in your opinion, What is the quietest helmet?

I am currently wearing a 2012 Bell Vortex and I have found it to be really loud on the freeway (80 mile round trip commute/Hwy & city). I dont want to wear earplugs unless absolutely my last option. I have been looking and most local shops are pushing the Shoei Qwest which is Ok but I dont exactly care for its looks. I tried on an Arai RxQ and was surprised on well it felt & fit; I also want to check out the Vector2.

So what is the quietest helmet in your opinion?



Thanks,

Rob in Tampa

 

That might be an issue of how your head is shaped in order to get a quiet fit. For me, a Shoei is a no-go. Its one of the most uncomfortable helmets to ever put on my dome. But that's just me.

However, if you're doing 80 miles round trip on a highway, I'm no ENT Doctor, but I'd strongly suggest ear plugs. Why do you say only as a last option?

 

I like to hear the traffic or should I say that I dont want to subdue one of my basic senses. I may try earplugs tomorrow.

 

I wear earplugs with my helmet. :thumb:
I can still hear my engine.
I can still hear other vehicles.
I can still hear emergency vehicles. :mod:

In some states using them could be a violation. :doh:

:soapbox:

In a noisy environment, earplugs actually allow you to discriminate changes in the sounds around you better than when you are bombarded by all of the louder noises which predominate when you are riding - for instance the wind noise, drone of exhaust at speed, loud Harleys, truck tire howling, etc.
Using earplugs helps you pick up sounds like sirens, and more subtle changes in the sounds from the vehicles around you.
Safety studies in noisy work environments have verified this increased ability to discriminate sounds better when wearing hearing protection.
Using them also reduces the fatigue you will feel from being constantly exposed to high sound pressure levels, as well as preserving the sensory portions of your ears from damage.

Even the quietest helmet (when at speed) will still allow the noise level to be in the zone where damage will occur (85dBA or above). Wind noise with the helmet is a function of how aerodynamic the helmet is, and that the design minimizes disruptions to the airflow. Even the best motorcycle helmets need good ventilation, so they will have disruptions to the air flow. The other things that contribute to the noise level are the fit of the visor, and how well they block the air at the head opening.

I have noticed that when my visor was not adjusted "just right" that the wind noise was significantly higher.
I would look at the reviews on Cycle gear, Bike Bandit, and other web sites to see what other riders are saying. I really liked my "old" Nitro, and I also like my lighter Bilt. I would like to compare them with some of the uber-expensive helmets to investigate comfort, noise levels, etc.

 

I have found the Reevu MSX-1 to be the quietest helmet I've ever used.

Schuberth helmets also have an extremely good reputation.

 

For your reading enjoyment.

Motorcycle Helmet Weights - webBikeWorld

Click on any helmet you like & they have all the particulars including noise levels.

It also merits repeating, it matters not what helmet you want, it only matters which one fits your head correctly.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

'We' can't answer the question accurately, as 'we' do not have your head. In my experience, Shoei helmets have always been the quietest (for my head), and I've tried many others (including Schuberth). I use earplugs and find them the best solution of all.

Just my $.02...

 

Shoei rf 1000. Quieter than what I have worn in the past. I just dont like the high pitched "whistleing" in the helmet that comes from highway speeds. When I first tried it on at the store I could have sworn I felt my ears "pop" when I closed the visor. I have a chatterbox coms unit and I have spoken and listened to either conversations or music at highway speeds without hardly any difficulty. I think over all its what fits you comfortably and saves your nugget in a fall , second to loseing your hearing. Hearing is one of those things that once its damaged your body cannot repair it like a cut or an infection. You lose it...its lost, hence hearing aids. If it can be fixed dont you think medical science would have solved hearing loss by now? Trust me I know. Working around big machinery and doing what I have done for a living my hearing has deminshed, this I have no doubt of. I try to protect what I have by all means necessary. Thats when I did my research and it pointed me towards the Shoei. I completely agree with Soloiis post BTW.

 

I use the Arai Vector 2. I have a round head and face and this is by far the best fitting helmet I have ever owned. it provides great ventilation, but when all the vents are open then it gets noisy. I do use earplugs while riding and I feel much better using them than when I'm not.

 

Wind noise doesn't have to be loud, just constant to damage your hearing... Ear plugs actually dim all noise but most notably wind noise - this means you can focus more accurately on the critical noises around you such as other vehicles, emergency services and your engine... They are cheap insurance for your ears but you shouldn't re-use them unless they are designated washable - I use the foam ones:



which are not washable but they seem to fit my ears best...

 

My RF1000 was very quiet when new but after 7 years the neck pads don't fit the way they used to and I get a lot of wind noise. Simply putting my hand up to block the bottom of the helmet almost eliminates the noise, time for a new helmet. I've tried the Bell, Bilt and Nolan among others but with my head shape it feels like there's a 2x4 stuck up the back of the helmet. Shoei and KBC seem to fit me the best, Arai is also a no go.

Fit has to be first because if you feel a pressure point in the store after 30 seconds with the helmet on it's going to feel like a spike in your head after an hour or two. Home Depot has packs of earplugs cheap, Multi-Color Disposable Earplugs (80-Pack)-92800-80025T at The Home Depot

I wear them every ride and they're cheap enough to toss after a few wears. Try the Aria if it fits well and ask yourself if you could wear it all day comfortably? Then try some earplugs.

 

I completely agree with Soloii. The ear plugs definitely help to reduce the noise and make the ride safer and more enjoyable. My current helmet is a Shoei RF1000 and I find it to be one of the quietest helmets I have owned. The only one that was better was my previous helmet, an Arai Quantum F, but it was destroyed in an accident in 2004. The Shoei is almost as quiet and more comfortable (fits my head much better than the Arai) and cost a lot less ($675 for the Shoei and the Arai was $950). I have no problem with spending money on a helmet, since you only get one head in this life.

