Riding on a motorcycle should be a peaceful experience that allows you to clear your mind. However, a noisy motorcycle helmet can turn an enjoyable motorcycle ride into a struggle to stay focused on the road. To combat the noise in your helmet, we researched how you can make your motorcycle helmet quieter.
To make your motorcycle helmet quieter you can:
- Use a wind-blocker
- Wear a properly fitted helmet
- Line your helmet with fabric
- Wear a facemask or balaclava
- Fill your helmet's earholes.
With the methods listed above, you will reduce the wind and engine noise that can enter your helmet. Read further to see how you can put these noise-reducing changes into action.
How to Make Your Motorcycle Helmet Quieter?
Without needing to buy a new motorcycle helmet, you can do the following modifications to your helmet to make it quieter. The goal is to reduce the amount of wind that can enter the inside of your helmet.
Use a Wind-Blocker
To prevent wind from entering the bottom of your helmet, adding a wind-blocker to the opening of your helmet will minimize the noise. Adding a wind-blocker is only necessary if your helmet is lacking sufficient padding in the neck area. A high-quality helmet made by brands like Shoei offers double padded neck support that can help dampen the noise.
One of the most popular wind-blockers is the WindJammer. This wind-blocking pad can fit into any full-face helmet and is easy to install. The added two inches of padding will seal off the wind from entering the helmet and offer you additional neck support.
WindJammer Motorcycle Helmet Wind-Blocker
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Wear a Properly Fitted Helmet
A helmet that is too big is not only a safety concern but will also leak in the air from the oncoming wind while you ride. Ensuring that your helmet fits properly around the face and neck area will reduce the noise inside.
Before purchasing a motorcycle helmet, take head measurements to pick the dimensions of your motorcycle helmet accurately. A motorcycle helmet should be snug against your face and neck, having no wiggle room when you attempt to shake the helmet.
Line Your Helmet with Fabric
Lining your motorcycle helmet with fabrics like fleece is an excellent way to get a tighter fit on your face and reduce the noise that comes from outside your helmet. A helmet that fits tightly will reduce the amount of wind that sneaks its way inside of the helmet.
Fit some fleece fabric in the cheek pads of your motorcycle's helmet until it fits firmly onto your face. A motorcycle's cheek pads should fit tightly enough that you feel like you can bite down on the inside of your cheeks when wearing it.
Wear a Face Mask or Balaclava
A face mask or balaclava will not only act as a shield from bugs, dirt, and debris—but it will also limit the amount of wind that enters your helmet. A balaclava is better suited for colder climates when you are looking to stay warm during your ride.
A face mask will act as a skirt to block the wind that enters into the front of your helmet. This method works best with a face mask that covers the neck area as well. Microfiber face masks allow for better breathability like the mask featured below.
American Flag Microfiber Face Mask
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Fill The Helmet's Earholes
One of the most effective ways to make your motorcycle helmet quieter is by covering the earholes of the helmet. Putting foam in the ear pockets of the helmet will reduce the amount of sound that can enter the from your motorcycle's engine. Using foam also keeps the helmet comfortable to wear and does not press up against the ear.
Another effective method is cutting small pieces of memory foam that you place onto your ears when you are putting the helmet on. The memory foam will expand once your head is inside of the motorcycle helmet and cover your ears comfortably.
Who Makes the Quietest Motorcycle Helmet?
Not all helmets are created equal. Some motorcycle helmets do a better job of reducing wind resistance and canceling out noise caused by the wind and road. Below are some brands that have created the quietest motorcycle helmets.
Schuberth
If you have the budget for a premium helmet, Schuberth is widely regarded by motorcyclists to create the quietest helmets. Schuberth ensures the highest quality of its products with an air and acoustics lab built in its headquarters. This lab tests the audio levels inside of the helmets in various conditions. Its most popular and quietest helmet to date is the Schuberth C4 Pro.
Shoei
Shoei motorcycle helmets are the most popular on this list for motorcyclists looking to reduce noise while they are riding. These full-face helmets provide a comfortable and quiet riding experience due to their design. The helmet's aerodynamic design reduces wind resistance, and the narrow opening isolates noise by limiting the amount of wind entering the bottom of the helmet.
If you are looking for the perfect quiet motorcycle helmet to take on long trips, the Shoei RF-1200 is an excellent choice.
Shoei RF-1200 Motorcycle Helmet
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HJC
Founded in 1971, HJC has perfected the craft of making comfortable and quiet full-face motorcycle helmets for those who race. Helmets like the RPHA-11 have impressive noise-canceling technology that blocks out both wind and road noise. The ventilation system in this helmet increases the airflow inside, while also not increasing the noise.
HJC RPHA-11 Motorcycle Helmet
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What is Helmet Buffeting?
When riding on a motorcycle at freeway speeds, you may notice your helmet start to shake and vibrate violently. Your head may even feel like it is being slapped from side-to-side. This phenomenon is different than the standard wind resistance that every motorcyclist is used to feeling.
Helmet buffeting is commonly associated with motorcycles with windshields or front fairings. Windshields will push away the oncoming wind and deflect it from hitting the rider's shoulders or chest. However, the wind pushed away can move inside of the windshield and create a vacuum or negative airflow.
The turbulent air created on a motorcycle will not be consistent like wind resistance and can catch the edges of the rider's helmet. The noise caused by these winds can get very noisy, depending on the type of headgear you are wearing. These inconsistent air streams are what cause helmet buffeting and may even cause motorcyclists to have blurred vision and headaches.
What are Motorcycle Helmet Earmuffs?
To save your ears from the loud noise of the wind and your motorcycle's engine, using earmuffs can be an inexpensive and effective option. These small earmuffs are designed for motorcyclists with open-face helmet designs due to the space they take up in the helmet. Full-face helmets are too tight to fit these earmuffs inside of the helmet without causing any pain.
Earplugs
If you are a motorcyclist who wears a 3/4 or full-face helmet, earplugs are the better option for you. Earplugs will not take up any excess space inside of the helmet and will sit firmly in your ear throughout the trip.
Ensure that you choose an earplug that has high fidelity, so you are aware of your surroundings, and the earplug does not distort your hearing. Purchasing an earplug made for motorcyclists is the best option to ensure it allows enough noise into your ear to be situationally aware on the road.
EarPence Motorcycle Earplugs
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Conclusion
To create a quieter motorcycle helmet, reduce the amount of wind that enters through the bottom of the helmet. A wind-blocker and earplugs can drastically change the way the inside of your motorcycle helmet sounds even while riding at highway speeds.