Helmet noise

Been ridin the Vif a lot and lov-in it, everything, except the WIND NOISE! Also researching everything and any-thing I could try to help the loud BUZZ above 60 mph. I was to the point of just cutting down the screen or removing-it:crazy: Comming from a naked, the air stream is very Quiet....If I stick my head way above the screen its quiet. I have been sporting my $500 BellStar carbon fiber helmet,(it fits me great)on all my rides... Sunday I thought I would try my $110 GMax lid just for kicks. I was amazed,, much quieter, not perfect but better, certainly livable. Tried the "STAR" again today, same loud booming. I dont think its the windscreen, its the darn helmet! I like the GMax but it has a lot of "lift" and it's fit is not as good and its not as lite. How do you figure these things out without buying seven different helmets and five different screens?....I need a new HELMET! PS.. I always wear 30db earplugs../.....Thoughts???

 

Bell helmets are loud. Anyway here is a site that deals with and tests different helmets.

Motorcycle Helmets - webBikeWorld <<---- Link

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/helmet-noise.htm <<---- Link

For kicks try closing the gap on the back of the helmet and your neck kinda like shrugging your shoulders and see if the noise goes away. I notice in the winter when I wear a neck gator the noise is greatly reduced. There is a product called the windjammer that works but it seems to fall off then it does little to help.

 

I use Ear Plugs you can still hear everything just not so loud. try that see if it helps.

 

I have tried lots of crash hats but all seem the same, just use ear plugs that work.

Plasma.

 

Wearing earplugs while riding is like the first car you owned that had A/C; you'll wonder how and why you did without it before. If you ride even a moderate amount, you'll be glad later on that you wore plugs. Ask any older rider who didn't where them when he/she was younger; almost invariably they complain of hearing loss. Plus, the muting of the background noises really allows you to concentrate on the ride itself.

Lastly, as I believe Squirrel Man mentioned in a prior thread, by using plugs the muffled engine noise allows him to ride the bike they way it was supposed to be ridden; because he couldn't hear the engine/exhaust noise as much he didn't hesitate to keep the RPMs up where they belong. Because of the sound-dampening he didn't feel as though he was abusing his bike.

I wear mine all the time.
Joe

 

I have an Arai helmet and still have wind noise too. The ear plugs seem to work quite well for me also.

I use them anytime it’s going to be longer than a 15 minute ride. With the plugs in place I feel I have less of a distraction and focus more on riding and awareness of surroundings.

 

I wear ear plugs every time I ride. Can't stand riding without them. Just make sure you compress and insert them correctly, or you won't have a good result.

I can hear music, GPS voice prompts, and incoming phone calls (I rarely answer - I call back next time I stop) as clear as can be with ear plugs inserted.

Bottom line is that I can hear what I need and/or want to hear, and block out what I don't want to hear (e.g., wind noise, and my pillion - J/K).:biggrin:

 

All...I wear plugs all the time, I would'nt ride without em! Even with ear plugs the noise above 65mph was NASTY!!! The wind hits just below the helmet's lower edge. With my cheap lid it was better. I think people think this bike needs a new screen when it could be your head bucket!

 

I noticed that which is why I offered research material instead of telling you to wear ear plugs. I agree with you that when you get you head up the wind noise is dramatically different. The reason for changing screens is to move the air stream. Not over your head but to take the stream from below your helmet. I have an Idea but I have not yet tried it. I need a blade to cut the plastic for the stock screen. But in the mean time I did go get a double bubble from Puig.

As I mentioned in my earlier post the Bell Helmets are loud just are. I wear a Arai Quantum II and it is noisy mostly a low frequency and wearing plugs corrects that. If you try the shoulder shrug trick and close the rear gap it may help you figure out where the noise is at it's worst. Most find it is from the rear bottom of the helmet (shoulder shrug) and will wear a bandana and tuck it up in the rear of the helmet to curb it. There are also Helmet skirts that do the same thing.
PUQR-01:: NOJ Quiet Rider Deluxe Helmet Insulator and other helmet parts In Stock at MotorcycleCloseouts.com <<--Link

 

I have a Shoei tz-r and it is very quiet, it might be from the lack of a rear vent like some other models. Also Shoei sells a Whisper kit for the tz-r and I hear it's very effective at reducing noise.

 

Bitterpil,
did the Puig help? I am 5'8". Tell me more about the cutting?/

 

What type/ shape is your head / when I put on a Shoei they fit odd on my head shape, they seem to sit high up on my head. Higher than my Bell. I am kind of round/netural/ med. Do they still make the tz-r? the Gmax I wore today has a much larger shell size than the Bell. both are Medium though.

 

The PUIG works great for me and was only about $76. At 76MPH you think you are flying. But that is me. Also, it looks better than the Zero gravity screens (IMO). The cutting was that I was going to reduce the height of the screen. I thought that would drop the air stream below my shoulders
I am 6'. Tall in the seat and short legs I sit higher in the saddle than many. I noticed that when the airstream was moved up and hit mid helmet instead of under noise was reduced. I wear 26db ear plugs form the drug store.

 

I got a new KBC VR-2R Vulcan helmet Mid summer and it helped a lot with the noise unless you ride in Kansas with our 30mph side winds, then ear plugs or my MP3 with Sensorcom MicroBuds Isolation Earphones - Earphones Sensorcom micro buds (had to cut to fit my ear cannal), they have a huge selecton of plugs and at all prices. I also bought the Windtamer ear plugs and they are actually noiser than with out, the small hole in them creates a whistle! For just plugs though I would go to your local hardware store they have all kinds. Also this helmet has a hump in the back which actually helps a lot when you turn your head to check traffic, no moving around at all even in high side winds. I did remove the little breath or whatever it is deflector out of my helmet cause it made me feel claustrophobic!!

 

Thanks you guys! I looked at Sholie's TR-z on WBW>now I will look at KBC. Had a yellow Racer1 years ago. It fit good but the vents would whisel like a coke bottle....Pil, where did you pu your puig? I was going to cut down my shield, I have been lookin for a used one to experiment with but I hate to lose the protection! THAT was my point in my org. post how do you find what is best for your height w/o buying several different shields and hats?

 

I got my Puig from sum of all parts on ebay. They have a store if you search for sum of all parts. I cant give them a great recommendation because of some shipping issues and a return problem I had. there are several other places that carry it tho. If I can remember them I will PM you. The double bubble will raise the air stream without raising the screen and place it on or about the middle of your helmet.

 

Pil,YOU THE MAN..Thanks for the info!

 

I guess you folks beat me to it. With my ZG Double Bubble, everything was super smooth at 130mph. No wind noise or buffeting.

Get a good shield, and you'll be happy you did.