Helmet noise

[Agusts]

After years of buying and wearing various helmets I have come to some conclusions about helmet noise. The noise has not much to do with wind sneaking through from neck cushins or cheek cushins or visors etc., not to do with full face, open face, modular and so on, I had them all...

 

The thin outer shell of a helmet, no matter what material it's made of, acts like a drum, when wind, which is usually has some buffeting and turbulence due to front of the bike or low windshield, hits the shell, it makes the sound like drummers hitting theirs...! 

 

Even the aerodynamic shape and testing doesn't help much, because the wind is not hitting the helmet smoothly, it hits the front of the bike first, then comes with turbulence all over...

 

I actually found with no windshield at all and on naked bike, sometimes I get less noise, more smooth wind...! 

 

The only thing I think helps is how the inner layer of the helmet, the foam or whatever they use, is attached to the thin outer shell, what material it is, and how it's attached or glued to it. That makes the drum less hollow and create less noise..., to see what I mean get a small deep pan and knock on it, then fill it with water and knock again..., a lot less noise. But they use very light, foam, material to reduce weight, hence the drum effect is there, whatever they do... 

 

I haven't come across a quiet helmet yet, and that's because it's hard to impossible to make it, maybe if they use thicker layer shell, but keep it light and strong, but hard job....

 

For now I'm happy with my Forza electric windshield, it's a God sent at 120kph, I don't think I can ride without it anymore, very addictive...! 

 

[Hummin]

Simple solution and that is earplugs bought at any construction company. Just learn how to use them properly.

 

I had proper helmets, but those is 20k or more in Thailand. I bought them half price in Europe at sale

 

 

https://www.thaiwatsadu.com/en/product/โฟมอุดหูเพื่อลดเสียงพร้อมสายคล้อง-YAMADA-รุ่น-YMD519-สีเหลือง-น้ำเงิน-60241204

[farang51]

1 hour ago, Agusts said:

After years of buying and wearing various helmets I have come to some conclusions about helmet noise. The noise has not much to do with wind sneaking through from neck cushins or cheek cushins or visors etc., not to do with full face, open face, modular and so on, I had them all...

In my Caberg Duke (modular), the noise most certainly comes from wind sneaking through at the neck. When "air tight", there is very little noise. However, I ride a scooter and max speed is 100 km/h so maybe that is why it is low noise.

[CallumWK]

I would think the noise in a helmet comes from the air vents.

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Simple solution and that is earplugs bought at any construction company. Just learn how to use them properly.

 

I had proper helmets, but those is 20k or more in Thailand. I bought them half price in Europe at sale

 

 

https://www.thaiwatsadu.com/en/product/โฟมอุดหูเพื่อลดเสียงพร้อมสายคล้อง-YAMADA-รุ่น-YMD519-สีเหลือง-น้ำเงิน-60241204

 

Prefer the neoprene? ones. Pull out the "string" as that can transmit noise. 

 

 

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Prefer the neoprene? ones. Pull out the "string" as that can transmit noise. 

 

 

The strings are good for keeping them when you need them. I used them when skydiving, and easy to tuck under inside the suit. 

 

Personally I have used Sony earbuds with noise cancelling the last yeara, which I managed to use in my helmets.

 

https://www.soundguys.com/sony-wf-1000xm5-review-95465/

[Kinnock]

I fitted a taller screen and it cut the wind noise enough to no longer need my ear plugs.