Considering a new helmet. A QUIET one! Any ideas?

**Conquiztador** · 22nd December 2011, 22:29

I find that no matter what helmet, there is wind noise once the speed goes up. I do not want to wear earplugs as I find they makes my riding suffer.

Any suggestion re a helmet that does not have wind noise and I can still hear what is going on around me?

**Jantar** · 22nd December 2011, 22:36

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

I find that no matter what helmet, there is wind noise once the speed goes up. I do not want to wear earplugs as I find they makes my riding suffer.

Any suggestion re a helmet that does not have wind noise and I can still hear what is going on around me?

The quietest helmet I've ever owned is a model that is no longer produced. It was the Nolan N27: Nice snug fit, and no air gaps around the base. I still wear Nolans, but none of my recent ones are as quiet as that old one.

**KiWiP** · 22nd December 2011, 23:17

Wind noise shouldn't be your primary selection criteria. You should go first with fit to your head as all heads have got different knobbly bits and all helmets are different (even within the same range) If you're lucky you'll get a cheap one, if you're really luck you'll get a cheap good one (re SHARP ratings). If your really, really luck you'll get all that with the colour/graphics you lust after

Ear plugs shouldn't affect your riding as your primary sense source should be your eyes. If you're relying on your ears what happens in a storm, rain, heavy traffic when no matter how quiet a helmet the other noises are are going to merge into what you think you should be listening to.

I've looked into this a bit and I believe everyone should wear ear plugs to reduce the chance of long term hearing loss or tinitus.

I did successfully experiment with a wind dam under the helmet. get some 1mm neoprene from a wetsuit manufacturers ($1 or they just give you a bit from the scrap bin) cut to shape of helmet opening and glue to edge (I found double sided sticky tape worked well and was easily removed later). Then cut a small hole smaller than your neck (do really small to start with you can always make it bigger if you pass out due to restriction of blood to the head). Wear helmet. I found it made my noisey as a bucket of bees Shark s650 virtually silent save for the ringing of my tinitus. Downside was it got too hot for me. I was going to punch out small holes to increase airflow but had started wearing earplugs and haven't looked back.

ANyway if noise is still a criteria don't go for the S650

hope it helps

**Owl** · 23rd December 2011, 03:42

Not that I've tried one, but I've heard the Shoei Qwest is fairly quiet?

**nzspokes** · 23rd December 2011, 04:49

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-433039858.htm

**willytheekid** · 23rd December 2011, 07:19

Originally Posted by nzspokes

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-433039858.htm

Been looking at getting one of those for my noisey AGV...have you tried one?, love to know how good they work

**nzspokes** · 23rd December 2011, 07:26

Originally Posted by willytheekid

Been looking at getting one of those for my noisey AGV...have you tried one?, love to know how good they work

I to have a noisy AGV. I want one but not organised one yet. But have tried scrunching my head down to my shoulders(must look stupid) at 100k to block air flow under the helmet. It makes a huge improvement.

Will get one after xmas.

**Jantar** · 23rd December 2011, 07:48

Originally Posted by KiWiP

Wind noise shouldn't be your primary selection criteria. You should go first with fit to your head as all heads have got different knobbly bits and all helmets are different (even within the same range) ...

The ones that fit your head best ARE the quietest ones. Its the loose fitting and the gaps that cause the wind noise.

**vifferman** · 23rd December 2011, 09:43

Wear earplugs, Dude - the cheapest and best solution. However (but!) another thing to look at is your bike. A lot of people who have too much wind noise fit a higher screen, figuring the less wind, the better. But (however!) this is sometimes counter-intuitive, as you end up with more turbulence behind it. F'rinstance, on the VFR, the wind over the windshield hits about shoulder level. If I sit up as tall as possible, it actually lessens the wind noise, so the answer for me (if I cared enough) would be to fit a lower screen, or cut the top couple of inches off the screen's top edge. Also, the screen has a moulded lip, so just cutting and polishing this off would also result in less turbulence and noise.
But... I'm lazy, so I just wear 77cent 3M earplugs. Problem solved! I don't even notice them in, and can still hear enough ambient noise that I don't feel isolated from my surroundings. Sure beats tinnitus, which I had for months after a long ride years ago (Christchurch to Tauranga) with no earplugs.

