Quiet helmets? - this might come as a surprise

[MacDoc]

Full face are often noisier than 3/4 - you may think your full face is quiet enough - your audiologist would disagree.

Full face helmets provided average noise levels of 88.3 dB(A) at 50 km/h up to 103.6 dB(A) at 120 km/h. While the open face helmets provided average noise levels of 87.2 dB(A) at 50 km/h up to 98.5 dB(A) at 120 km/h.

this is in agreement with my own experience.

The levels are damaging over time. DB is logarithmic so 103 is a lot louder than 98...

It's your hearing.

all you wanted to know about it is here

Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Occupational Motorcyclist

http://www.cieh.org/JEHR/hearing_los...rcyclists.html

A number of reviewers have noted the same thing in their reviews that the open face generally tend to be quieter.

Both my open face Bells ....Classic and the Mag 8 are quieter than the full face Shoei TZ-R I snagged for colder weather and heavy bugs.

That 5 DB advantage will stay in place even with ear plugs or headphones. Over long touring trips that quieter sound adds up to more relaxed and less tired.

Now I know it's not my imagination. Just one more reason I prefer open face.

[bww77]

Interesting article, thanks for sharing. Personally my choice is the full face, regardless of what they say. Cheers

[SunnY S]

Enjoy your resconstructed jaw and mangled face.

But hey, at least your hearing will be fine!





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[MrBruce]

It says they tested with Bieffe helmets. The box my Shoei came in would be quieter than the Bieffe.

[MacDoc]

43 years riding - still have all body parts intact including skin.....and my hearing.
It's not the only time the open face have been noted as quieter.

Of course if you expect to face plant by all means cover yourself with plastic ...course then maybe a cage would be more appropriate.

Nine motorcycle helmets were chosen which varied in quality and styles to give a broad range of typical helmets worn by occupational motorcyclists, some of the more unusual styles sourced directly from occupational motorcyclists. A number of modifications were made to identical helmets. One helmet was left unmodified as a control, another had the visor/air vents sealed and the final had the addition of a fin, fixed to the rear of the helmet. All helmets were tested with the addition of a neck seal to the base of the helmet.

I don't find the Shoei as quiet as either Bell tho is quieter than the Shark RS-2 I sold. The Shoei is decently quiet with the shield up and thats the way I would use it except on cold days or high bug bombardment.

I think there is this assumption that FF are quieter, they are not and it's significant especially on long rides.

[SunnY S]

43 years riding - still have all body parts intact including skin.....and my hearing.

Of course if you expect to face plant by all means cover yourself with plastic ...course then maybe a cage would be more appropriate.

Plucked from another recent thread......

Had a bit of a startle coming out of the gas station at Flesherton - there is an abrupt little dip just east on 4 and I was accelerating and came over the crest and a little old compact was sitting there waiting to turn left at the bottom of the dip.
Luckily little car was hugging the centre line waiting to go left.....still going over it in my head whether I actually could have hauled down 800 lb of me and bike even with the ABS full on.
As it was, I sneaked by the right with a bit of adrenalin rush.

This was a case of I was looking further down an apparently empty road I was accelerating on, and got completely caught by a stopped vehicle that was hidden in a dip

.

Nobody "expects" to faceplant. I haven't met a single motorcylist yet that "planned" on crashing. Glad it worked out for you this time and made it through safely. I shudder to imagine what could have happened if you crashed and did a possible face plant into that left turning car.

[EngineerJoe]

Doesn't seem that loud in my helmet... 103.6 dB(A) is louder than my Jeep (and riding always seems quieter than my Jeep)

The levels are damaging over time. DB is logarithmic so 103 is a lot louder than 98...

Almost 4x as loud actually... I'd write out the equation, but then we'd have another PEDMAS/BEDMAS/SEXMAS debate.

[V-Tom]

I kinda shorta live in all the camps above.

I have been wearing Modular helmuits for the last three years (about 130,000 km) and really like them. At the beginning I was using HJC (as they fit my square head the best) but undoubtably they were nosier than my full face. That didn't matter a lot as I wear earplugs (and realy all of you should if you spend much time riding.) I got a Scorpion Modular last year and it has a little chin skirt that dramatically cuts noise. It has proven to be much quieter than the HJC's were.

Having said all that, when riding at slower speeds in hot weather I often will flip up the helmet and am essentially riding a 3/4 in that case (in fact this helmet can easilly be converted to a 3/4 helmet with the parts and shield supplied with it.)

