Question 'bout helmets.

[flamin lib]

I'm wearing an open face with a face shields and it's really noisy.

Any advice on a more quiet solution?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Foam earplugs are a cheap solution

Even the full face helmets are noisy when you're going 75, or when you're following a Harley with non-stock pipes. Foam earplugs are cheap.

[flamin lib]

2. Thanks, it's worth a try. I'm talking about wind noise.

Texas is helmet optional and I can understand why some people opt out but looking at the statistics on death/injury I can't go that way.

[IDemo]

3. Cheap, but wrong

The idea is to lower wind noise, not the sound of traffic. You need all of your senses when on a bike to remain aware of traffic around you, including emergency vehicles approaching from the sides or rear. Foam ear plugs work great, if simply canceling out all noise is your goal. I wear them while using my two-stroke hedge trimmer.

A properly fitted full face helmet will provide both better protection to your face and less wind noise than an open helmet with shield (I've worn both over 3+ decades of riding).

[matcom]

4. agreed

full face for me or no ride.

your chin will likely be the first to hit the pavement

[flamin lib]

5. Care to share name brands with me? Not an endorsement

necessarily, but there's a lot of helmets out there and a wide range of pricing.

[IDemo]

6. Here's what I wear -

Got a great deal on it second hand (I see they've come way down in price in the meantime). It has adjustable air vents at the chin and forhead which help
a lot in 100 degree riding, as well as having the ability to close them down if you're crazy like me and ride in the 20 degree temps. At the minimum,
look for a helmet with both DOT and SNELL ratings. A correctly fitted helmet will feel very snug, maybe even a bit on the uncomfortable side when you first
try it on, just so it's not compressing your cheeks too much. That will keep it from moving around at highway speeds. You'll get used to it in no time.

I had sticker shock when I looked at helmets for the first time in twenty years. Like anything else, you can spend a little or a lot. This one strikes the
balance between low price and good quality.

http://www.scorpionusa.com/

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. What a coincidence - I have the EXO-400 model

And yes, it's a bit tight. To put it on, I have to pull the sides, then whack the top to seat it.

It's ok on wind noise for most of my riding, 40 mi or less, but for long highway rides I still use some foam earplugs. I can still hear pretty well, and have less fatigue after the ride. If I'm riding with some re-piped Harleys, double the fatigue (or the reasons for earplugs).

I don't ride with earbuds hooked to the MP3 or cellphone. That's way beyond my confidence level (having tried it a few times).

[flamin lib]

8. thanks guys. nothing like some experience to guide the newly re-introduced. nt

[Haole Girl]

9. When I went to buy my helmet, I met this girl:

She'd been in the hospital for a month. She'd been in a motorcycle accident... went face-first onto the pavement. Her gloves flew off and some of her fingers were torn down to the bone. Same with one of her feet... one of her boots came off before she came to a stop.

I decided right then & there it was only a full-face helmet for me!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. Good for her!

She's busted up and still shopping at a bike store, maybe for new (better) gloves and boots. That's a positive attitude!

:hi:

[flamin lib]

11. I told the guy I bought my bike from that I'd had a long hyatis from

biking and he said he took some time off too, 'bout five years. I asked why and he said that was how long it took to recover from busted legs, arms, cranium and various other stuff. I asked what happened and he replied, "Ya know how to tell if yer too drunk to ride yer bike? When yer bes buddy asks ya' if yer too drunk to give him a ride home . . ." His buddy faired a bit better than he did but he did credit his helmet with keeping him alive if not altogether whole.

Like I said in the OP, I understand why people don't want to wear helmets, but the stats just aren't in our favor.

[Robb]

12. I always refer to this one:

Long study looked at percentage of damage to various sections of full-face helmets that were in crashes:

Seems pretty self-explanatory. :)

[DrDan]

13. Robb - did I miss a link to the study?

or did I misinterpret your post?

[Robb]

14. Hm. I've misplaced the study

Fellow that did it was in Hannover, Germany -- Dietmar Otte, IIRC.

[DrDan]

15. Robb - thanks - those results are pretty dramatic

I am in the market for a new helmet . . . looks like a full-face is the only way to go.

Anyone familiar with one that provides ventilation as well? I live in Florida and sure can work up a sweat in the summer.

[Spritz57]

16. The old timers used to say. . .

Do you have a Shoei head or an Arai head? I just purchased a plain black Shoei for cold weather riding. It fits me well, cuts down on noise, and is well ventilated. I'm very pleased with my purchase but I will say the shopping phase lasted much longer than anticipated. I tried on several different manufacturers helmets before I found one which fit my graying head well. Fortunately for me, there is an Iron Pony store which carries bulk stock otherwise I would have had a much more laborious process. Good luck!

[av8rdave]

17. I'm a big full-face helmet fan

Get one with good vents that can be closed in the winter. I always use Shoei, because they seem to fit my head better, but that's strictly a personal thing. There are less expensive ones out there that are just as good.

Full face cuts way down on the wind noise, and is much more comfortable in cooler weather. I also believe the protection is somewhat better. While my face isn't any prize winner, I'd like to keep it the way it is.