There is little more annoying than when you settle in for a nice high-speed cruise, only to have it be ruined by ear-deafening noise.
Whether you ride as a hobby, for work, or it’s merely your preferred means of transport, we can all agree that noise in the helmet has to be one of the largest issues we motorists face.
A large issue indeed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to noise levels over 75 decibels can be dangerous to your ears. In a motorcycle at high speeds, the noise around you can exceed 115 decibels.
Everyone perceives sound differently, and you may be more or less sensitive to it, but even if it doesn’t feel incredibly loud, it is, and your ears are taking it head-on.
Exposure to such noise can damage your hearing permanently and cause other symptoms like fatigue and tinnitus.
You only get two ears. Protect them. Read on to learn how to make a motorcycle helmet quieter.
Contents
- Make Your Motorcycle Helmet Quieter
- Where Is It Coming From? The main source of Noise?
- Tips on How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Quieter
- 1-Turn down the Visor
- 2-Have a tight fit
- 3-Get a Wind Blocker
- 4-Wear a Scarf or Balaclava
- 5-Wear Ear Plugs
- 6-Change your riding position
- 7-Stuff your helmet with fleece and memory foam
- 8-Adjust your Windshield
- 9-Get the right helmet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
Make Your Motorcycle Helmet Quieter
Where Is It Coming From? The main source of Noise?
Before you move on, it is essential to know what exactly is causing you all this trouble. The noise you experience in a motorcycle comes from two sources.
The Engine
While you may be inclined towards assuming that the engine is the larger source of noise, that is not the case; the engine is loud when initially turned on, but as you speed up, the engine’s sound will become less of an issue than its vibrations.
The Wind
The real killer is the wind, and reducing wind noise should be your primary concern, as is ours. The noise the wind makes through turbulence, and when it gets into your helmet often exceeds 100 decibels.
This results from the wind coming into contact with a solid surface, producing a vibration detected by our ears. When traveling at medium to high speeds, this noise is what damages your eardrums.
Tips on How to Make a Motorcycle Helmet Quieter
Through these tips, you can expect to reduce the noise significantly you feel; however, do not come in thinking that you will be able to remove wind noise altogether; there will always be some.
1-Turn down the Visor
Most motorcycle helmets have visors that you can adjust; many choose to leave them up or slightly open.
It may seem obvious at first but try turning down the visor. Turning down the visor will prevent wind from getting in your face and ears, which significantly enhances the noise you will be experiencing.
Additionally, try to fasten the visor closed secularly; most visors will make a clicking noise telling you when it is best secured and held in place, sometimes the visor doesn’t seal properly, and it’s worth having a look to check if it does.
This is important because a visor that hasn’t been sealed properly will cause extra turbulence and vibrate, creating an unnecessary racket.
2-Have a tight fit
Wind getting into your helmet is the foremost thing we are trying to curtail. To help with that, ensure your helmet has a snug fit for your head. This will help keep the wind out of the helmet and enhance the safety it provides.
We also recommend you pay close attention to the fit around your neck; make sure there aren’t any spaces in this area as a loose fit in the neck is frequently a source of noise.
3-Get a Wind Blocker
A motorcycle helmet wind blocker is a great choice we recommend. Much of the noise and discomfort comes from wind sneaking through underneath the helmet, where it meets your neck.
A wind blocker seals that area, making it impossible for wind to get in and minimizing noise from turbulence.
A wind blocker has the added benefit of helping support your neck, keeping you comfortable.
Note that many helmets already have significant padding in the neck area, in which case you may not want to get a wind blocker.
4-Wear a Scarf or Balaclava
If you are unwilling to get a wind blocker or already have one. Then consider utilizing a scarf or balaclava; these have much the same benefit of helping prevent wind from getting inside your helmet from underneath.
A balaclava is a cheap and effective solution to this issue. We recommend choosing one which fits tightly and stretches for maximum sound insulation. It’s okay if it feels tight; that just means there aren’t any gaps compromising its effectiveness.
