Wind Noise - How Do You Minimise It???

[ash t]

How do you minimise wind noise when on your bike?

I use earplugs, but i still get noise from the wind.

Are those skirts which go around the bottom of your lid any good??

cheers

ash
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[MalcolmT]

I use ear plugs all the time and they work very well. You may need to try a couple of brands to get one that works well for you. The first ones I tried were bought at a bike shop and were kak, then I tried a few other brands from an industrial safety equipment supplier and they worked well, also they were cheaper from the safety shop.

[tintin]

Drive slower?
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[Nath]

Cheaper alternative to those "skirts": A scarf.
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[Shaun]

Stick some underwear I found in bellas washing up basket in my helmet, bra works well!

[the grim reaper]

Some lids are noisier than others and double bubble screens can help but they can make it worse, depends on your height and the bike you ride.

I use the Max earsoft plugs and they work well for me, apart from that, I just put up with it.

Cheers

Grim
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[stinkwheel]

You are always going to hear it. The wind rush past a helmet is bloody loud. What the ear plugs do is reduce the noise, especially the higher frequency noise, to below a level where it is going to damage your hearing.
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[Keith]

I heard those Motrax helmet skirts work really well, think Yams bought one before and said it made things lovely and quiet, only it slipped off half way home.

Might be worth a try, could bodge one together yourself, or have a look on ebay.
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[smif]

so which lids are quieter?

[MarJay]

I would strongly reccomend a necktube. I find that a necktube cuts noise very noticeably. Combiked with earplugs and a correctly fitting lid, I find wind noise is no longer an issue for me.

When I was 19 I had a badly fitting AGV that was a fraction too big for me, and I found it to be noisy as hell.

In my experience the cheaper lids are noisier as are the top whack racing lids. It seems the mid price lids aimed at sports touring are the best for noise levels. The Roof R010 and R020 are actually the only lids which claim any active noise reduction features afaik.
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[Zoffo]

Here we go.

I realise I'm alone on this topic because I've had the discussion many times.

But I don't wear any ear protection. The reason is that I was almost killed by some tvat screaming up to the lights to beat the amber. He still came tearing round the corner on two wheels through a red light. It occurred to me than that if I hadn't heard the engine I would probably have gone through and he would have killed me. There have been other times in heavy traffic where being able to hear other vehicles has saved me from at least an expensive repair bill.

I have my ears tested every few years at work and I still have no noise induced hearing loss.

So for me it's a matter of balancing the risks and I'd rather be a little bit deaf than a little bit dead.
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[RobB]

Not alone on that one Zoffo. I'd prefer to hear the car screaming across the junction, or the siren from behind me too. Had a few "moments" where I was trying out headphones under the helmet, and haven't blocked my ears since. Haven't had a hearing test for years, but I don't feel like I'm getting any deafer. My TV's still at the same volume....

On a couple of occasions I have used earplugs when I know I'll mostly be motorway riding. I usually find them uncomfortable, or that they become dislodged when I put my helmet on, and sometimes when doing lifesavers. I did buy a new helmet a couple of months ago (Shoei Raid 2), and am finding that to be much quieter than my previous one.

On top of all of that, I also really like the sound of my bike

[MarJay]

[Craggles]

I use cheapo foam earplugs for long/fast journeys. They do cut the noise out but not by a lot - have been looking at other solutions.

I have a necktube - will try it with and without and see what difference it makes. Tend to have earphones in over the top of one of the plugs too - just makes the motorway a little more interesting!

Craig
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[VTR SP1]

I have 2 pairs of custom made ear plugs. They are the ones you can get at shows where they inject the stuff into your ears so they are a perfect fit. You don't have to worry about them popping out or not being a good fit.
One pair cost £45 and the other pair were free.
One pair has a filter which is used for shooting but they are not as good for biking.