One of the local bike shows I went to had a company that manufactured custom fit ear protection (molded ear plugs). The plugs were $85 but they took a mold of my ear and then custom made the ear plug to fit while my wife and I were walking around the bike show, and man are they ever comfortable. They do a fantastic job of filtering the low frequency noise and wind rush noise but I can still hear the engine, car horns, people talking to me with the helmet on even when at a stoplight, sirens,............. Definitely worth looking in to in my opinion. One of my local hearing aid clinics also makes a similar product, something I found out after I had purchased the molded ear plugs at the bike show.

 

I must be the only one who finds that earplugs make next to no difference at all, as far as the enjoyment of my ride goes. - I HATE wind noise but no matter what type of earplug I use, all that happens is the low frequency noise is blocked out but the high frequency noise (which is what drives me fucking nuts) stays at exactly the same level. I even had custom plugs made up and they do nothing for me.

 

Something is wrong. :ear: Typically most ear plugs are far better at minimizing the high frequencies then they are at low frequencies (really loud low frequencies will travel through your bones to your middle and inner ear). For the Roll-up types, this high frequency reduction is especially evident. When inserted while rolled up in the ear canal, the "foamies" should expand to the point that they seal pretty well. The quality of this sealing action is what blocks the high frequencies (like the whistling wind noise). I have noticed that when I don't have them in the right way, the wind noise is far more apparent. In a kind of noisy environment, try using your fingers to push the little flap part of your ear tightly closed (actually a highly effective high frequency noise block, but not very practical, since you can't use your hands :noidea, and then you would feel what it is like to use an effective ear plug. :lalala: Just a thought, but nothing works 100% for 100% of the population. Maybe wind noise is just louder there otstir: :wink:.

op2:

 

Although I agree with wearing earplugs, sometimes I forget to put them in or resupply them, so having a quiet helmet to begin with is a plus IMO. I did a lot of research on quiet helmets and found only a few that are pretty quiet and are willing to state that fact. Schuberth is one of the only manufacturer that I have seen actually post their dB rating.

From what I had found, Schubert's seemed to be the quietest on paper, but from some of the reviews of others the Shoei Qwest seems to be very quiet as well. The we're others too but I don't have that data anymore. I will say that I have a Shoei RF-1100 (for track and spirited riding) and a Schubert C3 modular (for daily commuting and touring) and I can say that both are pretty quiet at street speeds but anything over that, it stops to matter and earplugs are a must! The Schubert however is quieter unaided.

The hard part about finding the quietest helmet is that unless you get to try it on in a wind tunnel, there is no way for you to know for sure, and even though reviews are good, you are still at the mercy of the reviewers "opinion". Who knows what type of hearing that person has to begin with or what type of noise floor they are used to.

The two keys to a quiet helmet are the venting, sometimes sacrificed for noise reduction, and the neck roll. The tighter the neck roll and chin curtain is to your face, the quieter it will be, but in warmer climates this may not be as comfortable as one would like. So it is important to look at both of those areas but to also keep in mind the liner material, as the moisture wicking abilities will really make a difference I overall comfort with a helmet with the fore mentioned properties.

That's my two cents.

Cheers!

 

I like my scorpion exo700. It's pretty quiet but I do wear ear plugs....all the time.

 

Not meaning to hi-jack this thread, but I thought this pdf document I scanned from the House Research Institute would be worth checking out. It is regarding NIHL (Noise Induced Hearing Loss) and pertains to this thread to a certain degree. I didn't know how else to attach a pdf document so I am using a hyperlink to my public drop box.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/30586170/NIHL Pamphlet.pdf

Cheers!

 

I sincerely appreciate all the sound (no Pun intended- well maybe a lil bit) advice on this topic. Unfortunately, I was unable to ride yesterday due to all the rain in my area but I did go to my local bike shop and saw that they were having a sale on thier Shoei helmets ($359 for a Paint scheme Qwest). To bad I was not able to buy one yesterday -not in the budget but I WILL TRY earplugs out on my next ride. Being a former soldier, I have worn many types of ear protection and I have a bunch of foam ear protection already from my "other hobby". I will buy another helmet- mosstly because I want another helmet so that I can swap between the two. I am a 90% ATGATT rider but I never ride without my helmet.

Thanks again guys


Rob in Tampa!!

P.S. Congrats to Repsol Honda /MotoGP - Indy!!

 

Agree the RF1000 was reaonably quiet and certainly a half step quieter than its replacement the RF1100 that I now use.

However the RF1100 has also better airflow ventilation which have found to be much better in Summer for cooling so wouldn't go back. The only time I don't wear good tapered earplugs or my noise isolation Sennheiser or Sony earbuds connected to my Zumo GPS is the odd 12 mile work commute into the City where speeds never pass 40 mph. More ventilation equals more noise, the Bell Vortex looks to have great ventilation.

 

I have an Arai and they are known to be extremely comfortable but at a cost, they are noisy. And they say that you will need ear plugs with them. Prob due to the amount of vents on an Arai, they love their vents!
Schuberth defo the quietest I'm told...but AGV are bringing out new helmets that are very good aerodynamically (woah long word for me...spelt right? :tongue so they are ment to be quiet by reducing wind noise.
If you are after plugs I got a pair of Alpine MotoSafe. Only wear them on long runs though I should all the time They designed to protect your hearing but still enable you to hear the things you need to hear Hearing protection for Motorcycling

Hope you find the right lid but all this could mean pants cos you might be like me and have an odd shaped head where it's difficult to find a helmet to fit right. Lots of good helmets have removable inner pads and lining and you can actually change to sizes inside. Used to work at a bike clothing shop and that was most peoples problem...noisy because to helmet is too darn big!