MCN Biking Britain survey: Top 10 quietest helmets
By Rob Hull -
Helmets
24 July 2009 17:02
More than 12,000 of you have given us your opinions on the kit you use and the bikes you ride.
This week, we’re focusing on how quiet your helmets are.
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1. Schuberth S1 Pro
Price: From £449.99
Contact: www.oxprod.com
Schuberth is well established on the bike market as producing some of the quietest helmets around. The S1 Pro is no different thanks to wind-tunnel testing by Schuberth. The helmet comes as standard with Pinlock visor tabs to keep the visor free from condensation along with a double-glazed visor. The shell is also available in two different sizes.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 88%
Comfort: 87%
Value: 78%
Overall: 85% |
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2. Schuberth C2
Price: From £369.99
Contact: www.oxprod.com
The lining and cheek pads in Schuberth’s flip-front are removable and washable, the chin strap uses a traditional push-button quick-release buckle and for added comfort there is a reflex panel embedded in the back of the neck padding. The visor is a 3D visor and is scratch and fog resistant.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 85%
Comfort: 86%
Value: 77%
Overall: 84% |
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3. Schuberth C3
Price: From £449.99
Contact: www.oxprod.com
Some of the development work for this helmet was conducted by seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. Schuberth claim just 84dB of wind noise in the helmet at 60mph, making this the quietest claimed flip-front on the market currently. Its 160 grams lighter than the C2 and also smaller in terms of shell size.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 84%
Comfort: 85%
Value: 75%
Overall: 83% |
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4. Schuberth J1
Price: From £379.99
Contact: www.oxprod.com
Possibly the biggest shock of the survey results is the fourth Schuberth to score well – but the J1 is an open-faced lid? Schuberth wind-tunnel tested this helmet and the result is a lid that’s quieter than most full-face lids on the market. It comes with a chin-bar hoop that protects the face in a crash.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 80%
Comfort: 85%
Value: 73%
Overall: 84% |
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5. Shark RSR2
Price: From £349.99
Contact: www.nevism.co.uk
This is the helmet of choice for Brit WSB hopeful, Tom Sykes. In fact, he wore this Indy design during pre-season testing. It features five different sizes of interior polystyrene absorbers and comes in two shell sizes for optimum fit. The French manufactures top-of-the-range helmet has a quick release chin strap and visor release system as well as a full ventilation system.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 71%
Comfort: 79%
Value: 87%
Overall: 87% |
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6. X-Lite X701
Price: From £289.99
Contact: www.tranam.co.uk
Like the 602, the 701 has three different shell sizes but as an added feature on the 8701 you get a new exclusive lining called Unitherm Light. It’s made from elasticised microfiber that regulates the breathability of the helmet. The curved visor is anti-scratch and there is the option of locking the visor in place. The 701 also features an innovative three-point ventilation system.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 71%
Comfort: 91%
Value: 82%
Overall: 85% |
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7. AGV GP Tech
Price: From £399.99
Contact: www.moto-direct.co.uk
This is the helmet Valentino Rossi has been wearing for the last couple of years. The shell is a carbon and Kevlar mix and one of the reasons this is so quiet is the ventilation system is all integrated through the EPS. It comes with a flat race visor, quick release visor and chin strap systems and three different shell sizes.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 70%
Comfort: 85%
Value: 78%
Overall: 81% |
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8. Shark Evoline
Price: From £274.99
Contact: www.nevism.co.uk
The Evoline has a multi-component internal shock absorber with different densities like the full-face Shark lids, a centrally controlled interior anti-scratch sun shield and an external anti-scratch demister visor. The chinstrap is an exclusive and patented ‘Tech-Move’ system, the liner is removable and washable and you get a five year warranty.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 69%
Comfort: 84%
Value: 79%
Overall: 79% |
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9. Nolan N84
Price: From £184.99
Contact: www.tramam.co.uk
The N84 comes ready for Nolan’s N-COM communication system and the shell has a spoiler for better stability at speed. The most unique feature is the three-position dark outer shield which works independently from the actual visor. It has a fully removable inner liner, cheek pads, crown and chin vents, quick-change visor and quick-release chin strap.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 67%
Comfort: 79%
Value: 79%
Overall: 77% |
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10. Shoei Raid 2
Price: From £250
Contact: www.feridax.com
Available in three outer shell sizes, the inner liner and padding in the Raid II is full removable and washable. It has multiple ventilating and extraction points, a dual density inner shell, double D-ring chin strap fastener and a spoiler to help reduce neck fatigue at speed. It weighs just 1380g and has been one of Shoei’s best established lids.
OWNER RATING
Noise: 67%
Comfort: 85%
Value: 81%
Overall: 82% |