As far as gear goes, I tend to be ATGATT but am not hard core about it. My Roadcrafter two piece is so handy to take on and off and it allows me to wear anything under it ( from suit and tie to shorts and t-shirt) so it is great in hot or cold weather. But when doing social events shorts and boots don't look so great so I will often take off the overpants and wear draggin jeans.


..Tom

[adri]

What?

[00ninja]

I prefer my full face. I don't like eating bugs, gravel, nuts & bolts thrown at me.

Well said!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Brian P]

Full face helmet + separate means of controlling the noise level (earplugs) is the way to go. I am NOT about to use anything less than a full face helmet under any circumstances.

[Pearlzzzzz!]

Full face helmet + separate means of controlling the noise level (earplugs) is the way to go. I am NOT about to use anything less than a full face helmet under any circumstances.

1+ I practice this Gearing up routine: save face and hearing. Focus on the ride!

[MacDoc]

I prefer my full face. I don't like eating bugs, gravel, nuts & bolts thrown at me.

it's called a windshield.....
getting geared up in 35 degree heat for a 10 minute ride to the pool at max 40kph - well ....sorry but that's over the top.

I wear the gear appropriate the circumstances....from shorts and tshirt to full armour and once in a while a full face but it's rare. I like the Bell as the drop down shield ( rarely used ) gives good coverage in the rain and cold but open most often. I prefer to keep my helmet on and chat with people and be able to interact with drivers and people along the way instead of being this faceless robot.

Ill ride with someone whos got full gear or is in shorts and tshirt as long as you dont ride like a dick. Its your body and your choice.

+1

Ear plugs are for most rides tho to the corner store not. They do make you far less tired and you can focus on the ride better. Hell I SLEEP better with them in at times.

[twostroke]

not everyone puts around on a scooter. most bikes dont have a windshield that works worth a damn in normal riding positions. so we need to wear a ff helmet.

if you dont want to wear a full face helmet that is your right. but i will be the first person to point and laugh at your messed up face.

[Baggsy]

it's called a windshield.....
getting geared up in 35 degree heat for a 10 minute ride to the pool at max 40kph - well ....sorry but that's over the top.

Yep. That's where the rock that gets you usually comes from. Over the top of the windshield.

I wear the gear appropriate the circumstances....from shorts and tshirt to full armour and once in a while a full face but it's rare. I like the Bell as the drop down shield ( rarely used ) gives good coverage in the rain and cold but open most often. I prefer to keep my helmet on and chat with people and be able to interact with drivers and people along the way instead of being this faceless robot.

No you don't. They don't make shorts or t-shirts that are appropriate for sliding down the pavement at 40 k.

It's your choice, but don't try to make it sound like it's a safe one.

[CruisnGrrl]

it's called a windshield.....
getting geared up in 35 degree heat for a 10 minute ride to the pool at max 40kph - well ....sorry but that's over the top.

I wear the gear appropriate the circumstances....from shorts and tshirt to full armour and once in a while a full face but it's rare. I like the Bell as the drop down shield ( rarely used ) gives good coverage in the rain and cold but open most often. I prefer to keep my helmet on and chat with people and be able to interact with drivers and people along the way instead of being this faceless robot.

I gear up to warm up the oil for an oil change... anything can happen at any time. I got hit by a car coming back from my mail box on the next street, about 400 metres away from my house (I was out for a ride and was checking it on the way back), but even if I was going to take the bike to get the mail I'd gear up. Unfortunately I do have to share the road with others and not all of them know what they're doing.

[Rob MacLennan]

Funny thing; ALL helmets are more quiet, when earplugs are used.

[Recidivist]

Try a Nexx. Most quiet helmet on the market.

[RockerGuy]

I prefer my full face. I don't like eating bugs, gravel, nuts & bolts thrown at me.

[Flywheel]

FTA: "The dominant noise source was the base of helmet between the chin bar and the neck of the rider. The use of a proprietary neck seal reduced inner helmet noise levels by around 4dB(A) at 120km/h. The neck seal was difficult to fit and on a number of occasions the wind pulled it from the helmet. These disadvantages may make this means of noise reduction unlikely to be used consistently in practice."

If I need to wear earplugs anyway, I'd rather have that extra bit of insurance. I always assumed FFs to be a bit noisier due to all the edges they have (visor opening, chin bar, vents).