Which full face helmet is quiet?

**What?** · 28th December 2007, 07:42

I currently have a BMW Sport Integral - by FAR the quietest helmet I have owned (and I have had Shoei and Arai lids).
I also have a Nolan N100, which is by far the noisiest lid I have ever owned.
The downside of the BMW hat is that it's a bugger to get on - comfy as when it is on, but not the sort of thing you'd want for a 10 minute ride to the shops.

**Motig** · 29th December 2007, 13:57

Ive never heard a noisy helmet in my life

**AllanB** · 29th December 2007, 14:33

Happy with my HJC, and the vents work just fine.

The main thing to consider first is fit - a $1000 helmet is not worth shit if it does not fit. I find helmets vary a lot in fit (after all my head size does not change!) Shoei's do not fit me, nor AVG or KBC. HJC fits well as do Arai's.

There was a very interesting report in a US motorcycle magazine last year about helmets and the tests they are subjected to. So interesting in fact that the magazine lost mega advertising dollars from the big name brands (arai etc) when they published the article.

Also most brands have different levels of cost - Arai $900 - $1500, HJC $300 - $700 Shoei $500 - $1500.

Get one that fits. And wear ear-plugs as they all make a noise.

Try this when riding next as it will show you the biggest noise factor with helmets - 1. crouch a inch or two lower than your normal ride height, 2. sit up a inch or two higher than normal. Notice the sound difference - all that is a result of your bikes aerodynamics (or lack of).

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th December 2007, 14:48

Originally Posted by Jim2

You're doing you're hearing in chris, but that's your choice.

What's the problem with that, the more fucked your hearing the quieter your helmet and it saves the cost and discomfort of wearing earplugs.
It's a win win situation.

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th December 2007, 14:52

I use a Shoei with a whisper kit. Drops the higher pitch noise a fair bit, but main reason I got the kit on it was for warmth during the winter.
It works exceptionally well at that.

**sprag** · 29th December 2007, 15:06

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

that annoying high pitched whistle is considerably reduced.

Ummm the air plugs stops the wind from blowing between the ears ?

hehehe *hides*

**HTFU** · 29th December 2007, 21:47

Originally Posted by The Stranger

What's the problem with that, the more fucked your hearing the quieter your helmet and it saves the cost and discomfort of wearing earplugs.
It's a win win situation.

Thats all good until one day when you start talking dirty to your missus while you are giving her one and don't realise you are shouting

.

**PrincessBandit** · 29th December 2007, 23:04

Originally Posted by sprag

Ummm the air plugs stops the wind from blowing between the ears ?

hehehe *hides*

You cheeky young lad you! You're just lucky you live so far away from me or I might just have to sort you out! Hahaha. I'll have you know that I have plenty between my ears; just of what I'm not sure though...

**Pixie** · 30th December 2007, 10:27

Originally Posted by Jim2

You're doing you're hearing in chris, but that's your choice.

DON'T NEED EAR PLUGS
YOU GET USED TO THE NOISE

...it's called deafness

**MGST** · 31st December 2007, 18:09

THanks to everyone for their feedback, opinions, reviews, and recommendations so far.

Went to Red Baron today ( to get a new front brake light switch actually so I'm all legal for the 250 ride on Thursday ). Got there just before they were closing so didn't have much time to try lids on etc. BUT looked at a few ( they got lots and lots and lots ). I picked up a Shoei XR1000 ( expensive ) off the rack first, and the first thing I noticed was how light weight it is. Man that is light. It said 1380g on the side ( I weighed mine when I got home and its 1500g ) but it feels a hell of a lot lighter than mine. That must save your neck on long rides, no? Also picked up Shoei Raid II ( expensive-ish / affordable ), not as light as XR1000, but a touch lighter than mine, and HJC (?) ( cheap ( in the scheme of things ) ) which felt about the same weight as mine. Obviously the more you pay, the less it weighs ( the less you get? ).

Shoei had nice D rings and some material attached to the chin strap on the jaw side so you don't get the strap digging into your jaw so much. Nice touch. Looked like a decent vent at the top of the chin car just below the visor too.

Just as a note, I will be buying this helmet for my second helmet for long weekend rides etc ( keeping my cheapie for 10 minutes back and forwards to work etc ), so I don't mind spending a decent amount on it because comfort is high on the list for this helmet. Hopefully I will have it for a long while ( not intending to decorate the road with it ( and I don't ride like that either ) so cost will be spread over X years of riding. I will be able to get my full licence in 5 months, and then I will be looking for something like a Honda CBR 1000 F, Suzuki RF900, Honda CBR 1100 XX etc sport/tourer bike to do plenty of longer riding around the countryside.

Anyway, will have to go back soon long before closing time and try them all on. Then to the next shop...

**awayatc** · 13th January 2008, 06:55

Originally Posted by homer

Just a thought
I notice the most wind noise is depending on how the helmet and the top collar of the dririder jacket sit

If there reasonabley fitting together you dont get as much wind noise
and if the collar is not fully pulled up theres a lot more noise
So it may not be always the bad lid thats the prob

Today in Canterbury was high wind warning, so a perfect day to experiment a bit with my Zeus fliptop and collars...
Without anything, at around 120 kms the windnoise is quite substantial.Most of that noise however comes from underneath the helmet...When I cut open an old beanie and rolled that around or underneath my helmet it improved 300%
140 just as quiet as 100 without it....I also noticed with the Zeus that it was much noisier leaning forward (as on a sportsbike) then it is sitting upright ( as on dual purpose style bike...go figue)
I was considering using earplugs before, but definitely don't need them if I use a collar.

**swt 3** · 16th January 2008, 18:05

My partner has a Schuberth. He doesn't use earplugs, & finds it borderline. Maybe that's why he's got selective hearing.

**madandy** · 16th January 2008, 19:20

Replacing my HJC AC10 with a new, lighter, more comfortable Shoei XR1000 has forced me to use ear plugs. Or maybe this bike is just so damn loud compared to the last one

**Pussy** · 17th January 2008, 14:36

I've had several Shoei helmets over the years. The first, the XR800 was the queitest. XR900...bit noisier, Z two(same as the Z one available in NZ, just with removable liners)...average, and the current X- Spirit..not all that quiet, but very comfy and aerodynamic. Probably going to start wearing earplugs

**NinjaBoy** · 17th January 2008, 22:42

Originally Posted by AllanB

The main thing to consider first is fit - a $1000 helmet is not worth shit if it does not fit. I find helmets vary a lot in fit (after all my head size does not change!)

+1. Find the brands that fit your head comfortably first then you can start making choices.

Originally Posted by AllanB

Shoei's do not fit me, nor AVG or KBC. HJC fits well as do Arai's.

Interesting... my HJC was the most comfortable but I couldn't fit an Arai... I seem to have a Shoei head