Need a quieter Helmet

[motorman587]

The Arai RX-Q with ear plugs is a great combination.

I ditto this statement...........It is an awesome quite helmet, love it. Pricy but worth every penny.

Schubert, had one of those, but it was very heavy and noisy....just my $.02 worth.

[GlobalRider]

I always use new earplugs.

If you are inserting them correctly, they work. I noted a big difference once I did so.

The 2 minute mark in the following video is what many users fail to do.

Fitting Foam Ear Plugs

BTW, there is no such thing as a quiet helmet.

[bmwrider88]

of information on helmets and noise at webbikeworld.
there are several theories, causes, effects, etc. concerning this old issue.

helmet fit IS a key factor. head shapes vary, and some of (if not all) the higher end helmets have interchangeable padding within so the fit may be *tweaked* or customized for YOUR best fit. Arai is famous for this and by now other makers have followed their lead.

in my own experience, (when i bought an Arai) the dealership evaluated my head shape, then put me in a smaller helmet- extra small, compared to a small, which is what i would have bought. they then switched the inner pads out until the fit was just right.

Webbikeworld's theory on helmets is there are two types- loud and louder.
i see that the new Schuthbert C3
comes with noise reduction accessories(?):

Top Aeroacoustics
-Less than 84dB at 60 MPH on a motorcycle without fairing
-Integrated acoustic collar and removable anti-noise pad
-Optimized in Schuberths wind tunnel -Reduced noise level assists riders concentration and attentiveness; traffic noises can still be heard


http://www.motosupply.com/helmets-he...2c80c8196bce24

you may buy an acoustic collar to reduce wind noise from around the edges of your helmet, one likely source of noise. there have been other threads on this noise problem and a solid look around the webbikeworld site for helmet noise testing and theories will produce good result, by way of educating yourself on the possibilities.

here's a start for you:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...lmet-noise.htm

cheers and good luck.

[nytrashman]

instead of buying a new helmet have Westone make you a pair of ear plugs. they are about $100.00 and that includes having an authorized Westone audiologist make the impressions. these work much better then any foam plug i have every used.

[mchad]

instead of buying a new helmet have Westone make you a pair of ear plugs. they are about $100.00 and that includes having an authorized Westone audiologist make the impressions. these work much better then any foam plug i have every used.

I see you're in Westchester. Where did you go to have them made? Thanks!

[AKsuited]

I use Howard Leight "Max."

These are the bright orange foam earplugs with a NRR of 33, the highest I've found.

NRR = noise reduction ratio.

The higher the NRR, the quieter.

Harry

[mchad]

I have many different types of generic (non-fitted) earplugs, foam, rubber, valved, etc., as I also shoot alot of trap. A couple of years ago I bought a kit where you lay on your side and have someone pour goo in your ear which forms a mold, which you send that to a company that then makes a custom set of plugs. They came out ok, but I still feel that a mold made by a professional would have been better.

That was the reason I asked where his were made.

Thanks though.

[175887]

I have many different types of generic (non-fitted) earplugs, foam, rubber, valved, etc., as I also shoot alot of trap. A couple of years ago I bought a kit where you lay on your side and have someone pour goo in your ear which forms a mold, which you send that to a company that then makes a custom set of plugs. They came out ok, but I still feel that a mold made by a professional would have been better.

That was the reason I asked where his were made.

Thanks though.

I tried one of those DIY kits, but could not get a decent earmold. I went to a local audiologist. She requested the resulting plugs be recessed and the filtered be set flush so as to not interfere with my helmet. Best money spent

[sdpc2]

and have for many years... but now i buy them in bulk.

I use Howard Leight "Max."

These are the bright orange foam earplugs with a NRR of 33, the highest I've found.

NRR = noise reduction ratio.

The higher the NRR, the quieter.

Harry

[DBCasey]

Another C3 groupie!

For my particular head shape, the C3 fit well. Like most of us, I wear earplugs while riding. The C3+earplugs works great for me. I have molded plugs that plug into my Zumo.

Like the others have said, try on everything. Find a helmet that fits well.

Best of Luck
DC

[GeorgeK1200RS]

As someone who has hearing issues, I suggest you get an evaluation from an audiologist or other hearing specialist. You indicated having the problem when the engine puts out certain noises. The hearing specialist may be able to identify what frequencies are giving you issues and and recommend solutions.

Other than that, be sure your ear plugs are rated 33 or 34db (or NNR 32 in Canada). Many of the ear plugs sold are only good for 20db and the difference is substantial.

After using machinery, riding motorcycles and being a musician for more than 30 years and rarely using ear plugs, I now wear hearing aids.

A different helmet may or may not help. Please get yourself checked out by a professional.

George

[36654]

Hi Gents
I own a 1978 R/80 and have ridden it for 5 seasons now. One nagging issue I have is that under some high power conditions the the engine noise sets up this resonance in my ears that is hard to handle. I have a Bell full face helmet and always use new earplugs. I want to keep the bike but I need to get a handle on this painful noise problem. I'm looking for a new Full face helmet with the best noise reduction out there.Any suggestions? Do riders ever install a BOSE noise canceling headset in there helmets?
Thanks in Advance

What kind of noise is it? A piercing tone, thudding beat on the ear or general braodband noise? I assume that the noise is always a function of speed. A piercing tone is likely a shedding vortex produced by an edge that's standing proud to the flow. You can likely isolate the feature by rotating the helmet relative the flow. A thudding beat is likely a too tight fit in the ear cavity which presents a vibration path from the helmet shell to the ear channel or the ear plug itself. A broad band noise has no identifiable tones (frequencies) and should be treatable with ear plugs.

If by resonance, you mean a cyclic "whoop, whoop, whoop" noise and high power means high speed............you are dealing with a wind noise issue and not an engine noise problem. Do you happen to have a fairing on this bike?

[40427]

Something that i have been experimenting with is a small air foil on the top center leading edge of my Parabellum windscreen.

I wear a set of custom made ear plugs ,but still got more noise than i thought I should and the attendant head ache .

I took a piece of clear fuel line, about 12 inches long, made a slit in it length wise and beveled the ends at about a 45 degree angle. Slipped the piece over the top center of the screen . The pressure of the line holds it just fine.

I find this small tweak not only changes/ lessen the noise , it also eliminates a small amount of buffeting that i got at times.

I figured if it works on F-1 cars it might work in my application.

[36654]

Something that i have been experimenting with is a small air foil on the top center leading edge of my Parabellum windscreen.

I wear a set of custom made ear plugs ,but still got more noise than i thought I should and the attendant head ache .

I took a piece of clear fuel line, about 12 inches long, made a slit in it length wise and beveled the ends at about a 45 degree angle. Slipped the piece over the top center of the screen . The pressure of the line holds it just fine.

I find this small tweak not only changes/ lessen the noise , it also eliminates a small amount of buffeting that i got at times.

I figured if it works on F-1 cars it might work in my application.

The phenomenon is sheet vortex shedding and typically characterized by the Strouhal number which is trailing edge geometry dependent. You changed the edge geometry of the windscreen and therefore shifted the shedding to a different frequency. When a designer is really lucky, the shedding frequency matches the resonance frequency of the structure. That's when things fall apart.

[40427]

Does that mean my head will fall off or just the bike fall apart