Have a look here https://www.greenleopard.co.uk/

SP1

[J20a]

An MP3 player nothing like a little bit of music to liven the journey. Not too loud so you forget to acknowledge others but loud enough to enjoy and drown out wind noise

[mchaggis]

A decent pair of earplugs does the trick for me. I found I was getting tinnitus after riding for longer than about 10 minutes, and it was taking longer and longer to go away. "Sod that", I thought when it wasn't better after a couple of days, and got me a cheap large bag with a decent variety from Ebay. I've found a couple of types which work really well, and some which really don't. The ones which don't are the ones which the bike shop sells at extortionate prices.

I think my AGV is slightly too large for me now that the padding has given a bit, and it is bloody noisy. Having said that, I've spoken to other people with V-Flyers, and they've said they're too noisy too. There is a funny flap which folds down at the front of the helmet which deflects the airflow away from the bottom of the helmet.

It's long term exposure to the noisy exhaust at WOT that does it, as well as the wind noise.
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[shellshock]

Yep, agreed. MP3, but not blasting down ya ears !

You could always try fitting the standard can Ashley, may help !

I know it hurt my ears last night

[AcIdBuRnZ]

I have a Shark RSF2 which is very quiet as standard.

I use cheapo earplugs and a neck tube too.

Wind noise isn't a problem - even after a whole days riding

--
Mark
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[natv4]

Interestingly, I was just thinking about this topic yesterday. The wind noise for 90mph motorway riding (did 300 miles of it yesterday) really starts to ache.

Normally I have ear plugs for anything requiring me to leave london, but I have run out.

I spoke to a chap at a bike shop and he told me the quietest helmets are the Schubert S1. 85dB at 80mph. Compared to 98dB for shoei (my current) and 104 dB for Arai (I thought they were loud).

Bare in mind that every 3dB up or down is a doubling/halving in sound, thats quite a bit. I even tried one on, it sounded like I was wearing ear plugs.

Does anyone know if this effect lasts, or as the helmet beds in will it get noisy. I don't know how good their helmets are, but I am tempted.
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[Kirmit]

After fitting a fly screen to my Bandit found the noise had increased, bought some customer plugs at a show but my gerbil chewed them (no I didn't feed them to him, he escaped), then tried plugs from a bike shop, but finally found the best ones from a chemist.

As for blocking out noise I can hear pretty well with them in, as previously mentioned they reduce the upper frequencies.

I've noticed a distinct improvement on open roads where the wind noise was rather intrusive before.

And I can still hear police sirens (especially when their chasing me )
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[bizzie lizzie]

Some very useful information here - ty all!

I have a flyscreen on the Aero, wear a necktube for long journeys, nothing but a scarf on short ones.
The info on quiet lids is of most use to me, since I can't wear earplugs without feeling nauseous I think the inside of one of my ears is smaller than the other or something like that - it's official, I'm a mutant!!!
Anyone know how much those custom-made earplugs are? I gather they make a mould of your ear, so you have a unique set of plugs.

[map]

I do not think there is one single solution.

You need to get earplugs, but the ones that fit.
I think Lucy Dell (more info here and here) did a multi pack at one time so you could try different types and find the ones that suited you. That might be worth looking into. The best ones I found for me were from a gun shop.

As well as that your helmet needs to fit correctly. I think the company that say they make the quietest helmets are Schuberth. However, these are much money unless you can find someone doing discounts. I know Infinity Motorcycles sometimes sell these off at reduced prices. The problem is you need to try one on. I'd love one but my head isn't the right shape (certainly for the Concept, need to try a C2).

You'll also need some kind of screen to deflect the wind over/round. If you have one already try something like the Laminar lip that clips on to give extra deflection (useful if doing distance and/or motorway). Do a google, I'm sure you'll find some pics and info.

HTH


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[quik_d]

how loud are we talking guys? i mean i think my helmets pretty quiet but what would you constitute as loud? i've never had it where it hurts my ears but i've had it where pretty much all i can hear is wind, i.e. really windy days with cross winds.
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[bizzie lizzie]