wanted: a quieter ride

[squished18]

Hello all,

As a newbie rider (just passed 1000km), I purchased a relatively cheap helmet to start with. However, as I am starting to ride at higher speeds and for longer distances, I am finding the wind roar in my helmet detracting from my riding experience. I use ear plugs, but I still find the noise level a bit high for my liking. I'm wondering how much success everybody else has had with reducing wind roar while riding.

So far, there seem to be five options for a quieter ride:
1. a better (i.e. more expensive) helmet
2. better ear plugs
3. high-end stereo earbuds
4. a larger windscreen
5. closing up the air gaps under my helmet (see below)

1. So let's start with helmet discussions. Anybody worn different makes/models of helmets and found one significantly better than another?

2. At my local Shoppers Drug Mart drug store, there were four different styles of ear plugs with different noise reduction ratings. Listed in order of noise-reduction ratings: wax (17dB), down (22dB), foam cylindrical (29dB), foam conical (33dB). So far I have tried the foam cylindrical and foam conical. One interesting thing I found out was that while the foam conical can block out more sound, they are more difficult to fit correctly. I found that if I didn't have the conical ones in correclty, they actually blocked out less noise than the cylindrical ones, which are less fussy. I was disappointed to find that the drug store didn't carry some washeable ear plugs made of plastic. I'm not so keen on shelling out $2 each ride just for ear plugs.

3. Some companies are making some very high end ear buds for listening to music these days. Two of the bigger names are Etymotic and Shure. I've seen TV programs on how various rock musicians use these ear buds during their concerts so that they can hear what they are playing (instead of the crowd). At $150-$300 a pop, these look like quite the investment. However, I am hoping to make it to 80 with my hearing relatively functional and this would be a reasonable price to pay. Anybody used these things before?

4. I do find that tucking in behind the little windshield on my 500F does really cut down the noise. But looking through that thing puts a bit of a distorted perspective on the view ahead, not to mention it's not very comfortable. For those of you with larger windshields/bikes, does a bigger piece of plexy-glass in front of you really help to cut down noise? If so, I'll add my voice to the many clamoring for aftermarket parts for the 500F.

5. I've been doing a bit of reading around the web. One of the interesting comments I found reading a helmet review was that a lot of the wind roar comes from under the helmet. This seemed a bit counter-intuitive to me, as I originally thought most of the noise was coming from seams in the face shield. But after a quick self-test, this appears to be true and makes sense. I rode in a loose, upright position for a while and listened to the noise. Then, I shrugged my shoulders so that the collar of my jacket pushed up against my helmet. The wind roar quieted down noticeably. I guess this makes sense since that area of the helmet is pretty non-aerodynamic and the turbulence in that area would generate the noise. So I'm also thinking of rigging up some sort of a collar that I would put on after my helmet is on to block out the wind and noise from under the helmet.

So, if you're still with me and haven't gone on to a more interesting topic due to my long-windedness, I am wondering about your experiences with any of these possible options. Do you have a helmet that really cuts down noise? Has your larger windshield helped a lot? I'd love to know. I have also done a quick search on the forum for "quiet" but didn't find much in terms of this topic, so thought I'd start this one up.

Cheers,
David
GS500F (blue)

[proudlom]

1. I have an HJC helmet and it's substantially quieter than my passenger AFX.  My helmet is pretty tight and the only time I really notice wind noises is when I open the little vents.
2. I've never used ear plugs.
3. I've tried using earbud headphones in my helmet and found it really uncomfortable just like headsets. I find they press against my ear and get really soar after a while.
4. A larger windscreen might help a little, but you should keep in mind that you're not supposed to look through the windscreen on a bike. Your eyes should always be above, looking over it.
5. Sounds like it might work. Like I said, I don't really have a problem with my helmet so I wouldn't really know.  Once thing to be careful of is when/if you make some sort of collar, make sure it's smooth, soft, and won't become an unsafe object to be in your helmet if you get in an accident.  You should be really careful with this one.  I've seen some people wear baseball hats under their helmets; that little hard button at the top would stop the helmet from redirecting the impact force around thier head and focus it directly under that button.

Good luck.  

[jake42]

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i'm pretty sure they make something that fits on the underside of your helmet to cut down on wind.  I think I saw it in Dennis Kirk or J.C. Whitney.  I'll go look for it.

jake

[Rema1000]

I have trouble fitting the conical 33db plugs in my left ear; on that ear, I turn the plug around, and insert it fat-end-first.  It's maybe not quite as good as going thin-end-first, but it's still pretty good, and fitment is as fast and easy as with cylinder plugs.

If you hold the plugs in your teeth while you suit-up, your breath softens them and they go in easily... esepecially important in winter, if they were sitting out on your parked bike.

I re-use the "disposable single-use foam" plugs until (A) a week goes by, or (B) I drop one on the floor, whichever comes first.  I always have more in the tankbag.  I think the cost is about $1/pair for me, so $1/week isn't too expensive.

