Loud noise from wind in helmet?

[TheTengTheory]

I bought a Shoei qwest and I remember some people mentioning how quiet it was...Was fairly shocked to experience all the wind noise. Mind you its a naked bike. I wear ear plugs now if I go on the open road. Bought the 10 pack 3m with small plastic case. Keep it stored in my bike. lasted me 2 months at about 10bucks per pack.

[manxkiwi]

You can also get a wind jammer off trademe which works surprisingly well..

neoprene cuff that adds to bottom of helmet.

These work very well, I have one, though don't use it all the time.

Ear plugs are a no brainer, I've used them for years, makes riding more relaxed too.

If you lift your shoulders up to the bottom of your helmet while riding, you'll discover the noise almost completely disappears. Nearly all helmet noise is produced by the air swirling around the bottom edge of the lid. Not much you can do except for the two above. Welcome to bike riding!

[skippa1]

I bought a Shoei qwest and I remember some people mentioning how quiet it was...Was fairly shocked to experience all the wind noise. Mind you its a naked bike. I wear ear plugs now if I go on the open road. Bought the 10 pack 3m with small plastic case. Keep it stored in my bike. lasted me 2 months at about 10bucks per pack.

+1 with the Qwest.....noisiest helmet I have had.....XR1000 was heaps quieter. Mind you, I used the XR1000 on sports bikes and the Qwest on a cruiser so it could be the head position? I know when I experience wind from my arse, the angle and height of my leg diectly effects the volume

[sgtp]

If you are new to using ear plugs, just be aware that putting them in at sea level and then riding over a moutian pass and back down might not be too kind to your ears (depending on how tight they seal your ear cannal) Just going over the Piecock hill with brandnew, extremely well sealed ears really made them hurt .....crapy plugs that dont seal well dont have this problem for me.

[Gremlin]

The wind noise at 100kph is sufficient to give you permanent hearing loss over time. Get ear plugs.

Anything from the foam disposable ones, to silicon cones, to custom moulded plugs, whichever works best for you and your budget.

I have small ear canals, so the foam ones don't work for me, expanding and pushing themselves out of my ears. Silicon ones never sealed properly, so I've used the Plugz 4 Lugz for the last few years.

[Tigadee]

Have a look at 3M Skull Screws. They are good earplugs and quite cheap, too.

May have a look at these...

Have been using those silicone putty ear plugs for the past 8 months now and while they are great at blocking out noise (best so far as they are very dense) and mold to the shape of your ear very well, they also lose their adhesiveness after a few months and start to come off more easily and fall out.

[bosslady]

The wind noise at 100kph is sufficient to give you permanent hearing loss over time. Get ear plugs.

Anything from the foam disposable ones, to silicon cones, to custom moulded plugs, whichever works best for you and your budget.

I have small ear canals, so the foam ones don't work for me, expanding and pushing themselves out of my ears. Silicon ones never sealed properly, so I've used the Plugz 4 Lugz for the last few years.

That's the same problem I have I think, I cant fit those expandable ones in my ears proper.

[turtleman]

That's the same problem I have I think, I cant fit those expandable ones in my ears proper.

I had the same issue with most of the expandable plugs. I now use some Husqvarna ones from my local lawnmower/chainsaw shop. They're a better shape and slightly more tapered, so I have no problem fitting them now, and they work very well. Quite cheap, too !

[oneofsix]

That's the same problem I have I think, I cant fit those expandable ones in my ears proper.

Looks like Gremlin is sorted with his custom plug but if you aren't ready to go that route yet, and the rate I lose plugs at I'm still undecided, I would suggest checking out the 3M youtube video I linked to earlier, might help with fitting the foam ones.

[Akzle]

skullcandy headphones

[TheTengTheory]

I've got fairly small ear canals as well...abit of a struggle to get them in. I find I can only use the disposable plugs once and have to throw them away cause they don't compress and expand in my ear properly....Careful with in-ear earphones. I tried them at first and when you pull the helmet off the plug rips out of your ear...hurts like a bitch and the rubber piece usually gets stuck in your ear...not a recommended experience. Plus with earplugs you still hear your engine and sharp sounds like a horn.

You really want it to muffle the buffeting caused by the wind but allow higher frequencies to come in.

I think it has something to do with the position. If i raise my head up and look through the bottom half of my visor the buffeting stops but you can't see your gauges. Maybe its the wind hitting at a lesser angle of attack to the bottom of the helmet.

[bosslady]

Looks like Gremlin is sorted with his custom plug but if you aren't ready to go that route yet, and the rate I lose plugs at I'm still undecided, I would suggest checking out the 3M youtube video I linked to earlier, might help with fitting the foam ones.

I've always wanted to get custom made ones and I see that Plugs 4 Lugz are at Paeroa this weekend. I don't know how much they are though??

[SILVER SUZI]

I've always wanted to get custom made ones and I see that Plugs 4 Lugz are at Paeroa this weekend. I don't know how much they are though??

Go watch the racing and you can ask them while you are there.

I got a set from them a couple of years ago at Paeroa, I think it was $80, but being as old as I am I can't really remember.
They will do the initial fitting while you are there, then they take them away to coat them, and send them back to you in a couple of days. So take some disposable ones to use for watching the racing.
They are great, and I use em all the time, not just on the bike, but in the shed using power tools, using chainsaw ect.

[bosslady]

Go watch the racing and you can ask them while you are there.

I got a set from them a couple of years ago at Paeroa, I think it was $80, but being as old as I am I can't really remember.
They will do the initial fitting while you are there, then they take them away to coat them, and send them back to you in a couple of days. So take some disposable ones to use for watching the racing.
They are great, and I use em all the time, not just on the bike, but in the shed using power tools, using chainsaw ect.

I might get some disposables (lost mine??) until I can get some custom made ones, $80 a bit hefty (though well worth it!). I wonder if they will be at the thing a HD next weekend.

[GrayWolf]

SO I just got my learners and a bike, and I am getting all my gear together as you do. I bought a helmet a HJC CL-Max II. I took the bike for its first ride tonight at a 100Kmh and the helmet is very loud, as in wind noise. Does anyone else have a the same helmet and can they recommend something to help?

thanks

Earplugs, as little as 6-10 bucks from ANY industrial safety shop, and are proper industrial level.

Why??? I AM one of those who now have hearing impairment (industrial deafness) type of loss in the higher frequencies associated with being around heavy plant for years without ear protection....

Reason? 30vyrs of riding open face, and full face with no earplugs.... you only have one set of ears, and you can never regain the loss once it's damaged.