Not sure if this is the place for my question but I was wondering what people were using as far as helmets. I've currently got a Scorpion EXO-400 and it's alright as far as fit and seems great for the money but it's on the loud side, and I wonder if others are better about buffeting. I'm willing to spend ~$350 or so on a good lid that's quiet and easy to live with. The weight of the -400 doesn't bother me but I don't think the EXO-700 will fix my main complaint, the noise levels.
I know these things aren't quiet but an improvement would be nice. I was considering the Shoei TZ-R but the non-removable liner is a bit of a turn off, and while WebBikeWorld seems to really like the noise levels of the TZ-1 I'm not 100% sold. Am going to the dealership that I prefer tonight to pick up some other gear, would like to check around on helmets as well. Opinions welcome.
If the noise is getting to you it's probably the exhaust. I know a couple of people on here have bitched about the noise from the V&H. Or you could wear ear plugs. Everything I've read says the scorpions are excellent for noise reduction :icon_confused: Or you could just put some headphones in and forget the helmet. It's usually quiet at the hospital :dunno_white:
I6
Quote from: spcterry on April 30, 2007, 09:38:51 AM
If the noise is getting to you it's probably the exhaust. I know a couple of people on here have bitched about the noise from the V&H. Or you could wear ear plugs. Everything I've read says the scorpions are excellent for noise reduction :icon_confused: Or you could just put some headphones in and forget the helmet. It's usually quiet at the hospital :dunno_white:
I really need to change my cig to read "2004 VFR800 Interceptor: Stock Exhaust"
It's wind, I can have a normal conversation sitting on this thing while idling, no voice raising, with someone else standing a yard away from me. Very quiet bike.
Ohhhh OK ummm tried earplugs??
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 30, 2007, 10:00:30 AM
I've got the EX0-700, and it's noisier than my old, cheap Icon Alliance Mainframe. Particulary if you look over your shoulder- it wails like a banshee.
You might be disappointed in the difference between your EXO-400 and a $350 helmet.
Yeah, the EXO-400 and -700 are funny, it's like they took a kind of cheap helmet and packed them full of features that you'd otherwise have to pay 2x as much for with someone like Aria, Suomi, etc. The shield in the TZ-R isn't an anti-fog coated job either, do they still sell Fog-X? I haven't seen it in stores in a long time, but it might be a decent way around this potential problem.
Quote from: spcterry on April 30, 2007, 10:15:41 AM
Ohhhh OK ummm tried earplugs??
Yeah, I have, and they still aren't *that* quiet, plus those things are a hassle when I just want to ride to work 20 minutes away.
A7
The quietest helmet I've owned is a POS 3/4 AFX ...........looked retarded but it was quiet :o
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 30, 2007, 10:00:30 AM
Scorpion is also the only one I know to offer the photochromic/photochromatic/"shade shifter" faceshield, which so far has meant that I never need to carry another, just in case....
Ok that is totally awesome, I have an EXO-400 and didn't know they had such a thing :) Oddly enough their website for this visor claims: "Standard on all EXO helmets"
But the helmet specs say no such thing... Someone typed something incorrectly I think...
[8
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 30, 2007, 10:47:49 AM
By the way, the anti-fog thing has it's limits. In real cold, especially with the chin curtain, you can overpower it... it may not fog, but that doesn't mean you won't get any condensation. I was startled to see water droplets forming on the inside a couple of mornings, took me a minute to work out what was going on. Minor annoyance, and still safer IMHO than fogging.
I'm well pleased with mine... it doesn't get really dark, but the only time it's been an issue is with the setting sun directly in my face. Other than that, I just haven't been conscious of it at all. Looking at it from the outside when it darkens down, there's this odd purplish tint, but I can't see it from the inside.
It DOES get really light, so it's great for those rides when you might get caught out after dark... which, come to think of it, is any ride...
The fogging isn't perfect indeed, but it's a lot better than anything else in this price range (or twice the price range...). I'll have to consider the shadeshifter, I like the idea but $70 is some coin. It would be very convenient though.
[t
I just bought an AC-12, but I haven't been able to try it on the bike yet this year... When I'm done my shift, I"ll try the helmet on and run down the road to see how much wind noise I can generate on foot, then multiply that by about 10...
JG
I don't find my exo700 loud at all. It can be, when tucked down with the vents open, but upright its quieter than my old hjc.
Quote from: groff22 on April 30, 2007, 12:15:57 PM
I just bought an AC-12, but I haven't been able to try it on the bike yet this year... When I'm done my shift, I"ll try the helmet on and run down the road to see how much wind noise I can generate on foot, then multiply that by about 10...
JG
That wont work; it's a nice thought, though.
I have the Shoei Tz-1, and it is WONDERFULly quiet...this is coming from a RF-800 (with the 'ears', the covers over the faceshield ratchet system; currently still being used by Arai :icon_rolleyes: ).
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 30, 2007, 11:08:28 AM
Quote from: debtman7 on April 30, 2007, 10:53:05 AM
I'll have to consider the shadeshifter, I like the idea but $70 is some coin. It would be very convenient though.
Be aware that the EXO-1000 should be shipping in August. That one has a tinted eye visor that flips down over your eyes, inside the faceshield. May be an even better all-around solution.
I will likely be replacing my Icon Alliance with a EXO-1000. Nice helmet!
Another option I've seen is a sort of sleeve that fits around the base of the helmet and forms a tighter seal around your neck. It cuts down air circulation and noise throughout the helmet
... so long as you can get used to the feeling of being choked by a midget ...
this would be a cheap alternative to replace the entire helmet, if you wanted to give it shot ...
-me
Quote from: scratch on April 30, 2007, 04:36:15 PM
That wont work; it's a nice thought, though.
I have the Shoei Tz-1, and it is WONDERFULly quiet...this is coming from a RF-800 (with the 'ears', the covers over the faceshield ratchet system; currently still being used by Arai :icon_rolleyes: ).
Heh, yeah I figured. Can you imagine seeing some guy booking it down the road with a helmet on and arms flailing all over the place... would be hillarious.
Sigh. Should have all the parts in for my GS by this weekend... then I'll give her a real try. :)
Cheers,
J
Quote from: scratch on April 30, 2007, 04:36:15 PM
Quote from: groff22 on April 30, 2007, 12:15:57 PM
I just bought an AC-12, but I haven't been able to try it on the bike yet this year... When I'm done my shift, I"ll try the helmet on and run down the road to see how much wind noise I can generate on foot, then multiply that by about 10...
JG
I have the Shoei Tz-1, and it is WONDERFULly quiet...this is coming from a RF-800 (with the 'ears', the covers over the faceshield ratchet system; currently still being used by Arai :icon_rolleyes: ).
The TZ-1 and TZ-R look nearly identical, the reviews of the TZ-R on webbikeworld.com paint the TZ-R to be a pretty quiet helmet so fingers crossed that it is with my situation. I tried a TZ-R on yesterday, sized large, and it was just slightly too big (fit pretty good brand new, but a little break-in and I know it wouldn't be the right size anymore) and the thing felt really light. Workmanship looked excellent as well. Gear is such a hassle to deal with here, everything I want I have to order in unless I decide to settle for Icon or JR stuff. Also just ordered a pair of Firstgear Burnout gloves to replace an ill-fitting pair of year-round Z1R's and the really flimsy Tourmaster mesh jobs I got a year ago.