With windshields, I've found that most actually increase noise over riding with no windshield at all.   The wind noise you get without a windshield is high-pitch, and easily blocked by earplugs.  The buffeting you get off a windshield is a lower "Brrrrap!" sound (like the sound of an afterburner on a jet, or the sound inside a car that has plastic sheeting and duct tape over one of the windows), and is harder to filter. You have to get up into Monster Windshield size to actually get fully behind it and fully into still air.  Something like a Slipsteamer (touring style), Nat'l Cycle Plexistar or Plexifairing, and Vetter Windjammer would qualify.  Smaller than that, and they keep wind off your chest for added comfort/warmth/dryness, but often don't make riding any quieter.  

Stock exhaust is much quiter; if you want quiet, and have an aftermarket exhaust, trade it for stock with somebody here.

Closing-up air gaps can help.  For example, if I fully expand my tank bag, I notice that it is a little quieter.  I have heard that having "lowers" to block air down below the headlamp, like the Plexifairing 3 windscreen, can also make some bikes quieter (although I don't think there's anyone here with lowers).  I think I've seen some expensive helmets that have an elastic neck-hole, and a fabric "gasket" around your neck to keep the wind out.  I've never tried one, though.

Raising the fairing an inch above the headlight can help: it can let air in behind the fairing, helping to ease the low pressure bubble, and reduce the "Brrrrap!" buffeting sounds.

[Kerry]

I still get plenty of wind noise with my HJC CL-12 helmet and my Plexistar II windshield.  But I haven't really experimented with different shield angles, which I suspect might help.  (BTW, I'm about 5'10" and I definitely look OVER the shield as I ride.  But it doesn't take much to duck behind it.)

The earplugs I currently use are 29db units that I found in the firearms section of my local sporting goods store.  They're pink with a hexagonal (or is it octagonal?) cross-section.  I've found them to work well, and they're long enough that I can turn them around when one end gets too ... disgusting.    On a week-long ride with my brother, he eventually lost one of the washable plugs that he uses at his metal door fabrication workplace.  I gave him a (clean!) pair of foam plugs and he said they blocked the wind noise better than his other ones.  :dunno:

I have performed some informal tests on in-helmet noise reduction -- by blocking the area around my neck and chin with my gloved hand(s), etc.  I could tell that it made a difference, but I never got as far as rigging up something purpose-built.

EDIT: Fixed the db value for my earplugs.

[Rema1000]

I have a 19.75" high Slipstreamer Turbo and get buffeting, but Cal is the same height (5'10") and doesn't.  If I slouch, I get no buffeting, so I figure that maybe I need 20.5"+.  Kerry's Plexistar2 is 20.5", but he's also 5'10", and still gets wind noise.  It's possible that I would need the Plexifairing3 at 21" or Slipstreamer Original at 21.5".

But since the topic is "noise", I think the quietest ride comes from either no windshield, a tiny/small windshield, or else with a Really Really Huge windshield.  If you've got a large windshield, you may want to try a "fly screen" or a Buell windshield, and see if that fixes your noise problem.

[chimivee]

5. closing up the air gaps under my helmet

There are products out there made to address this.  The most popular is probably the NOJ Quiet Rider.  http://www.motorcycleville.com/Noj__Snow_Helmet_Accessories_8924.html

I found my Arai to be really noisy - Even w/ 33dB earplugs, my ears would ring after 20 min of riding (although I 've already messed up my ears from playing in a band).

Anyway, like you, I found that most of the noise was wind coming up through the bottom.  So I bought the Quiet Rider Basic and it has helped reduce noise significantly.  I'd still prefer a quieter ride, but this seems to be as close as I can get w/ out adding a huge windscreen.

[Conzar]

Hey.  My friend directed me to the link below.  For $12, its a pretty good deal.  I have found that these ear plugs are pretty good especially when you are going at highway speeds.

Check it.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.asp

[Roadstergal]

Stock exhaust is much quiter; if you want quiet, and have an aftermarket exhaust, trade it for stock with somebody here.

[Kerry]

Those Quiet Rider items seem pretty "boss".  (For all you '70s-philes out there.)

I stopped in at the sporting goods store on the way home from work:



My (29 dB) plugs are on the left.  Are the ones on the right something like the conical ones that squished18 and Rema1000 mentioned?

[kyzee]

The one on the right hand side is very similar to the ones I use, manufactured by 3M.  I cannot use them for more than a few times before they get deformed.

If you are looking for washable/reuseable earplugs, try to look for those silicone earplugs used by swimmers.

[MarlboroMan]

I use Sony Fontopia channel-plugs - they go inside the ear canal, and do an excellent job as ear plugs even when you're not playing music.  I have them plugged into my iPod, and I never notice the wind anymore.

[pantablo]

Buy earplugs in bulk and dont reuse them!

-->click here<--

200 plugs for $23. ($0.11 each!)

