How noisy is your helmet

[Barbarian]

I've been chatting with a friend about helmet noise (he rides a Buell) and he's found his Shoei RF1000 is ungodly noisy, while his HJC CL-14 is extremely quiet.

I've got a Shoei as well, and think it's horrid. To amuse myself on long rides I tilt my head around and see if I can actually make it whistle enough different notes to make a tune. Last night I hit one angle going through a tunnel that sounded like a police loudspeaker coming from behind my right ear.

I always wear earplugs, but it's still damn noisy.

So.. what do you wear, and is it quiet enough for you?

[Katamaniac]

If you want a lot of good information on helmets try webBikeWorld

They review a lot of helmets and there is a weight comparison chart and lots of info on helmet noise.

I ride with a CL-14, and I agree, the noise is bearble. I also ride with either ear plugs or noise cancelling ear phones to listen to my MP3 Player.

One thing that can lower the noise level in you helmet is to put some sort of wind block underneath. That is also explained on webBikeWorld.

[Pidgey]

Speak up, I can't hear you......
After I fitted a taller shield on the Bandit, wind noise was increased. Tolerable with earplugs, but I would like a quieter ride. (that's why I don't take the wife)
My helmet is an HJC CS12, I had a Shoei RFR, a very noisy helmet IMHO. I have ordered this and hopefully will cut the noise down further.

http://www.proline-sports.co.uk/acatalog/UK_Wind_jammer_21.html

Looks kinda dorky, but hope it works.

[Vlad]

I have an HJC modular helmet and find it's noise bearable. I wear ear plugs on rides that last more than an hour or so at highway speeds. In my book the convenience of the "flip-up" far outweighs the potential for more noise (highly subjective).

Buffeting has a far more tiring effect to me. It has way more to do with the bike/windshield/riding position than the helmet, though. I rode Goldwings with half helmets and had less noise than on my Bandit in my brother's $1,000 helmet (don't remember the make). I could talk and hear my passenger easily at almost any speed.

[b4cruz]

I had a really noisy expensive Shoei.
The vents were a poor design and just added noise.

Now I have a Z1R helmet and its amazing!
Cheap, more quiet, cooler, decent venting.
I swapped the chin wind buffer from the Shoei
into it & now it works better in cold weather too.

I wonder if Z1R will come out with airbag puffy
jackets some day like they have for contruction
workers' falls.

[PitterB4]

I have a Scorpion EXO700.  I've now got about 5K street miles and a dozen or so track days on it.  I love everything about the helmet except the noise.  I've found from putting my hand over various parts of it that all the noise comes from underneath.  I recently put a Cheeta screen on the Kawi.  It's a more comfortable ride with the blast up around my neck but it's even noisier.

[Vidrazor]

I also have a Shoei RF-1000, and an HJC AC-12. While the AC-12 is quieter, I think the point is moot with helmets, as they all have resonant cavities that will do what the do naturally when air flows through them. If you look at helmet reviews over at http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com you'll see all helmets have noise complaints.

I'm not sure how effective the Windjammer is, it may be the kind of product that may work better with some head shapes than others, which incidentally is also a criteria that will determine how much noise will be generated within a given helmet. An RF-1000 may be whisper-quiet on one head and roaring on another. The general consensus is that it's noisy.

In the winter I essentially seal that neck area up in a manner similar (if not more so) to what the Windjammer would do, and I would still wear earplugs.

I don't ride with the Shoei anymore because it's tendency to fog almost had me killed once. The AC-12 comes with an anti-fog coating right from the factory.

But that's a different topic...

[PitterB4]

But on that topic, I will never own a helmet that doesn't have an anti-fog shield.  The Scorp has it on the stock clear sheild and my dark smoke.  Amazing stuff!

[Barbarian]

If you want a lot of good information on helmets try webBikeWorld

Thanks! I'm a writer for Webbikeworld, although I'm not part of the helmet testing team. One flaw with the reviews is they never mention what kind of motorcycle the testers ride -- and having your head is below, above, or directly in line with air pushed off the front of the bike makes a considerable difference.
Hence the poll -- we're all riding a bike with the same profile, sitting in the same position, mostly with the same screen. If someone's got the uber-quiet helmet, we all deserve to know!

[Vidrazor]

[If someone's got the uber-quiet helmet, we all deserve to know!]

Again, I don't think that's a given. Everybody's head is shaped differently, and what will be quiet on one head will be noisy on another. Some helmets may be GENERALLY quieter, but they'll always be a head where they'll be LOUDER than another helmet on the same head.

[PitterB4]

One flaw with the reviews is they never mention what kind of motorcycle the testers ride -- and having your head is below, above, or directly in line with air pushed off the front of the bike makes a considerable difference.
Hence the poll -- we're all riding a bike with the same profile, sitting in the same position,

Ooop!  Guess you weren't interested in my sportbike-tested vote!    

[Barbarian]

Again, I don't think that's a given. Everybody's head is shaped differently, and what will be quiet on one head will be noisy on another.

I have to disagree. A helmet is noisy because it's pushing through wind, and it's got a whole bunch of knobs, protrusions, and holes to catch and deflect that wind. Just like a flute or a saxophone, it's where the wind goes that makes the noise.

If the visor has a gap, that's going to make noise, no matter whether the person wearing the helmet has a beak or a tiny nose.

[b4cruz]

the shape of the head applies to the bottom opening
where most of the sound comes in. this is where the
sound seal on helmets varies on the person.

after that whaterver sound is coming from the bottom
then makes its way through other cavities to resonate.
if there is an opening tunnel direct to the ear you get
more noise.

[aussiebandit]

I'm a lazy son of a gun so someone my have said this already.

But one of the other contributing factors in 'helmet noise' is the size and shape (and existance) of the fairing or screen in relation to the size and shape of the rider.

For example my wife, at 5'4", gets very helmet noise when she rides my B12, but I, at 5'11", need to wear ear plugs.  This is mainly because of the fairing/screen.  For my wife it pushes the majority of the wind over her head, but I seem to cop it all in the head.

[speedwaymaniac]

I have the HJC CL-14 and in my opinion the noise is no issue whatsoever.
Below 70 there is no issue at all, above and up to 90 the noise isn't so much of an issue, but I have found something almost like a pressure build up that can make my ears feel a little un-usual after an hour or so. (that's without ear-plus though)
Anything above 90 starts to get loud but again in all honesty not bad at all seeing as i've never ridden with ear-plugs. (most of my journey's are only a couple of hours)

Overall i'd recommend this helmet to anyone, crash protection is good aswell. Unfortunately found out when knocked off my B4.

Edit: Forgot to mention all speeds are in MPH