How to Make Motorcycle Helmet Quiet – Tips and Products

A few months back, I was rushing to the office one morning, helmet on and ready to hit the road. Little did I know a small mistake would turn into a major misfortune.

As soon as I hit the highway, an irritating rustling sound started honking in my ears. It turned out that my visor wasn’t fully closed, causing it to vibrate.

Distracted by the noise, I attempted to adjust the visor while still riding but ended up losing my balance.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on the pavement with a broken arm, feet away from my bike. Talk about a wake-up call.

While on bed rest for weeks, I had much time to reflect on what went wrong. It all came down to a simple thing: properly closing my visor before taking off. If only I had taken a few extra seconds, this whole mess could’ve been avoided.

In case you are wondering, I am fine now and back on wheels. But let this serve as a reminder that even the smallest inconvenience can lead to disastrous consequences. Safety first, folks.

Well, the plus point is that these accidents and mishaps are avoidable with a bit more caution. For me, it was a loose visor. For you, it could be something else. That is why I have compiled a list of tricks for soundproofing your motorcycle helmet.

In this article, you will find:

• What makes these motorcycle helmets noisy?
• 16 Different Ways to Soundproof Helmets
• Best Soundproof helmets available in the market

What Makes these Motorcycle Helmets Noisy?

Before purchasing new helmets and gear, it is important to understand what’s causing the noise.

Turbulence

Well, the major factor that contributes to noise is the wind. It can be the weather or wind entering the helmet through some hollow space. For instance, partially open visors or loose helmets are some of the common factors.

Faulty Motorgear

The other factor is some fault in your motor gear. Any loose screw or vibrating spring can create an annoying sound, not to mention the noise from the single-padded seats.

Type of Helmet

These days, two types of helmets are available in the market, including open-face and full-face helmets. Full-face ones are a lifesaver when it comes to quiet motorcycle helmets. They cover the full face and eliminate the need for additional padding.

Venting

Vents are specifically installed to allow air entry into and out of the helmets. Therefore, make sure your helmet has functional vents.

Aerodynamics

Look for helmets that have fins and ridges over them since they play a great role in reducing rustling sound.

16 Different Ways to SoundProof Helmets

I have compiled a list of 16 different methods that worked for me.

Buy Proper Fit

Irrespective of the type and quality of the helmet, a well-fitted helmet always provides better noise cancellation than loose ones. Make sure that your helmet is snug on your head.

Otherwise, the neck’s hollow spaces will funnel more wind, creating a rustling sound that can distract and irritate the rider.

Therefore, take measurements of your head before purchasing a helmet. While doing the wear test, make sure that your head moves with the helmet instead of rolling inside.

Use Earplugs

It might not be possible to lessen the wind rustling at high speed, even with a well-fitted and high-quality helmet. But we can’t ignore it since it can result in misjudgment that can lead to serious accidents.

On average, a motorcycle running at 35 mph can make a noise of 85 – 95 decibels, which only increases with growing speed. Therefore, it is important to use earmuffs or earplugs to protect your ears.

In addition to accidents, the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that persistent exposure to noise of 85 decibels or more can result in permanent deafness. However, with suitable plugs, you can attenuate this sound by up to 35 decibels.

The plus point about the earplugs is that they are designed to filter out the damaging frequencies. Thus allowing the rider to get a more safe and pleasurable experience. There are different types of earplugs available in the market.

Foam earplugs are a cheaper option. Look for Mack Earplugs, as they can reduce the sound by 33Db.

Flanged Earplugs are better as they make a tight seal due to their rubbery or silicon surface. Moreover, they are quite durable. My personal favourite is the Loop Experience ear plugs.

Custom Molded Plugs are also a good option as they can be customized according to your size. You can go for Decibullz plugs since they allow people to mould them accordingly.

Get Earmuffs

Earmuffs function like ear plugs, but they cover the entire outer ear and form an airtight seal. It comes with moveable bands that can be adjusted according to the size of one’s head. They take up some space and can be somewhat uncomfortable with the helmets.

However, if you live in some cold, icy area, these earmuffs will be a life changer. Frequent riders can combine them with earplugs for ultimate protection.

