Helmet Advice

i have found Shoei to be the quietest, although none of them are great,i always wear the foam earplugs and they make a huge difference, and they will protect your hearing .I've tried all kinds of ear plugs from the expensive custom made ones to everything in-between and there is nothing better than the good old fashioned foam ones,i get the ones that are bell shaped as they tend to be the comfiest and cheap as chips
just remember to roll them up tight and lift your ear up with one hand and insert them with the other, that way you are opening up the ear canel and the plug will fit in easily and then expand to create a perfect seal

 

yeah my mate listens to music and also wears earplugs, you can still hear things, there's just not near so much wind blast from the helmet

 

I also have inteecom/music and have started wearing these foam earplugs, makes a huge difference, I would only wear them for high speed rides like motorway but now I will wear them for all, rides bar a quick ride to the shop.

 

https://billyscrashhelmets.co.uk/first-look-bell-qualifier-dlx/

 

I’ve found when purchasing a helmet, you buy the smallest you can fit comfortably. They all loosen with wear and the easiest fit in the shop will most times be too big, allowing more air (and noise) in.
The helmet should encapsulate your whole head, with the padding and protective layers able to do their job without your head moving.
Different brands suit different head shapes, so it can take a while to find your match

 

You shouldn't be able to push your fingers between the helmet and your forehead. Best to try a few different brands on in a shop as they can all be a slightly different shape. Everyone seems to have a preference towards a brand that fits well. Shoei suits me perfectly but they aren't the cheapest.
You can do a bit of damage to your hearing after a days riding so plugs are a great idea!

 

I agree with others here regarding earplug use. I only wore them sporadically when I began riding and now wish I'd started immediately as I'm sure I've done some damage to my hearing. Wind noise can happen with any and all helmets whether or not your helmet fits your noggin is key. If it's too big it will most certainly be noisy. Also, I'm not sure whether you can adjust the face shield fit on the Bell but you might want to check that. If it's not adjusted correctly or seated properly that can definitely add to the wind noise.

I've ridden with multiple Bells and Shoei's over the years and one Schuberth. For me the Shoei is the most quiet of the three brands. My current go to helmet is Shoei's RF-SR which is about $400. So not cheap but not super high end either. I find it to be quite quiet but I still and now always wear earplugs, even for a ride around the block. Using them all the time makes it a habit and assures that I don't get lazy and figure, "ah, it's only a 15 minute ride to the gas station". I read somewhere in an article on ear damage from wind that damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes.

I have several types of ear plus that I've "collected" over the last few years but these are my favorites. They are a bit expensive but I think they are well worth it. They do a great job of allowing your music to come through but still cutting that wind noise. And you can hear things around you that you want to hear. I also find that I'm careful not to lose them because they cost more than foam. I've used the foam ones but I have a hard time getting them in correctly and keeping them in. Like a helmet, you need to find what works for you. Good luck getting this figured out, @AndyGuy! It definitely can be annoying and frustrating to ride with too much noise.

https://www.earpeace.com/pages/earpeace-moto

 

never use ear plugs I like to hear whats going on

 

Another bonus I've found with wearing ear plugs is i ride a lot better sounds crazy but it's true!, everything seems a lot smother and you can just concentrate on the ride, occasionally if i forget to put them in i have to stop immediately to put them in as it's just so noisy. @Jadorff the weird thing is you can still hear traffic etc, also when I'm using my sat nav through speakers in my helmet you can hear the instructions perfectly. like @Sandi T says i were them even for the shortest of runs

 

Always good form to have some earplugs distributed about your person and/or your bike. If I'm pottering about I usually don't bother but going out for a proper run they not only protect your hearing long term but also short term, keeps your head warmer and you will be less fatigued.
I just need to turn my Sena headset thingy up full if I'm using it.

 

I wear hearing aids, believe me, you dont want to be in my situation! Its a nightmare!

 

As said by most, ear plugs. Dont forget that hearing damage is cumulative in its effect. I have been involved in the past a a little in industrial noise testing. So even short rides matter if you are riding at a threshold that will cause damage, i.e. 4x15 minute rides cause the same damage as a 1hour ride. Also any damage is irreversible.
i use pinlock ones, similar to Sandi T's earpiece. I found them a better fit than the earpiece for me.
The ear piece do come with a little metal carry tube which i keep my pinlock ones in so they are always attached to my keys so it makes it harder to forget them.
These high tech ones are expensive but protect against damaging frequencies but allow you to here a lot of things perfectly normally.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/mo...eWbILnIoou1NF57FB0uzpLuK71F1tBXRoCj08QAvD_BwE

I do also keep some foam ones under the seat "just in case".

 

Hey guys! I've recently been looking into new products which will make our riding experience easier and more fun. I stumbled across this helmet carrying strap which if you pledge towards you will receive. It's a great price for what it is and is made in Britain by a small company which personally I prefer since you know it will be good quality. I'll leave the link for you to check out
https://sling-wax-cotton-helmet-carry.kckb.st/d8551c2d

 

I use earplugs but only on longer, higher speed runs. I currently have a Schuberth which is supposed to be one of the quieter helmets but the db rating helmets are given is usually up to around 60mph. If you start going much faster, the noise increases exponentially and quickly reaches dangerous levels, especially if you're sat on a motorway for hours on end. I go with Dougie D's choice of foam plugs as the best.
Don't be tempted to go cheap and use cotton wool. It's great for popping zits but useless as a noise blocker.

 

Cheap foam ear plugs are by far the most comfortable I find, tried a few different types and they get sore after a while including those pinlock ones. Moldex are my favourite.

 

Moldex are great, like you say!