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Ian3320

Joined:

Jan 13

Posts: 3

Ian3320 says:

Helmet fit vs Wind noise

Hi all,

I am new to biking and to this forum. I wasn't really sure which forum to post this in so have put here and in clothing!

I'm after some advice please?!

I passed my test in November 2011 and quickly bought a bike (half faired Honda Hornet 600 and later onto a half faired Gen II Fazer 1000).
I always wore ear plugs from the word go. However I quickly started to suffer from really bad tinnitus and head aches. I never really noticed excessive noise when on the bike but it kicked in really bad shortly after getting home after a ride.
It got to the point where it was keeping me up at night and making me irritable all the time etc.
I tried everything I could think of - squidy ear plugs, custom made ear plugs, wind jammer for my helmet, experimented with removing the screen on my Fazer, but nothing seemed to make much of a difference.
I even went to a specialist ENT doctor. They conducted several tests but concluded there was nothing else medically wrong with me.
It got to the point where I gave up biking and sold the bikes in August 2012.

Lately Ive been really missing it and looked more closely at my helmet (HJC CL-ST). I pretty sure it is too big.
So finally I get to the question! Would buying a decently quiet helmet like a schuberth and possibly more importantly, a helmet that fits properly, significantly reduce wind noise?
I would be very grateful for your thoughts and experience (especially from those who have ridden with an ill fitting helmet and then changed to one that fits properly!).
Many thanks,
Ian

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 19:02)

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mostlyslowly

Joined:

Apr 09

Posts: 1807

mostlyslowly says:

I have a carbon HJC

which despite fitting well, is noisier than my previous suomy. conventional ear plugs, or custom made don' t make much difference. bought some auritech ones with an inbuilt filer at bike show (19.95) which only filter out excessive noise. can hear bike, surrounding traffic. . . and conversation off the bike. brilliant! shoei Qwest supposed to be a good quiet lid. less spoilers, vents etc equals less noise

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 20:20)
ninjachica

Joined:

Jul 08

Posts: 3445

ninjachica says:

Each to his own

It really is a case of finding a helmet that fits your head shape.

I don't get much noise through my Shoei, even though it's getting on a bit now.  I can hear the bike, but there is no whistling through the vents or visor.  Must have it all adjusted right eh?!!

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 20:28)
oscarthegrouch

Joined:

Oct 05

Posts: 2300

oscarthegrouch says:

Well

I'm hearing impaired  at 34 due to working in heavy industries ... but tinitus i have only suffered once ... it was like an alarm going off constantly  and te only way i could drown it out was with music on headphones very loud and eventually

it stopped .... thank fuck :biggrin:

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 20:28)
babyblade41

Joined:

Aug 05

Posts: 5640

babyblade41 says:

I think

your question has been well and truly answered in depth:smile

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 20:28)
Ian3320

Joined:

Jan 13

Posts: 3

Ian3320 says:

Thanks

Thanks for all the responses. I was hoping everyone was gonna shout 'OF COURSE THE HELMET BEING TOO BIG IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM YOU MUPPET!":lol: Sounds  like changing the lid may have limited effect. I guess I've just got girly sensetive ears!:blink:

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 21:31)
SlowLearner

Joined:

Feb 10

Posts: 1997

SlowLearner says:

Wind noise

Alright mate - welcome to the site (such that it is...)

Earplugs don't need surgical removal, nor will they ever cause infections if used properly.   Only insert/ remove with clean hands, and change them regularly - particularly if they start getting a bit gammy.

Worked at a  BP plant for a while, and everyone there had to use them, and nobody ever "lost" one inside their head.   That's just BS.

As for the wind noise - wear a tight helmet, and consider a wind shield on the bike.  This deflects the wind away from you, taking the brunt of the blast.  They can be bolted on, flip up, or in the case of really cool bikes, be an electrically adjustable screen that raises up when you press a handlebar button.

The shield makes the wind blast die right down.  It also means you don't have to brace your head against it all the time, leading to fewer headaches.

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 21:40)
vulcanrider

Joined:

Aug 05

Posts: 5033

vulcanrider says:

Not bullshit SL

if you've had them in for hours under a crew helmet and radio earphones driving an armoured vehicle sweating and being thrown around. Guys did have to get a medic to fish them out. Your ears aren't supposed to have things go into them, personally I'll not push stuff into my ears.

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  • Posted 138 days ago (02 January 2013 22:03)
MarcusMarsh

Joined:

Aug 09

Posts: 2525

MarcusMarsh says:

Quiet lid

Shoei make something called a 'Whisper Strip'.  It is a curtain that goes round the bottom of your helmet and it does reduce a lot of noise although it also makes the helmet a little more difficult to get on.  Worth a try.    

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  • Posted 137 days ago (03 January 2013 10:04)
domster

Joined:

Sep 12

Posts: 89

domster says:

Wind noise

I'd say you probably do have very sensitive ears so you definitely need plugs and a snug lid, The main problem with modern bikes is their fashionable but grossly inadequate screens. Try riding something with the top of the screen level with the tip of your nose before you give up. 

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  • Posted 137 days ago (03 January 2013 17:38)
SlowLearner

Joined:

Feb 10

Posts: 1997

SlowLearner says:

vulcanrider:

ok, fair enough - I stand corrected.  Still think it's unlikely to happen while using a bike helmet, though.

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  • Posted 137 days ago (03 January 2013 18:15)

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