If you live in a less chilly climate, then you will find a scarf to be a simple yet elegant solution.
Wearing it around your neck will help block wind from getting in underneath your helmet. It is optimal to wear it tightly high up on your neck with parts of the scarf being tucked inside your helmet to avoid leaving any gaps or spaces.
Additionally, keep in mind that a scarf and balaclava can be worn together to bring about maximum effectiveness.
5-Wear Ear Plugs
An incredibly easy yet effective solution to this issue is to wear earplugs. It isn’t easy to soundproof a motorcycle helmet, especially at high speeds. Even if your helmet is quiet, you will still hear noise.
We recommend you use earplugs to maximize the protection of your ears along with your comfort. Simply order a one-size-fits-all online or even get them custom-fitted; you will find them to be cheap and convenient.
Modern earplugs selectively block noises from harmful frequencies while allowing the rest to flow through. This means that you will still have your wits about you on the road and can hear alerts like horns unhindered.
However, keep in mind that the law in many places does not permit the use of noise-blocking devices when on the road. We recommend you check with the law in your jurisdiction before you go ordering earplugs to avoid getting into any trouble.
6-Change your riding position
To help deal with this issue, you might want to adjust the position with which you ride on your bike.
Having a more aerodynamic position will help with the amount of wind you are bearing the brunt of head-on, decreasing wind resistance, and with it, wind noises.
Additionally, some of the noise may be coming through vibrations from the engine.
To help deal with this, avoid sitting on the bike’s metal part and instead rest your wait on the cushioned part.
The material of the cushion will absorb the incoming vibrations keeping it nice and quiet.
7-Stuff your helmet with fleece and memory foam
A more makeshift and DIY approach would be to stuff the ear holes on the insides of your helmet with memory foam, simply cut out a piece from a memory foam pad and keep them up against your ears as you slide on the helmet.
The same can be done with some fleece; stuff it into the cheek pads of your helmet. Doing so will tighten the seal around your face, further deflecting and making it harder for the wind to rise up into and throughout your helmet.
8-Adjust your Windshield
The windshield of a motorcycle’s purpose is to protect you from facing the wind head-on. Often enough, however, this doesn’t function fully, and adjustment is needed.
The windshield directs wind up and above your head, preventing the wind from creating noise by impacting your helmet. It is worth making sure it is functioning correctly in that sense.
If you are on the taller side, you should consider looking into a windshield spoiler, which will allow you to modify the height of the windshield to your level.
We also recommend getting a motorcycle helmet wind deflector or more simply known as a motorcycle wind deflector. This will be a small additional windshield attached to the existing one and will better block the wind with its wider size. Additionally, it will provide protection from incoming rain, bitter cold, and even insects.
9-Get the right helmet
Ultimately, your problems could simply be the cause of not having a helmet designed with noise comfort in mind. To get the best motorcycle helmet for noise reduction, there some things to look out for.
We recommend using a full-face helmet; open-faced and half or three quarter faced helmets invite a large amount of wind and are simply unacceptable if you are looking for a noise canceling motorcycle helmet.
Additionally, an aerodynamically sleek helmet is essential for reducing wind noise. Having any unnecessary protrusions will create extra resistance resulting in more noise. The goal is to have wind glide right over your head.
Lastly, keep in mind that having extra vents in your helmet will increase airflow, resulting in more noise. There is no way to avoid them entirely as ventilation is necessary, but try to get a helmet with a ventilation system on the quieter side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Words
Wearing a motorcycle helmet is necessary. Yet, in doing so, often, the noise will feel near unbearable and will certainly dampen the experience.
But the issue is more than one of comfort; it affects your ears’ health to a great extent. Motorcycling often puts them under far more stress than they can handle.
With these tips above, you should know full well how to make a motorcycle helmet quieter, and by applying them, you will be able to keep the experience enjoyable and safe for yourself.
What are your tips for keeping your motorcycle helmet quiet on the road? Please share with us down below.
