What's the quietest helmet for under $500?

[Ruralman]

I went in to Honda Otago today and the guy I spoke to highlighted the same issue as you do Jantar - the Transalp shield, and the Givi one I have replaced it with, don't let any air through so they create a low pressure zone behind then that buggers up the airflow and causes turbulence around your helmet which raises the noise (doesn't mean your head necessarily gets shaken about).
He showed me the new screens on various models and how they let air flow underneath the base of them.
He reckoned, knowing that he was losing a helmet sale, that the first step was to try to address this and if that didn't work then look at the helmet & plugs.
Tonight when I got home I started shaping some 3mm polycarbonate sheeting with the idea of screwing & gluing a shaped scoop to a low part of the screen with some holes made behind it. If it looks alright when I've finished modelling it I might have the balls to drill and cut holes in the screen and then attach it over the top. It will piss me off if it makes no difference.
I do notice that when it rains the raindrops run down my visor, not up or across (very obvious when you've use rainex) . This sort of reinforces to me that the airflow could be a big part of the problem.
Watch this space and thanks for you input and keep it coming.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Ha, I was looking at lids today...

The Nolan N102 there was also another guy in the shop looking at the same lid (and he bought it).

He had the HJC flip-up and really did not like it, too small I think squashed cheeks and could not fit ear plugs.

I Have a warn out BMW Syste, I need ear plugs to do the 25km's to work :-(

The Nolan N102 is reputed to be quieter than the N101. I don't know if this is with the sun-visor up or down. I would be really interested to hear about the N102 with sun visor up?

The N102 does look cool, and although I did not buy today, it is not because The price was not right ($550!!!) it was because I did not want to run the risk of it not being 100% for the 1000miler this weekend, I will stick with what I know for now.

I bought the Nolan 102 and its a pretty quiet helmet compared to my old BMW. But I haven't had the sun visor up over 100km yet so I can comment on that. But the trip to Ashburton and back I was very suprised how quiet it was ... also make sure the helmet is a snug fit a helmet that is too loose will be very noisey

[XP@]

I bought the Nolan 102 and its a pretty quiet helmet compared to my old BMW. But I haven't had the sun visor up over 100km yet so I can comment on that. But the trip to Ashburton and back I was very suprised how quiet it was ... also make sure the helmet is a snug fit a helmet that is too loose will be very noisey

I think it is getting higher on my list, will wait for this tears bonus to come through from work (or at least the opportunity to fib about it)
In the mean time could you do some test at higher speeds... 110, 120, 130 ... 180. If you meet a cop on the way, just say XP@ said it's ok :-)

Seriously, I would be really interested to know what it is like at 110kph in to a 70kph headwind (I live in wellington :-)

[XP@]

Tonight when I got home I started shaping some 3mm polycarbonate sheeting with the idea of screwing & gluing a shaped scoop to a low part of the screen with some holes made behind it. If it looks alright when I've finished modelling it I might have the balls to drill and cut holes in the screen and then attach it over the top. It will piss me off if it makes no difference.

Am I too late...?
But what about using "washers" to lift the screen without modifying it?
Maybe it will give you what you need without destroying anything??

[SARGE]

i use these ......

crank the volume up to 11 and you hear no wind noise at any speed

[Zapf]

I have been meaning to do this for a long time but haven't gone around.

What they do in wind tunnels to test aerodynamics and visualise the air flow is to attach little strings to the surface, so that you can see what the strings do... as they move in the direction of the wind.

[Ixion]

Hm.Little strings, you say. Like, as it were, tassels ? So, Mr Scumdog should be an expert. And Harley Davidsons very aerodynamic ?

[Macktheknife]

As for helmets try the Shark range, I have found them pretty good and have friends who swear by them. You can also get special latex ear plugs that tailor to your ear, about $25 from selected chemists, apparently they work really well too.

[Ruralman]

Am I too late...?
But what about using "washers" to lift the screen without modifying it?
Maybe it will give you what you need without destroying anything??

I had wondered about that but the screen is mounted on the inside of the front cowling so making a gap wouldn't make any difference and putting it on the outside would just look f'ing awful. Its not too late but by the end of the day it might be.

[Ruralman]

Hm.Little strings, you say. Like, as it were, tassels ? So, Mr Scumdog should be an expert. And Harley Davidsons very aerodynamic ?

Hmmm - he lives very close, I wonder if he would lend me his jacket????? - would need to be a very dark night so no one could see me though - would I still see the tassles????

[sAsLEX]

Ear-plugs should have an attenuation factor rating on the packet (measured in dB).

I generally go for foam ones rated around 27dB.

I learned a really good trick a few years ago. After you roll the earplug, pull the top of your ear upwards and hold it there while you insert the earplug into the ear canal. It makes a huge difference to the attenuation, and makes it almost impossible for the earplug to come out accidentally.

ummm thats how you should always put in ear plugs and it says that on the packet of nearly all of them next to the attenuation thingo, cept most people dont read instructions do they....

I have been meaning to do this for a long time but haven't gone around.

What they do in wind tunnels to test aerodynamics and visualise the air flow is to attach little strings to the surface, so that you can see what the strings do... as they move in the direction of the wind.

Smoke is better as it shows up turbulence alot better and you can move the smoke source about the vehicle without stopping the airflow or rolling road to get an idea of the flow around various bits

[The Stranger:Me]

As others have said, I have found small alterations to the screen can stop some of the noise.

I also fitted a whisper kit to my Shoei. That stopped a lot of the higher pitch noise, but left the low pitch noise unchanged. Was a little odd, but now I am used to that.

The reason I fitted the whisper kit was not for noise reduction but for warmth. It is excellent at reducing the ingress of cold air.

[sAsLEX]

As others have said, I have found small alterations to the screen can stop some of the noise.

I also fitted a whisper kit to my Shoei. That stopped a lot of the higher pitch noise, but left the low pitch noise unchanged. Was a little odd, but now I am used to that.

The reason I fitted the whisper kit was not for noise reduction but for warmth. It is excellent at reducing the ingress of cold air.

I use a

much cheaper than buying a shoei and a whisper kit


One thing I have found though after wearing plugs every ride for the last two weeks is how much I use sound to moderate my speed, and am finding I am going in to corners and cruising a little faster now, so will have to readjust to the new sensor input range!

[Forest]

ummm thats how you should always put in ear plugs and it says that on the packet of nearly all of them next to the attenuation thingo, cept most people dont read instructions do they....

Does it really say to pull the top of your ear upwards and hold it there when inserting the earplug?

This is the thing which makes all the difference.

[sAsLEX]

Does it really say to pull the top of your ear upwards and hold it there when inserting the earplug?

This is the thing which makes all the difference.

yes

check it out http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediaw...666vQ2COrrrrQ-