Get a Windscreen

While riding a bike, you must go in the direction of the wind. The gusts of air can cause turbulence and vibrations in your helmet. You can minimize this buffering by installing a windshield of the correct size.

Make sure that the height of your windshield matches your height. This way, it will send airflow over your head and reduce turbulence. You can also get one of those windshield that are adjustable.

However, these windshields are of no use to professional bikers as they reduce speed to a great extent. Moreover, their installation cost starts from $20 to hundreds of dollars.

In addition to decreasing the unnecessary sound to a great extent, it saves you from dust, heat, cold, or rain.

Improve the Cushioning of the Seat

Although it seems irrelevant, proper seat cushioning plays a major role in attenuating the noise. As your bike runs, its engine produces vibrations that can be quite irritating. However, you can minimize them by using a properly cushioned seat, as it will absorb most of the vibrations.

Install Air Bladder in Your Helmet

Air bladders are inflatable cushions or pockets inside the lining of the helmet. They come with a valve or pump that helps inflate or deflate the helmet for a better fit and improved comfort.

These air bladders are also effective in saving your ears from air turbulence. They not only offer noise cancellation but also improve the fit of your helmet.

Add a Chin Curtain or Wind Jammer

Air entry from the undersurface of the helmet can also distract the rider. You can install a chin curtain in your helmet to solve this problem.

They are pretty easy to install. All you need to do is push the curtain through the velcro strip. It not only lessens the sound waves but also offers an air channel for better breathing.  

A wind jammer works just like a chin curtain, but in addition to blocking the wind, it also decreases turbulence. For a quick fix, you can take a padded face mask and tuck it on the anterior and undersurface of your helmet. Separate the padding of your helmet from the plastic coating and tuck it inside.

You can also get a wind jammer from the market at a very affordable price and get it installed professionally. This will minimize the risk of damage to your helmet.

Bell Black wind jammer is the one I prefer. You can also look for other cheaper options.

Install Noise Cancellation System

Nowadays, noise-cancelling helmets are introduced in the market. They use Bluetooth system to utilize and attenuate the sound waves before they reach your ears. However, this technology is relatively new and is limited to a few companies.

Add Padding to Speaker Recess

Next up on the list is a DIY method. You might have noticed recess pockets or shock wave systems in your helmets. They are specific for reducing vibrations.

But you can make it a lot more functional by inserting pads in these pockets. These pads work like magic on helmets with built-in speakers or Bluetooth systems. All you have to do is build up the padding behind your Bluetooth speaker. This will bring them closer to your ears and, thus, more voice cancellation.

Even if you do not have Bluetooth speakers, you can still get speaker pads from the market and build the foam on its outer surface. About a half-inch padding is enough for these pads to work.

The only drawback is they might make your helmet a bit tight. However, to solve that problem, you can wear a silk bandana on your head, as it will make your helmet glide like a glove.

Buy Helmets with Cheek Pads

Look for helmets that have cheek pads and noise-cancelling padding in them. The padding will not only limit airflow but also absorb sound waves.

Noise-cancelling helmet inserts are also available in the market separately. Line your helmet with them, and they will either decrease air entry or absorb sound waves to make your ride more comfortable.

Close Your Visor Properly

The next thing that helps a lot of bikers in filtering out noise is the windshield of the helmet called the visor. These shields are specifically designed to divert the debris and gush of wind away from the face. Therefore, make sure that your helmet comes with a visor.

Moreover, these visors must be strong enough to resist the wind at higher speeds. Because even a small dent or crack in it will render it useless.

AAirtightyour visor and bring it down for better results. Helmets with adjustable visors are better as compared to the other ones because they might reduce your vision during foggy weather.

Add a Scarf or Balaclava

Balaclava and scarf can be used as a quick fix for your noise problem. All you have to do is wrap it around your neck and cover your ears with it. This will block air entry and reduce irritating noise.

The plus point is that you need not spend money on any accessory. Moreover, scarves are a fashion statement, especially in winter. However, in summer, the extra padding might make you hot.

Balaclava works exactly the same as a scarf in insulating your helmet. You can pair them together for better results.

