What's the quietest helmet for under $500?

[Ruralman]

quick update - I've drilled the holes and shaped them with one of those saw drill bits and glued and temporarily screwed the scoop over the top to help force air up through the holes.
Tommorrow the glue should be set enough to test it out (I'll take the screws out) on a trip down to Milton to get a new tyre on the back. Meant to be bloody windy everywhere over the next few days so I should get some idea if its made a difference.
I have taken some photos but I'll only put them up if it does work.
Thanks for all the helmet and plugs info - I like the look of those Nolans and you guys seem to rate them well. I'll try with some better earplugs first though. I've just been using those foam ones with mixed results, and it looks like I have also been guilty of not reading the instructions so my technique for putting them in will change!
Cheers

[slimyxylofone]

To all those who wear plugs, how much noise does it cut out?

I'm worried about damaging my hearing in the long term but certainly don't want to lose the ability to hear what is happening around me.

How have you found wearing ear plugs affects your ability to react to the sound of other vehicles, horns etc?

[sAsLEX]

To all those who wear plugs, how much noise does it cut out?

I'm worried about damaging my hearing in the long term but certainly don't want to lose the ability to hear what is happening around me.

How have you found wearing ear plugs affects your ability to react to the sound of other vehicles, horns etc?

Nah can still hear alot around you, but cuts down things like wind noise rather substantially

[Squeak the Rat]

Slim - wearing earplugs is safe as.

You can get different rated ones if you're concerned. Start with a lower rating (there are some that you can get from Safety Shops that come in a small yellow paper-ish packet (per pair) - might be a good start).

Trust us old farts - protect your hearings!

[XP@]

There were a few friders on the 1000miler using the N102's. (triumph speed triple, tenere and ???, all good riders, keeping up a decent speed)
After quizzing them I am happy that the lid is quiet enough, even with the sun visor up. But I am not expecting it to be as quiet as a fixed chin lid.

A good price for this would be $550, but i think $600 is normal and $650 is too much.

As soon as I con my boss in to giving me that bonus I will be making a trip to the bike shop :-)