Whats the quietest helmet

ernieshrew · Post by **ernieshrew** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:45 pm

Hi all
Just bought myself a Silver R1150R much faster than my old black one so obviouly silver ones are the fastest

Am about to buy myself a new helmet, I currentely have a Shoei Z One but have found it to be a bit noisy of late, well it is over 5 years old so maybe its seen better days. I dont want to spend a fortune about Ã‚Â£200 give or take a bit. Could anyone recommend a decent helmet thats pretty quiet?
Thanks in advance

Ernie

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:52 pm

Welcome Ernie..I'll start by saying the BMW System 5 is the quietest helmet that I have ever used (and it's even a flip)..but may be out of your price range.

DJ

Post by **TonyT607** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:56 pm

DJ Downunder wrote:Welcome Ernie..I'll start by saying the BMW System 5 is the quietest helmet that I have ever used (and it's even a flip)..but may be out of your price range.

DJ

Ditto on the System V...I love mine ! Mien Schuberth Concept is also vewy vewy quiet.....

BoiseBeemer · Post by **BoiseBeemer** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:02 pm

Any of the better brands' premium helmets will likely be quieter than your old model. I usually stick with Shoei as a better value alternative to an Arai, and the RF-1000 is reasonably quiet for me.

Be advised, however, that quiet is a tradeoff not everyone prioritizes, nor is it necessarily automatically correlated with price. As a general rule, quiet conflicts with venting, which can make a company's top-line racer one of the noisier helmets in its lineup. For Shoei, e.g., I'd say the X-11 is noisier than the street-oriented RF-1000, and the less-vented (and less expensive) TZ-R is quieter still. Obviously, better aerodynamics also come into play, which is why a newer helmet of similar quality will probably outperform your old one.

BTW, I have yet to try on a modular helmet that isn't noisier than a standard full-face, which doesn't mean I don't like them. My HJC Sy-Max is always the choice for around-town riding--easy to get on and off over glasses and a welcome air break at stops. It's a noisy brute, though. Interesting to note that DJ reports his space-commander bucket is quiet. Could be that enough money thrown at the design and construction just might make a modular work in any situation. I'm going to look into it (just for the sexy quotient, if for no other reason).

Regardless of what I'm wearing, however, for the past thirty years any trip at highway speeds gets earplugs, so noise-reduction tends to be my lowest priority in helmet selection. Maybe that's why I'm the only old fart in my riding group who can still hear a siren in the rear. Or maybe it's because I'm always closest to the source?

Lupo · Post by **Lupo** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:41 pm

I agree with the post above. I have a bit of a helmet fetish so comparing different helmets I have found the ones with the best venting are louder. Of course you can always close the vents. I've noticed the larger vents also contribute to lift at speed. At times I've closed the front vents to stop the lift/bobbing effect. I don't like earplugs so I put up with the noise. Whats the saying about trade-offs? What helmet? It really depends on fit to your head. I have an oval shaped head and have had good fitting with Shoei, Nolan, HJC and KBC. Scorpion is very good value but I haven't bought one(yet), so I don't have first hand experience. Of my helmets the best value(cheap) has been a KBC VR1. Good venting and fit. My favorite on trips, Shoei RF1000 or Nolan N100.

DYNAMICS · Post by **DYNAMICS** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:02 am

I also love my BMW System 5, but My Sportintegral is a lot quieter (Not such a good visor mechanism though and quite dificult to open the visor with a gloved hand)

http://www.cwmotorcycles.co.uk/accessor ... minium.jpg

Brian.

leoquattro · Post by **leoquattro** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:17 am

Ernie
I have a Nolan Genesis, quite comfortable because it can easily be opened with one gloved hand and vents work relatively well. It's heavy anyway and rather noisy at medium/high speeds.
leoquattro

sloopy_farklehump · Post by **sloopy_farklehump** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:47 am

Web Bike World has information of various helmets (weight, noise etc...). I have found them to be fairly accurate.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:56 am

i used to only have AGV helmets but found them to noisy after time.
I have swapped to Shark RSF2 and a RSX2 - very quiet, top fit and very very light.

