.

I have a C2 flip face.,

[Hitcher]

Have had mine for a year now and am totally raped with it.
One hopes you mean rapt...

[Dodgyiti]

I do also and will be buying another when time comes. Retail is around $1000.

Have had mine for a year now and am totally rapt with it.

I have a C2 flip face.,

I have the R1, it is money back under 95db and goes for around $1100
Done 42,000kms with it and it is only slightly less quiet than when I first got it.
Good vents, good shape at speed and reasonably light. The internal flip down UV visor is just great, thought it was a gimmick, sold on it now.
The mai n visor has a tiny de-lamination circle on the bottom edge - otherwise I cannot find any faults it this quality bit of kit.
I still wear plugz on open road trips, but around town it is not intrusive at all.

I would recommend this lid to anyone, tricky finding a distrubutor- there are only 2 in Auckland