Helmet noise

1K9 said:

Ordered a pair.
If the plug is not 100% sealed and seated in bony ear canal, it makes things worse.
The only con is that one can loose them rather easily.

Had anyone seen a magnetic clip for the chin strap on the helmet?
Snapping the thing with gloves on 's an itch.

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Your not wrong about risk of loss at the prices they are. If I was outlaying that much I would use the grooves to secure a fine fishing line or wire to connect them together or attach each to your earrings and dangle them off them until you want to use. Would suit @barbagris and his Pirate ways and origins.

Ishrub said:

Your not wrong about risk of loss at the prices they are. If I was outlaying that much I would use the grooves to secure a fine fishing line or wire to connect them together or attach each to your earrings and dangle them off them until you want to use. Would suit @barbagris and his Pirate ways and origins.

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What noise ? All I can hear is is that incessant bloody ringing !

Rocket Scientist said:

This spring the wife and I decided to get full face helmets for safety reasons. Since we both have long heads like the creature in the "Alien" movie, we went with Arai as they have a special line of long helmets. Real happy with them except they really amplify the sound of the exhaust. My Rocket isn't terribly loud with the Maddogs on it, but it's annoyingly loud with the full face. Even the old Valkyrie I'm riding till my rockets fixed is loud in these helmets, and it has stock exhaust. Anyone else have this problem ?

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Th resonance you speak of, in my experience is present in my Nexx XR1R, to some degree. Mine didn't do it until I fitted my CES though.

It is recommended by the AMA to wear plugs even with the quietest of helmets, as even the best sound control helmets still exceed 85db on the freeway.

instant said:

If it is your helmet resonating, than earplugs will not help you, you are correct. That thing goes basically through your skullbone to your ears. You can either change source (= make your exhaust quieter) or change the mechanical resonance properties of your helmet. Say, stick some Dynamat inside the shell, or change the helmet, ideally to be constructed from different material. That also explains why your open face does not have similar issues - it resonates at different frequency.

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Rocket Scientist said:

Tried the foam earplugs I use at work on the way in this morning. Actually worse. If I open the face shield it helps some. It's not wind noise, if I pull in the clutch and let the engine idle down, the noise goes away. It's a loud, droning, irritating sound. It's the same way earplugs don't help much with low frequency sound like the idiots with the 1000 watt bass amps in their car. Or one crazy Mexican with a giant speaker on the back of his Harley

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Really, look at my advice. Change helmet, or modify existing one to alter its resonance frequency, or (recommended by me) muffle the exhaust. I have built enough loudspeakers to be sure I am not just trying Btw the easiest way how to verify if the exhaust really is your problem, is to try different bike.

Funny story somehow related to the topic: my current company builds wireless equipment. Last week, we were shooting video about particular access point installation on old church tower in historical downtown. The church is protected historical building and still has old traditional bronze bells. Bells are operated by electrical motors that are in the lower part of the bell tower, so being up in the belfry, with headphones on and focused on your job done behind the camera, unless you are watching for the bell moving, you can not tell it is going to make SOUND, until it really DOES. I forgot to remind the camera crew to use alarm clock and move out of the belfry before the thing starts making THE SOUNDDDD.. So, they have experienced the lesson in massive acoustical resonance (they coursed like bunch of drunk marines.. deaf drunk marines). Now, your helmet is like the bell.. and your exhaust note at certain rpm is the bell tongue.

Rocket Scientist said:

Thanks to all of you ! You've given me some ideas to try.

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Fred, give the Howard light foam plugs a try, because the ones that you posted up are squared off at the ends as opposed to the tapered ones which shpould sit more comfortably in your ear canal and also will make a better seal.

Hey, youse got nothing to lose as they're quite cheap - just like you (and me).

Also just a point, try another bike that has 1,2,4, or 8 cylinders. 3 and 6 cylinder engines share secondary harmonics so if one engine causes a resonance it's highly likely the other configuration will as well.

My bell does not resonate at all, my shoei either, my Nexx does. It's kind of random which do and which don't, but if they do, there's next to nothing you can do to stop it. All 3 are expensive composite shells, all roughly the same external dimensions, all have massive view ports, like I said semi-random.

Allan S said:

I bought a Schuberth E1 after using a Seer half helmet for years.
It was like night and day. The Schuberth E1 seemed almost silent in comparison. Worth a try if they'll let you test it out. Have a Windvest windshield and the small amount of buffeting I get when riding into a quartering wind is very manageable. Just a low rumble.

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I like my M1 and will get another Schuberth when needed.
Already looking at full face versions.
I nee light as possible for my bad neck.

Claviger said:

Also just a point, try another bike that has 1,2,4, or 8 cylinders. 3 and 6 cylinder engines share secondary harmonics so if one engine causes a resonance it's highly likely the other configuration will as well.

My bell does not resonate at all, my shoei either, my Nexx does. It's kind of random which do and which don't, but if they do, there's next to nothing you can do to stop it. All 3 are expensive composite shells, all roughly the same external dimensions, all have massive view ports, like I said semi-random.

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OMG!
Do you change underwear with helmets?

Rick McC. said:

Stick a 9mm cartridge in each ear.
It'll cut down on the noise, and you'll have an extra couple of rounds where no one'll think to look...

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Well I'll be!!!
I had to give it a try and darn if don't work like a champ!!!