Helmet options for the naked riders

[RadRider]

After many trials and money spent I have decided to go naked with no windscreen. Nice clean air with no buffeting. I have tried many windscreens and different heights with and without the tilt modification with unsatisfactory results. I now prefer better gear on myself rather trying to attach the protection on my R12R. The helmet (HJC Symax modular) tends to want to pull off my head at 65+ mph. It doesn't have a chin curtain. For those of you out there who ride naked (no windscreen) which helmet would you recommend with optimal aerodynamics?

[websterize]

I like the Schuberth C3. It's pricey but works well for me.

[michael Tobias]

I had a Schuberth C2 that worked very well for about 5 years but when it came time to replace it there were none available so I went to the Shoei Multitech and that is a fine choise as well....a bit noiser but I think that is mroe from the internal air flow....the Shoei has a chin curtain

[RadRider]

My HJC Symax is fine when I had a functioning windscreen like on my prior RT. Now that I have decided to go without any windscreen at all on the R, the noise isn't too bad but the instability of the helmet is. I am thinking of trying the Schuberth but I want to make sure it is a more stable helmet.

[boxerpaul]

I've had good luck with my Shoei TZ-R, pretty quiet and with smoother air flow compared to my previous helmet, a Shark RSF Prisma.
I ride both without windscreen, and with (sport screen). I've found that above 110 km/hr without the sport screen, I start getting huge amounts of chest buffeting, so I normally go sport screen these days. Regardless, the TZ-R performs equally well, both naked and with the sport screen.

[gezerbike]

I bought me a real purdy Shoei RF 1000 when I decided to " nakedize " my R. Very happy with my choice. For higher speed rides, I always wear a set of ear plugs.

[LumpyCam]

My strategy too - invest in gear over farkles.

I used to use an Arai RX-7 which was awesome for airflow--stable and comfortable at speed--but a bit noisy unless in a tuck, which i'm not 99.7% of the time.

Before a recent 6,000km trip when i didn't want to go deaf I switched to an Arai RX-Q which is designed for commuting/touring and much quieter than the RX-7 while still having the same build quality and comfort. It's been excellent.

I must have tried on 40 helmets before finding Arai fits me best. The fit must be your deciding factor for which brand to go with. Two other thoughts:

• 1) Get the correct size helmet. Arai puts measurements on their shells to help get you started so, for example, my small is for a 56cm (6 7/8) crown. A helmet that is too big will just flop around in the breeze. Here's an interesting video of Jay Leno talking helmet sizing with Arai. His massive noggin takes a medium.

• 2) Pop in a set of good 33db earplugs

[Lost Rider]

I would suggest a Shoei, Arai, or Shuberth helmet... most all the rest are CHEAP copy cat helmets not worthy of protecting our heads, let alone being comfortable or efficient....

You buy what one of those 3 high quality name brand helmet fits YOUR head's shape best.



With a $15,000 bike, buying a high quality helmet doesn't seem like too much of a stretch IMO...

[combatcarry]

I love my Arai Corsair V.

I bought a close out color here: http://www.compacc.com/Arai-Corsair-V?g ... bAodNkXJ2g

[Rocket]

[quote="ChiTown"]I would suggest a Shoei, Arai, or Shuberth helmet... most all the rest are CHEAP copy cat helmets not worthy of protecting our heads, let alone being comfortable or efficient....

You buy what one of those 3 high quality name brand helmet fits YOUR head's shape best.

Do you know which is the quietest of these 3 Joe?
I expect its the Shuberth, but would be interested to hear if you have personal experience that suggests different

[Lost Rider]

I've never owned a Shuberth, but have a Arai XD3 and a Shoei Multitech that I like both very much.
I also had a Shoei RF-1000, but no longer use it.

As of lately I only wear my Arai XD3 dual sport helmet. Now that I'm used to it, I just can't get away from having the visor to keep the sun out of my eyes in these winter months. Not exactly appropriate for the roadster, but what works for me. Then again, with where I've been lately on the R it is fitting to have a DS helmet on...
On the 12R, with the OEM touring screen it works great and is quiet, but does take more effort to go fast for long distances.... My neck gets a little sore after a day at highway speeds with the extra drag from the visor. That drag also helps keep my speeds down near the speed limit quite a bit, which is a good thing...
The Arai is much quieter than the Shoei, but it's not really fair comparing a flip up to a dual sport helmet.

The marketing truth about Arai that sold me.

http://www.araiamericas.com/default.aspx?pageid=60

[combatcarry]

My strategy too - invest in gear over farkles.

• 1) Get the correct size helmet. Arai puts measurements on their shells to help get you started so, for example, my small is for a 56cm (6 7/8) crown. A helmet that is too big will just flop around in the breeze. Here's an interesting video of Jay Leno talking helmet sizing with Arai. His massive noggin takes a medium.

Loved the Jay Leno video. I like the new Arai helmets because they have expanded the opening size. They are much easier to put on your head without ripping off your ears and cheeks.

[creamora]

I would suggest a Shoei, Arai, or Shuberth helmet... most all the rest are CHEAP copy cat helmets not worthy of protecting our heads, let alone being comfortable or efficient....
You buy what one of those 3 high quality name brand helmet fits YOUR head's shape best.
With a $15,000 bike, buying a high quality helmet doesn't seem like too much of a stretch IMO...