Make sure that your balaclava comes with breath deflectors. They are more effective in preventing the formation of fog inside your goggles and windshield. However, they are a big “NO” in hot areas as they restrict airflow and provide additional padding in your helmet.

But the plus point is you can use them as the ultimate accessory for protection against cold, dust, wind, and noise.

Cover the Earholes of the Helmet

Most helmets have earholes to enable listening while riding your bike. But it can be a bit irritating, especially for avid bikers. You can cover these earholes with foam or something similar; cut the foam into the size of the hole and press it in; you can remove them later when desired.

Change Your Position

Another quick fix to your problem is changing your posture while riding your bike. An upright position will increase the drag force due to air and result in more turbulence. On the other hand, a forward-leaning position will deflect most of the air on the sides.

However, the type of bike you have also determines what posture will work best for you. Just make sure that air is deflected either over your head or sideways while riding a bike.

Find the Right Design of the Helmet.

The next factor, which is probably the most important, is the design of the helmet. Well, according to the laws of aerodynamics, the more pointed the helmet, the better the air deflection. This will ultimately reduce the noise.

Moreover, poorly designed or huge helmets will have protrusions that will result in buffering. Therefore, look for smooth and small helmets that have pointed anterior surfaces.

Full Face Helmet

Full-face helmets are so much better than half-face or open helmets, especially when it comes to noise cancellation. They offer more coverage and have fewer openings, thus limiting air and sound flow.

3 Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmets

Shoei RF-1400: Best Quiet Motorcycle Helmet

Shoei RF-1400 is one of the best soundproof helmets available in the market. Unlike other helmets that only partially reduce the sound, this model works like an airtight seal. Thanks to the wind tunnel design and airtight window beading system, it works like magic for reducing the sound.

I have had other Shoei helmets in the past. So, I wasn’t sceptical before buying it. However, the first time I put it on, it felt a bit tight. But as soon as my head was inside the helmet, it fitted like a glove. Compact design, lightweight, and added pads. Checks everything for me.

Although I don’t think that this helmet is designed for noise cancellation, it reduces noise by almost 85 -90%, which is also quite impressive considering the other features.

As for the quality and build of the helmet, all I can say is absolute perfection. Trust me, this helmet isn’t going anywhere for years. My major concern was the aerodynamics because full-faced helmets can be difficult to deal with. Shoei passes this test, too, by offering minimal drag and resistance even at high speed.

The Shoei RF-1400 is one of the best soundproof helmets available in the market. No matter whether it’s design, comfort, or visibility, it covers everything.

Bell Race Star Flex DLX: Most Affordable SoundProof Helmet

Bell Race Star Flex is a comfortable, budget-friendly helmet available in the market. With a 3k cab or fibre shell and a sound-cancelling design, this helmet is a steal.

The first thing I noticed was how lightweight it felt on my head. Not to mention the fit; it fitted as if it was specifically made for my head. The additional cheek pads do help in offering a better fit. I am usually a size large, but I went for one size up since the design is a bit snug.

And as for the noise cancellation, it worked very well. I would say 8 /10 with a closed visor. Speaking of visors, I am also impressed with the clarity. No matter whether you live in cold or hot areas, you do not have to worry about the vision.

So, if you are looking for a high-quality noise-cancelling helmet on a budget, then Bell Race is the best option you have.

Shark Evo One 2; Best Modular Helmets

With its unique design and ultimate soundproofing system, Shark Evo One Two has become one of the best helmets available in the market. It comes in a modular design, which means you can move the chin bar as you like to maintain a lower centre.

On first impression, I was pretty impressed with the build, fit, and, of course, the modular design of the helmet. The thing that impressed me most was how the manufacturers not only focussed on the aerodynamic design but also on the noise cancellation feature

If you are looking for a lightweight design that offers durability and comfort, then go with it.

Conclusion

I have mentioned 16 different ways to soundproof your motorcycle helmet, from adding a piece of clothing to installing padding and wind jammers in helmets.

However, if DIY methods fail for you, then the problem is with the quality of your helmet. So, you can choose from the list of our quiet motorcycle helmets.

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