Before I bought the Howard Leigh plugs I bought a sampler pack from aerostitch (search for earplugs on the aerostitch site) for I think it was $10-$20. Then I found the ones that fit well and worked well, and bought them in bulk. I think they cut most wind noise out. My arai also has a little airfoil that you pull down from the chin to help with the wind noise around the  bottom edges. Otherwise it is what it is for me and I dont need any further quiet.

[TR]

I found out how noisy was my Nolan helmet when I lost the chin guard, my HJC sealed better the shield and had a mesh chin guard and was way quieter, also the TCP fairing helped a lot to reduce noise than the naked bike... Never felt the need to use earplugs, perhaps because I do very little long trips...

[dgyver]

I wear a Shoei X-SPII helmet (I believe th X-11 took its place). There is minimal wind noise. Still wear ear plugs. Makes for a less fatiguing ride. There is a position that the helmet has a slight whistle. I normally ride with the visor cracked about 1/4". Overall this is one of the quietest helmets I have owned.

[Rema1000]

5. closing up the air gaps under my helmet

There are products out there made to address this.  The most popular is probably the NOJ Quiet Rider.  http://www.motorcycleville.com/Noj__Snow_Helmet_Accessories_8924.html

Cool!  The "basic" and "standard" look about the same in pictures.  Any suggestions on why one is $20 and the other $30 (at MAW... not an endorsement: http://www.accwhse.com/noj.htm).
?

EDIT: found some info on the VFR list.  The "standard" has a zipper near the chin, which can be used to open an air-scoop for hot weathter.  Some posters were happy with using the "basic" except when it was "really hot", and others said that having the zipper was worth the 50% price hike
.  Since I only have one helmet, maybe I'll look for the "standard" one.

[Rema1000]

My (29 dB) plugs are on the left.  Are the ones on the right something like the conical ones that squished18 and Rema1000 mentioned?

Yep, I use "Hearoes" 33db from Walgreens, mostly because Walgreen's is convenient.  They look like the ones on the right.  Like squished18, I found the "soda-can" shaped AOSafety plugs from Home Depot to be faster to put in, and they "unsquish" faster inside the ear, and they don't go in as far, so they don't pick up as much ear wax (and are therefore more reuseable)... but they don't work as well either.  I had to move to 33db when I added the Slipstreamer windscreen.  A 3db increase in attenuation means half the sound is getting through with 33db versus 30db (although no filter works the same across all frequencies, so there can be some difference between one brand's "33db" plug and another brand's "33db" plug).

Pablo, I ride about 4-6 short trips per day, so even at $0.11 per pair, I'd end-up paying almost as much for plugs as gas on weekdays (I spend about $4/week on fuel, plus the weekend rides).

[chimivee]

5. closing up the air gaps under my helmet

There are products out there made to address this.  The most popular is probably the NOJ Quiet Rider.  http://www.motorcycleville.com/Noj__Snow_Helmet_Accessories_8924.html

Cool!  The "basic" and "standard" look about the same in pictures.  Any suggestions on why one is $20 and the other $30 (at MAW... not an endorsement: http://www.accwhse.com/noj.htm).
?

EDIT: found some info on the VFR list.  The "standard" has a zipper near the chin, which can be used to open an air-scoop for hot weathter.  Some posters were happy with using the "basic" except when it was "really hot", and others said that having the zipper was worth the 50% price hike
.  Since I only have one helmet, maybe I'll look for the "standard" one.

Yeah, the Standard has the zipper for ventilation, but it sounds like the fabric is thicker ("3 ply windproof/waterproof/breathable").  The Basic is  single layer lycra material.  Not sure if that makes any difference,  but I figured the vent wouldn't be much use at a stop, and once moving, having it open would defeat the purpose.... :dunno:  If you get the Standard, let me know what you think.

I definately notice that it's warmer, since there's no draft coming through the bottom of the helmet - but it doesn't bother me (much preferred over the noise).   I'm not sure, though, how comfortable it would be in hot weather.

The only other thing is that the Quiet Rider makes putting on and taking off the helmet more difficult.  No big deal, it just takes more effort to pull it on/off.

[squished18]

Wow! What a response! Thanks for all the postings. Very helpful. Lots of options to try. That Noj Quiet Rider looks like exactly what I'm looking for. And those Etymotic ear plugs look interesting. While they only claim a 20dB reduction, as mentioned by Rema1000, their frequency response could be quite different. And a recommedation for Sony Fontopia buds, so I'll check those out.

The conical plugs I purchased recently are different than those Kerry posted. I'll have to post an image.

Thanks too for all the postings about past experiences with different helmets/windshields/fairings.

Cheers,
David
GS500F (blue)

[Gisser]

I had a Quiet Rider Standard with the zipper and windproof layer.

It got damn hot and humid inside a sealed helmet and the zipper allowed for venting of breath.  The windproofing definitely kept the chin warmer in cool weather.

Bottom line, it didn't work near as well as I had hoped at blocking wind roar.  A noticable difference, yes, but....

Foam earplugs?  I leave them in my jeans pockets then send 'em through the washer/dryer for rejuvenation.