Max Continuous · Post by **Max Continuous** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:12 am

Here is a link to a discussion on the BMW System 5. It looks like people are saying it is very quiet and if you don't need Bluetooth, then it is in your price range at 200 Stirling. ( don't have a pounds key )

http://www.visordown.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231221

kantuckid · Post by **kantuckid** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:29 am

Go to http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com for reviews on helmets and other bike stuff...

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:33 am

I also love my BMW System 5, but My Sportintegral is a lot quieter

Brian...It's funny you should say that because I also have the new BMW Sport integral and thought I would use it for long trips where there is no need for the flip function and for the quietest wind noise......and when I headed off on my 8 day ride a few months ago I was just up the road from where I live and turned around and went back home to swap with my System 5..because it seemed much quieter..and I still think it is..maybe it's just me....both are great helmets..

DJ

hirsty · Post by **hirsty** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:38 am

I have a SportIntegral, but don't find it particularly quiet - it's horses for courses dependent on headshape / relative position to screen etc. No two people will ever have the same experience.

I have read only good things about Shoei Raid II which should fit your budget, and Schuberth (which probably won't).

Trying a big selection of earplugs will probably make a bigger difference - I've just moved off my expensive Alpine earplugs for some cheapies from Boots & am way happier!

ernieshrew · Post by **ernieshrew** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:23 pm

Thanks for all the advice, it looks like I may need to spend a little more as the System 5 or Schberth, these seem to be the favourites. Earplugs have been an option but makes using my intercom a little awkward

I will go and try one on this weekend and hope my long suffering wife will understand

Maybe I should invest in earplugs too just in case she doesnt

Post by **TonyT607** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:09 pm

ernieshrew wrote:Earplugs have been an option but makes using my intercom a little awkward

Try a earplug-headphone like the Etymotics ER-6i's - alot of guys use those. I love mine. I don't know if they are compatible with your intercom setup but it's probably worth a look. They do a great job of isolating harmful noises; which allows you to keep the volume turned down.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:58 pm

Rider mag did a comparo last year and they rated the Shoi RF 1000 as one of the quietest. Don't know if htat ouwl dbe in your price range though. The TZR may be in your range and is very similar.

k

ranmar850 · Post by **ranmar850** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:43 am

Has anyone in Oz tried the Earmolds with built in speakers? Snuggest-fitting iPod plugs I can find don't stop enough noise(HJC C-11 is noisy) to be able to hear with volume below near deafening. Given it away until I get the Earmolds. I always wear earplugs(soft disposable type) on the highway

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:32 am

Has anyone in Oz tried the Earmolds with built in speakers? Snuggest-fitting iPod plugs I can find don't stop enough noise(HJC C-11 is noisy) to be able to hear with volume below near deafening. Given it away until I get the Earmolds. I always wear earplugs(soft disposable type) on the highway

I have them...I like them...I don't use them that much now because I've fitted little speakers in my helmet.

The Earmoulds with built in speakers are good...but not great...the sound quality is not the best..(still pretty good but not real Hi Fi stuff)..and the tiny holes that the sound comes out of gets ear wax in them and blocks the sound...even after the best ear cleaning.

DJ

Post by **Ed K** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:57 am

Since I have sensitive ears I rearched this several years ago, and found what appeared to be objective data indicating the Shoei RF1000 was just about as quiet as much more expensive helmets. Of course, that was a few years ago, and the state of the art of quietness might be different today.

If you get the Shoei RF1000, be sure to get the "chin curtain." If it does not come with the helmet ask Shoei for one, and they'll send one to you for free (they did for me).

IMHO, there are three major factors that contribute to quietness:
1) A flush shield (as in a Shoei RF1000... and btw, it takes about 10 seconds to change)
2) A mechanism to prevent wind noise from entering through the neck area (the RF does this with the chin curtain... premium helmets to this with neck cushions).
3) Aerodynamic venting

Good luck and let us know what you get!

triggerfish · Post by **triggerfish** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:29 am

ernieshrew wrote: I dont want to spend a fortune about Ã‚Â£200 give or take a bit. Could anyone recommend a decent helmet thats pretty quiet?
Thanks in advance

Ernie

Try on a chin skirt Ernie. It's cheap and may be good enough. Some skirts go all the way round to the back of the neck.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparr ... 95C41A4F69

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Whats the quietest helmet

Whats the quietest helmet

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