It's hard to find a quiet(er) helmet, as anecdotal evidence works only if the person offering it has the same bike, height and riding position as you. I've only once been able to test-ride a helmet before buying - a remarkable and helpful experience, which convinced me to buy the helmet. It had seemed too tight in the shop, but 20 minutes of wear, and it was just snug.

For my last helmet buy, I went from an AGV X-Vent to a Shoei XR1000. Initially, I thought the Shoei was WAAY more comfy (and it still is), but noisier, as there was more ambient noise. However, at highway speeds, it was actually quieter, as the aerodynamics were different.

Hope this helps somewhat; don't mean to sound preachy, just offering some advice...

**KiWiP** · 23rd December 2011, 11:37

Originally Posted by Jantar

The ones that fit your head best ARE the quietest ones. Its the loose fitting and the gaps that cause the wind noise.

Not true I'm afraid. My shark is as close a fit to my head as I think I could get. The noise is produced by the uneven bits at the neck line. Compare Shark helmets to a 'quiet' helmet like a Shoei. Difference is the Himalayas to a salt flat. I've proved this by adding an air dam to my Shark so effectively removing all the turbulent bits. (please reread my post).

**actungbaby** · 24th December 2011, 09:54

Looked at Hrc helemt yesterday was nice light think was 349.00 looked good to
had one at 599.00 or so and got sun visor inner piece quite trick and air pump face mads you can pump
up for better fit around that area

Originally Posted by KiWiP

Wind noise shouldn't be your primary selection criteria. You should go first with fit to your head as all heads have got different knobbly bits and all helmets are different (even within the same range) If you're lucky you'll get a cheap one, if you're really luck you'll get a cheap good one (re SHARP ratings). If your really, really luck you'll get all that with the colour/graphics you lust after

Ear plugs shouldn't affect your riding as your primary sense source should be your eyes. If you're relying on your ears what happens in a storm, rain, heavy traffic when no matter how quiet a helmet the other noises are are going to merge into what you think you should be listening to.

i chouldint disagree more Sound is vital sence for my riding even on pushbike uses ever thing u can
for start even when walking its really important tool dont use ear plugs
I dont agree at all i been listening to music many many years and am deaf as a post.. opps no kididng
i just dont like ear plugs and thos bud ear phones are the worst to damage your ears , when they doing contrustion
at pak n save work out , even though lound sound much lounder than a bike gave me headaches after hours of it
Disliked the ear plugs so much, and go far to say chould affect your balance leave well alone
If your bike that noisey get better muffler isteed bunging things in your ear cannellls

I've looked into this a bit and I believe everyone should wear ear plugs to reduce the chance of long term hearing loss or tinitus.

I did successfully experiment with a wind dam under the helmet. get some 1mm neoprene from a wetsuit manufacturers ($1 or they just give you a bit from the scrap bin) cut to shape of helmet opening and glue to edge (I found double sided sticky tape worked well and was easily removed later). Then cut a small hole smaller than your neck (do really small to start with you can always make it bigger if you pass out due to restriction of blood to the head). Wear helmet. I found it made my noisey as a bucket of bees Shark s650 virtually silent save for the ringing of my tinitus. Downside was it got too hot for me. I was going to punch out small holes to increase airflow but had started wearing earplugs and haven't looked back.

ANyway if noise is still a criteria don't go for the S650

hope it helps

**nzspokes** · 24th December 2011, 10:11

Originally Posted by willytheekid

Been looking at getting one of those for my noisey AGV...have you tried one?, love to know how good they work

I popped over to get a jet for me motocrosser at cycletreads. They now stock a version of this which I just bought. Will fit it and try it out later today.