Wow, sounds like an oil-thread now…

Lot’s of views and only a few takers on this post. I’ve seen pushback on parts prices here so it’s little wonder few will engage on $500 helmet preferences talk.

I’m an off the shelf guy and pick and choose when to be an economical shopper. I happen to have an HJC ISMAX and have no issues with it. Eclectically, I also have FirstGear and Gerbings in my setup. Improvise, adapt and overcome – especially true if you’re on a budget.

With an office job to go to, a mortgage to pay and three kids to feed, the extreme riding and red-lines are not my style. I prefer the long way home and a four hour commute on fair weather days. I was drilling holes in the sky before I had a driver’s license and today my car of choice is a no frills standard Toyota Echo.

To each their own setup.

[Lost Rider]

Well, hopefully for you, your "economical" safety gear will work correctly if you crash your BMW 1200R motorbike so you continue to go to your office job and provide for your family.

Personally, my body is worth every penny I spend on quality gear I know will protect me the best in a crash.
Even the most expensive riding gear on earth is far cheaper than even a quick visit to the ER.
I crashed a few days ago and walked away.
Maybe economical gear would have done the same job.
Maybe not, but I walked away without a bruise.

To each their own, ride safe.





Back to the OP question, of the helmets I have personally owned, the Shoei RF-1000 was the quietest.
BTW, a Shoei RF-1000 can be bought for around $250.

[combatcarry]

. I happen to have an HJC ISMAX and have no issues with it.

IMO nothing wrong with HJC. Read the reviews HJC gets excellent marks.

I chose the Arai Corsair V mainly for the cushy soft interior, comfort, and extremely nice venting (I sometimes ride in 100°F+). An improperly vented helmet in high temperatures would mean I ride without any helmet at all. I don't want a baked brain any more than I want a smashed brain.

I rode many years with no helmet at all so any full face helmet that stays on my head (meaning I will actually wear it) is a good choice for me.

[Lost Rider]

howdy combatcarry, your quote is incorrect, I've never owned an HJC helmet as I don't prefer cheap mass manufactured in China safety gear.


cheers

[BigEasy]

IMHO the quietness of a helmet is not only dependent the helmet and your windshild /height/inseam/torso length/posture etc., etc. Too many varibles for anyone else to give YOU a solid answer. I can tell you how my various helmets act on my different bikes, and they are all different on each bike.

The one thing that may be something to keep in mind is the presence of air scoops to move air in/through the helmet, but even that is not fool proof. Of the lids in my closet today, on the R12R, the most quiet is my Suomy Gunwind it has no air scoops. The loudest is probably a tie between a Suomy Spec 1R Extreme and Arai RX-7 Coursair, both with lots of scoops/vents. The not fool proof part is I also have a Bell (model name escapes me right now) that is as smooth as the Gunwind on the exterior but is just as noisy as the Arai. Get on another bike and pretty much all of these observations change.

To throw my can of gas on the this is better than that discussion that has come up here: I buy helmets designed for racers as opposed to riders. The distinction in my mind (even thought they may both meet DPT/EU/Snell standards) is those designed for racers like the Arai's/Suomy's/Shoie's of the world are designed to crash in and walk away, not protect in the event of a crash.

I guess after my little rant the thing you need to do is find a way to test them out. Good luck

[winkeldc]

Webbikeworld has good write ups on different helmet shapes and relative noise comparison. I used that to narrow done the field. I think I was between some kind of arai and the shoei rf1000. I tried them both on and liked the shoei's feel the best and ended up with that. Best helmet I have ever worn. I agree with ChiTown. I used to use HJC, but never really liked them. I tried Scorpion with the same results. The internal shape has the most to do with that, but the smoothness of the visor on my wife's HJC compared to my Shoei is not even close. The HJC visor doesn't shut all the way and feels rickety in its movement compared to the really smooth and precise control over the Shoei visor. I will probably get her one of the 3 mentioned above next time.

[ContraMoto]

I just back from a 2-hour ride on my R in full-nekkid configuration. I think my Shoei Qwest is a great helmet for this setup. Not all naked bikes sit the same. Most makes have you leaning much more forward; the R, in contrast, is an upright-sitting bike. The Qwest is designed for sitting up, not laying down over the tank. It works. With earplugs in (cheap foam ones from Home Depot) all I could hear was a soothing quiet rush of wind and the rumble of my new Ztech muffler. Feee-nomenal riding comfort.

This is far quieter than any of the three windshield setups I now have: BMW Sport; BMW Touring; CalSci XL. And, I've tested all those from stock to tilted and back again. The quietest setup is no screen; Qwest helmet. I've also tried out the Shoei RF1100 and a Scorpion something-1000. The only glitch right now is that the large Qwest is a half-size too big for me and it wobbles around on my head a little. I need to go try on a medium at the store.

As others have noted, there are other factors to noise. Today I put on a tighter-fitting summer jacket since it was almost warm out. That is noticeably more quiet than my big bulky leather winter jacket. Didn't figure on that, but there it is. The leather jacket must throw turbulent air up under my helmet.

[websterize]

Here's some BMW MoTORrrrad helmet happytime showcasing the System 6, which might be a cousin of Schuberth. (59MB, mp4 file)